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Hope all has been going well and that you can join us on a hike on Saturday, April 20. The weather forecast for Saturday during the hike shows a low of about 60 and a of about 67 high with light showers in the am with no noticeable accumulation. Not bad hiking weather and a chance to see some flowers.

The hike is described below.

Hope to see you on the hike.

Tom

Hike Emory Gap, Panther Creek, Judge Branch, Frozen Head State Park, April 20, 2024: Join us on a flower hike in the Cumberland Mountains. We will park at the end of Flat Fork Road, hike a portion of the Panther Creek trail and the entire Emory Gap trail to the falls. On the Panther Creek trail we will go about 2.3 miles and gain about 250 feet, turn around and go back to the Emory Gap trail, losing about 200 feet. The Emory Gap trail to the falls is about 1.0 mile and gains about 300 feet. At the falls we will turn around and go back to the parking area, losing about 350 feet. The total distance for this hike is about 4.1 miles. If time and energy allow we will relocate and take a second hike on the Old Mack and Judge Branch trails. This second hike is about 2.6 miles and gains about 300 feet by the turn around point. All of the elevation changes are estimates based on a topo map. If we take both hikes the total distance is about 6.7 miles which is about average of most of our hikes. The hike difficulty is rated as moderate. We recommend shoes to wear to and from the hike plus sturdy hiking shoes, other weather appropriate clothing, a snack, a drink and a camera.

We will meet in Oak Ridge at Books-A-Million, 310 South Illinois Ave, meeting in the parking lot nearest Illinois Ave. We will leave at 9:00 am. Round trip distance from Books-A-Million is 43 miles.

After the hike plan on stopping on the way back for a meal and refreshments. For specific information about the hike please call Tom before the 20th at 865-588-5622, leave a message or send an email to cressler@retiree.utk.edu.