Devils Race Track interesting hike

  I had done part of this hike 10 years ago when the Cumberland Trail project was getting started.  And it is worth the climb but I wouldn't call it an easy or beginner hike, but worth the effort. And while we went first to Cove Lake State park (they are helpful w/ maps etc) and parked on the far end to hit the trail I think there are ways to park closer to the actual ascent up to Devils Race track overlook.  The first mile or so wanders up and down a nice trail out of Cove Lake fork in trail after 200 yards goes right on main trail while a newer river trail will go under I 75 towards Frozen Head.   It was pretty easy but a few blow downs made it interesting to get thru some overgrown thicket area.  The kids were in good spirits early on (Gracie B my 11 year old, Jenna E age 12 (almost 12) and Jackson C age 12 and 4 year old rocky) but after 2nd mile and more climbing were not too keen on tackling the rough rocky area leading up to
"Devils Racetrack" area.  Much of the trail is right along I 75 and we could see and hear traffic but in a really remote looking area and it was pretty with views of snow up ahead of us.  Then close to 2 miles into the climb you are climbing over some treacherous rocks and we finally managed to get down to a lower trail we could see next to a pretty creek/river area.  The kids hung out there and ate their lunches, and Sharon S and I took off on a mad dash to live up to Racetrack name.  Right past our picnic area there are a series of GORGEOUS falls called 3 sisters falls (a nice photographer told us while shooting his shots)  They would be worth the climb. But Sharon and I had no time to waste so we sprinted up the half mile straight up to the top and it was Such a COOL and breath taking site.   We could wave and Jackson said he could see us ! .  So we made it up to Devils Racetrack in record time but want to go back to A. spend more time at the top, and B. find where to find the small road next to our picnic area below the outcropping to make it a shorter hike for kids.  Cory (see last photo) lives right on trail and helped us find a little of a cut thru behind his property and said there is a way to travel from Cove Lake park little further north and park along the creek below the Devils Racetrack to help make it a up and out 2-3 mile hike.

It is exciting to read more about the Cumberland Trail project of linking all these sections to a Cross State hiking trail, and it is WBIR where Jackson and I were meeting the Biggest Winner team for Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon team.  Jackson's Dad Randy is on our team and has lost 25 pounds and training for the marathon.  Jackson has caught the exercise "bug" too and did a great job hiking a pretty tough 5.5 mile trek today. And we added this to the list of fun "Missy Fit and fun adventures" and want to go back soon.

So many options at Forks of the River Trails

You can spend days and days exploring Forks of the river wildlife refuge area and never get bored.  And even on a dreary day it  has pretty scenery all around.  It is located past Ijams Nature Center where you go 1/2 mile and take the first left and you follow along Will Skelton bike trail and see the sign and dirt road off to the right that leads to parking lot.  You can head out the old jeep trail past sites from an old farm and just keep on going.  The jeep road has many spurs off to either side.   And the App Mountain Bike Club are making a lot more.  TWRA owns the property and recently partnered with LegacyParks and Knox City/County parks to allow the land to co-exist with TWRA and fitness enthusiast. But make sure you check to see if it is hunting season as it is not recommended to venture out in certain areas while hunting allowed.   Fairly soon they'll be connector routes back across Sevierville Pike to Hastie Park and eventually over to Fort Dickerson and on up to River Bluff Trails.

Biggest Winners getting fit and HAVING FUN!

  This 2012 Biggest Winner team for the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is working hard and every time I see them I can tell they are getting fit... But the aspect that strikes me too is that THEY are Definitely having fun along the way!  No matter if it is a cold morning with the Health Shoppes Sat morning (early) training sessions for KTC or going thru a tough session @ Fort Sanders Health & fitness Center w/ Chris O'Hearn they still are smiling and laughing thru it all.

  And they don't use excuses of a wash out rainy weekend to skip a training session, they email each other and figure out how to get it done whether on treadmill for 2 hours  or planning to meet up for plan B a long run the next day THEY get R done!  And they support each other w/ pushes up hills (Edee says a big thanks on those steep hills past Ijams) and send emails to cheer others up on a bad day.
    Yes fitness can be Fun... especially w/ some new friends along the WAY

Hot to trot HOt springs fit fun trip for Hope Auction
First HIke Max Patch-Lemon Gap on AT

I love the Hot springs NC area as it is close, quiet in the off season and has some of THE best hiking trails, views in the country!   The last few years I have asked Jim the owner of Ironhorse Station Inn

 for a nice auction item package for the Hope Center.  The HC is at Fort Sanders Regional and helps HIV patients, their families, the community with outreach and educational programs. There is a big summer fun event at Middlebrook Farm (late june) which is festive, fun and all for this cause.  So I tell them I'll try to help organize a Fit and Fun adventure for any buds who want to go during the offseason as we then get much better rates etc.  So we ended up having 17  with all but 2 staying over at the Inn.  We hiked close to Max patch for first hike.  (get off harmon den exit head left up the mountain on dirt road PAY attention to see odometer and go 6.2 miles then veer left at an intersection to go half mile to parking area for Max Patch.  Half of us then swapped cars and drove those 3.5 miles (exactly) to Lemon Gap on the AT.   No signs but I saw the white slash mark for the AT crossing on right and we figured out it was the spot.  So then the group hiked about 6.5-7 miles both ways and key swapped in the middle.  The majesty is of course the Bald summitt on Max Patch where you Must sing the "hills are alive to the sound of music" and whisper up a shout to God for his majestic artwork!     But the AT stretch is also full of pretty rocks, tunnels of Rhododendrum bushes, creeks etc.  BUT do pay attention to watch for the White slash marks and when it shows two slash marks that means to look up and pay attention as the trail will turn soon.

The great thing about Max Patch is that you can walk up 1/2 mile or less more like 1/4 mile to summit and just hang out (but windy and cooler) .  Or you can do some of the loop trails that goes around the bottom of the bald and up and over.   Or you can hike on the Appalachian Trail.
  Afterwards we hit the Hot Springs Spa for hour Hot Tub then headed to dinner at Iron Horse where we stayed.  I'll post soon about day two, as the Laurel River Trail was one of prettiest river trails I've been on and almost totally flat !

Missy Kane's Fundraising Page

Missy Kane's Fundraising Page

Hey guys here is the page you can log onto and vote for me for Local Dancing with Stars competition
Or you can go to www.etch.com and click on the dancing page as you might want to vote for a couple of us etc?  As it all goes to good cause ETn childrens Hospital

If anyone is friends w/ my husband Jim Bemiller (on FB)  you can also laugh hysterically at a post on his facebook page as my 5th grader (unknowing to me!!!) filmed me practicing with my imaginary dance partner last night.    I look like a senile old lady shuffling around "home" w/ imaginary friend?   I don't know whether to choke her or applaud her ingenuity to figure out how to film that while I thought she was playing a game.

It makes for a good laugh.   maybe if I'm as "smart" as gracie I'll add it to this blog

River Bluff old Civil War battle site hike on mlk day

 With the kids out for MLK day

I thought I'd take Gracie and invite some other buds and their kids (& grandkids) to come explore
the future river bluff trails up on Cherokee Bluff.  Legacy Parks has raised over 2.1 million to make sure this 70 acres gets preserved as a nature park with hiking, biking trails.  And in honor of Natalie Haslam will have a wildflower area called "Natalie's garden".   And it can be a good area to talk about the history of Knoxvillle.  As the battle of Armstrong hill and since most of East Tenn was not for Slavery, many were fighting alongside the union side.  The union held its ground and between this site and down at Fort Dickerson pushed the confederates back.   Historians explained to me that due to Union, downtown knoxville was preserved and not ruined.    Most of the mountain people were not wanting to fight for the confederates, and were more sympathetic to the Union cause to end slavery.

But back to the hike.  There is a gravel lot right across from the big (yukky) water tower on top of Cherokee Bluff.  The gravel road goes down hill 300 yards and then we hiked up and to the right (still on the gravel road) and after half mile come to the breath taking bluff views.   We made sure to tell out kids and dogs to view but also to be cautious as it is a high bluff over rocky area above tennessee river.   The Tennessee river i found out used to be called the Holston river.

After looking around and there are a few side trails and caves to look at, we went down to lower pond and headed out lower trail that will be site of lots of wildflowers and goes under the high bluff area.  A neat opening to a cave is there.  We let the kids look at the face of the cave as there is an impression where a 1863 is barely seen and it looks authentic? But I'm not sure.  After coming back to the pond you hike to the back side of the pond which leads to the other pond on this property.  After taking a few photos and looking at an old pump house we headed up a steep part of the gravel road and back to the parking area.  

It is only about a 2.5 mile hike but full of interesting nature, and historical sites.  If you want to find out more about this area or to see how you can donate to this cause of making this park a reality go to www.legacyparks.org