Seven Islands..Wildlife Refuge area

   In knox County Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge area seems like a "world away" from the city, but it is actually only 8.5 miles from downtown knoxville.   33 folks came out for this Get on the Local Trail hike and the sunflowers next to the parking lot made for a colorful backdrop for our start.  The trails are neat mowed grass trails and after a short climb you have views where a sign points out where Leconte is and bullhead trails in the Smokies.    Then you see a little pond (shumpert pond) and cut thru the woods to a penninsula where a bench is placed.    In 2009-10 you could catch a glimpse on occasion of a Bald Eagle but not in the last 6 months.   Trails wind along the French Broad and old barns painted with the App Trail quilts on their sides until an old farm house that is maintained for a property manager.    This is off midway exit and on Kodak road, close to River Islands Golf Course.   18 of us then enjoyed a 2 mile drive down to Tuckahoe market for a home cooked meal .

Get out on local Trails with Legacy park and missy

    Folks are surprised at all the great local trails we have in knox county and knox city parks/rec  Legacy Park Foundation is a great "vehicle" to help both maintain land and acquire key pieces to help connect our greenways, trails, and blueways into a fitness destination.    This summer I'm helping to lead these w/ Legacy Parks knox county and knoxville city parks and rec.   Thompson Cancer Survival Centers are providing sunscreen and funding, plus the Cov health call center and Mornings w/ Fox 43 are partners.

 First hike we did was at Concord Trails off Northshore Drive.  It was a 90 plus day but the folks were relieved to find that due to so much shade and water it was very tolerable and a pretty place to hike for us and our four legged friends.  There are multiple loops and we did the outer ones to make it a 3 mile hike and then a few cut across drive way to hike a mile or two on the west side of these trails.

       The next week we headed to the new River Bluff trails up on cherokee bluff.  70 acres that is purchased thru legacy parks and donors (still taking more donations for the property).   It is an old civil war battle field.  And Carol Evans (Legacy Park director) explained that the union guys were outmanned but the confederate soldiers didn't realize that due to the terrain and trenches.   The confederates retreated which helped to save downtown knoxville from being destroyed.   After about a half mile down and up climb you are at the SUPER View site then we headed down to two ponds and a trek out a flat trail below the bluff next to the river.

Bald River Fun Fit Family Destination

Breathtaking waterfall, gorgeous river, trails, smooth road for biking

All the above describe Bald River Falls area off the Cherohayla Parkway in Tellico Plains.  It takes about 75 minutes from Knoxville to reach.  You head out I 75 south and take exit at Sweetwater for Lost Sea and also it has sign that says Cherohayla parkway.  You travel about 25 more mintues thru Sweetwater and Madisonville then come to Tellico Plains.  There is a sign that says Cherohayla parkway.  You take a left and you'll then see nice big visitor Center.  Stop there for free maps info and bike/hike books t shirts etc.
You might ask there too where the tellico plains bakery is (close but off main road) as it has yummy treats and also healthy sandwiches etc.    We generally travel up about 5 miles and look for sign that says Bald River Falls.  Right before sign there is a fairly big pull off where you can park or we sometimes luck out and find the first pull out on bald river road (fishing hole) and park there.   All the way to the falls and then to the end of the road is a slight incline with a few good pulls.  But even my hubby and 10 year old did fine on our tandem.  (co-motion @ Cycology)    We bike to the falls then after a few pics there take the trail (little past the falls) that leads up past the falls to several smaller falls that are perfect stop for a swim or picnic.   That trail goes out further and you can make it a 5 mile (out and back) hike.   We then get back on the bike to go up to Green Cove (little community that seems like 40 years ago) and stop for cold drink etc.

With Gracie (10) that was a good turn (22 total) around but often we go to the end and back. Afterwards we sneak in a burger at the Beach Drive in a few miles back down parkway which is right on Tellico River.

Fit Fun Fontana hike

After great dinner

     We caught boat over (ms hazel) to hazelcreek ttail and most of us hiked then back to dam on lakeshore while ed charlie Phil  Ellen Carol hiked on up hazelcreek to bone valley for 15 mile hike.

Perfect weather and we saw tons of spring wildflowers and mountain Laurel coming out too and several old cars which were abondoned along lakeshore with the making of the dam and world war II making it tough to buy rubber tires

Fit Fun in Fontana

20 of us had a blast in Fontana Village last week.  It is like really getting away and not that far.   4 of us drove over foothills to 129 then biked up the steep 7 mile part to top and back down.  On the way up I spotted some bikers (motor type) taking big group pic and said "hey you need me to take one for you?"  Carol Sharon & Karen kept on up the mountain but I ended up meeting nice guys from NYPD who gave me official hat /patches etc

Then had to catch up w/ crew who were then mad they didn't stop!   Even tho cool 53 degrees peddling straight up hill got us warm quickly.    Then after we came down we booked over in cars to Deals Gap and biked along hiway 28 (pretty & not too much traffic) to Deals Gap at junction of Dragon (129) Met some nice folks there before heading back towards dam and Fontana Village.  Food excellent there!
I'll post hiking shots from next day soon.  Hazelcreek/lakeshore great places to hike!

Biggest Winners joined the Fun w Friends & Missy Hike

The Biggest Winner Wt Loss Challenge for Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon might be over but the team is still striving to stay fit and healthy while losing more wt.   Kelsey Godfrey  was awarded "Biggest Winner" for her 35 pds + wt loss, regular attendance to Dietician/strength meetings at Cov Wt Management Center and FSHFC while having Coach Missy and KTC training folks help her along the way. She also lost inches and gained muscle while taking off over 35 minutes on her half marathon time.

She along with team mate Wyatt Hall *lost 20 pds and showed 28 pds of fat loss on Cov Special wt scales also joined in the fun at our Get on Trail with Friends and Missy hikes.   The 58 folks carpooled to Smokemont then hiked along Bradley Fork trail which runs along two pretty rivers/creeks while bathed in an abundance of wildflowers.   The groups did 6-13 miles and a large group including Kelsey and Wyatt went out 5.6 miles to end of Cabin Flats and campsite 49.   Then Kelsey Missy Andy the intern and Sharon Spezia cut off Bradley Fork to Smokemont loop on return to add 4 more on (total 13.5)    *kelsey & wyatt w/ missy left



Smokemont loops was very steep in places so not a beginner type of hike



While Bradley Fork trail is nice and gentle and wide.  There are numerous ruts as it is often used by horses, but safe with nice bridges to cross etc.

Over the last 11 years this program "Get on Trail w/ Friends & Missy" has raised over 100,00 from the 15 per hike the hikers give, to the sponsors who support this program. Thanks Friends Staff,

Rangers of GSMNP, News Sentinel, Home Federal, Blue Ridge Mnt Sports, Mountain Laurel Chalets & Ralph, Farm Bureau (sam curtis) Fontana Resort, The Track, East Tn PBS

I also have lots of pictures of spring hikes on Facebook  (missy kane bemiller)