Long Hunter State Park- Volunteer Trail

LOCATION
Long Hunter State Park is located southeast of Nashville on Percy Priest Lake. The main entrance is east of the bridge crossing the lake on Hobson Pike. The Volunteer trail is ¼ mile from the main entrance and on the other side of Hobson Pike.

DIRECTIONS
• I-24- Exit Old Hickory Blvd and travel east 6.4 miles. Cross over the Percy Priest Lake bridge. On your right you will see the Long Hunter State Park main entrance. ¼-mile pass the entrance on your left is the sign to Volunteer Trail.
• I-40- Exit Mt Juliet and travel south on Hobson Pike 6 miles. The entrance to the trail is on your right.

DESCRIPTION
• Rock bluffs along lake
• Wildflowers
• Lake views
• Relatively flat, slight hills, solid path

ACTIVITIES
• Hiking is what this trail is known for. There is a 4-mile day loop skirting the lake and an extension trail to a campsite further in.
• At the Long Hunter State Park, there are canoe rentals for Couchville Lake. Couchville Lake is a small reservoir with fishing. There is no boat launch.
• Group camping, picnicking sites and a playground is available

ISSUES
• Snakes
• Poison Ivey
• Loose rocks on trail
• Theft at parking area of Volunteer Trail. Please lock up or carry your personal items
• Boats can be heard along trail

POSITIVES
• Quite trail
• Not a lot of travel
• Resting benches
• Lake views
• Close proximity to Nashville for a short hike

SYNOPSIS
Volunteer Trail is our go-to hike when time is short and we need to get outside for an afternoon. Every trip has been a nice outing. We hiked there this past Sunday and found a multitude of wildlife on the trail and in the trees. We saw only 1 hiker in our 1 ½-hour hike. Definitely one of our favorites when time is short.

LINKS
http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/LongHunter

First Aid Kits

First Aid kits are an essential item for any outdoor excursion. I always carry mine with me when outdoors. It weighs less than a pound and I use it to mend blisters, medicate headaches, and sanitize small cuts.


Starting out with a pre-packaged kit is usually the best idea and then you can replace items as needed or add what you believe is necessary. A family of 4 can usually get by with a light hiking kit; but for larger families a more substantial kit is better. For protection of the items it is recommended that the kit be in a waterproof container or enclosed in a zip tight plastic bag. If boating, I place my kit in a dry bag.

1. Band Aids- Assortment
2. Antiseptic Wipes
3. Pain reliever
4. Scissors
5. Moleskin
6. Gauze wrap
7. Tweezers
8. Tongue Depressor (splint)
9. Sting relief medications
10. Antibacterial ointment
11. Personal medication

These 11 items are not all in compassing. I also keep an ace bandage and a few other items in my kit. All families are different and have different needs. Cater your kit to what fits your family best.

12 Common Sense Essentials

Yesterday I touched on the “10 Essentials”. Today I will explain 12 more items I always carry with me on the trail or when boating. I call them the “12 Common Sense Essentials”. Most items are not mandatory, but I've found that throughout my years of enjoying the outdoors I’ve used each item at least once. They are:


12 COMMON SENSE ESSENTIALS
1. Wire or cord
2. Daypack
3. Sunglasses
4. Rain coat
5. Needle and thread
6. Trash bag
7. Small pot
8. Sunscreen/bug repellent
9. Emergency blanket
10. Toilet paper
11. Watch
12. Iodine tablets

Wire or chord can be used if a shoelace breaks. The daypack offers comfort and accessibility to all your gear. As the years have passed, my pack has changed. When my child was smaller it was larger, as he’s grown, my pack size has decreased. It needs to fit comfortably and hold everything needed for a day on the trail. Sunglasses are great for sunny days and avoiding eye sunburn. Raincoats are indispensible in the spring and fall in my area. Pop-up showers are prevalent. Needle and thread can be used to mend clothing, etc. Trash bags can be used to carry water or pack out trash other people have left behind. I use a small tin pot to carry most of the essentials; water can be boiled and purified if needed. I carry a sunscreen/bug repellent combination. Emergency blankets are small; luckily, I have never used it, but it’s there just in case. T.P.- got too have it. A watch is great for timing your outing; it will keep you from being out to late after dark. Iodine tablets, I've never used these either because I always carry water; however, they are with me in case I need to purify some.

All total, the 10 & 12 essentials weigh less than 10 lbs. I started with heavier and bulkier items and through the years have replaced them with eco-friendly and lighter gear meant for the outdoors. You might not think an extra 5 lbs is much, but it is after 10 miles of hiking. Start out with what you have at your home, replace as needed with what you feel comfortable with, and can afford.

The Ten Essentials

Many people think a walk in the woods is a safe adventure, and it is 99% of the time; however, 1% of the time something will go wrong. It could be something small like a blister or something larger like getting lost. I have learned through experience- always be prepared. I'm not saying to bring a coat in the middle of summer, but you need to have a certain amount of gear on you at all times. Below is a list used by many outdoorsmen. It’s not a new list, but a list that has been in use for a long time. It is “the ten essentials”. The ten essentials are:


“THE TEN ESSENTIALS”
1. Map
2. Compass
3. Emergency Whistle
4. Water & water bottle
5. Extra Food
6. Duct Tape
7. First Aid Kit
8. Knife
9. Waterproof Matches
10. Flash light

A map and compass are indispensible when hiking or boating. You should have a map of the location you are visiting with topographic details and understand how to use the compass and map together. An emergency whistle is necessary in case you become lost or hurt. It will give your location in time of distress. Water is necessary for life, it should be with you at all times. Extra food will help give you energy and lift your spirits if you become lost. Duct tape is one of man’s greatest gifts to himself; you can use it for a multitude of purposes. The knife doesn’t need to be large; a small pocketknife will suffice. Waterproof matches will allow you to build a fire for warmth and to lift your spirits when night falls and you are lost. A flashlight is self-explanatory; you know what it’s like to walk around your own home after dark without light- try the woods.

All these items can be carried in a small fanny pack or daypack. I prefer a daypack so I can carry a raincoat, sunscreen, and a few other items I will discuss tomorrow.

Frozen Head State Park

LOCATION
• Frozen Head State Park is north of I-40 outside of Wartburg, TN in the Cumberland Mountains.

DIRECTIONS
• From Harriman take Hwy. 27 North to Wartburg. Turn right (East) on Hwy. 62. Travel 2 miles and turn left on Flat Fork Road. Travel 4 miles to the park entrance

DESCRIPTION
• 13,000+ acres of forest, creeks, and wildflowers
• Frozen Head Peak is one of the highest peaks in Tennessee- 3,324 ft
• In the fall of 1952 the entire state forest was burned by the worst forest fire season in state history
• State Park status 1970

ACTIVITIES
There are over 80 miles of hiking trails; a 7 mile unpaved biking trail, fishing, horseback riding, and camping available. There are also picnic facilities, playgrounds, and sports fields available.

ISSUES
• Camp sites are limited. I recommend the primitive sites along the main road. The 21 sites by the bathhouse are crowded and do not allow much privacy.
• Primitive site number 5 & 6 are in front of the parking area. If you do not care about people walking through your site, going to and from their cars, then these sites are the most convenient.
• Bathroom availability at the primitive sites is limited
• The trail maps are not clear concerning the trail layouts and the mileage is incorrect.
• It’s very damp. There is not much sunlight filtering through the trees at the primitive sites.

POSITIVES
• The park is not very crowded with hikers
• View from the fire tower is nice on a clear day
• Primitive campsites are big and secluded
• Free firewood at the bathhouse
• The forest is lush with large trees, laurels, and ginseng
• Trails are well maintained
• Wildflowers are abundant
• Clean restrooms
• Friendly park rangers

SYNOPSIS
Outside of the trail mileage on the map somewhat wrong, our trip was wonderful. We chose a primitive camping site by the creek and it sang us to sleep after a long day of hiking. We hiked to the fire tower along North Old Mac Mountain Trail and returned by the Judge Branch Trail. Our estimated mileage was 9+ miles; however, the trail map said it was approximately 6+ miles. Along the trail, we only saw 3 sets of hikers even though the camping sites were full. The next day we loaded up our gear and headed to the Obed Wild and Scenic River National Area and hiked a quick 2 miles before heading home.

LINKS
http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/FrozenHead/index.shtml
http://www.mapquest.com/
http://www.nps.gov/obed/index.htm

Introduction

My family and I spend a great deal of time either in the outdoors or in researching our next adventure. Not a weekend goes by without hitting the trails or local waters. Even our family vacations revolve around National and State Parks.

We have, and will, spend a great deal of time and money on gear, travel, and research to find the best areas and items needed for the full enjoyment of nature. The Southeast has great potential for family outings in the activities of hiking, backpacking, camping, biking, and kayaking. The U.S. as well offers some of the most outstanding National and State Parks in the world. Therefore, I have started this blog to share our knowledge.

To enjoy these areas certain items and planning are necessary. It took us years to gather this information and I would like to share it with you. Future postings will touch on the topics of park reviews, trail information, gear reviews, and websites needed to gather information.

I look forward to the days to come and please feel free to comment or add input to future postings.