Nature Day: The Boulders

A physical therapist that I was seeing last fall had suggested that I check out The Boulders on Old Wauhatchie Pike on the side of Lookout Mountain. It's a relatively new spot (that is technically for bouldering/climbing), but there is a short trail that meanders among the huge boulder climbs.

My PT lady said the trail actually continues all the way to St. Elmo – she and her husband like to park and walk to eat at Mojo Burrito and then hike back. Jack and I didn't have time on this trip, but I would like to go back with the whole family and make it all the way to Mojo!

Jack loved the Boulders! We had fun discovering all of the signs with the names of the different boulders, including The Edge, The Turtle, The Bulge, and the Slide. The Edge was Jack's favorite.

Our lesson for today's hike was about Winter Birds, and we saw plenty!

At the end of our hike, Jack spent some time rolling down the grassy hill. As we prepared to leave, I had a sinking sensation... my car keys were not in my coat pocket (I normally keep them in my back pocket).

I might have started to panic, but decided to retrace my steps... we had covered just over a mile in a loop. I debated walking in reverse verses looping in the same direction. I decided to do that latter.

I tried my best to follow my path up the grassy hill and by some miracle found the keys almost immediately! Thankfully I didn't have to call Daniel and confess that I had lost the keys!

This is a great little hike, with lots of formations. As we were leaving, a couple showed up with bouldering mats (you place them below where you are climbing so you will have a softer landing when you fall). We will have to come back when it warms up and watch people climb – the kids would love that!

Notes from the hike:
Location: The Boulders in Old Wauhatchie Pike (side of Lookout Mountain)
Date: Dec. 7, 2017
Time: 9:30-10:30pm
Weather: 40F, overcast
Observations: We saw many different birds and rock formations.

Check back on Thursdays to see where our nature studies have taken us...
Previous Nature Hikes with Jack:
September: Green Gorge, Althaus Park, and Mabbit Springs
October: Reflection Riding Center (Monday Nature Day with friends) ⎮ Joyce Kilmer Wilderness Among Trees (family hike) ⎮ Greenway Farms Nature Day (family archery lesson and hike)
November: Glen Falls ⎮ Mushroom Rock (with Mommy and Daddy) ⎮ Raccoon Mountain

Nature Day: Raccoon Mountain

Most of our nature days are typically on the mountain where we live. But the Chattanooga area has a lot to offer, so sometimes we try to adventure a little farther from home.

On this particular day I decided to take Jack to Raccoon Mountain. This is a TVA managed area that is special because it has a pump station in the inside of the mountain.

TVA makes power by pumping water up from the Tennessee River to a reservoir at the top of the mountain and then releases the water to generate power. The reservoir also collects rain water that can be released.

This particular day was overcast with a chance of rain. We took our chances!

We started by driving to the back of the mountain, stopping to look at the huge turbines before driving up the mountain.

At the top we stopped at the Visitor's Center for a view of the river and valley below before heading inside to watch a video to learn more about how the pump station works.

There was also a lot of history about TVA. This spot is definitely worth a visit for its educational value.

We checked out the switch yard outside of the Visitor's Center. If you like to mountain bike or trail run and hike, this mountain is a great place. There is a mountain bike trail that runs through the switch yard here and many trails that circle the mountain.

We hopped in the car and drove around the top of the reservoir to the Laurel Point parking lot. I ran a 5K here shortly after Jack was born.

Jack and I wandered on a ADA trail, easy and you can't get lost. Our nature study was about wind so we would stop periodically to access what we thought the wind was doing and use the Beaufort Wind Force Scale to try to determine what we thought the wind was doing.

The trailhead also had more information about the water cycle in the Tennessee Valley, which was very interesting.

Our final stop was the East Overlook to get a view of Lookout Mountain and the city of Chattanooga. We had another successful day outside, we learned a lot and we didn't get rained on! (that started after we got back in the car :)

Raccoon Mountain is special to me because Daniel and I lived in the Raccoon Mountain campground for 3 months when we first moved to the Tennessee Valley back in 2010. I spent a lot of time walking Sophie on these trails while Daniel was at work.

Notes from the hike:
Location: Raccoon Mountain (bottom of mountain, Visitor Center, drove around reservoir, stopped at Laurel Point and East Overlook)
Date: Nov. 30, 2017
Time: 10:30-12:0opm
Weather: 50F, overcast
Beaufort Wind Force Scale: 0-1 (calm, light wind)

Jack's drawing in his Nature Journal

Check back on Thursdays to see where our nature studies have taken us...
Previous Nature Hikes with Jack:
September: Green Gorge, Althaus Park, and Mabbit Springs
October: Reflection Riding Center (Monday Nature Day with friends) ⎮ Joyce Kilmer Wilderness Among Trees (hike we did as a family) ⎮ Greenway Farms Nature Day (family archery lesson and hike)
November: Glen Falls ⎮ Mushroom Rock (with Mommy and Daddy)

Nature Day: Mushroom Rock with Mommy and Daddy

Fall is in full swing, can you spot our dog, Sophie, on the trail?

I think I am going to have to devote an entire section of this blog to our hikes to Mushroom Rock. I typically try to steer Jack to new places, but if he gets a say, he will always say Mushroom Rock!

Last month Jack had the opportunity to make this hike with just Daniel. This month, Daniel had a day off and the three of us headed to this favorite spot.

Our nature study had us looking for moss, mushrooms and lichen. We also discussed cardinal directions and how that relates to what side of a tree the moss grows on.

There is always so much to take away from our walks in the woods!

And if nothing else, walking in silence among trees is just plain good for the soul.

Notes from the hike:
Location: Mushroom Rock in Prentice Cooper on Signal Mountain
Date: Nov. 9, 2017
Time: 10:30-12:30pm
Weather: 50F, cool and overcast
Comments from Jack: "We looked for mushrooms and moss."

This was my first time back to Mushroom Rock since falling and injuring myself on this trail two months ago. 

Check back on Thursdays to see where our nature studies have taken us...
Previous Nature Hikes with Jack:
September: Green Gorge, Althaus Park, and Mabbit Springs
October: Reflection Riding Center (Monday Nature Day with friends),  Joyce Kilmer Wilderness Among Trees (hike we did as a family), Greenway Farms Nature Day (family archery lesson and hike)
November: Glen Falls