Louisiana Hiking Club

Si Louisiana Trail Blazer

2014 First Quarter

page 1 - 2

President’s

Message

page 3

Photo Correction

page 4

BAMA

page 5 - 7

Big Bend

page 8

February Weekend

page 9

CampFest

The President’s Message Happy New Year, All! I hope that you all

enjoyed happy and peaceful holidays.

During the last quarter of the year, I was able

to enjoy some great hikes with club members as well

as a brief road trip to Tennessee with my family.

The club hikes included Palmetto Island State Park,

Potkopinu (Old Natchez Trace) Trail, and John

Thornhill’s tree farm in Mississippi. At Palmetto

Island, in addition to hiking the trails, we were

all treated to a wonderful meal courtesy of the

Abbeville area Dutch oven cooking club and Le Chien

and D’Arbonne Dutch oven cooking clubs. There was

more than enough food for everyone with several

variations of Louisiana favorites such as rice

dressing, cabbage casserole, cornbread, and sweet

potato casserole. There was no shortage of desserts

either! What a treat! Some of us also paddled the

ponds there. The Potkopinu Trail was beautiful with

some fall colors still hanging on the trees and

undulating terrain. The hike at John’s farm in

Mississippi was very interesting, as he and his

forester discussed the management of the farm, and

as he has in previous years, John treated us all to

a lovely meal at his home. As is the case with all

of the club hikes, the pleasure of being outdoors

and hiking in the forest was enhanced by the company

and conversations with fellow club members.

For our family trip to Tennessee, we elected to

travel the Natchez Trace Parkway. We enjoyed the

scenery, but did not have time to take any hikes

along the way. However, we did stop to view a

waterfall along the Trace in Tennessee, as well as

Meriwether Lewis’ burial site. We also made an

unanticipated stop when a deer unfortunately darted

right in the path of our SUV! The injured deer ran

off into the woods, and we were able to continue on

our way with minimal damage to our SUV. While we

only had 3 days to spend in Tennessee, most of that

being family time, we did get out to hike at the

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Longhunter State Park along Percy Priest Lake. The trail

we chose followed the lakeshore offering nice views of

this large lake from high points. As the sun was

setting, and the forest was darkening, we also caught

sight of some browsing deer along the trail. In spite of

the collision with the deer, this trip to Tennessee was

a pleasant conclusion to the year 2013.

Now, I am looking forward to more hiking this year.

The club already has four out–of-state trips planned for

this year, one of which – Big Bend National Park – is

underway as I write this, in addition to the Saturday

hikes. The others include: end of February trip to Big

Thicket in East Texas, April trip to North

Carolina/South Carolina, and June trip to the Cascades

in Washington. I hope to make at least one of these

trips and most of the 2nd Saturday hikes. I hope that

many of you will also be able to enjoy these trips.

Happy Trails,

Emelise

Palmetto Island State Park, November 2013

3

Correction!

This group photo of hikers at the October 2013 Second Saturday Hike, which

was published in the last newsletter, has been corrected for clarity. You may have

noticed that the photo was a bit fuzzy. Sorry about that!

Photo credit: Cecil Bankston

4

BAMA

by John Engelsman

He was a rangy marine pilot in his mid-thirties. Last spring, Cathi and I had joined a niece

and her family for a week in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. Bama was an old college

buddy of our nephew. He and his wife had come along and were ready to hike. I

suggested we hike the Porter’s Creek Trail. Nancy Hall introduced that trail to me on a

club trip a few years back. It’s a lovely trail along a mountain stream with a nice waterfall,

plenty of wildflowers and a number of giant trees along the way. Near the start is a well

preserved old barn, spring house and camphouse. It’s a little over 7 miles round trip and

has a 1,400 foot elevation gain. As we were preparing to leave our cabin, I couldn’t help

but notice the humongous backpack he was readying. I walked over and hefted it: at least

40 lbs maybe more. When I reminded him this was a day hike, he grinned and said he

carried that pack on all his hikes. Then he offered to carry all my stuff. Of course, pride

wouldn’t let me accept that offer. I led the way for the first half. The trail was quite wet

and many of the rocks were slick. Bama never asked for a break and didn’t even seem to

be breathing hard. It’s an out and back trail and Bama led on the way back which is pretty

much all downhill. I knew we were going too fast for comfort but pride would not let me

suggest a slower pace. All of a sudden my hiking poles went flying and I came down hard

on a knee. Thereafter, to my chagrin, the pace visibly slowed to enable the old man to

safely keep up. My bruised pride hurt worse than my knee. Of all the 7 deadly sins,

pride is the one that keeps on teaching me harsh lessons of life. When will I ever learn?

Two days later I rose at dawn to hike to the Jumpoff, a side trail, off the Boulevard Trail.

Jaime, our nephew, informed me that Bama had already left on a bike trip from Sugarlands

Visitor Center to Clingman’s Dome. One way, that is a 20 mile ride with an elevation gain

of about a mile. When I asked Jaime if he was driving to the Dome to pick Bama up, he

said oh, no that Bama was making a round trip. My hike featured a drenching rain and I

got back to the cabin wanting a hot shower and a nap. Bama had returned and looked just

fine. I knew fatigue had to catch up with him soon so I was surprised when he joined us

that evening to go to a tourist trap in Pigeon Forge to experience the “Lumberjack

Challenge.” I expected Bama to eat and then doze off in his seat. Little did I know that

Marine. The challenge puts half the guests in one “family” and half in another and the

families compete against one another. From time to time, volunteers are selected from the

audience. Finally, the contest featured a 30 foot pole climb involving 2 volunteers

wearing spurs and heavy belts. To my amazement Bama represented our “family.” How

could this guy possibly climb that pole after such an arduous bike ride. Well, he climbed

just fine. He didn’t win but he finished the climb and came close.

At the end of that trip, I decided that if Bama was a typical Marine, the defense of this

country was in good hands. Pickle

ps. I plan to start calling Rick Fonte, Sir

5

Big Bend

photos by Allison Saltzman

6

7

Big Bend

photos by Ann Ingram

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A February Weekend of Hiking

by Cecil Bankston

We did two more La. Hikes this weekend. Friday afternoon, we went to Indian Creek

Recreation Area, near Woodworth, to hike the 2.5 mile Indian Creek Nature Trail. The

trail is broad and well-maintained, with easy-to-follow blazes. It passes through a

mixed forest dominated by pines with portions along the shore of Indian Creek Lake.

Many limbs were on the trail, apparently broken off by a recent ice storm, but they

didn’t produce any actual obstruction. Parts of the trail were very wet from rain earlier

in the week, but the abundant pine needles and leaves allowed us to avoid getting

muddy. We saw some flocks of ducks on the lake and groups of cormorants in dead

trees in one section of the lake. The trail is worth trying if you are in the area and don’t

have time for a longer hike. It probably would be even more attractive when the Spring

flowers begin to appear.

Our Saturday destination was Sicily Island Hills WMA, NE of Alexandria. The area

resembles Tunica Hills, but is even more rugged. The gravel road from the southern

entrance is supposed to provide access to the trailhead for rock Falls Nature Trail. We

had to drag about six large branches, or small trees, off the road to get near the

trailhead, but our progress was halted by a very large fallen tree that would have

required chainsaws to clear. As we were driving back out, we met two men hiking on

the road. They were from the area and frequently hiked in the WMA to train for a major

hiking trip to Colorado this Summer. They rode with us back to the big tree where we

left the car and hiked on up the road to the trail, which we then hiked with them. The

adequately blazed trail had some steep sections that provided ample exercise. I would

not suggest trying it without a hiking pole. The men said Winter was the best time to

hike the area, as poisonous snakes and mosquitoes are big problems when the

undergrowth begins to leaf out. The waterfall is interesting though it didn’t have a large

flow volume.

After seeing Rock Falls, we drove to the northern entrance to access the 7 mile Big

Creek Nature Trail, which we started hiking about 12:25 pm. Most of the “trail” is a

trail only in the sense that there are blazes on the trees to show where to go. The route

includes many steep, slippery bluffs, numerous fallen trees and limbs, and many

crossings of small tributaries of Big Creek. At least we were able to cross the creeks

without wading in more than one inch of water if we didn’t try to take the most direct

route to the next blaze. The scenery was nice, but the hike probably was one of the

toughest we have ever done, much more exhausting than the 9 mile Kincaid Lake Loop.

We got back to the car about 6:40. I would recommend the hike only to those who

enjoy a real challenge and who can begin the hike no later than mid-morning. The

snake warnings also would apply as the weather warms.

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CAMPFEST 2014 -- March 15 - 16

* CHICOT STATE PARK *

Conference Center - East Landing

* CAMPING *

Tent Camping ONLY at East Landing

(RVs must camp in regular campground)

* SEMINARS *

* DOOR PRIZES! *

* SATURDAY NIGHT POT LUCK *

The club provides the entrée.

Bring a side dish or dessert to share with everyone!

* SUNDAY MORNING PANCAKE BREAKFAST *

followed by

hiking at the Louisiana State Arboretum