North Chickamauga Trail Segment

That Dog Can't Climb a Ladder

It’d been two weeks since Annabelle and I had been hiking, so I figured we should get out and tackle the rest of the trail located in Pocket Wilderness.  Since the hike with Grace a few weeks back went so well I decided to let her tag along as well.  The parking area is a good distance from the road so I let Grace go without a leash straight out of the car (keep in mind this dog is a giant chicken and better behaved than most grown adults, not recommended for just any dog).  Annabelle, as usual, was leashed and had her pack strapped on.

At the beginning of the hike Grace, who was no joke grinning from ear to ear, ran circles around us as we made the walk to the Upper Hogskin Loop junction.  Once we turned off on the Upper Hogskin Loop Trail, Grace attached herself to my left side and stayed there throughout most of the hike.

The Upper Loop Trail comes to an end where you can either turn left to take the Lower Loop Trail, or you can continue straight on the old coal mining road up the Side of Mowbray Mountain.  Straight, the dogs and I went as the trail began its slow climb up the side of the mountain. 

Along the trail we passed a set of Coal Tipple Remains, which is the location where mine cars were once tipped (hence tipple) and emptied of their coal.  From here the coal would make its trip down the trail/road and be processed and sold off.

Tipple

Right past the tipples there is a waterfall with a small stream crossing (like a hop and you’ve crossed it) and an Open Mine on the other side (where the coal that was tipped at the coal tipples was retrieved).  Past the mine the trail narrows and runs below the bluff line, occasionally opening up to an overhang in the bluff.  When the trail is narrow, which is most of the time, there is a fairly steep drop on the left, and way below you can catch glimpses of the Chickamauga Creek.  The trail eventually ends at the foot of a set of wooden steps which carry you up to the top of the bluff.  Once atop the stairs you can see the Boston Branch Overlook, which is where the dogs and I stopped for a water break.

Boston Branch Overlook

From the overlook there is a short climb to another old coal mining road.  From here the trail is flat and runs for a while along the ridge, though there isn’t much of a view.  The trail eventually juts off to the left, though this isn’t necessarily apparent if you aren’t expecting it.  Don’t worry; if you miss it, the old coal mining road goes a little farther before it disappears.   

After the trail leaves the coal mining road it narrows and begins to descend down the mountain side.  There are two major events back to back almost immediately after you begin the decent, a cable crossing and a ladder.  The cable crossing is not a big deal, unless there has been a significant recent rain.  At the cable crossing there is a seasonal creek you have to ford that drops about 10-15 feet on the other side of the cable (only a potential problem if it has rained a lot recently).  After the cable crossing comes the ladder.  This is as it is called, a ladder, straight up and down wooden ladder that descends 15-20 feet and doesn’t allow for a large dog(s) to get down.  So at the ladder, the dogs and I had to call it a hike and begin our trek back to the car.

Ladder

Trip Distance 6.4 miles roundtrip

2012 Total Mileage 26.82 miles

Cumberland Trail Mileage 12.74 mile