Collins Gulf Loop, Savage Gulf, 17 miles

We parked at the Collins West trailhead

I wanted to finish all the trails in South Cumberland this year, so when Kimberly wanted to take an overnight, I decided it was the perfect time to knock out more miles.
This gives me the whole park other than the stretch between the Decatur-Savage Cabin and Ranger Falls.  I think that's only about 4 miles!  

The day was perfect, just two weeks ago the heat index was still brushing 100 and we were thrilled with the high of barely 60 for this trip.  Lows hit 38 briefly, we both were snug in our 10-degree quilts.  I didn't even need my extra layer and slept in Cuddlduds I bought at TJMaxx.  :)  More on keeping warm in a bit.

The trail has different names on different maps, on the newest map from the visitor center right now, the trail we took out is called Collins Rim Trail, but the signs still call it Collins Gulf the whole length.
The distances on the signs, as usual for South Cumberland, did not match with GPS tracking.  The nearly 7 miles (6.1 plus .5) to the campsite tracked at 9.8 miles.

Every trail in the park is blazed white, side trails are blue.

The Collins Rim Trail went down into the gulf almost immediately.  As it dropped into the gulf, it went uphill several times.  I know the trail builders put the trail where they could, but that doesn't make crossing rocks any easier!

Another long, rocky climb down into the gulf.

This pic...well, I went to get water because I was already out and there were several red leaves floating in the creek.  I got my water bottle filled and treated and they floated further than I could feasibly get a photo, so I saw this leaf on a rock right by the water.  I dropped it in, it flipped-colorful side down.  I flipped it back over and it sank right away.  So I had to put it on a rock to capture the whole 'fall leaves in the water' shot I should have just taken when it was legit.  hahahaha!

I really love swinging bridges!

There's water under this one, a rare occurrence for Savage Gulf!

Hiking hair issues again.  My buff is inside out!  THIS is a thing a hiking partner should tell you about!

She's too busy spoiling that dog.

A flash of fall color.

From the split to Stagecoach Campsite, the map says 6.1, sign says 6.2, GPS says 7.8.
The 10-15 mile 9.9-mile connector trail is the hardest trail in the park.  It is a monster.

I was just shy of 3 miles from here according to the GPS, putting us at ALMOST 10 miles for the day.

Hand stacked rock along the old stagecoach route, it goes the full length of the trail, too.
The work that went into making this road was phenomenal.

Do you see how the sign at the other junction said it was 2 miles, but from the bottom going up, it's 1.6 miles?  It's like they drew numbers out of a hat.

It was actually .25 miles to our campsite from here.  A rare under-guess from former park staff!!!


We got set up just before dark.  Kimberly gave the last of her water to Lucy and we went off to get more from the spring.
It was very near dark and the spring was .3 miles from the far end of the camping area, so about half a mile from our site.  We walked toward it and lost the trail in the dark-too many rocks and not enough blazing for the level of dark out. 

So, Kimberly ended up taking half my remaining liter of water and we went to bed.

I wore down booties, no socks, a bamboo hat I crocheted myself, my fleece pajamas I wear at home, and I covered up with my 10-degree Enlightened Equipment quilt and slept on a Big Agnes Q Core.

I sleep COLD.  Even at home, with endless blankets and clothing options, central heat, heating pads, husband/furnace, and solid walls, I am often cold.  I was worried I was going to freeze.

I laid there half an hour or so to let my body heat warm up my quilt and my sleeping pad.  My feet were still cold and my hands were freezing.   I had left my gloves at home.

I had brought hand warmers to toss one in with my batteries in a small bag because I don't like to sleep with my electronics.  So I got another one out and put it between my thighs on the femoral artery and got another 2 to hold in my cold hands.  My hands warmed up within 10-15 minutes and the foot on the leg with the warmer was toasty!  So I put one of my hand warmer packs on the other thigh and warmed my other foot. Since I did not need the remaining one for my hands anymore, I put it in my left armpit to help keep my left arm warmer.  I have some nerve damage in my upper arm, an ongoing issue that is wearing to
say the least.   Keeping it warm is a big help.

And that was all it took!  I rested well, eventually fell asleep (it was 6:30 when we got in our tents!) and at 3, I woke RIGHT up.

Okay, so outside my tent I heard the sound of metal on metal.
7 quick taps.
I pulled out my earplugs and listened harder.  I heard shuffling-probably raccoons snuffling around the campsite.  I heard Kimberly and Lucy snoring.  About 10 minutes later, I heard 4 more taps.  Then nothing. 

It was STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT.  I am not even joking, that was the sound.  Which I can't find online, but I have slept in the woods a couple hundred times in my life and never once have I heard that noise.

The next morning we got up and packed up and took a 2-mile field trip to the Decatur-Savage Cabin and back around to the campsite.

The map calls it Decatur Savage Cabin, the signs call it the Cator-Savage Cabin.

The creek is dry in this area.  It's blue on the map! 

Lucy is kind enough to pose.

Trail.

The side trail to Schwoon Spring.
It is STEEP and about 1/3 mile!

At the spring, there's some climbing to get in that cave to reach the spring.
There are bats, treat the water even if it is coming right out of the ground.

This is also trail.

The sinks.

Horsepound Falls

It goes uphill.  Waaa

More trail

See that blaze UP THERE?  

TRAIL

The white rocks are...trail!
This stretch is actually not bad

Trail!

The bridge has a broken strut and it was swinging like crazy!

Suter Falls

Last hard stretch, 40 steps. 

The hike out, including the 2 mile loop we added for the cabin, was 7 miles.

After reaching the parking area, we headed to the nearby Dairy Bar where I got a grilled cheese.