Long Hunter State Park

We wandered off to Long Hunter State Park today for a hike.  Long Hunter is located on the other side of the county along the banks of Percy Priest Lake.

lots of moss along the trail

In times gone by the Cherokee, Creek and Shawnee Indians fought for control of what they called the “middle hunting ground” and what we refer to as Middle Tennessee.  After the French and Indian War, Europeans came to settle in the “west”.  Hunters came on year long expeditions and to trade with the native peoples.  These hunters were known as “long hunters”.  Probably the most famous of these was Daniel Boone.

hot chocolate for lunch

Another of these hunters (not so famous) was Uriah Stone who explored the river which was eventually named for him.  In the 1960s, Stone’s River was dammed to form Percy Priest Lake.

Volunteer trail was appropriately blazed

We followed the Day Loop and a section of the Volunteer Trail to make about a 6 mile hike, much of which is along the lakeshore.  The trail meanders through boulders, through cedar glades, and along the shoreline.  In warm weather there is usually a strong odor of dead fish along this trail.  As a result it has become one of our least favorite in the area.  However, with temperatures only in the 30s today, there were no odors, no noise from motor boats, and very few other hikers.  We really enjoyed our walk on this bright sunny day.

This deere is in the spirit of the season

With a forecast of temperatures in the low 20s for tonight, we may not even go outside tomorrow.  Florida is sounding better and better to me every day.