Tag: climber

Baker’s Creek Preserve Mountain Bike Trails (Bell Helmets Mountain Bike Grant)

by Southern Summit Collection, posted in adventure, mountains, outdoors, travel, Uncategorized, waterfall

Located in south Knoxville, Baker’s Creek Preserve mountain bike trails are a part of a forty-mile trail system known as the South Loop Knoxville Urban Wilderness.  Baker’s creek preserve has approximately eight miles of trails which include three downhill flow trails, two pump tracks (concrete and dirt), children’s play area and (currently not built yet) a dirt jump area.

The three trails names are Cruze Valley (Green Trail), Barn Burner (Blue Trail), and Devil’s Race Track (Double black diamond).  These three trails are all super smooth and flowy, which is unusual to most of Tennessee’s trails.  These trails are full of wide berms, fast speed sections, and jumps for all skills levels.  Below is a breakdown of each of the three trails and its key features:

  • Cruze Valley – perfect for beginners, big wide berms with a few steep sections to help rider’s progress to more technical trails. The jumps on this trail include small long and low jumps which are all very rollable and don’t buck the riders.  The most impressive feature built on this trail is the huge S-berm located mid-way along the trail.  Other features found on this trail is a bunch of roller which will allow beginner riders learn to pump and jump.  These rollers can be connected for double gap jumps by more experienced riders.  More experience riders can also enjoy these rollers for manuals.
  • Barn burner – arguably the best trail at Baker’s Creek Preserve is playground for immediate riders and expert riders. This trail has a mix of big tables, step ups, step downs, alternate line gap jumps, and is super-fast.  Overall, this trail screams progression, and besides for the alternate line gap jumps can be rolled and by passed. This trail is home to big airs and huge trains.
  • Devil’s Racetrack – this is the trail that was won by the Bell Helmets award.  This downhill flow trail has huge gap jumps, an 8-foot wood step down bridge drop, 15-foot wall ride, and an alternative rock garden (rock shielded trail) with jumps.  Overall, this trail is high speed and has gaps of all sizes, this trail can be ridden without hitting the gaps.  I highly recommend if you can’t hit the jumps in the beginning of the trail or can’t clear all of the barn burner jumps to not head to this trail until you have completed those tasks.

 

These trails are absolutely awesome and I highly recommend you heading to this trail system.  Other trail systems worth the visit in the Knoxville area are Haw Ridge, Sharps Ridge, and Windrock Bike park.

 

Comment your requests of places we should visit or tips you would like to learn!

 

Thanks,

The Southern Summit Crew

IG:  SouthernSummitCo

FB: Southern Summit Collection

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Ozone Falls

by Southern Summit Collection, posted in adventure, mountains, outdoors, travel, Uncategorized, waterfall

Ozone Falls

Ozone Falls is arguably one of my favorite waterfalls in Tennessee.  It is 110 feet and is an awesome hidden jewel.  This gorgeous waterfall is located in Cumberland County, Tennessee which is in-between Nashville and Knoxville.  This waterfall isn’t super well known especially for new adventurers or average tourists which makes this place an awesome surprise especially since it is located directly on the side of a road. So what is awesome about this waterfall?

Well to start, this waterfall is directly next to a road and by just driving down the road you would never guess there would be such a huge waterfall in the area. This waterfall is massive and is surrounded by huge cliff walls around the base of the fall.  When arriving to the GPS coordinates you will find a dirt parking lot.  After parking, you just have to exit your car and head across the street.  There you will find the trail head.  There are only two well marked trails that lead you around the waterfall.  One trail heads left which leads you to the top of the water fall overlooking the massive hundred-foot water fall.  The other trail heads right and will lead you to the base of the waterfall.   This waterfall area is very much primitive so be careful hiking around the top of the waterfall.  Not paying attention could lead you to walk off the cliff or a single slip on a wet rock could end deathly.

This waterfall doesn’t require a long hike so it is good for those who are looking for a quick adventure on their road trip or for those who want to have a short day.   However, an important tip is to make sure you are physically able to hike down the steep slippery terrain.  The trail down to the base of the waterfall is extreme slick rock and requires good hiking shoes.

Make sure to plan your trip around the rainy season, if you plan to go during the summer it is possible you will have a poor stream.  So I recommend going late winter or early spring time to catch the full power of the waterfall.

If you go to the waterfall during the summer, there is a high possibility the watering hole on the bottom won’t be filled; however, it will allow you to stand under the waterfall.  Be careful walking under the waterfall, not just for slippery rocks but when I was under the fall many people say a ton of new born snakes in the rocks.  Most likely they were just banded water snakes however, a few people claimed they were copperheads.  Either way it is better to know and be prepared then not know and be surprised.

Additional activities to do while viewing this magnificent fall is to bring climbing gear to go rappelling.  Sadly, on my trip I wasn’t prepared but I saw several people rappelling the walls and I saw a couple lines that I wish I could have rappelled! Nevertheless, I will definitely go back!

Overall, this is an awesome stop or even day trip.  Comment your requests of places we should visit!

Thanks,

The Southern Summit Crew

IG:  SouthernSummitCo

FB: Southern Summit Collection

 

GPS Coordinates: 35.8814° N, 84.8103° W

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Respecting nature – a guide to begin adventuring – Part III

by Southern Summit Collection, posted in adventure, mountains, outdoors, travel, Uncategorized

Respecting nature – a guide to begin adventuring – Part III

 

You and your friends have been shredding the slopes all day hitting pillows of pow or you have finished a tough scramble up the mountain.  The adrenaline is rushing through your veins and you are completely engulfed in the moment, you look down and notice a piece of trash laying there from a fellow adventure athlete such as yourself.  Instantly it takes away from this precious moment.

 

As an adventure athlete the number one rule to go by while performing these sports is to respect nature.   There are several good rules to follow:

 

  • A classic rule that should not even have to be said, “DON’T LITTER”! Please bring a baggy with you to put your wrappings inside.  I know a lot of your favorite power bars and energy gels can get sticky and start smelling; however, throwing them on the ground doesn’t only ruin experiences for other athletes but can endanger local wildlife.  An even more disgusting version of this is cigarette buds.  Not only does it make no sense why someone would rip a cig after a grueling athletic feat but smelling and seeing all the buds is absolutely gross. Cigarettes don’t magically disappear into the earth so please leave them at home or bring a baggy for them as well.
  • Don’t destroy nature. This one sadly needs to be said because lately there have been multiple incidents of people destroying iconic landmarks.  It is not only selfish but ignorant to destroy a beautiful creation that has been on earth for so long.  In a world that is getting smaller and more urbanized every special sight matters.
  • Don’t mess with wildlife, this is pretty self-explanatory but this isn’t just for your own safety. Certain species of animals will be harmed with any human contact.  Just a single tough to baby animals can lead to their mother neglecting them which will ultimately result in the animal dying.  Please take pictures and enjoy their world but unless you are hunting to eat or are an expert in wild life its best to watch from a distance.
  • Be careful with fire! This one is close to my heart because of the destruction of many forest near me in Tennessee and North Carolina.  Properly learn how to make campfires or use gas cooking sets.  Forest fires as seen in Gatlinburg, Tennessee can destroy not only wildlife and beautiful scenery but can spread to urbanized civilization outside of national parks and harm humans and destroy homes.

 

Comment your requests of places we should visit or tips you would like to learn!

 

Thanks,

The Southern Summit Crew

IG:  SouthernSummitCo

FB: Southern Summit Collection

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As you can see a few people didn’t follow the rules of leaving no trace.. thanks Angie!
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What happens when you play with fire and don’t respect it. 

How to progress quickly? – A guide to begin adventuring/adventure sports (part II)

by Southern Summit Collection, posted in adventure, couples, outdoors, travel, Uncategorized

You have been on a few backpacking trips, you have rushed down class 2 or 3 rapids, have hit a few drops and jumps on your mountain bike or you might have taken your first baby steps into your first adventure sport.  Whether you want to admit it or not its human nature to want to progress!  I am going to give you my tips to progress a rapid rate.  So listed below is  your guide from becoming a joe to a pro.

  • Fitness – no matter what adventure sport you are picking up from hiking to whitewater kayaking the best way to perform to your fullest is by creating a solid base fitness. This should be done in and out of the weight room.  I try to put in four weight room work outs a week as well as 3-5 days of cardio a week.  The cardio training is normally a mix of my adventure sport discipline as well as a different sport for variety.  During mountain bike season I might ride three times a week and the other two days of week of cardio will be long day hikes in the mountains.  Your fitness program should focus around strength training, core exercises and building your aerobic and anaerobic capacity.
  • Education – to become a “pro” I recommend developing your skills to mimic the pros. I recommend watching several pros in the sport you are trying to perfect and mimic their actions.  This might not be an exact formula but finding a common dominator between each pro and trying to mimic their actions will help you progress.  I recommend reading books and watching YouTube how to videos from several sources.  Each source will give slightly different tips by hearing different perspectives this can help you figure out what works for you.  An example would be a video I used to watch called “how to American bunny hop on a mountain bike” there are hundreds of videos of showing how to perform this action but after watching several different videos I only seemed to learn from one specific video because the instructor described it in a way that I personally could understand.
  • Mentorship – find someone who is more experienced than you. By spending time with this person you will develop your skills.  Your mentor will give you tips that only someone with years of experience will know.  They will also know your local scene and will be able to give you warnings if there are any dangers or great secret spots in your area.
  • Practice – no matter how much you watch and learn the skills you want to perform you have to go out there and practice. Just as the old saying goes practice makes perfect. Video yourself and watch what you are doing and compare this to what you have been watching the pros do.
  • Time – once again no matter how much you learn and how much you practice you do.  Some skills just take time and experience.  Experience, that only time can teach you, will help you stomp the jump you have been dreaming of or the mountain you have been looking at climbing.
  • Equipment – I can’t say this enough (there will be a separate blog discussing this topic in the future) but purchasing the correct equipment can save you time, money and frustration.  Do your research and talk to experienced individuals in the sport to understand the gear you need.  You need to figure out what you want to achieve in the sport and buy accordingly.
  • Learn with someone of the same level – learning with someone of similar experience can create a bond that is hard to achieve with a mentor.  Learning with someone of the same level can make a life long friendship and a team.  By struggling with someone  and enduring the challenges that you face will help the experience be more fun and not seem as hard.   This teamwork can also create friendly competition and help push each other to progress faster.  Maybe one of you is better at a skill than the other naturally?  Well being able to explain to each other the skill can help the teams progression.  img_5461

High Falls Park, Alabama – Alabama’s Best Kept Secret

by Southern Summit Collection, posted in Uncategorized

High Falls Park

969 Co Rd 144, Grove Oak, AL 35975

High Falls Park AKA Alabama’s best kept secret. Okay maybe that’s not its full title, but it should be. Located north of Lake Guntersville, past wide spaces of farm land on a single dirt road, a clear water swimming hole sits under 50 foot cliffs with a running water fall. Whether you’re a family of five or cliff jumper of one the park is free of admission to let your day adventurer run free (the park closes at sundown folks).

On the other hand if you’re not ready to spark your cliff jumper, thrill seeker, stomach in your throat side, this piece of Alabama jungle still holds hidden treasures to locals and visitors alike. From rope swings to nature trails, High Falls Park is a great place to bring your family and friends of all ages. Note that if you bring your kiddos there isn’t a lifeguard on duty and there does take upper body strength to climb up back onto the rocks from the water. In the chance if you’ve brought a non-swimmer, the park (along with the rest of Alabama) provides opportunities to scavenge down natural trails, relax by sandy beaches or even grill out for the afternoon.

Last but not least. The people. In this secluded part of paradise, the locals make this environment as special as it is. While they’re no professionals, the local cliff divers certainly put on a show for visitors and inspire the thrill seekers there. Keep in mind that there are plenty of spots to jump but like anything worth it, it takes time and skill. Depending on your skill level, there are chances for rock climbing, double barrels and even a belly flop here and there.

If you pack anything double check that you have a camera before you go. I don’t care if it’s on your IPhone or Nikon digital, be sure to freeze this place in time with any visual device. The most interesting part about historical “go-tos” is that they can’t promise us that they will always be there. So, embrace every moment, leave only foot prints and take as many memories possible.

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact me through site. Happy diving!

-Kody

IG: SouthernSummitCo

About Southern Summit

by Southern Summit Collection, posted in Uncategorized

Local. Its familiar definition has never been all too familiar to me. While the South has always been a moment of familiarity, I’ve always been a traveler of sorts due to a military family background. Eighteen countries and ten years later, I feel the most at home in nature.
From the snowy tops of the Alps to cold waters of South France, I have been given the opportunity to travel the world more than your average 21 year old. However, the southern summits hold a special place for me. Whether it’s my carabineer, climbing backpack or scarred up shins, I believe they have a story to tell of a south not fully represented.
Hidden from the treetops of the pines or tourists wandering eyes, the South has genuine adventure to offer to locals and visitors, but like anything worth it, it takes time to search for it. Enter the Southern Summit blog. As a part of this journey, I want to take you to the most exotic and beautiful expeditions across the Southeastern United States. While some areas may be familiar, others may be hidden pieces located below the Mason Dixon line. All the while I want to share my passion for the outdoors with you in all its forms. Using a camera and my words, I want to showcase the Southeast’s efforts of making its outdoor scene a better and brighter place through conservationist efforts or a local mountain biker.
We all have a story to tell, but it’s a matter of giving yourself a voice and stretching beyond your comfort zone. I hope that you will follow me on this journey as I reach to the summit of understanding of what outdoor-loving locals in the Southeast have to offer beyond the beaten path.