News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Plateau Chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association is offering guided hike opportunities for anyone looking to stay active in the new year.
Program Manager John Martin said they offer short hikes and long hikes to meet peoples physical capabilities. Martin said they work as a team to make sure no one gets left behind.
“We’ll work at the pace of the slowest person who is hiking with us, if they need rest stops, we’ll stop,” Martin said. “If they need to turn around and head back because they’ve run out of energy or perhaps they feel it’s too difficult. We’ll make sure that somebody’s with them at all times to safely navigate out of the area that we’re hiking.”
Martin said the group hikes every Wednesday and every other Saturday. However, he said people do not have to be members of the group to participate in local hikes.
“To get started, you could come out without joining the association,” Martin said. “Just to see if you like hiking and the camaraderie that comes with being able to do things with hikers.”
However, Martin said that membership allows for going on hikes out of state, like this years trip to Arizona and Utah. Although, that is not the only thing a Tennessee Trails Association membership provides.
“What it does with those funds is it puts out grants. Anybody can apply for them,” Martin said. “These grants pay for trail improvements, creating new trails, putting signage on trails, things of that nature.”
The hiking schedule, with details on the upcoming hikes is available on the Plateau Chapters website. Interested residents can find that information on tennesseetrails.org. The annual membership is $25 and contact information is available online.
