Comments on: Short Springs State Natural Area http://wildrlog.com/2007/03/10/short-springs-state-natural-area One man's wilderness diary Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:40:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: WildrMan Bryan http://wildrlog.com/2007/03/10/short-springs-state-natural-area/comment-page-1#comment-293 WildrMan Bryan Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:40:05 +0000 http://wildrlog.com/blog/2007/03/10/short-springs-state-natural-area/#comment-293 Thank you for the additional information. It's been some time since I've been there.. Sounds like I need to do some exploring. Thanks again Bryan Thank you for the additional information. It’s been some time since I’ve been there.. Sounds like I need to do some exploring.

Thanks again
Bryan

]]> By: Michele http://wildrlog.com/2007/03/10/short-springs-state-natural-area/comment-page-1#comment-292 Michele Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:14:13 +0000 http://wildrlog.com/blog/2007/03/10/short-springs-state-natural-area/#comment-292 I have hiked this area since I discovered it in the mid-eighties - when I was in my twenties. I grew up in Tullahoma, and when I was shown Machine "Gun" Falls (as we fondly referred to it back in the day) and Bobo Creek I could not believe this remarkable place was literally at my 'back door'. I was fortunate to have been taken to the falls the first time by people who knew the area extremely well, so I was shown several places "off the path" that remain almost sacred to me. I took my husband there for the first time today, and he was equally impressed. The only 'official' trails I use are the one to the falls, then the Wildflower Loop to get to the creek bed. I've probably hiked the creek bed fifty times. Beginning where the Wildflower Loop doubles back, I/we veer off the trail towards the creek bed and follow it, rock and tree root hopping to a set of falls before Bugby Falls that I don't know the name of where you have to scale up the right side of the falls. There are so many unique sections of Bobo Creek that you miss if you don't take this route. Just above this set of falls is a wide and very shallow section of the creek where it flows over nearly flat slate/shale (or whatever that flat black rock is) for about 100 feet where my friends and I used to go to lay out in the sun. In the eighties we ALWAYS had the area completely to ourselves. Those are wonderful memories. I continue to follow the creek bed from this flat section all the way up to Short Springs Road, walking on the road back to the car. Usually I've been able to do this without getting my feet wet, but yesterday, at the very end, where I had to get back across the creek to get to the road, I had to step into a shallow section of the creek to cross. My husband's stride is longer, so he was able to get across on rocks without stepping into the creek. At the place where the creek meets with what used to be banked off area of the water treatment plant there is a beautiful scene where the creek flows through some moss-covered rocks; you won't see this if you don't get off the trail and trek up the creek bed. But watch for snakes if you're thinking of going this creek bed route. For the first time in all the years I've trekked through this creek bed, we saw a copperhead yesterday. It was more fearful of us (I'm told) than we were it, but it was still an alarming moment. Thanks Wildrman Bryan, for sharing your comments about this special place online. I have hiked this area since I discovered it in the mid-eighties – when I was in my twenties. I grew up in Tullahoma, and when I was shown Machine “Gun” Falls (as we fondly referred to it back in the day) and Bobo Creek I could not believe this remarkable place was literally at my ‘back door’. I was fortunate to have been taken to the falls the first time by people who knew the area extremely well, so I was shown several places “off the path” that remain almost sacred to me. I took my husband there for the first time today, and he was equally impressed. The only ‘official’ trails I use are the one to the falls, then the Wildflower Loop to get to the creek bed. I’ve probably hiked the creek bed fifty times. Beginning where the Wildflower Loop doubles back, I/we veer off the trail towards the creek bed and follow it, rock and tree root hopping to a set of falls before Bugby Falls that I don’t know the name of where you have to scale up the right side of the falls. There are so many unique sections of Bobo Creek that you miss if you don’t take this route. Just above this set of falls is a wide and very shallow section of the creek where it flows over nearly flat slate/shale (or whatever that flat black rock is) for about 100 feet where my friends and I used to go to lay out in the sun. In the eighties we ALWAYS had the area completely to ourselves. Those are wonderful memories. I continue to follow the creek bed from this flat section all the way up to Short Springs Road, walking on the road back to the car. Usually I’ve been able to do this without getting my feet wet, but yesterday, at the very end, where I had to get back across the creek to get to the road, I had to step into a shallow section of the creek to cross. My husband’s stride is longer, so he was able to get across on rocks without stepping into the creek. At the place where the creek meets with what used to be banked off area of the water treatment plant there is a beautiful scene where the creek flows through some moss-covered rocks; you won’t see this if you don’t get off the trail and trek up the creek bed. But watch for snakes if you’re thinking of going this creek bed route. For the first time in all the years I’ve trekked through this creek bed, we saw a copperhead yesterday. It was more fearful of us (I’m told) than we were it, but it was still an alarming moment. Thanks Wildrman Bryan, for sharing your comments about this special place online.

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