Here are upcoming news and events from Outdoor Chattanooga:
Intro to Top Rope Climbing - Learn to Belay
Tuesday, November 6 | 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Join Outdoor Chattanooga for an intro to top rope rock climbing and belay training class on Tuesday, November 6 from 5-7 p.m. The class focuses on the basics of belaying, a fundamental skill in the sport of rock climbing whether you choose to climb at the indoor gym or at the crag. Learn how to safely and effectively belay, basic gear, safety checks and become proficient through the guided practice with Outdoor Chattanooga's expert staff.
The class will start indoors at Outdoor Chattanooga's facility in Coolidge Park and also utilize the City of Chattanooga's Walnut Wall overlooking the Tennessee River from a 50' high limestone pier of the historic Walnut Street Bridge. Appropriate for ages 11 and up. No previous experience is necessary. Minors must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian who can sign the assumption of risk and liability release form. Cost: $10 per person. FREE for members of the (ICL) Interscholastic Climbing League.
Intro to Top Rope Climbing - Learn to Belay
Guided Backpacking Adventure
November 10 - 11 | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Join Outdoor Chattanooga on an introductory backpacking adventure as part of our Cumberland Trail Hiking Series. Experienced guides will be with you every step of the way providing instruction on the basics of backpacking. Learn how to properly pack the essentials, campsite setup, cooking techniques on the trail, all while practicing Leave No Trace principles in the backcountry. Cost is $65 per person which includes meals, transportation, instruction, guides along the trail assisting with campsite setup and breakdown, meal prep and cleanup, and backpacking equipment (if needed). We ask that participants have some hiking experience and be physically able to hike 4 to 6 miles per day on a trail rated as moderately strenuous while carrying a pack weighing 25 to 40 lbs. Beginners will find this adventure to be challenging, but certainly attainable. Children ages 14 and up must be accompanied by a participating adult. Please call (423) 643-6888 to learn more and register in advance. All details will be given upon registration via email.
Guided Backpacking Adventure
Guided Hike on the CT
Saturday, December 1 | 1-4 p.m.
Join Outdoor Chattanooga for a guided hike on the Cumberland Trail on Sat., December 1 at 1:00 p.m. We'll lead registered participants on a 5-mile hike that's rated as moderately strenuous to explore a unique section of the CT. We'll provide guides and a shuttle for the one-way trek so you can enjoy the sights and sounds of nature without the worry of getting lost. Call us to register and receive details! 423-643-6888.
Cumberland Trail Guided Hike
Community Events
Fall Festival and Family Night Sat., November 3 | 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Get out to Reflection Riding on Saturday, November 3rd for their Fall Festival & Family Night. Celebrate autumn's changing colors and habitats with day hikes to explore the various fall colors throughout Reflection Riding's 317 acres. Be sure to stick around into the evening to enjoy more guided tours and educational opportunities, hay rides, a dog hike including adoptions afterwards with Pet Placement Center, tastings by Chattanooga Whiskey, an outdoor film screening, and a spooky paddle with local comedian Roger Keiss. Admission for the evening is free, but there is a $15 per car fee for parking for non-members. Reflection Riding Members park for free.
Fall Festival & Family Night
Sculptures in the Sky
Saturday, November 3 | 12 - 6 p.m.
Get ready for some high-flying family fun when the skies at the 33-acre Sculpture Fields will be filled with colossal and colorful kites, stunt kites and Rokkaku battle kites at the free, Sculptures in the Sky event. In addition to the kites, visitors also will enjoy performances, local food trucks and a beer tent. Some kites will be massive, spanning 20 feet, which are so large they must be anchored to the ground. Kids will be able to race parachute-like kites (bols) in what fliers call Running with the Bols. Visitors also will be able to make their own kites for free.
Sculptures in the Sky
Head of Hooch Rowing Regatta
November 3 - 4 | 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
The Head of the Hooch is an annual rowing regatta held in Chattanooga on the first Saturday and Sunday of November. Competitors row a 5,000-meter (3.1 mile) course on the Tennessee River ending at Ross's Landing Park. With 2,000+ boats racing over two days, it is one of the largest rowing regattas in the world! Here is a spectator's guide for watching this unique sporting event this weekend. Spectators can watch the races along the Tennessee River from various locations. The course map shows where the races start and finish. The best place to view the finish line is at Ross's Landing Park, where you can also enjoy the crews tents, the Chattanooga Market and the crowds supporting the crews on and off the water. The Walnut Street Bridge offers a unique way to watch the race and a perfect location for aerial pictures of the rowers as they approach the finish line. Coolidge Park on the North Shore offers a quieter location for spectating on the opposite side of the river. Finally, the Tennessee Riverwalk offers a paved path along the shore to view the races by foot or by bike.
Local Adventure Spotlight
Don't put the camping gear up just yet. It's still fall in Chattanooga and it's fantastic time to get out and spend a weekend in the woods, hiking and camping, or better yet, blend the two and try backpacking! Backpacking may seem like an activity reserved for hardcore outdoor adventurers with experience, but we think this outdoor activity is for anyone that's curious and has a sense of adventure. We'll help walk you through this month's local adventure with some beginner friendly advice and recommendations. If you take our advice, you'll maximize your experience and look like a pro!
Backpack Selection
Backpacks are made to carry all your equipment into the campsite. Comfort is what you seek. The wrong backpack will ruin the experience. It's best to size your pack based on your torso size, not your height, but most backpacking packs come with some range of adjustability. You'll want a backpack that's 30-50 liters for overnight trips so it can accommodate your gear. Any local retailer can help fit you for a backpack that's best for you and your intended purposes. You can also find used packs at the Gear Closet or Four Bridges Outfitters or rent from Rock Creek if you're on a budget.
Tent Selection
There are tents for every reason and season you can imagine. You'll want to select one that is appropriate for you and your intended purpose and the climate you'll be in. Backpacking tents are lightweight and pack smaller than car camping or family tents. Some people are content hanging like a burrito in a hammock, others like to dwell on the ground. It's up to you to select your preferred sleeping style because ultimately, backpacking is more enjoyable when you get a good night's sleep.
Sleeping Bag + Ground Pads
All the choices out there can be confusing, but it's as simple as finding a sleep system that's comfortable to you and appropriate for your intended purpose and season of use. You can go to a local retailer to get some advice from professionals about degree rating, weight, materials and packability, or read up on gear guides online like this one from Mountain Lovely.
Clothing + Footwear
Clothing - it's best to wear synthetic fabrics and layers when backpacking. Always pack a warm outer layer and a waterproof layer like a rain jacket or poncho.
Footwear - Don't break in new hiking boots on your first hike! Wear sturdy, well broken in shoes or boots. Blisters will ruin a backpacking trip. Be sure to bring moleskin, waterproof tape and at least one extra pair of socks.
Food + Water
Food - Keep it simple. You don't have to buy special backpacking food. Take what you'd normally eat so that way you'll eat and enjoy it. There are plenty of prepackaged foods that are easy to heat up and serve in one pot. Don't overthink it, keep it simple.
Water is heavy! Most backpackers will rely on water purification systems to avoid carrying large amounts of water on long hikes. It's recommended to have at least 3 liters of clean water for drinking and cooking on an overnight trip.
Cookware
Some backpackers can survive on cold meals, but we prefer the reward of a hot meal after a long day of hiking. You can pre-plan meals to cook in foil over a fire or invest in a lightweight backpacking stove like a Jetboil, Whisperlite or pocket rocket. It'll make cooking a breeze and take up very little room in your pack. With all the choices out there it can be overwhelming, but REI offers a good guide on how to choose a backpacking stove.
Take the Essentials
The Ten Essentials + First Aid Supplies: Any overnight venture into the woods requires preparation and planning. It's always a good idea to pack the ten essentials! You can purchase pre-packaged first aid kits from retail stores or make your own. Here's a helpful first aid supply checklist.
Now, it's time to get all that into the backpack! Watch this short video on how to pack a backpack.
Where to go??
For the true beginner's out there, we recommend Cloudland Canyon State Park or Desoto State Park. Both have short distance trails to designated campsites so you can get a taste without biting off more than you can chew. Or, you can camp in a traditional site and spend your day hiking the many trails within the state park.
Desoto State Park
Desoto State Park has a 3/4 mile hike into a built shelter with a fire ring all cozied up next to a babbling brook. Be sure to follow the map so you don't end up going the wrong direction and doing the full 3-mile loop! We suggest staying 2 nights so you can get out and explore the hiking trails during the day without packs on your backs and just return to the same campsite. Take time to drive over to Desoto Falls while you're out there!
Cloudland Canyon State Park
Cloudland Canyon is one the most scenic and popular of Georgia's State Parks. Stunning waterfalls, incredible long-range views, sheer canyon walls, and spectacular sunsets make the park one our favorite Georgia hiking and camping destinations. Cloudland Canyon offers cabin and yurt rentals as well as standard RV and tent camping sites. But, they also offer a backcountry trail with several campsites and pit toilets nearby. Just like Desoto State Park, the hike into a campsite is less than a mile and then you have an entire State Park to explore without carrying heavy packs around all day long.
There are longer distance backpacking options available near Chattanooga, but we wanted to offer up suggestions for those "never have I ever, but I kinda wanna give that a try" folks. If you have any questions or need more information, please check out the backpacking section on our website or give us a call. You can also join us on the last introductory backpacking adventure we're offering as part of our Cumberland Trail Hiking Series this year.
Job Opportunities
SECC is Hiring a Program Coordinator
The Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) is a non-profit service organization built on the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) that operated from 1933-1942. SECC provides youth and young adult’s opportunities to complete conservation projects on public and private lands throughout Tennessee and the Southeast Region. While serving with SECC members learn job training skills, conflict resolution, leadership, teamwork, and environmental stewardship.
Upcoming Events
November
1 Full Moon Fitness at Harrison Bay
2 Fly Fishing Film Tour
2 Campfire Concerts at Reflection Riding
2 Tennessee Fall Star Gaze at Fall Creek Falls
3 Ranger led Hike: Exploring the History of Lookout Mountain
3 Sculptures in the Sky
3 Fall Festival & Family Night
3 Spooky Moonlight Paddling
3-4 Head of the Hooch
3-4 Overnight Backpacking Class
3-4 Intro to Trad Climbing (women only)
4 Urban Nature 10K
6 Intro to Top Rope Climbing
7 Tracking Neotropical Songbirds
8 Reel Rock 13
9-11 Climbing and Yoga Retreat
10 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon, half & 5K
10 Upchuck 50K
10 Fall Camping for Kids
10 Bouldering Technique
10-11 Guided Backpacking Trip on Cumberland Trail
10-11 Backpacking Trip at Fall Creek Falls
11 Fee Free Day at Point Park
12 Learn to Ride a Bicycle
14-16 November Waterfall Tour
16 Savage Falls Hike
17 Rock the Body Positive Clinic
17-18 Intro to Trad Climbing
19 Bike Commuting 101
18 Anchors and Rappelling Clinic
23 After Thanksgiving Hike at Red Clay
23 Black Friday Hike at Harrison Bay
23 Day After Thanksgiving Hike at Booker T
23 After Thanksgiving Day Hike at Ocoee/Hiwassee
23 After Thanksgiving Hike: Devils Racetrack (difficult)
23 Head of the Sequatchie Open Day
23 Turkey Trot After Thanksgiving at Fall Creek Falls
24 Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing
December
1 Guided Hike on the Cumberland Trail
1 Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing (women only)
1 Mainx24
1 The Ugly Sweater Race
1-2 Wilderness First Aid + CPR
1-2 Intro to Trad Climbing (women only)
2 Intro to Sport Climbing
9 Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing (women only)
10 Learn to Ride a Bicycle
15 Sandhill Crane Kayak Tour
15 Lookout Mountain 50 miler, 20 mile, 10K Race
15 Anchors and Rappelling Clinic
15-16 Intro to Trad Climbing (women only)
16 Christmas at Red Clay State Park
17 Bike Commuting 101
January
4 Guided Hike on Ritchie Hollow Trail