Tennessee Highway 91 to Low Gap, TN

On a cold, sunny day in December, 1999, I returned to Shady Valley, TN and day-hiked the seven-mile section between Tennessee Highway 91 and Low Gap on Highway 421. Tennessee Highway 91 was where my brother and I stopped last Fall on our Damascus trip.

I was all alone on the trail that day. I didn't see another person the whole time I was in the woods. The leaves had fallen and the views of the valley below were magic. The wind was brisk, temperature about 45 degrees, but a great day for hiking.

I had to walk from Low Gap back down to Shady Valley and then back up the hill on Highway 91 to where I had parked my truck. I tried to "thumb" my way back to where I had parked, but only three cars passed me all afternoon. Finally a truck stopped and gave me a lift the last two miles up the hill.

When I reached where I had parked, I noticed that someone had broken out one of the headlights on my truck. My first, and so far only experience with trail vandalism.