Green Tunnel Vision on the Sheltowee

Section 5 of the Sheltowee Trace - Turtle Moves South Through McKee

I did not take many pictures on this section, hardly any at all.  There seems to be a time when you go through any long project where there's a grind just to keep progress up.  This was that section.

Starting south of Heidelberg on gravel roads, the trail down into McKee is basically just multi-use trails through the woods.  You will see side-by-sides, motorcycles, and ATV's through this section.  There are no real views.  We only did 28 miles this weekend.  Two 14 mile days, pretty much.  No big elevation. 

There is one really cool creek to eat a lunch and wade through the water, with a big spring coming out and a rock face, but otherwise it's the dreaded green tunnel the Westerners make fun of us for. 

About 22 miles into this hike, on our day two, there is a Pepsi machine at a day care in McKee.  I brought change just in case it was in order, and it was, but only had Dr. Pepper left by that point.  That was one of the highlights of this section, a cold pop on a hot May day.  Get one if you go by, because the next section of road walk on Hwy 421 might be your last minutes on earth.

People DO NOT slow down or pull over for hikers in Jackson County.  Just a warning.  Which is fair, because as a kid growing up in Corbin, all we knew of Jackson County was that we would hear them on the radio in the winter as cancelling school with any little flurry of snow that came by.  We made fun of Jackson County when I was a kid.  Those folks probably know that.  Making me jump in ditches while road walking through their neighborhood is probably a little deserved.

A lot of our green tunnels up on the Cumberland Plateau, though, are more like Candace Savage's Prairie - with beauty and fascination hiding in plain sight.

Head down, feet plowing ahead, churning out miles, you see newts, snakes, evidence of wildlife.  You notice the start of summer flowers and home remedy plants, mushrooms and lots of ferns.  And you hear birds.  At one point there were several cerulean warblers singing down in a hollow.  Tennessee warblers followed us both days, redstarts and thrushes.

So the grind didn't grind me down.  But I know the further south I get following these turtle blazes, the more incredible it's going to be.  Can't wait to walk back home.

Southbound, 2 days.

Todds Road, Lee County to Turkeyfoot Campground

14 miles

Turkeyfoot Campground to S Tree Road, Jackson County

14 miles

Earlier hike:

Great Trails and Road Walks on the Sheltowee Trace Section Four

Brian Privett lives in Paris and is getting this Sheltowee thing done.