On Monday, Martin Luther King Jr Day, 13 people, made up of students, professors and residents of Martin, came together to enjoy a beautiful nine mile hike at Land Between the Lakes.

This semester, Tennessee Trails Association (TTA) is “off to a good foot” with lots of events planned just like the hike on Monday. After everyone completed the hike, they enjoyed hot cider and hot chocolate.

TTA is open to UTM students who like the outdoors, enjoy hiking or just want to lose some of those holiday pounds. I was one of those 13 and this event made my second hike with the TTA Northwestern Chapter. The first hike was last semester at Shiloh National Park on the compass trail.

The morning started off well enough with my trusty backpack full of snacks and plenty of water bottles. I forgot one major thing that I regret even now. An extra pair of socks; not just in case my feet where to get wet stomping through little streams or the white patches of snow, but to cushion and prevent painful, ugly blisters on my heels.

I was relieved that my boyfriend had an extra pair. It helped make it bearable to walk and I was determined to finish and I did. On the next hike, I am going to have new, well fitted hiking boots and those extra pair of socks just in case.

TTA’s next meeting is 7 p.m., Feb. 13 in room 231 of the U.C. The program will be on “The five routes to Mt. LeConte.”

Come join TTA for their next hike on Saturday, Feb. 22, at Big Hill Pond State Park.

If you have any questions or just want to learn more about this great association contact Jim Clark at jclark@utm.edu.