Hiking season started early this year when the lake area population grew as part-time lake homeowners, summer renters and other visitors sheltered from the coronavirus at Lake Martin.

“The biggest news for Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association has been the massive usage of the trails, starting in spring and continuing all through the summer,” said CRATA President Jerry Bynum. “That’s unusual because people tend to avoid the heat and bugs in the summer and do most of their hiking in the cooler months, but people are doing a tremendous amount of hiking.”