Month: May 2011

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Nolichucky River Cleanup and Celebration, June 4

Contact: Debbie Briscoe

Participants will be assigned to Clean Teams, provided maps of clean-up locations, and given trash bags and gloves.

There are plenty of clean-up opportunities of key areas for non-boaters as well as areas designated for individuals with their own boats or rafts.

FREE FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT!!!!!  For cleanup participants, after the clean-up, Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Q and the all the fixings will be served-up by the APEs in the Pavilion while you enjoy one of the area’s finest bands.

Bring a lawn chair, kick back with a cold tasty beverage, and know that you did something good for the river we all enjoy so much!

WIN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS!!!!  During the entertainment we will be drawing tickets for fantastic prizes.

Helpful information:  Showers and restrooms are on the premises.  Be prepared with appropriate footwear, sunscreen, bug repellant, etc.  Rafts, pickup trucks, and trailers will be helpful and appreciated.  Consider bringing a packed lunch, boating equipment, rain gear, chairs, family, and friends.

For Camping Info:  Bruce and Nancy Gantenbein, 423-753-5359, http://www.riverparkcampground.net/

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GSMNP S.W.E.A.T. Crew Needs Volunteers

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has just put out a press release looking for volunteers to help out with their trail maintenance efforts in the Smokies. It sounds a lot like their version of Damascus Hard Core, so if you’re looking for more, or missed out on this year, here’s chance to do more AT maintenance. SWEAT Crew ATC Press Release has all of the details.

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The Week Ahead – May 23rd

Yet another week and we have you covered on all fronts. Hiking, flat water paddling, rapids paddling, and backpacking trips abound! Have a great Memorial Weekend.

  • 4 days of backpacking in the Smokies
  • Annual Bluestone River trip (camp and CL I-III paddling)
  • Flat water day trip exploring the Holston River
  • Buffalo Mountain Park Day

As usual check our schedule for the details.

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Explore the Holston River (flat-water series), May 28

Leader:  Deb Reynolds

I am scheduling several Saturday events this summer to explore the local Holston River including the North and South Fork.  Most of these events will require a car shuttle, so advance notice is required for planning purposes.  The trip length will vary, but will normally be between 2 and 4 hours.  A lunch or snack will be desired.  Fishing and bird watching are options as we will not be racing to see how quick we can get to the end.  Bring a friend, a pole or camera, and an attitude for exploring.  PFDs are required.  Future dates are June 18, July 16 and August 6.  Contact Deb Reynolds, dlreynolds@eastman.com.

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Buffalo Mountain Park Day, May 28

Contact: Brad Jones, 423-283-5821

Friends of Nature and the Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department present a “Unique day of hiking” with local guest naturalists.  Spring is a great time of year to enjoy nature at its finest.  Come out and learn about the biology and natural history of [[Buffalo Mountain Park]] and take some great day hikes.  The event features some great leaders.  Wildflowers with Tim McDowell, Salamanders with Kevin Hamed, James Brooks with Birds, Jeremy Stout and Bob Whittemore with Geology, Kathy Landy with Aquatic Insects, and Brad Jones with Butterflies.  The event starts with Birds at 7 am and ends at 5 pm with Butterflies.   For more information, call Johnson City Parks and Recreation Park Naturalist at Winged Deer Park, 423-283-5821.

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SM900 – Lost Cove and Lakeshore Trails – May 27-30

Contact:  Kent and Nancy Wilson

We plan to backpack the AT from Fontana Dam to the Lost Cove Trail and then the Lakeshore Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park about 40 miles.  We plan to leave Kingsport around 11 am on Friday, May 27.  Friday night will be spent at campsite 90.  Saturday we will most likely stay at campsite 77.  On Sunday night we will plan to stay at either campsite 74 or 75.  On Monday we will finish the Lakeshore Trail at the “Road to Nowhere.”  If you are interested in this backpack trip, please contact Kent Wilson at akwilson@eastman.com.

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Friday Hikers: GSMNP – Porters Creek Trail, April 22

Collins Chew reporting

We had a day of glorious wildflowers on the Porters Creek Trail in the Smokies.  Jerry Jones did great in recommending it.  The weatherman blew it again as we had only a sprinkling of rain at the Kingsport meeting place and none in the Smokies.  It was sunny in the afternoon.  We had almost continuous wildflowers of many varieties almost all the way, including the showiest orchids I have ever seen.  There were a great number of other hikers enjoying the flowers as well.  I hope to make a list of flowers for those who were there and any others who request it.  Hikers were: Olin Babb, first timer Wilford Corbin, Bob Harvey, Jerry Jones, Jerry Sluder, Deb and Eric Vrshansky, and Collins Chew.

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Rock Creek Falls, April 17

Joe DeLoach reporting

Because of the threatening weather forecast for April 16th, we decided to postpone our Spring Wildflower Hike at [[Rock Creek Falls]] until April 17th.  This worked out well, as the 17th was a beautiful day, while the 16th was stormy and windy as predicted.  With 13 hikers, including many first-timers, we squeezed under the Unaka Mountain Wilderness group size limit of 14.  The rainy spring made the four creek crossings a challenge, but other than wet feet, there was only one slight slip and dip.  The Cherokee National Forest has worked on the trail including putting in stepping stones at each crossing, but most were under water (this was the highest water level the hike leader has seen in six trips to the falls).  We saw 21 types of flowers and flowering trees, including numerous red erect trilliums, Dutchman’s breeches, squirrel corn, gay wings, trout lilies, spring beauties, and several species of violets.  Our youngest hiker, 7-year old Haley Moran, also spotted some morel mushrooms within the Rock Creek Recreation Area.  Joining Haley on the hike were Kelley and Blanche Moran, John Macpherson, Jacqueline Senosain, Justin Starr, Donna Ashby, Mary Fanslow, newcomer to East Tennessee Troy Greenwald, Bob Jackson, Kiernan Tonnies, and Joe DeLoach.

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The Week Ahead – May 16th

Unfortunately if you weren’t there, you missed HardCore 2011. The work on Pond Mountain was tough but the sense of accomplishment of making trail in those conditions is great. Full write up coming soon. This week it looks like you have some good opportunities to learn and have fun.

  • Wildflower Hike to Grassy Ridge on Wednesday starting in the morning
  • Club meeting at Eastman (open to outsiders) on Wednesday, main topic the new [[Main Page|Trail Wiki]]
  • Hike for your Heart in Bristol on Saturday, a chance to hike and raise money
  • Hike Big Yellow Mountain to Little Hump! on Saturday. The details are scarce, but the notice says a celebration about a partnership between Highland Brewing Co., USFWS, and SAHC with refreshments at the end of the hike. Just saying!

Get all of the details from our schedule page.