Contents

• A Note on Newsletter Fees
• Trip Notices
• Future Activities
• For The Record
• Recipe for Mouse Soup

A NOTE ON NEWSLETTER FEES from Frank Williams, Hiking Club Secretary
If someone asks about club fees for receiving newsletters at their home (which someone did) don't forget to include the tax (which I did).  The fees are (including tax) $2.16 for Eastman and Holston Defense retirees and $3.23 for anyone not Employed by or retired from Eastman companies.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TRIP NOTICES * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * * * * * *

MEETING NOTICE - Multiclub Meet                                                  Leader - Gordon Newland
(Scheduled - September 1, 2, and 3, 1984)  The Smoky Mountain Club is host this year for the annual Labor Day weekend meeting of the southern Appalachian Trail Conference clubs.  The meeting will be held in the group camp area of Cataloochee Cove, Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  The camp will be open Friday night, August 31, and will close on Monday, September 3.  A full program of slides and meetings is planned.  Hikes and craft demonstrations are planned during the day.  Those of you who have been to Cataloochee know what a beautiful place it really is.  Those of you who have not been there must see it to believe its beauty.  The group camp area is a beautiful open meadow surrounded by deep, open woods and bounded on one side by Cataloochee Creek (bring your bathing suit for swimming).  Camping will be by either tents or small self-contained campers as there will be no hook-ups.  Water will be available from an excellent covered spring just off the meadow.  Toilet facilities consist of two pit toilets--sorry, no showers.  So come prepared for a weekend of primitive camping in a most beautiful wilderness setting along with much hiking and warm fellowship.  There will be $2.00 registration fee per person to cover the cost of Saturday dinner, etc.  A full hiking schedule is planned for Saturday and Sunday.  The fellowship begins Saturday night around the campfire when a community potluck supper is planned.  Bring a contribution to your liking to compliment the hot dogs and buns which will be furnished.  Everyone is invited to join us in a real, old fashioned fellowship meal around the campfire.  After dinner the usual slide show will be held.  The Southern Regional Management Committee will have its semi-annual meeting at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, September 2, in the group camp area.  To get to Cataloochee and the group camp take Exit #20 (Maggie-Waynesville) from I-40 (last of I-81).  From the exit turn right onto Hwy 276 and almost immediately turn right onto the first road to the right.  This is Cove Creek Road.  Continue to the right onto a gravel road past Cove Creek.  At 6.0 miles from Hwy 276 the road crosses Cove Creek Gap, which is the park boundary.  At 7.5 miles the gravel road intersects with the New Cataloochee Road which is paved.  Turn left onto the paved road.  At 2.8 miles from this intersection cross a concrete bridge and take the first (immediately) dirt road to the right to the group camp.  For those of you who are unable or do not wish to go hiking, we plan to have a series of craft demonstrations and group participation.  Stenciling, tin punching, and much more will be made available.  For further information call Gordon Newland at 246-8845.

CANOE TRIP (Class I-II)   Hiawassee River                                          Leader - Warren McLain
(Scheduled - Saturday, September 8, 1984)  The Hiawassee River is a dam-controlled river, located about 60 miles south of Knoxville on U.S. Highway 411.  It is the site of the annual TSRA and other canoe schools.  It is heavily used for teaching and general white-water sport.  Beginner's skills should be sufficient.  Normal equipment is needed; canoe, spare paddle, life jackets, lunch, and beverage, dry clothes).  Gee Creek Campground is at the location, and may be used for camping before and/or after the trip.  Because of the distance, please call the leader at 288-5762 to make final plans for time and place to meet.

HIKE NOTICE (D) - Newberry's Cave                                                      Leader - Greg Kramer
(Scheduled - September 8)  This cave has a vertical entrance pit of 40 feet and an interior pit of 180 feet.  Prior rappelling experience is needed.  No climbing on the rope will be done, therefore prior experience in climbing is not needed.  Contact leader prior to trip at 239-7667.

HIKE NOTICE (D) - A.T., Hanover, N.H. to Peru, Vt.                              Leader - Collins Chew
(Scheduled - September 8-16)  Preregistration was necessary for this trip, so be sure you get your registration in early for the next one.

CANOE TRIP (Class II-III)   Nantahala River                                             Leader - Dave Ingram
(Scheduled - Saturday and Sunday, September 15-16, 1984)  The Nantahala is a clear, cold, fast river running through a gorge alongside U.S. 19.  It is 8 miles of exciting and enjoyable white water.  It is mostly Class II with a good Class III at the very beginning and at the end (Patton's Run and Lesser Wesser).  Both can be easily portaged.  Normal equipment is required.  The area is very popular, so camping is sometimes difficult.  Two campgrounds are close by - Lost Mine 704-488-6445 and Brookside 704-321-5209.  Reservations are advisable.  Please preregister by calling Dave Ingram 282-5856 (J.C.)  More details will be given during preregistration.

HIKE NOTICE (M) - A.T. - Va. 603 to Dickey Gap                                   Leader - Kevin Edgar
(Scheduled - September 22, 1984)  This will be a moderate hike around and over Iron Mountain in the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area.  The hike is fairly short, at 8.5 miles, and total climbing should be about 1000 ft.  Car placement will be easy, but the driving time will be 1 1/2 - 2 hours each way.  Some of us may improve the trip home by stopping to sup at one of those fine Virginia eateries.  Bring a lunch, water, flashlight, rain gear (a must when hiking with me anywhere near Mt. Rogers) and, as always, a sturdy pair of shoes.  If you have questions, or wish to let me know you're coming, call 239-5742.  We will meet at 8 a.m. at the Eastman Personnel Building, B-215.

CANOE TRIP (Class III-IV)   Nolichucky Gorge                                     Leader - Kurt Kauffman
(Scheduled - Saturday, September 22, 1984)  The gorge section of the Nolichucky River from Poplar, N.C. to Unaka Springs, Tenn., is the most difficult section of the river and one of the most beautiful.  The 8-mile trip is through a narrow 2,000-foot gorge which contains some challenging rapids.  At normal water levels this section of the river has powerful currents and large holes, although at lower water levels the trip becomes more technical.  Those electing to make this trip should be intermediate to advanced paddlers with proper safety equipment, including helmets.  If the river level is too high for the scheduled trip, an alternate trip will be run.  Meet at Colonial Heights Burger King at 8:00 a.m.  Preregister with Kurt Kauffman, Building 167, 245-6483.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FUTURE ACTIVITIES * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FOR THE RECORD * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hensley Settlement Hike - June 9, 1984                                            Reporting - Judy McClanahan
Thirteen people braved the heat and a steep, uphill climb on this hike to visit Hensley Settlement.  Portions of the settlement (5 houses, a schoolhouse, 2 privies, several other outbuildings, a blacksmith shop, rail fencing, and open fields) have been restored and are maintained by the U.S. Park Service.  Hikers found the settlement's caretakers, Wayne Willis, his wife, Jeannie, and 2 daughters to be neighborly.  After Mr. Willis gave a colorful account of the settlement's development, "activities", and eventual demise, he invited the group to stay for beans and cornbread.  Hikers included Jean Brown, Judy Davidson, Donna Graham, Mary Jane Mattern, Judy McClanahan, Butch McNally, Mary Nelson, Don Owens, Ann Scott, Ann Marie Scott, John Scott, John Scott, Jr. and Annette Sorah.

Massie Gap to Elk Garden - A.T. - June 30, 1984                                 Reporting - Doug Lowman
Kevin Edgar, Karen Watkins, and Rodney Gray joined Doug Lowman for this day hike from Massie Gap to Elk Garden along the A.T.  The weather was rainy and foggy most of the day, but all enjoyed the hike anyway.  We had lunch at the Deep Gap Shelter, where we met a hiker who started at Key West, Florida and planned to thru-hike to Canada, using the A.T. and the Long Trail in Vermont, then return to the A.T. and continue to Mt. Katahdin - all this year.  After the hike, the hikers went their separate ways - one to Carter's Store for the McClain Family Band, one to Troutdale for supper then to the Barter Theatre, and the other two back to Kingsport.

Carter County Saltpeter Cave Hike - July 14, 1984                                 Reporting - Greg Kramer
A beginners hike turned into a work trip when the condition of the entrance was seen by the participants.  Carter County Saltpeter Cave is visited by many people and they have trashed the cave severely.  About 100 pounds of bottles, cans, batteries, etc. were removed from the cave, with several times that amount left.  Participants were Greg and Betty Kramer, Bill Kelly, and Bob Whittemore.

Bumpass Cove - July 14, 1984                                                                  Reporting - Reuel Smith
Ron Saunders of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, who was supposed to be the "ghost" leader of the hike (since I had never been over the trail), notified me early in the week that his schedule had been changed and he would be unavailable the 14th.  Not knowing who might have decided to go, I met the hikers at the appointed time.  One of the hikers knew a family in Bumpass Cove so we got instructions from them.  Our goal was to hike up a jeep road running along Clark Creek, then up and over Embreeville Mountain into Bumpass Cove.  Unfortunately the terrain was not matching our expectations and I'm sure we got off the intended path.  I had an "Off Road Vehicle Use Map of the Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee".  We took a path along a stream coming down Embreeville Mountain at our left because it looked as though if we followed the path, then went on over the top of the mountain, that Bumpass Cove would be spread out before us.  The path soon disappeared but we kept on going on up the creek.  Finally we came to a huge rock formation about 200 feet high, semicircular, and nearly vertical--we were hemmed in.  We veered right and pulled ourselves up using scrub bushes and trees growing out of the rock, over loose soil and rock, and came out on a ridge.  Unfortunately, the head of the creek was still a few hundred feet above and several hundred yards to the left of us through dense underbrush.  Rodney Gray went on to scout the area to see if he could find a trail and/or evidence that we would be at the head of Bumpass Cove if we did get over the mountain.  Rod became lost, but fortunately not out of earshot, so we had to shout him back to us.  Now at 3:30 pm we decided to discretion win out over valor and retraced our steps.  Hikers were Rodney Gray, Paul Jones, Richard Jones, Penney McLaughlin, Art Meyers, and Reuel Smith.

French Broad River - July 14, 1984                                          Reporting - Charles H. LeBlanc, Jr.
For the trip, four canoes - Earl Brown, Bob Seymour, Charles LeBlanc, Dan Bensing, and Mickey Bensing, along with two kayaks - Jeff Right and Greg Collins put in at the Brevard Bridge.  Although the water, 1900 C.F.S., was on the low side, there was a sufficient amount of water for good passage to the takeout at Hot Springs, North Carolina.

A.T. - Sams Gap to Spivey Gap - June 16, 1984                                      Reporting - Steve Banks
This hike took us over the summits of Big Bald, Little Bald, and High Rocks.  After eating lunch on top of Big Bald, we encountered a brief rain shower.  We also encountered a local resident who was planning to spend the night on the bare rock surface of High Rocks without an air mattress or sleeping pad.  This was a very rewarding hike on a challenging section of the A.T.

Nolichucky River - July 28, 1984                                                               Reporting - Jerry Tustin
Nine people and one dog enjoyed perfect weather for this section of the Nolichucky River below Unaka Springs.  The water was running at slightly less than 800 cfs which is better than can be expected for this time of year.  The dog joined us at Cherokee and swam all the way to the takeout at Big Rock - a distance of 5 or 6 miles!  While eating we witnessed an interesting upset - a canoe containing two inebriated paddlers, a dog, and a case of beer overturned in the rapids.  The paddlers were canoeing by themselves, and the river was littered with beer cans.  Although this incident was amusing at the time, it is this type of situation that leads to many of the fatalities in water sports: paddling alone, inexperience, and alcohol.  Participating in this trip were Eugene Dobbs, Phil Wagner, Charles and John LeBlanc, Daryl Cross, Tom Dosser, Royal Spees, and Jeff and Jerry Tustin.

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Recipe for Mouse Soup                                                                      Reporting - Powell Foster
From Gorp, Glop, and Glue Stew, edited by Yvonne Prater and Ruth Dyar Mendenhall, in answer to the questions "What do you do if you've run out of trail mix, you're nowhere near a grocery store, and you don't think you can take one more bite of salami ever again?"

MOUSE SOUP

Mouse (or other small rodent, as available
Wild vegetables
Water

Skin and de-gut the mouse, be careful not to get the blood on your hands (this part isn't easy).  Have water nearby to rinse with.  Put the mouse in the sun to dry.  While it is drying, boil wild vegetables in water.  When the mouse meat is half dry, pulverize it, bones and all, to hamburger.  Use the Indian grinding method of pounding the meat on a concave or flat rock (a metate) with a smaller hand-held rock (a mano).  When the mouse is pulverized, add it to the boiling vegetables.  The meat should be done in about 10 minutes.  You can substitute packrat, wood rat, desert kangaroo rat, woodchuck (lowland marmot), ground squirrel, etc. for the mouse.

According to Larry Dean Olsen, who submitted the recipe, mouse meat tastes "remarkably good -- something like beef."