The Tennessee Eastman
HIKING & CANOEING NEWS

October 1993

Contents

• Hiking
• Canoeing
• For The Record

HIKING

A.T. DAY HIKES, GETTYSBURG, PA. AREA,
(Scheduled for 1-4 Oct 1993)
Leader: Kevin Edgar (615.246.9464)
Rating: Moderate
This will be a series of hikes covering about 65 miles of A.T. in 4 days, in a scenic and historic part of the country.  We will drive up, and stay in motels or campgrounds in the evenings.  The hikes will be long but, for long hikes, will be on the moderate difficulty side because the elevation change is moderate.  We will cover the stretch from U.S. 11 to the Maryland border.  Those who may wish to come along and do part of the distance, combined with sightseeing, will be accommodated as much as possible.  Call Kevin Edgar at 246.9464 (229.4396 after 20 Sept) to pre-register (a must) or for more info.

STAMPING GROUND RIDGE
(Scheduled for 9 Oct 93)
Leader: Joe DeLoach (615.753.7903)
Rating: Difficult
A six mile hike normally falls in the easy or moderate category - unless there is a 2500' elevation gain within 2.5 miles, as there is on this hike!  The Stamping Ground is a 4800' elevation heath bald on a shoulder of Unaka Mountain.  Two trails ascend this ridge, one from Limestone Cove Recreation Area and one a little farther up in Limestone Cove.  We will go up the latter trail, a horse trail which used to be the A.T., to spruce-covered Stamping Ground Ridge and on to the top, then descend the Limestone Cove Trail to the recreation area.  Both trails are in the 2.5-3 mile range, and although both are steep they are in good shape, particularly in the fall.   The reward is excellent views from the Stamping Ground, a walk through one of the best spruce forests in the South, and probably some early fall color.  There is a parking area at Stamping Ground and arrangements can be made for those who only wish to walk up (or only walk down!).  Most of the trip will be within the Unaka Mountain Wilderness which is currently undergoing the Limits of Acceptable Change Process for wilderness management.  One of the outcomes of this process is that group size on the trails will probably be limited to fourteen people, and we will keep to that limit for this hike, so sign up early!  The meeting place will be in Colonial Heights in the parking lot between Burger King and McDonald's at 8:00 AM; a stop can be arranged in Johnson City for those who wish to meet there.  Please call Joe DeLoach at 753-7903 (Jonesborough) for more information.

PUBLIC LANDS DAY
(Scheduled for 9 Oct 93)
Leader: Frank Williams (615.245.8414)
Rating: FUN
The sixth annual Northeast Tennessee Public Lands Day Celebration will take place at Warrior's Path State Park on Saturday, October 9 from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM.  Public Lands Day is a cooperative effort on the part of volunteer groups like ours, along with public agencies, schools, businesses, and other institutions to promote responsible management of public lands.  There are nearly 1.8 million acres of public lands in East Tennessee - parks, national forests, streams, lakes, and school lands among others - in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.  At Public Lands Day there will be exhibits and demonstrations relating to the environment, natural resource conservation, and public lands stewardship.  As stewards of the Appalachian Trail and active users of public lands (including public waters) we will participate in this event by setting up our display and by leading two hikes in the park.  We can use your help; please call Frank Williams at 245-8414 or Joe DeLoach at 753-7903 if you are available to help with this celebration.

JAMES RIVER FACE BACKPACK TRIP
(Scheduled for Fri-Sun, 22-24 Oct 93)
Leader: G. S. Luttrell (615.239.9854)
Rating: Moderate
This will be a three day backpack trip, 33 miles, on the A.T. from Bearwallow Gap on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the James River. We will drive up to Buchannan, Virginia on Thursday night, 21 Oct, and stay in a motel, probably the Wattstull Inn, Exit 168.   On Friday we will spot a car at the James River and drive to Bearwallow Gap to start the hike.  Contact the hike leader for further information and to reserve a spot.

FALL DINNER MEETING
(Scheduled for Saturday, 6 Nov 93)
Leader: Steve Perri (615-349-5091)
The 1993 Fall Dinner Meeting will be held at the Eastman Recreation Area Cabin on November 6, 1993.  There will be time to see old friends and meet new ones.  We will display the slides of the Club's Section from Spivey Gap, Tennessee to Damascus, Virginia before dinner.  These slides were obtained from the 1993 Spring Maintenance Trips and other special project outings.  Trail Sports from Colonial Heights will be present to display a number of recreational items beginning at 5:00 PM.  Dinner will be served at 6:30.  Dinner this year will be catered by The Firehouse in Johnson City.  The menu consists of a BBQ plate dinner which includes: BBQ pork served on a bun, BBQ beans, cole slaw, potato salad, tossed salad, pie and tea or lemonade for $8.00.   A child's plate consisting of hotdogs will be available for $4.00 each.   Please list the names of everyone in your party along with the request for the number of BBQ plates and child's plates on the reservation form so we will know how many dinners to order.  Door prizes will also be awarded from this list.

Following dinner is the program which will feature awarding the maintainer hours patches and Thru-Hikers awards.  The main program will be announced at a later date.

Please return your reservation form to Steve Perri, 180 Peppertree Drive, Kingsport, Tennessee 37664.  I will need to receive your forms and checks no later than Monday, November 1.  Please call 615.439.5091 for more information.

CANOEING

NANTAHALA RIVER TRIP
(Scheduled for Sat-Sun, 30-31 Oct 93)
Leader: C. LeBlanc (615.249.6439)
Rating: II-III
Contact trip leader for details.

FOR THE RECORD

KEEPING THE TRAIL OPEN
(Ted Malone reporting)
1992 total hours: 3995
Hours this report: 1419
1993 Hours to date: 5560

FRI-MON, July 2-5: Doll Flats relocation with Konnarock (FW,EO,JD,TM, SB,PW,SP)
SAT, July 10: Round Bald briar removal with Konnarock (JT, DN, EO)
TUE, July 13: A.T. Committee meeting (GL, FW, EO, DN, TM, JD, SP)
FRI-SUN, July 16-18: Doll Flats relocation with Konnarock (JY,DN,EO,JD,TM,
PW,SB,SB,FW,JM)
MON, July 19: USFS mtg in Burnsville, cut weeds trail n. of Iron Mountain Gap. (DN,EO)
SAT, July 17: Trash pickup, inspection and report from McQueens Gap to Damascus (DF,CBW)
WED, July 21: Inspect lower end of Pond Mountain for highway crossing (EO,TM)
SAT, July 24: Trail maintenance. from Watauga Dam Rd to Vandeventer Shelter (JD,SP)
SAT, July 24: Trail maintenance from Abingdon Gap Shelter to U.S. 421 (JM,FW, JY,TM,LM,EM,EO)
WED, July 28: Dug 75' of trail through rocks on Pond Mountain relocation (CM, TM,SW,TM,SP,EO)
WED, July 28: Trail maint. from Carvers Gap to Hughes Gap (DF,BF,DF,CBW)
FRI, JULY 23: Rehab of 150' of sidehill on No Business Knob (BB)
SAT, July 30: Rehab of 200' of sidehill on No Business Knob (EO)
FRI, July 30: Work with Konnarock on balds clearing (FW)
SAT, July 31: Work with Konnarock on balds clearing (JD)
WED, Aug 4: "After Work Club" dug trail through rock field on lower end of Pond Mountain (FW,SP,CM,RS,JD,EO,TM)
WED, Aug 4: Trail maint. from Dennis Cove to fire tower and cleared blue blaze Coon Den trail back (DF,CBW)
THU, Aug 5: Measured new and old Pond Mountail Trail for guide book (DN)
SAT, Aug 7: Inspected Cherry Gap shelter for repair (JD)
SAT, Aug 7: Cut weeds on Roan Mountain and near Isaacs Cemetary (EO)
SUN, Aug 8: Cut weeds around Watauga Lake and picked up trash (DN)
SUN, Aug 8: Cut weeds from Hughes Gap n toward Roan High Knob (WM,TM)
MON, Aug 9: Painted white blazes on Pond Mountain relo and painted out blazes on old trail (JT,JK,DN,EO)
WED, Aug 11: "After Work Club" Work on bottom of Pond Mountain near Cemetary Rd (GL, CM, SP, EO, TM)
WED, Aug 11: Trail maint. and inspecion on Sect 17 (DD,DF,BF,CBW)
THU-SAT, Aug 12-14: Work with Konnarock on finishing and opening new Pond Mountail relocation (FW,DN,JY,EO,JD,TM,SP,GM,JM,JT,BC)
SAT, Aug 14: Trail maint, weeding and blow down removal at Hughes Gap (DB)
SUN, Aug 15: Work with Konnarock on Doll Flats relo (JD,EO)
WED, Aug 18: Complete installation of steps near highway at Shook Branch Recreation Area (FW,JM,EO)
THU, AUG 19: A.T. Committee meeting to discuss Forest Service grants, projects, maintenance priorities and a FS timber sale on Tiger Creek near the A.T. (SP,JD,TM,FW,PW,DN,EO,JS,GL,CM)
FRI-SUN, Aug 20-22: Finished the season with Konnarock on Doll Flats relo that totaled 550' of steps and rock cribbing on the upper side and 1000' of sidehill digging on the lower side. The upper side was opened. (JY, DN,FW,EO,TM,JD,JM, TA,JM,BC)
SUN, Aug 22: Cut weeds from Hughes Gap n. to Roan High Knob (DB)
TUE, Aug 24: Trail maint. and trash removal n. & s. of Beauty Spot (CBW)
FRI, Aug 27: Inspect Cherry Gap shelter and route for repair (FW,DN)
SAT, Aug 28: TEHCC trail maint. with Girl Scout Troop 313 of Kingsport. They may become TRAIL ADOPTERS of the section from Hampton to the Laurel Fork shelter (JP,TO,LJ,CJ,BF, KW,TB,LG,HP,TM)
SAT, Aug 28: Clip vegetation from Spivey Gap to No Business Knob shelter (BB)
MON, Aug 30: Yellow Mountain Barn/shelter inspection for repair (DN,EO)
THU, Aug 30: Trail maint. from Beauty Spot to Indian Grave Gap (DD, CBW)

MEMBERS PARTICIPATING: Frank Williams, Ed Oliver, Joe DeLoach, Ted Malone, Steve Banks, Paul Worsham, Steve Perri, John Thompson, Darrol Nickels, Garry Luttrell, Jack Young, Steven Banks, Jim Mann, Kathy Fuller, Dewey Fulley, Don Frederick, C.B. Willis, Allen Crain, Dean Webster, Emily Scott, Theona Moorehouse, Cris Moorehouse, Tim McClain, Lisa McClain, Erika McClain, Steve Wilson, Dick Fields, Bob Frazier, Bill Berry, Richard Siggins, John Keifer, Wendy Malone, Dan Danford, Glenn Marshall, Bill Cook, Don Baker, Jeff Siirola, Jan Mayo, Tom Abrahamsen, Jeanna Powell, Terry Oldfield, Linda Jennings, Cheyenne Jennings, Becky Frey, Kara Watson, Tiffany Begley, Laura Greer, Heather Powell.

WELCOME NEW TRAIL ADOPTERS
(Ted Malone reporting)
TOTAL MILES ADOPTED TO DATE: 40.2
PERCENT OF TEHCC SECTION ADOPTED: 32

2.5 miles - Darrol Nickels, Frank Williams and Jack Young from Watauga Lake shelter to intersection of Shook Br Rd and Cemetary Rd 3.4 miles - John Thompson, the new Pond Mountain relocation 3.0 miles - Ed Oliver, Frank Williams, Carl Fritz from Winter's Cemetary south to the summit of Hump Mountain 2.4 miles - Jeff Siirola and Ted Malone from Temple Hill Gap to No Business Knob shelter.

93 APPALACHIAN TRAIL RELOCATIONS UPDATE
(Ed Oliver reporting)
Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club and the Konnarock Crew have completed relocations on the Appalachian Trail between Pond Flats on Pond Mountain and Shook Branch Recreation Area on Watauga Lake and a 550 foot relocation trail north of Doll Flats in the Hump Mountain area.  The club completed about a half mile of trail this spring so that we would have a good shot at completing the Pond Mountain relocation this year.  The construction on the Pond Mountain relocation started five years ago and has involved eleven weeks of the Konnarock Crew and over 1600 hours of work by club members.  This relocation eliminates several steep sections of trail between Pond Flats and Watauga Lake as well as over a half mile of trail that was just below highway US321.  This section had maintenance problems caused by weed growth and trash from the highway.  The relocation is graded trail that averages between 12 and 15% grade.  This relocation which is about 3.4 miles in length is a major improvement of the trail in our area.   The relocation that was completed trail north of Doll Flats was much shorter in length, 550 feet total, however, it was much more complicated to construct.  This 550 feet of trail involved about every type of trail construction except bog bridges.  It has over two dozen rock steps (and I mean big rocks) and almost as many log steps.   We had to crib seventy or more feet of the relocation.  Some of the rock cribs are over four feet in height.  Holes had to be drilled into rock faces so that metal rods could be installed to hold cribbing and locust logs.  More than one club member said that they had learned new skills while working with the Konnarock Crew on this impressive relocation.  Almost three weeks of Konnarock Crew time and 239 hours of labor from club members went into this work.  This relocation replaced several steep places which could be very slick at times.  Even the Konnarock Crew members indicated that this work was one of the more challenging sections of trail that they had built.   We have been fortunate to have five weeks of Konnarock Crew time this year.   Club members put in over 770 hours working with the Konnarock Crew as well as numerous hours on these relocations without the Konnarock Crew.  Over 1200 feet of new trail was constructed on another relocation trail north of Doll Flats.  Our goal for next year is to complete this second relocation in the Doll Flats area.  Six Club members worked at least five days with the Konnarock Crew and will receive a Konnarock T-shirt and a year's free membership to ATC.  These members are Ed Oliver, Joe DeLoach, Frank Williams, Jack Young, Darrol Nickels, and Ted Malone.  Thanks for all the club members, guests, and Konnarock Crew members who helped with relocations in 1993.

MAINE/NEW HAMPSHIRE A.T. HIKING
(5-17 Aug 1993)
(Kevin Edgar and Gether Irick reporting)
In a series of day hikes and backpacks whose complexity would have severely taxed the planners of the Normandy invasion, Emmett Dougherty and Owen Holbrook finished the A.T., Kevin Edgar finished the Maine wilderness and (nearly) New Hampshire, and Gether Irick got to climb Katahdin again and generally had a good time on the A.T. once more.  None of the four of us covered exactly the same stretch of A.T.; admittedly, we did get thoroughly confused at least once, but we can and will easily shift the blame for that one to USAir...

A complete itinerary would require significant expansion of the newsletter, but highlights included the soaring peaks of the Carter range in New Hampshire, the beautiful surroundings and friendly folks at Carter Hut, crossing North Carter with thunder and lightning booming and flashing in the distance, glimpses through the fog from open summits to the south of the lakes and peaks ahead in the Maine wilderness, the empty and lovely shores of Nahmakanta, Jo-Mary, and the other huge lakes along the A.T. in northern Maine, the sound of loons in the evening, the footprints of moose, thousands of toads, the wonderful sight of the store at Abol Bridge after sixty-some-odd miles of the wilderness, and above all, Katahdin.

On Sunday morning, August 15, GI drove to Baxter State Park, joining Kevin and Owen for the 10-mile hike up Mt Katahdin; the weather was hot and humid at the low elevations, becoming cooler and more comfortable after passing above 4000-ft.  Mt Katahdin is one of the highlights of the entire A.T., with its rock climbing, Tableland/Thoreau Spring, and 360 degree, unobstructed views from its peak.  After dropping Kevin off at the airport to begin his trip home, Gether and Owen did some high-altitude sightseeing and an easy hike over the rocks atop Mt Washington, NH (arrived at by Honda), followed by two days of hiking in the rain over Mt Kinsman and Mt Moosilauke.  Owen completed the 2150-mile A.T. at NH 25, near Glencliff.  G. Irick, Owen Holbrook, Don Baker and Emmett Dougherty, all of whom committed to hiking the entire A.T. while on one of Kevin's backpacks to Springer Mountain, Georgia in 1987, have now finished...Kevin Edgar, Steve Banks and Garry Luttrell are in the next wave close behind!

WATAUGA RIVER TRIP
28 Aug 1993
(Ed Montgomery reporting)
This river trip provided an opportunity for some new and old paddlers to enjoy a hot Saturday evening on a cool stream.  We arrived at our put-in around 4:00pm and were surprised to find VERY LOW WATER conditions.  I started to panic and curse the generating schedule for the lack of H2O, but the water started to rise and soon the rocks were covered and the trip leader's blood pressure returned to normal.

We had three kayaks, two solo canoes and three tandem canoes for this class II river run.  We first covered basic river safety and signals before hitting the water.   This provided the water level a chance to rise a little more and the group to get familiar with each others skill level, favorite river and boat.

This river offers cold fast moving class II whitewater with several good play spots.   Our first swim was at the "Ledge" where Mike lost it playing in a small hole.  He verified the cold water temperature and almost hit his roll on this one.   We continued down stream and were accompanied by several Belted King Fishers and Great Blue Herons.  We stopped at the Elk's Club for a quick snack and water break.   We had one tandem canoe with two paddlers and a guy in the Cleopatra position in the middle of the boat do some gunnel grabbing on the ledge below the Elk's Club, no names are being released at this time.  Our next play spot was the "The Keeper Hole" where our two most experienced boaters (B & D) showed us how play hard and swim hard.  The group enjoyed the entertainment and rest period.  Big B took a second swim (non-playing) here and refused to release the details.  It is rumored that he was cleaning his shoes, lost concentration and hit the wall!  We then paddled on down through the mini-gorge section and Goat Rapid.  I once had a close encounter with a mountain goat on this section and almost lost it.  Those paddlers enjoying a evening paddle were Mary & Dale Mathis, Brad Dayvolt, Jeff Smith, Rick Lott, Mike Morrow, Paul Savarese, Bill and Debbie Jones, Andrew and Butch Hite and Ed Montgomery (Trip Leader).