HIKING & PADDLING NEWS

Contents

• Next Two Months at a Glance
• Hiking
• Paddling
• For The Record

HIKING

KONNAROCK CREW - DEVILS CREEK GAP
(Scheduled from 2-6 June 94)
Leader: Joe DeLoach (615.753.7903)
We have several A.T. relocations planned or in progress in the area between Spivey Gap and Devil Creek Gap.  These are fairly short relocations to eliminate sections where erosion has become a problem and safety is a concern.  We have a week of Konnarock Crew time for one of these in early June.  This weekend coincides with National Trails Day, and we will use this event as well as Frank Williams' hike for National Trails Day activities.  Please call Joe DeLoach or Ed Oliver at 349.6668 for more information.

A.T.-HUGHES GAP TO CARVER'S GAP
(Scheduled for Sat, 4 June 94)
Leader: Frank Williams (615.245.8414)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Celebrate National Trails Day by enjoying a short hike (about 5 miles) on the A.T.  In spite of the trip description we will probably hike from north to south to keep the climbing to a minimum (about 820 feet).  Bring lunch, water, rain gear and an extra layer of clothing.  Even at this time of year it can get cool at this elevation. Meet beside Burger King in Colonial Heights at 7:45 AM for an 8 AM departure.   Please contact the hike leader to arrange for other meeting points.

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY
(Scheduled for Sat, 4 June 94)
Leader: Joe DeLoach (615.753.7903)
Difficulty: Fun
Last year was the inaugural event for National Trails Day, sponsored by the American Hiking Society nationwide.  Several organizations in Upper East Tennessee joined to participate in this event last year.  TEHCC took part by helping with a cleanup of the Kingsport Greenway and a work trip on the Appalachian Trail with the Konnarock Crew.  Other events in this area included hikes and trail maintenance trips, with ceremonies at Winged Deer Park.  Similar plans are being made for this year's ceremony, which will be referred to as East Tennessee Trails Day.  The event schedule is still being developed but will include several area hikes, and one or two trail maintenance activities.  Winged Deer Park in Johnson City will again be serving as the focal point for the day's activities, although the day will focus on hiking activities rather than ceremony as was the case last year.  The goals of the event are to promote an awareness of trail opportunities in this area and to help get the various hiking/outdoor groups in the area better acquainted.  For more information, please call Joe DeLoach.

VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL
(Scheduled for Sat, 11 June 94)
Leader: Dan Sand (615.239.7385)
Rating: Easy
Virginia Creeper Trail from Watauga to Alvarado.  A 5 mile hike on a reclaimed railroad bed.  Scenic trail passes South Holston Lake.  Plan to meet at the parking lot between Burger King and McDonald's in Colonial Heights at 9 AM.  Plan to return around 4 PM.  Bring lunch/snacks and drinks.  Hike will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.

MOONLIGHT STROLL ON GRASSY RIDGE
(Scheduled for Sun, 19 June 94)
Leader: Darrol Nickels (615.239.5442)
Rating: Moderate
Note date change.  The date was picked as a compromise between the fullness of the rhododendron bloom.  This date is four days ahead of the full moon, but the visibility should be better because the moon will be farther above the horizon.   Usually the rhododendron is at its best on this date, but the season seems to be running ahead this year.  We'll see.  At the south end of Grassy Ridge there is a south-facing cliff; here we'll watch the sunset while viewing the mountain panorama.   The hike is five miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1,500 feet.  Be aware that at this elevation the weather can be quite cool, especially after sundown.   Bring food, water, an extra jacket and a FLASHLIGHT.  Expect to return to Kingsport at about 11 PM.  Meet your leader at B215 at 2 PM or at Carvers Gap at 4 PM.

SOUTH BEYOND 6000 HIKE - MOUNT COLLINS AND CLINGMANS DOME
(Scheduled for Sat, 25 June 94)
Leader: G. S. Luttrell (615.239.9854)
Difficulty: Moderate
This will be an 8 mile hike starting at Newfound Gap, and will qualify Mt. Collins and Clingman's Dome.  Contact the hike leader for further details.

WATAUGA DAM ROAD TO U.S. 321
(Scheduled for Sat, 25 June 94)
Leader: Tim McClain (615.239.5353)
Rating: Easy
This hike will cover approximately 5 miles of the Appalachian Trail.  We will begin near the Watauga Dam and end where the A.T. crosses U.S. 321.  Good views of Watauga Lake are a key feature of this section of the trail.  This hike is suitable for families.  Meet at the parking area between McDonalds and Burger King in Colonial Heights at 8:30AM.  Bring lunch, water, and dress for the weather on that day.

PADDLING

NOLICHUCKY RIVER TRIP
(Scheduled for Sat, 25 June 94)
Leader: Ed Montgomery (615.357.8721)
We will be paddling the Lower Nolichucky River; we will put-in at Chestoa and take-out at Chucky Trading Post.  We may even treat ourselves to some Mexican food after the trip.  This is a class II run with several good rapids like Radio Tower Rapid, Devils Looking Glass and Big Rock.  Let's plan to meet at Burger King in Colonial Heights at 9 AM and plan to take off the river around 4 PM.  Please preregister by calling Ed Montgomery at 615.357.8721.  I have been known to change the trip starting time, date and river at the last minute.  We will plan to stop for lunch along the way.  Be sure to pack a "MONSTER T" sandwich in order to compete with the old timers.

FOR THE RECORD

BACKPACK ON THE A.T. - SINKING CREEK TO PEARISBURG, VA.
15-17 April 94
(G. S. Luttrell reporting)
Once again the weather cooperated on one of my hikes this year.  While severe thunderstorms and rain occurred in East Tennessee on Friday, merely a few showers rained down harmlessly after dark and before sunrise next day.  The rest of the time it was mostly sunny and cool.  We started at Sinking Creek and hiked to War Spur Shelter on Friday; then, on to Pine Swamp Ridge to spend Saturday night in tents; and, finally, along Peter's Mountain to Pearisburg on Sunday.  There's lots of scenery in this section: great views from Kelly Knob, Wind Rock, Symm's Gap, Rice Field, and all along Peter's Mountain.  Blowdowns were very bad all along the trail, especially on the more inaccessible points of Peter's Mountain.  The Roanoke Club had cleared the trail on Potts Mountain, and I extended my thanks to them in the shelter logs.  Participating in this hike were S. Greenwood and G. Luttrell.  Also, B. & M. Coffey intended to meet us at Dickinson Gap, but they went on to Rice Field and we didn't catch up with them.

TOE RIVER REPORT
23 April 94
(Ed Montgomery reporting)
The Apes and TEHCC paddlers combined for another great trip this past weekend.   Ten boaters enjoyed the BEAUTIFUL weather, good water flow, and Carolina deep blue skies during our Toe River run.  We paddled part of section 6, putting in at Toecane and taking out at Red Hill.  This is an action packed 3 mile section that presents constant white water for the first 2 miles.  The Toe drops 30 feet/mile in this section and provides many class II-III rapids.  Several of our group were making their first run of the year and the Toe was an excellent choice to get the rust off our paddles, build confidence for the upcoming season, and have some good fun.  Our group was composed of one squirt boat, one C1, three open boats, and five crazy kayaks.   Most rapids were run without incident until our C1 hair boater yelled "follow me" and took a cold swim on one of the trickier rapids.  We will not mention his name in this report in order to protect him from his paddling buddies harassment.   One of our younger open boaters rescued a tandem boat from the jaws of the Toe during the run.  This open boater says he may paddle a yak in his old age.  The tandem boat was with another party and they were making their virgin white water run.   We completed the run early and only four "hard core" boaters elected to run it a second time.  The second run was devoted to the memory of the GREAT FOUNTAIN!  One boater was so excited with his successful run that he left a pair of Deep Sea booties (size 11) in T. Pridgen's truck - call Tom to claim these big boots.   Those paddlers enjoying the day included J. Taub, B. Van Zandbergen, D. Ingram. R. Culbertson, D. Addison, S. Gubser, B. Pierce, K. Koffman, T. Pridgen and E. Montgomery.   Final note - IT WAS GREAT!!