HIKING & PADDLING NEWS

Contents

• Next Two Months
• Hiking
• For The Record

HIKING

CREVICES - NORTH OF ABINGDON, VIRGINIA
(Scheduled for Sat, 8 Oct 94)
Leader: Griff Johnson
Rating: Moderate
Meet at B-215 at 8am.  We will drive to a place approximately 15 miles north of Abingdon on Hwy 80.  The walk up Clinch Mountain is about 4 miles to a fire tower.  Walking about 100 feet through some thickets on the other side of the fire tower reveals a rock out crop called "Wind Tunnels" by those who live in the area but which are known as the "Crevices" by the Eastman Hiking Club.  Bring a lunch and be prepared for rain.  The total trip time will be about 7 to 8 hours.

THIRD SATURDAY MAINTENANCE
(Scheduled 2nd Saturday in October)
Ted Malone 615.477.2222/Ed Oliver 615.349.6668
In October, maintenance will be the 2nd weekend, the 8th, due to conflicts among our shelter experts.  We'll be replacing the Laurel Fork Shelter roof; this is the last major item on our shelter repair list.  After this all our shelters should be in good shape.  This has taken us four years to accomplish and it's not over yet.  We can haul some of the materials on Ed's cart the first mile but the last 3/4 mile it will take two people to carry each load.  We really need a lot of help for the first half of the day to transport the materials.  An idea: bring the family and lunch, park at the Hampton trailhead, get a shuttle to Dennis Cove and help us carry in a load of materials.  Lunch at the falls and continue your Autumn hike to your car.  This work may take Saturday and Sunday and everyone is welcome, but even a half day will be greatly appreciated.  If you can help, call us in advance, and thanks.

VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL
(Scheduled for Saturday, 15 Oct 94)
Leader: Tim McClain (615.239.5353)
Rating: Easy
This hike will cover about 5 miles of the Virginia Creeper Trail near Damascus, Virginia.  We'll hike a section in the eastern portion of the Trail near Green Cove.  Weather permitting, this should be a good hike for families with younger children to enjoy the fall colors.  Meet at the parking area between McDonalds/Burger King in Colonial Heights at 8:30AM.  Bring lunch, water, and dress for the weather.

WARRIOR'S PATH STATE PARK
(Scheduled for Sat, 22 Oct 94)
Leader: John Thompson (625.245.1455)
Rating: Easy
We'll likely hike Devil's Backbone, whose high cliffs provide fine views of the park, lake and golf course.  A nature trail, fall colors and possible sightings of deer and other wildlife should enhance our walk of about 4 miles.  Meet at Colonial Heights Burger King at 8:30 AM.  Bring water and a snack.  We should return by noon. Call for more info.

DAYHIKE, SMOKIES, MADDRON BALD
(Scheduled: Sat, 22 Oct 94 (NOTE CHANGE!)
Leader: Kevin Edgar (615.239.5742)
Rating: Moderate
This will be an up-and-back day hike to a very scenic spot in the Smokies at a potentially very nice time of year.  We'll depart from B-215 EARLY: 7:30 AM because of the short daylight and in order to beat the "leafers" traffic.  We'll drive to Cosby campground, and hike 6 miles from there to the scenic Maddron Bald.   The hike is not too long but we will gain about 2500 feet on the way.  The woodland on the way up and the views on the bald are reputed to be very nice.  We'll return the way we came and, depending on when we reach the cars, some of us may well stop for supper on the way back.  This should be a beautiful fall hike if the weather cooperates.  Be sure to bring water, lunch and a snack, rain gear, and suitable boots.  Remember too that it can be substantially colder at the higher elevations.   Contact Kevin Edgar for more info and to let me know you're coming.

KINGSPORT'S GREENBELT
(Scheduled 29 Oct 94, 9:00 AM)
Leader: Collins Chew (615.239.6237)
We'll stroll along the Greenbelt from the Kingsport Mall (Hills/Heilig Meyers) to Exchange Place and back.  (We can then hike more if you wish.)  The newly opened portion from John B. Dennis is interesting with views, interesting limestone outcrops, and The Cliffs Fault which separates the limestone from shale which underlies the older Greenbelt Trail.  The leaves should be beautiful.  Meet at the Greenbelt sign in the corner of the Mall Parking Lot behind Hills/ Heilig-Meyers at 9 AM.  Round trip hike is about 4 miles and will take a couple of hours.  Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.

BACKPACK - BOB'S CREEK WILDERNESS
(Scheduled for Sat-Sun., 29-30 Oct 94)
Leader: Garry Luttrell (615.239.9854)
Rating: Easy
Bob's Creek Pocket Wilderness is one of Bowater's nature preserves set aside for recreational use, like Virgin Falls and Honey Creek.  Bob's Creek is located near Marion, N.C. and "is a 500-acre wilderness area with two trails, one 8 miles and a shorter loop of 3 1/2 miles.  It is an outstanding scenic and natural area with a number of waterfalls, interesting rock formations, and huge, old-growth hemlock trees."  We'll backpack to a camping area 1/2 way around the 8 mi. loop, and camp Saturday night.  We'll meet at the Burger King in Colonial Heights on Saturday morning and return Sunday afternoon.  Contact the hike leader if you want to reserve a spot, and obtain further info.

FALL DINNER MEETING
(Scheduled for Sat, 12 Nov 94)
Leader: Steve Perri
The 1994 Fall Dinner Meeting will be held at the Eastman Recreation Area Cabin on Nov. 12, 1994.  Our Program will be presented by Ted Cross from our Club which is entitled "Wyoming's Best Kept Secret...Where Clouds Go to Rest."  This presentation will be based on the Northern Wind River Range in an adventure that will take you to Wyoming's highest mountains; a land where there are more glaciers than any other place in the lower 48 states.  Come along with six backpackers while they explore and photograph the high mountains and desolate basins of the Northern Wind River Range.   Along the way you'll meet much of the wildlife that make their home in this harsh environment.  This will be a new presentation of the northern loop as opposed to the southern which was presented 2 yrs ago.  Mountain Sports will be on hand to display some of their hiking gear and mountain bikes.  Look for the Fall Dinner Meeting Reservation form next month.

FOR THE RECORD

KEEPING THE TRAIL OPEN
(Ted Malone reporting - 615.477.2222)
1993 total hours: 7400 (Best Year Ever!!!)
1994 hours to Sept 9: 4738
(includes 858 hours from our Trail Adopters)
The big news this time is the lower section of Doll Flats is open.  We were still working on parts of it when the blazes went up Sunday and it was officially opened.   Thirty minutes after we opened the trail 25 hikers found us still working on rock steps, cribbing and generally cleaning up.  Four of our Trail Adopters from Scout Troop 36 in Johnson City have earned the TEHC 50 Hour Maintenance Patch.   Congratulations guys and many, many thanks.

1994 KONNAROCK CREW REPORT
(Joe DeLoach reporting)
Once again we had a banner year with the Konnarock Crew.  Together with the Crew we were able to complete the Doll Flats and Devils Creek Gap relocations, as well as rehabilitate a long stretch of Trail along No Business Knob.  A total of 21 Club volunteers worked with the Konnarock Crew, putting in 647 hours of Trail work or 60 person-days.  Our time with the Crew is down somewhat from last year (74 person-days and 772 hours).  We got off to a slow start with the first weekend not only being Memorial Day weekend but occurring before we could advertise.  However, we were able to complete all of our projects safely and really improved our section of the Trail by doing so.  The Doll Flats relocation is truly something to be proud of and it's worth the hike just to see the Trail.  We had six Club members who worked at least 5 days with the Crew and thus receive the coveted Konnarock T-shirt and a year's free membership to the ATC.  These members are E. Oliver (once again the leader with 11 days), J. DeLoach, F. Williams, B. Berry, S. Banks, and T. Malone.  A big thanks to all those who helped this year, including J. Young, B. Cunningham, A. Henry, R. Monderer, S. Perri, R. Lott, G. Luttrell, H. Hale, H. McCloud, J. Sizemore, R. Nesbit, S. Wilson, B. Cook, A. Crain, and E. Dougherty.

31-MILE EASTERN SMOKIES DAY-HIKE
23 July 94
(Gether Irick reporting)
Unlike the Western half of the Smokies, the Eastern section has no steep rock scrambling, no grades >20%, no severe trail erosion, and few people.  We thought all of this added up to an opportunity to do the Eastern 31-miles in one day...It did!  We left the parking lot at Newfound Gap at 6:00 AM.  We killed a little time at Charlies Bunion, hiked over Mt Chapman, and Mt Sequoyah, and still made it easily to Tricorner Knob Shelter on schedule at 2 PM.  The only rain of the day struck there and we holed up for lunch until the rain subsided.  We then hiked up and around the peaks of Mt Guyot and Old Black (>6000-ft), logging a total of about 6000-ft of vertical elevation gain, and untold numbers of traverses of creeks and mud bogs, until we finally made the 5-mile descent to the Big Creek Ranger Station (arriving by flashlight at 10 PM).  There were a few blisters and sore knees, but this hike confirmed the theory that: If you hike at a moderate pace (e.g. 2 MPH), drink plenty of water, and somewhat overeat, a reasonably fit person can hike almost indefinitely (sleep would be a limiting factor).  Enjoying this "casual" outing were: O. Holbrook, E. Dougherty, B. Borup and G. Irick.

HIKE FROM TENN. 91 NORTH TO 421
27 Aug 94
(Theona Moorehouse reporting)
Fourteen people enjoyed beautiful weather even though a storm threatened throughout the day.  One of our group not only had a keen eye for wildflowers but also knew their names.  We came across the following varieties: Dolls Eyes, Black Cohosh, Turtle Head, Indian Pipe, Jack In The Pulpit, Joe-Pye-Weed, Iron Weed, Bee Balm, False Foxglove, Green Headed Coneflower.  We had lunch at Double Springs Shelter which was the midpoint of the 6.9 mile hike.  Heavy rain held off until we completed our downhill trek to the vehicles.  The hikers were: P. Bullick, R. Baker, G. & D. Doran, N. Dotson, M. Ekart, P. & J. Hall, K. Hall, R. Ketron, C.& T. Moorehouse, W. Parham, L. Toof.

HIWASSEE RIVER TRIP
1-4 Sept 94
(Ed Montgomery reporting)
We arrived at Gee Creek campground on Friday evening to find the CAMPGROUND FULL sign and an arrow pointing to the dreaded overflow area.  Luckily, our paddling buddies (D & M) had came down early and reserved us a spot.  Our other paddler arrived under the cover of darkness in order to avoid being spotted by the rangers.

We arrived at the Hiwassee River put-in to find several other boaters preparing for a good day on the river.  The weather was improving and water temperature was quite warm for the Hiwassee.  We immediately started playing the first rapid and this was the norm for the trip.  The third rapid, Thread the Needle, was a little washed out due to the high flows (3000 cfs), but most everyone got a clean run and had a little fun.   Our only open boat swim was at Mary Nel Point (3.5 ft drop).  We proceeded to the Three Bears and they were HOT.  Several paddlers had trouble with Pappa Bear, but Momma Bear was good to all.  At Devil Shoals we set up safety as the five fearless Lettermen/woman swam the shoals twice.  Burchell (future Safety Chair) practiced his throw rope throwing, but his rope came up short and was again the blunt of bad jokes.   We then proceeded to the take-out and watched several young ones (NO FEAR) jump off the railroad bridge.  The next morning the group split and most went over to paddle the Nantahala.  The Nantahala report was fairly positive with everyone running the falls successfully.  We returned to Gee Creek Campground for a quiet family dinner.   I cooked and received bonus points which I will need for future river trips.   Hope to see you on the river.  This Hiwassee River Trip was GREAT!!.   Paddlers enjoying the trip included L. & J. "Cowboy" Killan, B. "President" Landstreet, M. & D. Mathis, T. Pridgen, M. "BP" Morrow, D. "Speedy" Ingram, B. "Throw Rope" Pierce, A. "Nurse" Hensley, E. "Freebird" Brown and E. Montgomery.

GREAT MOOSE EXPEDITION - MAINE
2 - 11 Sept 94
(G. S. Luttrell reporting)
I've been on some great hiking trips in my time, but this one has to rank right up there with the best.  We loaded all our equipment in a rented Plymouth Voyager and on the roof rack, and five of us headed north on familiar I-81 at 1 PM on Friday, 9/2.   We called ourselves the Clampetts, because of the similarity of the loaded vehicles, and we even played a little bluegrass music along the way.  The first day in Baxter we spotted moose on Abol Pond, so we knew it was going to be a good week.   We car camped the first few days at Roaring Brook Campground and day hiked around Kidney Pond; Daicey Pond; got some great views from Sentinel Mountain; and hiked to Baxter Peak in misty, very windy conditions.  Roaring Brook is near one of the better moose sites, Sandy Stream Pond, and it did prove to provide many sightings.  Moose have very poor eyesight, but keen senses for hearing and smell; so, if you are quite and don't stink, (or are down wind), you can get very close to them for some very good shots, and we were able to get close to several.  We were able to backpack into Russell Pond; and since Owen Holbrook decided to stay at Roaring Brook, in a bunkhouse, we were able to hike 9.5 miles out the northern end to South Branch Pond rather than backtrack.  At Russell Pond, we rented a canoe, and were able to paddle real close for some great shots of moose and loons.  Owen saw the drama of a younger bull moose, being chased out of the territory of an older bull.  Arvell Luttrell came face to face with a bull, while hiking alone on the trail down from Chimney Pond.  There's lots of stories to tell - ask one of us about the I wonder how deep the water bottle is now?---- story, or about searching for Scutum under the stars.  Participants were A. Luttrell, T. Cross, O. Holbrook, S. Greenwood, and G. Luttrell....a good, fun group!

A.T. HIKING IN N.H./MAINE: GORHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE TO MAINE 4, AND THE BIGELOW RANGE
3-10 Sept 94
(Kevin Edgar reporting)
We spent the coldest first week of September on record in northeast New Hampshire and southwest Maine, hiking 94 miles of ROUGH A.T.  The cool weather made for comfortable hiking, and the wild country made for eyefuls of rugged beauty.  We dayhiked for five days and backpacked through the Mahoosucs for three days.  The dreaded Mahoosuc Notch was fun; a very different challenge from the rest of the A.T., and decidedly less dangerous than the vertical, smooth, WINDswept granite encountered in such places as Old Speck, the Mahoosuc Arm, and Goose Eye.  The terrain did take its toll on equipment (delaminated sole, various other minor catastrophes).  Suffice it to say that if our section of the A.T. came AFTER Maine, instead of much before, we'd never hear a single complaint about difficulty or danger.  Guaranteed.  On the other hand, the views, the lakes and ponds, and the sweet smell of balsam fir in New Hampshire/Maine will simply knock your socks off.  From the footprints and other substantial signs, this part of New England is crawling with moose, though we saw only one between us.  The other fun critter sighting was the bear mom and two cubs, gamboling around like a couple of pups, at the other end of Paige Pond in New Hampshire.  They never saw us; it's said that they don't see too well, and obviously they must have been upwind.  At that stage of the hiking they could hardly have avoided smelling us otherwise.  Week's end found us happy and satisfied to traverse such a rugged and beautiful part of the trail, and ready to finish up Maine...next year, after we warm up a bit and put ourselves and our gear back together!  Slithering carefully up those granite slabs were Steve Banks and Kevin Edgar.

TENNESSEE/NORTH CAROLINA A.T. GUIDE
(Steve Banks reporting)
The data compiler responsibilities for the Eastman Hiking Club section of the Tenn./N.C. A.T. Guide are being transferred from Darrol Nickels to Steve Banks.  The many contributions that Darrol has made to the success of the Guide are much appreciated and will be sorely missed.  Please send any information about A.T. relocations during the past two years, and any corrections for our section of text in the Guide to Steve Banks or Kevin Edgar, by October 17.

MULTI-CLUB MEET 1994
(Steve Perri Reporting)
I attended the 1994 Multi-club meet held at Natural Bridge, Virginia Sept. 2-5.  The Meet was hosted by the Natural Bridge A.T. Club at the Natural Bridge Campground and 131 individuals participated.  I was the only TEHCC member to attend and very much enjoyed the fellowship and exchange of information with the other trail clubs.  I hiked both days from Jennings Creek to Petites Gap which was a total of 18 miles.   Sunday evening several issues were updated that affect the A.T.  The proposed construction of I-73 has been derailed for the time being since Congress omitted it from a recent bill.  VDOT will still try to persuade Congress in the future with proposed designated routes and will likely be a future issue.  Foremost was the proposal by VDOT to construct a 4-lane highway that would bisect the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area.  This proposal which would have the highway parallel Comers Creek and would obliterate almost a mile of the A.T. and affect 6 more miles.  ATC representatives urge concerned trail users and citizens that care about the Mt. Rogers Recreation Area to speak out and urge alternatives that would not impact the Recreation Area.  I have a copy of a scoping letter which provides more detailed information.  A detailed article appears in the A.T. News (September) and several newspapers have also printed articles on this issue.  Another issue related to Mt. Rogers Recreation Area was the proposed installation of powerline through the Jefferson National Forest crossing at Craig Creek Valley.  This 760-KV powerline requires 230 ft. towers and a 200 foot wide path.  ATC is monitoring the proposal closely and is working to sift out possible alternatives.

Club reports focused on maintenance.  TEHCC had 2 members (E. Oliver and J. Deloach) with more than 10 days Konnarock crew time this year.  TEHCC also had the most Konnarock time (4.5 weeks).  Our Club was ranked 3rd in A.T. maintenance hours this year to date as two other clubs logged more than 1800 hours for clean up after the winter ice storm.  Our club by far has the largest relocation/trail construction effort of the clubs attending.  It was also apparent that we have fewer recreational activities or hikes as well.  As a result of my attendance, the host for the next Multi-Club meet was debated between our club and Old Dominion Trail Club.  In light of the Biennial ATC meeting in 95 being held at James Madison Univ. in Harrisonburg, Virginia and the 94 Multi-Club Meet in Natural Bridge, Virginia; I tentatively agreed that we should host the 95 Meet so that participants would want to travel to different areas close to the A.T. to spur greater participation for both events next year.  For those interested in writing to the USFS about the Rt. 58 proposal or for more info contact Steve Perri at 615-349-5091.

MOUNT MITCHELL HIKE
3 Sept 94
(Joe DeLoach reporting)
When we gathered early on the morning of September 3 in Colonial Heights, it looked like it was going to be a nice day.  But by the time we got to Mt. Mitchell to meet Zane and drop off the cars, it was around 40 degrees and just plain miserable!   Undaunted, seven hikers proceeded to the trailhead of the Colbert Ridge Trail for the climb up to the crest of the Black Mountains and then on to Mt. Mitchell.   Fortunately, the rain began letting up and quit completely as we climbed the 3.5 miles (with a 3000' elevation gain) to Deep Gap.  Unfortunately, the clouds never lifted so we were not able to see from the many outstanding overlooks along the rugged ridgecrest.  This was a difficult trip as billed, with over 5000' of elevation gain in the course of the 7.5 mile hike.  However, even without views it was very rewarding to reach the summits of Potato Hill (6475'), Cattail Peak (6583'), Balsam Cone (6611'), Mt. Craig (6647'), and finally Mt. Mitchell (6684').  Wouldn't you know it, on the way home the clouds began to lift and you could see the peaks with the last bit of sunshine of the day!  The intrepid hikers who conquered these peaks were L. Toof, Z. Perry (from West Virginia), R. Monderer, M. Fanslow, M. Ekart, E. Dougherty, and J. DeLoach.