HIKING & PADDLING NEWS

Contents

• TEHCC Newsletter Going On-Line
• Next Two Months at a Glance
• Hiking
• Paddling
• For The Record

HIKING

NATIONAL TRAILS DAYS - A.T. OVER POND MOUNTAIN
(Scheduled: Sat, 3 June 95)
Leader: Frank Williams (615.245.8414)
This will be a six mile hike on the access trail from near Hampton to the A.T. and on it over Pond Mountain to the Shook Branch Recreation Area on U.S. 321 at Watauga Lake.   The Eastman Hike Club and the Konnarock Crew worked several years to create this really nice trail to replace what was once one of the most unpopular sections of the entire A.T.  Bring lunch, water, comfortable hiking boots or shoes, rain gear and appropriate clothing.  Driving distance about 80 miles round trip.  Meet at 8 AM between McDonalds and Burger King in Colonial Heights.  Call Frank Williams at 245.8414 for details.

A.T. - INDIAN GRAVE GAP TO NOLICHUCKY RIVER
(Scheduled: Sat, 10 June 95)
Leader: Cris Moorehouse (615. 246.7283)
Rating: Moderate
This hike is about 6 miles and mostly downhill.  We will drop a car off at the river and go up to Indian Grave Gap and start our hike.  We will meet at B-215 parking lot at 8:15 AM for a 8:30 departure.  Bring lunch, rain coat and water.   Call Cris Moorehouse 246.7283 for information.

GRAYSON HIGHLANDS STATE PARK
(Scheduled: Sat, 17 June 95)
Leader: S. Wilson (615.239.0456)
Rating: Moderate
This hike will be an 6-8 mile loop through the Grayson Highlands near Mt. Rogers.   We plan to see the rhododendron in bloom and perhaps the park's wild ponies.   Bring some water and a sack lunch to eat on the rock outcroppings that offer good views.  Meet in the old Walmart parking lot in Colonial Heights between McDonalds and Burger King at 8AM.

THIRD SATURDAY A.T. MAINTENANCE TRIP - SECOND SATURDAY FOR JUNE!!
(Scheduled: Sat, 10 June 95)
Leader: Joe DeLoach (615.753.7903)
Several of our active Trail maintainers are in the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, which has its annual meeting when our normal Third Saturday work trip falls in June.  Therefore we'll have our work trip on the second Saturday, June 10.   At press time the project we will undertake is either bracing the Bear Branch Bridge or rehabilitating sections of the Trail between Round Bald and Engine Gap.  We hope to work on the latter project, but are unsure whether the materials can be delivered to the site in time.  In either event, we'll have some pretty scenery to enjoy and some much-needed work to satisfy your volunteer spirit.  Please call Joe if you're interested in helping.

ATC GENERAL MEETING
(Scheduled: 1-7 July 95)
Contact: Collins Chew (615.239.6237)
The ATC is looking for volunteers to help with the ATC biannual meeting; excursion leader, hike leaders, youth leaders and help with registration.  Registration Forms for the Appalachian Trail Conference Meeting, 7/1-7/95, in Harrisonburg, VA are included in the March/April 1995, Appalachian Trailway News.  If you need copies of them and the schedule of events, call Collins Chew at 615.239.6237.  This is a great opportunity to meet with other Trail enthusiasts, learn about ATC, hike in Virginia, see Virginia sights on excursions, and learn interesting skills and information at a host of workshops.  It is about five hours up I-81 from Kingsport.  Contact Collins Chew for registration info and/or to volunteer. 

MULTI-CLUB MEET HIKE LEADERS NEEDED!!
Contact: Joe DeLoach (615.753.7903)
We are the hosts for the 1995 Appalachian Trail Southern Multi-Club Meet, to be held over Labor Day weekend at Buffalo Mountain Camp near Johnson City.  One of our responsibilities in hosting this Meet is to lead hikes in the area, particularly (although not exclusively) on our section of the Appalachian Trail.  We need hike leaders!   If you know of a hike you would like to help lead, or would be interested in leading a hike but don't have a preference as to where, please call Joe DeLoach at 615.753.7903.

PADDLING

LEADER'S CHOICE
(Scheduled: Sun, 4 June 95)
Leader: Todd Horton (615.323.3688)
Rating: I/II
Contact trip leader for details.

LOWER WATAUGA - CANCELED
(Scheduled: Sat, 24 June 95)
Leader: Mike Morrow (615.245.1201)

FOR THE RECORD

A.T. - TENN. 91 TO HURLEY HOLLOW RD VIA TURKEY PEN GAP
15 April 95
(Steve Perri reporting)
Spring weather graced us as we made our trek south on the A.T. from Tenn. 91 to Turkey Pen Gap.  I was careful in the reporting of the hike distance as many participants in this hike had war stories of the previous weekend on the Holston Mt.  This hike was quite leisurely in comparison and the group insisted on watching our estimate of distance as Steve Woody brought along a pedometer.  The views on this day were spectacular; the air was clean and the foliage was not yet out.  We met a thru hiker who had the misfortune of being followed or partnered with a local coon dog.  I think the dog decided we had better or more food and so he followed us during the rest of the trip.   Upon reaching the blue-blazed trail to descend to our parked car, we noted that the Forest Service gate near the power line had been removed by being pulled out of the ground.  I guess we didn't need a key that day anyway!  Enjoying this hike were: Allen Bachelor, Neil Dotson, Charlotte Floyd, Mike Graham, Steve Perri and Steve Woody.  (Webmaster's note: due to abuse by hikers, the Hurley Hollow Road access point has been closed.  DO NOT access the A.T. via this road.)

PARK BENCH INSTALLATION ON GREEN BELT
22 April 95
(Steve Perri reporting)
A group from TEHCC participated in a joint Earth Day activity between the City of Kingsport, Eastman Public Affairs and TEHCC.  Three park benches were installed just north of J. B. Dennis by-pass on the way towards Exchange Place.  Kevin Long from the City P&R supervised the work.  Holes were pre-dug and forms were already in place.  The TEHCC group cleared post holes of loose dirt and adjusted hole depth with rocks.  The benches were then placed in the hole and leveled to a height of 18" from the ground.  After this concrete was mixed up in wheel barrels and poured in the holes around the forms.  Finally the benches were braced with props while the concrete dried.

This was a well organized activity and was not very technical to do.  Kevin Long, the City rep, was very appreciative of the Club's assistance with the project.  Many users of the Green Belt commented on the condition of the park and that they appreciated the effort we were making.  Tim McClain videotaped a portion of our work which will be in a new program initiated by Eastman News called Recreation Notes.  You may see this in an upcoming program.  Those participating from TEHCC were Allen Crain, Collins Chew, Tim McClain, Cris Moorehouse, and Steve Perri.

MICHAEL MUNN DROWNS ON RUSSELL FORK
23 April 95
(Bob Tonnies reporting)
Michael Munn of Honaker, Va. drowned Sunday, 23 April kayaking Fist rapid on the Russell Fork.  According to paddlers with Mike, the Russell Fork was running around 500-600 cfs; a particularly difficult level.  As Mike was making his way through the drop he became pinned above an undercut rock with his head above water.  Others in the party were able to get ropes to him to begin extrication.  As he was pulled out of his kayak, the boat flipped, Mike came out and was washed under the rock.  He was held under the rock by the current for an extended period.  When he did wash out, CPR was applied to no avail.

Although Mike was not a member of TEHCC, he paddled frequently with many TEHCC paddlers and will be missed by them.  Mike is survived by his wife, Lisa.

CARVER'S GAP TO HUGHES GAP MAINTENANCE
29 April 95
(Garry Luttrell reporting)
Ed and Kevin were backpacking from 19E to Beauty Spot, and we met them at Carver's Gap, by prior arrangement, for them to help us with maintenance.  We clipped and cut, painted blazes, painted the blue blazes at the shelter, carried out trash from the shelter, cut and cleared five large blowdowns between Ash Gap and Hughes Gap, and met several through hikers including the Marlboro Man.  The shelter floor at the door entrance is weak and will need to be fixed soon.  Other than the floor and hole in the floor to the left of the door, the shelter is in pretty good shape.  The spring was in good condition, but low flow.  We probably should install a post with a blaze on it on top of Roan High Bluff.  There's a spot where you can't see a blaze and there's several choices of direction.  Participants: Frank Williams, Jack Young, Ed Patrick, Kevin Johnson, and Garry Luttrell.

VOLUNTEER KINGSPORT LUNCH
2 May 1995
(Frank Williams reporting)
I attended the Volunteer Kingsport appreciation lunch at Allandale as a representative of TEHCC.  This was to recognize the organizations that participated in the various Earth Day events.  To all of you that helped to set benches along the Green Belt, I pass along the thanks of Volunteer Kingsport.

WHITEROCKS FIRETOWER TO BITTER END
6 May 1995
(Cris Moorehouse reporting)
We went on a maintenance hike over this section and removed 48 blowdowns, six widowmakers, and cut a lot of Rhododendron.  We also had three generations of maintenance leaders; Julian Lewis, who turned the group over to Bill Murdock, who passed it along to me when he transferred to England.  Partially offsetting the monumental task of cutting rhododendron was the joy of seeing ?(unknown)-wing.  This wild flower grows around some bogs and is relatively rare.  It has a whorl of three leaves and a pink flower which resembles an airplane.  We saw two rare trillium in bloom.   Rare because of their unusual color - white with a fuchsia center.  The pink lady slippers were budding with a few in bloom.  Joining me, Cris Moorehouse, for this maintenance were Theona Moorehouse, Julian Lewis, Bill Murdock, Steve Perri, Dean Webster, Bill Stowell and his son Derrick.

PARTNERSHIP HIKE
12-13 May 1995
(Collins Chew reporting)
A group of persons with A.T. responsibility have been making a "partnership" backpack each year recently and I was granted the opportunity to join them this year in a backpack across the Roan Highlands from Cloudland across Roan High Knob and on to U.S. 19E.   Many important management issues were discussed along the way.  They were quite interested in removing fire rings and maintaining a pristine trail environment at the old Cloudland Hotel area.  Plans at Carvers Gap were reviewed as were options for trail repair at Round Bald.  The group was most complimentary of the two new (magnificent) relocations between Doll Flats and U.S. 19E.  They had criticized these sections in their 1991 hike here and this helped get priority with the Club and the Konnarock Crew to install the relocations.  Several relocations are obviously still needed but most must wait until land acquisitions provide a wider corridor to permit some switchback installation.  The group was quite interested in placing some new areas on the priority 3 (lowest) list for acquisition to keep the area pristine.  Many other hikers were using the trail this week.  We had a beautiful, cool weekend and just missed the torrential downpour.  The wildflowers were wonderful.  I listed 47 varieties in bloom with many huge carpets of white fringed phacelia, and smaller ones of bluets and Solomon's Plume (the new pc name for False Solomon's Seal).  Unfortunately, Randy Phillips, Supervisor of the Forests of North Carolina had to cancel because of illness.  Hikers were, from the USFS: Dave Sherman, of A.T. Land Acquisition, Washington, DC, John Ramey, Supervisor of Cherokee NF, Paul Bradley, District Ranger, Toecane RD, N.C., From ATC: SARA Davis, Southern Regional V. P. and Morgan Sommerville, Reg. Rep., others: Lynn Cox, Exec. Director, SAHC, Dwayne Stutzman, North Carolina State Parks, and Collins Chew.  Olin Mason, District Ranger on the Unaka R D, his wife and a few others provided very welcome logistical support with car shuttles.

HIGHWAY 421 TO MCQUEENS GAP
13 May 95
(Cris Moorehouse reporting)
We dropped a car off at McQueens Gap and started our walk about 11 A.M.  Thanks to our sharp eyed ladies we saw many flowers.  Among them were May Apples, Lilly-of-the-Valley, Trillium, Pink Ladies Slippers, Flaming Azalea, small yellow ones and small purple ones we did not know the name for.  The views were blocked by clouds coming in and we were given energy by the approaching thunder.  After lunch we climbed to where the old fire tower had been located and started down the last half mile just as it started to sprinkle.  Thanks to the trees we were protected and reached the truck just as the 2 P.M. downpour started.  I was joined on the hike by Paula Bullit, Gene Doran, Kathy Hall, Mary Jane Mattern, Theona Moorehouse, Down Owens, and Whit Paraham.