1996 CELEBRATING TENNESSEE EASTMAN HIKING & CANOEING CLUBS 50th ANNIVERSARY
DECEMBER, 1996
THE TENNESSEE EASTMAN

HIKING & PADDLING NEWS

Contents:


• Next Two Months At A Glance
• Congratulations
• For Your Information
• 1996 Anniversary Hike Reports
• Working on the A.T.: Maintenance Update
• For The Record
• Upcoming Events

CONGRATULATIONS:

1997 - 1998 Members elected to TEHCC steering Committee are Steve Banks, Kevin Edgar, and Jan Mayo.

The following hikers have completed the 1996 Anniversary Hikes: Bob Miller, Emmett Dougherty, Garry Luttrell, Theona Moorehouse, Cris Moorehouse, Nancy Wilson, Kent Wilson, Bill Stowell, and Derrick Stowell.

The Steering Committee has nominated Collins Chew to the Appalachian Trail Conference Board of Managers. Collins is also the Chair of the 1999 ATC Biennial Conference to be held at Radford College in Virginia.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION, PLEASE NOTE:

1996 ANNIVERSARY HIKE REPORTS

A.T. HIKE # 3 & 4: TENN. 91 TO WATAUGA DAM ROAD: October 12-13, 1996, Kent Wilson Reporting, Hiking Distance 16 miles. Several Eastman hikers joined Troop 48 BSA of Colonial Heights to backpack these sections. We camped in tents, past Iron Mountain Shelter. The weather was beautiful all weekend and not as cold as we had expected. The views of the lake were very nice. During the lunch break at Vanderventer Shelter on Sunday, Nancy met a couple from Hampton who had seen our names in the Hiking Club Newsletter on the Web site. There were a couple of blowdowns north of Vanderventer Shelter. One between the shelter and the wilderness boundary and one about a mile north of the wilderness area. Otherwise the trail was in excellent shape. This finishes the Eastman section for Kent and Nancy Wilson. Making the trip were 10 scouts and 8 adults. Members of the Eastman Hiking club were Kathleen Kitzmiller, E. Phil Smith, Bill and Michael Lewis (HDC), Paul and Richie Kirkpatrick, Jesse Swanson, Steve Haynes, Charles Hasbrouck, Lanny, Mark, and Ben Treece, and Kent and Nancy Wilson.

A.T. HIKE #13: IRON MOUNTAIN TO INDIAN GRAVE GAP: October 19, 1996, Bill Stowell reporting. Bill Stowell, Derrick Stowell, and Richard Colberg gathered at Burger King at 8:00. We drove to Indian Grave Gap and parked a car. Drove to Iron Mt. Gap and started our hike. It was a clear windy day. The hike up Unaka Mt. caused us to work up a sweat. When we reached the top there was a drastic temperature drop. The wind was blowing hard and frost was all over the trees. We stopped to eat lunch. We became so cold we could not warm up. It wasn't until we got to a lower altitude that we finally warmed up. This completes all the anniversary hikes for Derrick and me, and just one more to go for Richard. We reached Indian Grave Gap about 4:00PM.

A.T. SECTION 20 ANNIVERSARY HIKE # 15: Steve Perri reporting. Our group of eight brave hikers set out to hike the last scheduled Anniversary Hike on October 26, 1996 from Spivey Gap to the Nolichucky River. We decided to hike the most leisurely direction from Spivey Gap to the River since this direction represented the least elevation gain. I offered to hike the other direction, but some members of our group expressed ill will towards my welfare that this seemed to be the best option. Fortunately, Lois Mansfield had been to Spivey Gap before since we had a difficult time finding the trailhead. Both TEHCC and CMC had their signs removed along the roadside on 19E just past Spivey Gap which made it difficult to locate the trail. We were fortunate to have only brief periods of very light rain during the day. It rained the hardest at the shelter while we ate lunch. Of course we put on all our rain gear before leaving the shelter and it stopped as we walked a few feet from the shelter. We saw two hikers with lots of gear collecting something in a bucket, one hunter parked on the trail at Temple Hill Gap, lots of fall foliage, and bright yellow Pirate Bush leaves on Cliff Ridge. Several members of our group complimented the Club on the relocations since three of the hikers were from other trail clubs. Scott and Brenda win the costume awards since they were dressed a week early for Halloween in their yellow and orange ponchos. Neil will offer a class in poncho training on the next rainy day hike. All in all we enjoyed the hike, the fun, and the present company for a wet fall hike. Those present on this hike were: Brenda and Scott Barnicki, Don Kreh, Neil Dotson, Donna and Doug Neimi, Lois Mansfield, and Steve Perri.

ANNIVERSARY HIKE #8: BITTER END TO U.S. 19E: Nov. 2, 1996: Phyllis Cairnes reporting. Though it was misting rain our NOAA weather radio had promised sunshine by late morning. The undulating wooded terrain was particularly pretty in the damp morning. Dewey rhododendrons and pine needle carpeting provided special beauty. Biscuit loved the myriad of smells the wet fallen leaves held. The first footbridge (two planks) should be considered for replacement, we thought. Partially broken, it creaked and gave. By the time we stopped for lunch the sky was clearing and sun shining. Toward the end of the hike we walked through two lovely green fields, by Isaac's Cemetery and then down into a long, grassy hollow where cattle graze. It was a beautiful hike and a perfect way to spend the day for Mary Ellen Ress, Rolla Wade, Phyllis Cairnes and Biscuit. (Unfortunately someone backed into Mary Ellen's car while it was parked at 19E. In the process this person's license plate was torn off and left as a calling card. We reported the incident to the Sheriff's Dept.; hopefully something can be done.)

ANNIVERSARY HIKES #3 AND #4: TENN. 91 TO TURKEY PEN GAP TO WATAUGA DAM ROAD: November 4, 1996: Phyllis Cairnes reporting. Yes, it was a Monday, but Mary Ellen, Phyllis, and Biscuit are on a mission to complete all these hikes....definitely worth a day's annual leave in Mary Ellen's opinion. The day was to be relatively warm and dry; perfect for a long 15.6 miler. We were prepared with extra water bottles, doggy treats, and oodles of leftover Halloween candy. The walking was relatively easy though (as Mary Ellen said) not necessarily flat just because it was along a ridge. We saw a deer who saw us and fled in leaping bounds, its white-tail zigzagging through the trees. In the late afternoon we met a group of five men from Indiana doing an annual November week-long backpacking trip. Otherwise it seemed we had the trail to ourselves though we spotted a couple of parked hunters vehicles not far off the trail. We enjoyed the walking as well as the ridge line views of the placid valleys below. Not a bad way to spend a Monday! 

WORKING ON THE A.T., MAINTENANCE UPDATE:

A.T. MAINTENANCE: PAINT ROOF ON MORELAND GAP SHELTER: Sunday October 20, 1996, Ed Oliver reporting. Participants were Mary and Bruce Cunningham, and Darrol Nickels. Total people hours 3 X 9 = 27. Bruce, Mary, & Darrol cleaned and painted the roof of the Moreland Gap Shelter. They also gave the inside of the shelter a fresh coat of paint. They reported that this shelter is in good condition. The spring at the shelter was low. They found another spring about a hundred feet or so below the spring that most people use. Someone had put a piece of plastic pipe in the second spring.

A.T. MAINTENANCE: WORK ON ROUND BALD: October 23, 1996, Garry Luttrell reporting. One Person X 4 hours = 4 hours total. The sign had been removed that advised hikers to use the new relocation. I installed a new sign and piled some rocks and logs to barricade / deter hikers from taking the old route, and direct them to the relocation. Also, nailed an A.T. sign to the signpost / frame where the old sign is missing. The reward for this work was a Gorgeous sunset!

A T MAINTENANCE: TRAIL REHAB BETWEEN INDIAN GRAVE GAP AND CURLEY MAPLE SHELTER: October 26, 1996, Ed Oliver reporting. Four workers X 8 hours = 32 total hours. Participants Bill and Derrick Stowell, Frank Williams, and Ed Oliver. When we gathered at the meeting place, we were a little undecided as to whether or not to actually go on this work trip. The weather forecast was for continued light rain most of the day. When one member of the group said that we had already made the effort to go this far and that we might as well go for the trip, we headed out to Indian Grave Gap. We had a light mist most of the day but the rain waited until we were back in the car and headed for home. We calculated that we have now rehabilitated at least half of the trail between Indian Grave Gap and Curley Maple Shelter. We are on a long section of relatively good trail now. It will probably take one or two more trips to complete the rehab of this section of trail.

APPALACHIAN TRAIL WORK TRIP: DECIDE REHABILITATION TO TRAIL IN LAUREL FORK GORGE AND INSPECT ROAN HIGH SHELTER: Thursday, October 31, 1996. Ed Oliver reporting. Participants were Frank Williams, Ed Oliver, and Morgan Summerville (from ATC). Two people X 10 hours for 20 total hours. Frank & I met with Morgan Sommerville at the Dennis Cove parking area. We walked to Laurel Falls and continued to the point where the blue blazed trail leads to the shelter. We then followed the blue blazed trail back to the Appalachian Trail above the water fall. We had a beautiful day weather wise and a very productive day trail wise. We were able to decide how to repair each section of trail that needed repair. It looks like all the work can be done without any relocations. There will be considerable rock work and will require two weeks or more of Konnarock Crew time. Several sections can be repaired by the club without any help from Konnarock. The work may be slow but it should be very interesting. It will definitely be different from the normal side hill trail repair. We may want to schedule some third Saturdays for some of this work. It would be an excellent way for club members to get experience with rock work. We don't necessarily need boulder size rocks for some of the work. I will be glad to review our findings and recommendations with anyone interested and/or at a future A.T. Committee Meeting. After the trip to Laurel Fork Gorge, Frank and I drove to Carvers Gap and walked to the Roan High Knob Shelter. We determined how to repair the floor of the shelter. The floor is 1/2 inch plywood nailed to 2X6's. The 2X6's are spaced two feet apart. This wide spacing of the 2X6's and the 1/2 inch thickness of the plywood results in a springy floor in some places. We think that the holes in the plywood most likely resulted from fatigue to the plywood from use. The holes are located at places where the plywood would get the most use from hikers. We recommend that we carry in a couple of pieces of 2X6's to reinforce the support system at the most used locations, replace the broken plywood, and add a second layer of 1/2 inch plywood (or strand board) on the entire floor. This would make the floor much stronger and should reduce the probability of another hole occurring. We looked under the shelter from the outside to see if there is any indication of decay in the floor joists. We also used a screw driver to check for decay. We found no evidence of decay in the floor joists. Frank and I recommend that we target the Roan High Knob Shelter work for the third Saturday in November. I have the list of materials that we will need. If we have extra people, we could divert some of them to another project. We will have to carry the materials about 1/3 mile if we can get a key to the gate near Carvers Gap. Darrol Nickels is working on getting the key from the North Carolina Forest Service people.

CHAINSAW TRAINING: November 2 and 3, 1996, Joe DeLoach reporting. Participants, 14 for a total of 181 hours, were James Austin, Bruce Cunningham, Joe DeLoach, Kevin Edgar, Tim Frederick, John Kiefer, Greg Kramer, Rick Lott, Cris and Theona Moorehouse, Steve Perri, Bill Stowell, Derrick Stowell, and Steve Wilson. Jeff Putnam, a professional logger and logging trainer from New Hampshire, conducted the training. Jeff is also a maintainer with the Dartmouth Outing Club and thus was able to tailor the program to the needs of Trail maintainers. Don McDougal from the Central/Southwest Virginia ATC office assisted in the training. All of the above TEHC participants received instruction in the proper techniques for cutting up downed trees as well as felling. Also, we learned about proper chainsaw maintenance (which may be sorely lacking among our maintainers who use the Club saws). All 14 participants received certification and will be safer and more effective maintainers as a result of the training.

CUT BLOWDOWNS BETWEEN NOLICHUCKY EXPEDITIONS AND CURLEY MAPLE SHELTER: Trip #1. Sunday November 3, 1996, Ed Oliver reporting. Participant Dee Drinkard. One person X 4 hours for a total of 4 hours. Dee walked from Nolichucky Expeditions to the old foundation trail north of Curley Maple Shelter. He cleared a path through or removed any blowdowns that were a problem with hikers. This section of trail is in good condition.

CUT BLOWDOWNS AND INSPECT TRAIL NORTH OF CURLEY MAPLE SHELTER. Sunday November 3, 1996, Trip #2: Participant Ed Oliver. One person X 4 hours for a total of 4 hours. I walked in on the Forest Service trail that connects with the Appalachian Trail about 1.5 miles trail south of Indian Grave Gap. I walked to the old foundation trail north of Curley Maple Shelter. I planned to remove any blowdowns on this section of trail. However, I did not find any blowdowns on this section. I estimated how much of the trail needs rehab. My best estimate is that about 1600 feet of trail needs some rehab. These areas are scattered all along the section from the Forest Service trail intersection to the old foundation trail north of the shelter. Less than half of this distance will require much digging. It should take a crew of about six people two days to rehab this section.

A.T. MAINTENANCE: MCQUEENS GAP TO BACKBONE ROCK TRAIL: Wednesday November 6, 1996, Ray Hunt reporting. Participants Dick Burow and Ray Hunt. Two people X 12 hours for 24 total hours. Dick and Ray drove to McQueens Gap and walked trail north towards Backbone Rock Trail. Three major blowdowns were removed from the trial as well as 6 small blowdowns. This section of trail is cleared of blowdowns.

A.T. MAINTENANCE: REHAB TRAIL BETWEEN INDIAN GRAVE GAP AND CURLEY MAPLE SHELTER: Saturday November 9, 1996, Ed Oliver reporting. Participants Mary and Bruce Cunningham, Bill and Derrick Stowell, Tim McClain, Frank Williams, and Ed Oliver. Seven people X 8 = 56 total hours. We had planned to break into two groups. One group would flag a trail relocation trail south of Wildermine Hollow and the other group would rehab trail south of Indian Grave Gap. After all the rain the day before and the light snow, we decided that it would be too slick to try to flag the relocation. Therefore, we all decided to work on trail rehab. We used the short Forest Service trail to get to the Appalachian Trail at a point about half way between Indian Grave Gap and Curley Maple Shelter. We were able to rehab at least half to three quarter mile of trail before the snow encouraged us to return home. More than once our packs as well as us became snow covered. The mountains were beautiful covered in an inch or more of snow. However, the snow made finding the trail sections needing rehab more difficult. One member of the group said to report that all the "snow bunnies" made it back to the car. I think that we were able to rehab enough of the trail to allow us to complete this rehab project in one more trip.

A.T. MAINTENANCE: WORK ON ROOF OF YELLOW MOUNTAIN BARN: Monday November 11, 1996, Ed Oliver reporting. Participants: Darrol Nickels and Bruce Cunningham (TEHCC) and Fred Lashley. Two people X 9 = 18 total hours. Bruce and Darrol met Fred at the gate on the road to the Yellow Mountain Barn. After thawing out the lock, they drove on to the barn. The roof had too much snow and ice on it for Fred to repair the two sections of tin. They left the new sections of roofing under one of the new sleeping platforms. Fred said that she could come back and repair the roof after Thanksgiving. Bruce and Darrol also checked on the wire baskets near US19E. The baskets are not the correct size to be of much use on the culvert project near Watauga Lake. Bruce said that there was three to four inches of snow at Yellow Mountain Barn. The temperature was about 28 degrees.

FOR THE RECORD

A.T. HIKE; VIRGINIA 623 TO VIRGINIA 42: Oct. 15 and 16, 1996 Richard Kilby reporting. We met in the parking lot of Carolina Pottery at 7 a.m. We had a hearty breakfast at the nearby McDonald's and departed for Garden Mt. at 8 a.m. We were on the trail walking south from Va. 623 by 10 a.m. Our group spent the night at Chestnut Knob Shelter overlooking Burk's Garden. The Indian Summer weather was perfect, the beauty of the area, the peak fall colors, and the comfort of this outstanding shelter made a perfect backpacking trip. Our second day began at 7 a.m. with a quick breakfast, and we were on the trail at 8 a.m. We encountered an excellent trail, and a perfect day for hiking. We were at the end of the trail on Va. 42 by 2 p.m. After the hike we visited the Amish Store in Burk's Garden and were back in Kingsport at 6 p.m. Joining me for the hike were, Grady Hilton, David Jennings, and Mike Hall.

PUBLIC LANDS DAY: October 19, 1996, Frank Williams reporting. Approximately 30 volunteers showed up at the Tipton-Haynes Historic Site to celebrate Public Lands Day. The project for this year was to replace a split rail fence. The rails were already split and there were few post holes to dig so the work proceeded quickly. We did leave enough work for another volunteer crew coming in the following Monday. Only the writer appeared at this event to represent the TEHCC.

A.T. HIKE VA 610 TO GROSECLOSE: Va., October 20, 1996, Collins Chew reporting. The 9 mile hike provided beautiful views of late Fall leaf color under patchy clouds on a cool and occasionally windy day. Hikers were Taylor Pickard and Collins Chew.

A.T. HIKE, CARVERS GAP TO 19E: Saturday - Sunday, October 19 - 20, 1996, Garry S. Luttrell reporting. This was done as a day hike on August 10, but was originally intended as a backpack trip. This time we started again at Carvers Gap, but we spent Saturday Night in the Yellow Mountain Barn. On Sat. morning, we met at Bob's Dairyland; and while having a cup of coffee, got in a discussion with a local resident, who wore an Indiana Jones hat with a snakeskin band, on topics such as vandalism of cars, ATC and Forest Service taking land away from local owners, ATV use on the Hump, and how bad Eastman is polluting the environment. Needless to say, his opinions were opposite of ours, so we paid $5 to park our car out of sight of traffic on 19E. The temperature registered 25 F on Round Bald and the wind must have been at least 25 MPH, but the views were gorgeous on the balds with the hoarfrost and the crystal clear sky. The wind continued all night in the Barn, and next day crossing the Hump. There were about 25 people at the Barn on Sat. night from all over the Southeast, and several compliments to TEHCC were recorded in the trail log for the recent renovations to the Barn. We led a bear hunting dog out to 19E, and a hunter was waiting there with his electronic dog tracker. He said they had chased a bear 30 miles from Spruce Pine, but the bear crossed into Tennessee, climbed a tree, and they could not kill it since bear hunting is off season in Tennessee. Some maintenance notes: Sign and barrier missing at Round Bald Relocation and people are short-cutting the relo.; two blowdowns in the woods above Doll Flats; one blowdown on the lower end of the relocation below Doll Flats; and, some new blazing is needed. Participants in this hike were Mary Scott and Bob Coffey (from Blacksburg, Virginia), Shelton Thompson, Emmett Dougherty, Billy Luttrell, and Garry Luttrell.

FALL DINNER MEETING: November 2, 1996, Garry Luttrell reporting. Thanks to Pratt's Barn for the fine dinner. Thanks to Mahoney's - Dixie Hoilman, Fred Hoilman, and Janie Hoilman. After giving two seminars on Saturday they came and set up a great display and provided several great door prizes. The items they had on display were offered for sale at a 20% discount and they gave out brochures that could be brought to their store for a 15% discount. Special Guests were Morgan Summerville, Southern regional ATC representative. Jerry Greer, who gave our program, and his wife Angelia. John Ramey, Forest Supervisor, Cherokee National Forest. Olin Mason, District Ranger, Unaka Ranger District and wife Annabelle. Sheryl Maddux, District Ranger, Watauga Ranger District and husband Vern. Pete Irvine, Resource Assistant, Watauga Ranger District. Chainsaw instructor from Virginia ATC office, Jeff Putnam and Don McDougal. Pete Irvin and Sheryl Maddux presented rockers to 32 of our club members who had worked at least 100 hours on the A.T. in 1995 through September 1996. John Ramey presented the club a very nice certificate of appreciation on our 50th year, for our countless hours of volunteer effort in the management and maintenance of the A.T., Cherokee National Forest. Look for this is the display case B-310. Joe DeLoach presented club members who worked at least 5 days with the Konnarock Crew, Tee shirts. He had also presented Don McDougal with a club check for $500 for support of the crew. We recognized members who did physical support for the A.T.. One of our members, Ray Hunt, was recognized for many hours of behind the scenes supporting the A.T. through his work as coordinator of Forest Service land acquisitions and open area management, and as chair emeritus of the ATC.  A.T. finishers Luann Mack-Drinkard, Dee Drinkard, and Steve Banks were presented plaques recognizing their accomplishments. Steve Banks was also recognized as Webmaster for his work in making the TEHCC Website one of the top 50 websites in the State of Tennessee. Nominees for the steering committee, that were in attendance were introduced. Jerry Greer gave an outstanding slide program. He showed slides of Colorado, New Mexico, and scenes from our region.

UPCOMING EVENTS

DECEMBER 21, 1996: THIRD SATURDAY WORK TRIP: Leader: Ed Oliver. If the weather permits, we will work on the Appalachian Trail about 1/2 mile trail north of Shook Branch on Saturday, December, 22, 1996. We will build up the trail near a culvert so that the lake will not cover the trail at high water level. We will also install a small bridge across the stream at the culvert. The work site is within a few feet of a road. Walking distance is less than 100 yards. This should be a relatively easy work trip. Plan to meet in the parking area between McDonalds and Burger King in Colonial Heights at 8:00 a.m. We should be back in Kingsport relatively early. Call Ed Oliver for additional information. We will need someone with a truck to haul the materials for the bridge. If you have a truck and can help for at least a couple of hours, please let me know.