Are you willing to get out of your tent in the morning, drive a couple of hours, grab some digging tools, hike 1.5 miles, and then start digging trail? More importantly, are you willing to do all that in the pouring rain? That is exactly what about 74 hikers did on Sunday, May 15, 2005 as they left Damascus Trail Days and ventured to help TEHCC relocate steep and eroding trail just north of Bitter End. Nine Club members and affiliates joined the hikers, only we were lucky enough to rise from bed, rather than a sleeping bag. Fortunately, by early afternoon the rains tapered off and there was only an occasional light mist. Continue reading “Hard Core – Bitter End to Dennis Cove Relocations (2005)”
Hard Core – Bitter End to Dennis Cove Relocations (2004)
The 4th annual Damascus Hard-Core work trip was another great event. The two days of work involved 99 individuals and almost 1600 hours. Eighteen were TEHCC members or program affiliates. The remaining 81 were enthusiastic volunteer hikers. They came for work and work they did! There were many rhododendrons and short terrain dips that contained about three feet of duff. Over 2000 feet of sidehill trail was built as a relocation to remove a steep and eroding section. Continue reading “Hard Core – Bitter End to Dennis Cove Relocations (2004)”
Hard Core – Bitter End to Dennis Cove Relocations (2003)
In spite of the rainy weather predictions, we had fair weather and a great 3rd annual Damascus Hard-Core work trip. The two days of work involved 71 individuals for over 1,000 hours. Seventeen were TEHCC members or program affiliates. The remaining 54 were enthusiastic volunteer hikers. They came for work and work they did! There were many rhododendrons and short terrain dips that contained over two feet of duff. Duff became a new addition to the hiker vocabulary. They even created Mr. Duff using duff as the head, soda cans as eyes and a rain jacket and pants for the body. Continue reading “Hard Core – Bitter End to Dennis Cove Relocations (2003)”
Hard Core – Clyde Smith Shelter Remodel and Elk River Relocation (2002)
Wow! The 2nd annual Damascus Trail Days Hard-Core was a great success! Continue reading “Hard Core – Clyde Smith Shelter Remodel and Elk River Relocation (2002)”
Osborne Farm Acquisition and Relocation (2001)
Land in Shady Valley to become buffer for Appalachian Trail Continue reading “Osborne Farm Acquisition and Relocation (2001)”
Round Bald Relocation / Stairway to Heaven (2000-2001)
During 2000-2001, the A.T. on Round Bald was relocated and rehabilitated, to eliminate significant erosion problems and replace the former steep route with a more gradual sidehill trail. The project has three distinct phases:
- Phase 1 – Gravel delivery and trail construction from Carvers Gap to a large rock about two-thirds of the way up to the summit of Round Bald – summer of 2000.
- Phase 2 – Gravel delivery between the large rock and Engine Gap – February-March 2001.
- Phase 3 – Spreading the gravel on the existing Trail route between the large rock and Engine Gap – summer of 2001.
Continue reading “Round Bald Relocation / Stairway to Heaven (2000-2001)”
Hard Core – Round Bald Improvements (2001)
Come let me tell you a story about a man named Forest Phil… Continue reading “Hard Core – Round Bald Improvements (2001)”
Carvers Gap to Cloudland Waterbar Installation (1999)
In November 1999, the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club conducted three large Appalachian Trail-maintenance projects with regional volunteers from local colleges and the Boy Scouts. Continue reading “Carvers Gap to Cloudland Waterbar Installation (1999)”
Laurel Fork Gorge Bridge Replacement (1999)
On January 7-8, 1998, torrential rains struck northeast Tennessee and western North Carolina. Carter County, Tennessee was hit especially hard, with widespread flooding and seven deaths caused by ten inches of rain during a 24 hour period. The lower two bridges on the A.T. in Laurel Fork Gorge were completely destroyed. The center span of the upper bridge (the Koonford Bridge) was also destroyed, but temporary repairs were quickly made by TEHCC on January 17, 1998. A temporary blue-blazed route for the A.T. to bypass the two destroyed bridges was completed in May 1998. Continue reading “Laurel Fork Gorge Bridge Replacement (1999)”