Category: Trip Reports

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Friday Hikers: Carvers Gap to Grassy Ridge, June 17

Collins Chew reporting

We had ideal weather for our 4.8-mile hike from Carvers Gap to Grassy Ridge and return and then another 0.5 mile (about) hike through the Rhododendron Gardens.  Along the AT, the rhododendrons were upstaged by a nearly continuous, beautiful display of flame azalea with many colors showing.  The rhododendrons were also very nice, particularly near the top of Grassy Ridge and in the Gardens.  There were many other wildflowers, including American Mountain Ash, Grays Lily, bluets, ragwort, and more.  Many others shared our enjoyment of the day.  There was the usual stop for peaches as well.  Hikers were:  Olin Babb, Lee Bockman, Anne Cosby, Carol and Dave Dunham, Judith Foster, Bob Harvey, Jerry Sluder, Judy and Bill Tindall, Lowell Toof, first timers Rikki Rhoton and Sharon Trumley, and Collins Chew.

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Friday Hikers: AT – Braemar to Shook Branch, June 10

Collins Chew reporting

We hiked from Braemar over Pond Mountain on the AT to Shook Branch to measure a new relocation near the top of Pond Mountain.  The relocation measured 1851 feet long and the entire section ended up 0.1 miles shorter than the guide book distance.  We walked about 7 miles including the mile on the blue-blaze trail from Braemar.  There were a fair number of wildflowers with Mountain Laurel the showiest.  I was also fascinated by the white and pink-flowered shrub at low elevations at both ends.  I guess it is Corymbed Spirea.  The flower spikes of Galax got the most comments.  Some flame azalea was still blooming.  Hikers were:  Bob Harvey, Lowell Toof, and Collins Chew.

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Nolichucky River Clean-up and Celebration, June 4

Debbie Briscoe reporting

We had record attendance at the cleanup this year!  But first let me say and I couldn’t have done it without the support of our club officers Jerry, Cheryl, Wes, Jeff and Scott.  Their assistance with organizing, getting the food, and picking up donations and TVA bags was a huge help!  At sign-in, we had an exciting and overwhelming period of giving out location assignments and organizing clean teams.  After getting everyone on their way to the specific focus points, I teamed up with a small band of merry volunteers and set off to the Saw Mill put in.  The weather was perfect and the water was wonderful! Continue reading “Nolichucky River Clean-up and Celebration, June 4”

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Friday Hikers: AT – Whitetop Mountain, June 3

Collins Chew reporting

We had a beautiful day for our 7-mile hike on the AT over Whitetop.  I have never seen the field so green.  There were many wildflowers including flame azalea.  Hikers were: Jack Aaron, Olin Babb, Lee Bockman, Kathy and Jerry Case, Andrew Cleland, Anne Cosby, Carol and Dave Dunham, first timer Irma Graf, who was scouting for the ATC meeting next month, Bob Harvey, John and Helen Hoover, Carol Idol, Heather Jacob, Larry Miller, Susie Seiler, Jerry Sluder, Lowell Toof, and Collins Chew.

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Exploring the Holston, May 28

Deb Reynolds reporting

Memorial weekend was hot, but mid-day Saturday, the North Fork of the Holston River was calm, cool, and secluded, yet close to home.  We had 4 women for this trip, 2 of whom have never paddled before on their own.  The river is very quiet on this section with farmland, forest and some residential homes.  We saw more blue herons and large turtles than I have seen anywhere else and we were even paddling with the cows that had come down to drink and cool off.  There were trees for most of the section to provide shade with a nice breeze.  The water had a few shoals, but nothing more than a class I, if even that.  We had a short stop for a snack and were off the river in 2 hours with plans for all 4 of us to paddle together again.  I followed up with another paddle on the same section on Memorial Day; the river level had dropped about a foot in 2 days.  We had a few more shoals and dragged bottom a few times.  I would not recommend a composite material kayak at a lower level than this.  The drive for the shuttle was remarkably short and I will be doing this section quite often due to the location and scenery.  I can’t wait for the next sections of the Holston River to explore!   (Attending: Deb, Jaime, Dianne and Sarah on Day 1; Deb and Paul on Day 2).

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Friday Hikers: AT: Yellow Mt. Gap to Little Hump, May 20

Collins Chew reporting

We had a beautiful hike in pleasant, cool weather to Yellow Mountain Gap and on the AT to [[Carver’s Gap to US19E|Little Hump]] and back to Big Yellow Mountain where we crossed over to the magnificent bald for lunch, then return.  Views were hazy but nice.  Wildflowers were out in profusion; white fringed phacelia and wood betony (lousewort) perhaps the most spectacular with occasional carpets of bluets. Hikers were Jack Aaron, Lee Bockman, Olin Babb, Kathy and Jerry Case, Anne Cosby, Carol and Dave Dunham, Bob Harvey, Jan and Chuck Mather, Susie Seiler, and Collins Chew.

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Friday Hikers: Lake Keokee to a point near High Butte, May 13

Bob Harvey reporting

The hike of May 13 was from Lake Keokee to a point near High Butte on the crest of [[AT, Wilburn Ridge, Scales|Stone Mountain]] and return, a total of 9.0 miles.

Lake Keokee possibly is a water source for one of the towns of Southwest Virginia, and it’s not far from Appalachia.  We began the hike by going part way around the lake, walking over the big earth-fill dam, then going to the top of Stone Mountain on an easy ascent, arriving at Olinger Gap.  From the huge pile of empty beer cans we found at the gap, we could see that there must have been a four-wheelers’ party in the recent past.

Turning to the northeast at Olinger Gap we hiked along the crest of Stone Mountain.  For several short sections the trail was bare rock.  Much of this crestline trail, except for a few blowdowns, was no problem.  There was, however, the matter of two gaps that had steep descents and even worse ascents.  When we finally clawed our way to the high point, we took a welcome break to eat lunch, then headed back.

The hike back took a little less time, possibly because we were spurred along by hearing thunder coming from Kentucky, just two miles to the north.  According to fellow hiker Don Baker, the bad weather often comes from there, and so it did this time.  The rain began, but it wasn’t too bothersome until well after we had gotten back to the cars.

The hikers were Jack Aaron, Olin Babb, Don Baker, Collins Chew, Andrew Cleland, Anne Cosby, Bob Harvey, Carol Idol, Chuck Mather, Larry Miller and Jerry Sluder.

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Friday Hikers: Doe River Gorge, May 6

Collins Chew reporting

We had occasional misty rain part of the time for our hike through the [[Doe River Gorge]], but it did not interfere with our enjoyment of the day.  After signing releases to the landowners, a Christian Camp, we hiked along the old Tweetsie railroad grade for about 2.5 miles and then returned.  Several geologic features were noted to be of interest.  There were quite a few wildflowers.  The showiest were purple phacelia and fire pink, but there were many others.  We were back in time to picnic at the camp tables.  Hikers were Olin Babb, Kathy and Jerry Case, Anne Cosby, Jan and Chuck Mather, Brian Paley, Susie Seiler, Jerry Sluder, and Collins Chew.

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Friday Hikers: GSMNP – Porters Creek Trail, April 22

Collins Chew reporting

We had a day of glorious wildflowers on the Porters Creek Trail in the Smokies.  Jerry Jones did great in recommending it.  The weatherman blew it again as we had only a sprinkling of rain at the Kingsport meeting place and none in the Smokies.  It was sunny in the afternoon.  We had almost continuous wildflowers of many varieties almost all the way, including the showiest orchids I have ever seen.  There were a great number of other hikers enjoying the flowers as well.  I hope to make a list of flowers for those who were there and any others who request it.  Hikers were: Olin Babb, first timer Wilford Corbin, Bob Harvey, Jerry Jones, Jerry Sluder, Deb and Eric Vrshansky, and Collins Chew.