Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club

Vehicle vandalism and theft reported at AT trailheads in Tennessee

Vic — Sun, 12 May 2013 23:00:56 +0000

May 12th: Forest Service has reported that there have been a number of vehicle vandalisms along US-421 at least from South Holston Lake to AT trailhead. A personal vehicle at trailhead recently had a window broken out. Recommendation is to not leave any vehicles here until this issue is resolved by local law enforcement.

May 24th: Hikers on Roan Mountain reported that a thief broke into their car by smashing a window and prying open the glove compartment. The thief stole purses, wallets, a cell phone and other items stored in the glove compartment when they parked their vehicle at Carvers Gap on Tenn. Highway 143.

Mount LeConte Lodge (Smoky Mountains), Sat-Sun, July 13-14, 2013

admin — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:32 +0000

For the several decades, TEHCC has organized a summer weekend trip to Mount LeConte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This lodge (elevation 6593 ft) can only be reached by hiking trails. Even supplies are brought in by llama train once a week. The hiking distance to the lodge is 5.5 to 7.8 miles one-way depending on the route. The package price this year is $138.30 per person which includes supper on Saturday, lodging for the night, and breakfast on Sunday. We have four reservations in a five-person cabin (double bunk beds and a single). If you are interested in one or more of these reservations, please contact Steve Falling, 423-239-5502, for availability. You must be a TEHCC member to participate in this outing. You can find out more about Mount LeConte Lodge at www.leconte-lodge.com.

Club t-Shirt Available for Ordering until May 31st

Vic — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 11:04:29 +0000

In time for the ATC Biennial meeting, the steering committee would like to offer a t-shirt featuring the club’s patch. These are performance style t-shirts constructed of a polyester/spandex blend to have soft feel, but wicking - suitable for hiking and paddling! We’re working with the Eastman Gift Shop for this opportunity.

Available choices for the shirt are style (straight neck – men’s, v-neck – women’s), size (S, M, L, XL, XXL), and color (Green, True Navy, Heather Gray, Dark Denim, or Maroon). An order form is available (link) which also covers name, address, and a contact method. Payment ($20/shirt) is needed with each order. Deadline is the end of May. The shirts should be available in late June, thus plan to distribute through regular club work (such as Tuesday maintainers or plant mail).

From the Chair

admin — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:46:35 +0000

April has several opportunities for the club (with more information provided later in the newsletter). Our dinner meeting is on April 19th with a program about the Roan Mountains. The Gear Swap is the following morning (April 20th) in the employee center parking lot on South Wilcox Drive; so clean out the garage/basement/attic/closet of idle outdoor equipment to sell or trade. Several day hikes are appearing on the calendar which support a partnership with Eastman Wellness. Regular trail maintenance outings are getting the path ready for increased use. And finally the APEs group is cross-listing some activities for paddling and backpacking. Hopefully, you can find something of interest to enjoy during this spring month.

ATC Phenology Program

admin — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:03:40 +0000

Are you interested in exploring nature and helping out a good cause? ATC is seeking volunteers for their Phenology program. If you’re like me, the quote below should resolve your current question.

What is Phenology?

The term Phenology is derived from the Greek work “phaino”, meaning to show or appear. Phenology is the study of the reoccurring life cycle stages of plants and animals; such as bud break, leaf-out, hibernation, bird migrations an insect emergence. Phenology also includes the study of how the timing of these events relate to biotic and abiotic forces, such as weather and climate.

Read more about it at ATC’s website or download their brochure.

Mission Possible

admin — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 23:00:49 +0000

The Steering Committee decided to again partner with the Mission Possible wellness program. During March through October, TEHCC will be hosting day hikes on some Saturdays and Sunday afternoons. The intent is to provide the required fitness activity through an easy to moderate 2 to 4 hour hike somewhere within an hour driving radius of Kingsport. The hikes will be announced in both the monthly TEHCC newsletter and Mission Possible bulletins. So come enjoy a local trail with your family (while earning some HDA dollars).

2013 Spring Dinner Meeting

admin — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:00:27 +0000

Coming of spring brings anticipation of outdoor activities, but also the Spring TEHCC dinner meeting at the Eastman Lodge. Come fellowship with club members to see what everyone is up to these days.

Our evening program “Roan Mountain; History of an Appalachian Treasure” is by the author of a 2011 book by the same title – Jennifer Bauer, who is the Park Manager of Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area. Learn more about the ecology, history, and preservation of a wonderful place dear to our hearts.

Happy “Trails” Hour begins at 5:30pm. Dinner is a repeat performance from last year as it was very popular: kabobs, baked potato, salad, roll, cobbler, and tea/coffee – all for $12. Club awards will be presented. Door prizes! Done by 9pm – good for those going on the Third Saturday Maintenance trip.

For more details, check the March newsletter when it is published.

TN Announces Rocky Fork State Park

Vic — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:25:15 +0000

The 5th and FINAL sale of chunks of Rocky Fork from The Conservation Fund to the Cherokee NF was completed on September 27, 2012. This concludes transfer of Rocky Fork into public ownership, a goal sought by ATC since at least 1983. To top off that excitement, on Oct. 30 TN Gov. Bill Haslam and US Sen. Lamar Alexander announced that the 2036 acre TN-owned portion of Rocky Fork will become Rocky Fork State Park! Funds for this project came from a TN Heritage Conservation Trust Fund grant (obtained by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy), federal Land and Water Conservation Fund appropriations, and generous donations from private donors and foundations, notably Fred & Alice Stanback, the Lyndhurst Foundation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (through Walmart’s 2012 Acres for America program), the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Conservation Alliance. The Conservation Fund bought and held the property pending public purchase. Look for an upcoming article in ATJourneys for more details.

A Biennial Celebration at ATC Cullowhee 2013

admin — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 12:08:54 +0000

Plans have been underway for over a year for the biennial celebration at ATC Cullowhee 2013. It will be held at Western Carolina University (WCU) July 19-26, 2013, in Cullowhee N.C. The five AT trail maintaining clubs in North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee have been working on all aspects of this event. TEHCC is responsible for organizing the workshops while other clubs are handling volunteers, hike selection, excursions, entertainment, housing, etc. We expect near 1000 people to attend this week long event.

Volunteering is fun. It is a great way to meet people, to learn something new, to really be a part of this event. You can volunteer to lead a hike or an excursion, moderate a workshop, or help at the information desk or registration to name just a few possibilities. Volunteering is easy, just complete the convenient online form at appalachiantrail.org/2013biennial and someone will contact you with more information.

On the same ATC web page, there is a list of all activities in the planning stages. As hikes, excursions, workshops and entertainment are finalized, this page will be updated with the latest info, so check back often.

Cullowhee is surrounded by beautiful mountains, with access to many hiking trails. There are opportunities for tent and RV camping, or you may stay in the air-conditioned dorms at WCU. There are also hotel and motel options nearby. Come for the whole week or the weekend or any number of days. Start planning a 2013 vacation at the biennial and plan to volunteer one of the days you are there.

And while you are thinking about the biennial, do you know a company that sells a product or service outdoor lovers use? Do you have a personal contact at a major corporation that is a potential sponsor for the biennial? If you have answered “yes” to both or either of those questions, you know a potential sponsor. Several sponsorship levels are available, each with different benefits. Let us know the future sponsor’s name by sending an email to Cullowhee2013sponsorship [at] gmail [dot] com.

From the Chair – Oct-2012

admin — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:41:22 +0000

Vic Hasler, Steering Committee Chair

Our region is blessed with many places to enjoy the fall colors of changing deciduous trees. The show starts in the highest elevations (above 4000’) by the start of October and continues down the mountains peaking around the second or third weekends. So where to go for a “leaf peeper” hike? Just opened last year, the Pinnacle Mountain Tower Trail (9 miles round trip) has wonderful 360 degree views in mid-October. A shorter couple-mile hike up White Rock Trail in Buffalo Mountain Park offers views along the I-26 valley. A five-mile hike out and back on the AT to Little Rock Knob is a forested walk to a scenic overview. Joe DeLoach is fond of Rattlesnake Ridge Trail up Unaka Mountain to Pleasant Gardens Overlook (6-8 miles round trip). This month is also the final push of the Mission Possible wellness program; so consider one of the Sunday afternoon hikes being offered. Enjoy the color before it falls.