Mission Possible

Posted on February 17, 2013 by admin

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).

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2013 Spring Dinner Meeting

Posted on February 15, 2013 by admin

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.

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TN Announces Rocky Fork State Park

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Vic

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.

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A Biennial Celebration at ATC Cullowhee 2013

Posted on January 1, 2013 by admin

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. Continue reading →

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From the Chair – Oct-2012

Posted on October 1, 2012 by admin

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.

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