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Basic Swiftwater Rescue Course, Trip Report

Scott Fisher reporting
Event Date: July 27-29

We had an exceptional SWR class out at Big Rock!!  Congrats to the participants for doing the right thing by making the safety of their fellow paddlers and themselves a priority by taking this class.  Please join me in congratulating Jeremiah Tomlinson, Steve Hagood, Stacey Lowe, Pema Olivia Bhutia, Nicolas Machi, Ian Watson, Todd Emma, Nathan Vannoy, Josh Lawson, Kim Lawson Hayden Blake, Aaron Hillman and Ben Carr.   As always, the course was demanding, tiring and fun!

Big thanks go out to Wes Bradley, Dave Walters, Jeremy Gass and Jeff Vannoy for lending their time and expertise as assistant instructors!  Without their help these courses wouldn’t be possible.

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Appalachian Trail Community designation event in Abingdon

The Town of Abingdon joins the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club in cordially inviting you to participate in the official designation of Abingdon as an Appalachian Trail Community™.  This event will take place in Abingdon, VA on September 11th at 6pm at the Abingdon Farmer’s Market.  Come out early to the Higher Education Center for a “Hikers and Bikers” presentation and hear from ATC’s Executive Director, Mark Wenger, about his Appalachian Trail section hike.  The presentation begins at 4pm.  We’d love to celebrate with you and hope to see you on Tuesday, September 11th!

The Appalachian Trail Community™ program recognizes communities who are taking extra steps to promote and protect the Appalachian Trail.  Designation as an Appalachian Trail Community™ is intended to:

  • Engage community residents, Trail visitors, and stewards
  • Thank communities for decades of service to hikers
  • Catalyze sustainable economic development
  • Aid local municipalities and regional areas with conservation planning
  • Raise local awareness of the Trail as a community resource and asset

Please RSVP by September 1, 2012 to Tenille Montgomery (tmontgomery@abingdon-va.gov) 276-676-2282.

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F/B: Persimmon Ridge Park, Sunday September 9

Leader: Vic Hasler

Let’s explore the trails in the Jonesborough city park.  There are three routes which were constructed as Eagle Scout projects.  There is no record in the club newsletters of TEHCC having hiked here, so a Sunday afternoon expedition is in order.   The distance will be 3-4 miles depending on group preferences which is suitable for family/beginners – and dogs on leashes.  There are a half dozen easy geocaches to find if interested.  Hikers can either meet at 1PM in the parking lot below McDonalds in Colonial Heights to carpool – or at the park entrance by 1:30PM.  Bring water, snack, and comfortable footwear.  We should finish up by late afternoon.  Please call or e-mail the hike leader to know of your interest and where you want to meet.

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Relocation of Backbone Rock Trail with ASU

Carl Fritz reporting
Event Date: August 17th

The Watauga Global Community College of Appalachian State University (ASU) offers their incoming freshmen an optional orientation event to get acquainted with each other.  For the twelfth consecutive year they have partnered with Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club (TEHCC) to do a trail maintenance event!  Trail maintenance in groups provides many social opportunities in a work environment.  On this Friday August 17, we started the first relocation of the Backbone Rock Trail just south of Damascus.  Ninety seven students and five professors of Watauga College showed up in spite of a 70% prediction of rain (which did not materialize).  And very importantly we had 17 club members and friends who helped acquaint the students with trail digging. Continue reading “Relocation of Backbone Rock Trail with ASU”

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From the Chair

Vic Hasler, Steering Committee Chair

Ready to put your skills to a different use?  TEHCC is guided by a Steering Committee who informally manages the recreation club during lunchtime gatherings.  Help decide what initiatives should the club pursue?  We could use help figuring out how to best leverage technology.  Have fun selecting a speaker and menu (yum!) for two dinner meetings.  Interact with different groups to help increase our recreational opportunities.  The time commitment is not big, but the difference you can make is!  Contact a current Steering Committee member if you’re available.

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Beginner/Novice Whitewater Kayak Clinic, Trip Report

July 14-15, 2012
Scott Fisher reporting

We had a great group of new kayakers take the beginner class this past weekend.  The weather cooperated for the most part and we had a great time meeting new friends on the water.  We had three existing members and seven new APEs participate.  Please join me in congratulating Kelmara Kelly, Michelle Frazee, Todd Emma, Jeremiah Tomlinson, Penny Morgan, Marie Bradford, Haley Werth, Buck Mayzes, Mark Crass and Wade McKeehan.  All did a fantastic job and their progress throughout the weekend was obvious.  As is the APE way, let’s reach out to these folks to welcome them and include them in upcoming trips.

Special thanks to our AIs Steve Hagood, Stacey Lowe, Dave Walters, Donna Kestner and Sonia Millan for their time and expertise. Special thanks also to everyone who stepped up to loan our newcomers the gear they needed, especially Wes Bradley who year after year is there to provide boats and equipment for those who need them.