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Vehicle vandalism and theft reported at AT trailheads in Tennessee

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.

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

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.

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From the Chair

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.

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ATC Phenology Program

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.

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Mission Possible

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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TN Announces Rocky Fork State Park

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

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 “A Biennial Celebration at ATC Cullowhee 2013”

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From the Chair – Oct-2012

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 Fire Tower|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 [[AT – Little Rock Knob|Little Rock Knob]] is a forested walk to a scenic overview.  Joe DeLoach is fond of [[Rattlesnake Ridge|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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Erwin Greenbelt – Trip Report

Mary Fanslow reporting
Event Date: August 19th

Sharon Burnett, Mary Fanslow and Pam McBride

Sharon Burnett, Pam McBride, Scott Thomsen, and Mary Fanslow enjoyed a six-mile stroll on the Erwin Linear Trail on Sunday, August 19.  Dozens of snapping turtles at the bass ponds and a few great blue heron along Indian Creek also took advantage of the weather to sun themselves.  We walked from the trail parking lot behind McDonald’s to the park adjacent to the fish hatchery, then reversed course to the wooden bridge over the wetlands.  One of us took occasional detours from the group to inspect “interesting non-wildlife” near the trail (mechanical equipment and machinery from nearby demolition and building sites). Another one stayed after the others left to jog eight miles on the path, continuing on out to the Riverwalk area.  We all agreed the Linear Trail was worth a repeat visit.