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From the Chair

Vic Hasler, Steering Committee Chair

Would you go hiking wearing a jacket and tie?  Back in 2010, Charles Maynard spoke at our Spring Dinner Meeting about some early 20th century hikers in the Smokies who traveled in such attire with wicker backpacks and a large box camera.  How about carrying a canvas tent and cotton sleeping bag?  Hauling water around in a large metal canteen?  The improvements in camping gear during the past decades have been amazing.  The club has been steadily replacing its rental gear too.  We now have a Big Agnes Seedhouse which is a two-pound, one-person tent.  Most of our other two-person tents also weigh less than six pounds.  Almost all our sleeping pads are roughly one pound.  With the other gear improvements, backpacks are smaller and lighter.  The club’s rental equipment program allows members to check out some newer gear to decide if it’s right for their style of backpacking/camping.  The Steering Committee also welcomes ideas for future purchases.  Have fun outside and overnight this summer…

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From the Chair

Vic Hasler, Steering Committee Chair

With the weather heading into summer heat, consider joining the many club activities on the region’s rivers and lakes.  Hands-on training is available for those want to learn how to kayak at the “Whitewater School” and for the experienced with the “Swiftwater Rescue Course.”  Practice time is offered Tuesday nights at the Freedom Hall pool in Johnson City.  Ongoing events include paddling Boone Lake to a restaurant on Thursday evenings and on Watauga River many Saturdays.   Some overnight trips are in the works.  Do some good by cleaning up the Nolichucky – both on the river and from the shore.  Check out the rest of this newsletter for further details.  Have fun while staying safe!

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The Week Ahead – 6/6

Were you busy last weekend? Want some outdoors fun this weekend?

  • Paddle to the Grill on Thursday
  • Konnarock Crew all weekend – AT Maintenance doing a relo on Beartown Mt
  • Class I/II white water on Saturday
  • [[Carver%27s Gap to US19E|Carver’s Gap]] to Grassy Ridge on Sunday

That’s a busy weekend! Check out the Schedule for the details.

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2012 Gear Swap (2nd Annual), Event Report

Vic Hasler reporting

Event Date: April 21st

In spite of delaying the Gear Swap until April, a chilly morning greeted the nearly dozen folks setting up booths for this year’s event.  However, plenty of hot coffee was available with friendly conversations and negotiations to warm the crowd looking at various camping, biking, backpacking, and paddling equipment.  One person who brought a truckload of gear due to a planned home move was successful in finding buyers for three-quarters of the items.  A kayak, mountain bike, A-frame tent, and bike rack also traded hands.  Consensus was that 8-11 AM was adequate, thus the planned time for next year’s event, likely on the same second weekend in April.  See you then…

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F/B: Warrior’s Path State Park – Devil’s Backbone and Fall Creek Loop Trails, Sunday June 3

Leader: Ian Powell (423-217-8193)

Rating: Moderate – Four miles with steep climb up and over Lone Cedar Overlook

Enjoy a short local hike which provides views from overlooks, a stroll along a creek, and walk around open fields of a former farm. Anyone is welcome to attend.  Meet at the north end of the Fall Creek Road bridge by the golf course in Warriors Path State Park at 1:00 PM.  Dress appropriately for a summer hike and bring some drinking water for hydration.  For further information, check the trail wiki or call the hike leader.

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Friday Hikers: AT – AT from Carvers Gap to Hughes Gap, Trip Report

Collins Chew reporting

Event Date: April 20th

We had a great hike on the AT over Roan Mountain today.  The day started chilly and foggy but warmed and cleared.  Until we started down from the top, we saw no wildflowers, but they began to show up as we descended toward Ash Gap.  With each increment of descent, a different assemblage of flowers appeared.  We ended up with a really great day of flowers with great diversity.  There were carpets of various flowers at different places.  The trout lilies were very large as well as numerous.  We rolled the relocation with a wheel and mapped it with GPS.  It was 0.4 miles longer because of a long switchback added recently.  Hikers were: Olin Babb, Kathy and Jerry Case, June Donaldson, Howard Guinn, Carol Idol, Lowell Toof, Jane Whitson and Collins Chew.

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Lake Santeetlah Paddle/Camp, Trip Report

Debbie Briscoe reporting

Event Date: April 20th – 22nd

I headed out on Thursday night right after work to drive the 3 hours to the campground at Cheoah Point.  Islander had already arrived early that morning.  I got there right at dark:30 as usual.  With help from Islander and his incredibly bright flashlight (what was that thing?), I set up down in the woods.  It was a really nice place with good bathrooms and hot showers!  I pulled out my Bushbuddy and fixed a little coffee to wind down a bit before heading to my hammock. Continue reading “Lake Santeetlah Paddle/Camp, Trip Report”

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Margarette Falls, Trip Report

Joe DeLoach reporting

Event Date: April 7th

The most frequent question I received on this hike was “How far ahead did you plan it?” as it turned out to be a gorgeous day with lots of water and 17 species of wildflowers in bloom.  Although the warm winter and spring resulted in the early spring flowers having already bloomed and gone, later spring flowers including vernal and crested dwarf iris, erect trilliums, foamflower, and a particularly nice patch of bleeding heart made for a very nice display.  Seven of us hiked together up the 1.3-mile trail, which had been improved by the Forest Service with three of the former stream crossings removed by relocations and a new bridge.  Everyone navigated the one remaining crossing without incident.  The crossing of Dry Creek to reach the rough Phillips Hollow Trail at the former parking area is no longer evident.  While having lunch at the falls, Ken Weakley and his family arrived; they had other plans which kept them from going with us, but used the route from the Trail Wiki to find the trail and us.  Hikers included Donna Ashby, Rhoda Bliese, Alan Gamble, Chris Neglia and his 7-year old son Joe, Monika Wiedmann, and Joe DeLoach.