Posts

Posted on

From the Chair – July

Ian Powell, Steering Committee Chair

I hope everyone is having a nice summer.  It’s been a little rainy, but some really nice weekends none the less.  I wanted to take a second and just remind everyone to be safe.  On the trail and on the water, your environment can change quickly.  Lightning storms have been abundant this season and can be very dangerous.  In 2010 there were 29 lightning fatalities in the USA and for 2011 there are already 6.  If you are outside on the trail or on the water during a storm, it is important to take appropriate actions to minimize the chance of being struck by lightning.  Another summer safety concern is drowning.  In 2007, 3939 fatal, unintentional drownings took place in the United States.  We are blessed to have a number of lakes for recreational use in our area. Please be safe when you are on the water and look out for the person next to you.  Make sure you know what the tell-tale signs of a drowning victim are.  They won’t be flailing around and screaming more than likely.  If you haven’t had a CPR course in a while, it may be time to refresh your training.  I hope everyone enjoys an accident free summer, but it is better to be prepared than to be sorry.

Posted on

Konnarock Crew – Hughes Gap to Cloudland Relocations

Scheduled for July 8-10, and July 29-31, 2011

Leaders: Joe DeLoach and Carl Fritz

Last year, we began one of our most ambitious Appalachian Trail relocations ever, from Hughes Gap to Cloudland atop Roan Mountain.  This formerly 2.6-mile section of Trail ascends 2200′, with a 0.4-mile slight descent along the way, making it possibly the steepest section of the A. T. in the south.  We’ve flagged numerous relocations to climb the mountain at a sustainable 10-12% side-hill grade, and built the first four with Hard Core, student groups, and Club outings in 2010.  This year, we’ll tackle some sections higher on the mountain with all our resources, including the Konnarock Crew, which will work near the midpoint of the section.  The Konnarock Crew, in its 29th year, is managed by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and works with the 12 southern clubs.  We are fortunate to have them for five weeks this year, with plans to devote the first three weeks to these relocations and the final two weeks of July 29-31 and August 11-15 to putting more gravel on Round Bald.  The Crew arrives on a Thursday afternoon, has three full days of work Friday-Sunday, and departs Monday afternoon; so the best days to work with them are Friday-Sunday.  Volunteers who work at least 40 hours with the Crew receive a Konnarock T-shirt for their efforts.  Please contact Joe DeLoach or Carl Fritz if you’re interested in helping.

Posted on

The Week Ahead – July 6th

It’s summertime and I bet it’s busy for a lot more people than me. We’ve got lots of adventure to satisfy your weekend needs.

  • The usual Thursday paddle to the grill and Friday Hikers
  • Konnarock Crew continues their major undertaking
  • A Cl1-2 trip down the Watauga River
  • The already full annual Mt LeConte trip

Check out the schedule for the details.

Posted on

Friday Hikers: AT: Yellow Mt. Gap to Little Hump, May 20

Collins Chew reporting

We had a beautiful hike in pleasant, cool weather to Yellow Mountain Gap and on the AT to [[Carver’s Gap to US19E|Little Hump]] and back to Big Yellow Mountain where we crossed over to the magnificent bald for lunch, then return.  Views were hazy but nice.  Wildflowers were out in profusion; white fringed phacelia and wood betony (lousewort) perhaps the most spectacular with occasional carpets of bluets. Hikers were Jack Aaron, Lee Bockman, Olin Babb, Kathy and Jerry Case, Anne Cosby, Carol and Dave Dunham, Bob Harvey, Jan and Chuck Mather, Susie Seiler, and Collins Chew.

Posted on

Whitewater Locations and Conditions

Debbie Reynolds reporting

Not sure where to paddle based on skill set and the current water conditions?  Check out the American Whitewater National River database by State.  The link to the TN river database provides a list of rivers by section with the class and current water levels.  There is typically a comment if it is runnable, too high, too low, etc.  I also noticed a warning for one of the creeks had been posted with a date.

Posted on

Friday Hikers: Lake Keokee to a point near High Butte, May 13

Bob Harvey reporting

The hike of May 13 was from Lake Keokee to a point near High Butte on the crest of [[AT, Wilburn Ridge, Scales|Stone Mountain]] and return, a total of 9.0 miles.

Lake Keokee possibly is a water source for one of the towns of Southwest Virginia, and it’s not far from Appalachia.  We began the hike by going part way around the lake, walking over the big earth-fill dam, then going to the top of Stone Mountain on an easy ascent, arriving at Olinger Gap.  From the huge pile of empty beer cans we found at the gap, we could see that there must have been a four-wheelers’ party in the recent past.

Turning to the northeast at Olinger Gap we hiked along the crest of Stone Mountain.  For several short sections the trail was bare rock.  Much of this crestline trail, except for a few blowdowns, was no problem.  There was, however, the matter of two gaps that had steep descents and even worse ascents.  When we finally clawed our way to the high point, we took a welcome break to eat lunch, then headed back.

The hike back took a little less time, possibly because we were spurred along by hearing thunder coming from Kentucky, just two miles to the north.  According to fellow hiker Don Baker, the bad weather often comes from there, and so it did this time.  The rain began, but it wasn’t too bothersome until well after we had gotten back to the cars.

The hikers were Jack Aaron, Olin Babb, Don Baker, Collins Chew, Andrew Cleland, Anne Cosby, Bob Harvey, Carol Idol, Chuck Mather, Larry Miller and Jerry Sluder.

Posted on

Open Letter from the President of Friends of Warriors Path

Dear Community Members,

Great things are happening at Warriors’ Path State Park!  We are blessed to have a park that includes horse stables, golf, swimming pool, camp grounds, hiking trails, biking trails, walking trails, a universally accessible playground, a universally accessible tree house,  a walking trail for the sight impaired, a lake with boating and fishing, a marina, tennis courts, picnic pavilions galore, and a planned amphitheater.  If that is not enough, we also have a dedicated staff always ready to serve the citizens of this great community.  And the numbers of volunteers helping to maintain our park is growing by leaps and bounds.  What more could we want?

Glad you asked.  We would love to have you become a Friend of Warriors’ Path State Park.  As a Friend, you would be kept apprised of the happenings at the park, invited to participate in and help plan key events, assist in maintaining the park, and suggest ways to improve the park.  Each year we have several “Volunteer Work Days,” where hundreds of people come out and participate in work teams.  We have cleaned Darrell’s Dream Boundless Playground, cleaned the stream that runs through the park, rebuilt the amphitheaters at the camp grounds, planted flowers throughout the park, mulched areas, and cleaned up the hiking trails.  Friends also help with the Autumn Festival, where hundreds of citizens come to be a kid again and enjoy the exhibits, eat the soup beans and corn bread, listen to the music, get their faces painted and enjoy the hay ride.  But there is much more to be done and we need your help.

If you are interested in getting involved, please complete the Friends of Warriors’ Path State Park Form and include the application fee; the money is used to assist staff with the Autumn Fest, to purchase the materials needed for maintenance, to purchase needed items for the rangers to work with area schools and scouts, and to help offset the expenses of the park when the state is unable to help because of budget woes.

We are really looking forward to 2011-12 and your joining us to make our park the standout in the state park system.  If you have questions, email Betty DeVinney at bdevinney@charter.net or call 423-967-2381.

Warm Regards,

Betty DeVinney, Friends President

Posted on

The Week Ahead – June 13th

We have fun things for you to do this weekend. But, hey hikers! The paddlers are really showing you up, please help to get hike events on the schedule. Email chair@tehcc.org with any plans for events and we’ll get them on the calendar.

  • Konnarock Crew continues their work on Hughes Gap to Cloudland
  • Thursday evening “Paddle to the Grill” is in full swing
  • NOC Canoe Club has a challenge for you
  • Explore the Holston (flat water series)
  • Watauga River Class I-II trip

Check out the schedule for all of the “deets”!