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Buffalo Mountain Park Day, May 28

Contact: Brad Jones, 423-283-5821

Friends of Nature and the Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department present a “Unique day of hiking” with local guest naturalists.  Spring is a great time of year to enjoy nature at its finest.  Come out and learn about the biology and natural history of [[Buffalo Mountain Park]] and take some great day hikes.  The event features some great leaders.  Wildflowers with Tim McDowell, Salamanders with Kevin Hamed, James Brooks with Birds, Jeremy Stout and Bob Whittemore with Geology, Kathy Landy with Aquatic Insects, and Brad Jones with Butterflies.  The event starts with Birds at 7 am and ends at 5 pm with Butterflies.   For more information, call Johnson City Parks and Recreation Park Naturalist at Winged Deer Park, 423-283-5821.

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SM900 – Lost Cove and Lakeshore Trails – May 27-30

Contact:  Kent and Nancy Wilson

We plan to backpack the AT from Fontana Dam to the Lost Cove Trail and then the Lakeshore Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park about 40 miles.  We plan to leave Kingsport around 11 am on Friday, May 27.  Friday night will be spent at campsite 90.  Saturday we will most likely stay at campsite 77.  On Sunday night we will plan to stay at either campsite 74 or 75.  On Monday we will finish the Lakeshore Trail at the “Road to Nowhere.”  If you are interested in this backpack trip, please contact Kent Wilson at akwilson@eastman.com.

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Friday Hikers: GSMNP – Porters Creek Trail, April 22

Collins Chew reporting

We had a day of glorious wildflowers on the Porters Creek Trail in the Smokies.  Jerry Jones did great in recommending it.  The weatherman blew it again as we had only a sprinkling of rain at the Kingsport meeting place and none in the Smokies.  It was sunny in the afternoon.  We had almost continuous wildflowers of many varieties almost all the way, including the showiest orchids I have ever seen.  There were a great number of other hikers enjoying the flowers as well.  I hope to make a list of flowers for those who were there and any others who request it.  Hikers were: Olin Babb, first timer Wilford Corbin, Bob Harvey, Jerry Jones, Jerry Sluder, Deb and Eric Vrshansky, and Collins Chew.

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Rock Creek Falls, April 17

Joe DeLoach reporting

Because of the threatening weather forecast for April 16th, we decided to postpone our Spring Wildflower Hike at [[Rock Creek Falls]] until April 17th.  This worked out well, as the 17th was a beautiful day, while the 16th was stormy and windy as predicted.  With 13 hikers, including many first-timers, we squeezed under the Unaka Mountain Wilderness group size limit of 14.  The rainy spring made the four creek crossings a challenge, but other than wet feet, there was only one slight slip and dip.  The Cherokee National Forest has worked on the trail including putting in stepping stones at each crossing, but most were under water (this was the highest water level the hike leader has seen in six trips to the falls).  We saw 21 types of flowers and flowering trees, including numerous red erect trilliums, Dutchman’s breeches, squirrel corn, gay wings, trout lilies, spring beauties, and several species of violets.  Our youngest hiker, 7-year old Haley Moran, also spotted some morel mushrooms within the Rock Creek Recreation Area.  Joining Haley on the hike were Kelley and Blanche Moran, John Macpherson, Jacqueline Senosain, Justin Starr, Donna Ashby, Mary Fanslow, newcomer to East Tennessee Troy Greenwald, Bob Jackson, Kiernan Tonnies, and Joe DeLoach.

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The Week Ahead – May 16th

Unfortunately if you weren’t there, you missed HardCore 2011. The work on Pond Mountain was tough but the sense of accomplishment of making trail in those conditions is great. Full write up coming soon. This week it looks like you have some good opportunities to learn and have fun.

  • Wildflower Hike to Grassy Ridge on Wednesday starting in the morning
  • Club meeting at Eastman (open to outsiders) on Wednesday, main topic the new [[Main Page|Trail Wiki]]
  • Hike for your Heart in Bristol on Saturday, a chance to hike and raise money
  • Hike Big Yellow Mountain to Little Hump! on Saturday. The details are scarce, but the notice says a celebration about a partnership between Highland Brewing Co., USFWS, and SAHC with refreshments at the end of the hike. Just saying!

Get all of the details from our schedule page.

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Bluestone River Trip, Class II-III, May 27-30

Leaders: Terry & Thresa Dougherty, 423- 502-5177

This is the 32nd year for the Bluestone Trip.  The trip this year is planned later than ever because the Pipestem State Park Mountain Creek Lodge does not open until Friday May 27, Memorial weekend with a 3-night minimum.  The cost is $97.44 with tax per night.  We could not reserve a block of rooms, so folks will need to call 304-466-1800 to make their own reservations.  With it being a holiday weekend, they probably need to call ASAP to get rooms.  Camping is available in the campground and reservations can be made as well.

We are planning on paddling Saturday and Sunday (optional).  The average flow for the May 30 timeframe is 518 CFS, so the water level could be really good.  Other activities include golfing, birding, horseback riding, hiking and biking.  A Saturday evening Happy Hour (Ed Montgomery coordinator) is planned and is always a fun event.  This is a special trip and we hope you can join us for the longest running TEHCC annual paddling trip!

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Friday Hikers: Big Laurel Creek, April 15

We had a nice wildflower hike along Big Laurel Creek in North Carolina under clouds early, then sunny in the afternoon with occasional breezes.  The wildflowers were out in profusion with many varieties and many individual flowers.  Many flowering trees added to the scene.  Because of recent heavy rains, the clear rushing creek stole the show with powerful rapids.  A few kayakers were enjoying the flow also.  Hikers were Olin Babb, Lee Bockman, Kathy and Jerry Case. Andrew Cleland, Ann Cosby, Carol and Dave Dunham, Judith Foster, Bob Harvey, Carol Idol, Susie Seiler, Jerry Sluder, and Collins Chew.

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Doe River Gorge, Sunday, April 10

Leader: Vic Hasler

Ah, a spring walk on a warm Sunday afternoon!  With area temperatures reaching 87˚F, the shaded Doe River Gorge offered a comfortable hike while viewing and photographing the early wildflowers (wild ginger, yellow and wake robin trilliums, longspur, bleeding hearts, fire pink, and more).  The three cars for the eight folks from TEHCC converged from different directions at the camp around 1:45.  A surprise was when more cars with another 21 people pulled up at that same time.  During the hike, we figured out that two hiking clubs had arrived coincidently for the same hike.  Thus the trip was enjoyed with the “Little Lost Hikers” from Linville, NC (including some Boy Scouts from two troops).  A real benefit was their wildflower expert who helped with identification.  (FYI, looks like more flowers would be in bloom in early to mid-May.)  The 5-mile hike was completed in roughly three hours.  From TEHCC were Troy Greenwald, his daughter Ella, and mother Joan Amato, Sharon Burnette, Solange Adams, Serita Blankenbecler, and Cinda Foglesong.

Details of this trail have been captured in the new club wiki, including the wildflower pictures and identification.  This shared knowledge could be useful to others for deciding where to hike and explore in the region.

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Friday Hikers: AT – Jones Meadow to Allen Gap, April 8

Collins Chew reporting

The weather was pleasant but cloudy for our 7.4 mile on the AT from Jones Meadow to Allen Gap.  Occasionally, a few sprinkles fell, but never enough to cause problems.  It rained a bit while we were in the Shelter eating lunch.  A few wildflowers were out: Service berry, spring beauty, trailing arbutus, various violets, a few bloodroot and chickweed.  Backpackers were out in force with a few other dayhikers.  Hikers were: Don Baker, Kathy Case, Andrew Cleland, first timer from South Carolina Beth Ann Cushman, George Dickert, Carol Dunham, Judith Foster, Carol Idol, Heather Jacob, Jerry Jones, Eloise Kaeck, first timers Lotta and Ken Murray, first timer John Parks, Lowell Toof, and Collins Chew.