This is the continuation of the “Hike the TEHCC A.T.” series. We made it to Hughes Gap last month. Now it’s time to hike the balds! If you’ve wanted to hike large sections of the A.T. but avoid the in-and-out, here’s your chance. We’ll need roughly half to help participate in shuttling. This leg will be from Hughes Gap to the Barn Shelter. We’ll take the Overmountain Victory Trail for trail access. Contact tim@tehcc.org for details. Past and future hikes are being detailed at [[Hike Plans:2016 TEHCC AT]]
AT: Hughes Gap to Little Rock Knob, Sunday August 26, 2012
This hike is along the [[Iron Mountain Gap to Carver’s Gap|Appalachian Trail]] through hardwood forest to great views at Little Rock Knob (elevation 4918′). The round trip distance is 4.6 to 5 miles with 900’ rise (similar climb to Bays Mountain Firetower trail but over 3-4 times the distance). Let’s leave promptly at 1pm from the parking lot below [[Meeting locations for TEHCC hikes|McDonalds in Colonial Heights]] for the hour (45-mile) drive. Bring water, snack, comfortable footwear, rain gear, bug spray, and trekking poles. Expected return is by 7pm depending on our hiking speed and desire to tarry at the overlook. Please call/e-mail the hike leader for headcount to arrange transportation.
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.
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.
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”!
Konnarock Crew – Hughes Gap to Cloudland Relocations
Scheduled for June 3-5, June 17-19, July 8-10, and July 29-31, 2011
Leaders: Joe DeLoach (423-753-7263) and Carl Fritz (423-477-4669)
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 don’t always relocate a Trail section just because it’s steep, but steep trails that run on a ridgeline are very prone to erosion, with only the rockiness of parts of this section retarding that erosion. It is also a treacherous descent, especially in the icy or rainy conditions that are prevalent at those elevations. 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 four weeks to these relocations and the final week of 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.
The Week Ahead – June 1st
Holy Cow! Summer is here. Did you miss out on HardCore? Want to give back to the community this weekend? Well then we have lots of chances for you.
- Konnarock Crew is working a trail relocation on Roan Mountain
- Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts will be hosting the Nolichucky River Cleanup
As always the Schedule has the details. Plus Saturday is National Trails Day so get out, give back, and have fun this weekend!
Konnarock Crew – Hughes Gap to Cloudland Relocations
Scheduled for June 3-5, June 17-19, 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 don’t always relocate a Trail section just because it’s steep, but steep trails that run on a ridgeline are very prone to erosion, with only the rockiness of parts of this section retarding that erosion. It is also a treacherous descent, especially in the icy or rainy conditions that are prevalent at those elevations. 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 four weeks to these relocations and the final week of 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.