Below is submitted maintenance activities for the last 6 weeks. Please note that trail conditions can change quickly. Or view maintenance by section.
Reporting: Joe Morris
Date: 2026-08-01
Purpose: Maintenance Event with Wright State University
Section: 14b: Bradley Gap to Yellow Mountain Gap
People: Joe Morris, Ed Speer, Jon Heidrick, Bob Peoples, Robin Dean, Tim Stewart, Rio Berry, Van Hovey, Dan Firth, Carl Fritz, Tony Messina, Renee Messina, Ben Trotter, Bill Murdoch, Wright State Students: Andrew Homan, Elizabeth Harvey, Anna Woodard, Scarlett Manley, Samuel Milas, Konnor Mercer, Felix Bahrou
Summary: We revived a tradition dated to the late 90's on Saturday with a visit and outing from students entering their freshman year at Wright State University. We created or completed reset/rehabbed 21 water diversions, installed 15 new locust steps, and created 2 new rock steps up the north slope from Yellow Mountain Gap. After the maintenance was complete, we grilled out adjacent to the Overmountain Shelter site complimented by French Fry master, Bill and desserts by Renee. The students were absolutely a joy and, we had a little rain but, all-in-all a perfect day in the Roan Highlands. We issued 7 TEHCC first time patches, 7 Pisgah ARD Helene Recovery patches and presented the students with a commemorative plague to display at WSU.
Date: 2026-07-27
Purpose: Widen tread, add water diversions, and clean existing water diversions.
Section: 14b: Bradley Gap to Yellow Mountain Gap
People: Jeff Hatling
Gamble Brown
Summary: Widen tread in sections that hikers were leaving the existing tread. Added two water diversions, and cleaned out all the water diversion on the north slope of Little Hump. Reporting: Rick Lott
Date: 2026-07-31
Purpose: Remove Blowdowns and Other Vegetative Growth
Section: 13: US19E to Doll Flats
People: Rick Lott
Jon Heidrick
Summary: Jon and I started at 19E trailhead and hiked south towards the documented blowdown at MM 393.5. We encountered three other blowdowns between MM 394.4 and the target blowdown (1 single 6", 2 double trunk 8"). At the target blowdown, we removed one 8" side branch and had cut about 3/4 way thru the main blowdown when I had to refuel. We could not get the chainsaw restarted after the refueling (it heads to the shop tomorrow). We used a silky to finish the cut and dropped the 16" blowdown to the ground. There is a one foot open gap in the trail that is easily passed. Will try to get back in the next week or two to finish it off. We also did a little bit of lopping work. The trail is in good shape from 19E to MM 393.5. The only thing required is some water bar clean out. Will plan to come back from Doll Flats direction and do some weed eating there if needed. We encountered the Wright State group hiking toward 19E. Another hiker we passed commented that the weeds were really bad between Little Hump and Hump. Many thanks to Jon, my chainsaw Sherpa. Reporting: Carl Fritz
Date: 2026-07-30
Purpose: Repair bridges
Section: 10: Hampton trailhead to Dennis Cove Road
People: Ed Speer
Tony Messina
Dan Firth
Dean Baird
Carl Fritz
Summary: We completed the repair of the northern bridge from Helene damage and the normal deterioration of landscape timbers. All the Laurel Fork bridges are now repaired. Some cosmetic damage to piers has not been repaired.
We also rocked 35 feet of trail 4 inches deep along the river that is regularly under water from springs. Reporting: Van Hovey
Date: 2026-07-29
Purpose: Remove blowdowns
Section: 18: FS230 switchback to Indian Grave Gap
People: Van Hovey
Carrie Hovey
Summary: Objective to remove 2 reported
blowdowns, 1 at .4 mile north of Indian Grave Gap , 1 at mile 356.2 just south of Beauty Spot Gap. Also cleared small blowdown partially blocking Unaka Mtn road .
Accurate reporting of locations and both blowdowns cleared with no problems.
Beautiful day , temp around 70 at BSG.
No hikers to be found . Reporting: Joe Morris
Date: 2026-07-29
Purpose: Blowdown removal
Section: 12b: Walnut Mountain Road to Sugar Hollow Creek
People: Randy Allen
Joe Morris
Summary: Randy and I removed a maple tangle at Sugar Hollow and tangle north of Bishop Hollow. Reporting: Scotty Bowman
Date: 2026-07-26
Purpose: Corridor clearing
Section: 6: Iron Mountain Shelter to Vandeventer Shelter
People: Francis Carraway (SAWS)
Noah Spaulding (SAWS)
Jack Elvin (SAWS)
Jai Moreno (SAWS)
Jacob Jenkins (SAWS)
Summary: The crew hiked in on the 22nd and then hiked out the following Monday the 27th. They were able to brush out the corridor from Vandeventer to the northern wilderness boundary. Then on the way out they brushed out section 7 from Vandeventer to Wilbur Dam Road. Reporting: Randy Allen
Date: 2026-07-27
Purpose: Clean up blowdown
Section: 12d: Campbell Hollow Road to US19E
People: Randy Allen
Summary: Cleared a hole through blowdown at the intersection of blue trail to the Refuge.
Will need to go back with saws. I used handsaw and loppers. Reporting: Steve Domagala
Date: 2026-07-25
Purpose: Blowdown removal
Section: 20b: Temple Hill Gap to No Business Knob Shelter
People: Steve Domagala
Van Hovey
Summary: Drove in to Temple Hill Gap and hike roughly 1 mile to a reported blow down. Took a methodical and safe approach to remove it. Hiked back out to find a father and his posse of 4 youngsters at the Gap. The youngest son investigated and found we had “dummy locked” it. Smart kid. Our lesson learned, lock it. Nice family though and enjoyed speaking with them. Was nice to see a family on an adventure for the day. Reporting: Joe Morris
Date: 2026-07-24
Purpose: Weed eating
Section: 17: Iron Mountain Gap to FS230 switchback
People: Joe Morris
Summary: Franklin and Alexis of ATC joined in on the Weed Whack '26 and we made a comprehensive pass from the stairs near 107 to "The Kiss". And, it rained. The DR trimmer did not pass the trial run - the self propelled belt broke and the vegetation was head high, not really appropriate for the mower trimmer Reporting: Joe Morris
Date: 2026-07-23
Purpose: Harvest locust and weed eat
Section: 14b: Bradley Gap to Yellow Mountain Gap
People: Joe Morris, Ed Speer, Van Hovey, Richard Good, Jim McGuire, Bill Murdoch, Tony Messina, Tim Stewart, Carl Fritz, Jeff Hatling, Randy Allen
Summary: The crew harvested locust in preparation for the outing with Wright State University on August 1 and weed eated north from Yellow Mountain Gap 1/2 mile. Reporting: Carl Fritz
Date: 2026-07-22
Purpose: Inspect Roan High Knob Shelter
Section: 15a: Carvers Gap - Cloudland Hotel
People: Carl Fritz
Tim Stewart
Summary: We inspected the decaying Roan High Knob shelter with Franklin Tate and Jeff Johnson, a timber framer. More work will continue within ATC, TEHCC and Forest Service to determine the future direction of this shelter. Reporting: Randy Allen
Date: 2026-07-21
Purpose: Weed eating
Section: 15c: Ash Gap to Hughes Gap
People: Randy Allen
Summary: Back to weedeating the top half of section. Had done the bottom 1.5 miles 3 weeks ago and for most part still good. Did hit my to problem areas due cover gone.
Got it cleared to Beartown overlook 3ths from Ash gap when weather turned and to get off mtn. Will get the rest later this week. Will just come down from Toll house gap and finish Reporting: JOE MORRIS
Date: 2026-07-21
Purpose: Blowdown removal
Section: 12d: Campbell Hollow Road to US19E
People: Joe Morris
Summary: Brandon Church removed a large hanging pine near the pesky rock outcrop above Bear Branch. Plus, a series of other blowdowns compressing root balls. Two large locusts were dropped for future use to repair cribbing. We started to weedeat near Buck Mountain but the skies opened up ending the day. Reporting: Dennis Whittington
Date: 2026-07-19
Purpose: Routine Trail Maintenance and Remove Several Blowdowns
Section: 8: Wilbur Dam Road to US321
People: Dennis Whittington
Summary: Removed 2 - 12" blowdowns at MM 429.8 and 2 - 10" blowdowns at MM 430.0. Pickup trash from MM 428.2 to 430.2 including Shook Branch parking area on highway US 321. Reporting: Steve Domagala
Date: 2026-07-20
Purpose: Clear to road to have easier access to Cherry Gap Shelter area
Section: 17: Iron Mountain Gap to FS230 switchback
People: Steve Domagala
Randy Allen
Summary: Removed 2 blowdowns impeding access to the “landing pad” at the top of Low Gap Rd, from where you can gain access to the trail and the old shelter area easier.
We also removed 2 low handing trees from the detour section of the trail on the road Reporting: Carl Fritz
Date: 2026-07-20
Purpose: Inspect AT along Elk River
Section: 12c: Sugar Hollow Creek to Campbell Hollow Road
People: Carl Fritz
Summary: Adam Baldwin, hydrologist from Cherokee FS provided an overview of the planned debris removal from the flood plain beside the AT to Franklin Tate and Carl. The debris removal has already been done on the NC side of the river and looks natural with little disturbance. The contractor will proceed soon and provision will be made for safe passage of any hikers. Reporting: Steve Domagala
Date: 2026-07-19
Purpose: Clearing the trail of brush & briars.
Section: 17: Iron Mountain Gap to FS230 switchback
People: Steve Domagala
Summary: Made it from the base of the stairs, where I left off last week, to the top of the first ridge where the tent sites used to be 3 hours on the weed wacker for 1/10 of a mile. One bite at a time. Reporting: Tom Sahlin
Date: 2026-07-14
Purpose: Cut back encroaching vegetation, check spring, check signage, inspect trail conditions, and carry out trash.
Section: 16b: Greasy Creek Gap to Iron Mountain Gap
People: Tom Sahlin
Summary: First objective was to cut weeds from Iron Mtn Gap south but it was too hot and humid so I cut maybe 75 feet near trail head and quit. Then moved to north bound side to see condition of forest service road after heavy rains of prior days. I was surprised by the road being more firm than expected but still there were muddy areas where rain pooled. Arriving in orchard I chopped weeds from the AT through the orchard down to the spring which was flowing the best I have seen in a year or longer. I cut the grass and weeds back in the tent sites and around the fire ring. I did not find any trash. After mowing I then pruned vines reaching into trail to top of orchard. Signs for reroute at top of orchard were still intact and not defaced. Reporting: Richard Ramsey
Date: 2026-07-15
Purpose: To discuss repairs to the tread going across the bald at Hump Mountain from the first fence to Bradley Gap
Section: 14a: Doll Flats to Bradley Gap
People: Jeff Hatling
Richard Ramsey
Summary: Discussing cleaning up the ruts and keeping people in the trail so new trails are not created on the sides. Reporting: Scott Huskey
Date: 2026-07-15
Purpose: Remove blowdown
Section: 4b: Double Springs Shelter to TN91
People: Scott Huskey
Eddie Speer
Summary: Simple blowdown removal Reporting: Lori Mirrer
Date: 2026-07-14
Purpose: summer checkup
Section: 15b: Cloudland Hotel to Ash Gap
People: Lori Mirrer
Summary: (trail work was over 2 days - 7/14-15)
Mother Nature’s doing a great job of easing the pain of Helene’s destruction.
There are still several visible piles of dead trees. But plant growth has made many rootballs and fallen trunks less noticeable.
There’s certainly more sunshine getting through. Until Helene, much of this section was shaded - sometimes spookily so.
* There was less trimming than I expected, particularly along the flat section of Ash Gap itself. (Still, I did use up a fresh battery in my weed eater). Randy Allen has already helped out several times on the way to his section. I repaid the favor a little this time, by weedeating almost to Beartown Mtn.
* The weeds on either side of the trail in the Gap are pretty high. I’ve never considered cutting those before. Had my battery not died - with me not soon after - I might have cut down some of that.
* In April I removed two fire rings. One had partially returned - burned branches, and kindling for the next fire. No rocks or other border. I removed all of that.
* It had rained a fair amount before I began my work, but the trail absorbed/redirected most of it. Only a few muddy bits.
* It was a delightful 72 degrees on both days. Saw several hikers, including a quartet that was doing an out-and-back (Hughes Gap to Overmountain), so I saw them on both days. All the hikers expressed thanks for our trail work. Reporting: Joe Morris
Date: 2026-07-16
Purpose: Rehab and Weeds
Section: 17: Iron Mountain Gap to FS230 switchback
People: Joe Morris, Tim Stewart, Bill Murdoch, Dan Firth, Carl Fritz, Ed Speer, Steve Domagala, Aaron Raulerson, Van Hovey
Summary: The Thursday crew continued work near Low Gap and Cherry Gap. 121 feet of trail was rehabbed, 3 Water Diversions restored and 1 new diversion created, a massive root ball was removed by grip hoist, a blowdown at 361.5 was removed and additional corridor widening was done. Another team reclaimed access to the site of Cherry Gap shelter, weed eated from 361.5 to 362.2, weed eated the tent sites, and removed a tangled blowdown trail north of the shelter. All this and Hurricane Eddy celebrated another trip around the sun. Reporting: Steve Wilson
Date: 2026-07-07
Purpose: Scouting for Blowdowns and Cutting Vegetation
Section: 2b: Low Point roughly 2 miles N of Abingdon Gap Shelter to McQueen's Gap
People: Ed Speer
Summary: Ed Speer spend two days (7/7 & 7/8) hiking Section 2b scouting for new blowdowns and cutting back vegetation. No new blowdowns were found, but the open ridge south of the shelter had an abundance of vegetation which was cut. Reporting: Steve Wilson
Date: 2026-06-24
Purpose: Flagged Harvestable Locust Trees & Cut Vegetation
Section: 3: McQueen's Gap to US421
People: Ed Speer
Summary: Ed Speer spent three days (6/24, 6/29, & 6/30) working by himself on Section 3 cutting vegetation and flagging locust trees for later harvesting. Reporting: Van Hovey
Date: 2026-07-14
Purpose: Clear reported blowdowns
Section: 19a: Indian Grave Gap - Curley Maple Gap Shelter
People: Van Hovey
Steve Donagala
Summary: Initial goal was to dispatch reported blowdown , simple . Day turned into cleaning/trash pickup at CM Shelter snd extended inspection and blowdown removal of Section from CM Shelter to USA Raft plus about 4/10 mile NoBo toward IGG. 5+ total miles
Total blowdowns cleared were 5 smallish issues and one huge tree canopy that consumed about two hours of cutting and clean-up.
Thanks galore to Steve D.
Exhausting day ….. Whew !
Cheers Reporting: Steve Wilson
Date: 2026-07-14
Purpose: Blowdown Removal
Section: 3: McQueen's Gap to US421
People: Ed Speer & Steve Wilson
Summary: The initial plan for a short day by hiking 0.8 miles north from Low Gap on Hwy 421 and cutting a 18” poplar blowdown tree with a chainsaw. But, we soon found eight new blowdowns within a short area roughly half a mile from the gap. Apparently, the weekend’s storms had high winds that knocked down additional trees.
When we got out Ed wanted to check sections 4a & 4b, so I shuttled him to Cross Mountain on Hwy 91 where he then hiked back north to his vehicle at Low Gap. Reporting: Joe Morris
Date: 2026-07-09
Purpose: Rehab, Blowdown Removal, Weed eating
Section: 17: Iron Mountain Gap to FS230 switchback
People: Joe Morris, Ed Speer, Jeff Hatling, Dan Firth, Carl Fritz, Tony Messina, Greg Kramer, Gerald Scott, Richard Good, Tim Stewart, Van Hovey, Steve Domagala
Summary: The Thursday Crew started the process of restoring the tread north of Unaka Mountain to the tune of 420 feet of rehab. The crew, also, removed weeds on a substantial portion of the area toward Cherry Gap. Aerin and Michael from SAWS removed several punched thru blowdowns, as they widened the corridor. They also removed significant timber from the top of two root balls to stop compression and trail creep. Very productive day. Reporting: Steve Domagala
Date: 2026-07-08
Purpose: Weed / brush removal
Section: 17: Iron Mountain Gap to FS230 switchback
People: Steve Domagala
Summary: Use the line trimmer, cutting back weeds and vegetation from the trail from what we refer to as “the kiss” to just before the stairs starting up towards Unaka Mtn Reporting: Scott Huskey
Date: 2026-07-08
Purpose: Weeding
Section: 4b: Double Springs Shelter to TN91
People: Scott Huskey
Summary: Just a routine weed-eating excursion. Reporting: Steve Domagala
Date: 2026-07-07
Purpose: Clear trail back to 6’ corridor
Section: 20b: Temple Hill Gap to No Business Knob Shelter
People: Steve Domagala
Summary: Thoroughly cut back rodies, laurel and other heavy brush, predominantly on the uphill side of the trail. Completed 1/2 of the section. 1/2 to go.
https://www.relive.com/view/v8qVzPxM23q Reporting: Carl Fritz
Date: 2026-07-02
Purpose: Remove blowdown
Section: 12d: Campbell Hollow Road to US19E
People: Joe Morris
Carl Fritz
Summary: We removed the reported blowdown N of Bear Branch. We also inspected the trail where root balls are still close to the trail and tried to plan our long term recovery. Reporting: Carl Fritz
Date: 2026-07-02
Purpose: Inspect Trail N of Yellow Mtn Gap
Section: 14b: Bradley Gap to Yellow Mountain Gap
People: Joe Morris
Carl Fritz
Summary: We met Jeff and inspected the northern steep climb out of Yellow Mountain Gap. Some simple additions of check steps and improving some water diversions seem appropriate. We will also add some water diversions. There are a few rocks that can be used. More significantly about a third of the way up the hill there is an entire area where locust trees have been cut and are ready to be harvested. Reporting: Jeff Hatling
Date: 2026-07-07
Purpose: Mow the old Red Barn site, and meet Carl and Joe to scope out Yellow Mountain Gap up the hill northbound.
Section: 14b: Bradley Gap to Yellow Mountain Gap
People: Jeff Hatling
Summary: Mowed the old barn site meadow, a scoped out future work. Reporting: Joe Morris
Date: 2026-07-02
Purpose: Weed whack
Section: 12d: Campbell Hollow Road to US19E
People: Van Hovey
Joe Morris
Summary: Van and I weed eated from the locust footbridge at 397.7 to 19E at Bear Branch 395.6 - Bishop Hollow is special kind of torture.
Surprised and disappointed by the invasive growth in and around our root ball cavity repairs near Bear Branch. Reporting: Joe Morris
Date: 2026-07-02
Purpose: Weed whack
Section: 14c: Yellow Mountain Gap to Stan Murray Shelter
People: Randy Allen
Steve Domagala
Summary: Randy and Steve got an early start and completed a thorough weed eating pass from Yellow Mountain Gap to Stan Murray Shelter.
The club doesn't have an "Above and Beyond Award" but they'd be on the list of recipients Reporting: Carl Fritz
Date: 2026-07-02
Purpose: Cut Weeds
Section: 14d: Stan Murray Shelter to Carvers Gap
People: Ed Speer
Tony Messina
Dan Firth
Jim McGuire
Bill Murdoch
Greg Kramer
Tim Stewart
Carl Fritz
Joe Morris
Summary: While Tri Cities suffered in the high 90's we enjoyed the high 70's of the Roans. With string trimmers and hedge trimmers, we tackled the entire section. It is in pretty good shape for weeds. Briars and alders in Grassy Ridge area and Jane Bald area could be trimmed back some more with multiple people. Thanks to Joe for recovering Bill and Dan from Yellow Mountain Gap. Reporting: Tom Sahlin
Date: 2026-06-25
Purpose: Cut back encroaching vegetation on AT from trail to tent sites and spring.
Section: 16b: Greasy Creek Gap to Iron Mountain Gap
People: Tom Sahlin
Summary: First on arrival to Orchard I checked signage to reroute which was intact. Then cut back vines on AT, then trimmed growth on trail and tent sites, then down to spring. Spring is flowing but slow. Three hikers arrived while I trimming to spring. They stopped for water and said the tent sites changed their mind to stay for the night. I trimmed some briars as I returned to Iron Mtn Gap but left most growth to discourage hikers from using the forest service road. Reporting: Jeff Hatling
Date: 2026-07-02
Purpose: Weed whack
Section: 14a: Doll Flats to Bradley Gap
People: Jeff Hatling
Summary: Weed whacked and checked condition of the trail. Tread work and water diversions are needed. Reporting: Richard L Ramsey
Date: 2026-06-29
Purpose: Cutting back briares on southside of Hump mountain
Section: 14a: Doll Flats to Bradley Gap
People: Nancy Mick
Richard Ramsey
Summary: Cut back briares on south side of Hump Reporting: admin
Date: 2026-07-01
Purpose:
Section: Other (Meetings/preparation/etc.)
People: Testst
Summary: Testszx Reporting: admin
Date: 2026-07-01
Purpose:
Section: Other (Meetings/preparation/etc.)
People: Test
Summary: Test Reporting: Tom Sahlin
Date: 2026-06-28
Purpose: test
Section: Other (Meetings/preparation/etc.)
People: Test
Summary: TEst Reporting: Tom Sahlin
Date: 2026-07-01
Purpose: Test
Section: Other (Meetings/preparation/etc.)
People: Tim Test
Summary: Test Reporting: Jim McGuire
Date: 2026-07-01
Purpose: Cut Back Vegetation
Section: 12c: Sugar Hollow Creek to Campbell Hollow Road
People: Jim McGuire
Summary: Using one of Carl's trimmers, I cleared Elk River up to Jones Falls. Then I hiked back down to the river and whacked weeds along the river. I cleared 1 small blowdown and cleaned 2 water diversion. I entered the gate at Elk River Falls. The gate was closed, but not locked. It was wide open when I departed. I saw one hiker. He was doing a section hike from Elk River to Mount Rogers. Reporting: Steve Domagala
Date: 2026-07-01
Purpose: Removal of leaner / blow down.
Section: 20b: Temple Hill Gap to No Business Knob Shelter
People: Steve Domagala
Joe Morris
Summary: Before heading back to the truck I took the opportunity to line trim approx 50 yards of trail at/near the work site Reporting: Steve Domagala
Date: 2026-06-26
Purpose: Check trail for condition of leaner and minor cutback of brush
Section: 20b: Temple Hill Gap to No Business Knob Shelter
People: Steve Domagala
Summary: Used the line trimmer sparingly due to sciatica and degenerative disc issues but primarily wanted to check on a leaner after the recent storms. It has been at approximately 7’ for quite some time. Today I found it to be at 5’. If it were to completely fall it would make a serious trail obstruction. I provided photos to Joe and we established a day to remove it. Reporting: Van Hovey
Date: 2026-07-01
Purpose: Dispatch Blowdown
Section: 19b: Curley Maple Gap Shelter - Nolichucky River
People: Van Hovey
Steve Domagala
Summary: Reported blowdown on trail somewhere around bridge #1 or #2 ?
Fortunately only about 1/2 mile form USA Raft trail head.
Minor blowdown , some had already been cut out with hand saw.
Finished cutting and cleared trail .........HOT
Encountered one section hiker on her way to Damascus. Reporting: JOE MORRIS
Date: 2026-06-30
Purpose: Weedeat
Section: 12b: Walnut Mountain Road to Sugar Hollow Creek
People: Van Hovey
Joe Morris
Randy Allen
Summary: Van and I weedeated the entire section from 405.4 to 401.6 in Elk River with a major assist from Randy Allen - he picked us up at Sugar Hollow and shuttled us back to Walnut Mountain Road. The section is reasonably clear - it desperately needs a blade pass and lopped.. Tough day, Reporting: Randy Allen
Date: 2026-06-29
Purpose: Clear blowdown
Section: 15c: Ash Gap to Hughes Gap
People: Randy Allen, Steve. Demagogue
Summary: We hiked in 2.4 miles to cut blowdown. Kinda got lucky. Was new one 1/10th of mile before the one we went after.. both cut and cleared Reporting: Greg Kramer
Date: 2026-06-29
Purpose: Weedeating
Section: 5: TN91 to Iron Mountain Shelter
People: Greg Kramer
Summary: Weedeated the rest of the unmowed section. Reporting: Gerald Scott
Date: 2026-06-27
Purpose: Removal of Summer Vegetation
Section: 12b: Walnut Mountain Road to Sugar Hollow Creek
People: Gerald Scott
Eric Scott
Harold Wexler
Vic Hasler
Summary: Vegetation growth was overwhelming. Vegetation was shoulder high for long stretches. From Walnut Mt. Road, we cleared to around marker 405.4. We were unable to get the rest of the trail due to time and weather (rain & thunder). We were unable to get a very bad stretch from 405.4 to the shelter (404.2) The growth was shoulder to head high on both sides and starting to come together. North of the shelter is not as bad but still needs attention. We encountered around a dozen hikers. There was a group of 4 men from Georgia & Florida breaking in the shelter and headed to Damacus. Reporting: Randy Allen
Date: 2026-06-27
Purpose: Weed eating
Section: 15c: Ash Gap to Hughes Gap
People: Randy Allen
Summary: Weedeating the bottom 1/2 of section. This is 3ed time through on it. Was not to bad. Most new growth was still tender and easier to cut..
Cut to spring also. Was the slowest flow i have seen out of it in a bit. Reporting: Steve Wilson
Date: 2026-06-25
Purpose: Cutting Three Large Blowdowns Near McQueens Gap
Section: 3: McQueen's Gap to US421
People: Carl Belcher & Steve Wilson
Summary: We hiked south from McQueens Gap to cut three large blowdowns. These “duck under” blowdowns were a 16” hickory, a 18” hickory , and a 14” poplar fallen trees which were 0.6, 1.2 & 1.3 miles, respectively, south of the gap.
Note that the forest service road to the McQueens Gap is more difficult to travel, since it has new ruts due to recent rains which make the road rougher but its still passable. Also, about 200 feet below the gap is a 18” maple tree leaning over the road, which requires vehicles to drive into the ditch to get under. We chose not to cut the maple tree this trip, because we didn’t have the man power to roll the cut logs off the road and wanted to focus on the trail’s blowdowns. Reporting: Jim Foster
Date: 2026-06-25
Purpose: Do routine maintenance
Section: 16a: Hughes Gap to Greasy Creek Gap
People: Yong Li, Jim Foster
Summary: We had a productive day as we did a little bit of everything. Still have the south end to deal with. Oh well they're be another day. Reporting: Carl Fritz
Date: 2026-06-25
Purpose: Retrieve locust logs and Cut Grass
Section: 3: McQueen's Gap to US421
People: Tony Messina
Bob Peoples
Van Hovey
Ed Speer
Greg Kramer
Greg Morie
Carl Fritz
Summary: Most of the crew harvested a large truck load of down locusts for future trail work. Although most of briars had been previously cut, Greg Morie and Carl cut the knee-high grass in many places from Low Gap to the spring. Reporting: Carl Fritz
Date: 2026-06-25
Purpose: Cut Weeds
Section: 4a: US421 to Double Springs Shelter
People: Dan Firth
Tim Stewart
Summary: Dan and Tim used string trimmers to cut weeds and briars from Low Gap to Berry Fields Reporting: Vic Hasler
Date: 2026-06-22
Purpose: TEHCC A.T. Committee
Section: Other (Meetings/preparation/etc.)
People: Carl Fritz, Greg Kramer, Steve Perri, Renee Messina, Tony Messina, Tim Stewart, Steve Wilson, Tracy Harris, Rebecka Powell, Vic Hasler
Summary: TEHCC A.T. Committee gathered to primarily discuss training needs, trail maintenance and recovery projects, tool storage, outreach coordinator, kickoff event planning, cutting weeds, and upcoming meetings. Follow-up tasks have been distributed. Next A.T. Committee meeting scheduled for Monday, September 28.