Moderate 7-mile loop hike on Holston Mountain. We will hike up to the Holston Mountain Fire Tower and then follow the Holston Mountain Trail and Flint Mill Trail to Flint Rock for lunch. Flint Rock has great views of South Holston Lake, Holston Valley and the VA’s Clinch Mountain in the distance. We will return to the cars on an old forest road. Leave Long John Silver’s at 9 AM. You must let the leader know if you want to be met at Food City in Elizabethton at 9:20 AM. Questions? Call the leader Joel Zabel at 423-926-3587

Moderate7-mile hike on the Porter’s Creek Trail in the Greenbrier area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This will be our “Memory Hike” for Bruce Richardson. who lost his battle with cancer last year. This was his favorite hike. Leave the Jonesborough Post Office at 8 AM. Leader: Howard Guinn 423-753-4072 or e-mail wegonehiking@embarquemail.com

Moderate to strenuous 7.5-mile hike from the end of the road near Shell Creek up Hump Mountain to the AT, then follow the AT north bound to Highway 19. Leave Long John Silvers** at 8 AM. Leader: Charma Casteel 276-669-6203

Moderate 4-mile loop hike on trails and slightly overgrown logging roads near Lebanon, VA. Yellow Lady Slippers will be the highlight of this hike, so this will be a “camera day”. At lunch we will overlook the Clinch River in a valley far below us. Two creek crossings in a swampy spot could get us wet if we had a major rainfall, otherwise have dry feet. This is a new hike for this club. Leader: Marcia Pruner 276-883-4131. Leave Kroger* at 8 AM

Strenuous 9-mile hike on Pine Mountain, Bad Branch Falls and High Rock ending at US 19. Last year there were many orchids, trillium, pink lady’s-slippers and lots of other wildflowers in bloom. Meet at Kroger* at 8 AM or at McDonalds at the first Big Stone Gap exit on US 23 at 8:45 AM. Leader: Bill Strang 276-523-2120, strangwn@yahoo.com

Moderate 9-mile loop hike on a combination of six trails to make a loop. We will Rush, Sawmill, Buzzard Den, Wright Hollow, Feathercamp and other trails at Forest Service 90 near Damascus. We will have the usual “ups and downs”, and enjoy rippling streams, a few dry feet water crossings, a view of the valley 1-81 traverses and the Clinch Mountain Range. Damascus will be having “Trail Days” festival this weekend which celebrates the hikers of the Appalachian Trail, so you can choose to stay after the hike and participate if you wish. Just bring your car to Damascus. There will be vendors of food (I ate buffalo here for the first time) and other outdoor hiking products including used items. Also you can participate in the demonstrations, speakers, educational events, entertainment, etc. Leader: Marcia Pruner 276-883-4131. Leave Long John Silver’s **at 8 AM.

Moderate 5-mile hike on the new Lone Oak Trail at Buffalo Mountain.. Meet at Long John Silvers** at 9:00 AM. Leader: Tom Dosser 423-282-6682 or 423-755-9907

Strenuous 11-mile hike following the AT from Walker Gap (at the north edge of idyllic Burkes Garden, VA) for only 1.8 miles to Chestnut Knob, and then proceeding into the Beartown Wilderness Area. We will reach a maximum elevation of 4,710 ft., pass through some spruce forests and skirt a large, high-mountain sphagnum bog. (There are views worth photographing). This “tour” of the Beartown Wilderness will use primitive trails, old logging roads and about a third of the time we will be on ridges that have no trail but are pretty free of undergrowth. Considering the varied terrain and length of the hike only currently fit hikers should participate. It will be a 2 ½ hour drive each way, so bring food or money to for something to eat on the way home (not likely to be back in JC until after dark). If the day seems very rainy the hike may be modified to 10.8 miles entirely on the AT in the Burkes Garden Area, with lunch at Chestnut Knob Shelter. Leave Long John Silver’s** at 8 AM. This is a joint hike with the Mid-Appalachian Highlands Club. Leader: Kendall Harris, phone 423-952-0285 or (cell 423-943-8866.

Strenuous 10-mile hike on the Jerry Miller Loop to the AT and down the Fork Ridge Trail. Leave Long John Silver’s** at 8 AM. Leader: Luke Carter 423-373-6428

Difficult 13.1-mile hike on two of the three foot trails in Mount LeConte. We will start at Newfound Gap on the AT for 2.7 miles. At Mount Kephart we take the Boulevard Trail for 5.4 miles. This trail offers beautiful forests of spruce and fir with views of the surrounding mountains. Once Mount Le Conte is reached we will take the Alum Cave Trail for 5 miles. At 2.7 miles the trail passes through Alum Cave Bluff and at 3.5 miles we pass Arch Rock as we continue to the parking area. Leader: James Price 423-213-0042. Leave Jonesborough Post Office at 8:00 AM.

Moderate 8-mile hike on the Mayking Loop and Pine Mountain Trails near Pond, VA. Meet at Kroger* at * AM or meet the leader at 9 AM at McDonald’s at the Big Stone Gap Exit 1 on US 23. Leader: Bill Strang 276-523-2120, strangwn@yahoo.com