OLD TIMERS HIKING CLUB

HIKING SCHEDULE FOR March/April/May/June 2008

Spring flowers are outstanding this year. Come Join us and find out for yourself.

Starting July 1, 2008 we will be distributing hiking schedules on a quarterly basis. The next schedule will be for JulAugSep2008 and like that. Maybe this will mean a little less time and expense (mail outs) involved.

GO TO WWW.JCHIKERS.ORG FOR AN EXCITING ARTICLE BY FAYE GUINN ABOUT THEIR RECENT BACKPACKING ADVENTURES.

Mon  May  5         Yellow Lady Slippers will be the highlight of this hike near Lebanon, VA lead by Lebanon resident, Marcia Pruner. A camera day! We don’t often have opportunity to photograph yellows in such profusion. Hike a moderate 4-miles on trails and slightly overgrown logging roads. 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 have a major rain fall. If the flowers we are looking for don’t co-operate and blossom on this date, we may exchange this date with one of the other scheduled hikes. Check with Marcia to confirm,          276-889-5714.

 Wed  May  7         Work day on the AT. There are lots to do, such as treadway repair, water bar cleaning, painting blazes for the entire adoption, maybe some new blowdowns. Whatever! Mike Hupko, 929,2626.

 Mon  May 12         Dennis Cove via Laurel Falls on the AT, then on to Hwy 321 PA in Hampton (Breamer), where we would have left a car. About 3-miles, seems more, moderate, except for the scramble along the cliffs at the creek. Could key swap. Leader, Carl Kincheloe, 913-3048.

Wed  May 14        Wolf Laurel, Big Bald north on the AT to Spivey Gap. This is a most beautiful wild flower hike, with several different varieties prevalent in profusion, changing the major species as we travel south experiencing elevation gains and losses over about 6-moderate miles.  Long shuttle or key swap. Leader Brenda Whitt, 245-2550. 

 Mon  May 19         Breakfast at Kincheloe’s for huevoes rancheros, then hike Tusculum, Persimmon Ridge, maybe from Jonesborough PO to Persimmon Ridge. Leader’s choice. Thanks to Nancy and Carl for the invitation and they can be assured of a great crowd of  Old Timers in attendance.  RSVP TO NANCY OR CARL-913-3048.

 Wed  May  21       Sills Branch trail to the waterfall; then on to FS Road #5066 where last year on May 12^th we saw lots of pink lady slippers in bloom. Return to cars on the Longarm Branch Horse Trail. Several creek crossings which can be rock-hopped. Strenuous, 10-miles. This hike was considered for Howard and Faye to lead but they may not be in town . Dave McMillin, 913-2345 and Rick Culbertson, 246-7298 are accepting co-leadership. Wimps, listen: We may just go to  the waterfall and back. Wimp leader- CB Willis, 282-3325.

 Mon  May  26        Hughes Gap on the AT south to Greasy Creek, exiting 1-mile from our shuttle. Or maybe key swap. Nice, 6-mile, moderate hike, after the first mile ascent with switchbacks. Leader, Fred Wetzel, 282-2843.

 Wed  May  28       AT south from the F/S Road near Spivey Gap, to Chestoe, passing No Business Knob on the way. 6-miles moderate. Steep downhill last 1 ½ miles.  It was on this hike 2-3 years ago, we found the very rare, Rosebud Orchid. Leader, Rick Culbertson, 246-7298.

 Mon   Jun    2        An in and out hike on the AT from Devil’s Fork Gap to  the Flint Gap area. 7.5 miles round trip. A moderate hike, really as there are no steep ascents until we get beyond Flint Gap, and we aren’t going beyond Flint Gap, unless some want to. LEADER, Bob Miller, 245-1465.

 Wed  Jun     4        Allen Gap to Tanyard Gap on the AT. Moderate 8.6-miles hike with a fire tower on Rich Mountain with magnificent panoramic views. This is our leaders favorite  hike in all the world. Carl Kincheloe, 913-3048.

Mon  Jun     9       We had Table Rock and Hawksbill scheduled here but since we would get a late start, let’s just hike from hwy 321 to Watauga Dam and return, 7-miles moderate hike. Leader, Carol Loyd, 753-2895. ALSO PLANNING MEETING FOR JULAUGSEP2008 AT SHONEY’S 8:00 AM. PLEASE BE THERE. IF YOU HAVE A HIKE YOU WANT SCHEDLULED, LET CB KNOW.

Wed  Jun     11      Work Day on the AT. Mike feels we can get the weed-cutting done in two work days, probably long ones. Weed-eating, lopping, trimming and whatever else comes up. LEADER. Mike Hupko, 929-2626..

Mon  Jun     16      Work Day. Your club needs YOU. Finish what we started on June 11^th. Leader is still Mike at 929-2626.

Wed  Jun     18      Hike from Carver’s Gap, 5512’ to Roan High Knob, 6286’, leader sez 5-miles one way with several variations we might use to shorten the hike, such as hiking down to Carver’s Gap instead of up, or out to Roan High Bluff viewing the rhododendron in bloom on the Cloudland Trail. Leader, Bill Mitchell, 753-6599. IF YOU WANT CREDIT FOR 6000’BEYOND, HIKE STARTS AT CARVERS GAP OR HUGHES GAP. SEE BILL MITCHELL.

Mon  Jun     23      McQueen’s Gap to Backbone Rock exit. The first 6.7 miles are either level or rolling, not much elevation change. Then we hit the trail down to Backbone Rock, a steep climb at first, then very steep downhill for 1.5-miles, a total of 8.2-miles. This is not your usual Monday hike, however this is a heavy trail maintenance season. Leader, Fred Wetzel, 282-2843.

 Wed  Jun     25      Moderate 7-mile loop hike on Holston Mountain. Hike up to the Holston Mountain Firetower, then follow the Holston Mountain trail (old AT) and Flint Mill Trail to Flint Rock for lunch. Great views of South Holston Lake. Then back to the cars on an old unused forest road. Leader, Daryl Loyd, 753-2895.

Mon  Jun     30      Indian Grave Gap to Beauty Spot on the AT and back. Moderate 4.6-miles, uphill going but not very steep. Leader, Wane Jackson, 257-5023, cell, 213-9680.

Everyone is welcome, members, or not. Meet at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 8:00 AM each Monday and Wednesday, unless otherwise notified.

 Want to join Kent? Watch the schedules; we’ll do this hike again for sure!

Wed  Apr  2                   Clingman’s Dome in the Smokies to Elkmont. Leader Bill Mitchell, 753-6599 thinks we can get some to key swap. It’s a great hike, lots and lots of downhill but none steeply, then 4-5 level miles along rushing Little River. Counts as a Beyond 6000 if you start  from the bottom. A real Smokies’ experience of 11-miles or maybe a little more.  Probably as much as 5-hours round trip driving time. CHANGE OF STARTING TIME-due to distance we must drive, meet at 7:00 AM, that’s SEVEN AM. Quick breakfast at McDonalds or Hardees, in Newport.

Mon   Apr  7                   Virginia Creeper, Delmar (SR712) to Damascus, 5-miles, then choices, picnic at park, dine at restaurant or walk back to starting point for a total of 10-miles. Call leader. While this isn’t the most spectacular part of the VC, if you are going to do all the VC, you gotta do this part. Leader: Bob Miller, 245-1465.

 Wed  Apr  9                   Frog Level to Dennis Cove, via the AT. We cross Laurel Creek, could mean wading, be prepared, , then about a mile to the AT (Rick  found it last time), and then about 3-miles to Dennis Cove where  we will have left the cars. Leader: Rick Culbertson, 246-7298.

 Mon   Apr  14        PLANNING MEETING AT SHONEY’S JC, 8:00 AM. PLEASE COME. THEN WE HIKE  to Margarita Falls by popular demand. Some members didn’t get to attend the hike here last summer. About 3-miles,  some rough trail and some uphill through a hollow with a creek, then the falls appear, worth the walk. Leader:  CB Willis, 282-3325.

 Wed  Apr  16        Moderate 5-mile loop hike on  Camp Creek Bald, utilizing the new section of the AT and returning via the old AT, with a short side trip to Blackstaff Cliffs with outstanding views. Ought to be good wildflowers this time of year. Leader, Wane Jackson, 257-5023 , Wane’s other club, the Greeneville Hiking Club, maintains this section. Although we have hiked on and through Camp Creek Bald several times, this particular hike is a new one for our club.

 Mon-Wed, Apr 21-23      Some Old Timers are going to Vogel State Park in North Georgia for two days of great hiking, dining and nonsense. You may still be able to go too if you would pick up the phone and call 800-864-7275 and reserve a cabin for your group. Then call Carl (After March 15^th) 913-3048, or Daryl Loyd, 753-5266.

 Mon   Apr  21        5-mile hike in the Phipps Bend area SW of Kingsport, along Holston River,  off 11-W. Hopefully this will be a wild flower hike or leader Bob Miller, 245-1465, will be so disappointed. We’ll know more about the hike when we do it. It’s a new one for the Old Timers.

 Wed  Apr  23        This isn’t the usual Wednesday (strong hikers) variety of hike. But even muscle types love wild flowers. We start at the Exchange Place and hike 5-miles through a plethora of spring beauty, then have lunch at Rush Street, before hike coffee at Hardees in Kingsport just off I-26. Leader-Bob Miller, 245-1465.

  Mon  Apr  28        Short  stroll, about 5-miles, made easier by the nearly level path  it takes. It begins just shy of the South Holston Lake dam, and skirts some of the NW shore of the lake just before ending at the spillway. Leader  CB Willis, 282-3325. (who has never done this hike-Beware).

 You know everyone is welcome on our hikes and events, whether you pay dues or not. HOWEVER, WE NEED TO KNOW.

 IF YOU HAVEN’T YET AND MEAN TO, PLEASE PAY YOUR DUES. $10.00, SEND CHECK MADE PAYABLE TO GIL DEROUEN, 2702 AVONDALE DRIVE, JOHNSON CITY, TN 37604. It would break my heart to delete anyone from the roster. Do it now!

 Meet at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 8:00 AM, unless shown differently. Bring food, drink and seasonal clothing.

 THANKS TO THE DIRTY DOZEN (except for Carol) who put this together this morning, at the planning meeting.

Send mail to webmaster@jcHikers.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2008 Johnson City Hiking Club
Last modified: 06/11/08