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Old timers hiking club Hiking schedule for jul-aug-sep2008
We sure missed Mike Hupko at today’s planning meeting. As a consequence, we failed to include any work days. So, Mike will announce work days, when needed, a few days in advance on off-hiking days. When and if this happens, please cooperate, if at all possible. We have always considered trail maintenance as our first responsibility and most Old Timers participate. We enjoy our work days-if you haven’t been involved please try it. Wed Jul 2 Rocky Fork to Lower Higgins Creek, 10-miles. First 5-miles up to Higgins Pond for lunch and the last 5-miles down to the cars. Several creek crossings, meaning you may or may not get your feet wet. This is a challenging and beautiful hike taking in a large portion of the Rocky Fork area we have been hearing so much about. Leader, Howard Guinn, 753-4072. Mon Jul 7 Steel Creek Park, Bristol. Visit the low wet lands and the mountain trails. Not over 4-5 miles and moderate. Leader, CB Willis, 282-3325. Wed Jul 9 This hike at Bays Mountain will take the Lakeside Trail across the dam and follow it to it’s intersection with Lake Road. We will follow Lake Road north and east past the maintenance building, bushwhack about 150” (shades of Dave McMillin), to the Cliffside Trail and follow it back to the starting point; hike about 4-miles. Very little up and down. Rate easy-moderate (whatever that means?). Bob Miller, 245-1465. Mon Jul 14 Deep Gap to Indian Grave Gap, 4-miles, elevation loss of 740’ over the distance, with some ascents between Deep Gap and the Beauty Spot. After that it’s all downhill. Leader will have house guests from Thun, Switzerland, a Fireman, Rudolf Moser and his wife, Agnes Moser, a Team Leader for a touring company (Untours) and their son Benjamin, a college freshman. Agnes was awarded an Old Timers Tee Shirt during the club member’s trip to Switzerland and made an honorary member of our Club. The leader has bought and plans to present an Old Timers cap to Agnes while she is here. Just guessing, but Bob will probably want to start his guests with a breakfast at Clarence’s, so we can probably take it easy on the lunch. Bob Miller, 245-1465. Wed Jul 16 Hike on the AT south starting at the VA 600 PA, then cross Whitetop Mountain, Buzzard Rock and end at Summit Cut on US 58. Use key swap if possible, otherwise long shuttle. Those who would like to see this area but rather not attempt the ascents, could drive to top of Whitetop Mountain and hike either north or south. 7 ½ miles, longer ascents going from south to north. Moderate. Leader, Daryl Loyd, 753-2895. Mon Jul 21 Arrangements have been made to have Gabrielle (Gabby) Call, Director of the Nature Conservancy operations at Shady Valley, to lead us on a tour of the two bogs there that have been restored by the Conservancy. Breakfast at the Raceway Restaurant in Shady Valley. Gabby will join us there. If you have a spouse or friend who has been wanting to hike with us but not too far, this is definitely the hike for them. Distance 1.5-2.0 miles. Let’s have a good crowd for Gabby. Leader- Bob Miller, 245-1465. Wed Jul 23 Nolichucky Overlook, going in and out via the creek instead of Indian Grave Gap. Cuts down the total mileage to about 6-miles. Beautiful view of the Nolichucky Gorge and River. See the CSX trains go by from a very high vantage-point. Leader, Rick Culbertson, 246-7298. Mon Jul 28 Breakfast at the Kincheloes, with huevoes rancheros on the menu. Following this we will hike on the Tusculum Trail, 6-miles possible, rolling terrain with nice views and pleasant surroundings All paved; select shoes accordingly. Thanks to Nancy and Carl for the invitation, which had to be changed from May 19 th, due to illness. PLEASE BE SURE TO RSVP TO CARL OR NANCY. 913-3048.Wed Jul 30 Massey Gap in the Grayson Highlands State Park (VA) north on the AT to SR 603. 10-miles, moderate , with more descents than ascents. It is possible to drive to Scales, where a PA is available, if some wishes to cut the hike almost in half. (That’s for me). Long shuttle or key swap, or maybe organize the hikers starting from Scales to handle the pickups. Fred Wetzel, 282-2843.
Mon Aug 4 Our leader, Bill Mitchell, will select a good 3-5 mile hike for us at Panther Creek State Park, near Morristown. This will be our second hike here, the previous one outstanding as to the views, condition of the forest and the opportunity to see Bill’s little cabin. I would think this ‘little cabin’ really ought to be given the distinction and dignity of being referred to as the LAKE HOUSE or like that. Someone who was there just said; “Yhea, little.” Bill Mitchell, 753-6599. Wed Aug 6 Hickey Fork, 10-mile loop. Strenuous. Howard Guinn, 753-4072. You join this trail from the state highway out of Rocky Fork area. Mon Aug 11 Boone Fork Trail at Julian Price Park on the BRP. 4.9 miles, in and out, no shuttle, trail starts and ends at same trailhead. Moderately strenuous, but I can do it and obviously you can too. CB Willis, 282-3325. Wed Aug 13 19E to Elk River Falls, visiting Jones Falls on the way. We will use the AT and then a side trail from the Jones Falls area to Elk River Falls. Mileage about 6-miles, some strenuous. Leader, Carl Kincheloe, 913-3048 with help from Dave McMillin. Mon Aug 18 Snake Spur, Holston Mountain and the Appalachian Trails. This loop hike passes Double Springs Shelter and has good views, especially when leaves are off the trees. Approximately 6-8 miles with a 1500’ climb, some manways and steep horse ruts. We will meet the leader for breakfast at the café in Shady Valley. Leader, Powell Foster, Cell 366-2273. Powell is courageous as he is having hip trouble but, if this flares up on him to the extent he can’t maneuver he can at least go half way showing the others how to complete the trip. Wed Aug 20 a patented Rick Culbertson, 246-7298, hike in the Wilson Creek area. Rick knows exactly where he is going; sez it’s 2 ½ miles to a nice, tall waterfall and a moderate and short uphill back. Total 5-miles in a beautiful, almost pristine area, where not a lot of people go. Mon Aug 25 Green Knob Trail on the BRP. Only 2-miles through diversified terrain. Beautiful meadows and mature forests. Some strenuous parts. After we finish this 2-miles, some will want to hike around Julian Price lake for about 2 ¼ miles. Either one or two very nice 2-mile+ hikes; your choice. CB Willis, 282-3325. Wed Aug 27 Meadowview Fire Tower in the Houston Valley area, 6-miles round trip, up and down. If some don’t want to climb the mountain, can drive up and walk down. Leader-Carl Kincheloe, 913-3048. Mon Sep 1 Hike on the level, wide and gorgeous Virginia Creeper Trail from Taylor’s Valley to the Ice Cream Store on the edge of Damascus, about 5-easy miles. Key swap or shuttle? Bob Miller, 245-1465. Wed Sep 3 19E to Hump Mountain summit, back same route to cars. 10-miles, and don’t you believe it ain’t (with apologies to English teacher Carol) strenuous. The Hump is one of the most famous peaks on the AT and the most scenic. At least half the hike is downhill. Howard, 753-4072. Mon Sep 8 Short hikes, totaling up to 5-miles on mostly level and well-maintained trails at South Holston Dam. We will be exploring the lake shore and the coffer dam. Lots of old trees, and restrooms, picnic tables. The weir dam is a level 1.6 mile loop and very scenic. We’ll try to get Powell to supervise, as he knows the area. Cell 366-2273. If not, Carol Carr is also familiar with the area. We’ll break our fast at Webb’s Store in Hickory, a locally famous grocery and restaurant, meeting Carol at the Shell Station and Convenience store on 19E, about 1 ½ miles from the junction with 11E. Carol’s cell phone-383-0549. LORETTA, SUSAN-join us there? If so, let us know. Wed Sep 10 Beginning at Backbone Rock, bushwhack, as we previously have, up to the Iron Mountain Trail and then down into Damascus, where we can reward ourselves with ice cream. This should be 8-miles, but certainly not more. Moderate to difficult-the difficulty coming from rough footings in some of the areas where there is no trail. This is a genuine McMillin hike, guaranteed to be exciting and fun, while having moments of ‘wonder if he knows where we are?’ Try to remember; “Dave always knows where he is, except in instances where he doesn’t”. No one ever stayed lost more than 2-3 days, when out with Dave. 913-2345. Mon Sep 15 We will meet our Leader, Powell Foster, Cell 366-2273, at 5:30 PM, for a moonlight hike on the Osborne Farm. Those who have hiked this area know how beautiful the farm meadows are in full daylight; imagine how much more beautiful they will be in the moonlight. The full moon will rise at 7:36 PM after an earlier sunset. Bring your Significant Other, your supper and your camera. This is an easy hike. The moonlight walk will take only about 15 minutes, one way. Meet at the Church at 4:31PM; return by 9:09 or so. CB will lead from the Church to meeting with Powell, 282-3325. All Old Timers would truly enjoy this evening. Rainout date October 15, 2008. If there are those who would like to include an 8-mile moderate hike from 753-2895. Those attending the longer hike could decide on meeting times, shuttles and such. Wed Sep 17 We will ascend the feeder trail from Backbone Rock (it’s very steep) for 1 ½ miles, sez the book, to the AT. From the T-junction, turn right (north) just 4 ½ miles of great downhill to Damascus. (except for one short knob) Shuttle or key swap. Dave McMillin, having recovered from the bushwhack of Sept 10th. 913-2345. Mon Sep 22 PLANNING MEETING AT SHONEYS, 8:00 AM. After the meeting, go for Rock Creek Falls, 5-miles, short drive, no shuttle, some difficult ascents and creek crossings. Leader, CB Willis, 282-3325. Wed Sep 24 Devil’s Fork Gap south on the AT to junction with the Horse Creek Trail, a distance of 7.2 miles. The first four miles from Devil’s Fork Gap to Flint Gap is a gentle and gradual ascent of about 4-miles. From there to Big Butt (honest) Mountain, you gain 1200 feet of elevation in the 3.2 miles. Total distance of the hike 11.2 miles and probably most of us would call it moderately strenuous. Could shuttle or key swap. Mike Hupko, 929-2626. Mon Sep 29 Camp Creek Bald south on the AT to Allen Gap, a distance of 7-miles, all downhill except for maybe one half mile ascent. Key swap or shuttle. CB Willis, 282-3325. Everyone is welcome, member or not. If you would like to join the Old Timers Hiking Club, see Gil Derouen, PHT, Perfectly Honest Treasurer, 283-7767. We would like you to join.
We have three more Old Timers caps, all black, for sale at $10.00 each. Call CB, 282-3325.
Meet at Covenant Presbyterian Church Mondays and Wednesdays. We leave almost precisely at 8:00 AM. Bring lunch, water and seasonal clothing.
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