There will be no official July 8^st work trip. Instead, all section leaders are encouraged to organize small groups to cut vegetation on their sections. Look for notices in the SMHC list serve for opportunities to go on "weed wacking" expeditions. To send a message to the SMHC list serve, use this address: smhc-atmc@korrnet.org . If you need to be added to the list serve, or if you need help posting a message, contact John Lankford at jcl@utk.edu or Dianne Gruber at grub9382@bellsouth.net, or see phone listings above.

<Return to top>

One hundred forty-nine eager volunteers celebrated National Trails Day, June 3, by helping with construction projects on the A.T. between Icewater Springs and Double Springs. Hundreds of logs and rocks were installed for steps and waterbars, yards of sidehill were dug, and assorted other construction projects were completed. (But perhaps not to the degree reported at the after dinner speeches. I understand George M decided NOT to pursue the indictments, those bribery cookies must have worked.) This event was sponsored by the Friends of the Smokies, Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, ATC, NPS, TVA, the Alcoa Foundation, The Happy Hiker, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, Food City, Service Coffee Co. Citizens National Bank, and Stop and Save. Special thanks to George Minnigh, GSMNP back country specialist for his many hours of help in planning and orchestrating the event, including the helicopter log drop in March. The Alcoa Foundation donated $11,000.00 for the purchase of logs and helicopter time. It was an early morning and everyone appreciated club member Ken Jones of Service Coffee Co for coffee and supplies, and doughnuts provided by Food City. Door prizes were from Smoky Mountain Outfitters, Friends of the Smokies, Great Smoky Mountains Association We had representatives working from TVA, Service Coffee Co., and Happy Hiker.

Phyllis Henry has organized the National Trails Day event for the A.T. for ten years. She has announced that this was her last year. She has done a wonderful job, teaching thousands of people what it is to take care of a trail. Every person who works on Trails Day walks differently, more knowledgeably, on the trail the rest of his life. We thank Phyllis for all her work, and hope she will advise, if not spearhead, in the future.

The A.T. is better protected from erosion after this big effort at trail improving. The thousands of visitors in this section walk millions of steps, and each step wears away the trail. Thanks to everyone who came out to help protect the trail so that future visitors may also enjoy it.

<Return to top>

A.T. Work

4/1/06 Lynda Bryan, Jim Quick, Caleb Owenby, Tiffany Lambert, Dave Bentley, Janet Murray, Ed Faulkner, Kathleen Kitzmiller, Doris Gove, and Pamela Schoenewaldt moved MANY logs to prepare for waterbar building on Trails Day, cleared blowdowns, cleaned waterbars, trimmed vegetation, and cut other blowdowns in the woods for future use.

4/7/06 Stacy and Matt Davis cleaned drainage structures for one mile south to Indian Gap and also did some pruning. 

4/29/06 Matt Davis flagged work to be completed during National Trails Day on the section south of Indian Gap. 

5/6/06 Matt Davis carried locust logs from Drop Point #12 to their assigned locations on our section. 

5/21/06 Ron Beatty worked from Yellow Creek Gap to the High Point above Walker Gap cutting vegetation, removing two blowdowns, and replacing a log book at Cable Gap Shelter.

5/23/06 Steve Higdon picked up debris, cleared a few waterbars, pulled up spruce sprouts, cut briars, and removed trip hazards between Newfound and Indian Gaps. Trail clear except for the unsightly pink ribbons [;-)].

5/31/06 Stew Taylor and Pete James cut and moved logs, flagged two sections of trail for NTD

6/8/06 Stew Taylor and Jerry Troxler hiked up to Spence Field. We cleaned up around the shelter and privy. We filled up the mulch barrel and bucket and inventoried the tools. The rest of the day was spent cleaning out water bars and using stones to improve

the tread in some mud spots. We also planned work

for future work days.
6/12 Pete James cleaned waterbars and cut vegetation between the Boulevard and the bottom of the hill past Icewater springs.

6/14/06 Lucinda Turbeville, Carol Anderson, Gary Anderson, Jean Bangham, Ron Brandenburg, Jean Gauger, Joy Kelly, Pam McLain, Keith Mertz, Terri Veldman, Angie Warren, and Nan Woodbury cut grass, cleaned waterbars, and trimmed overhanging limbs from Mt. Collins Gap to the Sugarlands Mtn. Trail intersection.  Additionally, Jean Bangham, Carol Anderson, and Nan Woodbury cleaned Mt. Collins shelter and fire pit. This day we left Sugarlands VC at 9:00, worked till 1:45 with a quick lunch in-between. Within this short time we trimmed our whole section!! We are Super!!!. I am superbly fantastically happy at the results from our first real AT work day. I give everyone a "way to go high 5".

Matt Davis writes to tell us he is leaving his post with the ATC. Matt has been a wonderful resource and friend, and we will miss him. We wish him the best.