Appalachian Trail Maintainers News
Remote for detachment; Narrow for chosen company; Winding for leisure; Lonely for contemplation;
It beckons not merely north and south, but upward to the body, mind and soul of man...Harold Allen
Published by the Appalachian Trail Maintainers Committee of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club
Dick Ketelle, Strategic Planning, 865 483-9345; Phyllis Henry, Volunteer coordinator, Special Projects, 865 577-2604; Mac McNutt, Tools Manager, 865 983-3237; Lucinda Turbeville, Outreach and Development 865 945-1441;Philip Royer, Shelter and Campsite coordinator 865 694- 0160; Pete James, Volunteer Data Records, 865 977-0807; Dianne Gruber, newsletter editor, 865 977-0807; Penny Lankford, Secretary, 865 774-1866; John Lankford, Webmail Coordinator 865 774-1866; Jim Lowe, Trail Manager, National Forest 828 479- 9271; Randy Puckett, Consultant.
2006 - Editor/Dianne Gruber
August Trail Maintenance Trip
Saturday, August 5
This will be a woody vegetation clearing in the Nantahala National Forest with a late afternoon picnic supper.
Contact John Lankford jkl@utk.edu 865/774-1866
Smokies "Rocky Top" Volunteer Crew
September & October
Objectives: Tread rehab and repair.
Session #1 9/5-9/12 (Tues-Tues)
Session #2 9/16-9/22 (Sat-Sat)
Session #3 9/29-10/6 (Fri-Fri)
Session #4 10/10-10/17 (Tues-Tues)
Session #5 10/21-10/28 (Sat-Sat)
Please set aside some time to spend a day or more with the Rocky Top Crew.
2006 AT Southern Regional Multi-Club Campout http://www.maconcommunity.org/nhc/ Hosted by the NANTAHALA HIKING CLUB at USFS Appletree Group Campground, Nantahala , North Carolina REGISTRATION AND CAMPSITE FEE $10 per family PROPOSED SCHEDULE Registration: starting Fri at 3:00 pm Breakfast: Sat & Sun 7:15 to 9:00 Dinner: Fri 6:30 to 9:00 Hikes: lists available at registration |
A.T. Work
5/16/06 Mark Hall cleaned water bars from Stecoah Gap to Brown Fork Gap
6/11/06 Mark Hall checked the trail from Stecoah Gap to Brown Fork Gap -- cut 2 blow downs. Trail is in good shape.
6/20/06 Steve Higdon cut weeds and cleared brush between Indian and Newfound Gaps. He also trimmed brush back in areas where trail has been widened. He reports that the Trails Day work looks good, especially sidehill work near Indian Gap.
6/22-25/06 Mac McNutt, Stew Taylor, Tom Howard, and Jerry Troxler hiked up to Spence Field for a 3 day work trip to work on the AT between Spence and Russell Field. On Friday evening, we were joined by James Fondren, Terry Elmore, and Cory (from Maryville College). James completed the work on the Spence Field shelter chimney and repaired the roof. We moved the privy and cleaned up around the shelter. On the trail between Spence and Russell, we cleaned the water bars, constructed several more and put in some steps. We repaired a turnpike, rocked in some muddy spots, and improved the tread in several spots. Mac and James cut some grass and brush for about 3/4 of a mile. We never got so dirty and had such a good time!
6/22-25/06 Randy Puckett worked with the above people on the group projects and also on his own weeded from Jenkins Ridge to Rocky Top, Installed a rock water bar, installed about 10 grade drain dips, and cleaned over 20 water bars.
6/28/06 Larry Ball "sickled" along the trail for 1.5 miles between Low Gap and Mt. Cammerer.
7/1/06 Ron Beatty cut vegetation and removed small blowdowns from Yellow Creek Gap to High Point above Walker Gap.
7/6-28/06 Jim Goddard worked from Miry Ridge to Starkey Gap.
7/6/06 Phyllis Henry and Stew Taylor cleaned waterbars and cut back vegetation between Fork Ridge and Spruce Fir Nature Trail.
Section Leaders in the Smokies
Fontana Dam to Lewellyn Branch: Charlie Klabunde
Lewellyn Branch to Doe Knob: Vacant
Doe Knob to Russell Field: Maryville Trailriders (clear blowdowns).
Russell Field to Spence Field: Stew Taylor and
Jerry Troxler
Spence Field to Thunderhead: Randy Puckett
Thunderhead to Starkey Gap: Vacant
Starkey Gap to Miry Ridge Trail: Jim Goddard
Welch Ridge Trail to Double Springs Gap:
Wayne Williams
Double Springs Gap to Clingmans Dome: Mac McNutt (helped by Todd White)
Clingmans Dome to Collins Gap: Doris Gove and Jim Quick
Collins Gap to Sugarland Mtn Trail: Lucinda Turbeville
Sugarland Mtn Trail to Spruce Fir Nature Trail:
Phyllis Henry
Spruce Fir Nature Trail to Top of Road Prong/Tomahawk Prong Lead: Vacant
Top of Road Pr/Tomahawk Pr Lead to Indian Gap:
Blue Ridge Mtn. Sports
Indian Gap to Newfound Gap: Steve Higdon
Newfound Gap to top of uphill section west of Sweat Heifer: Terry Elmore & "Otters"
Top of uphill section west of Sweat Heifer Tr. to Sweat Heifer Tr.: John & Penny Lankford
Sweat Heifer Tr. to Top of Mt. Ambler: Bob Hutchins
Top of Mt. Ambler to Second Gap West of Masa Knob: Pete James & Dianne Gruber
Second Gap West of Masa Knob to Dry Sluice Gap Trail: Dick Ketelle & Ann Farrar
Section Leaders in the National Forest
Fontana Dam–NC28: Jim Lowe
NC28–Walker Gap: Warren-Wilson Crew, Leader, Richard Sanders (W-W Staff Forester)
Walker Gap–High Point Above Walker Gap: Open
High Point Above Walker Gap–Yellow Cr Gap: Ron Beatty
Yellow Cr Gap–Cody Gap: Jim and Dottie Lowe
Cody Gap–Brown Fork Gap: T. J. Tolnas
Brown Fork Gap–Stecoah Gap: Mark Hall and Pam Reddoch
Stecoah Gap–Locust Cove Gap: Jimmy Smith
Locust Cove Gap–Cheoah Bald: Bob Williams
Cheoah Bald–Swim Bald: Alan Duff
Swim Bald–Wright Gap: Scott Thomas
Wright Gap–NOC: Nate Boike