(Extracted from the published Newsletter*)

*The printed Newsletter sent to members and subscribers also contains reports of hikes done, info on new members, full names of leaders plus e-addresses, plus the Appalachian Trail Maintainers Newsletter. To subscribe: $10 to SMHC, Box 1454, Knoxville, TN 37901. (If start after August issue, subscription is good through next year.) After one signs in on 3 Club hikes an application for membership is provided.

Newsletter Editor: Charlie Klabunde (865) 483-8055

1 - Sat AT Work Trip

5 - Wed Middle Prong to Indian Flats Falls

8-9 – S&S Backpack for Beginners: Campsite #20

9 - Sun Frozen Head SP: Flower Walk

15 - Sat Porters Creek –Flowers

19 - Wed FHSP: S. Old Mac & Panther Branch Trails

22 - Sat EZ#1: Grotto Falls & Brushy Mtn

26 - Wed Special: AT Work near Clingmans Dome Road

29 - Sat EZ#2: Smokemont Loop & Bradley Fork

29 - Sat Edens Garden & Hornet Tree Top <off trail>

See ATMNews for details

Are you intimidated by the thought of spending the night in the wilderness? Join me for a short backpack and learn what gear is needed for backpacking, how to set up camp, and cook in the outdoors. We can decide what gear you have that would be useful and if gear is needed where to find gear. It need not be expensive to try this activity to see if you enjoy it before investing in equipment. We will leave from the Elkmont area, start up Jakes Creek Trail to Meigs Mountain Trail and hike along it to where we’ll camp near a small stream. This should be a good time to enjoy the spring wildflowers. 

Leave the Food City in Alcoa <see list> at 11:30 AM. Round trip mileages: drive- 94, hike- 4, rated easy.  Pre-registration is required as space is limited. 

This weekend is usually the peak of the spring wildflower season, with about fifty species making their appearance along Panther Branch and North Old Mac Trails. This will be a loop trip of 4.5 miles with a one-mile car shuttle, rated easy.

Meet at Food City in Oak Ridge <see list> to leave at 9:00AM. Round trip drive: 50 miles.

This trail is well known for its good display of spring wildflowers. Also along the way are signs of early settlement including rock walls, an old automobile and a cemetery. After crossing Porters Creek and stopping to view 40-foot Fern Falls, we continue to Campsite # 31 for lunch. We return to our cars by the same route, but take a short diversion to visit a historic farm site including the former SMHC cabin.

We will leave the Asheville Hwy Food Lion <see list> at 8:00 AM. Round trip mileages:  drive- 100, hike- 7.5; rated moderate. 

Trail work on the AT along Clingmans Dome road.

Bring work gloves, lunch and water. Tools will be provided.

Meet at the Sugarlands Visitor Center 9AM.

EASY, Short Hike #1: April 22 - Saturday 7.2 miles

Meet 8:00 at Alcoa Food City

With a little bit of luck we will be able to enjoy some fine wildflower displays at both the middle and end of this hike, along with a waterfall, a sink and a cave. A car shuttle will make it possible to see two prime wildflower areas, Whiteoak Sink and the Chestnut Top Trail on a relatively easy hike. We will eat lunch at a convenient location on the trail and take our time to enjoy the beauties of April in the Smokies. Be sure to bring raingear in case of April showers.

Meet at Food City in Alcoa ready to leave at 9:00 AM. Round trip mileages: drive- 49, hike- almost 7.

EASY, Short Hike #2: April 29 - Saturday 5.1 miles

Meet 8:00 at Alcoa Food City

This is a shuttle, with vehicles left at the back end of Tremont at the Middle Prong trailhead. The hike starts on the Bote Mountain trail. We will go up Bote Mountain about 2.4 miles and drop off the trail at a bend, going down to hit West

Prong about where Edens Garden Creek flows into West Prong. We will follow the Edens Garden drainage 1.7 miles up to the Defeat Ridge manway (ex-trail). This is a steep climb, necessitating some scrambling in places and a lot of rhodo crawling. It opens up into hardwoods shortly before we reach the old trail. We will descend on the trail about 0.3 miles back and divert onto the ridge, going 0.9 miles to Hornet Tree Top and then down Long Branch to return to Tremont in 1.7 miles.

Rated very strenuous (steep, wet crossings, rhodo). This one is for the off-trail enthusiast who doesn’t mind rhodo and wet feet. Total distance is 7.0 miles. Wading shoes should be part of your pack unless you don’t mind wet feet or boots. Pre-registration with a leader is required.

"Food City in Oak Ridge" on NE side of Illinois Ave. (TN-62), just SE of O.R. Turnpike, (TN-95). Meet in front edge near street, to right as you enter.

6-7 – S&S AT Worktrips (NF Car camp)

13 - Sat Pickett SP: Hidden Passage Loop & Double Falls

21 - Sun Cheoah Dam to Deals Gap on BMT

29 - Mon AT: Brown Gap to Snowbird Mtn & I-40