SMHC Newsletter Excerpt, Sept. 2006

*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. Read about how SMHC Hikes actually went! Only by getting the printed newsletters can you access these stories.This online version tells what we plan to do, and enough info to contact the leaders. We purposely give a positive benefit to members and subscribers by including the rest of the story (and other member business) only in the printed version. Subscribe, and/or join SMHC, today!!

Newsletter Editor: Charlie Klabunde (865) 483-8055
Area Code, unless otherwise noted, is 865.

CONTENTS: Items listed here for October

9/30 - Sat AT Work Trip (training for new section heads)
1 - Sun CT: Daddys Crk: Devils Breakfast Table – Turkey Creek
7 - Sat Cumberland Gap National Historic Park
11 - Wed Mt. Cammerer via Chestnut Branch Trail
14 - Sat The Jumpoff
14 - Sat EZ#1: CGNHP: Hensley Settlement via Shuttle
20 - Fri Fall Slide Show and Photo Contest Results
21 - Sat Mt. Cammerer via Low Gap Trail
21 - Sat Mt. Cammerer via Rich Butt <off trail>
25 - Wed Gregory Bald: 20-mi-RS, Wolf Ridge, Long Hungry, etc
28 - Sat Cherokee NF: McNabb and Hemlock Creek Trails

CUMBERLAND TRAIL: DADDYS CREEK:
DEVILS BREAKFAST TABLE TO TURKEY CREEK
October 1 - Sunday
If you love rocks, come on this hike. We’ll use the part of the Daddys Creek section of the Cumberland Trail called trail of a thousand steps, but that’s a great understatement. Starting from Devils Breakfast Table, we’ll follow Daddys Creek to the Obed River, passing bluffs, rock shelters, and small creek cascades. After about two miles we’ll leave the Cumberland Trail and climb off-trail along Turkey Creek to a forest road that will lead back to the cars and a nice swimming hole.
Meet at the Oak Ridge Food Lion <see list> at 8:00 AM. Round trip mileages: drive- 80, hike- 6.2, rated moderate due to rocky sections.

CUMBERLAND GAP NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK
October 7 – Saturday
Starting at the entry road to Wilderness Road Campground, off US-58, we use several trails to complete an 8 mile circuit. We begin on Boone Trail which joins Wilderness Road Trail. There is a short spur trail to Gap Cave (formerly Cudjo Cave). Our next connection is Harlan Road Trail which takes us by Fort McCook. Then there’s a short but steep climb to the Pinnacle. From there we use the Ridge Trail to intersect with Lewis Hollow Trail; on this we pass Skylight Cave, then past the picnic area and back to our cars.
Meet at Merchants Drive <see list> to leave at 8:00. Round tripe mileages: drive- 170, hike- 8, rated moderate.

Leaders: Elsie 584-1705 bedodson06 @ comcast.net
Mary Anne 523-1051 mhoskins @ utk.edu

THE JUMP-OFF
October 14 - Saturday
From the Newfound Gap parking lot we will climb over 700 feet in nearly two miles on the Appalachian Trail. It then eases off for the next mile over to The Boulevard Trail. After a very brief walk on that, we will take a half-mile, unmaintained man-way out to the Jump-off, a precipitous cliff on Mount Kephart. From the cliff, spectacular views can be had of the eastern peaks in the Smokies and nearby Charlies Bunion, Horseshoe Mtn, and Porters Creek Valley. After lunch here we backtrack.
Meet at Asheville Hwy Food Lion <see list> to leave at 8:00 or 9 at Sugarlands VC. Round trip mileages: drive- 110, hike- 6.5, rated moderate, but with a rugged section on the manway.

TOUR HENSLEY SETTLEMENT AT CUMBERLAND GAP NHP
EASY, Short Hike #1: October 14 – Saturday

Transportation by NPS van at $10 per person from Park Visitor Center after meeting there at 8:30. Walking tour guided by park ranger ~1 mile. Whole trip: 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM with tour of museum, gift shop, movies, and lunch afterwards (hike tour will end at 12:30 PM for those who want to leave early).

Call Debbie 382-3047 or Gary (423) 972-3636 for required registration and meeting place.
There will be two meeting places – one in Knoxville and one in Morristown.

FALL SLIDE SHOW
October 20 – Friday

Our fall slide show gives us a chance to announce, and show off, the winners of our Club’s annual photography contest. Complete details about the contest can be found on our website or on p.44 of our handbook. Any Thompson Photo Products store will continue to accept entries until Saturday October 7th. Even if you don’t enter the contest bring other photos to show, some snacks to share, or just bring your sense of adventure. Empty slide carousels will be provided. If you can burn your digital pictures on CD or put them on a USB portable drive, Charlie can project them at the show.

Meet at 7:00PM at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville. This is a fun evening open to all. A $2 donation is requested.

Information: Nan 692-1212 tallwaters @ earthlink.net

MOUNT CAMMERER VIA RICH BUTT
October 21 – Saturday

Rich Butt is the rocky ridge that juts north from the crest of Mt. Cammerer. This mostly off-trail approach begins on TN-32 and follows an old road, and then Robinson Creek into the Park. After the creek dwindles, we will bear right and proceed up the steep east side of Rich Butt ridge. Reaching the ridge top affords a brief rest to contemplate the struggle to come. Ahead, we must fight our way up through laurel, finding hand and foot holds while hanging on an exposed, steep rock spine, but, weather permitting, we should enjoy some magnificent views of fall foliage. After surmounting the rocky spine, another 30 minutes of clambering, walking, and sometimes crawling brings us to the spur trail to walk on out to the tower. After lunch there, we will return along the Groundhog Ridge manway, not an official trail but much easier than the morning’s ascent.

This difficult, 7-mile hike is for experienced off-trail hikers. Others must obtain clearance to do it from one of the leaders before that day. Meet at Asheville Hwy Food Lion <see list> to depart at 8:00. Round trip drive: 124 miles.

Leaders: Mike 691-4742 mike_harr @ bellsouth.net
Steve 828/651-8165 steven @ martin-mcgill.com

MOUNT CAMMERER VIA LOW GAP TRAIL
October 21 – Saturday

Join us for an invigorating climb up the Low Gap and Appalachian Trails to the rocky summit of Mt. Cammerer, where we can enjoy spectacular fall color. Low Gap doesn’t seem so low by the time you have made the 2.5- mile climb up 2000 feet to the intersection with the AT. The upper half of the ascent rolls along the top of a long, curving ridge offering fine views of the Cammerer summit and the surrounding countryside. The rocky crest is capped by a unique octagonal tower with a 360-degree view and shelter from the elements if there is a bit of winter or precipitation in the air. This hike is truly worth the effort! Please call if you have any questions about the hike.

Meet at Asheville Hwy Food Lion <see list> to leave at 8:00 AM, or at upper end of the Cosby large parking lot at 9:15. Round Trip mileages: drive- 122, hike- 11.2.

Leaders: Cata 982-3890 cfolks @ pstcc.edu
Lucinda 945-1441 lucindaturbeville @ comcast.net

CNF: MCNABB AND HEMLOCK CREEK TRAILS
October 28 – Saturday

The Brushy Ridge Backcountry Area lies between the Cherohala Skyway and the Tellico River in the Cherokee National Forest. Prior to construction of the Skyway, the club visited Hemlock Knob via the creek several times, but has not been back since construction acid runoff destroyed life in the creek. The McNabb and Hemlock trails roughly parallel each other. We will go down from the Skyway to the North River Road on one trail and back up the other, with a short roadwalk at each end to complete the loop. The leaves should be pretty and there are some views from the top. Expect some overgrowth and steepness on the upper trail sections.

Meet at the ex-Bi-Lo in Maryville <see list> at 8:00 AM. Round trip mileages: drive- 114, hike- 8.5, rated moderate due to steep sections and small but frequent stream crossings.

Leaders: Dan 673-5822 dfeller @ utk.edu
Claudia 673-5822

Oct 11 - Mt Cammerer via Chestnut Branch, etc 13.3 mi
Leave Asheville Hwy Food Lion at 8:00. Rated strenuous.

Oct 25 - Gregory Bald: 20-mi-RS, Wolf Ridge, Long Hungry, etc 15.2 mi
Leave Alcoa Food City at 7:30. Rated strenuous

COMING EVENTS - November
4 – Sat AT Work
4 - Sat BSF: Maudes Crack- JMT- Longfield Branch
11 - Sat Dalton Gap Branch- Old AT- Parson Lead <off trail>
19 – Sun Cumberland Falls SP: Blue Bend & Eagle Falls
24 - Fri Brushy Mountain

“Asheville Hwy Food Lion”= From exit 394 ramp off I-40 go left (east) out Asheville Hwy, US-11E/25W/70, 1.0 mi to signal light; turn left, then right into Food Lion lot ( not visible from Hwy intersection). Park along front edge, to left. Google Map

"Food City in Alcoa"= on right between 3 rd & 4th stoplight (on Hall Rd., TN 35), just before Big Lots- where we are not wanted. Google Map

“ex-Bi-Lo in Maryville” = just south of where US-129 & US-411 join, (SW corner at traffic light). Meet at front of lot, by Hwy.
Google Map

“ORNL Credit Union in Kingston” at exit 352 off I-40: Turn left at end of ramp and go 1/2 block to entry on right. Park along right edge of side lot. Google Map