 Smoky Mountains Hiking Club Box 1454, Knoxville, TN 37901 Exploring the Smokies since 1924 |
(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. 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 December
2 - Sat Reservation Deadline for Installation Dinner3 - Sun Albright Grove 6 - Wed Greenbrier Manways
9 - Sat EZ: House Mountain
9 - Sat Installation Banquet < Early Reservation Deadline >
16 - Sat House Mountain
20 - Wed Little Greenbrier trails/manway
ALBRIGHT GROVE
December 3 - Sunday
If you like old growth forest then this hike is for you. This 0.7 mile loop trail was named after Horace Albright, the second director of the National Park Service. Horace Albright was a great advocate for this and other parks. Albright grove is 2.9 miles from the trailhead and sports big Hemlocks, Tulip trees, Fraser Magnolias and maples. We will also pass by the Willis Baxter cabin.
Meet at Asheville Hwy Food Lion <see list> at 8 AM. Round trip mileages: drive- 120, hike- 6.5, rated easy in good conditions, moderate in some snow, difficult in snow and ice.
Leaders: Nan 692-1212 tallwaters@earthlink.com Elfie 988-3377 elfiebeall@adelphia.net
INSTALLATION BANQUET
December 9 – Saturday
We would like to invite all members, friends and family to our annual Installation Dinner. The location is same as last year, at the Church of the Good Samaritan, 425 North Cedar Bluff Road, and 0.3 miles north of I-40 on the left (just past Pilot & Dunkin Donuts; only the sign is visible). Meet at Fellowship Hall.
Social hour: 6-7 PM. Dinner: 7 PM.
With our theme for the year “Old Timers Celebration” we have asked a well-known Old Timer to be our featured speaker, Bonnie Myers. She is a delightful humorous speaker at the Wilderness Wildlife Week and has written several books including “Best Yet Stories of the Early Life & Times of Smoky Mountain People” and a book about the “Walker Sisters – Spirited Women of the Smokies”. Bonnie was born on Dec. 1, 1921 in what we now call the GSMNP. She will speak on the subject of her life and experiences, then and now.
The program will continue with the service awards, photography awards, honoring of the 50-year members, and installation of the 2007 board.
Dinner will cost $15 each. If you have been an SMHC member for 50 or more years, since 1956, the cost is free, but please still make your reservation and entr é e choice (see below).
¨ ¨ Reservation deadline is Saturday December 2 nd .
Email or call one of the social team members listed below. Give us your full name, phone number, number in party, and entrée choice for each person attending. The entrée choices are: Vegetable Alfredo or Grilled Chicken. Social Team Members : Rae Jones 558-9154 tnrae07@peoplepc.com Lucinda Turbeville 945-1441 lucindaturbeville@comcast.net
Cata Folks 982-3890 Cathy Hickam 691-9614
HEN WALLOW FALLS EASY, Short Hike :
December 9 - Saturday 4.2 miles 8:00 at Asheville Hwy.
Lunch after at Carver’s Applehouse if you want. Homemade hot cocoa and Christmas cookies too
. Will be back in plenty of time for the Installation Dinner. Leaders: Debbie 382-3047 debbiegoddard@bellsouth.net Carole 423-587-2638
Two December Wednesdays
Dec 6 - Greenbrier Manways; 6 mi; 8:00 at Asheville Hwy
Dec 20 - Little Greenbrier trails/manway ; 6 mi; 8:30 at Alcoa FC
Steve 689-5006 shigdon103@yahoo.com
December 16 - Saturday
House Mountain State Natural area has been a popular hiking destination for the club in December. Views of the surrounding area are much improved with the leaves down. This year we’ve planned a ridge and short loop hike. From the parking lot, we will climb to the west overlook for a view of Knoxville. Then we will hike along the ridge, pausing mid-way at another fine overlook, on the way to the east end of the mountain to the east overlook, backtrack to the Turkey Trot trail down to the trail that we started on. Hike about 5 miles, rated moderate. Meet at the House Mountain Parking lot at 9:00. To get to there take I-40 East to exit 393, Rutledge Pike. Exit onto US-11W and go north and east on Rutledge Pike. After about 10 miles, look for the sign for House Mountain State Park on right side of the highway and then turn left onto Idumea Road. Turn left on Hogskin Road. The parking area is less than a mile on the right. Leaders: Janet 675-3822 Dan 673-5822 dfeller@utk.edu
COMING EVENTS –
January
1 - Mon Frozen Head: Spicewood – So. Old Mac
6 - Sat Greenbrier Pinnacle via Old Trail
14 - Sun Meadow Branch <off-trail>
27 – Sat Rainbow Falls (& Rocky Spur, maybe)
MEETING PLACES:
“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.
"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.
“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.
“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.