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• Wednesday Hike: Lumber Ridge Trail

  • When
    06/07/2023
  •  
    8:30 AM
  • Location
    Lumber Ridge Trailhead, Tremont, GSMNP

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  We will hike 8 miles round trip. The elevation for the first part of the hike is 1,200 feet to the ridge with a 2.4-mile assent. Then you go downhill about 200 feet for around 1.6 miles. It’s a hardwood forest. The trail ends at Buckhorn Gap where it intersects the Meigs Mountain trail and Meigs Creek Trail. This trail is rated moderate. Meet at the old Food City 131 Hall Road Alcoa at 8:00 am or the trail head at 8:30 am. Carpool 46 miles roundtrip at 10 cents/miles = $4.60 to the driver.

  Leader: Thomas Welch

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• South Citico Creek and Jeffery Hell Loop, Cherokee National Forest

  • When
    06/10/2023
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Tellico Plains Visitor Center, 225 Cherohala Skyway, Tellico Plains, TN 37385

  Register

  We will explore the headwaters of South Citico Creek in the Citico Creek Wilderness on this car shuttle hike along Cherohala Skyway. Cars will be left at Rattlesnake parking area and we will shuttle over to Beech Gap. We begin hiking the Fodderstack Trail along the state line toward Strawberry Knob which is also a portion of the Benton MacKaye trail. In about 2 miles we turn off and head sharply downhill on the South Fork Citico Creek trail. At the bottom of the hill, we meet up with the creek and follow it downstream a ways through the Citico Creek Wilderness area. The trail makes a few crossings of the lovely creek (which could be high if rainy) At the Jeffery Hell trail we turn off and begin hiking back uphill to the Rattlesnake parking area and cars. Hike 6.5 miles with 1500 ft elevation gain. Rated moderate to difficult due to creek crossings and possibly overgrown trail conditions. Meet behind Ruby Tuesday at I-75 Exit 81, Lenoir City at 8:00 am or at Tellico Plains Visitor Center at 9:00 Drive 140 miles RT to trailhead. Carpool @ 10 cents per mile = $14.00 to driver.

  Leader: Tim Bigelow

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Off Trail Hike: Huggins Creek

  • When
    06/17/2023

  Escape the summer heat with an excursion through the wild and rugged Huggins Creek watershed. We'll begin at Clingmans Dome and descend the Forney Creek Trail to Campsite 69, making a quick stop along the way to ride the Forney Slide. At the campsite, we'll leave the trail and turn back uphill, following Huggins Creek for a little over three miles to the AT. There will be plenty of opportunity to get wet as we pass by secret cascades, deep pools, water slides, and one big waterfall. We'll spend a full day exploring one of the most incredible streams in the Smokies. E-mail the leader for meet-up location and time.

  Leader: David Sands

  To register, contact the leader directly via email, text or phone. You can find contact information in the June 2023 newsletter writeup for this hike.

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• Gregory Bald via Gregory Ridge

  • When
    06/17/2023
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Gregory Ridge Trailhead, Cades Cove, GSMNP

  Register

  When the Smokies were being considered for a National Park, one of the areas showcased to Washington dignitaries was Gregory Bald during the blooming of its Flame Azaleas. We will repeat that hike from 99 years ago in hopes of seeing them at their peak colors. We will follow the Gregory Ridge Trail and climb steadily to its junction with the Gregory Bald Trail. From there, it is a short climb to the summit of Gregory Bald. On a very clear day, one can see numerous landmarks including Fontana Lake, Clingmans Dome, and even portions of Knoxville. This hike is 11.3 miles with 3,000 feet elevation gain and rated difficult, due to the unrelenting climb. Meet at the Gregory Ridge trailhead at 9am.

  Leader: Steven Miller

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Wednesday Hike: Curry Mountain Trail

  • When
    06/21/2023
  •  
    8:30 AM
  • Location
    Curry Mountain Trailhead, Metcalf Bottoms, GSMNP

  Register

  We will hike round trip 6.6 miles with a climb of 1,500 feet to the junction at Meigs Mountain Trail. Look for patches of crested dwarf iris during the hike. This trail is rated moderate. Meet at the former Food City location at 131 North Hall Road, Alcoa at 8:00 am or the trail head at 8:30 am. Park in Metcalf Bottoms Picnic area. Carpool 52 miles roundtrip at 10 cents/mile = $5.20 to the driver.

  Leader: Thomas Welch

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Carvers Gap to Yellow Mountain Gap, Roan Mountain

  • When
    06/24/2023
  • Location
    Cracker Barrel, 1510 Cracker Barrel Ln, Knoxville, TN 37914

  Register

  In the past, the Club has offered this hike primarily as a backpacking weekend with a shuttle. Let’s do a day hike this year! This stretch of the Appalachian Trail is considered by some to be the most scenic in the southeast. There are opportunities to see Catawba rhododendron, Grays lilies, and vast mountain views from expansive grassy balds, including Round Bald, Jane Bald and Grassy Ridge Bald. Although it will be a long day of travel, we’ll start early from Knoxville. Hike 11 miles, in and out. Rated Moderate - Difficult. Meet at Cracker Barrel at Strawberry Plains exit, 1510 Cracker Barrel Lane at 6:30am. RT drive 260 miles = $26 carpool fee.

  Leader: Diane Petrilla

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    07/08/2023
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • Location
    Fontana Dam, GSMNP

  This work trip will support the annual A.T. Konnarock Trail Crew in the National Forest. Each year, volunteers from across the country sign up for this ATC Sponsored summer trail crew for a week at a time, over a 2 week period. The crew will be building a new trail relocation near the Fontana Marina. The crew will be on location for several days, and will base camp in the area. SMHC volunteers that participate for 3 or more days on the project will receive an ATC Trails Crew T-Shirt.

  Leader: Randy Bullock
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    08/05/2023
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    GSMNP

  Each season, several hundred pounds of mulch are needed to help our backcountry privies compost effectively. This work trip will focus on packing mulch to one or more of our backcountry privy locations that is less than 5 miles from the trailhead. Mulch is put in 20lb. bags for carrying. The club has extra backpacking-style backpacks if needed. Anyone available to help is greatly appreciated! Lets go, Mulch Mules!

  Leader: Diane Petrilla
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    09/09/2023
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Cosby Campground Hiker Parking, GSMNP, Cosby, TN

  This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the section between Mt Cammerer Fire Tower and Camel Gap. Access to the work area will be via the 2.5 mile Low Gap Trail, starting at the Cosby Campground. Specific locations of work will be based on prioritization of work needed.

  Leader: Mark Shipley
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    10/07/2023
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Newfound Gap, GSMNP

  This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the section between Newfound Gap to Icewater Springs. This is our most heavily used section of trail, and it sees a lot of wear each season. Specific locations of work will be based on prioritization of work needed.

  Leader: Mark Snyder
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    11/04/2023
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • Location
    Sugarlands Visitors Center, GSMNP

  November is time to start winding down the trail maintenance season. This work day will be focused on cleaning, repairing, inventorying, and storing the club’s tools for the winter.

  Leader: Steve Dunkin
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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