LeConte Openings

Mount Le Conte openings ... Paige Greason has two open slots for the June 18 -17 trek. Plenty of hot chocolate, super supper and fantastic breakfast and of course snuggly cabin. Cost $139. For details and kick off breakfast info in Gatlinburg, contact Paige at pgreason@triad.rr.com , greasonp@uncsa.edu  or call 336 287-7131

Marcos More' has access to these two and two more. marcos.more@arnold.af.mil , work 931 454-6414 or mobile 931 273-2486

Further information: it is extremely difficult get opening. If you ever wanted to go...take advantage of this offer and help the folks that reserved these. http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2009/11/hike-leconte-lodge-great-smoky-mountains-national-park-just-part-adventure5011

A Letter from Program Chair

Highland Rim Chapter continues to offer several hikes each month which vary in difficulty, type and travel time to trailhead.  At our Chapter Meetings we have interesting programs which we publicize in local newspapers and with other clubs and invite the public.  For example, we notified the local garden clubs and native plant society about our invasive, exotic plant program.  We have gained new members because of publicizing our programs. 

Our Chapter members are also very active with trail maintenance at Short Springs SNA and volunteering for Friends of South Cumberland. 

Every third Saturday our Chapter hikes a section of the Sewanee Perimeter Trail , Eat-Hike-Eat, (very popular).  

In February we hiked a section of Pot Point Trail in Prentice Cooper State Forest and we hiked at Virgin Falls Pocket Wilderness.  In March we enjoyed the snow on Bird Mountain, Frozen Head State Park.  Joette Carter led a ten mile off trail hike on her land near Walls of Jericho in March.  Also in March we held a work day at Short Springs SNA.  Because of great publicity in The Tullahoma News, members of the public came to help, including five youth! 

In April we led a very popular Sunday afternoon wildflower hike at Short Springs SNA where we hiked all five trails.  Our Chapter provided many volunteers for Trails and Trilliums, a fund raiser for South Cumberland State Park.  Our members served as van drivers, hike leaders and assistant hike leaders. 

Also planned for April is a back packing trek to Hobb's Cabin in Savage Gulf and three days of hiking and car camping in Red River Gorge National Geological Area, Slade, Kentucky.

In regard to our Programs, The History and Future of Tims Ford Lake, Tims Ford State Park and the families who lived there was our February program.  In March Karen Stevenson spoke about TDEC and its many programs.  Our April program is invasive exotic plants in Tennessee.

TTA Christmas party

Dick McClure

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Cloudland Canyon Excursion

Included on the hike were: Sandy Hirlston, Peggy "Rabbit Ears" Nunley, Faith Bennett,Joan Hartvigsen and behind the camera {I assume - htbiii} was Ed King.

 

Robin Wooten with new Chapter Members

Robin Wooten, who heads the State Natural Area portion of the TN Parks system spoke to us to a packed house at the recent monthly meeting. http://www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/ This is becoming a routine as Randy Hedgepath, State Naturalist http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/naturalist/   did the same thing recently. The photo  shows Linda Hudson, Chapter Chair with Robin and two new members, Anna Watkins (middle front) and her grandmother, Sandy Hirlston.

Highland Rim's September 7 Hike at Tims Ford State Park

Michael and Stephanie Brice, Joan Hartvigsen, Valerie Galan(Murfreesboro), Jackie and Sidney Sexton attended.

Six volunteers met at the parking lot at SSNA at 9:00AM to work in the park.  Joan Hartsvigsen and Pat Bigbee left and cut brush from the corridor of Machine Falls Trail from the entrance counter clock wise to Adams Fall Trail junction. 

Tom Hartsvigsen, Rob Moreland, Bryan Webb and Wally Bigbee went to 

build some stairs on the Machine Falls Trail steep slope going down 

into the gorge. Wally opened the gate and everyone went with the jeep and a loaded trailer on the Tower Trail to Machine Falls Trail and on just beyond the Connector Trail junction.

We unloaded the equipment and part of the materials and carried them

75 yards down to the first step site.  The largest items were the rented electric generator and the hammer drill.  After applying "Liquid Nails to joints, a stringer was connected to 7 x 8 x 24 inch blocks with nails and deck screws.  The other stringer was applied. 

Rob was our generator operator. Holes had been pre-drilled in the tread blocks and holes were drilled in the rock to match them. It took about 5 minutes to drill each 5" deep 1/2" hole.  Tom mixed  epoxy glue that he placed in the holes and on the rods.  The blocks were put in place and the rods inserted.  A hole was drilled in the upper part of left side stringer and into the side rock.  A rod was coated with epoxy and hammered through the stringer and into the rock. The stair was steady and solid with no motion on testing.  The right side stringer was left long so that newel posts and a hand rail can be added later.  We disconnected the trailer and got the jeep turned around, loaded up and left feeling good about our morning's work.

Wally Bigbee, work day coordinator