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• Wednesday Hike: Little River, Huskey Gap and Sugarland Mtn Trails

  • When
    07/28/2021
  •  
    8:45 AM (EDT)
  • Location
    Laurel Falls Trailhead, GSMNP

  Register

  Laurel Falls Trail head (Fighting Creek Gap) to Elkmont by the old road to Little River Trail to Huskey Gap Trail to Sugarland Mtn Trail to Laurel Falls Trail head. 9 miles, rated moderate. Meet at Food City in Alcoa to leave at 8:00 am or at Laurel Falls Trail head by 8:45 am. Drive 66 miles RT at .05 / mile = 3.30.
  
  Leader: David Grab
  865-405-5779
  digrab@aol.com

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• Charlies Bunion

  • When
    07/31/2021
  •  
    (EDT)
  • Location
    Newfound Gap Parking Lot, GSMNP

  Register

  From the Newfound Gap parking area, we will hike northbound on the AT for approximately four miles to Charlies Bunion. Here we will enjoy lunch and, weather permitting, panoramic views of the Smokies and beyond. We will return to NFG with a short side trip to the Jump-Off for a total round trip of 9 miles. Rated moderate.

  Leader: Jeff and Angela Cooper
  865-804-5065
  jeffcooper100@yahoo.com

  
  

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• Easy Hike: Little River Trail and Elkmont

  • When
    07/31/2021
  •  
    10:00 AM (EDT)
  • Location
    Elkmont, GSMNP

  Register

  This is a family-friendly 4-mile hike on the beautiful Little River Trail to the awesome Huskey Branch Cascades where we will head back. Will we find the old toll bridge? On return we have the option of exploring the vacation cabins at Elkmont, learn some history and see what is new. Will we find the Mayo House, one of the oldest which was originally on Jakes Creek. Meet 10AM at the Little River trail head.

  Reservations required. We will follow club covid protocol. Take interstate 40 to 129 toward Maryville, exit Maryville ramp. Follow 321 into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Turn left at the Wye and continue along the Little River Road. Just before the Elkmont campground entrance turn left.The Little River Trail head is 0.6 miles up this side road. There is a parking area. RT 110 miles to and from West Knoxville. Carpool fee $0.05 / mile. Please contact leader if you have signed up but can not come.

  Leader: Adele Soucy
  865-352-9156
  fthom4141@aol.com
  
  

  
  

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• Wednesday Hike: Gabes Mountain Trail to Campsite 34

  • When
    08/04/2021
  •  
    9:00 AM (EDT)
  • Location
    Cosby Campground, GSMNP

  Register

  Gabes Mountain Trail past 90-foot Hen Wallow Falls to Campsite 34. Out & back hike. Round trip is 9.6 miles, rated moderate. Meet at Comcast on Asheville Highway at 8:00 am or at Cosby Campground at 9:00. Drive 120 miles round trip .05/mile = $6.00. Pre-registration with the leader is required.

  Leaders:
  Steve Vittatoe, svittatoe@charter.net, 865-724-9666
  Ron Brandenburg, ronb86@comcast.net, 865-898-7602

  
  

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• Off-Trail Hike: The Gorges

  • When
    08/07/2021
  •  
    8:00 AM (EDT)
  • Location
    Raven Fork, GSMNP

  Register

  If, and only if, the flow of the Oconaluftee River is less than 300 cubic feet per second, will we attempt to hike The Gorges of Raven Fork, the most rugged and treacherous stretch of stream anywhere in the Smokies. This hike will entail wading of deep fast-running sluices, negotiating water-slickened rock surfaces, and scrambling over large boulders. After a car shuttle from Straight Fork Road at the Hyatt Ridge Trail, the hike will begin in the Cherokee Reservation just outside the Park boundary and follow Raven Fork to the bridge at Backcountry Campsite 47 where we will then follow the Hyatt Ridge Trail out to Straight Fork Road. This hike is rated very difficult. Contact trip leaders for meeting place and time. Preregistration with leaders is required.

  Leaders:
  Ken Wise, kwise@utk.edu, 865-310-7764
  James Locke, jtlocke@tds.net, 865-742-2158

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    08/07/2021
  •  
    8:15 AM (EDT)
  • Location
    Newfound Gap Parking Lot, GSMNP

  Register

  Our August A.T. work trip is dedicated to MULCH HAULING! For this trip, we will hike mulch to the Icewater Springs shelter mulch storage boxes. All you need is a large backpack (I have extras if needed) to pack in a bagged 20 lb. bag of mulch. You do not have to have much experience to be a mulch mule - just a pair of strong legs. And you will be performing a much-needed task before we see the south-bound surge of thru-hikers this fall. Please come out and help! We will meet at Sugarlands Visitor Center at 7:30am for those who would like to carpool, or at Newfound Gap parking lot at 8:15am. Pre-registration with the leader is required.

  Leader: Diane Petrilla, petrillad@gmail.com, 931-224-5149

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• A.T. Vista Hike

  • When
    08/08/2021
  •  
    8:45 AM (EDT)
  • Location
    Clingmans Dome Parking Lot, GSMNP

  Register

  The Appalachian Trail is celebrating 100 years of its history this year with the A.T. Vista event to be held on the weekend of August 7 and 8! Each state the A.T. goes through has been asked to sponsor a hike for that weekend, with photos and videos to be uploaded and shared virtually with the entire A.T. community. The SMHC proudly maintains 102 miles of Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and 30 miles in the Nantahala National Forest. We invite you to join us on a hike from Clingmans Dome (the highest point on the entire A.T.) to Silers Bald. We'll talk a little history, enjoy cooler high-elevation air, and have a birthday treat for the A.T.! The hike is approximately 9 miles RT, rated moderate. We can meet at Sugarlands Visitor Center at 8am on Sunday, August 8, to carpool to Clingmans Dome parking lot, or meet at the Clingmans Dome parking lot at 8:45am. Pre-registration is required.

  Leader: Diane Petrilla
  petrillad@gmail.com
  931-224-5149

  
  

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• Wednesday Hike: Middle Prong Trail to Indian Flats Falls

  • When
    08/11/2021
  •  
    8:00 AM (EDT)
  • Location
    Tremont, GSMNP

  Register

  Middle Prong Trail to Indian Flats Falls. Out and back hike. We will see three multi-tiered falls including Lower Lynn Camp, Lynn Camp, and Indian Flats. Historic artifacts to be seen along the trail includes the rusting Cadillac, a homestead chimney, and remnants from logging operations of the past. Round trip is 7.8 miles, rated moderate with elevation gain of 1175 ft. Meet at Alcoa Food City at 8:00 am. Drive 50 miles round trip.05/mile = $2.50. Pre-registration with the leader is required.

  Leaders:
  Steve Vittatoe, svittatoe@charter.net, 865-724-9666
  Ron Brandenburg, ronb86@comcast.net, 865-898-7602

  
  

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• SMHC Annual Election Picnic

  • When
    08/14/2021
  •  
    10:30 AM - 4:00 PM (EDT)
  • Location
    GATOP Gardens and Arboretum, 2541 Riverside Drive, Knoxville, TN

  Register

  SMHC members and their guest(s) are invited to our annual SMHC Election picnic on Saturday, August 14 (rain date Sunday, August 15). We were unable to have any social events in 2020 due to the pandemic, so it would be wonderful to see as many people as possible turn out for our picnic! There are several very special features of the picnic this year.

  Location: GATOP Gardens and Arboretum, 2541 Riverside Drive, Knoxville, TN. This incredible property is privately owned by Dr. Alan Solomon, a long-time Club member, who has designed, assembled and built a breathtaking collection of native trees, wildflowers and ferns, hundreds of varieties of conifers, hollies and other plants. There are extensive hand-built stone walls, terraces and steps, and the gardens are complemented by steel, bronze and stone sculptures.
  (Note — we will have balloons at the parking entrance, which is 2 miles east from the exit off of James White Parkway. Handicapped parking is available.)

  Time: We suggest arriving between 10:30 and 11AM to register, pick up a map of the gardens, and explore.

  Program: Our program will start at noon and includes a boxed lunch and drink for you (choices on registration form). We will eat in a beautiful shady part of the gardens: please bring a chair or seating pad.

  Special guest: We are extremely honored to have Richard Powers attend our picnic this year. Mr. Powers is the author of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Overstory, as well as books such as The Echo Maker and The Goldbug Variations. He spent much time in the Smokies while writing The Overstory, a book that can change the way you look at trees and forests forever.

  Business: We have much to do!

  • Introduction and election of your 2022 Board of Directors
  • Approval of SMHC Constitution and Bylaws review/ edits conducted this year
  • The membership will be asked to look at the hike program for 2022 and volunteer to lead or co-lead hikes!
  • We will be awarding the Marshal Wilson Presidential Citation Awards for last year and this year at the picnic.

  Please join us for the SMHC picnic in this beautiful place and celebrate the chance to see so many members and friends again!

  For questions, please email dgoddard723@gmail.com. If you would prefer to register and pay by mail, you can download the printable form here.

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• Hemphill Bald

  • When
    08/21/2021
  •  
    8:30 AM (EDT)
  • Location
    Hemphill Bald Trailhead, Heintooga Road, GSMNP

  Register

  Where do you hike in August? Hemphill Bald. We will start at Hemphill Bald Trailhead off Heintooga Road, taking the Hemphill Bald Trail to the junction with Caldwell Fork Trail. We will stop and visit the big poplar before making the climb up to Rough Fork. We will take Rough Fork to the parking lot. Car camping is an option at Balsam Mountain Campground or Mile High Campground both nearby with great sunset views. This is a great place to camp in the summer. This hike is almost 14 miles long and is rated difficult due to the distance and the ascent out. Drive time is 2 hours via I-40, distance 105 miles. The hike starting time at the Hemphill Bald Trailhead is 8:30 am. I am camping at Mile High. The campground is almost booked for that weekend. Balsam Mountain still has several openings. If you would like a copy of the map for the hike visit here. If you would like to view the profile of the hike visit here. Pre-registration with the leader is required.

  Leader: Dale Potter
  dalepotter55@gmail.com
  865-773-8114

  
  

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• Easy Hike: Tennessee Arboretum

  • When
    08/21/2021
  •  
    9:00 AM (EDT)
  • Location
    901 S. Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN

  Register

  Come explore some of the seven miles of easy hiking trails at the University of Tennessee Arboretum, located at 901 S. Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. Meet in the parking lot by the Visitors Center at 9:00 AM. We will discuss a bit of the local history, as well as visit a few of the outstanding plant collections at the Arboretum. The trails are not difficult and have benches to rest on along the way. Bring water and perhaps a light snack. We will plan on an hour of walking and talking.

  Pre-registration is required with hike leader.

  Leader: Janet Bigelow, janet_bigelow@tds.net, (865) 300-5580

  
  

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• Clingmans Dome to Newfound Gap

  • When
    08/28/2021
  •  
    9:00 AM (EDT)
  • Location
    Newfound Gap Parking Lot, GSMNP

  Register

  This high elevation hike should provide a respite from valley heat. After arranging a shuttle from Newfound Gap to Clingmans Dome, we will start at the highest point in the Smokies and on the AT--Clingmans Dome at 6443'. We will hike North through AT sections that our club maintains and through a beautiful conifer forest accented by moss covered logs and ferns. Meet at Newfound Gap at 9 AM at the NC/TN State Line sign. Allow a few extra minutes for summer traffic. Total hike mileage: 8.4 miles, rated moderate. Pre-registration with the leader is required.

  Leader: Kristi Knight, kcsknight@charter.net, 865-898-7227

  
  

  
  

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