Cherokee Hiking Club
198 Crews Drive, Benton, TN 37307
Trail
Maintenance
Projects
2014
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Work Trips in 2008 or 2009 or 2010 or 2011 or 2012 or 2013
Tellico
Ranger District Worktrips
Benton MacKaye Trail Worktrips
Other Worktrips
Thursday, January 9, 2014 - Thursday Tellico Work Trip - We will be back on the Miller Ridge/Tavern Branch connector trail (new construction) this Thursday. The trailhead is off of Miller Ridge Rd. Meet at the Tellico Ranger Station at 8 AM. Go to http://www.meetup.com/Cherokee-Hiking-Club-of-Southeast-Tennessee/events/159236502/ for more information.
Sunday, January 12, 2014 - Annual Hike Planning Meeting - We will meet at 2:00 p.m. in the Family Resource Agency’s conference room, as in ages past. The Family Resource Agency is located at 3680 Michigan Avenue in Cleveland, just south of Antonio's Restaurant at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Stuart Road. To get there from I-75, turn onto Exit 27 and head east on Paul Huff Parkway. Continue east; when you cross US 11/Lee Highway, Paul Huff turns into Stuart Road. Continue on Stuart Road past Jordan’s’ BBQ on the right, the large First Baptist Church on the left, and past the YMCA on the left. Go over the railroad overpass. The next intersection is Michigan Avenue. Turn right there (at Antonio’s Restaurant), and the Family Resource Agency is just a short ways down on the left. All those CHC members who are willing to lead a hike in 2014 are very encouraged to attend, as well as any members wanting to provide input to our hike planning process in a positive way. James Anderson will host the meeting. Go to our Meetup page for a map to the Family Resource Center http://www.meetup.com/Cherokee-Hiking-Club-of-Southeast-Tennessee/events/153528512/
Thursday, January 16, 2014 - Thursday Tellico Work Trip - We will be back on the Miller Ridge trail (new construction) this Thursday. The trailhead is off of Miller Ridge Rd. Meet at the Tellico Ranger Station at 8 AM. Go to http://www.meetup.com/Cherokee-Hiking-Club-of-Southeast-Tennessee/events/160618312/ for more information.
Thursday, January 23, 2014 - Thursday Tellico Work Trip - We will be back on the connector trail this week. There are plenty of “stobs” to be pulled out of the corridor yet. Those not coming to the station first, meet at Jake Best for a tailgate safety meeting before going to work site. Go to http://www.meetup.com/Cherokee-Hiking-Club-of-Southeast-Tennessee/events/161805542/ to sign up. CANCELLED due to extremely cold weather.
Saturday, January 25, 2014 - TN/NC BMT Work Trip - Worktrip leader, Bill Hodge. We will be logging out the trail from Kimsey Mtn Highway to Highway 64 (Little Frog Wilderness). We will be meeting at Thunder Rock at 9am next Saturday. We could use chainsaw (and brush cutter) help from Kimsey Highway to Dry Pond Lead. We will use cross-cuts from Dry Pond on down. I will be posting as a SAWS trip as well. Just scouted the trip today. Contact Bill Hodge for current plans at billhodge@trailcrews.org
Thursday, January 30, 2014 - Thursday Tellico Work Trip - Work this week will resume on the connector trail....keep an eye on the weather….it is supposed to be 43 or so (more like upper 30’s at the job site). If the weather does turn colder we will continue again next week. Stay tuned for updates….. Go to http://www.meetup.com/Cherokee-Hiking-Club-of-Southeast-Tennessee/events/162952632/ to sign up.
Saturday, February 1, 2014 - Mill Branch Trail - One other opportunity to help with the new trail plan for the horse trail system is on Saturday. SAWS will have a work day to start clearing a re-route of the Mill Branch Trail in the Citico Creek Wilderness. This re-route is needed to change the trail designation to dual use (hike and horse). We have two Saturday's in February planned (this Saturday and on the 15th). These two trips will be to clear the new corridor. In early March we have a group of engineering students from Michigan State coming to actually build the tread. The hike in to the project is short (less than .75 of a mile). We do need folks to register if you want to join either trip as we do have a group size limit in the Citico Creek Wilderness. Registration and meet-time information available here http://www.trailcrews.org/volunteer-opportunities/ .
Thursday, February 6, 2014 - Thursday Tellico Work Trip - This Thursday is the safety meeting and breakfast. There will also be a meeting for USFS personnel after the safety meeting. As it will be an abbreviated work day due to a later start, we will be putting up “silt” fences along some of the job site locations to reduce the amount of dirt run-off into the creeks (by direction of Forest Hydrologist). We will need chain saws also in order to cut down some trees in the tread path (side hill section). These trees can be “bucked up” and used as part of the silt fence. See you then and thank you. Go to http://www.meetup.com/Cherokee-Hiking-Club-of-Southeast-Tennessee/events/164748682/ to sign up.
Saturday, February 15, 2014 - Mill Branch Trail - This is a continuation of the Feb 1 work trip. One other opportunity to help with the new trail plan for the horse trail system is on Saturday. SAWS will have a work day to start clearing a re-route of the Mill Branch Trail in the Citico Creek Wilderness. This re-route is needed to change the trail designation to dual use (hike and horse). We have two Saturday's in February planned (this Saturday and on the 15th). These two trips will be to clear the new corridor. In early March we have a group of engineering students from Michigan State coming to actually build the tread. The hike in to the project is short (less than .75 of a mile). We do need folks to register if you want to join either trip as we do have a group size limit in the Citico Creek Wilderness. Registration and meet-time information available here http://www.trailcrews.org/volunteer-opportunities/ .
Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 - Thursday Tellico Work Trip on the Citico Horse Trails - Meet at the Tellico Ranger Station at 8 AM. We will be working on the new trail constuction between Tavern Branch and Miller Ridge.
Sunday, February 23, 2014 - TN/NC BMT Work Trip - Worktrip leader, Bill Hodge. Details TBD. Contact Bill Hodge for current plans at billhodge@trailcrews.org . Plans are to work on the Brookshire Creek section of the BMT.
Thursday, Feb 27, 2014 - Thursday Tellico Work Trip on the Citico Horse Trails - The crew will be split due to some surveys we need to conduct. The main body of volunteers will work on some trail re-alignment on the side hill portion of the trail and/or continue to cut out larger obstructions in the trail corridor. It could be wet and slick if the weather predicted comes in tomorrow.
Thursday, Mar 6, 2014 - Thursday Tellico Work Trip - No breakfast. Meet at Tellico Ranger Station at 8 AM. Brandon Corbitt is supposed to do a REFRESHER CPR and FIRST AID course which is supposed to last 1/2 day. HOWEVER, if there is a fire that he must respond to, the refresher not be held. He may not even know until Thursday AM that there is a fire. Really don't know what we'll do then. Travis is gone this week.
Thursday, March 13, 2014 - Thursday Tellico Work Trip - We will be assisting with the Conasauga Falls road clean up this Thursday. We can meet here at the Tellico Ranger Station at 0800 or at 68/Conasauga Falls Road intersection at 0900. Thanks for your help!
Thursday, March 20, 2014 - Thursday Tellico Work Trip - We are supposed to have a demonstration of the Tri-lock block system at the culvert we installed on the new trail construction. Be prepared to observe that and possibly continue the work on the new trail. Meet at Jake Best Campground along Citico Creek Road at 0900.
Sunday, March 23, 2014 - TN/NC BMT Work Trip - John Muir Trail Section - Worktrip leader, Rick Harris. Meet at 9 AM behind Skyway Visitor Center in Tellico Plains, or breakfast at 8;30 AM at Tellico Grains. Contact Rick Harris if you plan to attend at harrisri@aol.com or 423-253-6358, or if you plan to meet us at one of the work sites. We need certified chain sawyers as well as brushcutters, loppers, and hand saws.
Thursday, April 3 - Thursday Tellico Work Trip - Indian Boundary Campground Cleanup
We will be having our annual IBRA clean up day on Thursday, April 3. It will coincide with the monthly safety meeting where will go over JHA’s and other business. We will meet at the main campground fee station at 9:00am. Projects will include, but are not limited to:
Leaf blowing
For lunch, we will fix hot dogs and have simple side dishes (since we will have a big cook out for Trent the next day). We will have lunch at the pavilion around noon. There is a sign up sheet for what you would like to bring on the kitchen table.
Please bring your PPE (gloves, hard hat if you are working around sawyers, ear protection, etc.) and your hand held radios. If you need any PPE, please let me know. Be prepared to get dirty and have a good time!
Thanks!
Mary Jane
Thursday, April 10, 2014 - Tellico Work Trip - This Thursday will be the demonstration of the Trilock blocks at the Tavern/Miller connector trail new construction. NOTICE: The gentleman doing the demo is coming from Nashville so we will start later than usual. Meet at Jake Best at 10:30. I will be meeting Mr. Roark at 10 to bring him to the job site.
Thursday, April 17, 2014 - Tellico Work Trip - Citico Horse Trails - The plan is to work on the new construction. Weather for tomorrow is 65 and breezy and Thursday in the 60’s so everything should dry out. With the machinery, the plan is to push in close to the 1st switchback. We will need chainsaws, pulaski’s, rogue hoes and loppers. Thank you and see you all then! Meet at the Ranger Station at 8 AM or the Jake Best Campground at 9 AM.
Thursday, April 24, 2014 - Tellico Work Trip - Citico Horse Trails - We are planning on working on the new trail construction…hopefully it will dry out! We have pushed ahead another 50 feet or so this week, through heavy rock. We will be doing some hand work (tread building) and will also need a chain saw to clear a couple of trees encountered this week. See you then and thank you! Meet at the Ranger Station at 8 AM or the Jake Best Campground at 9 AM.
TN/NC Work Trip - April 26th - Work Trip on new Yellow Creek Trail Section - We will need an additional qualified chainsaw operator, plus at least two brushcutters, in addition to clippers and loppers. No tread maintenance , just brush clearing. We will LEAVE the McDonalds in Robbinsville at 9 AM on Saturday April 26 and travel north to the work site. Folks coming down Route 129 from Tennessee, meet at the Route 129 / Meadow Branch Road intersection just south of Tapoco Lodge at 9:30 AM. Bring eye protection, heavy gloves, loppers. Brush pants or gaiters would be a benefit, plus lunch and water. Contact Point - Dick Evans (828) 479-2503 or dick.evans@frontier.com
Thursday, May 1, 2014 - Tellico Work Trip - Citico Horse Trails - We will be on the new construction this week, after the safety meeting. The project will be cutting the backslope onto the trail we have dug in with machines. This will be all hand work so bring your rogue hoes, pulaski…whatever your favorite digging/cutting tool of choice is. Meet at the Tellico Ranger Station at 8 AM for the safety meeting.
TN/NC Work Trip - May 24th - Work Trip on new Yellow Creek Trail Section - We will need an additional qualified chainsaw operator, plus at least two brushcutters, in addition to clippers and loppers. No tread maintenance , just brush clearing. We will LEAVE the McDonalds in Robbinsville at 9 AM on Saturday April 26 and travel north to the work site. Folks coming down Route 129 from Tennessee, meet at the Route 129 / Meadow Branch Road intersection just south of Tapoco Lodge at 9:30 AM. Bring eye protection, heavy gloves, loppers. Brush pants or gaiters would be a benefit, plus lunch and water. Contact Point - Dick Evans (828) 479-2503 or dick.evans@frontier.com
Thursday May 22nd, we will be brushing out the 1/2 mile Bullet Creek Spur Trail. Weedeaters with (brushblades) and loppers will be needed. Meet at Tazz's house at 8:00 a.m. or at the trailhead at 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, May 29th, we will be doing some logging out on the Starr Mountain Equestrian System. Sawyers and swampers will be needed/appreciated. Meet at Tazz's house at 8:00 a.m.
Thursday, June 19, 2014 - Tellico Work Trip - This Thursday the work will be at the new construction area. The project will be to fill in the tread with rock where the dozer cut in the bank and then pull the berm back into the tread. Bobby will be leading this workday as I will be out of town (Ft. Benning, GA.) Meet at Jake Best at 0900.
Thursday, June 26, 2014 - Tellico Work Trip - We will be back on the new construction on the Citico Horse Trail system this Thursday. Various projects will be tackled so the crew will be divided when we meet at Jake Best at 0900. If you have tools for tread work, please bring them. See you there!
Saturday, June 28, 2014 - TN/NC BMT Work Trip - Worktrip leader, Rick Harris. Details TBD. Contact Rick Harris for current plans at harrisri@aol.com
The June 28 TN/NC BMTA Work Trip will be on the sections from Kimsey Highway to the Hiwassee River. We will work as three crews if we have enough sign up. One crew will log and brush out the section from Kimsey Highway to McFarland Road, the second crew from McFarland Road to the Lost Creek Campground, and the third crew from the Lost Creek Campground to the Hiwassee River. Plans are to meet at the store on Highway 30 junction with the Kimsey Mtn Highway, which is 4.8 miles north on Hwy 30 from US-64 on Ocoee Lake. Meet at 9 AM. Contact Rick Harris, 423-253-6358 or HarrisRi@aol.com to sign up or for questions, or sign up on Meetup at http://www.meetup.com/Cherokee-Hiking-Club-of-Southeast-Tennessee/events/189578792/. The map to the store is also on the Meetup site.
Saturday, July 12, 2014 - Saturday Tellico Work Trip - We will be working on the Henderson Mtn Trail logging and brushing out and doing some tread work. This work trip is open to the general public. Meet at the Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center in Tellico Plains at 9 AM. Contact Rick Harris in advance if you plan to attend at 423-253-6358 or HarrisRi@aol.com. Limited to 20 people.
Saturday, July 26, 2014 - TN/NC BMT Work Trip - Worktrip leader, Rick Harris, harrisri@aol.com, 423-253-6358. We will clear the Sycamore Creek section of the BMT from Whigg Meadow Road down to the Tellico Fish Hatchery. We will plan on going in from both ends with chain saw, brushcutters, loppers, and swing blades. The lower two miles of this section of the BMT will be a hike sponsored by the Tellico Wild weekend (Aug 9-10) when Tellico Plains receives its SEFTC/BMTA Trail Town designation. Meet behind the Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center in Tellico Plains at 8 AM. Please let Rick Harris know you are coming in advance.
Saturday, August 2, 2014 - TN/NC BMTA Work Trip - Mud Gap to Beech Gap along the Skyway - Steve Cartwright (section maintainer) and others plan to work on his section, logging it out and brushing the trail with swing blades and gas-powered brush cutters. Please join us. Meet at the Unicoi Crest Overlook on the Cherohala Skyway NC Mile 0.5, just over the state line, at 9 AM. Bring a daypack with food and water and bug repellant/suntan lotion. Wear long pants and sturdy boots. We will provide the tools, helmets, protective eye wear and gloves if you don't have your own. Notify Rick Harris if you plan to come at HarrisRi@aol.com or 423-253-6358 home or 513-260-1184 cell. Or sign up on Meetup at http://www.meetup.com/Cherokee-Hiking-Club-of-Southeast-Tennessee/events/197650062/.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014 - BMTA Work Trip, Section 16b - Round Top to Sledrunner Gap - This work trip, sponsored by section maintainer Kendell Hobson, is to clear the trail from Sledrunner Gap to Round Top in the "Heart of Darkness" along the ridgeline beween TN and NC. We will spot a vehicle along Copper Creek Rd on the NC side then meet at the top of Beaverdam Bald and go in from there with chain saw and brush cutters, sling blades, and loppers. We should be at the TN/NC line on the Tellico River Road about 9 AM, so those who want to meet us there, that would be fine. But let me know you are coming so we have adequate shuttle seats. This section is 2.7 miles long, but the whole trip is longer, about 4 miles. It is about 0.4 miles from Beaverdam Bald down to Sledrunner Gap, and about a mile from Round Top down to where our car will be spotted on Copper Creek Road. For the most part we will be travelling downhill. Contact Rick Harris at HarrisRi@aol.com or 423-253-6358 for questions or to sign up. Or sign up on Meetup at http://www.meetup.com/Cherokee-Hiking-Club-of-Southeast-Tennessee/events/200301292/.
Friday, August 15, 2014 - Bald River Trail - Come join us for a day along a beautiful stretch of trail paralleling the Bald River through the Bald River Wilderness near Tellico Plains as we log and brush out this trail from top to bottom. There are about 15 logs, about 5 of which are sizeable, to remove from the trail and some routine yearly brushing out needed especially in the middle of this 4.9 mile long trail. We will be using crosscut saw, hand saws, swing blades, and loppers. We will meet at the Tellico Ranger Station at 8 AM then go from there. We will probably spot cars at the falls parking area, then go to the Bald River Crossing on Bald River Road, then go downhill back to the falls. Or we may go in from both ends, meeting in the middle, depending on how many sign up for this work trip. Contact Rick Harris to sign up at HarrisRi@aol.com or 423-253-6358. Or sign up on Meetup at http://www.meetup.com/Cherokee-Hiking-Club-of-Southeast-Tennessee/events/200298742/.
Saturday, August 16, 2014 - Saturday Tellico Work Trip - The Tellico Ranger District of the Cherokee National Forest is hosting a trail work trip for Saturday August 16th to work on the Henderson Mountain Trail to improve the general condition of the trail. This will include tread repair, drainage, brushing, and possibly some logout. This trail is in the Bald River Gorge Wilderness which is a beautiful part of the Cherokee National Forest. The Henderson Mountain Trail is linked to the Cow Camp Trail and the Panther Branch Trail and make for some great hiking and backpacking loop opportunities. From those trails, hikers and backpackers can link to the Kirkland Creek and Brookshire Creek Trails as well as the Benton MacKaye Trail and the Warriors Passage Trail. We will meet at the visitor center in Tellico Plains, TN on Saturday, August 16 at 8 AM. The Tellico Ranger District can provide hard hats, gloves, safety glasses, and some tools for volunteers that do not have any. Be sure to wear long pants, sturdy boots, and bring a day pack with lunch and plenty of water (about 2-3 liters). If you are considering joining the trip or need more information, you may contact Travis Schwarzer at (teschwarzer@fs.fed.us, (423) 253-8412). Or you can sign up directly on the MeetUp page (http://www.meetup.com/Cherokee-Hiking-Club-of-Southeast-Tennessee/events/197569482/) Please note that this trip is limited to 20 participants, so sign up quickly. Looking forward to see you there.
Saturday, August 23, 2014 - TN/NC BMT Work Trip - Brookshire Creek Section - The regularly scheduled Tennessee/North Carolina Work Trip for the BMT will be held on August 23, 2014. Meeting time is 9:00AM at the Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center in Tellico Plains. This trip is also being treated as a SAWS Wild Crew Event and registration for the day is available at http://www.trailcrews.org/events/upper-bald-river-wsa-benton-mackaye-trail/ . Here is the Trip Description from the SAWS page;
Want to learn about crosscut saws and how to use them? Join SAWS for a day on the Benton MacKaye Trail for a “logging out” trip, where the crew will remove fallen trees from across the trail. Crew will use crosscut saws to cut out trees, as well as hand saws and loppers for brushing out the trail corridor. Both certified and new sawyers are welcome. We will carpool from the Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center to Sledrunner Gap and work towards Brookshire Creek. Bring a day pack, rain gear, lunch, and at least 2 liters/quarts of water. Durable, full-length pants and cut-resistant boots with ankle coverage are mandatory to comply with safety requirements. Hard hats, safety glasses, and gloves are required and will be provided. New volunteers are always welcome and our experienced staff leaders are happy to show you the ropes!
Saturday, Sept 20, 2014 - Tellico Work Trip - BMT from Unicoi Gap to Sandy Gap - We will meet behind the Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center at 8 AM, then shuttle from there to our work site. We will be working on brushing and logging out this section of the Benton MacKaye Trail and doing tread repair on the lower section closer to Unicoi Gap. If interested, please contact Travis Schwarzer at teschwarzer@fs.fed.us or at (423) 253-8412.
Saturday, September 27, 2014 - TN/NC BMT Work Trip - Beech Gap north on the Fodderstack Section - Worktrip leader, Dick Evans. Meet at the Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center at 8 AM or the Unicoi Crest Overlook on the Skyway (just past the state line into NC) at 9 AM. Those who meet at the Visitor Center will carpool to the Unicoi Crest Overlook then carpool from there to Cold Springs Gap. We will go through the FS gate at Beech Gap with our vehicles and travel 2 miles to Cold Springs Gap. 4WD vehicles are recommended. From there we will brush and log out the trail heading north, then return to our cars. We should be back at the Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center by 5 PM at the latest. Contact Dick Evans for current plans at dick.evans@frontier.com
Thursday, October 16, 2014 - Warriors Passage - A break from the usual. The work this week will be on the Warriors Passage trail. The whole trail will need brushing and logging out. Bobby Mitchell will be leading this work trip so meet him here at the Ranger Station at 0800. Chainsaws will be needed so if you are properly certified with chainsaw and first aid/CPR, bring your saw along. Thanks for clearing this trail!
Saturday, October 25, 2014 - TN/NC BMT Work Trip - Farr Gap to Slickrock Creek. Meet at the Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center in Tellico Plains at 9 AM. We will carpool to Farr Gap, then will head downhill in this wilderness area toward Slickrock Creek. Along the way we will brush and log out the trail with swingblades, loppers, and crosscut saw. We may not make it all the way to Slickrock Creek, depending on how many workers we have, but we will turn around at whatever time we need to in order to get back to the parking lot by 4 PM. Bring plenty of water or a method of sterilizing water along with your lunch. Also bring gloves, helmet, safety glasses if you have them and wear boots and long pants. We will have loner helmets, gloves and safety glasses. To sign up, contact Rick Harris at HarrisRi@aol.com or 423-253-6358 (home) or 513-260-1184 (cell)
Saturday, November 29, 2014 - TN/NC BMT Work Trip - Worktrip leader, Tracy Sheffield.