The Unicoi Crest above Tellico Plains

 

Cherokee Hiking Club
198 Crews Drive, Benton, TN 373
07

 

 

 


Bald River Falls

 

Using a crosscut saw in the Citico Wilderness

 

Trail Maintenance
Projects

2017

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 or 2014 or 2015 or 2016

Tellico Ranger District Worktrips
Benton MacKaye Trail Worktrips
Other Worktrips

 

January

Every Thurs - Tellico Trail Work Trips. See Tellico Ranger District Worktrips Facebook page

Sat, Jan 28, 2017 - TN/NC BMTA Maintenance Trip - Section 15c - Sandy Gap to Six Mile Gap
For the first work trip in 2017 on the 28th, we will be working in the Tellico Ranger District on BMT Section 15c, Sandy Gap to Sixmile Gap. This section currently has no one assigned as a maintainer, and must be brushed out in the winter to protect a plant, the ash-leaved bush-pea. This is a section that has beautiful views in the winter, and runs along a knife edge ridge for parts of the 2 mile section. Portions of this section are outside wilderness with other portions inside wilderness, and we will plan to brush out and log out as much of the section as we can. We will be meeting at the Coker Creek Visitor Center, at the intersection of Joe Brown Highway and Highway 68, at 8:30 am to make the 45 minute drive to Sandy Gap to start our work. Be sure to bring at least 2 quarts of water, lunch, and wear sturdy boots and long pants. Please let me know if you plan to attend so that I can plan the work and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Thanks, Ken 423-506-8182

February

Saturday, Feb 25 - TN/NC BMTA Work Trip - Section 12c - Kimsey Hwy to McFarland Rd - For our February work trip, we will be working in the Ocoee Ranger District on BMT Section 12c, Kimsey Highway crossing to McFarland Road. This section was not brushed out last year, so we can certainly make a difference for the spring hikers. I will also bring my chainsaw to log out blow downs along the way. This section is 2.4 miles long, and we will use a short shuttle to maximize our work time. Since it is difficult to give directions to the section trailheads for  people that have not been there before, we will meet at 8:30 am at the Clemmer Bike Trail Parking Area. When you turn off US 64 onto Highway 30, this parking area will be the first road on your left after about 0.1 miles. Be sure to bring at least 2 quarts of water, lunch, and wear sturdy boots and long pants. Please let me know if you plan to attend so that I can plan the work and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Thanks, Ken, 423-506-8128

March

Sat, March 25 - TN/NC BMTA Work trip - Section 12c - Kimsey Hwy to McFarland Rd - For our March work trip, we will be continuing our work on Section 12c. This is the section from Kimsey Highway crossing to McFarland Road that we brushed out and logged out in February. For this month's work trip we will be digging in the dirt, fixing the switchbacks and widening the tread in spots. We will be meeting at 8:30 am at the Clemmer Bike Trail Parking Area, the same meeting spot as our February trip. When you turn off US 64 onto Highway 30, this parking area will be the first road on your left after about 0.1 miles. Be sure to bring at least 2 quarts of water, lunch, and wear sturdy boots and long pants. Please let me know if you plan to attend so that I can plan the work and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).Thanks, Ken, w4zug at windstream dot net

April

Saturday, April 29 - TN/NC BMTA Maintenance Work Trip - For our April Monthly work trip, we will be working on Section 12d (McFarland Road to Lost Creek Campground). The total distance for this section is 3.9 miles, with 1.3 miles on a gated wildlife road. We will be concentrating on brushing out this section, as I hope to have it logged out prior to the work trip. We will be using sling blades, loppers, and brush cutters. We will be meeting at 8:30 am at the Clemmer Bike Trail Parking Area, the same meeting spot as our March trip. When you turn off US 64 onto Highway 30, this parking area will be the first road on your left after about 0.1 miles. Be sure to bring at least 2 quarts of water, lunch, and wear sturdy boots and long pants. Please let me know if you plan to attend so that I can plan the work and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Thanks, Ken Jones, w4zug at windstream dot net, 423-506-8128

May

 

June

6/24 - Saturday - June 24 Work Day, brushing out BMT Section 17c, Tellico Ranger District from Mud Gap to Whigg Meadow. High elevation with great views and some relief from hot weather. Bring at least 2 Quarts of Water, lunch, and wear long pants and sturdy boots. Register with Ken Jones, TN Maintenance Dir. so he can plan the work and personal protective equipment: w4zug AT windstream dot net or 423-506-8128. Meet at Cherohala Visitor Ctr. Non-members welcome!

July

7/22 - Saturday - Join us on the TN/NC July 22nd work trip! Non-members welcome. We will be brushing out BMT Section 17d (Cheoah Ranger District) between Mud Gap and Beech Gap. This section parallels the Cherohala Skyway, passing by the grave of an unknown man who was killed by the Kirkland bushwhackers, a rock quarry converted to a wildlife clearing, and runs close to the state line between North Carolina and Tennessee. This trip will again be at high elevation, so we may get a little relief ...from the summer weather in the valleys.
We will be meeting at the Cherohala Visitor Center in Tellico Plains at 8:30 am or the Unicoi Crest Overlook near Beech Gap at 9 am. Be sure to bring at least 2 quarts of water, lunch, and wear sturdy boots and long pants. If you plan to attend, please contact Ken Jones, TN/NC Maintenance Director so that he can plan the work and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
423-506-8128

August

8/26 - Saturday - For our August 26th work trip, we will be brushing out Section 12b in the Ocoee District. This section is 2.7 miles long, and about equally split between wilderness and non-wilderness. We will plan to start the work trip from Deep Gap and work both ways if we have enough people for two work crews and leaders. We will be meeting at 8:30 am at the Clemmer Bike Trail Parking Area. When you turn off US 64 onto Highway 30, this parking area will be the first road on your left after about 0.1 miles. Be sure to bring at least 2 quarts of water, lunch, and wear sturdy boots and long pants. Please let me know if you plan to attend so that I can plan the work and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).Thanks,Ken w4zug@windstream.net

September

9/23 - Saturday - BMTA TN/NC Work Trip - Sections 17a/b - For the September 23rd work trip, we will be brushing and logging out BMT Sections 17a & b, Sycamore Creek Trail, in the Tellico Ranger District. This is always a big effort to complete all 6 miles of the trail, so we need your help. The trail is routed on an old railroad grade that was later converted to a road. The road was closed in the late 1980s. The upper 1.5 miles of the trail has been lately improved for TWRA access to Sycamore Creek, so we should not have any maintenance to do on this portion. We will be meeting at the Cherohala Visitor Center at 8:30 am. . Be sure to bring at least 2 quarts of water, lunch, and wear sturdy boots and long pants. Please let me know if you plan to attend so that I can plan the work and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Thanks,Ken, w4zug at windstream dot net

October

 

.November

11/16 - Thursday - Tellico Work Trip - Rocky Flats Trail in Citico Wilderness. Meet at the Ranger Station at 8 AM. Bring lunch and water and wear sturdy boots and long pants. If questions, contact Rick Harris at HarrisRi@aol.com

11/23 - Thursday - Tellico Work Trip - Rocky Flats Trail in Citico Wilderness. Meet at the Ranger Station at 8 AM. Bring lunch and water and wear sturdy boots and long pants. If questions, contact Rick Harris at HarrisRi@aol.com

11/30 - Thursday - Tellico Work Trip - Rocky Flats Trail in Citico Wilderness. Meet at the Ranger Station at 8 AM. Bring lunch and water and wear sturdy boots and long pants. If questions, contact Rick Harris at HarrisRi@aol.com

December

12/7 - Thursday - Tellico Work Trip - Rocky Flats Trail in Citico Wilderness. Meet at the Ranger Station at 8 AM. Bring lunch and water and wear sturdy boots and long pants. We will finish logging out the trail and be doing treadwork. If questions, contact Rick Harris at HarrisRi@aol.com

12/14 - Thursday - Tellico Work Trip - Rocky Flats Trail in Citico Wilderness and Bald River Trail in the Bald River Wilderness. We will be doing treadwork on the Rocky Flats Trail and logging out the Bald River Trail. Meet at the Ranger Station at 8 AM. Bring lunch and water and wear sturdy boots and long pants. If questions, contact Rick Harris at HarrisRi@aol.com

12/21 - Thursday - Tellico Work Trip - Rocky Flats Trail and Fodderstack Trail in Citico Wilderness. Meet at the Ranger Station at 8 AM. Bring lunch and water and wear sturdy boots and long pants. We will be doing tread work on the Rocky Flats Trail and logging out the Fodderstack Trail. Wear warm clothes, boots, gloves, eye protection. Bring water and a lunch. We can provide tools.. If questions, contact Rick Harris at HarrisRi@aol.com

12/28 - Thursday - Tellico Work Trip - Rocky Flats Trail and Fodderstack Trail in Citico Wilderness. Meet at the Ranger Station at 8 AM. Bring lunch and water and wear sturdy boots and long pants. We will be doing tread work on the Rocky Flats Trail and logging out the Fodderstack Trail. Wear warm clothes, boots, gloves, eye protection. Bring water and a lunch. We can provide tools.. If questions, contact Rick Harris at HarrisRi@aol.com