Tennessee Eastman Hiking Canoeing Club Supporting hiking and canoeing in the North East Tennessee

Time 2020-12-15 21:04:50

Web Name: Tennessee Eastman Hiking Canoeing Club Supporting hiking and canoeing in the North East Tennessee

WebSite: http://tehcc.org

ID:135322

Keywords:

Club,Supporting,hiking,

Description:

Aligning with guidance from our partner organizations and employer, the following actions are being taken in response to the current situation for the coronavirus. If the principles of social distancing and wearing of face masks in public spaces are being properly followed along with avoiding hot spot areas, the risk of contracting COVID-19 is still considered to be moderately low in our region. Tennessee and North Carolina plus the Appalachian Trail Conservancy are in Phase 2 of their respective plans for reopening activity. Virginia has remains in Phase 3 plan with some restrictions.Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) reminds users of the A.T. to remain safe with several recommendations found in this blog post. 7/8: Cherokee NF notice: The Appalachian Trail is open, however trail shelters and privies are temporarily shut down .7/14: Pisgah NF has closed the A.T. shelters (Stan Murray and Overmountain) link to order – latter was already closed due to structural damage. While the order says through July 8, PNF still considers these facilities to be closed. ATC advises: Overnight hikers should carry a personal shelter and camp at least 200 feet from any source of water and 100 feet from the trail. Also, bring a trowel to bury your fecal waste at least 70 adult paces from campsites and water sources.Pisgah (NC) and Cherokee (TN) National Forests are now allowing volunteers with restrictions under Phase 2 to complete maintenance and repair.  TEHCC has interpreted these conditions include limiting crew size, only travel with immediate family, not sharing tools, wash hands or use sanitizer frequently especially before eating, and maintaining 6 social distancing in the field.  Do no maintenance at the closed shelters and privy, including nearby trash pick-up. Regular Thursday maintenance crew is operating but with just 8-10 crew members arranged by the A.T. Projects Coordinator.Saturday Hiking with Tools has wrapped for the winter. Will hopefully resume on second Saturdays starting in March.Overall, the A.T. section managed by TEHCC is clear and open. 12/8 update: CNF has paused all chainsaw use in the eastern Tennessee forest until further notice to ensure emergency services are available.Present understanding is that day hikers are allowed on area trails but keeping group size to a minimum with less carpooling. Take hand sanitizer to use liberally.Bays Mountain Park (Kingsport) is open. Nature Center and some programming resumed with limited capacity. Trails in Cherokee National Forest are open for use, but ranger stations are closed. Trails in TN state parks are open for use, but some park facilities remain closed. Virginia State Parks opened for day-use activities, including trails for hiking, biking and equestrian use. Campgrounds, restrooms, and picnic shelters are open. Face coverings are required in all park facilities. Bring cash for entrance fees which are being collected.In all cases, maintain social distancing of at least six feet. If parking area is full, head somewhere else. There are much lesser used access points and trails in the region. Eastman Recreation says club rental backpacking and camping equipment may be checked out from Building 310. Their open hours are 7:30am to 4pm weekdays. Good use has been reported, thus recommend making reservations at (423) 229-3771.Tuesday Evenings: Johnson City Roll Practice are suspended as Freedom Hall Pool is closed.Thursday Evenings: Kayak Sessions are not being held as Kingsport Aquatic Center is also closed until further notice. USFS has reopened most river launch sites. Outfitters are offering trips with limited number of same family in each raft.A hiker who stayed at the shelter on July 6th said a large black bear camefour times during the night. A temporary sign has been posted to say to not camp at Iron Mountain Shelter. This encounter has been reported to ATC.Please take necessary precautions to limit risk of encountering a bear,  Hikers should camp 200 feet away from where their food and “smellables” are stored for their own safety. For most adults, 200 feet is about 80 steps.  Bear canisters should be sealed correctly and not stored in shelters. (Certified list)  Proper use for Ursacks are to tie securely to the trunk of a tree.  (Link to their How to Use page) For more information about bear safety, scroll down ATC s safety page. Video for PCT Method for hanging your food. March 13 Update:  Lake and river levels have returned to normal thus reroutes no longer required.  Signs have been taken down.Two sections of the Appalachian Trail have been temporarily rerouted due to the recent heavy rains.First, Watauga Lake (TVA level info) is 1965 on 2/14 morning which is above 1961 trigger for rerouting. Trail bridges are flooded so the trail will temporarily follow the blue blaze path along US 321 and Oliver Hollow Road. If heading trail north on Shook Branch Road, cross US 321 and walk left or west along US 321 for about a quarter mile and then go right along Oliver Hollow Rd. Follow the road for a third of a mile and take the short woods path to the right back to the A.T. If lake level continues to rise, some sections of the trail north of Oliver Hollow Road will also be under water.Second is for Laurel Fork Gorge as the ledge along the stream is fully under water, so the A.T. will follow the High Water Trail. Signs have been posted. Ted Malone is being honored for having been an Appalachian Trail maintainer for more than 25 years. He was the club’s Hiker of the Year in 1990, and with the Stan Murray awardee in 1993. A review of the club’s records shows that the AT maintenance hours and number of volunteers increased significantly in the mid 1990’s due to his leadership as maintenance recruiter. The records also show that he has over 1,100 hours as a volunteer on the AT. We will honor Ted with a plaque to celebrate his 25 years at the next dinner meeting.Dale reports that he completed the Appalachian Trail on 9/10/2019 in Gorham, NC.  More stories to be shared once he returns to Tennessee.US Forest Service announced (News Release)that for public safety, the Overmountain Shelter (aka Yellow Mountain barn) has been closed pending further evaluation of options for the structure and site management. Tent camping in the area is still allowed (and the privy remains open!). No timeline has been set for the review and decision. The situation with the barn has been discussed and monitored for several years. Damage observed for a key support beam triggered the closure action. Arden PletzerBenjamin PruettKristin SmithJames SaucierSarah CoulsonKelsey BaileyJacob ReynoldsLexi KloeppelIan KilcoyneTami GentryDavid GylesTerry ShawNC Appalachian RangerDistrict shared an injury report from mid-July with the club to bring attentionto this severe weather hazard. Two couples, one with a small baby,walking across the open balds on the Appalachian Trail across the RoanHighlands were indirectly hit by lightning. The bolt was described as afireball coming towards them through the water flooding the trail path during aheavy thundershower. The young mother apparently got the brunt of thelightning jolt which catapulted her two to four feet into air. Thelightning strike numbed their feet temporarily with blood circulation graduallyreturning to their extremities. While all victims were able tosubsequently walk, the mother also exhibited some signs of shock. Thegroup was led back to the Carvers Gap parking lot but was scared by any furtherthunder in the distance.weather that day was scattered thundershowers. The group had hiked outonto the open balds during sunshine, but a passing front quickly changed thesituation. Awareness of any forecast for thunderstorms should change yourplans especially for trails in the elevated areas common in our region.If thunder is heard, immediately seek safe shelter which is likely yourvehicle back at the trailhead, even if your weather is currently good sincelightning can strike many miles away from the storm. Stay sheltered forat least 30 minutes after you heard the last clap of thunder. Ifunable to safely reach your vehicle, seek lower elevation away from tall and/orisolated trees. Being alert regarding the weather to take appropriateactions is the best safety approach.Note: The August 17th hike on A.T. from Tanyard Gap to Rich Mountain Firetower was rescheduled from original June date due to prediction of thunderstorms.  Who wants to be in a metal box raised high above a ridgeline in a lightning storm?

TAGS:Club Supporting hiking 

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