TN/NC BMTA WORK TRIP: BMT Section 12e - White Oak Flats Road (FS 103) near Lost Creek Campground to near Reliance (Total distance about 4.0 miles, but only about 2.7 miles will require maintenance).  We will go in from the White Oak Flats Road trail crossing near Lost Creek Campground and log out and cut brush to standards with chain saws and gas-powered brush cutters as far down the trail as possible, hopefully all the way to the point where we meet the forest service road near Reliance, a distance of about 2.7 miles.  The first 0.3 miles along White Oak Flats Road and the last mile along FS 173 will not require any work since it follows a roadbed which is kept clear for vehicles.  Much of this section is on an old unmaintained roadbed along the banks of Lost Creek which horse riders often help clear out for their use, so we should be able to make it all the way through.  We will end our day at the maintained forest service road 173 near Reliance where we will have shuttle cars parked.

MEETING LOCATION:  We will meet at the railroad trestle by the canoe livery in Reliance at 8 AM and park some cars as far up FS 173 as we can go, then shuttle to the Lost Creek Campground on White Oak Flats Road, arriving there about 9 AM.  We may be able to have some people meet us at the Lost Creek Campground at 9AM without first going to Reliance.  We will work this out once we know who is coming.

LEADER:  Rick Harris, 423-253-6358 (home); 513-260-1184 (cell).  Please notify Rick in advance of the work trip of your plans to come and what tools you will be bringing.  This section does not have a maintainer.. Once this section is cleaned up, it would be great if someone volunteered to take responsibility for it.

BMT (GA) Spring Flowers Day-hike:  Falls Branch and Rich Mountain Cove
Rating:  Moderate
Distance:  5-6 miles
Leaders:  Tom and Jane Keene
Max # hikers: 10

We will meet at 10am near Blue Ridge, then carpool to the Stanley Gap Trailhead, arriving about 10:30am.  Then we hike into the Rich Mountain Wilderness and down a beautiful cove, winding up at the Falls Branch Falls on BMT Section Six for lunch.  After a leisurely lunch by the falls we continue on BMT Section Six to the junction with the Stanley Gap trail and then down to the trailhead parking.

To reserve a spot in this award-winning hike, call 770-422-4838, or (after 3pm Friday the day before) 770-722-6016.

TN/NC BMTA WORK TRIP: BMT Section 16b - Sledrunner Gap to Roundtop.  We will log and brush out this 2.7 mile section of trail in the Heart of Darkness over this two day worktrip which is a combined worktrip of the TN/NC and the GA work crews.  This is an area on a ridgeline mostly on the TN/NC state line which is desperately in need of maintenance.  We will spend the night at Rick and Brenda Harris's home just off the Cherohala Skyway, just a few miles from Beaverdam Bald, the access point for Sledrunner Gap. Supper and breakfast will be provided.  When we run out of beds, we will use sleeping bags on their floor.  So bring a sleeping bag and pad, just in case.

MEETING LOCATION:  We will meet at the Tellico Ranger Station about 9AM on both Saturday and Sunday. The BMTA tools are kept in a shed at the Ranger Station. The ranger station is off Tellico River Road about 3/4 mile past where the Tellico River Road leaves the Cherohala Skyway at mile post 5.

LEADER:  Rick Harris, 423-253-6358 (home); 513-260-1184 (cell). This section does not have a section maintainer. Once the trail is fixed up, it would be great is someone volunteered to take responsibility for this section. Please notify Rick in advance of the work trip of your plans to come, what days you plan to work, and what tools you will be bringing. Also let Rick know if you plan to spend the night at his house.

GEORGIA WORK TRIP: (Canceled due to inclement weather)

BMT (GA) Fall Color Dayhike: Dally Gap to the Jacks River 
Saturday 17 October 2009

Rating:  Easy to Moderate (your choice) 
Distance:  5-6 miles 
Leader:  Tom Keene 
Co-leader:  Jane Keene 
 
We will meet at 10 am near Blue Ridge, then carpool to Dally Gap, arriving about 11am.  Then we hike up a mile up Hemp Top Trail to Spanish Oak Gap and the intersection with the BMT.  We go south on the BMT 1.4 miles to the junction with the Jacks River Trail (JRT).  Then we turn right on the JRT and follow it about a mile and a half to the river. We will walk along the river until we agree on a lunch spot.  The peak fall color in north Georgia can occur between the second and fourth week in October.  Here’s hoping…. 
 
We will do a leisurely lunch.  Hang out; explore a little.  Bring the Tevas/Crocs and a walking stick if you want to ford the Jacks River.  The fording party will go down river perhaps a half mile before an about face. Once back to the crossing spot the River Forders will awaken the Dry Feet from their post-lunch naps and follow the JRT back up to Dally Gap.  

To reserve a spot in this award winning hike, call 770-422-4838, or (after 3pm Friday the day before) 770-722-6016. 
 
Max # hikers: 10           Sign up NOW!

TN/NC Worktrip:Section 13d-13e - Towee Creek to Coker Creek on the John Muir Trail

Meet at 9AM at the Towee Creek Trailhead along the Hiwassee River in the back parking lot. Some will work from Towee Creek toward Coker Creek and others will shuttle to Coker Creek at FR 228 and work toward Towee Creek. We all will be brushing out the trail and meet at the center. There are also a few trees to log out near the Towee Creek end of the trail. Also, we may need to touch up some of the blazes near Coker Creek. Contact Rick Harris at 423-253-6358 (home), 513-260-1184 (cell) or HarrisRi @ aol.com.

It’s a fairly light work trip – great winter views!

This should be a rather pleasant trip, and the one that marks my first as new BMTA Georgia maintenance director.

We will meet at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 12, for breakfast at the Waffle House in Ellijay. Note: I said Waffle House, NOT Waffle King where we used to meet and which recently closed. The Waffle House is across Hwy. 515, at the turn where Burger King is prominent. Other options: Skip breakfast and join us at the Waffle House at 8:30, or be at Bushy Head Gap at 9:00.

We will be working west of Hudson Gap primarily to a bit past Hatley Gap, mainly improving parts of a couple sidehills. There will also be some paint blazing to do, some of it going on out to Fowler Mountain (painting only).

Our plan is to stop by mid-afternoon as usual, with the trek back to the cars and then homeward. Those with time available are invited to join me at the Pink Pig.

Come one, come all. This would be a wonderful time for new members to become better acquainted with the trail and some of our maintenance procedures.

Ever Thought of Having Your Own Trail Section?

Well, it’s the next best thing to owning a piece of the national forest.

Currently there are only three sections of the Benton MacKaye Trail in Georgia available. I will be glad to give you the brief training for maintenance at your convenience, or have one of my designated experts do this – or just come on two-three regular second-Saturday maintenance trips, and then you can take your section. Contact me, George Owen, if interested.