Benton MacKaye Trail Assn.

Benton MacKaye
Trail Assn.

Annual Meeting

"...leaving a footpath for generations to follow."

BMTA's 30th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Meeting
Saturday, November 6: 5PM Social Hour; 6PM Dinner; 8PM Annual Meeting
Cherry Log, Georgia

Pre-Register NOW!

The 2010 Annual Meeting of the Benton MacKaye Trail Association will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2010 at the former (not the current) location of the Cherry Log Christian Church in Cherry Log, Georgia. The meeting location is just off Highway 515, near Mile Marker 21 in Cherry Log and is right beside the location where the Benton MacKaye Trail crosses that highway. Signs will be posted for the event. Cherry Log, Georgia, is between Blue Ridge and Ellijay, Georgia, about 90 minutes from Atlanta.

Events for during the day, on Saturday, November 6

Festivities will start early that morning with a series of hikes listed below, including a Memorial Hike for George Haney, long time trail maintainer and supporter, who recently passed away. Other hikes are being planned and a final detailed list will be available closer to the annual meeting. In the afternoon, an orientation on Leave-No-Trace techniques for hikers and backpackers will be given by Christine Hoyer of the National Park Service. Also Travis Crouch, of North Georgia Mountain Outfitters in Ellijay, will do a presentation on backpacking equipment for both beginners and experienced hikers. Travis, an AT Thru-Hiker, offers a wealth of experience on equipment. At 5PM, there will be a Social Hour in the Fellowship Hall with the Casey Dillard Band playing bluegrass music. 6PM is Dinner. At 7:30PM, an informative and entertaining history of the first 30 years of the BMTA will be presented. At 8PM, President Ralph Heller will gavel the start of the Annual Meeting, with special recognition of several organizations and individuals who have been instrumental in the creation of the Trail, followed by the Annual Election of BMTA Officers.

BMTA Annual Meeting Hikes, November 5-7, 2010

MEETING PLACE: All hikes will depart from the parking lot of the old Cherry Log Christian Church several miles south of Blue Ridge at the Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT henceforth) crossing where the 2010 BMTA 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting is being held. Each time listed is departure time; we suggest being there 15 minutes before. (Time Change: Note that for the Sunday hike Daylight Saving Time ends, giving you an extra hour in the morning.)

Friday, Nov. 5 – Springer Mountain to 1st Cross Trails & Return, BMT-AT Loop,
4.7 Miles, Moderate; Departure Time from Church – 12:30 p.m.
Leader: George Owen
This hike from the Springer Mountain parking lot first leads us to Springer’s summit, the southern terminus of both the Benton MacKaye and Appalachian trails. Atop Springer we will enjoy the rocky northwest vista of several mountain ranges, visit the shelter and campsites, pause at the Benton MacKaye plaque, and travel on down the Benton MacKaye Trail to a lovely south-facing vista, and eventually return to our vehicles. Dinner afterwards will be at the Pink Pig or some restaurant in Blue Ridge.

Saturday, Nov. 6 – Three Hikes

Hike A – BMT from Fall Branch Falls to Weaver Creek Road, 6.1 Miles, Moderately Strenuous, Departure Time from Church – 9:00 a.m.
Leader: Ralph Heller
Begin the trip with a beautiful waterfall on the trail. Most of your trip’s climbs will be in the morning. High on Rocky Mountain things change; you here begin mostly downhills. Catch occasional glimpses of Lake Blue Ridge and the far mountains. Early afternoon complete the trip with a long but fairly gracious downhill off Scroggin Knob. Modest shuttle of several miles involved. Not recommended for beginners.

Hike B - Memorial Hike for George Haney - Sections of BMT on Lower Scroggin Knob and on Sisson Property, 3.0-4.5 miles, Easy to Moderate, Departure Time from Ghurch - 9:00 a.m.
Leaders: Claire Broadwell, Darcy Douglas, George Owen
This hike open to everyone memorializes one of our long-time members and maintainer, George Haney. Members of his family are expected to join us for this event. A short distance from Weaver Creek Rd. on the BMT we will sit in a lovely place on this section George Haney use to maintain here, and we share fond remembrances of him, led by Claire, Darcy, and George Owen. Then we will also quickly shuttle to the BMT on the Sisson property to visit a delightful cove little falls, a lovely chapel on a lake, and the only BMT shelter south of the Smokies.

Hike C - Hwy. 60 Across Toonowee Mountain to the Impressive Toccoa River Suspension Bridge and Return - 7.0 or 7.2 miles, Moderately Difficult, Departure Time from Church - 9:00 a.m.
Leader: Richard Sullivan
This is one of the two most popular hikes on the BMT in Georgia by the general public. About one-third of it is along the ridgetop of Toonowee Mountain. The 260-ft. suspension bridge is one of the longest trail bridges across a river on public land in the East. Elevation gain is ca. 800 ft. going in; ca. 900 returning over the mountain. Round trip is 7.0 or 7.2, depending on whether you choose to come back over the mountain or on Forest Service Road 816. Moderately difficult - not recommended for beginners.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR SATURDAY: There will be rooms at the church where our annual meeting this evening is being held that hikers can use to change clothes and also use the restrooms to freshen up. All hikes are scheduled to be back at the church well before the afternoon workshops.

Sunday, Nov. 7 – Watson Gap to Dyer Gap, 4.5 or 5.0 Miles, Moderate, Departure Time from Church – 9:00 a.m. Leader: Shirley Banks
Enjoy 1.6 miles of walking along above the Jacks River amid towering hemlocks, pines, and other trees. There is an option to see a modest waterfall a half-mile roundtrip off the BMT on the South Fork Trail. You will also meet the northern terminus of the Pinhoti Trail coming into the BMT from Alabama. All in all it’s a lovely walk at a relaxed pace. Some time will be spent with a shuttle of 8 miles roundtrip. Be sure to bring snacks on this hike.

SOME HIKE TIPS: Bring a light lunch on Saturday. Wear hiking boots or sturdy shoes. Have rain gear. Cooler weather will be upon us, so bring extra clothing for layers of addition for your warmth if needed. Always have water. Bring a warm, enthusiastic attitude. Fall color should still be with us on many trees and bushes, so enjoy…and bring your camera. …AND…While not absolutely required, it would help our leaders better plan if you would register with me (George Owen) for the trips you plan to attend and if you can furnish a vehicle for transportation for four or more people on shuttles. Register at: email (gowen2 at tds dot net)

30th Anniversary Dinner

Again this year, Chef Nancy Blackadar of "In Sister's Kitchen" will be preparing the meal. Pre-Registration is required for the meal. Make your Reservations NOW! Sign up on-line by using your credit card through Pay Pal.

Choices include:

Hearty Lasagna - Lean ground beef, lots of cheese, and tomato sauce
Eggplant Involtini - Sautéed eggplant wrapped around ricotta, pine nuts, mint & golden raisins, topped with a tomato sauce and parmesan cheese (Gluten-Free and a vegan meal, but not dairy free)
Side dishes and Apple Crisp desert are included with both choices.

To pre-register, choose a meal and add the name of the attendee. The meal cost is $20 for Adults and $10 for under 12 years old. Do this as many times as you have people attending, adding each one to your shopping cart. If you prefer to pay by check, just send us a form with your meal choices and mail it to the Atlanta Post Office Box address.

BMTA
PO Box 53271
Atlanta, GA 30355-1271

Preregistration ends on October 22nd. After that date, you are welcome to attend, but we cannot guarantee a meal for you.

Commemorative "Polo" Shirt

To commemorate the 30th Anniversary, a "Polo" type shirt, in dark green with a special 30th Anniversary logo, is available when you pre-register. It is a cotton, non-wicking material, and is not meant as a "trail" shirt. This will only be available through pre-registration. It will not be sold on the website or at the event. Choose the size and add the name of the person on Pay Pal link below. Payment can also be made by check, send us a form with your size(s) and mail to the Atlanta Post Office Box address listed above.

Annual Memberships

We can now take credit cards for Annual Memberships! This is a great time to renew for 2011. Or, you may send dues, by check, to the Atlanta Post Office Box address listed above.

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