Benton MacKaye Trail Assn. - 2005 Activities Calendar

Benton MacKaye
Trail Assn.

2005 Activities Calendar

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

2005 Activities History

The recording of scheduled events for online reference began in the latter half of 2005, shortly before the launch of the new (current) website. For this reason, the listing below starts in July.

Convention for Scheduling Work trips

The BMT route was first opened from end-to-end in 2005. Before this time, regular monthly work trips were scheduled only south of US Hwy 64 (mostly in Georgia) on the second Saturday of each month. But starting in 2005, second Saturdays were used for work trips in Tennessee/North Carolina and Georgia work trips were moved to fourth Saturdays.

A History of Openness

The BMTA has always welcomed everyone on every activity.

The Year 2005 Events
Month	Date	Location & Details

July	July 9	Tennessee Work Trip: Beech Gap to Whigg Meadow off the Cherohala Skyway. This trip is to clear and dress up the trail through Mud Gap for the hikes that are part of the Trail Grand Opening Celebration the following weekend. Brushing and clearing the path should be all that's required for work. Meet at the Mud Gap trailhead at 10:00 AM. Contact trip leader Dick Evans, 828-479-2503, or email if you plan to go or for possible carpool arrangements. Co-leader is Mike Harwood.
	July 16-17	See BMT Grand Opening Celebration page for details.
	July 23	Georgia Work Trip: This is a joint trip with the Forest Service and Cohutta Wilderness Area volunteers. On Section Ten, (Section Eleven in Homan’s guide) from Spanish Oak Gap to Hemp Top Mountain. Great hot weather trip; we’ll be mostly over 3000’ and enjoying those ridgeline breezes. Mostly swingblade work. We meet at the Village Restaurant in Blue Ridge at 7:30AM. Note the time; it’s thirty (30) minutes earlier than usual. We must depart the restaurant at 8:30AM sharp to keep our rendezvous with the Forest Service group. Trailhead meeting at Dally Gap at 8:50 AM. Trip leader is Bill Ross at 706-602-4486 or by email. See you there!
August	August 13	Annual Walk-thru: This will be the first time in BMTA history that we will try to walk 293 miles of trail in one day. If you would like to hike a section in: • Georgia, please contact Tom Keene, 770-422-4838, or email • Tennessee or North Carolina, contact Bill Ristom, 423-476-2945, or email • Smokies, contact Dick Evans, 828-479-2503, or email Hikers are asked to report on trail conditions and hazards; brush, treadway, blowdowns, etc. This helps Maintenance Directors target work trips and lets Section Maintainers know what needs doing. All are invited as we try to cover the whole trail in a single day.
	August 20	Fun Hike: Please join us to hike from Fall Branch to Weaver Creek road and back on Section 6. There is water at the beginning, end, and during lunch for this hot August day. Remember to bring plenty of drinking water, a lunch, rain gear, and to wear comfortable shoes. Long pants are advised this time of year. Please join us - call Darcy Douglas to get details regarding times and meeting place, 404-497-0818.
September	September 10	Tennessee Work Trip: Unlike much of the trail in TN/NC, this location has easy access with work starting just a short distance from trailhead parking at Farr Gap. We'll attempt to repair the sidehilled trail going north (east) which has been badly damaged by years of (illegal) horse use. With enough help, we'll make it all the way to the wilderness boundary, about 0.4 mi. Cool temps in the higher elevations should make this a great late Summer outing. Possible carpool arrangements from Ducktown, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Etowah, Maryville or Tellico Plains. If you would like to lead this work trip or for info., call Bill Ristom, 423-476-2945 or email.
	September 17	Fun Hike in Tennessee: This third Saturday hike, one of our new fun trek series, will give you a chance to visit two new trails in Tennessee. Both are off TN Hwy 68, north of the Hiwassee River and total hike length will be a little over seven miles. We will begin on our own beloved new Benton MacKaye Trail where it crosses Hwy. 68 and proceed northward several miles to Unicoi Gap. Then we will come down the new Unicoi Turnpike Trail, that our association also helped build, to a parking lot on Joe Brown Highway off 68. There will be a short shuttle involved in this hike. Afterwards there will be an opportunity to complete the day by driving up to Buck Bald for a tri-state view, including part of the route of the BMT across the area. Meet for breakfast at 8:00 a.m. at the Ducktown Hardees, crossing of TN 68 and U.S. 64. Leave from there no later than 8:40. If coming from the north on 68, meet at where the BMT crosses TN 68 by 9:00. NO pre-registration is required, just come! For additional information, contact George Owen, (706) 374-4716 or email.
	September 24	Georgia Work Trip: From Bushy Head Gap to Hudson Gap on beautiful Section Eight. We will refresh some side-hilling, install some water diversions, and do some swing-blade work. Something for everyone! We meet at the East Ellijay (not Blue Ridge) Waffle King at 8:00 AM. Or meet at the Bushy Head Gap trailhead at 9:15 AM. Trip leader is Tony Oldfield, 770-939-7906, or email.
October	October 8	Tennessee/North Carolina Work Trip / Carcamp / Backpack: This work trip has been changed to 'unofficial' status. Some BMTA volunteers will reportedly be working out of Sandy Gap, mostly using weedeaters. For information, send an inquiry.
	October 15	Anniversary Hike and Breakfast: Join us early on the day of our October 15th, 25th Anniversary Dinner for a delightful moderate hike close to Blue Ridge. We'll leave at 9:00 AM from the parking lot of the Appalachian State Bank Community Center next to the CVS Pharmacy on Highway 76 in Blue Ridge. It will be several miles long, and will be on part of the Benton MacKaye Trail in the Rich Mountain Range just south of town. The trek is scheduled to conclude before 1:00 PM, with time and places provided to change into your clothing for the big anniversary event later that afternoon. There is NO pre-registration required for this hike - just show up! Those so desiring can meet with others from the BMTA for breakfast at the Village Restaurant in the shopping center at the Aska connector turnoff shopping center in Blue Ridge, just off Hwy. 76 near Pizza Hut. Meet for breakfast at 8:00 AM. For any other info on this event, contact George Owen, (706) 374-4716 or email.
	October 16	Joint BMTA/GATC Anniversary Hike: This will be a Fall color hike from Wayah Bald to US Hwy 64. Pre-registration is required. This special event, a fine way to walk off the 25th Anniversary Dinner the preceding evening, is a joint venture of the BMTA and the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club (GATC). With the BMTA celebrating its 25th anniversary and the GATC its 75th, together we celebrate the completion of 100 years of service and fun. Both trip leaders go way back in their involvement with 'Georgia's two greatest trail clubs.' We will breakfast together in Franklin and in Hayesville (to accommodate persons arriving from separate directions), run the shuttle, then begin our celebrative hike. The middle of October is usually the peak of autumn color at the heights along the Appalachian Trail from Wayah Bald southward through the Nantahala Range. Adding to the awesome scenic beauty, we plan to offer some wonder of our own as we spend time lunching and reminiscing atop the 360-degree view from Siler Bald, celebrating our joint one hundred years of building, maintaining, and trekking. Come join us for this special festive hike amid one of the most beautiful scenic areas at the most colorful time of the year. Rated moderate-difficult, based primarily on length of 10.1 miles. Pre-registration is required by contacting trip leaders George Owen, 706-374-4716 or e-mail; or Chuck Logan, 678-526-5341 or e-mail.
	October 22	Georgia Work Trip: On Section One just south of Three Forks, and on Section Two, near No Name Gap (aka Owen Gap). We will clear blowdowns and other vegetation on Section One. On Section Two we will do water diversions, refresh some side-hilling and maybe some step-building. We meet at the East Ellijay (not Blue Ridge) Waffle King at 8:00 AM. Or meet at the Three Forks trailhead at 9:30 AM. All participants: Please be aware that FS 58 is CLOSED between Double Head Gap Road and Three Forks. It will be necessary to take FS 42 from Double Head Gap Road past the Springer Mountain parking lot to the junction with FS 58, then go left onto 58 and approach Three Forks from the east. Trip leader is Walt Cook, 706-549-5979, or email.
November	November 12	Tennessee Work Trip on the lower Hiwassee: Various odd chores need doing on the lower part of the John Muir Trail, from Childers Creek trailhead to Big Bend. (This section is maintained by the Cherokee Hiking Club.) Come join us for maintenance in the Autumn leaves on one of the prettiest sections of the BMT. To check on carpool arrangements or for details, contact trip leader Clayton Pannell, (423) 263-9730 or email, or Bill Ristom, 423-476-2945 or email.
	Nov. 13 - 20	Fun Hike in the Smokies: (Note: The dates listed in the November newsletter are incorrect. Dates listed here are correct.) Join us for a week-long backpack of the entire BMT through the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, 94 miles, or for just a day or two - your choice. To accommodate those camping Saturday night, we'll start at backcountry campsite #93 (1.7 miles from Twentymile Ranger Station) at 10:30 AM on Sunday, Nov.13. Several access points along the way will allow participants to join smaller segments of this hike. We'll plan to arrive at Smokemont Campground on US 441 (not far from Cherokee, NC) on the afternoon of Friday, Nov 18. Hikers can re-supply there and others can join us for the final weekend. We'll plan to complete the hike at Big Creek on Sunday, Nov. 20. For more info, contact trip leader, Jim Lumpkins at 423-258-3388 or e-mail.
	November 19	Georgia Work Trip: Special THIRD Saturday Edition because of Thanksgiving. On Section Five, Dial Road to Brawley Mountain (Beautiful walk in from Dial Road with a great "aerial" view of the Toccoa River.), we'll refresh side-hilling on Garland Mountain and reshape the blue-blazed watersource trail from Garland Gap. Meet at the Village Restaurant at 8:00 AM; or meet at 9:15 AM at the trailhead where the BMT crosses Dial Road. Trip leader is Larry Dumas, 706-374-3078 or email.
	November 19	Fun Hike in Tennessee, Big Frog Wilderness: This third Saturday BMT hike will be almost entirely in the beautiful Big Frog Wilderness. We will hike south from FS 221 to the top of Big Frog Mountain and return to the start. This is a gradual climb of 2000' and the round-trip distance is 13 miles. With the leaves off the trees, we should have some spectacular views from the ridges. To register, call leader Bob Ruby, 404-252-8888 or email (see October newsletter). Hike will be limited to 12 participants to comply with wilderness area guidelines.
December	December 3	Tennessee/North Carolina Work Trip: We will clean up a campsite on Calderwood Lake in Graham County, NC, just off the BMT. Hiking in about a mile from the Slickrock Creek Trailhead (on the BMT), we'll pick up and remove trash, etc. from this popular site. Meet at the south end of the Highway 129 bridge over Calderwood Lake (near Cheoah dam) at 10:00 AM. From the Knoxville area, follow Hwy 129 South out of Maryville. From the Asheville area or points south, travel to Robbinsville then follow Hwy 129 North. Bring heavy gloves. Trash bags will be provided. Other work is possible on and near the BMT if enough folks turn out. Leaders are Dick Evans, 828-479-2503, and Bill Ross.
	December 10	Georgia Work Trip: On Section One near the AT crossings, and on Section Two, near No Name/Owen Gap. We will do water diversions and perhaps refresh some side-hilling. We meet at the East Ellijay (not Blue Ridge) Waffle King at 8:00 AM. Or meet at the Springer Mountain parking lot off FS42 at 9:30 AM. From the Springer parking lot we will split into two crews, one of which will proceed on to Three Forks. All participants: Please be aware that FS 58 is CLOSED between Double Head Gap Road and Three Forks. For the foreseeable future, to drive to Three Forks from the west, it will be necessary to take FS 42 from Double Head Gap Road past the Springer Mountain parking lot to the junction with FS 58, then go left onto 58 and approach Three Forks from the east. Trip leader is Walt Cook, 706-549-5979, or email.

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