Cherokee Hiking Club
Cherokee Hiking Club Calendar
2012
Hike Difficulty Rating Scale
(per Chattanooga Hiking Club)
Archive of past calendars 2005
2006 2007 2008
2009 2010
2011
Check out the Sequoyah Hiking Club and the Hiwassee Hiking Club Activities
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Tennessee Wild Hike/Backpack
Schedule
Benton MacKaye Trail Assn Hike
Schedule
Jan 7-14 - Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge, TN. A great way to get in lots of hike and presentations up in the Smokies. The hotel rates are rock-bottom low at this time of year.
Sun, Jan 8 - Annual Calendar Planning Meeting, 2 PM, Family Resource Agency offices located at 3680 Michigan Avenue Road in Cleveland.
Sun, Jan 22 - Athens Regional Park - Jane Bohannon, 3.1 mi, easy.
Sat, Jan 28 - Bald River Falls and Bald River Trail - Leader, Rick & Brenda Harris, 253-6358, BrendaTHarris@aol.com - 9.6 miles, moderate, meeting at the trailhead on Tellico River Road at 8:30 AM. Contact Brenda by phone or email no later than Friday evening. The Cleveland folks may want to work out a carpool from somewhere in Cleveland.
Thurs, Feb 9 - Monthly Meeting at Golden Corral in Cleveland, 6:30 PM
Sat, Feb 11 - Thunder Rock section of the BMT. Clayton Pannell. Moderate, 5.2 miles.
Sat, Feb 18 - Chris Beck's Eagle Service Project - Please consider helping Chris out on his project, which is to do trail work in the Cherokee National Forest down by Lake Ocoee. Contact Rick Harris, HarrisRi@aol.com to volunteer to help.
Mon, Feb 20 - Tallassee Mountain - Milligen Creek Hike - Leader, Rick Foster
I have a request for an expedition into a new public area, to look at an old access route. The expedition was requested by someone who will hike in snow but not rain. If it rains another trip will be scheduled. If there is more demand for a rain hike on the 20th. we may go anyway. The plan is to hike from Farr Gap to Milligan Creek Road, Chilhowee Lake, etc., returning by Tallassee Mt. and the N edge of Joyce Kilmer - Slickrock Wilderness. We will meet at Tellico Plains’ Cherohala Visitor’s Center @ 7AM or Farr Gap @ 8 AM. Rating: uneven, mostly on old roadbeds, not maintained trails, strenuous for short stretches, moderate to difficult overall. Hikers should bring food, water, appropriate bear seasoning, a flashlight, and wear orange because hog hunting is now legal all year. Be prepared for brush & multiple water crossings. We should be out most of the day. Route may expand to two cascades and a waterfall if the group is particularly fast and ambitious. Total distance < 15 miles. RSVP to habitathound@gmail.com or (423) 442-2849 by the morning of Sunday 19 Feb. if you're coming. If you want to be notified in the case of cancellation, give contact information.
Sat, Feb 25 - Tallassee Mountain - Two Lakes Cliff (possibly Tall Falls & Tall Cascade) - Leader, Rick Foster.
Meeting at Tellico Plains’ Cherohala Visitor’s Center, 225 Cherohala Skyway (TN Hwy 165) Tellico Plains TN 37385-5500 @ 9AM or Farr Gap @ 10, this expedition will have one of two out & back destinations depending on recent weather & hiker preferences. It may EITHER: Go to Two Lakes Cliff, a dramatic view above the Little Tennessee River, Chilhowee Lake, Calderwood Lake, Calderwood Dam, and the Tail of the Dragon, with the Smokies visible across the river (about 13 miles, 6 to 9 hours, 1 important water crossing). Note! this view is best before leaves emerge. (Or to Tall Falls and Tall Cascade on the W side of Tallassee Mt, about 10 miles, out & back, time 5 to 7 hours, no important water crossings). Rating: uneven, mostly on old roadbeds, not maintained trails, strenuous for short stretches, moderate to difficult overall. Hikers should bring food, water, appropriate bear seasoning, flashlight and wear orange because hog hunting is now legal all year. Route may expand to include Chilhowee Lake or a loop with views over Chilhowee lake (both planned for later hikes) if the group is particularly fast and ambitious. The area is new for the US Forest Service, acquired in a land swap. Please confirm with Rick Foster at (423) 442-2849 or habitathound@gmail.com before sunset on the night before the hike.
Thurs, March 8 - Monthly Meeting location TBD, 6 PM
Sat, Mar 10 - Annual Tellico River Cleanup - Meet at or after 8 AM at Tellico Ranger Station. First 100 registrants get a free T-shirt
Sat, Mar 17 - Tallassee Mountain - Fire line, fire terrain, and Chilhowee Lake - Leader: Rick Foster.
Meeting at Tellico Plains’ Cherohala Visitor’s Center, 225 Cherohala Skyway (TN Hwy 165) Tellico Plains TN 37385-5500 @ 9AM or Farr Gap @ 10, this expedition would loop through a recent lightning-caused burned area to Tallassee Creek Cascade and on to Calderwood Lake, returning by Tallassee Mt and around Stiffknee Top bordering the Joyce Kilmer - Slickrock Wilderness. About 12 miles, 5 to 8 hours, multiple water crossings. Rating: uneven, following a fire crew trail and old roadbeds, not maintained trails, strenuous for short stretches, moderate to difficult overall. Hikers should bring food, water, appropriate bear seasoning, flashlight and wear orange because hog hunting is now legal all year. Route may expand to include Tall Falls and Tall Cascade or a loop with views over Chilhowee lake (both planned for other hikes) if the group is particularly fast and ambitious. The area is recently acquired by the US Forest Service in a land swap. Please confirm with Rick Foster at (423) 442-2849 or habitathound@gmail.com before sunset on the night before the hike.
Sat, Mar 24 - Jacks River Falls via Beech Bottom Trail - Leader, Jennifer Schroll. Moderate, 7 miles round trip. For more information, please contact Jennifer at 423-284-1256 or jennifer.schroll@tn.gov
Sat, March 31 - Wildflower Program - A wildflower field trip will be led by club member Leon Bates to the Hiwassee River Gorge, via the John Muir Trail. the group will leave the McDonalds in Ocoee TN at 9 AM. Sponsored by the Chattanooga Native Plant & Wildflower Group (http://chattanooganatives.blogspot.com/p/meeting-schedule.html)
Sat, Mar 31 - Licklog Trail Maintenance Trip - Big Frog Wilderness - Joint work trip with Chattanooga Hiking Club. Leader, Randy Morris.
This event will take place in the Big Frog Wilderness, and is a joint work trip with the Chattanooga Hiking Club. If interested, please contact Randy at 423-650-0485 no later than 8:30 p.m. on Friday March 30.
Sat, Apr 7 - Perimeter Trail to Shagrag Hollow - Leader, Randy Morris. Moderate, 6-8 miles, near the University of the South at Monteagle.
Thurs, Apr 12 - Monthly meeting at Etowah United Methodist Church, joint with Hiwassee Hiking Club, at 6 PM
Sat, Apr 14 - John Muir Trail Cleanup - Leader, Clayton Pannell
Sun, April 15 - Tallassee Area Hike - Tall Falls and Tall Cascade - leader Rick Foster, difficult, 10 miles
Meeting at Tellico Plains’ Cherohala Visitor’s Center @ 9AM or Farr Gap @ 10, this expedition goes to a falls and cascade (unofficially called Tall Falls and Tall Cascade) on the W side of Tallassee Mt. The area is recently acquired by the US Forest Service in a land swap. Est. length 10 miles, out & back, time 5 to 7 hours. Rating: uneven, mostly on old roadbeds, not maintained trails, strenuous for short stretches, moderate to difficult overall with water crossings too shallow or narrow to need wading. Hikers should bring food, water, appropriate bear seasoning, a flashlight and wear orange because hog hunting is now legal all year. Route may expand to include Chilhowee Lake or a loop with views over Chilhowee lake (both planned for other hikes) if the group is particularly fast and ambitious. RSVP to habitathound@gmail.com or (423) 442-2849 by the morning of Saturday 14 April if you're coming. If you want to be notified in the case of cancellation, give contact information.
Sun, Apr 22 - Rhododendron Trail - Leader, Steve Mantooth. Easy, 2.5 miles
April 22-28 - American Hiking Society BMTA Volunteer Vacation - The BMTA will be hosting a crew again this year at the Tellico Ranger Station Ranger House to work on sections of the BMT in TN/NC, with help from the Cherokee Hiking Club, as we did last fall.
Sat, Apr 28 - Hen Wallow Falls in GSMNP - Leader, Randy Morris & Lettie Burress. Easy, 4.3 miles
Sun, Apr 29 - Turtletown Falls - Leader, Marc Bernatti. Mod to easy, 3.7 miles.
Sun, May 6 - Conasauga Falls Trail - Leader, Marc Bernatti. Moderate, 1 mile with steep climb back out.
Thurs, May 10 - Monthly Meeting - 6 PM, location TBD
Sat, May 12 - Dutch Settlement near Pace Gap near Big Frog - Leader, Leon Bates. Moderate, 3 miles. CANCELLED DUE TO CONTROLLED BURN BY THE FOREST SERVICE WHICH HAS KILLED THE WILDFLOWERS FOR THIS YEAR
Sun, May 20 - Copper Road along Ocoee River - Leader, Steve Mantooth. Easy, 5 miles. Please contact Steve Mantooth for more information about this hike at 280-7808 (cell)
Sat-Sun, May 26-27 - Full Tour of Tallassee Mtn Area. Leader, Rick Foster.
Meeting at Tellico Plains’ Cherohala Visitor’s Center, 225 Cherohala Skyway (TN Hwy 165) Tellico Plains TN 37385-5500 @ 9AM or Farr Gap @ 10, this expedition would make a loop through a recent lightning-burned area to Tallassee Creek Cascade and on to Calderwood Lake. Proposed campsite would be on the side of Tallassee Mt. between Tall Falls and Tall Cascade. Sunday’s return would make a trip around the end of Tallassee Mt. to Two Lakes Cliff above the Little Tennessee River, Chilhowee Lake, Calderwood Lake, Calderwood Dam, and the Tail of the Dragon, with the Smokies visible across the river. The return loop would go around Stiffknee Top bordering the Joyce Kilmer - Slickrock Wilderness. Rating: uneven, following a fire crew trail and old roadbeds, not maintained trails, strenuous for short stretches, moderate to difficult overall. About 16 miles and 8 to 11 hours total travel time, with multiple water crossings. Hikers should bring camping supplies, food, water, appropriate bear seasoning, flashlight and wear orange because hog hunting is now legal all year. Route may expand if the group is particularly fast and ambitious. Please confirm with Rick Foster at (423) 442-2849 or habitathound@gmail.com before sunset on the night before the hike.
HIKE REPORT: Hikers going on the Memorial Day Weekend hike to Tallassee Mountain’s informally named “Tall Hollow” scouted for a location for the Titanium Chef's October outing. The final decision on location is pending. The food was excellent. When the accompanying dog did not eat all his rice, we discovered that a Daddy Long Legs likes spicy rice enough to steal a grain longer than its own body and take it up a tree with every appearance of knowing what it is doing. The weather was hot but the water was fine. The Titanium Chef liked a feature now informally known as Shower Falls. Sorry, there are no pictures of the Titanium Chef showering under a waterfall, since I didn't find my camera until returning home. Hikers included Chris Fox (the Titanium Chef) and Richard Foster, hike leader.
June 2 - American Hiking Society National Trails Day
Sun, Jun 3 - Rhododendron Trail - Leader, Jane Bohannon. Easy, 2.5 miles.
Sun, Jun 10 - Benton Falls - Leader, Steve Mantooth. Easy, 3.2 miles. CANCELLED
Sat, Jun 16 - Alum Bluff Trail up Mt LeConte - Leader, Rhonda Morgan. Difficult, 11 miles round trip.
Sun, Jul 8 - Lower Hiwassee River Canoe Trip - Leader, Al Rymer
Thurs, July 12 - CHC Meeting - Ducktown Basin Museum - Pitch-in supper at 6 PM at the Glenn Springs Holdings Bldg (map), followed by a presentation at the museum by Ken Rush, Curator. Learn about the history of copper mining in the Copper Basin. Post mtg report.
Sun, Jul 15 - Indian Boundary Loop Trail - Leader, Steve Mantooth. Easy, 3.4 miles. CANCELLED
Sun, Jul 29 - Scenic Spur Trail - Leader, Jane Bohannon. Easy, 3.5 miles.
Sun, Aug 12 - Cleveland Greenway - Leader, Steve Mantooth. Easy, >5 miles. CANCELLED
Sun, Aug 19 - Hiwassee Canoe & Kayak Trip - Leader, Clayton Pannell
Thurs, Aug 30 - Going away party for Leslie Morgan, USFS Tellico, at the Indian Boundary Beach - Leslie Morgan, ranger for the Cherokee National Forest, Tellico District, has taken another job as a District Ranger in the Delta National Forest in Mississippi, starting September 9. Her last day with the CNF is August 31. The CNF is having a going away part for her on Thursday, August 30 beginning around 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the Indian Boundary beach. There will be swimming and a pot luck supper, so bring your bathing suits and a dish. For more information, contact Mary Jane Burnette or Laura Morris for more information at 423-253-8400. In Leslie’s words: “I have so enjoyed working here on this district and with the Cherokee Hiking Club for the last 5 years and it is a very bitter sweet move for me”.
Sat, Sep 8 - Little River Canyon, Lookout Mountain - Leader, Leon Bates. Moderate, 1 mile
Thu, Sept 13 - Monthly Meeting - Tellico Plains - Eat at Outpost at 6PM, then talk by Pam Mathews at 7PM on history of logging in the Tellico Area.
Sat, Sep 15 - Blood Mountain AT - Leader, Rhonda Morgan. Moderate, 6 miles
Thurs-Sun, Sept 20-23 - SEFTC Biennial Mtg - Fall Creek Falls State Park. For more information, go to the Southeastern Foot Trails Coalition website at www.southeastfoottrails.org.
Sat, Sep 29 - Big Frog Night Hike - Leader, James Anderson. 12 miles, strenuous.
Sat, Oct 6 - John Muir Cleanup - Leader, Clayton Pannell
Sat-Sun, Oct 13-14 - Autumn Gold Festival - Coker Creek
This is the 44th Annual Autumn Gold Festival, which takes place in Coker Creek TN. The location this year is at the Coker Creek Elementary School and adjacent Ruritan Building. The event showcases artists, long-time working craftspeople, gold panning, food, music, arts and craft displays, demonstrations of pioneer skills, nature hikes, wagon rides, syrup making, board splitting, and more. The festival serves as a fundraiser for the local fire department and other civic organizations, and for needy individuals in the community. Visit their Facebook group page at http://www.facebook.com/autumngoldfestival for more information. Click on the About link at the top left of the page for a map.
Sat, Oct 20 - Titanium Chef Campout - Leader, Chris Fox. Location TBD. CANCELLED
Sun, Oct 28 - Unicoi Turnpike Trail - Leader, Marc Bernatti. Easy, 3 miles.
Sat, Nov 3 - Gahutti Trail, Fort Mountain - Leader, James Anderson. Moderate, ~8 miles.
Sat, Nov 10 - Big Frog Maintenance Trip - James Anderson - The Big Frog Trail is currently in great need of brushing out. A number of club members plan to join James Anderson in cleaning up this trail. If you are interested in helping them out, please call James at 423-715-8824 for meeting times and directions.
Sat, Nov 24 - Linda Davis Memorial Hike - Cleveland Greenway - Leader, Randy Morris. Easy 8 miles.
Sat, Dec 1 - Coker Creek Falls Trail - Leader, Marc Bernatti. Moderate, 3.6 miles.
Sat, Dec 8 - Laurel-Snow Pocket Wilderness - Leader, Randy Morris. Location TBD.
Sat, Dec 8 - Annual Christmas Party - Golden Corral in Cleveland, arrive at 6 PM.