This newsletter is early! Just to be sure you know about Public Lands Day!
Volunteer Opportunity! .....Public Lands Day is Sep 26, Saturday: 9 am at Bandy Creek
Wally Linder says there will be at least two work parties: one going to work on the multi-use part of Darrow Ridge and the other working on Yellow Cliff Horse Trail (from Fork Ridge Road to Oby Blevins Road). The plan is to meet in the big parking lot across from the Visitor’s Center at 9 am. There will also be a chance to view a preview of the Ken Burns film, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, which will begin on Sunday Sep 27 on PBS. At National Parks across the country this will be a day to celebrate America’s Best Idea and a day of service to make the parks even better. Bring gloves, water, lunch, and your favorite pair of clippers.
The National Parks: America’s Best Idea is a six-part series, ten years in the making, that shows the development of the Park System and visits each park. In our area the first episode airs at 8 pm on PBS and will be preceded by a special showing about the beginnings of the Smokies at 6 pm. Be sure to watch or record this special event! This isn’t just a scenic tour; the film series showcases the historic, natural, and cultural wonders of our national parks and the stories of how they were created and how they change to respond to the diversity that is America today. In October the complete series will be available on DVD and in a companion book. For more information, go to PBS.org/nationalparks
Liability for Volunteers at Big South Fork has always been pretty straight forward. If you attend one of the public workdays (National Trails Day or Public Lands Day) and sign in on the Park Service form with your Social Security number, you are covered by Workman’s Comp (if you have any injuries). This also applies to any other time you are working in the Park under the direct supervision of a Park employee(and having signed in as above). However for those that plan to Adopt-a-Trail in the Park, there may be some new liability restrictions when you and your friends are working on your chosen trail. This plan is under development and we’ll hear much more about it later.
Last Trail Ride at Citico, Cherokee National Forest
A group of five decided to camp at Citico on Friday night and enjoy the cooler early fall temperatures. They had a good ride on Friday and both horses and people enjoyed a good swim afterward. Three more joined the group for Saturday’s ride and they broke into two groups to enjoy the trails at their own pace. The pay -envelope system was easy to use. Everyone agreed that moving the Citico ride to a later date made a perfect weekend.
Bandy Creek Stables: weekend at Big South Fork from Thursday Oct 8 through Sunday October 11. We will be staying in the Group Camp. If you are unfamiliar with any of these arrangements, check with any BRTR member in your area. The group is somewhat smaller than in the past, and many people will be staying in nearby cabins but will eat and ride with us.
You cannot set up in the Group Camp until noon, although you can come earlier and park at the barn and ride. When you do move into your campsite, remember that you must back in, not drive in truck first – even if your dressing room door is on the driver’s side. Please check the flyer at the Bathhouse on how to park correctly.
Remember that there are no meals planned for Thursday night, and if you plan to eat at Bacara’s reservations would be a very good idea (931-879-7121). Reservations for extra or guest meals must be made by Friday Oct 2 with Judy Mitchell (865-475 -4675); this is especially important for those of you who are staying in the area and just want to eat with us. In case the weather turns blustery and cold, please bring some extra tarps that we can hang around the pavilion. Hunting Season: wear orange!
Trails Illustrated makes a good map of all the trails and is well worth the price. The trails from Bandy Creek take heavy use but are fairly well-maintained; most are double-track with hardened stream crossings. Beyond Charit Hostel, trail maintenance is less frequent and serious mudholes and blowdowns are likely. Due to the number of dead pine trees, always carry a handsaw and expect windfalls. The trails can be flat roads along the top of the plateau or steep switchbacks down into the many gorges with outstanding rock formations; they vary in length from 3 miles (Jack’s Ridge Loop) to 20 miles (North Whiteoak Loop); the network of trails are suitable for a multi-day trip with packstock.
On Saturday evening we will have our regular BRTR meeting after supper (and before the entertainment with Don Britton). One item on the agenda is our insurance policy; there will be copies available for you to read. We are planning an extra meeting on Nov. 3 to make decisions on this policy. As written it covers our meetings and liability issues for our officers, but it is quite expensive.