Sept 30 – Oct 2

Meadow Creek Mountain Resort

http://www.meadowcreekmountain.com/

There have been more Improvements made to the camping areas

BCHET membership meeting to be held Saturday night

Barn and cabins also available

Meals will be available at the restaurant

For reservations, call 423-623-7543

Plan on riding the Limestone Cove / Stamping Ground Ridge Loop with maybe a side trip to the Unaka Mountain Overlook. The entire ride would take 6 hours, if you ride only the loop, it will be 4 1/2 hours. Bring your lunch, and join us as we stop along the Stamping Ground Trail to enjoy the views, and get to know others.

Those interested in riding should email Larry Jeffers, or call him at 423-213-0021 

This ride has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 25th, 2011, at 10 AM

On 3/23/11, Back Country Horsemen East Tennessee Volunteers Herb Heinz, “Anney”, the canine trail mascot, Dianne Noyes, Robert Schlagel and Barkley Wallace formed up for a trail work day at the southwest end of Meadow Creek Trail in the Cherokee National Forest, Cocke County, Tennessee. The weather was 60 degrees, cloudy, with a stiff wind beginning to pick up. A couple of members let their pups frolic close to the trucks for a few minutes while washing down hot coffee and discussing the plan of trail attack for the day. Our fearless leader, Cherokee National Forest Trail Specialist Gray Buckles was sidelined for the day at a working forest fire in the Cherokee.  The BCHET volunteers have been working on this end of the trail for two months now. The volunteers commented on the diverse number of flowering plants blooming along Long Creek this week. White bloodwort, purple violets, and trilliam were spotted along with a number of unidentified flowering plants . Armed with chain saws and gasoline, the volunteers hiked out to clear downed trees and finish this end of this 16 mile long trail. The controlled burn of this week provided some excitement on the trail as some of the larger older trees were still smoldering. This end of the trail is essentially finished and the volunteers will clear the middle of the 16 mile long trail next Wednesday, March 30. Volunteers can call or contact Tom Connors at 423-552-3767 or TJConnor@hotmail.com or Herb Heinze at 423-741-3012. A substantial lunch is supplied to each volunteer for enjoyment on the trail.

We began our riding work day at 11:00 AM. The first mile was trouble free but as we began the blazing or painting of the trail markers, trouble did appear. The paint can’s screw on lid had no intention of being removed. We tried several times to remove the cap. Marilyn even rode back to retrieve some pliers from her truck but there was no pliers to be had. Not to be stopped by a sticking lid I used the Leatherman tool to poke my way into the can. We transferred the paint to a plastic bottle and we were on our way.

A short time later we came upon our first down tree and soon thereafter our second tree then the third, fourth, etc. I know we dismounted to cut, pull, tug, and paint over 100 times that day. After seven long hours we had worked our way around the loop and made it back to that stubborn paint can that we had left behind that morning. I was never so glad to pick up  a can. We got back to the trucks about 6:00PM.

Well the good news is, the trail is now well blazed in bright yellow at all intersections. This should make it easy to find your way and thus the ride should be more enjoyable. This is about a 4 hour ride.

Have a great ride!

Related Articles

• Long Creek Trail Work Continues (bchet.wordpress.com)
• Wolf Creek Signs (bchet.wordpress.com)
• Trail Guardians (bchet.wordpress.com)
• Brush Creek Mountain Trail (bchet.wordpress.com)

Our first project is the relocation of the western end of the Meadow Creek Mountain Trail in Cocke County, Tennessee. This section of the trail has been rerouted around a very steep section of switchbacks on the mountain side.that was no fun to hike, mountain bike or horseback ride. The volunteers chainsawed downed trees and lopped brush along their way to open the new section of trail.

A couple of bear dens were spotted along the trail. Salamanders were carefully relocated after their hidey holes under rocks were moved off the trail by the volunteers. The troops trekked back to the trailhead for a substantial lunch of sandwiches washed down with hot coffee and then headed back out into the forest.

BCHET Volunteers ~ Front to Back ~ Tom Conner, Don Hart, Michelle Steiner, Robert, Gray Buckles, Connie and Kim (Not Pictured were Dianne Noyes, and Herb Hienze)

The next session to finish this part of the trail is scheduled for Wednesday, February 9 at 8:30am at the Long Creek portion of this trail. If you would like to volunteer to help in this relocation contact Tom Connors at 423-552-3767 or TJConnor@hotmail.com or Herb Heinze at 423-741-3012.

Where: Limestone Cove / Rattle Snake Ridge Connector

When: Saturday Feb 5, 2011 at 9:00AM

Meeting Place: Limestone Cove Trail Head

Directions: Take  I26 East to Exit 32. Take Exit 32 to the Stop Sign.  Turn left at the Stop Sign. Travel a short distance to another Stop Sign. Take a Right at the Stop Sign on to Highway 173. Travel .7 miles and then take a left on to Highway 107. Continue traveling on Highway 107 for 3.8 miles. There will be a Limestone Cove Picnic Area/Trail Head sign on the right side of the road. Just past this sign turn right on Rocky Branch Rd.. The parking area is immediately on the right. FOR SAFETY: When leaving please exit the parking area to the rear and turn right onto the loop road. This is a much safer exit point as you can see traffic in both directions. There is also additional parking alongside the loop road.

Volunteers needed for the following:

Chainsaw operation (must have FS certification)
Lopper Operators
Handsaw Operators
People to remove cut brush from the trail.
Contact Information:
Larry Jeffers 423-213-0021
Jeffers.larry@yahoo.com

The Canebrake Camp offers camping on 29 large sites with five double sites. Each site is fully equipped with electric hookups, a large picnic table or two, grill, large fire ring, tack tables, lantern and hitching posts.  Heated showers, flush toilets, wash racks, and garbage pickup are available.

Riders can choose from 24 trails on 40 miles of nearby horse trails. The camp is open year round. Uwharrie Stables, 4-B Ranch and a local trail riding group were sponsors of an “Adopt A Trail” program.

Trail names, mileages, and ratings are listed on a trail map. Fees are $12 per site, per night. Canebrake Camp was completely booked three months in advance,  the two over flow areas for horses and horse trailers were full as well as the surrounding commercial stables. Each overflow area had over 50 trailers. Easter 2011 is already completely booked.

Make reservations early by calling 1-877-444-6777. Reservations can be made up to 240 days in advance or no later then 3 days before arrival.

Information sent in by Dianne Noyes

We also appreciate the following donors of door prizes:

Cloud 9 Ranch (Greeneville, TN)- Fastrack Equine Gel (2)

Dr. Alex Dulaney (Greeneville, TN) – 4 packs vet wrap, 2 Underwood, new topical spray

Johnson City Chemical (Greeneville, TN) – Bag of horse feed

Wholesale Feeds (Afton, TN) – Bag of horse feed

Greene County Co-Op (Greeneville, TN)-  Mineral Block, 3 bottles fly spray with sunscreen

Exit 36 (I-81) Truck Wash (Baileyton, TN)- Several $10 off truck wash vouchers

This is arguably the best time of year to ride. Not only are the temperatures pleasant for man and beast, but the bugs have subsided and thick winter coats are still a little ways off. I hope everyone gets to have a least one special ride this fall. While the trails are there for all to enjoy, as members you have a right to be proud of the fact that most of our best local trails would not exist if it had not been for the efforts of BCHET over the past ten years.

There were only a few of us at the Fall Roundup this year, but we enjoyed spectacular fall weather and enough door prizes to reward everyone. Please let us know if interest is waning in having recreational events, or if there is something different you would like to do. If you are a member, be on the Look-out for the mini-survey in our latest newsletter.

Though it has been expected for some time, the announcement that the Limestone Cove Trail is officially open for horses is a real cause for celebration. This is a critical link in the Unaka Mountain Trail system so it is both a relief and a symbol of BCHET’s persistence that this trail has been redesignated. It is also a very beautiful trail. The two connectors needed to complete the loops from the trailhead are still not done, but they will be eventually.

Our website is currently undergoing a major overhaul. Go ahead and check it out (BCHET.org) to see the appealing new layout. This is the first major revision since it was created, so it was overdue for remodeling. We are very grateful to member Michelle Steiner for her enthusiasm and effort to head this up. There is still more to be done, and we hope to keep the content more current in the future. If you have any suggestions please pass those along also.

BCHET has received publicity lately with articles about some of our accomplishments appearing in the Greeneville Sun and the Johnson City Press. This positive exposure is largely thanks to member Dianne Noyes who has been writing the press releases and working to get them published.

Some news that is kind of a bummer is that the Forest Service Trails Specialist for the Watauga District has moved on to a new job with a New Mexico forest. During the short time he was here, Kerry Wood was an energetic and enthusiastic trail partner. He was instrumental in moving along several new projects on Holston Mountain and also spent many hours maintaining and improving our existing trails. We appreciate Kerry’s contributions and wish him well in his new job.

By Dan Applebaker
BCH of Oregon

The Back Country Horsemen of America is not a typical, socially oriented saddle club. The difference between our organization and other equestrian groups is our commitment to be involved in protecting our heritage of backcountry stock use across the country. BCHA is a national trail advocacy organization with some very serious
purposes that require serious commitment. These purposes are incorporated in every Chapter’s Bylaws/Constitution. Our members must be made aware of the philosophy, mission and purposes established for BCHA by its founders and members should support them. Many however, support them with a casual, “Yeah, those are good ideas, I can go along with that.” But what is truly required is the commitment for active support. That means actual and
personal involvement in activities that support the mission of BCHA.

BCHA exists to protect our right and heritage to use our recreational pack and saddle stock in our wilderness/backcountry.  That does not mean that our Chapters can’t have fun. Our organization offers great camaraderie, all kinds of social functions and varied riding and educational opportunities for horsemen of all levels of experience. BCHA offers all the same experiences as most trail riding saddle clubs, but we go a step further, by accepting the mission of protecting those opportunities for all horsemen, present and especially future. They back that up with their commitment and dedication by spending personal time working to achieve the purposes of BCHA. That doesn’t mean that we can’t have a diversified membership. We have members that don’t own a horse,
but they work to support the purposes of BCHA. We have many members that rarely ride in the backcountry, but they work to keep the trails open for all of us.

BCHA is the largest and oldest national volunteer group of horsemen in the country today. We are actively sought to speak and represent our interest in wilderness and backcountry issues on the national level. We’re all aware that many decisions affecting our local use are made at the national level. That is why BCHA is special and different.
There is nothing wrong with trail riding saddle clubs organized for social purposes; they certainly offer experiences that can be a lot of fun. Many equestrians wish for that type of commitment free opportunity. Those equestrians need to join such a group. BCHA is not for all horsemen or women. If, however, they wish to work to
protect the very experience they enjoy up to the national level, then they may be ready to accept the responsibility of membership in BCHA. Many of our members need to be commended for joining other equestrian groups, as well as BCHA. That is commitment.

To reiterate the purposes of BCHA, they are as follows:

• 1. To Perpetuate the common sense use and enjoyment of horses in America’s back country and wilderness areas.
• 2. To Work to insure that public lands remain open to
  recreational stock use.
• 3. To Assist the various governments, state, and private
  agencies in their maintenance and management of said resource.
• 4. To Educate, encourage and solicit active participation in the use of the backcountry resource by stock users and the general public commensurate with our heritage.
• 5. To Foster and encourage the formation of new state
  organizations.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN of AMERICA

Back Country Horsemen of America (BCHA) is a service organization working in the backcountry and educating the users of the backcountry. These two elements, along with a determination to protect the heritage of back country stock use, are the primary factors of our existence.

In a five-year period we contributed 557,000 hours of volunteer work for various agencies. BCHA has achieved unsurpassed national credibility by committing our own personal sweat to this huge volunteer effort. What better way to prove our dedication to the backcountry, to meet our purposes and to build our credibility as horsemen that really do care?

Our Chapter, as well as our members, has the obligation and responsibility to support the above purposes by action.

Purpose #1 and #2 means we will be involved to perpetuate the use of equines in the backcountry. That involvement means in Chapter, State and National BCHA affairs as well as public agency issues affecting our use.

Purpose #3 means we will be involved in all levels of egislative/Public Lands because that is a way to meet purposes #1 and #2.

Purpose #4 means we will be involved in and provide education opportunities for the public, the State organization, and the Chapters because that is a way to meet purposes #1 and #2.

Purpose #5 means we will be involved with expansion to increase our membership so we have the strength of a national organization to meet purposes #1 and #2.

There is a membership obligation in BCHA. If the organization is to function to meet its purposes, each Chapter must make the commitment to step up to the plate to be involved. Individual members are the ones that meet that commitment. We are a grassroots organization with our strength in our membership. BCHA builds through a pyramid with a broad base of local membership, through the state organizations, and peaking at the national
organization of BCHA.

We are a volunteer organization, and as such we understand there is a limited amount of time members can spend on BCHA. Some members can spend more time than others because of passion, inclination, or just more available time. What is important is that as a member of BCHA, you take the responsibility and the commitment to
spend what time you can. Your Chapter officers are certainly examples of those with that commitment. They can certainly use your help. Through this kind of determination, you will insure that BCHA will continue to exist to protect our heritage of backcountry stock use on virtually all public lands.