This week the weather man again promises us rain for Friday. So let's plan on meeting at the ranger station parking lot at 8, and if he is wrong, we will go to the MTS at hwy 215 to Heywood gap. Depending on the turnout, we may split into two groups and work the entire section - about 7 miles worth. If not a large crew, we will work from Heywood to Balsam Gap and clear several blowdowns we spotted last week. That is Park Service lands, so we can use chain saws there. If the weather is questionable, we can get some work done on Cat Gap, and not get too far from the cars. If the weather man is right, enjoy another paid day off. That will make three in a row.... Please let me know if you plan to be out so I can plan the tools. Bill

Folks, I am picking back up the Friday scheduling from Piet, now that my knees are back to where I can get out on the trail again. I want to thank him for the great job of "fill in" he did while I was on my vacation. This week we will be going back to the MST trail out of Balsam Gap. There is lots of work of all kinds to be done on this trail, so we need everybody to come out if you can. Meeting place is the Home Depot at exit 44 of I -40 at 8:00. Hendersonville folks meet at Ingles at 7:20. Callers please make your calls to those without E-Mail. Everyone please let me know if you are coming so I can plan the transportation. We will meet the Western Part of the crew at the Ranger Station around 8:30 - 8:45 Next week, May 2, we are going up to Firescald and carry in the gear for the season. We will have Deno from the ATC office with us to help make a plan for completing this section in time for the dedication in August. Part of this plan is deciding what Konarock crews can finish and what we will need to complete. This will help decide how many trips we need to make up to Firescald this summer. We will also be flagging areas on the completed trail that need "clean - up" or improvement work. There should be plenty of work for everyone so come if you can. A final request. If you have club heavy equipment (hoists, rock bars, drills, etc) please let me know what you have. I will make up a plan of what to take in for the work at Firescald and it will help to know where everything is. Thanks Skip

I talked with Stan Hyatt, NC DOT, today to get more info on when we can do the last AT relo at Sams Gap. Construction is now scheduled mid-June and will take about four weeks for completion. It is the last work before opening the highway. I will call him again on June 2 to confirm the date so we can install the posts and do the tread work shortly before they divert traffic to do the construction. The six foot, 2X6 posts are blazed and ready for installation.

On 4/4/03, I met with Morgan Sommerville, Paul Bradley and John Webb (section maintainer) at the AT section south of Lemon Gap to look for an acceptable shelter site. The FS had rejected the previous site because it was too close, and therefore in sight of, Max Patch Road. We found two areas that were tentatively acceptable to Paul Bradley. They are well away from the public road and are such that we can build a shelter, tent pads and a privy without too much trouble. There are no trees suitable for shelter construction, therefore, materials will have to be brought to the chosen site. They are both downhill from a gated FS road so this will not be difficult. We must now wait for further approval before developing specific shelter designs.

On 4/7/03, I met with Morgan Sommerville, Paul Bradley and a number of FS personnel to discuss the purchase from the Bald Mountain Development Corporation of about 885 feet of road right-of-way which is on the approach road to Big Bald. Upon completion of this purchase, a locked gate will be installed across the road that will restrict almost all vehicle travel. The existing roads will be repaired and maintained.

Just a week ago I had hiked the section of Oxcreek Rd. to Rattlesnake Lodge. Previous report from the maintainer was that the section was clean and in good condition, and so it was. Well I hike it again only last Saturday, after the heavy and humid snowfall and the same trail was messy with all kinds of down trees. This Monday Crew went to work and we sure did. We cut a total of twenty two trees, all sizes including the two access trails. Again I am glad to report that the section is clean and in good condition except for some heavy duty job that will be handled by our crew in due time. The above is to show what you might to expect on your sections. I ask you to please be out soon and clean the trail out of branches and also dig out the channels behind the water bars so they will be ready and not overwhelmed with the Spring downpours. It is also important your report the location of down trees, so we can take care of them. With this beautiful weather that we are being blessed with a very good number of hikers and joggers will be out there and it would be real nice if we can provide with nice conditions. Jorge

Pete, D.R. and I plan to scout the section of MST from 215 to Heywood Gap this Wednesday. Just checking it out, and not planning any work other than maybe throwing off debris etc. Anyone who wishes to join us, meet at the ranger work center at 8:30 and we will do our thing...Bill

We suspect Thursday's snow will provide us with some work if the damage along the BRP is an indication and recommend we all check our sections as soon as feasible. According to BRP rep, damage has been heaviest toward Mt. Mitchell (22") tapering off a little at Pisgah Inn (16") and much less as you go toward Balsam Gap. Let either of us know by e-mail what you find. (Negative reports will be appreciated.) Heavy sawing we can turn over to the Johnson or Newton crews for assistance. As of this morning, Saturday, BRP is closed from Route 191 to Cherokee, except for 276 to the Inn which opened a few minutes ago.You should check for closings at 298-0398(automated) or the desk at the Folk Art Center, 298-0495 before heading out. D.R. (Kulp) & Jim (Tanquary)

The Appalachian Trail Project Office (ATPO), National Park Service, has established a new program in its Trail-wide volunteer recognition program. The National Park Service and the USDA Forest Service have established this as a formal means to thank all the dedicated volunteers that devote their time toward maintenance and management of the Appalachian Trail. For hours of service ATPO has identified four levels of awards based on the range of hours worked: 1. Up to 99 hours: a pin. 2. 100-199 hours: a patch. 3. 500-1000 hours: an embroidered cap. 4. More than 1000 hours: a fleece vest.

The final 2003 and draft 2004 Konnarock crew schedule has been issued by the ATC Konnarock Steering Committee. The 2003 schedule for our CMC Firescald Ridge Relocation of the AT is June 19 thru June 23 and August 14 thru August 18. The tentative schedule for 2004 is for the 2 weeks of July 29 thru August 9 for the Lovers Leap Rehabilitation project.

The Buccaneer were out in force today again. Felix and I follow the report of 4/9 by Carol & Ken Deal, We covered the section from Hardtime Rd. to Shut In Trail and cut four down trees. The section is clean and in good condition. Though the water bars were nicely cleaned they are extremely old and dilapidated. They need to be replaced, 10 or 12 of them with longer ones and at a sharper, selfcleaning angle. The ones now are almost straight across. Somebody beat us to the rhodys reported down at the very end of the trail. No complains.There is plenty of May Apples and no Poison Ivy.... yet We also covered the section from I-40 to Folk Art Center whereas we cut eight downtrees. Felix did an excellent job at lopping. All this was highlighted by an encounter with two very young women backpacking from Clingman Dome on the way to Cape Hatteras. The other good news is that Charlie Hamberger is back in town and ready to join the Monday crew (if it does not rain again). That's all folks. Jorge

This Friday lets go back to Big Creek and work on that bog. There will be some downed timber to remove, and some steps to install. About a 3 mile hike in, do the work, and back out. That will be enough for one day, I suspect, but we will look at installing at least two water crossings and maybe a third for future work. Five of the crew has volunteered to work at Kellogg installing the first outdoor art work this Friday. Jack M. John VV, Pete, Dale and D.R. are scheduled for Kellogg. If you want to make changes, let me know and we will try for a substitute as we do need five to be there. Let me know if you plan to be out so I can plan tools. Meeting place - Food Lion parking lot in Mills River at 8.Bill 828-693-4033 bnewton34@earthlink.net

Hi Guys,
Last week's snow put us back to line zero with the winter trail clearance of the MST and we had it 90% done. The AT is an unknown as we have not received recent reports. This week we are meeting at the Folk Art Center at 8:00 to work in various sections of the MST. Work division will depend on the size of the crew and the number of saws that are present. So sawyers let me know ASAP if you are coming and are brining you saw. Reply from all coming would be appreciated. Piet 828-298-8371 pietboden@aol.com

This article appeared in the last issue of Blue Ridge Country. I think the pictures are very good and tells a nice story about our maintenance folks: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3