Allender BF class….
We are going on a short hike as a Bible Fellowship class on
Monday May 25th – Memorial Day.
This is great time to go hiking for the first time…get back into hiking….take your kids on their first hike.
Don’t make excuses….Come out and FELLOWSHIP together…you will have plenty of time to YARD WORK!
The hike to Andrew’s Bald is 1.8 miles out and 1.8 miles back to the parking area…so just over 3 ½ miles total round trip.
A “bald” is a grassy area on top of the mountain….a big field with great views of the mountains all around.
Only a mere 700 feet elevation change…so it is down hill going out and uphill going back to the car….but NOT extreme.
See attached link for a great video of a trip to the Andrew’s Bald…done by a creative hiker, posted on web. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2735045/andrews_bald/
“Who can go?”
Bring anyone you like.
We are going as a class, but family members, co-workers, friends….
ENCOURAGE (Spur each other on) anyone you see this week who has ever been in our class or needs to be in our class to come on the hike!
THE PLAN
We will leave my house (431 Westwood Drive, Maryville, TN 37803) in Maryville at 9:00 am and go up to the trail head at the Clingman’s Dome Parking area. We will stop at the Sugarlands Ranger Station (at the intersection of River Road and Newfound Gap Road - just outside Gatlinburg) bathrooms before heading up the final stretch of road to Clingman’s Dome.
If you want to meet us at the parking area/Trail Head…plan to be at the trail head at the Clingman’s Dome Parking area at no later than 10:30am.
PLEASE confirm by email or cell phone call (805-4880 Ken’s cell) if you are going…even if it on the morning of the trip….that is fine, but I sure don’t want to leave anyone behind who wants to go.
A rough timing of events….nothing is precise.
We will go out the bald…resting along the way…arriving around 12:00
We will have lunch and relax at the bald and take in the views. The key operative word is RELAX.
I might do a VERY brief devotion…5 minutes…optional.
We will hike back and return to the cars between 3:00-4:00pm
Returning my house at around 4:30 to 5:30pm
“What do I need to bring?”
Comfortable – well broken-in - walking shoes will work great…like lace up sneakers/tennis shoes….
NO FLIP FLOPS or slip-on-type sandals. The trail is little rocky…should be no problem if you watch your step.
I recommend you NOT going out and buy new hiking boots for this trip. For many reasons ….and the worst of which would being blisters forming from breaking in NEW boots on the trail. I have earned several T-Shirts on what not to do I could share with you.
Bring a bag/fanny pack/ day pack /school book-bag, etc to carry your stuff in.
Bring a minimum of TWO – 16 oz/.5L bottled water for each person…can let the kids carry their own water
LUNCH for you and your family
Snacks if you like....granola bars, trail mix, M & M’s, fruit (natural, but heavy I have found), chocolate (melts- total disaster if it gets too hot)
Toilet Paper… as a contingency plan.
Bring a fleece jacket or windbreaker…you can always tie it around your waste. You will be at over 5,000 feet elevation.
Optional items
Camera
Sunglasses
Sun screen
Bug repellent (may need it, may not- you know how you are with bugs)
If you were buying new hiking socks…I cannot say enough good things about Smartwool brand socks….not necessary for this short hike, but a fantastic investment for longer treks into the woods. Keeps feet free of blisters and dry, even once your shoes are soaking wet!!!
I will bring a small first aid kit…if you want to bring some band-aids…that is often nice to have on hand.
IDEA…. for KIDS, part of the adventure is letting them pack there own stuff and think for a few days about what they might want to take into the woods. Of course, some of it is crazy…that is fun of it. Let them brainstorm.
For older kids, let them be responsible for getting their own stuff together.
“How young of a child can go?”
The best answer at which I can arrive….remember, you are the one responsible for carrying your own child…so really, it as young as you like to carry.
Emma Grace is going and she is 8 years old…I believe she will do just fine.
She can walk all over West Town Mall with Paige and not asked to be picked up. (yeah!!!)
It really is a short hike, so as young as 6 or so would most likely do fine…that is as good as I can guide you.
Paige and I pushed a stroller up (it was a paved path) to Laurel Falls and I think that is around 1.5 miles one way.
"What if if RAINS?"
If it is pouring rain and storming - we will NOT go.
If there is a 50-60% CHANCE of RAIN...that is basically the same weather we encounter everyday in East Tennessee and I will be going anyway....hopefully it will clear-up if it sprinkling here and there. (remember - A rainy day in the mountains is better than a boring day on the couch!)
Call me (805-4880 ken’s cell) or email me if you have a question.
