success

Success is not measured by the heights one attains, but by the obstacles one overcomes in its attainment.
--Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) American educator, author, orator, and political leader

Another shot of the AT in the Roan Highlands.

gifts

The Master of Life's been good to me. He has given me strength to face past illnesses, and victory in the face of defeat. He has given me life and joy where others saw oblivion. He has given new purposes to live for. New services to render and old wounds to heal. Life and love go on. Let the music play.
--Johnny Cash (1932-2003) American singer and songwriter 

Johnny's 79th birthday would have been today -- I didn't really come to appreciate the Man in Black until after his death, but since then I've been steadily working my way through his lifetime of work. Here's a song that was written as a gift to him in 1974 from his stepdaughter, Carlene Carter. After his death, this recording of the song "It Takes One To Know Me" was found in the vault of his studio.  Check out Johnny Cash Radio.

Above: The Appalachian Trail in the Roan Highlands.

Anyone hear of any updates re: the road and trail construction at the top of Roan? The original date I heard for completion of the project was June 2011. Anyone know if they are ahead of schedule?

great ambition

I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom.
--Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish author 

You may have noticed that the posts on Appy Treks have been a little less frequent lately. Thought I'd catch you up on what's been going on in my life... Well, for the last month or so I've been going through some major home remodeling as my kitchen and laundry room were completely gutted, a wall removed, and then everything put back together removing any and all references to the 1980s. (I'll post photos eventually). This, on top of new classes I'm teaching and an energetic new puppy.  So things have been pretty hectic (exhausting?) around here. And just as the remodeling project was getting completed, I've come down with the cold/flu bug that's been going around. So needless to say, I haven't been out and about much recently. Hopefully this just means that everything in my life will fall into place perfectly for spring!

Here's a photo of the spectacular Linville Falls taken a couple years ago from the Plunge Basin Overlook. Located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway (Mile #316.5), this 45' waterfall is a popular destination and with it's many trails and overlooks, a very fun place to explore.

wisdom

Committing a great truth to memory is admirable; committing it to life is wisdom.
--William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) author

spring delight

For everything that lives is holy, life delights in life.
--William Blake (1757-1827) poet, painter, and printmaker

all you need is love

The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.
--Morrie Schwartz (1916-1995) American educator and author

Pinnacle Mountain Trail

A new trail linking the town of Unicoi to the Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower has recently been completed.  The trailhead for the 4 1/2 mile trail is just off of the Unicoi Drive exit of I-26, at the future site of the Tanasi Heritage and Arts Center.  The four foot wide trail is well designed, leading hikers (and mountain bikers) on a beautiful, twisting path up the mountain. The grade is as gradual (average 7% grade) as it could be given that the trail climbs from the valley to the 3540' summit of Pinnacle Mountain.  Efforts are now underway to rehabilitate the 1931 firetower, which has not been in service since the 1980s. The original wooden cab, which measured 14' square, has been removed and will soon be replaced with a metal pavilion. The stairs, although still steep, will allow for public access to the 40' high lookout. Previous photos here.

Click here to read about the two volunteers who surveyed and mapped the new trail.
Click here for the Unicoi County Trail Guide.
Click here for a recent Johnson City Press article on the trail.

Directions: From I-26, take exit 32 (Unicoi Road) and turn west (away from town). You'll quickly come to a stop sign, turn right and immediately on your left will be a small parking area and a sign designating the property as the future site of the Tanasi Arts Center.  Park here. Take the gated, gravel road 50 yards and you'll see the well-marked trailhead on your left. After 3 1/2 miles (approx) the trail will intersect with a forest service road. From here, I wasn't 100% sure how the trail continued. There are numerous ATV trails and side roads in the area. I turned left and took the road up to the top, although it was very muddy in parts with all of the melting snow and construction traffic.  I'm guessing this area will be better marked when the tower gets completed. All in all, a wonderful (an exhausting) hike!

Update 4/18/11 - My friend Jeff Miller wrote a very helpful note re: the last portion of the trail:

Thanks, Mark, for yet another good lead. I went to the tower today. Though the hut isn't yet on top, the steel frame is complete and open. It's fine to go up--guard rail all around, etc. And the trail wasn't muddy, in spite of recent rains.

In your notes you mention coming to a place where you weren't 100% certain. The way you went works fine--turn left on the road, go an eighth of a mile to a gated road, follow the gated road right and up to the tower. You could also have gone straight across the road to continue the new trail. I suspect it wasn't marked as well when you were there as it now is. There's a brown trail marker just like at the bottom/beginning, and also a bright orange "no vehicles" marker. At this same point the orange-blazed ATV trail also intersects; thus there are three ways to the tower from here. But I digress.

Go straight across the road to continue the new trail. You'll have some misgivings at first, for it descends a bit and seems to be going west instead of south. But stay with it and you'll loop the pinnacle of Pinnacle Mountain and make it to the tower. Your way was shorter and steeper, but the new trail is worth the time (free of motorized traffic, gradual slope, good views).

Someone coming up from hwy 81 (Deacon Creek area) via the ATV trail would get to the tower's gated road before intersecting the new trail. It would be a left U-turn onto the gated road. Thus such a traveler might not know how to access that trail after visiting the tower (to go down to Unicoi, for example). When you come down the tower and step off the last step, go about 10 paces and turn left (a counter-intuitive turn). This will put you on the new trail as it begins to spiral down the peak.

do something

A life spent making mistakes is not only most honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.
--George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish playwright

to be stronger

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. 
--John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) 35th US President

Crabtree Falls, Yancey County, NC

Reagan Centennial

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.
--Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) 40th US President

Videos celebrating his life and legacy: 

From GE to the White House

Reagan Library Tribute (narrated by former TN Sen. Fred Thompson)
"A Time for Choosing," 1964

1st Inaugural, January 1981
Westminster Speech, 1982

Reagan Farewell Address, 1989

looking for spring

Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look there.
--Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) Roman Emperor  

A drab, rainy Friday sent me in looking for old spring photos. Here's one taken a few years back at the Biltmore Estate Conservatory in Asheville, NC. Don't know about you, but I'm ready for spring...

bogged down

There is nothing more tragic than to find an individual bogged down in the length of life, devoid of breadth.
--Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) American Minister and Civil-Rights Leader

A bog on Osceola Island (a mile downstream from the South Holston Dam) outside of Bristol, TN.