Newsletter by email? Newsletter by email? We will try to send as many newsletters by email as we can. If you don't receive yours by either USPS or internet by May 1, please give Lucy a call (865-494-7654). Lucy's email is changing: the new one is merrymountlps@earthlink.net.

Next meeting will be on the first Tuesday, May 7 at 7:30 pm in Room 118A at the UT Vet School. Our speaker will be Jean Creswell, member of the Norris City Council, who will speak to us about the proposed asphalt plant that might be built at the I-75, Exit 122 interchange and its effect on the environment and tourism in the Norris area. This also ties into the various beltway proposals around Knoxville (the Blue Route, the Orange Route); the extension of one of these could go through the Norris Watershed (where all the trails are). Jean is active in long-range planning for the City and County and will try to give us the sense of the ripple effect of one bad judgment call: a viewpoint we need in dealing with many environmental issues.
In our Business Meeting we will discuss the plans for the Scavenger Hunt at Baker's Creek on May 18 to raise money for the Anderson Sling. We will hear how the Triathlon and Competitive Rides went and will have pictures of these events and the dead-pine removal at Leatherwood Ford Overlook. We hope to see two videos: Joanne will have one of the Triathlon and Marilyn has one on Zimecterin.

Last meeting Greg Martin from Cosby talked about his recent experiences trying to run a riding stables close to the Smokies. He has used Tritt Cemetery Trail for 2 ½ years with no problems and now the Park is undecided whether the trail is open or closed. The Club suggested several ways he could approach this problem; perhaps this could be his "Adopt-a-trail".
Vicki Wheeler showed us how to navigate our new web-site; it is really first-class! Karen Whitehead reported on the "Use of Mechanized Equipment on Trails" Workshop at Clemson and hopes to use her new knowledge of how to stabilize trails to improve the Spruce Creek Trails in Fentress County. The Treasurer reported $5488.39 in our accounts.
We send congratulations to BRTR member Trish Harrop whose horse Blue completed 5000 miles of endurance racing. Blue's experience shows on the trail: he's out there to get the job done; and whether it's packing supplies to the Appalachian Trail Crew or just finding a way around a nasty windfall, he just does it!
We ended the evening with a pleasant video about the riding trails in the Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill, KY That's within the weekend range for us!

Check out our website! www.blueridgetrailriders.com Our co-webmasters, Vicki Wheeler (dwheeler@icx.net) and Bonnie Hibberd (BLBH@aol.com) have lots of new stuff on our site! You can print off maps of Big South Fork, East Fork and Haw Ridge! You can see all the neat pictures of the Harmon Den Ride! And then there are all the BRTR logo stuff modeled in all its glory by beautiful members! Remember that those of you without computers can go to the Public Library to bring up our site using the location as written above (and someone will show you how to do that!).
BRTR Logo stuff: Cindi Zurhellen (865-995-2134) is now the keeper of the T-shirts and bumper stickers.

Last Month's Trail- ride at Harmon Den was well attended by about 20 riders. Randy and Betsy Knight and the Miller Family stayed overnight in the new campground. Some of the trails near the campground are a bit different, making it a bit more confusing to find your way around. Judy Mitchell took the fast group; there were several in a middle group who didn't go all the way to the top and Marilyn Spoon took the slower group. There was only one mishap when a horse decided to climb an almost vertical bank instead of crossing a "bugger" creek with running water! His rider ended up in the creek with bruised rump and dignity and quite wet. Other horses have freaked out at that same spot; perhaps the creek coming out from the rhododendrons looks like the perfect spot for a troll. "He's just not a freaky horse!" she says; famous last words!
Next Month's Trail-ride will be on May 11 at Catoosa Wildlife Management Area near Wartburg. Be ready to ride by 10 am. If the weather is questionable, call the hostess, Ann Hall (865-986-7409) by 10 pm the night before. Directions: Take I-40 West to the Airport Road exit which is one exit beyond Harriman and US 27; we plan to meet thereat 9 am and caravan into Catoosa. This is a good road with no steep grades, although some of it is gravel. The riding is a mix of gravel roads and woodland trails. There will be more detailed directions at our next meeting on May 7.

LOCAL NEWS

Nicole Davitz just had a bad accident and is in U-T Hospital. I haven't heard any details but somehow she was kicked by a horse and broke some bones. Send prayers and get well wishes!
Norris Watershed The culvert went in as planned to open Reservoir Loop Trail to horse traffic; BRTR members Lucy Scanlon, Marilyn Spoon and Joshua Spoon were part of the crew of 8. There is now an extension of this trail, to be called the Dyer Spring Trail which follows down the very narrow valley to Clear Creek; this was built by hand by Mayor Richard Dyer and is for foot traffic only. Now there is discussion that the Ski Slope, a rather unofficial "pigtail" off the Loop trail, should also be foot traffic only because it runs into foot trails and crosses the creek. Keeping this a horse trail adds an extra loop which allows horses to minimize wear on a trail by creating loops rather than out-and-back trails; crossing the creek just below a car ford should be a small issue here, but one that can be mitigated further by using "geo-rocks", one of the stabilizing materials that Karen Whitehead learned about at Clemson.
The Norris Watershed Board has just received a $2500 grant from the Parks and Greenway Foundation to build and improve trails that connect to the Norris Dam State Park. The Reservoir Hill Loop and the Ski Slope will be part of that connection. A kiosk will be built near the pumping station; the picnic area will be upgraded there; and work will be done on Highpoint Trail.
Haw Ridge: The Clean-up Day at Haw Ridge was very successful with pick-up crews on horse, bike, foot, and boat. Randall Hampton and Boyd Evans, Friends of Haw Ridge, had an exciting boat ride when they asked a local guy with a boat to carry some drainage pipes for them; it was a fast and wet trip! Gloves, bags, and lunch were provided for the workers.
On Sunday April21 there was a write-up on the Triathlon ("More than Horsin' Around at Haw Ridge") in the sports section of the News-Sentinel.
Scavenger Hunt, May 18, 10 am, at Baker's Creek. $5.00 per horse. All proceeds to benefit the Anderson Sling Fund. When all the riders are on their horses, the instructions will be given out and you will have until 1:30 to find all the items. Marilyn Spoon and Bonnie Hibberd are the organizers and they have some great prizes. Be sure to be there and bring ALL your friends! Directions to Baker's Creek: Take I-75 South to the Lenoir City exit. Turn east on HWY 321 toward Maryville and go over the dam. After 3-4 miles, turn right on HWY 95 toward Greenback. After another four miles (you will see signs for Foothill Pointe), turn right on National Campground Road. You will go uphill for one mile to a T intersection and turn left on East Tellico Parkway (no road sign). After 4-5 miles, just after a concrete bridge, turn right on Morganton Cemetery Road and drive 1/10th mile to the boat ramp parking on the right.

REGIONAL NEWS

Cherokee National Forest: The Backcountry Horsemen of East Tennessee (formerly the East Tennessee Trail Riders Association) has also received a $2000 grant from the Parks and Greenway Foundation to improve 50 miles of multi-use trail between Elizabethton, TN and Damascus, VA; this will include a 7.5-mile section of new trail. An ambitious project! They began work on the new trail at Little Dark Hollow last year.
On Thursday May 2 the Chattanooga Arabian Horse Club will hear Steve Goldman from the CNF talk on the Starr Mountain Trails. The club eats dinner at Wally's restaurant in East Ridge at 6:30pm and has their meeting from 7-8 pm. To find out where Wally's is, call BRTR member Lynne Walsh at 423-238-5540.
Big South Fork: The second Annual Spring Planting Day was quite successful in spite of a rainy day (the only spot where those "scattered showers" fell). Teams of mules plowed the fields while others enjoyed the demonstrations of soap-making, making linen, making butter, growing herbs, riding side-saddle, and playing with old-time toys. The Blevins daughter that grew up on the Blevins Farm was there to meet everyone and tell stories of her childhood. And of course there was lots of country cookin': venison stew and cornbread cooked over an open fire. If you missed it, plan to be there next year!
On April 20 a BRTR crew joined Walt Singleton from Park Trail Maintenance, to clean out the dead pines at Leatherwood Ford Overlook. Walt felled about 100 trees and we bucked them up and hauled logs and branches out of the trail. Those that worked that day were: George McAfee, Karen Whitehead, Dixie Peters, Gary Cameron, Jackie Goldsmith, Marilyn Spoon, Joshua Spoon, Joanne Grimes, and Lucy Scanlon. The hitching area looks totally different with the trees removed but it is now safe.
The pines are falling all over the Park right now , so wear a helmet, carry a handsaw, and stay out of the woods on windy days!
Remember that Bandy creek telephones have been changed to the 423 area code: Visitor Center:423-286-7275 and the barn:423-286-7433.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park: Ramp collection in the Smokies is now illegal; people have been overharvesting the patches so they must now be protected like most other plant and wildlife in the Park.
The latest elk arrivals in the Park can now leave their pen, although they seem to stay close to the area. All the new ones are alive and there are several pregnant does among them.
Most roads in the Park are now open. Work on the tunnels on the Newfound Gap Road will stop for the summer season from May 18-Aug 19.
The Horse camps charge $20 per horse per night, except for Big Creek which charges $25. Reservations can be made up to 5 months in advance by calling 1-800-365-2267 or at http://reservations.nps.gov

Clinics

Welcome to our new members!

Terri Marie Carnes, Seymour, TN

For sale: Sundowner Sunlite Horse Trailer, 1994 gooseneck, 4 horse slant load, 28' long x 7 ½' high, back saddle rack, tack room with lots of hooks.$12,500. Great condition. $12,500. Call Sarah Brede, 865-531-1167.
Standardbred gelding, 8 yr old, bay, 15 hh; good school horse for advanced beginner.$950 firm. 865-531-1167.
Home wanted: Sweet dun mare, 20+ yrs., 13.2 hh. Could give occasional pony rides to small child. Lezle Jenkins, 865-988-4928. TWH mare, 18 yrs, bay, 15.2hh; supersafe but slightly arthritic; light use only. Make offer. 865-531-1167.

Dates to remember

FMI on long-distance riding go to: www.endurance.net or www.natrc.org

News? Please send to Lucy Scanlon at address below - or call 865-494-7654 - or E-mail: merrymountlps@earthlink.net
Try to get it to me by the 15th of the month. We accept free horse-related classifieds from members.

Dues: $15 per year. Make checks payable to BRTR or Blue Ridge Trail Riders and send to: BRTR TREASURER, 1165 West Hwy 11E, New Market, TN 37820.