Newsletter by email? We will be sending this issue by email to as many members as possible. If you would like to be included, let me know your e-dress and be sure to tell me if it changes! Also if you want your email listing kept private, we can do that and still send you a newsletter. We will also send a hard copy to make sure everyone gets the newsletter. A copy of the Triathlon entry form will be available as a pdf attachment.
Mailing List Our list will be available in March and October at the meetings. If you can't get to the meeting, I can email it to you if you have MSWorks.

Next meeting will be on the first Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30 pm in Room 118A at the UT Vet School. Carla Hawkinson, a new member and a Master of the Tennessee Valley Hunt will speak to us about the Hunt and about their efforts to keep open lands open. Like the BRTR their activities demand lots of acreage and trails, and public agencies are not always friendly to organized groups. The Hunt has used the Baker's Creek area for several years and can perhaps give us some insight into how to preserve it. Joanne will have copies of TN Horse Source 2001 and Ohio Valley Horse Camp Directory to distribute at the meeting. We need to discuss service projects in the different public areas where we ride: GSMNP, BSFNRRA, and CNF.

Last meeting we learned a lot about llamas from Dr. Laura Higgins: their traits and their value as pack animals. Because of their smaller size and two-toed hoof, they are less likely to tear up a trail or grazing area than horses and they can often go into narrow and rocky areas where a horse cannot. Hikers seem less intimidated by llamas and much more willing to share the trail with them. Since they are still quite new in this area, most horses haven't had a chance to get used to them and may act spooky in their presence. At our business meeting, a representative from Eqfields explained the online equine services offered at her website; these include Directory listing, Classifieds, Photo ads, Event posting, Websites, and more. BRTR will be listed in their directory.

Check out our website! www.blueridgetrailriders.com We have had several people who have expressed an interest in the Webmaster job.It should be possible to have a link to our newsletter available.
BRTR Logo stuff: Cindi Zurhellen (865-995-2134) is now the keeper of the T-shirts and bumper stickers.

Last Month's Trail- ride was at Baker's Creek where 23 riders joined the Hibberds for several hours of good riding on a gorgeous day.
Next Month's Trail-ride will be on Saturday March 9 at East Fork Stables near Jamestown, TN. Reservations: If you plan to spend a night or two, call 1-800-97TRAIL as soon as possible to reserve stalls and camping spot. The fee for day-riders is $8, while those who camp will pay $20 for a campsite and the option of $10 for a stall. There is no official hostess (but we will take a count at the next meeting so that you know who's going). East Fork offers a great variety of trails that interconnect, so it is easy to pick a route that fits all talents and interests. Directions: Take I-40 west to Exit 317 and turn north on US127 toward Jamestown; the stables are 25 mi from the exit. It is about a 3-hour drive from Knoxville. If you live north of Knoxville, it is a bit shorter to take I-75 to Exit 141, then TN63 to Helenwood, US27 to Elgin, TN52 through Rugby to TN296 and US127 -East Fork is about 3 miles south on US127.

NATIONAL NEWS

"9-11 Memorial Ride Across America" will take place between May and Sep this year. Currently they are accepting applications from team riders from all 50 states who will be prepared to leave in May and go the distance to meet in St.Louis, MO on 9-11-2002. Also needed: State Coordinators, support crews, farriers, vets. Contact Debra Bumpus-Brown, seaweedcowgirl@ hotmail.com.

LOCAL NEWS

Norris Watershed will have its annual Spring Clean-up on Saturday, March 23; we will meet at 9 am on Upper Clear Creek Road. Bring gloves (trashbags will be provided). We also need workers to install a culvert on the Reservoir Loop Trail and perhaps finish some grading. For this project, bring shovels and mattocks as well as water and a snack. This trail has had some switchbacks added to make it easier to travel by foot, horse, or bike. Everyone will meet at the same place and we will divide into trail cleaners and trail makers.
The illegal bike trail with its ramps and jumps was removed in late January by ten bikers who wished to preserve the good name of the biking community.
Haw Ridge: Enclosed with this newsletter is the entry for the Triathlon, to be held Sunday April 28. The clean-up day at Haw Ridge will be coordinated with TVA's lake drop, and as yet we don't have a date.
Elk Release at Royal Blue: 50 more elk were released to join the herd already established last winter.

REGIONAL NEWS

Clemson University, SC is offering a five-day Course on Trail Design and Construction Using Mechanized Equipment on March 18-22. It costs $150 and the class size is limited, so anyone who is interested should apply right away! It will include hands-on practice with a SWECO Trail Grader. FMI: 864-656-0319 OR gwood@clemson.edu.
Tennessee Horse Council is making plans for their Volunteer Horse Fair at Murfreesboro on March 23-24. FMI: go to their web-site, www.tnhorsecouncil.com. Joanne has 30 copies of TNHorse Source2001 to distribute.
Cherokee National Forest: Don't forget the Chainsaw School in Cleveland on Saturday March 2. FMI 423-263-5486. Several BRTR are planning to go to be recertified (required every 3 years).
There will be an open house in Etowah on Thursday, March 7 at 7 pm to assess the resource condition and identify restoration needs for the Starr Mountain and Lost Creek drainage area. Seven miles of new trail is the issue here. The meeting will be held at the Etowah City School on 8th Street, 6 blocks west of US411. FMI:423-253-2520.
On Thursday Feb 21 there was an assessment meeting in Greeneville for the northern part of the Cherokee Forest. BRTR member Marilyn Spoon attended this meeting.
Big South Fork: The Competitive Trail Ride will take place April 27-28 with two-day rides only. Entries are coming in briskly and Ride Manager Jim Rubeck plans to start riding the trails as soon as we get two decent days together.
There are initial plans underway for a "Rails to Trails" Corridor between the Cumberland Trail (following the ridges from Chattanooga to Cumberland Gap) and the John Muir Trail in the Park; the Devonia to Oneida coal train route is likely to be abandoned in the next few years.
The second Annual Spring Planting Day will take place at the Blevins Farmstead on April 13. Teams of horses or mules are needed as well as horse drawn equipment. Anyone with an interest in Appalachian arts and crafts is invited to participate as a demonstrator or observer. Call Sue Duncan, 423-286-7275.
Remember that Bandy creek telephones have been changed to the 423 area code: Visitor Center:423-286-7275 and the barn:423-286-7433.
Zenith Stables, run by Gary Matthews, has opened on the South side of Big South Fork, not far from the Zenith crossing on the O&W railroad grade and close to the Mt.Helen Prototype Trail which may be built in the next few years. He offers a bunkhouse, $10/night; campsite,$15/night; and stalls, $8/night. A chance to see the Park from a new perspective.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park: The Appalachian Trail Conference has sent a "thank you" letter to Joanne for the her help in packing supplies to the Rocky Top Trail construction crew last October.
There will be another Equestrian Trail Maintenance Crew this year; the goal of this group is to maintain the AT sections that are open to horses in good enough shape that they can continue to tolerate horse use. There are two five day sessions: May 31-Jun 4 and Jun 7-11. Applications to join this group are due by March 15, so don't delay! Call or email Derek Ibarguen at 828-254-3708 OR dibarguen@atconf.org.
On Saturday March 2 The National Parks Conservation Association is hosting a unity meeting of all the trail user groups in the Smokies. It will be held at Lake Junaluska, NC from 10 am to 4 pm. There will be a Smokies Update by Superintendent Tollefson, discussion of the Ravensford Tract and the Northshore Road, and discussion of several transportation issues. BRTR needs a representative to go to this meeting.
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park has been restoring its history, having just restored the Gap itself from being a highway to being a replica of the Wilderness Road. There will be a preliminary grand opening in October 2002 and the final opening in 2003. The old highway has been buried under dirt and the old twists and turns of the original track have been restored. An old railroad tunnel will serve as a bike path linking Harrogate with the town of Cumberland Gap. This park is envisioned as the hub for a network of trails from Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky; some sections, such as the "rails-to-trails" section near Wilderness Road State Park in Virginia that we rode this fall, have already been completed. Many sections of the 280-mile Cumberland Trail which begins in Chattanooga have yet to be finished. Another trail has been proposed which would link Pine Mountain Park in KY with Cumberland Gap - a distance of 110 miles.

Clinics

Welcome to our new members!

Sharon and Kel Manning, Oak Ridge, TN
Carla Hawkinson, Maryville, TN
Denise Winston, Jefferson City, TN

For sale: 38' Hay Elevator, 3 sections, used but runs well, $100. FMI: Nicole Davitz, 865-251-0150.
New Breed: At the OVETS conference Joanne kept hearing about this new breed that showed up in trail horse statistics: OP breed!! Translation: Other People's Horse.

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: merrymount@naxs.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.