Welcome 2009

Hello Rocky Top! I just wanted send a Hello to all of you from Christine Hoyer, I just saw her building some trail out at Konnarock with the Nantahala Hiking Club on her day off from...building trail.

Speaking of Konnarock, we will be welcoming Dannon and Doug, current K-Rock leaders, to Rocky Top this year as they learn how to substitute their chushy forest service trucks for a purebread mule. Make sure to join me and Camp Coordinator Glenn in welcoming them warmly.

The Rocky Top sessions are filling up with at a predictable pace so get your applications in! We are headed to another exciting season and we hope you are a part of it!

Will Christine be in the Smokies... Yes, but not with the ATC

Guess what?! It is time for me to take on a new challenge... As of August 17th I will be the newest full-time employee of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Trails Division. It is an opportunity of a lifetime and it still feels surreal that they picked me! My list of duties is long and overwhelming but essentially I will be responsible for one of the Trail Districts in the Park - everything from trail assessment to trail work, have a professional crew to supervise and work with.... I will also be working on a volunteer program since I think volunteers are really who make great things happen on the trails. So in just a few short weeks I will move myself from my home at Konnarock into the Park. I wish I could have been there to lead Rocky Top 2008.... I hope to make appearances up on the AT to visit and work with you guys... or at least drop by the cabin for dinner. I hope you all know that I love you dearly and you are what makes it so hard for me to leave... but I hope that our paths will cross again - you all will be hearing from me once I need some volunteers -- and of course I am going to become a member of the Smoky Mountains ATC Hiking Club and will return to Konnarock and Rocky Top as a volunteer as soon as I can!!!!! Please, please, please stay in touch and enjoy your time at the good ol' Top this fall.

~Christine
wishfulthnkr@hotmail.com

Longwe tru on the AT!!!!

Rocky Topper Update:
Moria is thruhiking the AT and i was fortunate to cross paths with her while working with a Konnarock crew near Gullion Mountain, Va a few days ago. It was wonderful to see her and hear how her adventure is going... she has walked about 550 miles!! Way to be Longwe Tru... happy trails :)

Smoky Mountain Hiking Club Section...

The Konnarock Trail Crew, which works from Springer, GA to Rockfish Gap, VA, is beginning its season and recently spent the day looking at a project on the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club Section. We were just south of the smokies but i did manage to catch a glimpse or two of the good ol' smokies and Fontana Lake.

Wouldn't it be nice to work up in these mountains???
Think Rocky Top!

Along the AT...

Greybeard heads for the PCT

Carl Goodman is not only a ridgerunner in the Smoky Mountains but also an annual volunteer at Rocky top and a great trail builder. Below is a press release regarding his upcoming PCT hike. If you would like the full press release just email wishfulthnkr@hotmail.com.

Way to go Carl!!!! Happy Trails :)

Take Time to Stop and Smell the Flowers

At Rocky Top a lot of trail work gets done... the smokies make that even more rewarding with their beauty. There always has to be some time to stop and smell the flowers.....