Monday, February 28, 2011
Middle Prong Sunday
The threat of rain apparently kept many folks inside this otherwise awesome day outside! So along the 4 miles I walked with "long mark" on the Middle Prong trail we saw only four folks. It sprinkled a few times with temperatures in the 60's and was a really relaxing atmosphere for an afternoon hike.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Them Bears Out There
This young bear emerged from its winter resting a couple of weeks ago. That statement is based on reports from visitors and fellow Volunteer Interpretive Rangers who patrol the Laurel Falls trail in order to keep the bears safe from the visitors. No, really. S/he appears healthy and new to these long periods of sleep, and waking up from them, and all those "two legged animals" standing around staring and pointing. Maybe s/he's wondering "hmmmmm? wonder what they taste like, I'll ask mom when she gets up." 
Hiking Outlaws
So yesterday I'm rocking down Rich Mountain trail about to complete 6 mile hike and I come around a bend surprising a backpacker who's going up. We exchange greetings and he says he's surprised to see anyone so I smile and tell him there are about 8 or 10 guys who are probably heading down about now from the Indian Grave Gap/Rich Mtn. trail intersection. While speaking with him I notice his Southern Highlanders t-shirt and say "dude, Southern Highlanders, I was thinking about y'all while speaking with those folks I just mentioned." In the next few minutes we put it together and realize we had met several years ago at a New Years eve party at his place in Knoxville. Wow! what a cool thing. So we exchange photos for the blogs and websites and go are separate ways and I'm thinking damn! I should have asked what car he's driving so I could slide an ilovemountains bumper sticker under one of his wiper blades. As I approach the parking area I notice the only other car that stands out from the 4 or 5 various style SUVS, besides mine is rather small fuel efficient vehicle with a Southernhighlanders sticker on one side of the bumper ilovemountains sticker on the other side. Seeing this I smile and laugh out loud! Rock on Outlaws!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Just sittin' on a log
This log and fern has been the interest of my lens before, I believe. And not by planning it's just in front of a rock I've stopped at a few times and sat down on. It's found on the loop off of the West Prong.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
From our Friends at LEAF
Feb 14, 2011- Action Alert-Take heart
Dear LEAF Supporters,
For Valentine's Day LEAF's message is Take Heart. Jesus and Paul often told early Christians exactly that. People ask me, is LEAF even going to pursue a ban on mountain top mining this year? Of course we are! God is mighty enough to move the hearts of man in any political climate. This is the God who parted the Red Sea, after all. So Take Heart, LEAF will stay awake and prayerful and keep you apprised. We will all be ready when God's time arrives, and it appears to be drawing closer. I have all sorts of good news to share.
The explosions at Zeb Mountain have stopped, at least for now. The coal industry packed up and left. We don't know for how long. They could return and there are pending permits on other mountains, so mountain top mining isn't extinct yet. But Tennessee's oldest and largest mountain top mining site is quiet for now. Praise God.
I spent last week in Nashville, had some good meetings and the bills are now introduced.
The 2011 bill numbers are HB 291 (McDonald) and SB 577 (Stewart.)
In Tennessee, addition to God, we have two great allies, Representative Mike McDonald, http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h44.html, is our sponsor again in the House and Senator Eric Stewart, http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s14.html, is our new sponsor in the Senate. Please e-mail these men and thank them for their leadership on this issue. rep.mike.mcdonald@capitol.tn.us and sen.eric.stewart@capitol.tn.us.
The committees are also refreshed with some new faces and leadership.
* Senate Environment Committee
* House Conservation & Environment Committee
Now is the time to let them know that this bill should get to the top of their list for study and consideration and that you want them to stand with you and LEAF for the mountains. The substance of bill is the same, no altering or disturbing ridgelines above 2,000 feet elevation with surface coal mining. The nickname of the bill is still the Tennessee Scenic Vistas Protection Act. http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0577
In news from beyond Tennessee, citizens in Kentucky are standing up to a state government controlled by big coal. A group spent the weekend at the Governor's office, hoping for a fair hearing of their concerns for Kentucky's mountains and democracy. The annual “I love mountains” rally is each Valentine's Day. Prayers for them and if you wish to encourage Governor Beshear to speak with them you can e-mail him at www.governor.ky.gov.
Thank you again for your prayers and support,
Dawn Coppock
LEAF, Legislative Director
For more information contact Dawn Coppock, LEAF Legislative Director
c 865-382-0895, o 865-933-8173, dawn@dawncoppock.com or visit
www.tnleaf.org.
Dear LEAF Supporters,
For Valentine's Day LEAF's message is Take Heart. Jesus and Paul often told early Christians exactly that. People ask me, is LEAF even going to pursue a ban on mountain top mining this year? Of course we are! God is mighty enough to move the hearts of man in any political climate. This is the God who parted the Red Sea, after all. So Take Heart, LEAF will stay awake and prayerful and keep you apprised. We will all be ready when God's time arrives, and it appears to be drawing closer. I have all sorts of good news to share.
The explosions at Zeb Mountain have stopped, at least for now. The coal industry packed up and left. We don't know for how long. They could return and there are pending permits on other mountains, so mountain top mining isn't extinct yet. But Tennessee's oldest and largest mountain top mining site is quiet for now. Praise God.
I spent last week in Nashville, had some good meetings and the bills are now introduced.
The 2011 bill numbers are HB 291 (McDonald) and SB 577 (Stewart.)
In Tennessee, addition to God, we have two great allies, Representative Mike McDonald, http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h44.html, is our sponsor again in the House and Senator Eric Stewart, http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s14.html, is our new sponsor in the Senate. Please e-mail these men and thank them for their leadership on this issue. rep.mike.mcdonald@capitol.tn.us and sen.eric.stewart@capitol.tn.us.
The committees are also refreshed with some new faces and leadership.
* Senate Environment Committee
* House Conservation & Environment Committee
Now is the time to let them know that this bill should get to the top of their list for study and consideration and that you want them to stand with you and LEAF for the mountains. The substance of bill is the same, no altering or disturbing ridgelines above 2,000 feet elevation with surface coal mining. The nickname of the bill is still the Tennessee Scenic Vistas Protection Act. http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0577
In news from beyond Tennessee, citizens in Kentucky are standing up to a state government controlled by big coal. A group spent the weekend at the Governor's office, hoping for a fair hearing of their concerns for Kentucky's mountains and democracy. The annual “I love mountains” rally is each Valentine's Day. Prayers for them and if you wish to encourage Governor Beshear to speak with them you can e-mail him at www.governor.ky.gov.
Thank you again for your prayers and support,
Dawn Coppock
LEAF, Legislative Director
For more information contact Dawn Coppock, LEAF Legislative Director
c 865-382-0895, o 865-933-8173, dawn@dawncoppock.com or visit
www.tnleaf.org.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Walking With Friends OTG
Dudes! and Dudettes! what a cool walk with friends today on some unmarked trails away from the masses. Long Mark, Dr J, Country, and myself enjoyed blue skies, the moderating temperatures and being outside. Country also noted some of the geological formations and shapes (rocks and boulders) and the delicate tectonic forces which helped create them. It was a very enjoyable day and a good time to visit this area OTG, because in 2 months it'll be getting thick with spring growth and new plant life. Making travel more challenging.
People Speak Out!! Right On!
After reading the following I called my senators again and left a message calling for end to MTR Please the bottom of this page for the congressional switchboard and call your senator too, pleeeaase.
FRANKFORT – At least fourteen Kentuckians have decided to remain in Gov. Steve Beshear’s office over the weekend at the invitation of the governor himself.
Among those remaining in the governor’s office include Wendell Berry, 76, the acclaimed writer who has decried mining abuses for the past fifty years; Beverly May, 52, a nurse practitioner from Floyd County; Mickey McCoy, 55, former educator and mayor of Inez; Teri Blanton, 54, a grassroots activist from Harlan County; Stanley Sturgill, 65, a former underground coal miner of Harlan County; Rick Handshoe, 50, a retired Kentucky State Police radio technician of Floyd County; John Hennen, 59, a history professor at Morehead State University; and Martin Mudd, 28, an environmental activist.
“We have resolved to stay while Gov. Beshear reconsiders his position on mountaintop removal mining,” the group said in a joint statement. “As we are just steps away from the Governor’s Mansion, we invite the governor to join us at the Capitol—the People’s House—for more conversations over the weekend.”
The group is staying in the governor’s office in anticipation of I Love Mountains Day on Monday, an annual rally held to draw attention to mountaintop removal and the Stream Saver Bill, which has languished for six years in the House Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Rep. Jim Gooch (D-Providence), a longtime supporter of the coal industry.
“We invite our fellow Kentuckians to join us in solidarity on the steps of the Capitol on Monday,” said the group. A march to the Capitol from the Kentucky River Bridge will commence at 11:30 a.m. The rally at the Capitol will begin at 12:15 p.m.
FRANKFORT – At least fourteen Kentuckians have decided to remain in Gov. Steve Beshear’s office over the weekend at the invitation of the governor himself.
Among those remaining in the governor’s office include Wendell Berry, 76, the acclaimed writer who has decried mining abuses for the past fifty years; Beverly May, 52, a nurse practitioner from Floyd County; Mickey McCoy, 55, former educator and mayor of Inez; Teri Blanton, 54, a grassroots activist from Harlan County; Stanley Sturgill, 65, a former underground coal miner of Harlan County; Rick Handshoe, 50, a retired Kentucky State Police radio technician of Floyd County; John Hennen, 59, a history professor at Morehead State University; and Martin Mudd, 28, an environmental activist.
“We have resolved to stay while Gov. Beshear reconsiders his position on mountaintop removal mining,” the group said in a joint statement. “As we are just steps away from the Governor’s Mansion, we invite the governor to join us at the Capitol—the People’s House—for more conversations over the weekend.”
The group is staying in the governor’s office in anticipation of I Love Mountains Day on Monday, an annual rally held to draw attention to mountaintop removal and the Stream Saver Bill, which has languished for six years in the House Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Rep. Jim Gooch (D-Providence), a longtime supporter of the coal industry.
“We invite our fellow Kentuckians to join us in solidarity on the steps of the Capitol on Monday,” said the group. A march to the Capitol from the Kentucky River Bridge will commence at 11:30 a.m. The rally at the Capitol will begin at 12:15 p.m.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Light Snow OTG
There was a light snow last night and it made for a beautiful walk OTG today! I sat on a rock after hiking in about 1.5 mls and enjoyed the quiet noise provided by the full stream slipping by beside me. 
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