HikingChattanooga.com

News 2007 Tour de Georgia Route Details Announced The route details for the 2007 Tour de Georgia were announced this week. Stage Three, on Wednesday, April 18th, will take the racing peloton 118 miles from Rome, Georgia to the 21st Century Waterfront in downtown Chattanooga. Competitors will climb Lookout Mountain three times, including one wicked ascent up Burkhalter Gap Road in Dade County, Ga. They will then descend into downtown Chattanooga via Ochs Highway, Broad Street, and Martin Luther King Boulevard to finish on Riverfront Parkway. Finish time will be approximately 4:30 p.m. at Ross’ Landing. Check out www.tourdegeorgia.com for details on the entire seven-day event. Keep your eyes on this newsletter for upcoming information about Stage Three and the Chattanooga Finish Line Festival.

Correction! Chattanooga Hiking Club will meet on Monday, February 5th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Jones Observatory. The Observatory is located 4.5 miles east of the University of , Chattanooga campus at 10 Tuxedo Avenue, north of Brainerd Road and Belvoir Ave. For more information about the meeting, visit http://hiking.chattanooga.net.

Events Tennessee Valley Outdoor Heritage Expo This Weekend Come visit the Outdoor Chattanooga and the Cherokee Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation for an expo of hunting, fishing, camping, paddling, and other recreational gear and activities on Saturday, February 3, from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. at the Chattanooga Convention Center. A Hummer H3 will be raffled off, with a portion of the proceeds benefit the Ocoee District of the . For more information about the NWTF, visit www.nwtf.org.

Celebrate the Sandhills and Cherokee Heritage The 15th Annual Cherokee Indian Heritage and Sandhill Crane Viewing Days will take place this coming Saturday, February 3, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and all day on Sunday, February 4. Festivities will be centered at a festival in Birchwood, Tennessee and at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, where thousands of Sandhill Cranes stop each winter on their annual migration. Shuttle service will be available from the Birchwood School to the Refuge for bird viewing. For more information, visit www.tennessee.gov/twra/crane07.pdf

S-S-Snakes Alive This Saturday, February 3, at 2:00 p.m., visit the Chattanooga Nature Center for an introduction to Chattanooga's resident snakes with CNC naturalist Kyle Waggener. Stars of the program will include the corn snake, king snake, and garter snake. Cost is free for CNC members, $7.00 for non-members. Guests are welcome to spend the rest of the day exploring the Nature Center and Reflection Riding properties. Visit www.chattanooganaturecenter.org for more information.

Chattanooga “Ice Bowl” The Chattanooga Flying Disc Club will sponsor the second annual Ice Bowl Disc Golf fundraiser, on Saturday, February 10 at the “Sinks” Disc Golf Course on N. Access road, across from the Invista plant in Hixson. Check- in starts at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 9:00. The entry fee is $20 for beginners and up to $40 for pros, and all proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program, a local teen intervention organization. All d isc golf players are welcome regardless of ability. Everyone will have a chance to win a prize. There will also be closest-to-the pin contests to win a basket and additional prizes with all the proceeds going to VORP. For detailed information, visit www.chattanoogadiscgolf.com/Newboard.htm.

Civil War History of the Reflection Riding Area On Saturday, February 17, join local archaeologist Lawrence Alexander for a Civil War history hike at Reflection Riding Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. The Reflection Riding area was significant in the Battle of Wauhatchie. Lawrence will discuss archaeological findings from his 1998 survey of the property. The hike usually last approximately two hours. For complete information, visit www.reflectionriding.org.

Adventures South Cumberland Park Adventures The Rangers at South Cumberland Recreation Area in Monteagle, Tennessee stay busy. Here’s what’s on tap for the next couple of weeks. Friday, February 2 at 5:00 p.m., experience the eerie tranquility of a moonlit night in the winter woods, as Ranger Jason takes you for a night hike to the Fiery Gizzard. Meet at the Foster Falls parking lot. Friday, February 2 at 7:00 p.m., meet Ranger Anthony at the visitor’s center for a night hike around the Meadow trail. Saturday, February 3 at 4:00 p.m., meet Ranger Jamie at the Greeter Falls parking lot for an easy 3-mile round trip hike to watch a beautiful sunset over Big Creek. Bring a flashlight for all of these hikes. Saturday, February 10 at 9:00 a.m., join Ranger Jason at the Foster Falls parking lot for a short hike and litter pickup along the banks of Little Gizzard Creek. Saturday, February 10 at 1:00 p.m., Ranger Jamie will lead a moderate 1/4 mile hike to Laurel Falls to learn about the winter forest of the plateau. Sunday, February 11 at 2:00 p.m., check out a cold weather slideshow at the Savage Gulf ranger station. For more information about all of these hikes, visit www.friendsofscsra.org.

Benton MacKaye Big Frog Hike/Backpack On Saturday, February 3, the Benton MacKaye Trail Association will head into the Area for a backpacking trip. Meet at 10:00 AM at the trailhead parking area in Thunder Rock Campground (just beyond Ocoee No. 3 Powerhouse on US Hwy 64, 1 mile west of the Ocoee Whitewater Center), but please call if you plan to go: Rich Bowerman, [email protected] or call 828-808-2891.

More News Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards Nominations March 31 is the deadline to nominate an individual or organization for a 2006 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award. The awards acknowledge outstanding work in conservation, education, and infrastructure improvements in the State of Tennessee. Categories include Agriculture, Building Green, Greenways and Trails, and Aquatic Resource Preservation, just to name a few. Visit http://state.tn.us/environment/awards for complete guidelines and a nomination application.

Cold Weather Surfing Thanks to some enthusiastic bloggers and Webmasters, the Outdoor Chattanooga weekly e-blast is now listed on the Hiking Chattanooga Website at www.hikingchattanooga.com and on the Chattanooga Message Forum at http://scenic-city.com/. Click on “The Great Outdoors.” Thanks guys!

Ongoing . . . Open Gate Days at Lula Lake The Lula Lake Land Trust opens their gates to the public this coming Saturday, February 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hike, picnic, mountain bike, and bring the pooch as long as he’s on a leash. Visit www.lulalake.org for more information.

Tuesday Night Skills Practice The Rapid Learning Whitewater Kids Club holds weekly practice at the University of Tennessee indoor swimming pool from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. every Tuesday night. Cost is $5 per session or free for Rapid Learning members. For more information, call OutVenture at (423) 842-6629 or visit www.outdoorchattanooga.com.

Wednesday Night Trail Runs Join the Chattanooga Trail Blazers Adventure Racing Club for a trail run every Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. Trail running experience is recommended and headlamps are necessary. The location of the run changes, so email Jim Farmer at [email protected] for complete information.

Weekly Winter Mountain Bicycle Rides (Lights are required for all night and evening rides) Mondays 6:00 p.m. on Lookout Mountain’s Guild Trail with the Chattanooga Bicycle Club. The terrain is easy to intermediate. www.chattbike.com. Click on the Interactive Calendar. Tuesdays SORBA Chattanooga on Raccoon Mountain at 6:00 p.m. The terrain is intermediate to difficult. www.sorbachattanooga.org. Or . . . At 6:30, go ride the in the Ocoee with Scott’s Bicycle Center of Cleveland. Various routes and levels of difficulty. Visit www.scottsbikes.com for more information. Wednesdays Chattanooga Bicycle Club at Harrison Bay State Park. This is a good beginner night ride. www.chattbike.com. Click on the Interactive Calendar. Saturdays Suck Creek Cycle leads rides beginning at 1:00 p.m. Ride locations and degree of difficulty change each week. Check out www.suckcreek.com for more information.

Volunteer Opportunities Kudzu and Ivy and Privot, Oh My! This Saturday, February 3, the Lookout Mountain Land Trust will sponsor a work day from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at John C. Wilson Park (off of Cummings Highway on Lookout Mountain) to help eradicate/control exotic pest plants such as English Ivy and Winter Creeper. Volunteers will receive direction and orientation about what to do to help at the beginning of the session. For more information, please contact Sarah Quattrochi, Volunteer Coordinator, at 653-0091 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Learn more about LMLT at www.lookoutmountainlandtrust.org.

Booker T. Work Days SORBA Chattanooga will sponsor trail maintenance days at Booker T. Washington State Park on Saturday and Sunday, February 3 and 4. These work days are always followed by a mountain bike ride. Visit www.sorbachattanooga.org for more information.

Clean up an old Car Dump The Tennessee River Gorge Trust has scheduled their next clean up of the Richie Car Dump site for Saturday, February 17. The big car parts are gone, but there are plenty of small pieces and parts to pick up. If you or your group would like to volunteer, please contact the Tennessee River Gorge Trust at (423) 266-0314 or email TRGT volunteer coordinator Sarah Quattrochi at [email protected]. Learn more about the TRGT at www.trgt.org.

The Tour de Georgia 2007 The peloton is coming to Chattanooga on Wednesday, April 18th and volunteers will have a front row seat for the action. Come hang out with the best athletes in professional cycling. Descriptions of the volunteer positions are available at www.tourdegeorgia.com. Snooze you lose; sign up now to get the best jobs.

Host a National Trails Day Event On Saturday, June 2, participate in National Trails Day by hosting a trail maintenance work day, dedicating a new trail, or guiding a hike in the woods. Registered organizers will be listed on the American Hiking Society Website and receive support materials for their event. Learn more at www.americanhiking.org.

Classes and Clinics Beginners Fly Fishing Classes Feather ‘n Fly is sponsoring two beginners courses on fly tying and fly fishing technique through Chattanooga State Technical Community College. Classes will meet at the Feather ‘n Fly shop on South Broadway in Chattanooga. The course instructor will be Chattanooga State Assistant Professor Robert Prytula, president of the local chapter of Trout Unlimited. Beginning Fly Tying meets on Saturdays, February 3 – 24, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Cost is $79. Beginning Fly Fishing meets March 3 – 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Cost is $99. To register, visit www.chattanoogastate.edu or call the Office of Continuing Education and Workforce Development at 697-3100.

Feather ‘n Fly Monthly Fly Tying Clinic For a one-time clinic, visit Feather ‘n Fly for their monthly fly tying session, on Tuesday, February 13, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Cost is $25 and includes all tools and materials. Visit www.featherandfly.com for more information.

Wilderness First Responder Course The Adventure Guild will host a wilderness First Responder first aid course April 1 - 9 at the Greenway Farm in Hixson. The cost of the course is $650. For more information, email Kim Stock at [email protected] or visit www.theadventureguild.com.

Monthly Meetings . . . Chattanooga Hiking Club Monday, February 7, 7:00 p.m. at the Jones Observatory. http://hiking.chattanooga.net . Chattanooga Bike Club Monday, February 19, 6:00 p.m. at the downtown YMCA. www.chattbike.com.

Coming Up . . . Chattanooga’s Half Marathon and 5K Saturday, March 3 www.chattanoogatrackclub.org Fall Creek Thaw Saturday, March 3 www.machtenn.org

Chattanooga Family Adventures March 10 – April 22 www.chattanoogafamilyadventures.com River Gorge Trail Race Saturday, March 31 www.rockcreek.com Outdoor Chattanooga’s Outdoor Expo Saturday, March 31 www.outdoorchattanooga.com Chickamauga Chase Road Race Saturday, April 14 www.chickchase.org Raccoon Mountain Bicycle Road Race Sunday, April 15 www.sceniccityvelo.com Tour de Georgia Stage Three: Rome to Chattanooga Wednesday, April 18 www.tourdegeorgia.com Blue Cross Market Street Mile & Mystery H istory Quest Saturday, April 21 www.chattanoogatrackclub.org 3State/3Mountain Challenge Saturday, May 5 www.chattbike.com Tennessee Valley Club School Friday - Sunday, June 1 - 3 www.tvccpaddles.com National Trails Day Saturday, June 2 www.americanhiking.org National River Cleanup Week June 2 – 10 www.nationalrivercleanup.org Tennessee River Gorge Trust's Bargin' for the Gorge Dinner Cruise Tuesday, June 5 www.trgt.org Blue Cross Riverbend Run and Walk Saturday, June 16 www.riverbendfestival.com SORBA Chattanooga’s Bicycle Expo at the Chattanooga Market Sunday, June 24 www.sorbachattanooga.org Chattanooga Races Saturday, August 4 http://chatt.racedragonboats.com

SAVE the DATE !!! Outdoor Chattanooga’s Outdoor Expo Saturday, March 31st from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Get in gear and get ready to play. Outdoor Chattanooga will take over Coolidge Park for a day of products, programs, gear swapping, and recreational opportunities. $25 will get you a 10 X 10 space to strut your stuff. All proceeds from space rentals will benefit Chattanooga OutVenture programs. Keep an eye on th is email for more details.

Outdoor Chattanooga is a Division of the City of Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department

Ruth Cartlidge Events Coordinator Outdoor Chattanooga 1250 Market Street, Suite 1006 Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone: (423) 643-6889 Fax: (423) 643-6885 [email protected] www.outdoorchattanooga.com