[RC] New TN Horsecamp! - rides2far@xxxxxxxxThe following was in today's Chattanooga Times/Free-Press. If anyone remembers the 2 endurance rides held at Gee Creek this camp is right where the ride started. (Just about 1/4 mi. off the main hwy) This is a beautiful place to ride. The road bed up the mountain is rocky, but once on top the trails are nice with permanent markings. This camp sounds a little small for an endurance ride, but there's a private campground next door. With a little work maybe we can have another ride there someday! :-) Angie WORK BEGINS ON 3 MAJOR CHEROKEE FOREST PROJECTS Reliance, TN Work has begun on three major Cherokee National Forest projects in the Polk County using funds from a special federal appropriation, park officials said. A horse camp is being developed at the Chestnut Mountain horse trail near the Hiwassee River, said Dave Martin, acting recreation resource assistant. ?We are developing 22 pull-through campsites at the Lost Corral area?, Mr. Martin said. ?The sites are roughed in, and a loop road has been graveled. We still need to install tent pads, fire rings, tables and hitching areas. The popular trail had only a parking area for horse trailers, but the new section will give riders a camping area with wider and longer parking spaces, water spigots for horses and toilets for riders. The site is at the entrance to the trailhead, just off Spring Creek Road and near the Gee Creek State Park. The former four-wheeler trail is now open only to hikers and horseback riders. It connects to other trails on Starr Mountain. The camping area will be open to all users, including recreational vehicles, but officials expect most campers will bring their horses. ?The horse people really wanted this because it has been just a day-use area?, said Forest Service technician Steve Biatowas. He said the camping area probably will be open on a first-come, first served basis without required reservations. He said a horse camp is new for the forest service, so officials will be monitoring who actually uses the campground and how much use it gets. Work to upgrade the shooting range and expand the parking area at Spring Creek is also under way. Later this fall, work is expected to begin on the final project, upgrading camping facilities at Chilhowee Mountain Campground near Parksville Lake. Camping loops C,D,E, and F will be closed while a total of 40 campsites are improved and a new bathroom/shower facility is built. Loop E will have RV capable sites equipped with electrical hookups. Work on all projects is expected to be completed by spring 2005, officials said. e-mail Ron Clayton at jwalton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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