Board Meeting & Finances

The July 28 Board Meeting was held and the Minutes and Finances and can be read on the web site which is www.sprucecreektrails.com. 

Troxel-Wood Trailhead Update

The Troxel-Wood Trailhead is on Oby Blevins Road, which is across from Spruce Creek Drive.  On August 14 more rock was ordered and spread. The corner posts were set.  The fence and sign will be put up during the work day on Saturday, September 22.  A photo of the dedication will be in the next newsletter.

Pavilion has Bathroom Facilities

Tom Jancek has been our lead man and all around great carpenter on the Pavilion bathroom project.  At our last potluck one stall and vanity was operational and the second will be finished shortly.

Spruce Creek is Growing

Several people have moved into Spruce Creek either full-time or edging toward full time.  The Leroys moved from their old home on Spruce Creek Drive to their new home on Wilderness Lane.  Please welcome the following people to our community.

Beverly Chase, 739 Deer Haven Trail

Ned & Leslie Helm, 515 Trailhead Lane

Paul & Laurie Leroy, 436 Wilderness Lane

Troy Posey, 480 Spruce Creek Drive

Hal & Sharon Vaughn, 898 Spruce Creek Drive

Cathy & Alan Roberts, 652 Spruce Creek Drive

Jaime Whiteaker, 977 Spruce Creek Drive

Big South Fork Trail Maps

Big South Fork has new trail maps online at:

http://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/trailmaps.htm

Membership Applications

Membership applications can be downloaded at:  www.sprucecreektrails.com

Tack Cleaning Tip

(Tip provided by Dorothy Holder)

If you have leather saddles and bridles, they can be easily cleaned and oiled with a Baby Wipe.

July 14 Work Day

Seventeen people participated on July 14 for a trail work day.  They worked on the Wildcat Den trail and Crockett Creek trail.

Volunteers: Ken Pasternack, Ron and Linda Brinkerhoff, Leonard Dyle, Kay and Paul Nessler, Brian Machette, Ricky Rains, Hal and Sharon Vaughn, Roy Sillman, Donna and Steve Drochak, Mike and Donna Smith, and Alan Roberts, and Tom Pickard.

Food was served by Joyce Pickard and Kathy Harty.

Wedding Invitation

Linda Pridmore & Lowell Ensinger are being united in Marriage on Saturday, September 1, 2007 and wish you to join them on their happy occasion.

Time:    4 P.M.

Where: Jim Barna House, Loree Guest Ranch, Oby Blevins Road, Jamestown

Reception following Ceremony.

Bring a side dish for BBQ Pork & Chicken at the reception.

No Gifts Please. 

RSVP by 8-25-07:  (931) 879-4944

e-mail:  lindalu1@twlakes.net

Cedar Creek Horse Club

A saddle club in Clarkrange has been in existence since June.  Its headquarters are at the Cedar Creek Cattle Company, 204 Green Acres Road.  Owners of the facility are Mike and Jo Ann Archambault and facilities include an outdoor arena, indoor arena, two round pens, and 200 acres to ride on. 

Monthly meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at 7 P.M. at the barn.   Activities include two horse shows per year, camping, trail rides, and Cowboy Mounted Shooting. Team penning may begin soon.  Members can use the facilities at any time.  Membership dues are $10 per individual and $15 per family.

For more information contact Sue Ballard, 863-4507.

Riding the Yellowface/Salt Pine Trail

If you are not familiar with this trail it is a trail easily accessible from the new Troxel-Wood Trailhead.  The safest way to ride this trail is go through the wooden arches on Oby Blevins Road and up the Yellowface climb.  When you get to the gravel road turn right and ride about a mile until you get to the Salt Pine Trail.  Take this trail back and it comes out at the end of Laurel Fork Rustic Retreat, which belongs to Jack & Inez Troxel.  They request that you keep off the grass when riding through their development.  This trail is of medium difficulty and the climb up Yellowface could be slick after rain, but it’s a gorgeous trail and there is a big stream to water your horse before you begin the climb.  Doing this trail in reverse requires great care and increases the difficulty and risk.

Connector Trail to Saddle Valley

Since we have new people coming into the Spruce Creek area all of the time some of you may not know there is a connector trail from Oby Blevins Road to Saddle Valley.  This trail is of medium difficulty and you need to be cautious after rain because the rocks can be slick.  Ride to the end of Oby Blevins Road and ride the horse path to the left of the Laurel Fork Rustic Retreat gate.  Continue down the gravel road and take the first turn to the right.  You should be able to see horse trail ahead.  The last time I rode the trail I followed a dirt road for a little while before the trail narrowed to a horse path.  Except for one steep section going down it’s a beautiful ride with a wonderful creek and rock formations.  When you get to the end of the trail you should be on the intersecting trail.  Turn right and you will go to Saddle Valley.  Turn left and you will come out on Boone Ridge Road.  Turn right and ride to the highway.  Go across the highway and you are at Cumberland Valley Trailhead.

Reporting Trail Problems on BSF Trails

If you encounter down trees or bad spots on the BSF trails, please notify Wally Linder, the trail crew leader in BSF at (423) 569-9778.  The trail crew does a great job keeping the trails in good shape but appreciates input from riders when there is a problem.

Remember I.C.E.

(Tip provided by Dorothy Holder)

A paramedic came up with the acronym of ICE meaning In Case of Emergency.  Just store your emergency contact number under the name ICE on your cell phone and the paramedics will automatically dial that number to notify the person whose phone number you have stored.  This can save a lot of confusion and time.

Watering Trough on Spruce Creek Trail

Leslie & Ned Helm have a new watering trough at the end of their lane across from Michelle and Larry Flenor’s house where Trailhead Lane intersects the horse trail.  The trough has wood siding with “Welcome” written on it plus horseshoes.  So, feel free to water your horses and/or drop by to visit our new neighbors Leslie and Ned Helm.  Leslie says you may occasionally be offered free refreshments but don’t count on it every time.

Spruce Creek Trails Association

September 22 Work Day 7 A.M. Pavilion

East Fork Stables

www.east forkstables.com

August 31 & September 1  Dinner at the Pavilion

September 1 Southeast Pack Trips will offer horses to rent from Thursday through Sunday for two and four hour rides.  Rides begin at 9 A.M. and noon.

7 day advance reservation is required.

September 1  Music by Crossroads

September 1 & 2  Breakfast is available.

September 6-9 KMSHA will host a trail obstacle competition

September 8  Horse Show, 1 P.M. sponsored by Best Friends Sanctuary

September 20-23 Fall Golden Leaf Ride

Saddle Valley Campground

www.saddlevalleycampground.com

Sept 1  Labor Day Weekend: potluck and singing.

Sept 2  Trailer to power lines. Ride to Station Camp Creek

Sept 22  Charit Creek: Ride to Charit Creek and stay over night.

Oct 20  Fall colors Ride: Ride to overlooks on N. White Oak loop, potluck. 

Oct 27  Halloween Party and costume contest.

Southeast Pack Trips

www.southeastpacktrips.com

Afternoon rides to Bacara’s Restaurant for dinner.

September 1 Horses for rent at East Fork Thursday through Sunday

Timber Ridge Campground

www.horse-camping.com

September 13-16 “Ride-About" Progressive Trail Ride at BSF

September 22 & 23 Fall Work Weekend

September 28 & 29, Fall Trading Days

True West Campground

www.truewestcampground.com

September 1 Fourth Annual Bluegrass Festival

September 13-16 Autumn Ride-About at BSF

September 29 Buckaroo Day and Square Dance

October 11-14 First Annual Fall Roundup

October 27 Halloween Horse/Rider Costume Contest, Dance and Supper

Defibrillator in Spruce Creek

First call 911.  Second, call Tom or Joyce Pickard at 879-6784 or stop at their house at 365 Spruce Creek Drive. They have a personal home defibrillator. Training for using a defibrillator is part of the Red Cross CPR Training Course and Tom or Joyce can help.  This defibrillator is one that talks you through the steps and let’s you know if it’s okay to shock the person.  If a shock is not required the machine will announce that, too.

It’s not “911” in Big South Fork!

If you have an emergency in BSF when you are still in Fentress County do not dial 911.  Dialing 911 routes the call to Scott County and hampers rescue efforts because the dispatchers are not familiar with our side of the park.  Instead, program your cell phone to 879-8142 or (931) 879-8142 and your call will be taken by the Jamestown dispatcher who is familiar with the trails, trailheads and roads.

Summertime Riding of the Horse

by Robert N. Oglesby DVM

(Article provided by Diane Johnson)

Introduction:  Experience with horses suggests that they are suited for the cooler, drier times of the year at least here in the middle latitudes. Horses in the middle of a hot, humid summer day are sluggish, sweaty and, in short, miserable. Ride a horse on a very hot day and you run the risk of making him ill. The problem boils down to an inability to get rid of excess heat during hot, humid days. A horse's internal system works best at 100 degrees. It will experience complete breakdown a little above 107. In between, the horse's systems grow increasingly inefficient as his body temperature rises. This article

explains how to calculate heat stress and how to best deal with it.

Heat Index:  The body has mechanisms to lower its temperature: radiation, conduction, and evaporation are the most important. Radiation and conduction depend on the environmental temperature to be lower than the body's temperature, and they are aided by the wind. Evaporation requires that the air not be saturated with moisture. The lower the humidity and the faster the wind, the quicker sweat will evaporate and the better the cooling. The above can be expressed in a simple formula that helps you decide how bad current conditions might be:

Temperature (Fahrenheit) + relative humidity - wind speed (in mph) = Relative danger

Under 150, overheating is not a serious problem.

Between 150 and 170, exercise care while exercising the out of condition horse.

Over 170 will severely compromise thermoregulation, so extreme caution is required even with well-conditioned horses.

Over 180 horses should not be stressed.

 (Review provided by Leslie Helm)

For those of you who have a bumper-pull…extend the life of your trailer with a protective hitch cover.

The Hitch Saver is a durable waterproof vinyl cover designed to defend your trailer’s hitch assembly

from the elements.  It shields the entire hitch assembly, including electrical wires and chains. This attractive heavy-duty cover is machine washable and comes in either gray or black. It is available in two sizes for exact fit and has both a zipper and strap with buckle to keep it firmly in place.

The cost is $44.95 plus $6.95 shipping and it is available through www.hitchsaver.com

  

Monthly potlucks are the last Saturday night of each month except in winter at the Pavilion and begin at 6:30 P.M. Central Time (Daylight Savings Time when appropriate).

Pavilion Use

Spruce Creek Trail Association members and Spruce Creek owners may use the Pavilion when it is not scheduled for the Potluck dinners or other events.  Just inquire with Ken Pasternack, Tom Jancek, or Ricky Rains to make sure it has not already been reserved.

Cabin for Rent – Vacation, family or guests.  Cabin sleep 6-10 people, has a fully equipped kitchen, washer/dryer, fireplace, Jacuzzi, etc. to make your stay very enjoyable.  Visit our website: www.kickingbackcabin.com to see the interior and check for availability dates.

Mowing – Rita Rosshirt, (931) 239-6835.  Free estimates and references. 

Bush hogging, post holes dug and light grading.  Tom Jancek. (931) 879-8660.

Pet Adoption – Donna Drochak is a volunteer for Best Friends Sanctuary and fosters dogs.  If you are looking for a new pet, phone Donna at (931) 752-8388 and tell her what you have in mind.

4.6 acres, cabin, barn,  pasture and woods

240 Crockett Creek Road. 700 sq. ft. cabin plus bunk room and tack/utility room.  Fully furnished.  Four 12x12 stalls with mats, fans, buckets,  wheelbarrow, saddle and bridle racks. On horse trail. $185,000.  Additional 3.9 acres available.  Joyce & Tom Pickard, (931) 879-6784.

Sewing by Joan

Turn your favorite photo into an embroidery design.  Also custom slipcovers, cushion covers, pillows, draperies, etc.  Unique bathroom and horse trailer interior designs.  752-7643.

Mulching machine/forester & manure disposal

Machine available until September 15.  Also horse manure disposal and fencing.  Leonard Dyal, 752-7643.

Spruce Creek Trail Association