Muddy Boots, a hiking group for new Tellico Village residents, will sponsor the East Lakeshore Trail Relay on Monday to highlight the trail’s completion and expose as many people as possible to the trail.
Both Muddy Boots co-leaders, Susan Lehmann and George Zola, said the event is open to everyone including those outside of Tellico Village.
“My ultimate goal for this event is to get people exposed to (East Lakeshore) because it is such a nice trail system and people don’t know that it exists,” Zola said.
Sixty people are planning to attend, with eight to nine enthusiasts planning to hike the entire trail of 28.3 miles. The remaining hikers may choose which of the seven legs they are interested in hiking with each group meeting at the Poplar Spring boat ramp located on the parkway by Coyatee trail head and carpool to the designated trailhead.
Following is the hiking schedule and meeting times for each of the seven legs of the trail system:
- 5:30 a.m. — Canal/Baker Hollow, 4.7 miles.
- 7:15 a.m. — Davis Ferry, 3.3 miles.
- 8:05 a.m. — Glendale, 2.8 miles.
- 9:45 a.m. — Sinking Creek, 4.5 miles.
- 12:15 p.m. — Lotterdale, 3.8 miles.
- 2:15 p.m. — Jackson Bend, 5.5 miles.
- 4:45 p.m. — Morganton, 3.7 miles.
At the end of each leg, a shuttle will be provided for drivers to get back to their cars with the event officially ending when the last group crosses Wildcat Pointe. Zola said she had the task of enlisting leaders for each of the different segments, including a leader from the Tellico Village Hiking Club, a leader from the Ladies Who Hike group and a leader responsible for building the original trail.
“People that are early risers can head out at 6 a.m., and someone who works can head out with our last leg at 5:30 p.m.,” Zola said.
Muddy Boots members hike once a month to places including the Smoky Mountains and Fall Creek Falls, but the East Lakeshore Trail Relay gives people another opportunity to do something different, Zola said.
“As a group, there is no commitment other than to have fun, meet people and explore our new home state of Tennessee,” Lehmann said.
