[Bristol-Birds] BBC Field Trip to Mendota Hawkwatch Sat Sept 17
- From: Robert Biller <xyon42@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Bristol-birds <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:53:21 -0400
Hello -
The Bristol Bird Club will hold a field trip to Mendota Fire Tower on
Saturday Sept 17.
John Hay will be scheduling a meet up for those who wish to join but would
rather meet in Bristol before heading to Mendota. I would think he will post
something with the time and location.
I am going to do what the club had done the past few years and meet anyone
who would like to go at the parking area on the gravel road over the
mountain coming out of Mendota. This email will include various directions
to the tower parking area from a variety of starting points. This method
will also eliminate the need to have set beginning and end times. You arrive
when you want and are able to leave when you want. I am one of those that
likes to stay for the whole flight day. Some might want to leave earlier or
arrive later. The hawks are really starting to move and it looks good for
this weekend.
I will be arriving at the tower parking area at 9am and will start walking
up to the tower at 9:15am. Even if you arrive later than 9:15am you can
still easily find your way up to the tower with relative ease. There is a
path behind the parking area (right side coming up from Mendota) that is
fairly steep and involves climbing up a few large rocks. The other option is
to walk back down the road towards the Mendota side a few hundred yards to
an old, rutted out, gravel road that goes up to the tower that is not quite
as steep but is a longer walk as it switchbacks up to the tower (you can see
it on the Google map links below). If you want to walk the road, there are a
few areas to park closer to the rutted out road to the top. The path is a
more direct (and steep!) way to intersect this same road much closer to the
tower. There is a little difference in the times it takes to walk between
the two ways. The path (with minimal stopping) will take between 15-25
minutes to walk and the road will take from 25-40 minutes to walk. I don't
take the road option going up so I am guessing at that time. It may not take
quite that long but I'm not sure.
Some tips for Spending time at the Mendota Fire Tower :
1A. - NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!
1. There is very little tree cover / shade where you will be watching the
hawks from - TAKE AND USE SUNSCREEN!! Extremely important.
2. Wear a hat - the more cover the better - but not a requirement.
3. Watch the forecast and dress appropriately - as of this email they are
calling for sunny weather and highs in the lower 70's.
4. Pack some water. Whether or not you pack a lunch (recommended) or a few
snacks (also recommended), pack in some water to stay hydrated while sitting
in the sun.
5. Packing in food is heavier going up the mountain. Remember what you pack
in you have to carry up the mountain. Pack as much as you want to carry on
the hike up. I've packed too much before and regretted it while walking up.
I did enjoy it when I got it up to the tower, so pack what you are
willing/able to carry up with you.
6. Bring supplies for outdoor restroom use. This is more a requirement for
females on the mountain, but you never know how the day may go. ;)
7. What you pack in, PACK IT OUT! It's important to the longevity of the
BBC's presence at the tower. Bring an extra trash bag (if you wish) and help
carry some trash off the mountain. It's our way of helping to make a nice
place to watch hawks from and makes us look good. :)
8. Don't forget you binoculars! Trust me on this one. It's a sick feeling
when you are getting your stuff ready to hike up the mountain and you
realize you've traveled over an hour (in my case from Elizabethton) and
you've left them at home. ;)
9. Bring a good attitude. I can't tell you how many folks Tom has tossed off
the side of the mountain because they had a negative attitude. (ok, I am
kidding on this one :D )
10. Just because the hawks aren't flying early, be patient. Some of the best
flights have been later in the afternoon. I have seen many people get
frustrated because the hawks are flying like they expected and causing them
to leave earlier than they had planned. Later in the afternoon, the hawks
really started flying and they missed out on it. Conversely, I have been
there when the hawks were real good in the morning hours and waned off
during the afternoon. So you really don't know when the big flights will
occur (or if they even will on they day you are there). Sometimes the hawks
are so high going over they look like little specs which can also be
frustrating. But when you are there in the right conditions and the bigger
flights occur, it's one of the most amazing sights you will see in the
birding world.
Hopefully we will have a good flight day. A cold front is coming through
tonight/tomorrow morning(Thurs) which will drop temperatures and hopefully
get the hawks to really start moving. But if the flights are not what we are
hoping then there will be a lot of good company to be with and spending the
day looking at the breathtaking views from the tower are not a bad way to
spend a Saturday.
OH -
10b - If you want to keep up with the Florida/Tennessee game at 3:30 on
Saturday, bring your radio and headset. :)
Instructions to follow next - copied and pasted from Google Maps: - The link
provided will take you to Google Maps website with interactive directions
from that location.
*********** FROM JOHNSON CITY, TN / KINGSPORT AREA
**************************
http://g.co/maps/eaqnz
(if the link does not work, copy and paste the above url into your web
browser)
The Essentials from the link above
* *
*7*. *I-26W* towards Kingsport
22.7 mi
*8.* Continue onto *US-23 N*
Entering Virginia
6.2 mi
*9.* Turn right onto *US-421 S/US-58 E/Hilton Rd/State Route 701*
Continue to follow US-421 S/US-58 E/State Route 701
0.3 mi
*10.* Turn left onto *US-421 S/US-58 E*
4.9 mi
*11.* Turn left onto *State Route 709*
0.1 mi
*12.* Turn right onto *State Route 614*
8.5 mi
*13.* Continue onto *Co Rd 614/Mendota Rd*
1.3 mi
*14.* Turn left onto *Co Rd 802/Mendota Rd*
0.7 mi
*15.* Turn left onto *Co Rd 612/Pinnacle Rd*
3.1 mi
Parking area at Co Rd 612/Pinnacle R
************************* FROM THE BRISTOL AREA ************************
http://g.co/maps/cmdea
(if the link does not work, copy and paste the above url into your web
browser)
The Essentials from the Link above
*2.* Continue onto *Commonwealth Ave*
0.6 mi
*3.* Turn left onto *Euclid Ave*
1.1 mi
*4.* Slight right onto *US-421 N*
12.0 mi
*5.* Turn right onto *State Route 615*
3.7 mi
*6.* Continue onto *Co Rd 615/Federal Rd*
1.8 mi
*7.* Turn left onto *Civil Dr/Co Rd 614*
0.2 mi
*8.* Take the 2nd right onto *Co Rd 802/Mendota Rd*
0.7 mi
*9.* Turn left onto *Co Rd 612/Pinnacle Rd*
3.1 mi
Parking area Co Rd 612/Pinnacle R
************************* FROM RICHLAND, VIRGINIA AREA
**********************************
http://g.co/maps/vhd5w
(if the link does not work, copy and paste the above url into your web
browser)
The Essentials from the Link above
** 4. *US-460 E*
2.4 mi
*5.* Turn right onto *US-19 S/Trail of the Lonesome Pine*
Continue to follow US-19 S
30.1 mi
*6.* Turn right onto *State Route 614/US-58 Alt W*
Continue to follow US-58 Alt W
3.3 mi
*7.* Turn left onto *VA-613 S*
0.7 mi
*8.* Turn left to stay on *VA-613 S*
8.8 mi
*9.* Turn left to stay on *VA-613 S*
0.4 mi
*10.* Turn left to stay on *VA-613 S*
430 ft
*11.* Slight left onto *Co Rd 612*
2.7 mi
Parking area at Co Rd 612/Pinnacle Rd
***************************FROM KNOXVILLE, MORRISTOWN, GREENEVILLE,
ROGERSVILLE *************************
Go to Kingport, TN and follow the above directions from the Johnson City /
Kingsport area
Hope to see you at the tower.
Rob Biller
Elizabethton, TN
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