2019 10th Annual TraceFest
The 10th Annual TraceFest and Annual Membership Meeting is set for
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday October 11, 12, 13 in Stearns Kentucky.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday October 11, 12, 13 in Stearns Kentucky.
Join us as we celebrate 10 years of "protecting, preserving, and promoting" the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail and get outside and do some hiking on the new Kentucky trail section of the Trace. Same day registration opens at 8:30 am with Trace Fest activities beginning at 9 am at the Stearns Depot. All activities are open to all ages.
TRACE FEST
TraceFest 2019 is a weekend of hiking, trail maintenance, educational workshops, election of the 2020 Board of Directors and updates on the work of the STA. You may come for the day or a part of the day or we hope you will share the Columbus Day weekend with us. This year we will visit Stearns, the last trail town along the Sheltowee and offer opportunities to hike and visit the trails around this area. Click HERE to register online now.
Walk Up registration opens at 8:30 at the Depot building (look for signs). The morning sessions are a mix of educational workshops for all trail users and information on plans and programs hosted by the STA.
SATURDAY MORNING SESSION (9 AM to Noon)
Welcome - Update on Trail Changes - Trail Extensions
Around the Outdoor World - Hiking Yosemite - Roderick Saylor / Dave Berry share their experience hiking in Yosemite.
Going for the Fastest Known Time on the Trace - 6 time End to Ender Rick McQuerry, holder of the Fastest Known Time hiking the Trace shares some tips on lighten your weight to hike with less effort or faster, being comfortable even if your uncomfortable, going out with minimal gear for long distance backpacking.
Around the Outdoor World - Biking packing the Danube Trail - Laura Stoehr and Steve Barbour share their experience bikepacking over 200 miles on the Danube trail in Germany and Austria.
Update from our Land Manager Partners - Representatives from the Daniel Boone National Forest and the Big South Fork will update us on what's happening in the Big South Fork NRRA and the The Boone.
Around the Outdoor World - Backpacking the Tahoe Rim Trail - Sheltowee Trace End to Enders Chris Cummins and Ed Kohinke share their experience backpacking the Lake Tahoe Rim Trail.
Trail Towns and You - The Trace has more trail towns along its path than any other trail in Kentucky. How are they doing? What can they do to better serve the Trace Community. We will have representatives from several of our trail towns on hand to talk about how together we can continue to serve visitors coming off the Trace.
Lunch Noon to 1:00 - Election of Board Members - STA Update - Executive Director, STA will update the membership on programs and plans for the future. The election of the 2020 Board will set the leadership for the year ahead.
SATURDAY DAY HIKES
This year we are offering multiple day hike opportunities on the new section of the Trace on the Kentucky Trail and around the Blue Heron Mining Camp area. Hikes are open to all ages. Participants should be dressed for the weather, wear sturdy boots and bring a small pack for a snack and something to carry water. Shuttles will take hikers out to the Trace along Wilson Ridge. All hikes depart at 3:00 and are lead by an STA experienced hiker.
Hike 1 - Hike the Trace on Ky Trail - Wilson Ridge Road to Blue Heron 4.6 miles about 3 hours. Shuttle departs from Blue Heron Visitor Center.
Hike 2 - Hike the Trace on Ky Trail - Blue Herron to Dick Gap Overlook and return 3 miles. Hike departs from Blue Heron Visitor Center.
Hike 3 - Hike the - Blue Herron to Crack in the Rocks and Devils Jump Overlook and return 2.5 miles. Hike departs from Blue Heron Visitor Center.
Hike 4 - Hike the Trace on the Kentucky Trail - Overnight Backpacking Adventure perfect for the beginner or the individual who wants to shake down their gear before the 2020 Hiker Challenge. A chance for past end to enders to catch up and complete this new section of the Trace. Hike begins on Wilson Road at the new trail head and ends on Sunday at Peter's Mountain. A distance of 20 miles with an overnight on the Trace at the Ledbetter Trailhead.
TRAIL MAINTENANCE - If you would prefer, instead of hiking on Saturday, we can use your help doing some trail maintenance on the Ky trail portion of the Trace. More details to come but it would be in the afternoon on Saturday from 3 until 5:30.
Walk Up registration opens at 8:30 at the Depot building (look for signs). The morning sessions are a mix of educational workshops for all trail users and information on plans and programs hosted by the STA.
SATURDAY MORNING SESSION (9 AM to Noon)
Welcome - Update on Trail Changes - Trail Extensions
Around the Outdoor World - Hiking Yosemite - Roderick Saylor / Dave Berry share their experience hiking in Yosemite.
Going for the Fastest Known Time on the Trace - 6 time End to Ender Rick McQuerry, holder of the Fastest Known Time hiking the Trace shares some tips on lighten your weight to hike with less effort or faster, being comfortable even if your uncomfortable, going out with minimal gear for long distance backpacking.
Around the Outdoor World - Biking packing the Danube Trail - Laura Stoehr and Steve Barbour share their experience bikepacking over 200 miles on the Danube trail in Germany and Austria.
Update from our Land Manager Partners - Representatives from the Daniel Boone National Forest and the Big South Fork will update us on what's happening in the Big South Fork NRRA and the The Boone.
Around the Outdoor World - Backpacking the Tahoe Rim Trail - Sheltowee Trace End to Enders Chris Cummins and Ed Kohinke share their experience backpacking the Lake Tahoe Rim Trail.
Trail Towns and You - The Trace has more trail towns along its path than any other trail in Kentucky. How are they doing? What can they do to better serve the Trace Community. We will have representatives from several of our trail towns on hand to talk about how together we can continue to serve visitors coming off the Trace.
Lunch Noon to 1:00 - Election of Board Members - STA Update - Executive Director, STA will update the membership on programs and plans for the future. The election of the 2020 Board will set the leadership for the year ahead.
SATURDAY DAY HIKES
This year we are offering multiple day hike opportunities on the new section of the Trace on the Kentucky Trail and around the Blue Heron Mining Camp area. Hikes are open to all ages. Participants should be dressed for the weather, wear sturdy boots and bring a small pack for a snack and something to carry water. Shuttles will take hikers out to the Trace along Wilson Ridge. All hikes depart at 3:00 and are lead by an STA experienced hiker.
Hike 1 - Hike the Trace on Ky Trail - Wilson Ridge Road to Blue Heron 4.6 miles about 3 hours. Shuttle departs from Blue Heron Visitor Center.
Hike 2 - Hike the Trace on Ky Trail - Blue Herron to Dick Gap Overlook and return 3 miles. Hike departs from Blue Heron Visitor Center.
Hike 3 - Hike the - Blue Herron to Crack in the Rocks and Devils Jump Overlook and return 2.5 miles. Hike departs from Blue Heron Visitor Center.
Hike 4 - Hike the Trace on the Kentucky Trail - Overnight Backpacking Adventure perfect for the beginner or the individual who wants to shake down their gear before the 2020 Hiker Challenge. A chance for past end to enders to catch up and complete this new section of the Trace. Hike begins on Wilson Road at the new trail head and ends on Sunday at Peter's Mountain. A distance of 20 miles with an overnight on the Trace at the Ledbetter Trailhead.
TRAIL MAINTENANCE - If you would prefer, instead of hiking on Saturday, we can use your help doing some trail maintenance on the Ky trail portion of the Trace. More details to come but it would be in the afternoon on Saturday from 3 until 5:30.
