Embedded Files
AVA's TRAIL/ROUTE RATING SYSTEM IS MADE OF TWO PARTS
Part 1 – INCLINE/ELEVATION
1 -- Very small hills or very little stair climbing.
2 -- Some moderate hills or stair climbing.
3 -- Some significant hills or stair climbing.
4 -- Lots of significant hills or stair climbing.
5 -- Many steep hills.
Part 2 – TERRAIN
A -- Almost entirely on pavement.
B -- A significant part of the route is on well-groomed trails with very few obstacles.
C -- A significant part of the route is on somewhat difficult terrain (rocky/rooted paths or soft sand).
D -- A significant part of the route is on very difficult terrain.
E -- The majority of the route is on very difficult terrain
For example -- 1A could be an easy walk on pavement, and might be wheelchair accessible.
For the more challenging elevations and terrains, you may want to use trekking poles.
ACRONYMS
AT = Appalachian Trail
AVA = American Volkssport Association
ETW = East Tennessee Wanderers
GSMNP = Great Smoky Mountains National Park
KM = Kilometer / Each Kilometer is equivalent to 0.6214 miles.
M&G = Meet & Greet
MMA = Music, Moonshine and Art
OSB = Online Start Box
SVC = Sugarlands Visitor Center
TBD = To Be Determined
TE = Traditional Event
TGW = Traveling Guided Walk
UT = University of Tennessee
YRE = Year Round Event
TYPES OF AVA WALKS
Members are able to stamp their Distance/Events and Special Program books for the following:
Traditional Events (TE) are walks limited to one or two days with a set start and end time. Register using AVA's OSB ($4 fee) or pay $3 onsite to the ETW's walk leader. Details about local walks hosted by our club are sent via an email as a "Walk Alert" and posted on Meetup.
Traveling Guided Walks (TGW) are done as a group at different locations throughout the year. Pay the $3 to the walk leader. Details about local walks are not on the AVA website, but sent to ETW club members in the "Walk Alerts" and posted on Meetup.
Year Round Events (YRE) can be done as a group or as an individual. The directions and maps can be downloaded from the AVA website using the OSB. Register your walk on the OSB ($4 fee) or pay $3 to the walk leader for the group walk. Our club's group walks are listed with dates on our annual calendar. Details are sent to club members in the "Walk Alerts" and posted on Meetup.
Our club's YRE walks are located in Alcoa, Clinton, Elkmont, Gatlinburg, Knoxville, Maryville, Oak Ridge, Rogersville, Seven Islands State Birding Park, Townsend and Vonore. Plus, hiking on the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee. Information about our club walks and walks in other locations can be viewed on AVA's OSB.
Our club's TGWs have been offered in the following locations:
Abrams Falls Alcoa Greenway (Clayton Homes Branch)
Aspire Park Baker Creek Preserve
Baxter Gardens Big Ridge State Park
Cades Cove Concord Park East
Cove Lake State Park Davis Ferry Branch
East Lakeshore Trails Emory Valley & Martin Lake Greenways
Enterprise South Park Eureka Rail Trail
Founders Park & Grigsby Chapel Greenways Frozen Head State Park
Hall Bend Trail Haw Ridge Park
Hiwassee & Ocoee State Park I.C. King Park
Ijams Nature Center Indian Boundary Lake
Kahite Neighborhood Knoxville Botanical Garden
Lakeshore Park Greenway Lotterdale Cove
Maryville College Woods Loop McFee Park
Metcalf Bottoms, GSMNP Melton Creek & Emory Valleys Greenways
Norris Dam State Park Northern Boundary
Obed Wild & Scenic River Panther Creek
Riverwalk Greenway Sequoyah Hills
Sevierville Greenway Sharp's Ridge Memorial Park
Sterchi Greenway Tellicao Village Trail
Ten Mile Creek Greenway Third Creek Greenway
Urban Wilderness UT Arboretum
Victor Ashe Park & Pleasant Ridge Greenways Ware's Bend
West Town Mall White Oak Sinks & Wildflower Walk in the GSMNP
It is obvious, that the club offers a variety of walks. Special thanks to our club officers for all their hard work!
For details about the different Special Programs offered by AVA clubs go to https://cb.ava.org/specprog.php.
Please note:
Our events take place unless weather presents a danger to the participants either while walking or getting to the start point. Contact the Club President if you have any concerns.
It is important to stay hydrated. Please bring water to drink during ALL walks.
If you have not walked in awhile, please do not start off walking the 10K distance, but walk the 5K instead.
NOTICE: Before visiting the Smoky Mountains, review https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm. Also, check for up-to-date information on road closures due to downed trees, unsafe conditions or special events at https://twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps. For a view of the weather, check out the camera installed at Newfound Gap at https://www.air-resource.net/grsmnfgap/.
Updated 11/11/24
Page updated
Report abuse