Audubon Mountain: May Trail Crew Update

May was a month of steady progress and technical trail building at Audubon Mountain as the crew continued work on one of the most challenging sections of the Cumberland Trail. Working along steep bluff faces and rugged terrain, the team focused on constructing stone staircases that will safely guide hikers through this dramatic landscape.

As work progressed along the steep bluff corridor, crews encountered thick layers of duff and rocky soil. Many of the rocks excavated from the corridor were repurposed as trail-building materials, including steps, cribbing, gargoyles, and shims. The trail alignment hugs a wet bluff wall, requiring drainage improvements and gravel surfacing to stabilize saturated sections. During the first full week covered in May, approximately 75 feet of trail was completed, including 11 stone steps, crushed rock surfacing through a wet area, and improvements to several drainage crossings.

The technical nature of the project became increasingly apparent as the crew worked higher up the bluff. Suitable stone was scarce, requiring significant time and effort to locate, harvest, and transport step rocks across near-vertical terrain. Building surfaces often had to be created with cribbing before steps could be installed. By mid-May, the crew had completed 40 additional feet of trail and installed 18 more stone steps while continuing construction of the second major staircase on the segment.

Safety remained a top priority throughout the month. Multiple encounters with copperheads and rattlesnakes prompted the crew to temporarily shift focus from staircase construction to corridor clearing. More than 6,000 feet of unbuilt trail must be traversed each day to reach the work site, and dense grapevines, leaf litter, and deadfall created ideal snake habitat. Several days were devoted to improving visibility and access by removing deadfall, clearing vegetation, and widening the corridor to provide safer travel both to and from the work area.

By the final week of May, the crew had nearly completed the staircase climb out of the gorge. Fourteen additional stone steps were installed in the steepest section of the route, bringing total completed construction for the reporting period to approximately 205 feet of new trail and 43 stone steps, along with extensive cribbing, drainage improvements, and paver installation. With only about 40 feet remaining, the crew was positioned to complete the climb and connect to existing finished trail soon.

Despite difficult terrain, challenging logistics, limited stone availability, and repeated wildlife encounters, the team made significant progress throughout May. The craftsmanship and perseverance required on this section will result in a durable, sustainable trail that allows hikers to safely experience the unique beauty of Audubon Mountain for years to come.