News 2018

22 May News 2018

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[av_heading heading=’Spring On The CT – Update May 2018′ tag=’h3′ link=” link_target=” style=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=” margin=” padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” custom_class=” id=” admin_preview_bg=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-f9mcza’][/av_heading]

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New e-mail for Volunteer Information . . . . Trail Closure Notice at North Chick Trailhead . . . .Tally for BreakAway . . . . Volunteer for Soak Creek Progress . . . . .

Interested in Helping with building or maintaining the Cumberland Trail?

Contact us at : volunteeratctc@gmail.com   This email gets special attention.  Hiking groups, individuals and civic organizations are welcome to contact us and arrange for a special day to volunteer on the trail.  You will work with our skilled professional trail builders and other volunteers with years of experience. It will be a fun, satisfying day of helping the trail and leaving a lasting legacy for others to enjoy.

We provide training and tools. Just bring water, bug spray, lunch, snacks, gloves, long pants and sturdy shoes. Check out our trail building page HERE.

Trail Closure Notice at North Chick Trailhead

Effective May 9^th the area of the CT from the Stevenson Branch Campsite to the North Chick Trailhead parking area will be closed until further notice. This is safety precaution due to construction for a new Ranger Station in the area from Montlake Rd upwards. The trail will be CLOSED   until further notice.

The North Chick parking area will be closed. Cars parked there after May 9 will be ticketed and towed.

Alternative Spring Break 2018 Tally

In the four weeks of ASB this year 1.9 miles of trail were constructed between Black  Mountain and Ozone Falls, leaving about four more to go. The new section is not open and is not continuous. Work picked up from end of trail off East side of Black Mountain on Week One. By Week Three, the approach to the work site had shifted to an old access road off Renegade Mountain.

Great thanks to the 165 students, Whole Foods volunteers, local volunteers, paid crew and the staff at Camp Ozone for making this a very successful BreakAway.  In spite of the unsettled weather, only one day was lost due to rain or snow.

University of South Florida students were treated to a minor snow storm on Monday of Week Two. Almost 3/4 of an inch was just enough to make miniature snowmen. By 1 PM the wind died down – wind chills had been in the 20s – and the sun came out. By 2 PM they were in the trail for the first day of instruction of and work.

Colleges whop participated: Boston University, Centre College, Colorado University-Boulder, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Michigan State, University of Delaware, Pitt and the University of South Florida.

Soak Creek Moves On
The CTC professional crew moves south to Soak Creek in Rhea County after ASB. During the month of April they added another 3,000 feet of trail. Soak Creek is in The Falls Segment of the Cumberland Trail.

New trail leads north and east from The Falls along the south bank of Soak Creek, a designated State Scenic River.

Volunteer are always welcome! Contact Crew Boss Shauna Wilson directly at: 931 414 0661. Voice or text for best time and place to meet.

Planning map for the Soak Creek area:

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Volunteers ! Multiple Trail Building opportunities !  Ever want to help build a wilderness hiking trail?  There are many opportunities during the month of March . . . .

In addition to the annual Alternative Spring Break event, the Cumberland Trail State Scenic Trail will be working on new section of trail that will connect the Morgan County Visitor Center in Wartburg, TN to the top of Bird Mountain, headed north toward Frozen Head State Park & State Natural Area.

Weather permitting; volunteers are invited to assist with construction. Tools and training are provided and no experience is required.

Dates for this event are: Saturday 3/10.  Then April 14, May  5th, June 16 and July 14.

Volunteers will meet at the Morgan County Visitor Center at 10:00am for an orientation/safety meeting. Work will conclude by 3:30pm. 

Volunteers will need lunch, water and extra water. Please dress in layers for the weather, including long pants and long sleeves.  Bring a rain jacket, and wear closed-toe shoes. If you have your own work gloves, bring them, otherwise tools and gloves will be supplied by the park.

*Volunteer hours can fulfill Tennessee Promise Scholarship requirements.

*Volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent/guardian present.

The Morgan County Visitor Center is located at 3804 Morgan County Hwy  (at the junction of US-27 and TN-62).

Hiking clubs, church groups and civic groups welcome !

*To RSVP or for questions, contact Ranger Ingram at 423-419-9516

Meanwhile, Alternative Spring Break continues in Cumberland County all of March.     

This year ASB is working to fill the gap between Ozone Falls State Park and Black mountain.  The six mile piece of trail will hug Fall Creek under Ozone falls, then rise more than 700 feet to cross several ridges and three creeks heading almost due west toward the existing trail on Black Mountain.

Call the CTC Office to get directions to the work area or Camp Ozone if you would like to volunteer. No experience necessary!  We train!  Just bring work gloves, bug spray, lunch and work/hiking shoes.

Full ASB 2018 photo albums on our Facebook page HERE.

Week One completed 4,100 feet of trail ! Forty-eight students from Boston, Pitt and Michigan State joined regular staff and local volunteers to make a big dent in the new connection ! Great thanks to all !

During Week 2 CTC hosted 20 students from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and University of South Florida. Florida students were very excited to be greeted by real snow on Monday morning.  By 1 PM the wind died down and we were able to hike and get in two solid hours of work. Along with trail crew and local volunteers the students constructed over 1,500 feet of new trail including many stone steps. Shauna says, “Thank you all for your help. You are appreciated more than you know!”

Week Three we were joined by students from Centre College and 20 volunteers from Whole Foods !  They dodged rain and snow to complete 1,800 feet of trail.

Week Four:

Call the CTC Office and let them know what day – or days – you expect to be there.  They will provide directions and information on accommodations.

931 456 6259

or email:  ctcoffice2014@gmail.com
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Highlights:  Alternative Spring Break all month . . . . . Lots of opportunities to Volunteer . . . . . .

Forty-eight students from Michigan State, University of Pittsburgh and Boston University arrive Sunday afternoon March 4th to begin a week of working in the wilds of East Tennessee to extend the Cumberland Trail.

Operating out of a base camp in Ozone, Cumberland County, students work under the guidance of experienced Wagon Masters – a CTC term for crew leaders. A typical work week is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.  Wednesday is a day off  (unless weather changes things) so the students can explore the local area or take a day trip to Nashville, Knoxville or Chattanooga.

Work on the trail is supervised by the CTC Trail Boss Shauna Wilson along with her regular CTC builders.  During the preceding weeks, Shauna, working with Cumberland Trail State Park personnel, surveyed the work area, found logging road access points and flagged off dozens of 250′ long work segments.

This year ASB will work to fill in the gap between Ozone Falls State Park and Black mountain.  The six mile piece of trail will hug Fall Creek under Ozone falls, then rise more than 700 feet to cross several ridges and three creeks heading almost due west toward the exist trail on Black Mountain.

Call the CTC Office to get directions to the work area or Camp Ozone if you would like to volunteer. No experience necessary!  We train!  Just bring work gloves, bug spray, lunch and work/hiking shoes.
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Progress at McGill Creek, Well, Sort of . . . . .Property For Sale . . . . . . ASB Starts March 4 . . . .

McGill Creek Bridge Goes Up !

Reports from the field show that the CTSST has been busy assembling a bridge designed specifically for back country trails.  By mid February the bridge was in place and just waiting for decking to be installed.

Hikers should be aware that this section of the CT is not yet officially open.  In fact, south of the bridge the trail is still under construction. Details about this segment can be found HERE.

Property for Sale

        Through a legacy gift, the Cumberland Trails Conference owns two real estate lots in the Breckenridge Lake Resort development near Crossville, TN in Cumberland County.  The lots are # 22 and #23, located on Ashford Drive off of Breckenridge Drive.

Lots are 2.6 and 3 acres. Plat map available HERE .

The two wooded lots are for sale for $5,000 each or both for $8,000 (negotiable).  It is a cheap neighborhood, but a good spot for your kids or grand kids to camp out or park their camper.  The site includes a good-sized lake for the use of residents.

Directions: To find the Breckenridge Resort, take Hwy 127 south out of Crossville.  A few miles south of Crossville follow sign on right indicting Breckenridge Resort.  The route is marked leading to Breckenridge Drive.

Interested parties should contact the CTC office at: 931-456-6259.

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HIGHLIGHTS – Build a Foot of Trail for $4 !  . . . . . Former WagonMasters and new Local Volunteers for BreakAway . No Charge 1st Aid Training . . . McGill Creek Bridge . . .  Another Thru Hiker ! . . . . . .

Just $4 a Foot to Build the CT

You can help build the CT for just $4 a foot ! The Cumberland trail is build on donations, grants and foundation assistance. Donations from individuals are critical to the construction process.  Donations help cover the many expenses that grants do not, including office expenses, printing, postage and mundane things like new tire for the truck.

If you hike the CT or take part in construction as a trail volunteer, please take a moment to make a donation and help build another few yards of trail.

Make your check to:

Cumberland Trails Conference

and mail to:

409 Thurman Avenue, Suite 102,   Crossville, TN 38555

Just $24 builds another Two Yards of trail !

Volunteer for BreakAway 2018

BreakAway this year works on the link between Black Mountain and Ozone Falls in Cumberland County.  If you have never volunteered during BreakAway, consider making the time this year.  Over 160 college students will join the paid crew and a dozen local volunteers to make the connection happen !

Never built trail before? Not sure what this is all about ?  No problem.  You will be assigned to a crew lead by a Wagon Master (crew leader) and learn along with the students.  Tools and meals provided too.  Work days are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  Sunday after dinner is the orientation, introductions and safety demonstration.

Call the CTC Office and let them know what day – or days – you expect to be there.  They will provide directions and information on accommodations.

931 456 6259

or email:  ctcoffice2014@gmail.com

Returning WagonMasters –

We look forward to seeing you again !  Please call or email the office and let them know which days or weeks you plan to volunteer.  This helps with figuring meals and accommodations and well as crew assignments.

931 456 6259                  or :  ctcoffice2014@gmail.com

CTC Volunteers Get Free First Aid Training

The next First Aid / ADE / CPR certification class is 24 February at the First United Methodist Church on Main Street, Crossville.  If you have volunteered with the CTC, you are eligible for this no charge, valuable training.  Call the office at 931 456 6259 to reserve your seat.

McGill Creek Bridge Takes Shape

The CTSST continues work on the McGill Creek bridge along with help from Don Deakins and his Cumberland Trail Volunteers organization. The crew hauled over 9,000 pounds of concrete bags and other material into the site during the first week of December.  The bridge site is accessible on the completed trail from Brayton Mountain Road.  The hike in is about two miles.  If the crew is there, you might get to help out.

The bridge itself is the prototype for a “Gator Bridge” designed as a cooperative project of the State Park system, the CTC and the Gator Bridge Company of Florida.

Another Thru Hiker !

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