The Cumberland Trail Conference’s 2009 Break-Away (BA) trail construction program was a tremendous success. Program participants constructed 3.8 miles of new trail and performed trail maintenance in several areas. This 5 week volunteer program was from February 22 to March 28. During this period, 222 students and 41 Cumberland Trail Conference (CTC) volunteers donated 8,615 hours to the Cumberland Trail project. This very hard-working, diverse group of volunteers represented 16 college and universities, 2 local Tennessee High Schools, and non-student volunteers representing a wide array of life experiences and ages. In addition to volunteer labor and CTC staff, Cumberland Trail State Park rangers and staff assisted with trail construction and provided interpretive programs. Other Tennessee state park rangers assisted with evening educational programs. This was the Cumberland Trail Conference’s 14th consecutive year to host an Alternative Spring Break (ASB).

North Chickamauga Gorge

Recently, the State of Tennessee acquired lands in the Baker Pounds area of Hamilton County. This new acquisition is on the north side of Chickamauga Creek and adjacent to the former North Chickamauga Bowater Pocket Wilderness. The wilderness area was deeded to the State and is now managed as part of the Cumberland Trail State Park. The recent acquisition of the Barker Pounds area which is being managed by Tennessee’s Division of Natural Areas and State Parks greatly increases the size of public land along North Chickamauga Creek. This new acquisition also offered the opportunity to extend the Cumberland Trail route out of North Chickamauga Gorge towards the southwest and connect with the Carter Patten easement, with the eventual goal of connecting to the existing Cumberland Trail segment in the Tennessee River Gorge. A route was flagged by Cumberland Trail State Park rangers and CTC volunteers and staff. After consulting with CT State Park and Division of Natural Areas management, the Cumberland Trail Conference began construction of the proposed trail route with the 2009 Break-Away program.

The primary goal of the 2009 BA program was to construct a portion of the newly designated route along Cooper Creek in the North Chickamauga Gorge segment. This portion of the trail route started at the rim of the gorge, switched-down into the gorge, trekking downstream beside Copper Creek to its confluence with North Chickamauga Creek. Just upstream from the confluence, the trail route has a stream crossing of Copper Creek and within several hundred feet connects to existing Cumberland Trail at Stevenson’s Branch. The completion of this portion would extend the Cumberland Trail 1.6 miles in the North Chickamauga Gorge segment. A secondary goal for this program was to perform maintenance on existing trail in this segment.

In 10 days, BreakAway participates built 1.3 miles of new trail from the rim of the North Chickamauga Gorge, down along Cooper Creek to the stream crossing. The terrain of the proposed route was very steep, rocky and had many boulder fields. The section required several switchbacks and rock steps to be installed so the 450 foot climb out of the gorge could be hiked. All of the rock work and the steep slope of the gorge made this a very technical build. Everyone worked extremely hard but rainy weather did not allow the trail to be built after the Cooper Creek stream crossing and the connection to existing trail. This is a short distance and trail construction will begin in May 2009 to complete the task. The new trail work that was accomplished in this section exceeded expectations.

The secondary goal for this segment was accomplished. Trail maintenance was performed on existing trail where needed. This work included removing blown down trees, constructing switchbacks, installing stone steps, building cribbing walls to retain trail tread, installing water bars and other erosion counter-measures, and repainting trail blazes.

Audubon Acres

Because of several days of rainy weather making the access road to the work site parking area in North Chickamauga Gorge too muddy for the Break-Away vans, a secondary work site was chosen, Audubon Acres. Break-Away students, volunteers, and others constructed 2.5 miles of trail in this area. Presently, 80% of the proposed trail on this property has been built and the other 20% will be completed in 2009.

In addition to trail construction, the observation platform on this property had vegetation and tree saplings growing around it. This growth was removed enabling a grand view to the east of the Tennessee and Hiwassee River valleys and Star Mountain.

Summary

The Break-Away program yielded many accomplishments. Several additional miles of the Cumberland Trail were built, many more miles maintained. All of the students and volunteers were lodged and fed 3 nutritional meals a day. Students experienced evening educational programs concerning the environment, or Tennessee history and culture. Break-Away even had a visit from Tennessee State Senator Bo Watson. All of the students seemed to have enjoyed the ASB experience. Many gained a new appreciation of trail construction and all gained knowledge of the Cumberland Trail project. It all made for an unforgettable experience.

• University of Michigan – 11
• Eastern Michigan University – 3
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania - 24
• Grand Valley State University - 8
• College of Saint Benedict - 9
• North Eastern University – 12
• Michigan State University – 12
• University of Pittsburg – 21
• University of Central Florida – 9
• Our Lady of Lake University – 11
• Butler University – 30
• University of South Florida – 9
• Illinois Wesleyan University – 15
• Hamilton College – 11
• Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis – 6
• University Illinois – Chicago – 10

• Total 201

Click HERE for BreakAway 2009 photos on Facebook.

A Naturalist Does a Lunch Time Presentation
On the Trail For BreakAway Students
During the Spring 09 BreakAway

Trail Building

Send mail to cumberlandtrail@rocketmail.com

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