"BILBREY" KIOSKS --- A HALLMARK OF THE CUMBERLAND TRAIL
Only a few trailheads remain without a "bilbrey" Kiosk installed..........but not for long!!!
14.2-MILE OBED WSR SEGMENT AND SAVED NEMO BRIDGE NOW OPEN
And there's even more to celebrate! The Cumberland Trail State Park
has been named Tennessee's Millennium Legacy Trail after its nomination by
Governor Don Sundquist. The Millennium Trails Initiative is a
collaborative effort of the White House Millennium Council, the U.S.
Department of Transportation and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Governors
from all 50 states and chief elected officials from the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands were invited to submit nominations.
The First Lady serves as honorary chair of the Millennium Trail Celebration Committee.
CTC volunteers, staff, local and regional trail supporters, as well as
state government officials gathered as Governor Sundquist remarked on his
continuing interest and unwavering support of the CT. Those remarks were,
indeed, music to the ears of those who are now working hard to build this
dream trail.
The fun continued as Governor Sundquist cut the ribbon opening the
bridge, leading hundreds of pedestrians across it, as they mark the end
of its history as a vehicle bridge, and the beginning of its use as a
foot crossing for the CT. Celebrants later enjoyed a bbq lunch, and
bluegrass music by the New River Boys.
Hikers were then honored by the opportunity to walk a few miles on the
trail with some legends in Tennessee outdoor recreation and conservation:
Bob Brown, Mack Prichard, Sam Powell, and Butch McDade. Bob, Mack, and Sam are
founders of Tennessee Trails Association and the Cumberland Trail.
What an excellent way to celebrate this milestone!
Supporters, including individuals, companies, private and state
organizations, aided the Cumberland Trail Conference with the logistics
required to put on such a celebration. Helping us were Tennessee Trails
Association, Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, Blue Ridge
Mountain Sports, Morgan County, Citizens Bank of Wartburg, Prescott Bottling
of Tullahoma, Ms. Betty Petty of Chattanooga, Smoky Mountains Hiking Club,
Cumberland Securities of Knoxville, Darnell's Food Store of Wartburg, and
Chattanooga Hiking Club. These supporters, along with the tens of volunteers
who helped coordinate events, shuttle hikers, lead hikes, decorate, setup and
cleanup, landscape the area, and provide security, helped make this wonderful
day a great success. We thank them all for helping us put together such an
event in which all people interested in the Cumberland Trail State Park
could participate.
On Saturday, September 16, 46 people hiked the entire 14.2 miles to
celebrate its completion, and 20 more people hiked a portion of it. The
first hiker to complete the 14.2-mile through-hike was none other than Fran Wallas of
Franklin, who started hiking by moonlight in the pre-dawn hours. What an
exquisite experience that must have been .. the Obed by moonlight! (Fran
was one of the many volunteers who helped build this segment so she, as did
many other volunteers on Saturday, had the unique pleasure of hiking through
parts of trail that she, herself, built.)
So, there were lots of feet on the trail! Just what it needs! Go hike this part
of the trail ... it's incredibly beautiful!!
AmeriCorps Completes Three Miles of Trail
We salute our AmeriCorps team, Red 4 Flying Red Squirrels!!! What an extraordinary
collection of young people! Their enthusiasm, conscientiousness, and strong work
ethic have been an inspiration to everyone who has worked with them during their 6 weeks
on the Cumberland Trail.
They started at the top of Cross Mountain on the Smoky Mountain
Segment where the BreakAway program left off in March, and, three miles later, linked
up near the bottom of Cross Mountain near Montgomery Fork with the mile of trail built
by the Sierra Club Service Trip volunteers in May. They also performed maintenance as
well as some upgrades on some other sections of the trail.
When 102 people showed up
for the inaugural hike on the Cross Mountain trail (that is NOT a typo - one hundred
and two people actually came to hike with us on June 10!), the AmeriCorps team members
showed exceptional leadership and teamwork by spreading themselves throughout the
group, helping to educate the hikers about what they found around them, and watching
out for hikers who might be having problems. And if that weren't enough for them to
do for us, they served homemade cookies and punch to us as we came out of the woods.
What more could you possibly ask from them! We appreciate them every one, and send
them on to their next AmeriCorps assignment with our love, respect, appreciation, and
best wishes.
Click HERE for pictures of AmeriCorps Red flying Squirrels.
Sierra "Cross Mountain Crazies" Build A Mile During May 7-13 Outing
Eight Sierra Club volunteers have earned membership in the elite group
known as the "Cross Mountain Crazies" - individuals who hiked up AND down Cross
Mountain (1,300 ft elevation change each way) in one day with NO TRAIL!
The Sierra volunteers enjoyed a backcountry outing May 7-13 and built a mile of trail
from the Montgomery Creek Fork northwest along Horseshoe Ridge. Participants were from
Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, California, and Tennessee ... a truly national effort!
Our thanks to them for their excellent work in this remote and rugged location!
CTC Volunteers Receive Tennessee Department of Enviroment and Conservation Awards
Three CTC volunteers received Tennessee Department of Enviromental and Conservation awards on May 24, 2000. The Special Stewardship Presentation Event was held at Harrison Bay State Park.
Click HERE for pictures of award ceremony.
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LWCF FUNDS
Governor Don Sundquist and the Tennessee Department of Enviroment and Conservation
and Conservation Commissioner Milton Hamilton have dedicated $650,000 of the Land and
Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for the acquisition and development of the Cumberland
State Park. This is an important step towards the development of the
Cumberland Trail.
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Cumberland Trail State Park Wins National Honor
Upon special nomination from Governor Don Sundquist, Cumberland Trail State Park is the
official Millennium Legacy Trail for Tennessee. The announcement comes from First Lady Hillary
Rodham Clinton and Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater as part of the Millennium Trails
initiative.
Cumberland Trail became Tennessee's first Linear State Park last year, stretching from
Cumberland Gap to Signal Mountain. Tennessee is continually working with the Cumberland Trail
Conference to complete the project. Along with Tennessee Trails Association, the Conference
has been instrumental in establishing a volunteer network, including the BreakAway Program,
which brings in students from colleges and universities across the country to build and
maintain portions of the trail.
"Cumberland Trail State Park has been designated as the backbone of Tennessee's emerging
greenway and trail system," said Governor Sundquist. "Throughout its 280-mile course,
communities, state and national parks, wildlife management areas, and state forests are all
partnering to make this project happen. We are excited Tennessee's future will be filled with
greenways and trails."
"This is a one-of-a-kind state park. It's designed for hikers and people who really want to
experience nature. They can't find this anywhere else," said State Parks Assistant
Commissioner Walter Butler. "Public response to these early stages of development has been
overwhelmingly positive."
Designation as a Millennium Legacy Trail will further encourage use of the trail and volunteer
participation, assisting Cumberland Trail State Park in realizing its vision. It will expedite
discussions to link the trail to Virginia and Georgia. It will also promote funding from the
government and private citizens as well as facilitate talks with landowners.
The Millennium Trails Initiative is a collaborative effort of the White House Millennium
Council, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Governors from
all 50 states and chief elected officials from the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands were invited to submit nominations. The First Lady serves as honorary chair of
the Millennium Trail Celebration Committee.
BATTERY POWERED SAW AND SURVEYING WHEEL DONATED
Thanks to Vera and Al Churcher trail map creation is much easier
now!!! Al and Vera donated a surveying wheel to the CTC.
The surveying wheel helps take the guesswork out of mapmaking and gives trail volunteers and
hikers an accurate measurement of trail length.
They also worked closely
with the following groups to obtain funds to purchase a battery powered "skill" saw:
The battery powered "skill" saw eliminates the need for carrying a heavy generator
to remote bridge sites to cut decking and 2x4 rails. Volunteers really enjoyed the saw while
building the bridge at Bill's Falls!!!!!
Thank you!!!!
We thank each and every one of the above for your donations!!!!
First Modular Design Kiosk Installed
CTC volunteer John Bilbrey has finalized the design of the cost-effective lightweight
treated wood/metal roofed kiosks for installation along the CT. The information and maps
displayed under the plexiglass cover of the kiosk will make hiking much more enjoyable
for hikers. The unique modular design is composed of commonly available materials and
the pre-drilled modules are light enough for two volunteers to carry long distances to
remote trail crossings/campsites.
The Devil's Breakfast Table Trailhead was chosen for the first installation. Postholes were dug;
modules were carried approximately 200 feet up the trail to the site; and bolted together by
three volunteers. All in less than two hours!!!!!
Thank you John!!!!!
CTSP Development and Acquisition '99
Acquisition?? Many hikers aren’t aware of CTC’s extensive infrastructure work towards
the acquisition and development of the greenway corridor that will become the Cumberland
Trail State Park. In fact, development and acquisition planning now consumes more than
75% of our management time. Now, thanks to a grant from the Lyndhurst Foundation of
Chattanooga, CTC will pursue the completion of an Acquisition and Development Plan for
the CTSP over the next several months. Our efforts, backed by the individuals and
organizations that comprise CTC, will focus on studying the viability and costs of the
core trail corridor, secondary community trail connections, and multi-use rail-trails to
move this project aggressively forward.
Our goals and visions, shared and led by Governor Sundquist’s creation of Tennessee’s
First Linear State Park, will bring life to the greenway we call the Cumberland Trail.
Over 50 miles of greenway trail corridor are planned for acquisition work in 1999. This,
along with the 10 miles of work underway on the Cumberland Mtn. Segment, represents a
tremendous step forward for the CTSP. We cannot forget the efforts of the individuals,
organizations, and the communities and landowners of the CTSP corridor....they will make
the CT a reality.
Thanks to the Lyndhurst Foundation and all those who have provided leadership and sweat
towards the creation of the Cumberland Trail!!
Maps to Explore the CT!!
Maps??? You want maps??? We got maps! Just check the CTC website and find new maps
for each segment. We are constantly looking for more effective ways to provide the
hiker with easily available, comprehensive maps. Our latest effort for each segment
is a color topographical map showing the trail route, along with camping sites and
trailhead parking.
Our aim is for those with access to the internet to be able to find complete information
about the trail without having to contact us by phone or by "snail mail." This method
of communication is immediate, practically effortless, and free of mailing costs. Since
maps are the most often requested piece of information that we get, we have focused on
creating the best ones that we can. Though we are not yet satisfied with the map showing
the entire route of the CT, the new segment maps are in good shape, showing the hiker
the major route of the trail, what he’s getting into by the contour lines, where he can
park, where he can camp, what kind of topography he’s going to be hiking through, and
nearby landmarks. (Okay! Okay! he OR she!)
But check back often, you never know what we’ll come up with next. We’re never quite satisfied!
News and Notes:
Governor Sundquist announced the creation of the Cumberland Trail State
Park, Tennessee's 53rd state part and first linear state park, on Monday,
June 22, 1998, at a dedication ceremony held at Signal Point National Historic
Park in Signal Mountain, TN. "We're here today along one of our state's
finest old trails, the Cumberland Trail, because I intend for it to be
the backbone of Tennessee's expanding system of greenways and trails,"
Sundquist said. Over 100 hikers, Tennessee conservationists, and state
park personnel were on hand for the event.
The Cumberland Trail, as a 282-mile linear state park, creates enormous
implications. Gov. Sundquist has stepped forward to support the concept
of linear greenways stringing together the many pearls of Tennessee into
a fine necklace. The CT, as a linear greenway, will offer sustainable
recreational and economic opportunities for the citizens and communities
of Tennessee. It will offer viewshed, watershed, and ecological
protection, as well as creating wildlife habitat corridors in an area of
our small world ripe with development pressure. It is a visionary
beginning for Tennessee's renewed leadership in trails and greenways.
Our work is just now beginning. Many folks have e-mailed and called about
whether the CT gaining state park status absolves our responsibilities to
the trail. In fact, part of the Governor's media presentation included
State Parks Director Walter Butler presenting the signed Tennessee State
Parks/CTC contract which calls for the management of the Cumberland Trail
as a private/public partnership. This contract, a year in the making,
leans toward the strength of each organization. While little about this
partnership made the newspaper, it is an important aspect for the future
success of the CT.
CTC, TTA and their volunteers will continue to lead and be out front in
the development, building, and management of the Cumberland Trail and
trails throughout Tennessee. Now more than ever, we need your continued
support that has brought us to this point, both in volunteerism and in
financial support.
Rob Weber 8/98
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