Gary L. Grametbauer, age 75, of Kingston, TN, died January 29, 2020, after a short illness. Gary was born in Canton, Ohio, and was a graduate of Hoover High School and the University of Akron. He was employed for more than 30 years at the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, where he was a manager in instrumentation engineering.
The state of Tennessee continues to move forward with the acquisition of over 6,600 acres of land in Cumberland County adjacent to Interstate 40. The purchase effort, largely through TennGreen requires over $6 million before the tract can be secured.
Acquisition of the land provides a crucial link and closes an huge gap in the 300 mile corridor of the Cumberland Trail between Daddys Creek and Ozone Falls State Natural Area. When complete, the CT will gain 45 miles of trail with one gap of less than two miles.
Two key links in the 300 mile Cumberland Trail are very close to completion.
Both sections are roughly 6 miles and link available parking areas. When open, Devil’s Breakfast Table Section creates an uninterrupted 20 mile hike from Nemo Bridge in Morgan County to Peavine Road in Cumberland County.
A critical gap in the Cumberland Trail may be eliminated in the near future. Efforts are underway to acquire a 4,500 acre tract of land on the north side of the Crab Orchard Gap in Cumberland County known as the Lone Star property. Acquisition will allow the trail to be routed up and over a mountain ridge and emerge close to Ozone Falls SNA.
Tony Hook, former CTC Trail Manager, passed away on Sunday, September 29, 2019 after a long bout with cancer. He was 56.
Tony started with the CTC in the mid 1990’s as a volunteer. Later he gave up his career manufacturing process engineering to become full time Trail Manager for the CTC, a position he held until 2014.
Known for his passion and focus on making the Cumberland Trail a premiere hiking experience, Tony brought his organizing talents to bear, expanding the yearly BreakAway program and successfully bring numerous construction grants to the Cumberland Trail.
Sam H. Powell, 86, of Signal Mountain, devoted his whole life to building hiking trails, conservation and improvement of the environment, died on February 8, 2019. Sam was a founding member of the Cumberland Trail, which runs from Signal Mountain 300 miles across the state to Cumberland Gap. This trail continues to grow with additional parts that spin off to connect various parks. In addition, he was chairman of the Cumberland Trail Conference, and was a founding member and longtime director of the Tennessee River Gorge Trust.
HIGHLIGHTS – New Soak Creek Section . . . BreakAway Registration . . . Laurel-Snow Bridge . . . Build a Foot of Trail for $4 ! . . . Former WagonMasters and new Local Volunteers for BreakAway Welcome . . ! . . . Kudos for the Crew . . .
The Falls Segment Gets Its First Section
Volunteer on July 14 ! . . . . . . Multiple Trail Building opportunities ! . . . . . . . . Hike Safe This Summer . . . . . . . Take A Map . . . The CTC and CTSST difference is ?
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.
CT Passes 200 Milestone . . .
With the opening of the 7.3 mile Daddys Creek Section in November, the Cumberland Trail passed the 200 mile mark !
Make a Resolution ! Only 97 miles to go (more or less). What better way to celebrate the 200 mile mark by resolving to hike 50 miles of the CT in 2017 and qualify for a 50 Miler Badge!