Teresa Kemmer

Alternative Spring Break 2020 – February 2020 News

The 24th Spring Breakaways home base will be at The Head of the Sequatchie in Pikeville Tn.

Trail will be built between Stinging Fork State Natural Area and Hinch Mountain
March 1- April 3, 2020

WE NEED YOUR HELP…Please contact the CTC office to Volunteer..

Alternative Spring Break offers students an opportunity to give back and learn from the natural world we live in. These students are committed to building sections of the Cumberland Trail during their Spring Break.

Participating schools in this year’s Alternative Spring Break are Ball State University, Michigan State University, Florida NOVA Southeastern University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Alabama of Birmingham, University of Delaware and the University of Miami, Ohio.

Lone Star Purchase Fills a Gap

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.

 

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Ozone and Devil’s Breakfast Table Progress

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.

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Some of the rough ground encountered in a all hand built section found between McGinnis Creek and Devil’s Breakfast Table. (Bernsten)

Trail Link to Ozone . . . . Brady Mt. Thru Hike Again . . . .ASB 2020 . . . Daddys Creek Progress

Crab Orchard Mountain Segment

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. Contact TennGreen at https://www.tenngreen.org/ to learn how to donate for this acquisition.

When the Ozone Falls to Black Mountain Section opens in 2020 an eight mile, dangerous road walk will be eliminated and replaced with roughly four miles of trail and a thousand foot road walk on a lightly traveled side road. Read more

Tony Hook, former CTC Trail Manager, waits while tools are collected at the end of ASB 2010. (Photo Richie)Mark Richie

Tony Hook Passes Away, Former CTC Trail Manager

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.

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Remembering Sam Powell . . . . BreakAway Volunteers Wanted . . . . Trail Building Jobs . . . .

CTC Co-Founder Sam Powell Dies

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. He was married to the late Emilie Ervin Powell for 61 years. A native of Tarpon Springs, Fla., he was the son of the late William Marshall Powell and Margaret Harvey Bomar Powell. Read more

Modular bridge in Laurel-Snow SNA. (Deakins)Don Deakins

New Year 2019 !

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

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Stack Rock (Ron Shrieves)Ron Shrieves

Volunteer On The CT

Volunteer on July 14 !  . . . . . . Multiple Trail Building opportunities !   . . . . . . . .  Hike Safe This Summer . . . . . . . Take A Map . . . The CTC and CTSST difference is ?

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Soak Creek Planning Map

News 2018

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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.

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Florida International University students working on the deLozier Branch Section off Hebbertsburg Road, 2016 (Richie)

News 2016

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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! 

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