Trail Building – Upper Piney Segment
Cumberland Trails Conference’s trail crew continues to work on the Upper Piney segment of the trail. Over the last month, they have put in a giant set of rock steps that will take hikers from the banks of the Piney River to the uplands and provide opportunities for overlooks of the Piney River gorge. Once the rock staircase is completed, they will work southbound down in the lowlands through numerous boulder fields to tie into section one of the Upper Piney segment. The completion date for Upper Piney sections one and two is August 1, 2022.
In order to complete the sections in a timely manner, the CTC is reaching out to our volunteer network by hosting monthly volunteer days. In February, we will host a volunteer event on the 11th and 12th. Food will be provided. Keep an eye out on our web page cumberlandtrail.org and our social media for updates on future volunteer events.
Alternative Spring Break – 2022
The Cumberland Trails Conference will be hosting our annual Alternative Spring Break at the Head of Sequatchie lodge. So far, we have one full week of college students expected to arrive on March 6th. Michigan State University and the University of Central Florida will both be participating from March 6th-March 12th. We expect at least 10 students from each school as well as our volunteers who show up and help out every year.
We have three scheduled presenters for our ASB program. Middle Tennessee Raptor Center will be providing an educational program on birds of prey. Randy Hedgepath, Tennessee State Naturalist, will be doing a program on our State Park system and Dr. Shawn Krosnick, Tennessee Tech University professor, will be doing a botanical program.
If you would like to join in on the fun just send Savana Keeton, CTC Office Manager, an email and we can provide more details. Our office email is ctcoffice2014@gmail.com. Tennessee Trails Association has generously donated to CTC for our ASB event and we appreciate all their support in helping with the program after we had to cancel our 2020 and 2021 ASB due to COVID-19.
Executive Director, Mike Croley, Speaks at TTA Highland Rim Chapter Meeting – February 28
One last update, our Executive Director, Mike Croley, is scheduled to speak at the TTA Highland Rim Chapter meeting on February 28, 2022. The meeting is held in Tullahoma, TN at 7 pm CST. The location of the meeting is the DW Wilson Community Center, 501 N. Collins Street. We hope to see you there!
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!