*|MC:SUBJECT|*

November 2020

The Cumberland Trail from Black Mountain to Ozone Falls SNA is COMPLETE!

Finally the long awaited section of the Cumberland Trail between Black Mountain and Ozone Falls State Natural Area has been completed.

This section is at the northern terminus of the segment known as the Grassy Cove Segment which begins at the Head of the Sequatchie and ends at Ozone Falls State Natural Area. When completed, this section of the Cumberland Trail will run approximately 21 miles from the Head of the Sequatchie, over Hinch Mountain to Brady Mountain, across Hwy 68, past Windless Cave to the top of beautiful Black Mountain. From Black Mountain the trail goes along the back part of Renegade or Haley Mountain and ends at Ozone Falls, which adds an additional 6 miles.   This section is described as strenuous.

The Tennessee Division of State Natural Areas allowed the Cumberland Trail Conference Trail Crew to close  Ozone Falls State Natural Area to rework the rock steps that lead down to the base of the waterfall. Closure began Monday, October 19 and will continued through Friday, October 30. The trail crew completed the project on time with great success. Accessing the much traveled trail in this area is now safer for all who visit.

Cumberland Trails Conference Trail crew reworked rock stairs just above the newly installed Cumberland Trail Bridge System the first week of November to make the trail more safe and sustainable before leaving the area.

Please look for updates at www.cumberlandtrail.org.

Cumberland Trails Conference Trail Crew

Cumberland Trails Conference Trail Crew: Keith Gilbreth, Danny Smith, Jaclyn Beaty, Shana Lamoreaux, Shauna Wilson and Sade Williams. Picture taken by Jack Sims

Chairman's Corner

A word of thanks – to all those who volunteer their valuable time and expertise to further the mission of the Cumberland Trails Conference; to our active Board of Directors; to Shauna and our able trail crew who are out there every possible day laboring to complete the trail; to the volunteers who come out and labor with the crew to help complete the Cumberland Trail; and to Bob Fulcher and his able staff who give direction and focus to the overall effort to complete the trail.

Strategic Planning – Many of you have received a memo asking for your opinion of CTC’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. If you haven’t responded, I hope you will right away because this is a first step toward development of a longer term strategic plan for our organization. Eventually, we intend to address how we can improve our organizational structure, our efficiency and ultimately determine the future for CTC. The fact is that we are a service organization for the benefit of the Cumberland Trail. We have outstanding expertise, knowledge and resources to offer. The question is how should we deploy that expertise and knowledge to the most benefit now and in the future when the trail is complete.

Frank Jamison, CTC Chairman

VOLUNTEERS

The Cumberland Trails Conference had a successful Volunteer Week, Sept 28-Oct 1st. 10 Volunteers worked alongside the crew in the Ozone section of the Cumberland Trail.

A big Thank You to Lionel Senseney, CTC Board Member and active Volunteer with the Cumberland Trails Conference who organized this Volunteer Week. Additional CTC Board Members that also participated in the Volunteer Week were Jameson Miller, Frank Jamison, April Dixon, Roger Underwood and Ray Garrett and CTC Volunteers that included Charley Sither, Ron Hunter, Roger Maness and Larry Ryan. Not only did the Volunteers work long days, several were rewarded with Poison Ivy rashes!!

Pictured at the base of Ozone Falls: Larry Ryan, Lionel Senseney, Roger Maness, Ron Hunter and Charley Sither.

Did you know that in the late 1800's, there were several sawmills and grist mills at the top of Ozone Falls? The last one washed over the falls in the spring flood of 1900. Rumor is that Ozone Falls got it's name because of the stimulating quality of air created by the mist that is generated after the long plunge of the water coming off of the 110' water fall.

Want to support the CTC? Donate $12 and receive this super soft, limited edition T- shirt. 50% cotton/50% poly, an organic heathered earth brown in color. Worth every penny! If you would like to donate by PayPal and have a shirt mailed to you please include $5 for shipping. Don't forget to add your size!