State Natural Areas Week -- April 7-13, 2008

Governor Bredesen has proclaimed April 7 thought 13 as State Natural Areas Week, and in celebration the Tennessee Division of Natural Areas is offering guided hikes and field trips to natural areas throughout Tennessee. A schedule of these special events, as well as all other State Natural Area field trips throughout the entire year, can be found at the natural areas web-site.

Cumberland Trail -- January 16, 2008:

Rock Mining Crisis.

The Cumberland Trail in Hamilton County is currently being irreparably harmed by the strip-mining of decorative stone. This is happening because the state was only able to secure surface rights, and not the mineral rights, to the land when it was acquired for the Trail. Unfortunately, this sandstone and limestone mining is not subject to the reclamation requirements that would be required for the more typical forms of strip-mining.

The state has turned to the court systems to try to stop this mining altogether, but so far has been unsuccessful. This litigation is now in the appeal process.

There are bills in the current session of the legislature which would require this rock mining to be subject to the same regulations and reclamation rules as other types of mineral mining.

These bills are HB-2764, sponsored by Rep. Richard Floyd, Chattanooga, and SB-2781, sponsored by Sen. Bo Watson, Hixson.

Please visit the Cumberland Trail website for more information on the problem.

The Nashville Tennessean newspaper published a very thorough article on the situation on 1/16/2008. This article is available on their website.

Winchester -- August 23, 2006:

Announcement re New Trails on Tennessee Side of Walls of Jericho

For Tennessee Trails Association Members and All Hikers!

August 23, 2006

Please be advised that I just received word from Steve Patrick of TWRA that Alabama has connected to the Tennessee trail and that the trail is now open from the Tennessee Trailhead all the way to the Walls. I don't know the condition of the Tennessee side as I don't know how much use it has gotten since it was built and I haven't been down since early spring. It is 2.4 miles to the State line but I don't have the mileage to the log bridge crossing of Hurricane Creek in Alabama. However I would guess it to be about .75 miles.

As soon as information is received from Alabama, TWRA will post a combination map on their web page.

Thanks, Jim Schroeder
TTA/TWRA Jericho Trail Development Coordinator

Crossville -- July 31, 2006:

The Cumberland Trail Conference Announces:
Volunteer Appreciation Weekend, October 6-7, 2006, at Frozen Head State Park

This October 6, 7 the Cumberland Trail Conference wants to thank all of y'all for your hard work and dedication to the Cumberland Trail. The CTC will be sponsoring a weekend filled with events and fun at Frozen Head State Park in Wartburg, TN. For those interested, the CTC is providing free camping for Friday and Saturday night. Saturday will consist of hikes, optional trail maintenance, games, or just a lazy lounge under the hemlocks. Saturday evening there will be a cookout, the recognition of several outstanding volunteers during the award ceremony, and a guided night hike.

Please notify the office if you wish to attend the cookout and or camp out, this will help us know how many sites to reserve and the number of cans of Vienna sausages to purchase.

We really appreciate the hard work that all of you have put into the trail. This weekend is just a small token of our appreciation. The trail is forever in debt to your kind hearts and services so please attend and share the honors and fun with your fellow volunteers.

For more information, please contact:

Christopher LeBlanc, Program Coordinator
Cumberland Trail Conference
931-456-6259
chris.leblanc@frontiernet.net