Friends Trail Project Volunteer Work Day April 26

April 26, 2008 at 10:00 AM CDT

Members of the Friends of South Cumberland are invited to gather April 26 at Grundy Forest (Fiery Gizzard Trailhead) for the organization’s first trail maintenance project in partnership with the Tennessee Trails Association.

Volunteers will gather at 10 a.m. at the Grundy Forest pavilion. Tools will be provided, but everyone is asked to bring gloves and wear work clothes and boots or hiking shoes. Each person should also bring a lunch and extra water.

The day won’t be all work. There will be an opportunity for some hiking. A program about wild turkeys will be followed by a picnic supper at the pavilion sponsored by the Friends.

Park Ranger Anthony Jones will direct the project, which he has divided into two parts, removing privet and clearing rocks where the trail has eroded. He said the work will not be strenuous.

Persons who plan to attend are asked to call Latham Davis at 931-598-5101 or send an email to lathamdavis@bellsouth.net.

Alabama Scouts Invading Tennessee !!!!!

Chris, Assistant Scout Master, sent this inquiry today: We are a Boy Scout troop from Birmingham, AL making a first time trip to the Savage Gulf area this weekend (March 29-30). We plan on hiking from the Stone Door ranger station to the Stone Door and splitting there to have our younger Scouts hike the Big Creek Rim trail and our older Scouts the Big Creek Gulf trail. We will re-converge at Alum Gap campground.

I have spoken with the visitor center already and have gotten many particulars but was wondering if you had any last minute insight(s). Most of us are experienced backpackers and of course will have our water filters AND purification tablets and/or devices (MIOXX, Steripen), stoves, first aid kit, etc.

Given the looks of the Big Creek Gulf trail on the topo map, what is your estimate of how long it may take a group of 10-12 to hike to Alum Gap?

Is the Big Creek Gulf trail suitable for some first time 11 year old backpackers or should we have them take the rim trail as planned?

Is the Greeter Falls trail a worthwhile side hike late Saturday afternoon or early Sunday morning?

Any other thoughts or recommendations are appreciated.

Looks like you have everything well planned out, Chris. Stone Door Overlook to Alum Gap on the Rim Trail is about 3.2 miles. On the Gulf Trail it is about 4 miles.

The Gulf Trail is steep both up and down but not bad if you pace yourself. If your 11 year old guys are in good shape and feeling OK when they get to Stone Door Overlook, I would leave it up to them if they want the challenge of the climb down and back up. You could do a little side trip to Ranger Falls down in the Gulf if you start early enough. You are likely to see many more wildflowers in the Gulf than on the Rim Trail.

A good walking stick is really helpful on these up and down trails. I personally don't hike without one.

The side trip to Greeter Falls is definitely worth the effort. You could to that packless and backtrack to Alum Gap.

On the return, the Laurel Trail is a little shorter and you will probably get to see some different wild flowers.

In the pine thickets around Greeter Falls, you might stick your head in and see if there are any Pink Ladyslippers blooming. It is a little early but they are there.

We have had plenty of rain the past several weeks so all the waterfalls should be showing off for you. Bring your cameras.

Cheers,
Ron Castle

Best Camp Site for Five Lads and Two Dads

Chad asked this question today: I am planning a trip with a friend of mine. Between the two of us, we have five boys, ranging in age from 3 to 11. We'd probably come in May or June on a Sunday morning and leave Monday afternoon, spending one night at a campground. Ideally, we'd like to hike no further than six miles roundtrip due to the three year old. Is there a trail that would show us some great ridge views and then drops down to allow us to camp along a river (the boys' favorite).

Point number one is that there are no "rivers" in the Park. We have some good streams which are all mainly wet weather streams. If we have good rain in May and June, you will have good stream flows. The places most closely meeting your requirements: Savage Falls campsite, do the day loop in to the camp and take the rest of the loop on your way out (or do an out and back on the South Rim trail for some better bluff views); or Alum Gap in from the Greeter Falls parking area.

Savage Falls is more likely to be a better wilderness experience.

There are no campsites along a river and we don't really have any ridge views either (that's the Smokies) but we have some great scenery and wonderful waterfalls. Visit the newly updated photo gallery on the website to see what I mean.

http://www.friendsofscsra.org/park-photos/index.html

Cheers,
Ron Castle

March 24 Wildflower Report from Savage

Wade from Nashville emailed today: Coming your way and to Shakerag Hollow soon, about when do you think the wildflowers will peak this year?

Ranger Jason Reynolds reports what's blooming today: lots of hepatica, wake robin trillium (red purple not the large white flowered trillium), rue anomonea, star chickweed, scorpion weed, halbeard leaf violet, wild geranium, butterweed, spicebush, cherry, plum, flox species. Nothing too showy yet, a lot of this is small stuff but that's the way the season starts.

In reality there is no real peak of the season. Show time for the woodland plants quickly ends when the canopy closes in. The sun loving and fringe plants will continue through the season and the later in the season the taller the plants for the most part. Timing depends on what flowers you want to see. If you like trillium and Jacks-In-The-Pulpit it may be a week or two. Blood Root should be blooming now. Violets are among the earliest as is star chickweed.

As an amateur herbaceous plant taxonomist, I have photographed blooming wildflowers on the plateau area not too far from Shakerag Hollow and in the Park from late February through December. My guess is the second week of April will be prime visiting for Collins Gulf.

Cheers,
Ron Castle

Local Accommodations for Non Campers

Mary from Franklin, Tennessee asks this morning: We are planning a trip to Savage Gulf in April and would like to spend a couple of days. We are not campers but looking for lodging. Any suggestions of places nearby.

The accommodations around Savage Gulf and Stone Door are very limited to none.

There are good restaurants and lodging in Monteagle. Visit http://www.monteagle-mtn.com/business.htm for a list of restaurants, motels and other lodging. Also visit http://www.monteagleinn.com/ and the Monteagle Chamber website http://www.monteaglechamber.com/busdir.htm business directory.

The other alternative is Manchester which has more motel rooms than any small town in America (my opinion) and good restaurants. And they have a Starbucks! Visit the Manchester Chamber http://www.macoc.org/.

Cheers

Ron Castle

Collins Gulf Loop Hike

Rick from Fayetteville, Tennessee asked today: "What is your suggestion please for hiking from Collins West parking area up to Sawmill camp for one night and return on the CG trail--making a loop. Do you have a preference for which direction to take first and second day? Also is there a good water supply at Sawmill? Thanks, Rick"

The way the park map is currently marked, it is a little confusing because you have a CG trail going town the middle of Collins Gulf and another CG trail on part of the rim coming back to Collins East camp from the junction with Stage Road.

My recommendation is to hike down (not up) to Sawmill on the CG trail in the gulf. From Sawmill you will have to take a short diversion to the east on the Connector Trail and come up SRH = Stage Road Historic trail. At the top of the bluff you will join the Collins CG trail that takes you to Collins East, across the top of the gulf on the Boulder Crossing, where you can return to Collins West Camp and then the parking area.

I have not had any recent water reports from the Rangers but things should be fine for the moment, we have had frequent rains the past three weeks. My recommendation is to keep your water supply topped up frequently.

Cheers,
Ron Castle