Camping Question Re the Fiery Gizzard Trail

Clint from Murfreesboro asked today: Hello I was thinking of planning a camping/hiking trip on the Fiery Gizzard on Saturday May 3. I was wondering if I needed to reserve a camping spot? Also I read where fires are allowed in certain campgrounds. Has this changed due to the recent drought conditions? Thanks!

Hi, Clint, you can't reserve a camping spot in advance but you do need to sign a back country camping permit at the kiosk at Grundy Forest (if you are heading south) or at Foster Falls (if you are heading north) to the Raven's Point campsite. The campsite is 4.5 miles from Grundy or about 8 miles from Foster Falls.

Regarding fires, we have had plenty of rain the past 3-4 weeks and there presently are no restrictions on fires in the designated fire pits at the campsites in the park but it is always a good idea to check with the Rangers or stop in at the Visitor Center to check the latest conditions.

Regarding fires at Raven's Point, the campsite there is on private property and the property owner says no fires.

Cheers,

Ron Castle

Wildflower Watchers Report

Park Manager John Christof advises today that wildflower viewing at South Cumberland is still good. The best spots are in Collins Gulf and down into the Fiery Gizzard Gulf.

The last guided wildflower hike of the season will be Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 10:00 AM, a Collins Gulf Hike. Meet Mary Priestley at the Collins West parking lot if you would like to hike the Collins West Trail.

Cheers,
Ron Castle

Conservation Forestry Workshop May 27-29, 2008

Here is an educational opportunity coming to Sewanee that should be of interest to local landowners and others interested in forestry on the Plateau.

A Conservation Forestry Workshop on the Southern Cumberland Plateau sponsored by the Open Space Institute and others is scheduled for May 27-29 in Sewanee. Check it out.

http://www.osiny.org/site/PageServer?pagename=programs_Institute_CFN_TN

Cheers,
Ron Castle

Hemlock Adelgid Threat Is Fatal to Hemlocks

Most people have heard of the hemlock woolly adelgid that is attacking the hemlock forests of the Eastern U.S. You may not, however, realize how destructive this tiny alien insect has become or how imminent that destruction is for our area. It could, in fact, kill every single hemlock on the Cumberland Plateau, from Kentucky to Alabama. The adelgid is ravaging the Smokies and other forests to the east, wiping out whole mountainsides of these ancient trees, along with their ecosystems, and turning them into giant white ghosts. This plague is being compared to the loss of the American chestnut forests a hundred years ago.

In February 2008, Sewanee’s Jon Evans, professor of biology, organized a symposium that brought together a score of scientists and forest managers to discuss efforts to create methods to fight the hemlock adelgid. Afterward Jon and one of his students, Erin Tyrell, along with John Christof, South Cumberland State Park manager, presented a program on the adelgid to a group brought together by the Friends of South Cumberland. Using satellite imagery, Erin had conducted a research project that identified 8,000 hemlock trees in the canopy of Savage Gulf Natural Area, meaning that thousands more exist below the canopy and probably that many more exist in Fiery Gizzard Cove. These areas are the western limits of the eastern hemlock. Therefore, saving them here may be crucial to the survival of this wonderful tree.

Viable but expensive treatments, principally a systemic insecticide along with predatory beetles, are showing promise. The Friends of South Cumberland will be considering the creation of hemlock defense fund and may try to protect at least some of the hemlock stands in the natural areas. Individual property owners should also be aware that their hemlocks are in danger.

More information about the hemlock adelgid may be found in an article at the website of the Friends of South Cumberland State Recreation Area – www.friendsofscsra.org.

Visit http://www.friendsofscsra.org/woolly-adelgid-pest-alert-updates.htm for frequent updates.

Sign up for Friends email news on the website so we can keep you informed.

You can also subscribe to the Friends blog feed here http://www.friendsofscsra.org/atom.xml.

Thank you,

Latham Davis

New Road Crosses Buggytop Trail

Don't be alarmed the next time you hike the Buggytop Trail, the Park is already aware.

The trail that leads to Buggytop Cave starts from the parking area on private property. The Park has an easement from the property owner. When you hike in on the trail you will see the kiosk where the trail passes on to State owned land.

The State of Tennessee has attempted to purchase this private property between the State property and Highway 56 from the owner on two occasions and in each case the appraisal, which is the maximum price the State can pay, was not satisfactory to the land owner.

Road cut through the woods.
Where the road crosses the trail.
Entrance from Highway 56
Keep out sign and cable crosses the new road.

It appears that the purpose of the road is to allow the land owner and prospective purchasers to view the property on four-wheelers. The property is still for sale. Unfortunately, no erosion control measures have been used to prevent the disturbed soil from washing and eroding. There is also a concern that this new road could be used for recreational four-wheeling by trespassers.

The State of Tennessee is still interested in purchasing this property and perhaps with the help of lovers of Buggytop and the Friends we can make this happen.

Ron Castle

New Savage Gulf Map Now Online

Assistant Park Manager Bill Knapp sent us a new down-loadable full size trail map for Savage Gulf with updated trail descriptions etc. The map is 7.4 mb.

Using the new Adobe Acrobat Reader you can zoom right in on countour details.

Check it out, download your copy.

Cheers,
Ron Castle

Fiery Gizzard Wildflower Report

Ranger Jason Reynolds reports on what is presently blooming in the Gizzard along the Ravens Point Loop) we have the following in bloom:

yellowroot
bloodroot
star chickweed
windflower
white and purple hepatica
cohosh
rock cress
trout lily
long spurred violet
halgerd leafed violet
kidney buttercup
wakerobin
large flowered trillium
scorpionweed
wild geranium
golden alexanders
toothwort
phlox

Cheers,

Ron Castle

Two Night Father Daughter Backpacking Trip

Allen sent this message over the weekend: My daughter and I want to do a 2 night backpack starting next Friday morning. Do you have any suggestions for a good loop? We are both fairly experienced and and in good shape so we don't mind a harder trail. We are coming up from Florida and have previously hiked in the Cohutta in Georgia. We heard about Savage Gulf and would like to try something new.

There are lots of options available but at the moment the most spectacular would be to see the wildflowers in Collins Gulf, which will also include several waterfalls and MAY REQUIRE a wet crossing (meaning wading the creek).

Look at this previous post about doing a Collins Gulf loop:

http://www.friendsofscsra.org/2008/03/collins-gulf-loop-hike.html

Depending on how ambitious you are, night one at Sawmill, night two at Stage Road or night two back at Collins East.

Or, from the Savage Gulf Ranger Station, Hobbs Cabin out on the Savage Gulf Rim Trail and back on the Plateau Trail with two nights at the cabin and a day hike down to Sawmill and back is a good option. Or, Hobbs night one, Sawmill or Stage Road night two.

Plan for all kinds of weather from near frost, cold rain and high temperatures near 80.

Cheers,

Ron Castle

Savage Gulf Wildflower Report

Here's what's happening with wildflowers at South Cumberland today:

From Ranger George Shinn at Savage Gulf Ranger Station:

In Collins Gulf is an array of many wildflower showing now, from bluebells and trillium to hepatica and violets and many more. There is a lot of water from all the rain we have been getting, so Suter Falls and Horsepound are quite amazing. The redbud are of course flowering and others putting their new buds out and beginning to get green and lush down in the gorge.

On top as you hike to Savage Falls and around our day-loop there are shoots coming up for the appearance of lady slippers and others, already in our planters there are jacks in pulpit and bluebells and white trillium and more coming out and everywhere seems to have the new green of ferns beginning to unfurl themselves. Its just amazing, its beautiful, I can't even name all the plants out there... folks are just gonna have to come out and hike and view all these natural wonders.

From Jamie Hambrock, naturalist:

Hepatica, Wake Robin, Sessile, Some large flowered Trilliums are in bloom now. Also, Virginia BlueBells, Rue Anemone, Violets, Spring Phlox and Trout Lilies are starting to bloom.
Dwarf Iris, Purple Trilliums, Wild Geraniums, and Large Flowered Trilliums are still to come.
Most of the Blood Root is gone.

Cheers,

Ron Castle

Retreat Accommodations Near South Cumberland

Laura from Nashville asked today about accommodations or cabins for hosting a retreat in October for about 50 ladies.

You have several options in the area, although not necessarily cabin accommodations.

One is St. Mary's retreat center south of Sewanee

http://www.stmaryssewanee.org/

Another is DuBose Conference Center in Monteagle

http://www.duboseconf.org

Another is the Methodist Assembly in Beersheba Springs

http://www.tnumc.org/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=176

St. Mary's is the most private setting of the three, Beersheba Springs is next. They all have good food. Your timing is near the peak of fall colors. Better book soon!

Cheers,

Ron Castle

Alabama Scouts Preparing for Philmont & The AT

Scoutmaster Jerry set me this message this morning: "My troop is planing a trip on the 18, 19, 20th of this month. We are preparing for the AT and Philmont trips. We will be at the park around 6:00 pm on Friday to camp. We need some ideas on trying to get 7 miles on Saturday and Sunday for the Philmont group and 4 miles on Saturday and Sunday for the AT group. We would like to be able to camp together on Saturday night. What trails or loops do you recommend?"

Hi, Jerry,

Thanks for your message and welcome to South Cumberland. Glad you and your guys are coming up for a visit. Friday night you will need to camp at the campsite close to the Ranger Station and make an early start Saturday morning.

The way the campsites are laid out there is not really one good spot to do what you want.

An out and back to Stage Road campsite from Savage Gulf Ranger Station is probably the best bet. The trail out to the Savage Day Loop is about a mile. From there to Stage Road campsite is about 4.8 miles. Total 5.8. If you had the Philmont group do the Day Loop that would add about 3 miles.

If that's too much, the best alternative would be to do Stone Door to the Overlook, 1 mile. The AT group takes the Big Creek Rim Trail to Alum Gap. Total 4.2. Come back Sunday on the Laurel Trail, that's 2.9 and very flat. You could do an out and back with or without packs to Greeter Falls to get in some extra walking and see some great scenery. We have had lots of rain recently, the falls should be showing their stuff. Bring your cameras.

The P group from the Door could take the Big Creek Gulf Trail, a good workout, that's 1 to the Door plus 4.0 with a little out and back to Ranger Falls, the round trip is 1.0, could be done without packs. So that's about 6 with a good climb coming up to Alum Gap.

The Sunday return for this group would be the Greeter Falls out and back and then back to the Door on the Big Creek Rim Trail, back to the Ranger Station.

The other campsites are either too close in or too far. Come back and give us a report here. And, send us some photos we will put them online.

Cheers,

Ron Castle