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 campsite but it is always a good idea to check with the Rangers or stop in at the Visitor Center to check the latest conditions.

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