Water Sources for Backpackers & Hikers Update

The dry season is upon us and while we have had a little rain over the past weekend, it isn't enough to keep all the wet weather streams in the park flowing. Here is an update from the Rangers about water sources in the Park:

Stone Door side of Savage Gulf

Water is at the usual dry summer levels. As for the Stone Door side of Savage Gulf, the seasonal stream near Alum Gap is not flowing but still has a few pools of water near the edge of the plateau, but this could dry up at any time. Ranger Falls, Schwoon Springs, and Greeter Falls are still reliable water sources (when purified of course). Ranger Jamie Hambrock

Fiery Gizzard

Creeks are not running at Small Wilds or Ravens Point, but there is still some standing water to filter. The Gizzard is still flowing so the CCC Campsite still has a water source. Father Adamz (Boy Scout Camppsite) is fine as well (barely). Ranger Jason Reynolds

Posted by Ron Castle

Friends Youth Conservation Corps Update

From Ranger George Shinn:

Well, we are very excited about the "Friends" supported trail crew here at Savage Gulf. They have done an outstanding job so far and have completed much more than we anticipated in only two weeks.

The group of five local young men Shawn King, Cody Meeks, Logan Kilgore, Cody Nunley, and leader Roger Hobbs all from Grundy County; began Monday June 16th. They hiked into Collins Gulf with park staff and Mark Stanfil (state TYCC coordinator) to look at the jobsite and made a plan to repair this section of trail. After discussion and lunch they began to carry waterbars to locations for installation.

On Tuesday, park staff gave instruction on tool care, first aid, and group finished the mass of state paperwork needed to begin employment. The team went straight to work and by the end of day had all thirty waterbars in place.

Wednesday, park staff helped as they moved trail above original spur trail to Horsepound Falls that had washed out.

Thursday and Friday the team worked alone with some help from seasonal John Miller (who took pictures and took group out to lunch) they finished laying in all thirty waterbars and redigging two long sections of trail. We were not ready for such quick work, so park staff bought more lumber and cut out thirty more waterbars to complete job needed.

Monday June 23 and Tuesday June 24 the team carried thirty more waterbars to site and dug in. This is amazing as this is a rough, beautiful trail dropping down into the gorge some 900 feet very quickly in rocky terrain. These young men are truly giving their all.

Wednesday through the rest of this week we started them on basic trail maintenance on Savage Gulf trail system. Weedeaters and loppers, they are a human bush hog and doing an awesome job. They completed in three days, the Savage side connector from Hobbs to Sawmill campground. The Historic Stage Road and South Rim Trail and Collins Gulf Trail to Sawmill. That's 18 miles of extremely difficult trail cleared!

The whole park staff at Savage is amazed at the work attitude of this team. We are impressed. They are completing work that would have taken us weeks to accomplish in a fraction of the time. We are very grateful to our "Friends". It has allowed for our trails to get some much needed care and attention.

Our ever-changing plan at this point is to have team complete clearing our trail system by the end of next week. Then, we will return to Collins Gulf to lay down a stone staircase below Collins West campground towards Suter Falls in a rough/steep section. If all goes well, the group will move on to Stone Door to do similar work below Alum Gap using 6X6 waterbars to repair washed out sections of trail. We haven't thought past these projects yet, we lose the team at the end of July. Although, they work so quickly, I'm already searching for other sections of trail in Savage that need some love, just in case.

Thank you Friends of South Cumberland! Your goodwill touches the park and is reaching into the community.

Posted by Ron Castle for George

New Fiery Gizzard & Buggytop Trail Map

Assistant Park Manager Bill Knapp sent me the new Fiery Gizzard and Buggytop Cave trail map today. It is a full size PDF and is now online in the Friends website. You can download a copy here:

http://www.friendsofscsra.org/downloads/fiery-gizzard-trail-map-2008-june.pdf

The new maps are being printed and will be available soon at the Park.

Best wishes,

Ron Castle

Friends to Fund the Youth Conservation Corp Project

This item appears in the Friends email newsletter today but it is worth repeating here.

We previously announced back in May that the YCC project for South Cumberland involving local young men and women in doing good work for the Park was canceled due to State budget cuts.

Friends of South Cumberland has made arrangements with the Department of Environment and Conservation to retain a Youth Conservation Corps program at South Cumberland, despite the elimination of the YCC statewide because of State budget cuts.

The Friends will guarantee up to $22,500 to fund an eight or nine-week program that employs local high school students to do much needed work on the park trails.

Your Gifts Needed
While guaranteeing the funds, the Friends hope to obtain gifts to fund the program. Special thanks should go to M. A. Emanuel, a Friends member from Beersheba Springs and Oak Ridge, who read the YCC report in this newsletter and raised the possibility of Friends action to save the program. He then made a gift to help the cause.

Thanks also to Mike Carlton, Assistant Commissioner of TDEC, for going out of his way in a hectic schedule to arrange for the state to continue to administer the program.

Help These Young Folks and Help the Park
Gifts for this effort may be made by sending checks payable to Friends of South Cumberland State Recreation Area, Inc., along with a note about the purpose of the gift, to Friends of South Cumberland, P.O. Box 2705, Hendersonville, TN 37077.

Large or small, each and every contribution will help and will be much appreciated.

Gas Saving Vacation Ideas from Tennessee State Parks

Don't let the high price of gas spoil your summer vacation. There's no place like (close to) home and Tennessee State Parks has created a new brochure to help you pick the right time and place for your summer outdoor adventure on less than a tank of gas. You can download the brochure here in PDF.

Cheers,

Ron Castle

Loop Route 20-30 Miles

Scott down in Mississippi sent an email today: I am trying to plan a trip to backpack with a friend up there next weekend. We would like a loop trail or a series and trails that loop somewhere between 20-30 miles. Can you recommend a trail or loop to follow. We would like to camp backcountry and see as few people as possible. Difficulty is not a problem. Thanks for the tips.

If you will look at or download the new park map here:

http://www.friendsofscsra.org/parkmap.htm

My personal preference would be from the Savage Gulf Ranger Station to Hobbs Cabin and back, about 8 miles on the Rim Trail or 9 miles on the Plateau, makes a 17-18 mile loop.

If you are spending more than one night or want to cover more ground, from Hobbs take the Connector Trail down to the Stage Road Trail about 3.5 miles, up State Road about 1.6 miles and back to the Ranger Station on the South Rim Trail about 6.8 miles. Along this route you have camping at Saw Mill or Stage Road or Savage Falls.

For more miles you could also go up Collins Gulf to Collins East Campsite and come back on the Collins Rim Trail. That would add about 15 miles.

The best bet for seeing fewer people is to hike during the week rather than on the weekend. Have a safe trip.

Cheers,
Ron Castle

June 7 Annual Fishing Rodeo at Grundy Lakes

Meet Rangers Jamie Hambrock and Brent Smith for the the annual fishing rodeo at Grundy Lakes. The event starts at 5:30 am and will end with a weigh in at 11:30. This is a free fishing day when a license is not required. There are several categories with prizes such as biggest bass, biggest pan fish, smallest fish, the most fish, etc. Fishermen (and fisherwomen) must sign in before they fish to be in the running for prizes.

Many thanks to local sponsors including:

• The Dari-Delite
• Top of the Rock Hunting Supplies
• Mountain Outfitters
• Jacey's Cakes
• Piggly Wiggly
• Larry's Army Navy
• Caitlin's Lunch Box
• Video Center of Tracy City
• Beersheba Springs Market
• Family Dollar

Catch a big one!

Ron Castle