[at-l] Cumberland Trail construction weekend

[jsmith at wate.com (James N. Smith)]

If you are a hiker in the Southeast, you may have heard of the Cumberland
Trail. This 300-mile long trail across the eastern escarpment of the
Cumberland Plateau was in the planning stages for several years before the
state agreed to make it a linear state park. Since then significant progress
has been made in trail construction, with sections totaling about 125 miles
now open and several more miles in development.

Eventually, using connecting trails, it will be part of what's being called
the 1,000-mile Western Appalachian Alternative to the AT.

This weekend an outing is planned to add a more treadway.

I know this is short notice. I just learned of it myself. But I'm planning
to help and I thought perhaps there might be a few other hikers in Tennessee
or bordering states who'd be interested in this as well.

More information is below. Contact me or Warren Devine (information below)
if you want to know how to find the site.

-jns

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Cumberland Trail Conference
Backcountry Trail Construction Outing
Possum Creek Gorge of Cumberland Trail State Park

Date:  October 10 - 12  (Friday - Sunday) 2003

Purpose: Combine trail construction with backpacking in relatively
remote locations on the Cumberland Trail corridor.  Experience is not
necessary--we guarantee an experience!

Location: The Possum Creek Segment of the 300-mile Cumberland Trail lies
west of Bakewell, TN, about 15 miles south of Dayton. 13-1/2 miles of
trail have been laid out through the impressive canyons and bluffs of
Little and Big Possum Creeks, with about 1-1/2 miles already completed
and ready for hiking.

Specific Work Site: Will be selected prior to the outing.  Possibilities
include

A.  Downstream from the confluence of Coalbank Branch and Little Possum
Creek.  The  route passes through a pleasant forest of hardwoods and
hemlock, above and roughly parallel to Little Possum.  There will be a
moderate amount of sidehill cutting, but not much rockwork.  We will
camp near the beautiful confluence with easy access to water.

B.  Below Perkins Point, upstream of the confluence of Little and Big
Possum.  The route ascends from Little Possum, heads downstream in a
relatively flat bench, then climbs the bluff to a spectacular overlook.
There will be lots of rockwork, including capping and possibly cribbing
and stair construction.  We will camp at a beautiful site in the bench
and scramble down to Little Possum for our water.

CTC Provides:  All construction tools, work gloves, blaze orange vests,
and first aid kit.

Participants Provide: Work clothing (long pants, sturdy boots),
backpacking equipment (backpack, tent if you desire, sleeping bag and
pad, at least four containers for water, cooking gear, water
purification of your choice, flashlight), and food (3 lunches, 2
breakfasts, 2 dinners and snacks).   Don?t let lack of equipment keep
you away; the leaders can round up extra gear.

Meeting Place: 8:30 am EDT Friday October 10 at the Rhea County Visitor
Center in Dayton.  The Center is on the west side of the highway as one
enters Dayton from the north on US-27.

Leaders: Warren and Carol Devine, stewards and designers of the Possum
Creek Segment.  Warren is a CTC Wagonmaster.  Phone (865) 483-7894 in
Oak Ridge or E-mail wdevine@bellsouth.net.  Alternate contact: Mark
Stanfill, CTC Program Coordinator.  Phone (931) 456-6259 in Crossville.