As South Cumberland park rangers and friends celebrated the early completion of a major bridge on the Fiery Gizzard Trail reroute, Park Interim Manager George Shinn disclosed that a second private landowner has requested that the park trail be removed from his land by Dec. 1, necessitating an additional mile of new trail.
“We are proud to partner with the park in this effort, and we know our volunteers will rally to build the additional mile of trail,” said Latham Davis, president of the Friends of South Cumberland (FSC). Rangers report that more than 3,000 volunteer hours have been logged on the Fiery Gizzard project since August. The FSC received grant money from the Lyndhurst Foundation and Tennessee Trails Association, providing materials and tools so that the reroute moved forward swiftly.
Shinn announced that a 28-foot pole bridge—one of the most challenging portions of the reroute—has been completed, months ahead of schedule. When it was announced in late summer that the trail would have to be rerouted to skirt private land, plans called for the bridge spanning McAlloyd Branch to be constructed after the spring rains subsided. Thanks to incredible community support, the timeline was moved up by months,assuring that the trail will remain open this spring, even during high water. Additional improvements to this section of trail continue, including building a challenging 30-step rock staircase.
Shinn said that a second private landowner, whose property adjoins the old Baggenstoss Farm, decided to follow the lead of his neighbor and requested that the trail be removed from his land by December 1, 2016.
“We plan to have it completed way before that deadline,” said Shinn. “Our goal is to finish by Labor Day. We need as many volunteers as possible to make this a reality.” Rangers are currently leading volunteer groups every Saturday, and from Memorial Day to Labor Day the work will continue every day.
He noted that the funds from Lyndhurst paid for materials to create the bridge, rocks for trails and for the to-be-built rock staircase. Telephone poles donated by Sequachee Valley Electric serve as the bridge foundation. Tennessee Trails Alliance provided funds for a hoist system that was used to move the heavy rock and lumber down into the gorge.
For volunteer information, email <Jason.Reynolds@tn.gov>, or join the FSC Meet-Up website at <www.meetup.com/Friends-of-South-Cumberland-State-Park>.
A video of the trail progress can be seen on the FSC Facebook page.
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