Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning will sponsor a day of trail work and hiking on Saturday, March 21, on the segment of the Cumberland Trail State Park between Rock Creek Campground and Alley Ford at the Obed Wild and Scenic River. TCWP adopted this 2.5-mile section of the trail in 1998.
“We will concentrate on routine trail maintenance such as cleaning out clogged water bars, removing down logs and limbs, brushing the area along the trail, and finishing up at Alley Ford to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Obed River,” a press release said.
Participants should wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring work gloves, shovels, mattocks or pulaskis, loppers, clippers, and small bow saws or folding saws (Please, no chainsaws). Some hand tools and work gloves will be available at the event. Please bring clothing appropriate for weather conditions, and plenty of water, snacks, and a lunch.
Volunteers will need to sign a National Park Service Volunteer agreement. Minors will require a signature of a parent or guardian. Please complete the form, print it, sign it, and bring it with you.
Participants can meet to carpool in the Rush!/Books-A-Million shopping center on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge (on the left between East Tulsa Road and Tuskegee Drive; meet in the front of the parking lot along South Illinois Avenue between Waffle House and Salsarita’s (closer to Salsarita’s)). Participants will leave Oak Ridge at 9 a.m. Saturday. You can also join the crew at the Rock Creek Campground at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (Rock Creek Campground is directly across the river from Nemo Picnic Area). They plan to leave the Trailhead at 10 a.m. and spend 4-5 hours on the trail, but people can come and go as they wish. GPS coordinates at Rock Creek Campground are 36.070635° North and 84.664442° West.
In the event of inclement weather such as excessive rainfall or icy and snowy conditions, they will reschedule this event. For more information, please call or write TCWP Executive Director Sandra Goss at (865) 583-3967 or Sandra@sandrakgoss.com.
TCWP has worked since 1966 to protect the sensitive lands and resources of the Cumberland Plateau and other public lands throughout east Tennessee. TCWP is a proud member of Community Shares.
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