On Wednesday, February 2, 2011, nine volunteers met at Burnett Gap over hot coffee for the first trail clearing session this year. It was 37 degrees, overcast, and windy, but dry. Forest Trails Specialist Gray Buckles led the charge as the group convoyed in 4WD trucks ten miles out into the back country to work.
Our first project is the relocation of the western end of the Meadow Creek Mountain Trail in Cocke County, Tennessee. This section of the trail has been rerouted around a very steep section of switchbacks on the mountain side.that was no fun to hike, mountain bike or horseback ride. The volunteers chainsawed downed trees and lopped brush along their way to open the new section of trail.
A couple of bear dens were spotted along the trail. Salamanders were carefully relocated after their hidey holes under rocks were moved off the trail by the volunteers. The troops trekked back to the trailhead for a substantial lunch of sandwiches washed down with hot coffee and then headed back out into the forest.
BCHET Volunteers ~ Front to Back ~ Tom Conner, Don Hart, Michelle Steiner, Robert, Gray Buckles, Connie and Kim (Not Pictured were Dianne Noyes, and Herb Hienze)
The next session to finish this part of the trail is scheduled for Wednesday, February 9 at 8:30am at the Long Creek portion of this trail. If you would like to volunteer to help in this relocation contact Tom Connors at 423-552-3767 or TJConnor@hotmail.com or Herb Heinze at 423-741-3012.
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