The Friends’ Trails Team
The FSC Trails Team assists Park Managers and Staff with the design, build, assessment, maintenance and/or rerouting of nearly 85 miles of world-class trails and trail structures in South Cumberland State Park. Here, you can see a photo gallery of some of our recent projects. Take a moment to watch the six-minute video below, which has examples of the many other trails-related tasks and projects on which volunteers have assisted... |
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Introduction to the FSC Trails Team and what it does
If you’d like to volunteer to help on any Trails Team projects,
contact FSC Trails Team Chair John Collins (hikebr@yahoo.com) for upcoming work day information.
contact FSC Trails Team Chair John Collins (hikebr@yahoo.com) for upcoming work day information.
A "Trail in a Day" for National Trails Day!
The FSC Trails Team started and finished a trail reroute project on National Trails Day, June 4th. This 100-foot section of the Greeter Falls Access Trail was constructed by the FSC Trails Team in about seven hours, bypassing a narrow section of trail, dangerously close to the drop-off into Firescald Creek. The project began with brush clearing along the new bypass trail route, while allowing the main trail to remain open for the busy summer visitor traffic headed to and from Greeter Falls. Brush was stored on the uphill side of the tread while the trail crew cleared and leveled the new tread area. When the tread was ready, the brush was taken downhill and used to cover the old, near-the-edge trail, and visitor traffic was routed onto the newly-completed tread.
The FSC Trails Team started and finished a trail reroute project on National Trails Day, June 4th. This 100-foot section of the Greeter Falls Access Trail was constructed by the FSC Trails Team in about seven hours, bypassing a narrow section of trail, dangerously close to the drop-off into Firescald Creek. The project began with brush clearing along the new bypass trail route, while allowing the main trail to remain open for the busy summer visitor traffic headed to and from Greeter Falls. Brush was stored on the uphill side of the tread while the trail crew cleared and leveled the new tread area. When the tread was ready, the brush was taken downhill and used to cover the old, near-the-edge trail, and visitor traffic was routed onto the newly-completed tread.
TTA awards grant to FSC for trail mile markers throughout the Park
 Pictured above, at South Cumberland State Park’s Information & Welcome Center trailhead are (L-R): FSC Trail Friends Area Coordinator Marietta Poteet; TTA Evan Means Grant Committee Chair Joan Hartvigsen; SCSP Manager George Shinn; SCSP Assistant Manager Bill Knapp; former FSC Trails Committee Chair Bruce Blohm; and (kneeling) SCSP Ranger Jessie DeRight. They are each holding samples of the trail marker medallions, similar to those that will be acquired with the TTA grant.
The Tennessee Trails Association (TTA) awarded an Evan Means Grant to the Friends of South Cumberland State Park, helping fund an FSC initiative to install custom mileage marker/location identifier medallions on nearly 87 miles of trail in South Cumberland State Park (SCSP). The medallions improve hiker locational awareness and safety, while assisting in Rangers’ rescue efforts. This system of color-coded markers also make possible more detailed trail maps. |
The Mile Marking Field Team: Volunteers at work in the Fiery Gizzard, measuring trail for precise placement of the new mile marker system on every mile of trail in the park. The mile marking project was completed in mid-2021.
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New Staircase Completed at Foster Falls
Thanks to the Tennessee Trails Association (TTA) for providing a grant to fund the materials for a new staircase at the top of the Climbers’ Access Trail at Foster Falls. The Evan Means grant allowed SCSP Park Rangers Jason Reynolds, Ryan Harris and Dan Wescoat to purchase the lumber, concrete and other materials to construct the new staircase, which replaced an aging set of steps at the top of this busy trail. Volunteers from the Friends of South Cumberland, the Southeast Climbers’ Association and other groups continue working to rebuild most of the descending portion of the trail, between the new staircase and the cable footbridge below the Foster Falls plunge pool. If you’d like to volunteer to help on any Trails Team projects, contact FSC Trails Team Chair John Collins (hikebr@yahoo.com) for upcoming work day information. |
 Celebrating the completion of the new Foster Falls staircase, and accepting the TTA Evan Means grant that made it possible, clockwise from lower right: TTA's Joan Hartvigsen; FSC Trails Chair Bruce Blohm; TTA President Libby Francis; SCSP Rangers Dan Wescoat, Ryan Harris and Jason Reynolds; and FSC Director Marietta Poteet.
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