Cumberland Trail

“Just looking for anyone’s experience regarding the Cumberland Trail; seems like it’s rarely talked about. After the CT initial construction announcement I have been surprised by fellow Southern Backpackers lack of anticipation. Is it still on schedule to be completed by '08? What sections currently completed are the most scenic?”

“I'm not familiar with it. Where does it start/end? I'm assuming it goes through TN and KY?”

“Here's my explanation for lack of interest from Southern backpackers:

1) The Georgia backpackers are fixated on their section of the AT.

2) The Alabama backpackers are fixated on the Pinhoti. This is particularly evident if you go to a meeting of the Alabama Trail Society, or whatever they call it. It's all about hooking up the Alabama Pinhoti to the Georgia Pinhoti.

3) The Tennessee backpackers are fixated on the GSNMP, the BSF, Savage Gulf, Fiery Gizzard, and the LBL.

4) I dunno about Kentucky backpackers.

5) To just about everybody else, they're far enough away that given the choice between the AT and the Cumberland Trail, they'll pick the AT as it's more established.”

“bit, that makes it sound more interestint to me. I've gotten to where the AT means very little, ie almost nothing, to me. If I could go somewhere with fewer people, then I'd be all for it. My other hangup with the AT is that I don't care for the long green tunnel. I like views and I like creeks. The AT has little of either one.”

“trailhound,

CGhiker (Barbara at Zoe's Mountain Sports in Cumberland Gap) can fill you in.

Once the trails are completed, it appears they will all converge at the Gap about a half mile from her store.

She is keeping up with progress.”

“Cumberland Trail Website

hope that helps”

“This sounds great. It starts in Chattanooga. I can be there in 2 hrs. It takes 4+ to get to Springer.

http://www.cumberlandtrail.org/”

“It looks like it closely follows the interstate. I can be in Chattanooga in 2 hrs, the Lenoir City exit in 3 and Knoxville in 3:30. It looks like I can be on some great trails pretty quickly.”

“Hi Trailhound..... Here's what I know of the Cumberland Trail.

When it is complete it will begin in Southwest Va. and wind its way thru the Cumberland Gap around Harrogate,,,, come on down thru TN, Georgia (Lookout Mtn area) and its southern terminus will be Little River Canyon, Ala.
It will be completed around '08.
Its being done by volunteers. Yes, I think bloodpusher is right. I know Georgia bp'ers are fixated on Benton Mackaye Trail, etc. I just think its going to be da bomb! All of it will be to me much more scenic that the AT. I can hardly wait. I've been doing sections of it. I love the area down thru Wallings Ridge in TN. I've got a geology and waterfall fetish.
There's not enough of that along the AT to suite my tastes. I think all those other trails are fine, but the CT is my favorite. Someday I'd like to be able to say I'd hiked it entirely!”

“It'll finish at Little River Canyon? That's awesome. LRC is a great place for overlooks, but no trails. Sounds like that's about to change.”

“dayhiker from what I know about CT so far (from websites and backpacker mag) it's TN's 53rd state park established in 1998 to become a 303 mile trail from Chattanooga to Cumberland Gap. The CT also is the center piece of what some believe will be the 1,000-mile Western Appalachian Alternative to the AT; running from Birmingham to somewhere in Virginia. I really could see this taking a lot of crowds off the NC and TN portions of the Smokies.”

“That would be great. If you look at a relief map the Appalachians end around Talladega AL which is where the Pinhoti starts. The Cumberland range does end around B'ham and goes through Gadsden and up into Little River Canyon. This is exciting news to me.”

“According to cghiker, the northern terminus at Cumberland Gap will pic up on another trail and should connect to the AT.

One of the primary purposes is to take pressure off of the AT.”

“Well, I've been looking for a nice weekend trip somewhere different. Any suggestions where to go on the completed portions of the CT; something around 20-30 miles?”

“trailhound,,,,send an email to cghiker@yahoo.com


I think she could suggest something.”

“in its middle TN section. In other words... the proposed route I've seen for the mid TN area.. midway down Walling Ridge... will have two ways to choose from.
I'll hunt that map up and post it if I can find it. I got it on a newsletter from somebody. I'm into too much. Anyway.. it gives an option for the center of TN. That way you don't miss out on the neato stuff in the area . I gotta stop thinking about it. It makes me crazy .”

“Next time you are in the area of Crab Orchard on I-40 west of Knoxville, stop by Ozone FAlls and the Black Mountain section of CT. I stopped there earlier this year and you can drive right up to the falls. This section of the CT is nearby also. We drove up to the trailhead and You can literally see the Smokies on a clear day! The trail starts here and goes south for about 12 miles. There is an old spring and beautiful rock formations and an official campsite near the trailhead. Happy hikin'”

“The southern end for now starts at Signal Mountain and heads up to Prentice Cooper State Forest. That's a nice stretch.
The Obed Section is also very nice.

I've helped work on it some. They are always looking for people to help. E-mail Rob Webber or Mark Stanfield (addresses should be on the web site). They are a couple of the Big Dogs in the CTC. They can hook ya up with any section maps or other info you want.”

“I am going to bpack a completed 11.3 mile section of this tomorrow. It's the Grassy Cove Segment. I'll try to write up a trip report on it....”

“Enjoy your hike, yam. I'll be looking for your trip report.”