New Online Signup Sheet for Cumberland T rail Big d

“Tennessee's Cumberland Trail website, http://www.cumberlandtrail.org, now has an online Big Dig signup form, http://www.cumberlandtrail.org/bigdig.html. Volunteers are encouraged to use the form so that transportation, meals, and lodging provided can be more efficiently planned. Several of the planned educational and evening entertainment programs will also involve transportion for trail volunteers.

This year's expanded BiG Dig program will be bigger and more spectacular than ever. Trail construction efforts will be concentrated again this year just north of Chattanooga, Tennessee in the beautiful Rock, Possum, and Soddy gorges. An average of 100 trail volunteers and staff from all over the US will bring the 30 miles of planned trail to 90% completion by June 26.

Volunteers are needed for a day, two days, a week, whatever you can give to help build the Cumberland Trail.”

“Awesome. Thank you.”

“Last year's Big Dig was probably 50% people in their 20's. But 30-40% were in their 50's or older. There were several father/son and mother/daughter and families. There were very few children under 16, they must be accompanied by an adult.

You must be in good shape, the hikes in to the work area can be as much as 2 - 3 miles with 200 to 500 feet of elevation gain carrying heavy tools. You can pace yourself on the trailbuilding work. Some of the work is VERY easy, like lopping small branches and clipping roots. Other work, like sidehill cutting with a mattock, is physically demanding. People tend to rotate tasks during the day.

One of the great things about the work is that you get to work in teams of 5 to 10 and get to chat as you work. You learn a lot about other trails and meet some really
nice people. Teams are assigned each day, so you normally work with a different group each day.

Lunch presentations by Park Rangers are a nice change of pace too. The Rangers taylor their talks to the area you are working in. If you are working in an area of blooming rhododendron, Rangers will discuss different rhododendron varieties and perhaps other related species. I always welcome and enjoy the educational sessions.”

“"Tennessee's Cumberland Trail website, http://www.cumberlandtrail.org, now has an online Big Dig signup form, http://www.cumberlandtrail.org/bigdig.html. Volunteers are encouraged to use the form so that transportation, meals, and lodging provided can be more efficiently planned. Several of the planned educational and evening entertainment programs will also involve transportion for trail volunteers.

This year's expanded BiG Dig program will be bigger and more spectacular than ever. Trail construction efforts will be concentrated again this year just north of Chattanooga, Tennessee in the beautiful Rock, Possum, and Soddy gorges. An average of 100 trail volunteers and staff from all over the US will bring the 30 miles of planned trail to 90% completion by June 26.

Volunteers are needed for a day, two days, a week, whatever you can give to help build the Cumberland Trail."”

“I'm going to be there the weekend of June 11 - 13. I just haven't registered yet.”

“Thanks Bass. I'm planning on signing up to help the CT org in May sometime.”

“Ohhh I wanted to sign up for this... got to do that real soon,
rox”

“Got my dates June 18 thru 22nd.”

“Looking forward to seeing you there during the week of June 18!!! Be sure to bring a camera. The gorges are beautiful!!”