Author Archives: Friends of the Cumberland Trail

On June 25, 2005, Bill Haley of the TN Chattanooga Aquarium, count organizer, and a group of about 15 people performed a Butterfly count at Soddy-Daisy.  There were a total of 37 species recorded in 13 hours.

SWALLOWTAILS:

1.     Black Swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes – 2

2.     Spicebush Swallowtail, Papilio troilus – 2

3.     Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus – 15

WHITES & SULPHURS:

4.     Cabbage White, Pieris rapae – 2

5.     Clouded Sulphur, Colias philodice – 10

6.     Orange Sulphur, Colias eurytheme – 8

7.     Sleepy Orange, Eurema niccipe – 4

8.     Cloudless Sulphur, Phoebis sennae – 2

HAIRSTREAKS:

9.     Banded Hairstreak, Satyrium calanus – 1

10.   Juniper Hairstreak, Callophrys gryneus gryneus – 1

BLUES:

11.   Summer Azure, Celastrina neglecta – 18

12.   Eastern Tailed Blue, Everes comyntas – 27

BRUSHFOOTS:

13.   Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae – 2

14.   Variegated Fritillary, Euptoieta claudia – 16

15.   Diana Fritillary, Speyeria diana – 2

16.   Great Spangled Fritillary, Speyeria cybele – 19

17.   Pearl Crescent, Phyciodes tharos – 37

18.   Question Mark, Polygonia interrogationis – 1

19.   American Lady, Vanessa virginiensis – 3

20.   American Snout, Libytheana carinenta – 9

21.   Common Buckeye, Junonia coenia – 4

22.   Red-spotted Purple, Limenitis archippus astyanax – 5

23.   Hackberry Emperor, Asterocampa celtis – 5

24.   Tawny Emperor, Asterocampa clyton – 3

25.   Carolina Satyr, Hermeuptychia sosybius – 2

26.   Monarch, Danaus plexippus – 2

SKIPPERS:

27.   Silver-spotted Skipper, Epargyreus clarus – 1

28.   Confused Cloudywing, Thorybes confusis – 1

29.   Horace’s Duskywing, Erynnis horatius – 1

30.   Wild Indigo Duskywing, Erynnis baptisiae – 1

31.   Zarucco Duskywing, Erynnis zarucco – 7

32.   Fiery Skipper, Hylephila phyleus – 4

33.   Sachem, Atalopedes campestris – 6

34.   Tawny-edged Skipper, Polites themistocles – 1

35.   Dun Skipper, Euphyes vestris – 1

36.   Delaware Skipper Anatrytone logan – 1

37.   Clouded Skipper, Lerema accius – 2

Butterfly Report from June 28, 2009 at the Head of the Sequatchie Valley by Bobby Fulcher, Cumberland Trail Park Manager.

SWALLOWTAILS:

1.    Pipevine Swallowtail, Battus philenor – 3

2.    Zebra Swallowtail, Eurytides marcellus – 1

3.    Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus – 1

SULPHURS:

4.    Orange Sulphur, Colias eurytheme – 2

BLUES:

5.    Eastern Tailed, Everes comyntas – 7

6.    ‘Summer’ Spring Azure, Celastrina ladon neglecta – 3

BRUSHFOOTS:

7.    American Snout,  Libytheana carinenta – 2

8.    Great Spangled Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae – 5

9.    Pearl Crescent, Phyciodes tharos – 2

10.  Question Mark, Polygonia interrogationis – 2

11.  Eastern Comma, Polygonia comma – 1

12.  Red-spotted Purple, Limenitis archippus astyanax – 1

13.  Monarch, Danaus plexippus – 1

SKIPPERS:

14.  Silver-spotted Skipper, Epargyreus clarus – 4

15.  Least Skipper, Ancyloxypha numitor – 1

16.  Little Glassywing, Pompeius verna – 1

17.  Sachem, Atalopedes campestris – 1

18.  Dun Skipper, Euphyes vestrisi – 2

Birding Report of birds seen in the Cove Lake campground by Rick and Barb Lucas – 7/16/09

1.    Red-winged Blackbird

2.    Northern Cardinal

3.    American Crow

4.    Mourning Dove

5.    Northern Flicker

6.    Acadian Flycatcher

7.    American Goldfinch

8.    Canada Goose

9.    Common Grackle

10.  Great Blue Heron

11.  Blue Jay

12.  Eastern Kingbird

13.  Belted Kingfisher

14.  Northern Mockingbird

15.  White-breasted Nuthatch

16.  Savannah Sparrow

17.  European Starling

18.  Barn Swallow

19.  American Robin

20.  Wood Thrush

21.  Tufted Titmouse

22.  Eastern Towhee

23.  Red-eyed Vireo

24.  Turkey Vulture

25.  Ovenbird (Warbler)

26.  Pileated Woodpecker

27.  Red-bellied Woodpecker

28.  Hairy Woodpecker

29.  Great Crested Flycatcher

30.  Pine Warbler

Head of Sequatchie Spring after several days of heavy rain

On August 22, Dr.  Nicholas Crawford, retired hydrologist from Western Kentucky University, will visit the Head of Sequatchie to deliver a presentation on the distinctive geological and hydrological features found in the Grassy Cove and Head of Sequatchie areas.  A leading authority on the topic, Crawford prepared an influential Ph. D. dissertation on the hydrogeology of this region.  Starting his research in 1972, his dissertation was later published in four parts by the Tennessee Division of Geology.  Crawford’s talk will explore the subterranean drainage and Karst topography of Grassy Cove and Head of Sequatchie.  He will describe his pioneering experiments using dye traces to understand how water passed under the surrounding mountains to form the magnificent Sequatchie Valley and Grassy Cove topography.

Grassy Cove from Brady Mountain looking southeast

Head of Sequatchie is open to the public only for park-sponsored events. This will be a great time to learn more about this unique area of East Tennessee.

Presentation starts at 1:00pm CST

Directions to the Head of Sequatchie

• From I-40, take the Peavine Road exit (Exit #322). At the end of the ramp turn south, onto Tenn. Hwy 392/Milo Lembert Parkway.
• Continue until you come to a 4 way stop. Go straight. You are now on the bypass around Crossville.
• Travel 2.6 miles, until the next red light. Turn left on US Hwy 127 South/Main Street.
• Travel 2.6 miles to the Y intersection with TN Highway 68 at the Homestead Tower. Turn right onto Highway 127 south. From the Highway 68 split to the main entrance to Cumberland Mountain State Park is 0.7 miles.
• Travel 1.3 miles past the entrance to Cumberland Mountain State Park, and turn left onto Old Hwy 28. A Texaco gas station and an Antique Store are on the left, just before this intersection.
• Follow Old Highway 28 for 8 miles to the entrance road to Head of Sequatchie. The road crosses Daddy’s Creek at 3 miles after the turn off US 127, begins a rapid descent into Sequatchie Valley after you have passed a dump station. Watch your speed: the road is narrow and there are two “hairpin” turns. small driveway on the left marked by two mailboxes.

This free event will include local music, local food, and carriage rides into the Head of the Sequatchie Farm.  It will also include a variety of children’s activities.  The event is sponsored by families from the head of the valley.  For updates and more information check this site or call Charlie Orme, after 7pm, at 423-533-2478.

Ranger Anthony Jones giving a talk at Head of Sequatchie

Call of the Wild, an after-dark adventure at the Head of the Sequatchie unit of Cumberland Trail State Scenic Trail was held on Monday night, July 27^th, at the historic farm site and archaeological area just off Old Highway 28.  Cumberland Trail Park Ranger Anthony Jones began searching out the nocturnal creatures of the Cumberland Plateau, from raccoons to bears, before he was school age. Jones has worked for Tennessee State Parks since 2002, serving at Pickett State Park, South Cumberland Recreation area, and the Cumberland Trail.

The turnout for Call of the Wild was great with 34 people showing up.  Call of the Wild was a night hike that led people into the darkness of the Head of Sequatchie farm to look for creatures of the night.  However, one night prowler stole the show – the Barred Owls were out in force.  After a few attempts of calling in these night creatures, they obliged by putting on a show of vocal calls that rang in the valley well into the night, with one owl actually showing himself to the public for a short moment.  It was a huge success and we would love to have you for our next event.

The Friends of the Cumberland Trail State Park are sponsoring four teachers, one each from Morgan, Cumberland, Rhea, and Hamilton counties, to attend an all-day Outdoor Classroom Symposium on May 8, 2009 at Montgomery Bell State Park. The teachers selected by their respective school systems are: Kim Carroll from Central Middle School in Morgan County, Velma Hawn from Glenn L. Martin Elementary School in Cumberland County, Lene’ McCoy from Rhea Central Elementary School in Rhea County, and Anthony Goad from Tyner Middle Academy in Hamilton County. The Symposium is hosted by the Tennessee Environmental Education Association, Tennessee State Parks, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Tennessee Department of Education. These four counties were picked because large portions of the Trail go through them. Interest in this type of partnership between the Friends and schools of the Plateau may warrant additional workshops and joint projects in the future which can be closer to the Plateau area.

The Friends of the Cumberland Trail are involved in the Tennessee Coalition of “No Child Left Inside”, which is an effort to get kids outside for education as well as health reasons. Anyone (or schools) interested in this type of educational partnership should contact Del Truitt at deltruitt@yahoo.com or (615) 354-3702.

Board Member, Jamie Trotter at the McNabb Mine site (Photo Courtesy of the Chattanooga Free Times Press)

“A Chattanooga woman’s work with a North Georgia company to document and preserve a Marion County coal mining ghost town has won recognition from the Tennessee Historical Commission.

Jaime Trotter, a historian with Alexander Archaeological Consultants of Wildwood, Ga., is among 21 people awarded the commission’s 2009 Certificate of Merit.”

-Pam Sohn, Chattanooga Free Press Times

In May 2009, Friends of the Cumberland Trial board member Jaime Woodcock Trotter won recognition from the Tennessee Historical Commission for her National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) nomination for the mining town of Shake Rag. The abandoned coal mining community was constructed as part of McNabb Mines around 1882 and is located in present-day Prentice Cooper State Forest in Marion County, not far from Chattanooga and the Cumberland Trail. Jaime and a team of three archaeological surveyors painstakingly marked and photographed every visible aboveground feature in a 457-acre area and created hand-drawn maps of the features, which include the remnants of a hotel, commissary, school, miner housing, rail beds, coke ovens, and other associated buildings and structures. Jaime thoroughly researched deeds, historic newspapers, mining and labor records, court cases, and many other documents in order to interpret and explain the significance of the McNabb Mines site. Impressed by the extraordinarily thorough site documentation, a staff member at the Tennessee Historical Commission nominated Jaime for the Certificate of Merit. McNabb Mines was added to the NRHP in 2008 and is visible from River Canyon Road, about 9.2 miles from the turn off US-27. Though a walk through is not advised due to potentially dangerous conditions, some sandstone building remnants, including the former hotel, school, commissary, and coke ovens, are visible from Mullins Cove Road.

We are very proud to have Jamie Trotter on the Board of the Friends of the Cumberland Trail.

Click here to view the Chattanooga Times Free Press Article

The McNabb Mines in relation to the Cumberland Trail

Directions to the McNabb Mines

Directions to the Head of Sequatchie from Chattanooga:

Take US North to Highway 111, Keep left to take 111 North toward Dunlap, go 17 miles, Turn right onto us 127 north toward pikeville, go 31.6 miles take a right onto Lowe’s gap road, go 0.8 take a left onto old 28 go app there is a sharp curve at .7 stay left, it is app 4.4 miles to the turn into the Hos from when you take a left onto old 28.

Upcoming Events:

The Head of Sequatchie will be open November 25th from 8:00 to 5:00.

May 14, 2011, 10:00 am until 3:00 pm Central Time, Archeology Day in the Valley

April 9, 2011, 6:00am, Turkey Hike and at 9:00am Wild Flower Hike with Anthony Jones and Ken Mathews.

March 8, 2011 – 7pm, Owl Prowl with Anthony Jones.

February 26, 2011, 10am, The Head of Sequatchie will be open for a Nature Hike. Hike to the cave or join Ranger Jones for a guided hike off trail through the back woods of the head of Sequatchie

January 23, 2011 – 11:00am, CT story telling with Lindall Agee, and Charlie Orme with chilli and home made Ice cream

All times are Eastern Time unless otherwise noted

Cumberland Trail Radio Show, WDVX, every Sunday, 8:30pm

Newsletter:

February 09 Newsletter

News:

        Historic Stone Fence Survey completed at Head of Sequatchie – View Survey Report

       The Cumberland Trail and Park Manager Bob Fulcher honored at the 20th American Trails Symposium

       Alliance for the Cumberlands Completed Feasibility  

      Study for the Cumberland Plateau as a  National Heritage Corridor.

TPL Purchases 1,388 Acres For Trail

      A Walk In The Park, Through Snow, Ice, and History: The Cumberland Trail

     Lyndhurst Grant Awarded to The Friends of the Cumberland Trail

    The Triple Crown of Bouldering Donates more than $6,000 to ‘Friends’

    New Report Calls for Continued Cave Closures

Board Member Honored

Tennessee Caves Closed

Previous Events:

Triple Crown LRC -StoneFort Bouldering Competition 10/3/10

 Third Thursday Street Festival – October 21, 2010

Fall Foliage – October 30, 2010

Family Fun Day at the Head of Sequatchie – September 4, 2010

A Generous Thanks to the Plateau Chapter of the TTA

Tennessee River Rescue October 2nd 2010

The People of Devil Step Cave – June 12, 2010

Big Day at Head of Sequatchie – May 8, 2010

Wild Turkeys and Wild Flowers – April 3, 2010

Night Hike and Owl Prowl – March 19, 2010