The Nickajack Naturalist

Aetna Mountain Four-Wheeler Conflict

  According to a Chattanoogan.com article, TWRA has announced plans to stop four-wheeler traffic on 1,200 acres the agency owns on Aetna Mountain.  A group has started a petition drive seeking to keep access.    Read more.

Ed. note:    I believe this article supports my concern that the greatest potential threat to off-road recreation is actually residential development. 

 For an article and video from News Channel 9, click here.

Dade County Land Conservation Update

 An earlier post reported on the acquisition of 266 acres in Johnson's Crook by a land trust.  Unfortunately, since then the deal has fallen through.  Read more.   

Upcoming Southern Cumberland Outings

For more information on listed Tennessee Trails Association Hikes, go to www.tennesseetrails.org/calendar.php.  For all others, click on the name of the outing. 

 

Sundays in Jan. & Feb.

5-Points Weekly Rides    (mtn. bike)    SORBA Chattanooga 

 

Wednesdays in Jan. & Feb. 1

Raccoon Mountain Night Rides    (mtn. bike)    SORBA Chattanooga

 

Sat., Jan. 21

Tennessee Trails Association:

Eat-Hike-Eat   Sewanee    Greens View to Brakefield Rd.

Wolf Cove Hike    Kieth Springs Mountain    Winchester

Raccoon Mountain Hike

Carter Mountain Hike     Winchester

 

Sat., Jan. 28

Tennessee Trails Assc. Hikes

Piney River Trail

Bridal Veil Falls @ Sewanee    Annual Chilly Chili Hike

Cumberland Trail    Signal Point to Mushroom Rock

Birding:    Nickajack Dam, Stevenson, and Guntersville    www.chattanoogatos.org  click on "Chat Newsletter"

 

Thurs., Feb. 2 - Sun., Feb. 5

Weekend of area dayhikes at Cumberland Mountain State Park, Crossville, TN      TN Trails Assc.

 

Sat., Feb. 4

Prentice Cooper Dayhike      Chattanooga Hiking Club

 

TN Trails Assc. Hikes

South Cumberland Hike    Collins East Suter and Horsepound Falls  

North Chickamauga

Fall Creek Falls SP    Wheeler Farm Loop

 

Tues., Feb. 7

TN Trails Assc. Hike

Heiss Mtn. to Possum Creek and back

 

Sat., Feb. 11

Under the Bluff Hike    Carter Mountain, TN    Joint Sierra Club and  TN Trails Assc.

 

TN Trails Assc. Hikes

Perimeter Trail     Sewanee Domain

Scotts Gulf

Prentice Cooper    Mullen's Cove Loop

Fall Creek Falls SP

 

Tues., Feb. 14

Moccasin Bend Hike    Blue Blazes Trail    TN Trails Assc.

 

Sat., Feb. 18

TN Trails Assc. Hikes

Eat-Hike-Eat  Sewanee

Flipper Bend

Sewanee Domain    second hike

 

 Links to More Outings Schedules

  

Chattanooga Hiking Club   http://www.chatthiking.com  

Tennessee Trails Association    www.tennesseetrails.org/calendar.php

Sierra Club, Alabama Chapter    http://alabama.sierraclub.org

Sierra Club, Tennessee Chapter    http://tennessee.sierraclub.org

SORBA Chattanooga  (mtn. biking)    http://sorbachattanooga.org    click on "Calendar"

Chattanooga Bicycle Club    www.chattbike.com/forum/calendar.php

Tennessee Ornithological Society, Chattanooga Chapter    www.chattanoogatos.org   click on "Chat Newsletter"

South Cumberland State Recreation Area    www.friendsofscsra.org/activities.htm

Lula Lake Land Trust    www.lulalake.org

Cumberland Trail Conference    www.cumberlandtrail.org/calendar.html 

 

 

   

   

Nickajack Coalition Page

 I have a page up about the Nickajack Coalition.  Since I still haven't managed to get a link to it in the sidebar, to see it, click here.   

TWRA Counting Bald Eagle Nests

  TWRA is looking for help in conducting an inventory of bald eagle nests across Tennessee in 2012.

Read more. 

Exploring Local Waterfalls

  The magazine Get Out Chattanooga recently featured an article about waterfalls in the Chattanooga area.  The article included descriptions of three falls in the South Cumberlands: Laurel Falls near Dayton, Greeter Falls in the Savage Gulf State Natural Area, and DeSoto Falls on Lookout Mountain, as well as tips on photographing waterfalls.  To read the article, click here.  

Nature Trail at Russell Cave

  You may have taken the guided tour to see the cave at Russell Cave National Monument near Bridgeport, Alabama.  But have you explored the 1.2 mile paved nature trail?  The trail departs from the boardwalk to the cave, located behind the visitor center, climbs rather steeply up the slopes of Montague Mountain, and forms a loop.  There is an unpaved section connecting both sides of the loop and providing a shorter .6 mile option. 

  Due to the trail's relatively low visitation it makes a great location for a brief but strenuous workout, or to experience at a more leisurely pace, observing the area's geology, wildlife, and plant life.  Sightings of white-tailed deer are not uncommon.  Signs identify a number of trees along the trail.  

  Benches for taking a break are located at intervals along the trail.

  The 310 acre park is an official stop on the North Alabama Birding Trail.

For more information about Russell Cave National Monument, visit the NPS website.  

The trailhead at the boardwalk to the cave.

Sinkhole along the trail.

Overlook at the sinkhole.

  

 

 

 

 

                                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land Conservation Deal in Dade County

  The Georgia Land Trust has acquired 266 acres from a residential development in Johnson's Crook on the side of Lookout Mountain, near Rising Fawn, Georgia.    Read more.    

Update on Moccasin Bend Gateway Project

  Plans are moving forward with the Moccasin Bend Gateway Project that will connect Stringer's Ridge and Moccasin Bend through a series of landscaped multi-use roadways, bike, and pedestrian paths. 

Read more.

Sandhill Crane Festival January 14 - 15

  The 21st Sandhill Crane Festival will be held at the Hiwassee Refuge near Birchwood, Tennessee on January 14th and 15th.  The sandhill cranes present quite a spectacle as they gather in large numbers, and if you're lucky, you might spot a rare whooping crane or a bald eagle.  To learn more, visit www.tncranefestival.org.