Clearing Trail 136 Nov 14, 15, 16 need Volunteers!

minimike · by **minimike** on Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:45 am

Hi,

Tom & I have been working closely with Leslie Smith (Natural Resouce Program Manager, Cherokee National Forest) to get Motorcycle / Horse Trail 136 reopened. Trail 136 travels along Gravel Stand Top from Wildcat Creek Rd to 384C.

"Trail Name: Gravelstand Top
Trail Number:#136
Length: 3.6 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Description: This hiking and motorcycle trail begins on the Bald River Road and ends near the Miller's Cemetery. Trail is very steep with large ruts in places making it very difficult for motorcycle riding. Motorcyclists should use extreme caution on this trail."

There was a forest fire on the mountain several years ago and the trails was used as a fire break. Besides downed trees from the fire fighting, the wind has knocked over dead trees. It's a real mess to say the least. There's an estimated 1000 to 1500 trees down on the ridge! The trail completely disappears in many places.

Due to extreme budget cuts, the Tellico District does not have the man power or budget to clear the trail. Volunteers clearing the trail would take an extended amount of time to get it done. Tom & I had no idea how bad the trail was until time went up there and survey the trail last week.

Leslie has come up with a solution. She has a seven person Smokejumper team at her disposal. They are only here for a very short time. When they aren't fighting fires they can work on other projects; and, they have agreed to help us clear motorcycle trail 136!

Here's where you come in. We need volunteers to work with the smokejumpers, clearing what they've cut. Ideally, each smokejumper would have a volunteer. There's 7 jumpers, so we need at least 7 volunteers per day. Tom will be there every day. I'm trying to get someone to watch the shop so I can be there every day too.

The work will take place on:

Friday, Nov 14th, 8am meet at Ranger Station
Saturday, Nov 15th, 8am meet at Ranger Station
Sunday, Nov 16th, 8am meet at Ranger Station

You will need long pants, boots over the ankle, and heavy work gloves. The forest service will provide hard hats and any hand tools we need. The Ranger station is just East of Tellico Plains, right off the Cherohala Skyway on Tellico River RD. It's about 4.5 miles from my shop.

Tellico Motorcycles Outfitters will provide bottles of water & lunch every day.

If can come out to help, please call me at 423-253-2088 or 423-253-2035. I need a head count for the food and a contact phone number.

Thanks!
Mike Dozier
Tellico Motorcycle Outfitters

minimike · by **minimike** on Fri Nov 07, 2008 1:55 pm

Major stop sign folks!

"File Code:
2350

Date:
November 7, 2008

Mike Dozier

Owner

Tellico Motorcycle Outfitters

106-A Scott Street

Tellico Plains, TN 37385

Dear Mike,

I want to thank you so much for your enthusiasm and interest in helping us maintain trail 136-Gravelstand on the Tellico Ranger District. Unfortunately, things are not working out as planned. After looking at our maps a little closer and the inventories that have been done in the past for that trail we found that the original trail is no longer passable and would require major side sloping and reconstruction. Therefore, by law, we would be required to complete NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) which essentially entails public scoping and comment periods. Additionally, we are required to complete monitoring for threatened/endangered plant and animal species in areas of new construction. The trail that most people recognize as Gravelstand is not actually the correct route. From Bald River Road it climbs up to the top of Gravelstand knob with up to 35% grades. According to our U.S. Forest Service trail standards for motorcycle trails, this is too much of a grade for proper maintenance, but more importantly it is a safety issue for motorcycle use. I would be concerned that a trail with this steep of slope would increase the sedimentation run off once heavy use occurred, consequently degrading water quality in the streams below. Additionally, our Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) would have to be updated to show this route as a designated motorcycle trail. I understand that it has been a “grandfathered” motorcycle trail in the past, but since the fires and beetle kill damage has occurred it was removed from the MVUM and because of budget cuts and staff shortages has since not been touched. We need to evaluate this trail for motorized trail opportunities in accordance with our forest-wide trails strategy and it should be screened through our Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) to make sure we are following our own policies.

All this being said, all is not lost, this trail happens fall within the Conasauga/Wildcat Watershed. We are planning a watershed assessment for this area starting in February, 2009. This means that we will look at these two watersheds taking into account which roads and trails (and many other issues) need work and how they will be managed and maintained. This trail will certainly be an issue we will need to look at and your interest and your user group will have a big part in that planning process.

Again, I sincerely appreciate your interest and I hope to work with you soon on some other projects within the district.

Respectfully,

/s/ Leslie M. Smith

Leslie M. Smith
Natural Resource Program Manager
Cherokee National Forest, Tellico Ranger District
lesliemsmith@fs.fed.us

cc: Mary Dodson
Doug Byerly
Leslie M Smith

"

It looks like this is going to take more time & paper work to get accomplished. Tom & I are going to stay on top of it. It may mean we have to apply for grants to get the work done. We'll keep everyone informed on the progress.

Meanwhile Trails 82 & 81 still need work. We'll have a work day in Nov for one of those trails instead.

Minimike

Python423 · by **Python423** on Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:45 am

Sorry to hear about this set-back.. The last time I went thru the trail, the trail was still there, but growed in some spots.. There are some huge steep climbs in it.. You would definately need low gearing to complete it. But thats what makes it FUN.. I hope we havent lost this trail.. It would be a great trail.. not for everone, but for those who like a little challenge..

Python423 · by **Python423** on Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:52 am

Maybe everone could send Leslie an email to let her know personally our intrest in this trail and motorcycle use in the tellico area.. lesliemsmith@fs.fed.us" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false , I've just sent in my email..

minimike · by **minimike** on Sun Nov 09, 2008 11:51 am

Leslie's a girl. Very nice too.

dcarlisle · by **dcarlisle** on Tue Nov 18, 2008 12:09 am

Hi Greg, is 136 the trail we went on that had tall grass? If not where was that?

Clearing Trail 136 Nov 14, 15, 16 need Volunteers!

Clearing Trail 136 Nov 14, 15, 16 need Volunteers!

Re: Clearing Trail 136 Nov 14, 15, 16 need Volunteers!

Re: Clearing Trail 136 Nov 14, 15, 16 need Volunteers!

Re: Clearing Trail 136 Nov 14, 15, 16 need Volunteers!

Re: Clearing Trail 136 Nov 14, 15, 16 need Volunteers!

Re: Clearing Trail 136 Nov 14, 15, 16 need Volunteers!

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