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Date: Saturday, 5 May, 2018
Time: 9:00 a.m. CT
Location: Short Mountain State Natural Area and surrounding area, Woodbury, Cannon County
Fee: $15 per person, children 12 and under free.
Reservations required: To register visit https://tnstateparks.com/events/details/#/?event=short-mountain-ecotone-tour. General inquiries may be directed to David Withers at 615-532-0441 or david.withers@tn.gov.
For this spring tour we will trek up the Collins River face of the mountain, where Gunter Hollow Road makes an aggressive ascent through a variety of limestones to reach the sandstone above, before ceding a more casual approach along Bible Camp Road. Our focus will be a moderate to difficult hike on the pavement and gravels of Gunter Hollow and Bible Camp roads, covering about 2.0 miles in 3 hours, with ~1.2 miles averaging an 8-9% grade.
Orientation and introductions will begin at TWRA's Headwaters WMA barn along Gunter Hollow Road at 9 a.m. Leaders for this year's hike include specialists in archaeology, botany, forestry, geology, ornithology, stormwater management, and zoology. The hike will wind its way from the WMA, through Short Mountain State Natural Area, and ending at Short Mountain Bible Camp.
Along the way we will learn about the history of the area and its inhabitants past and present, and the significance of the Plateau remnant to water quality of area springs, seeps, and caves. We'll take a leisurely pace, stopping frequently to enjoy in all the mountain has to offer, and study a plethora of spring ephemerals, trees, rocks, salamanders and crayfish.
Time on the bus will be limited to returning guests from the bible camp to their vehicles at the WMA. We expect to conclude our day by 1 PM.
The Short Mountain Distillery restaurant welcomes hikers with a special menu for Cinco de Mayo: http://www.shortmountaindistillery.com/cafe. Please inform David Withers at time of registration if you plan to partake of the café's food offerings, as the management must be notified ahead of time.
Participants should wear sturdy shoes or boots you don't mind getting wet, and bring along some dry clothes and footwear as well. Don't forget to BYO snacks, water, and walking stick!
Following the hike, transportation will be provided from the bible camp back to the Headwaters WMA parking area. This event is limited to the first 40 registrants, and parking is available at Headwaters WMA, Gunter Hollow Road, about one mile west of Short Mountain Road/SR146. Orientation will occur at 9:00 AM CT.
