Spring Retreat 2019
May 3rd through May 5th
Fall Creek Falls State Park
Join the TN Chapter as we meet for our Spring Retreat. The Fall Creek Falls State Park is a beautiful place to enjoy the spring weather while hiking the trails and viewing the waterfalls.
The Chapter retreat will begin at 4 PM on Friday, May 3rd and end at 2 PM on Sunday, May 5th.
Come and enjoy the company and interaction with environmental leaders from across the state. Be a part of the fellowship, hikes, fireplace chats, and meetings. Be sure not to miss the Saturday evening program with Dr. Melanie Mayes presenting key findings from two recent reports sponsored by the US Global Change Research Program. Our informal social gathering follows. Meet others that share your love and respect for the environment.
Various Sierra Club committees will also meet on Saturday. Feel free to sit in on any or all of interest to you.
Sunday morning you will need to choose between another hike, observing the Tennessee Chapter's Executive Committee's (Excom) business meeting, or just relaxing until time to depart, which will be at 1pm.
The Park is centrally located about 35 miles southwest of Crossville, TN, or about 44 miles southeast of Cookeville, TN. Lots of photos of the scenes at the park are here. Venue information and directions are available at Fall Creek Falls State Park website: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/fall-creek-falls.
Registration
Please click this link to register. It asks you several questions about your preferences and it can post the Retreat on the calendar in your phone. Register by Friday, April 26 to receive early bird pricing.
We'll be at the Group Lodge #1. Registration fee covers your bunkhouse lodging (women's & men's dorms), 2 breakfasts, and Saturday dinner -- pack your own trail lunches. Pay when you check in at the Group Lodge. For additional information, contact Ron Shrieves, HBG Chair (email ronshrieves@gmail.com).
The rates are:
- Late registration (after April 26) - $60
- Early Bird Discount (lodging, 2 breakfasts, Saturday dinner) - $50
- First Chapter retreat attendees pay only half (lodging, 2 breakfasts, Saturday dinner) - $25
- Students (lodging, 2 breakfasts, Saturday dinner) -- $15
- Only on Saturday (registration, dinner) -- $30
- Only the Sunday Executive Committee meeting (registration, breakfast, no lodging) -- $10
- Only the Sunday Executive Committee meeting (registration only, no lodging, no breakfast) -- $5
- Child under 16 – No Charge
Tent or truck camping is available for the same fee. Bring linens and beverage containers. Participants are responsible for their own lunch on Saturday and Sunday.
All TN Chapter Retreat participants will be required to sign the standard Sierra Club outings liability waiver when checking in at the retreat location. All attendees at our Chapter Retreats must sign our standard liability waiver. These must be signed upon arrival at the Retreat. You can review the waiver at https://bit.ly/2kGfev0.
Any youth under 18 attending without their parent/guardian, must bring 2 forms signed by a parent/guardian- our waiver form ( https://bit.ly/2kGfev0 ) and "Medical Treatment Authorization & Consent Form" ( https://bit.ly/2svzyCx ). Youth attending with a parent/guardian, can be signed in by the parent/guardian when they arrive.
Harvey Broome Group is hosting. - Contact HBG treasurer Bob Perlack if you have questions or need help registering: email perlack@aol.com, phone (865) 229-5027.
About the Park
Fall Creek Falls State Park (FCF) is named for the spectacular water features found within its boundaries. In 1937, when the federal government started purchasing the land for the park, much of it was badly eroded. Subsequently the Works Project Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Core (CCC) began conservation programs to restore the ecosystem. The land was transferred to the state in 1944.
Today, the park encompasses 26,000 acres. It boasts many waterfalls and cascades, gorges, and extensive forests, including some stands of virgin timber. The namesake feature is Fall Creek Falls, with it's 256 foot vertical drop. Other notable falls are Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls, and Cane Creek Cascades. Click here for a detailed map of the park. Park contact info: 2009 Village Camp Road, Spencer, TN 38585: phone 423-881-5298.
Saturday Evening Program
Dr. Melanie Mayes, Senior Research Scientist, Climate Change Science Institute, ORNL.
Dr. Mayes will summarize key findings from two recent reports sponsored by the US Global Change Research Program. These reports involved 13 Federal agencies and hundreds of authors at universities, research institutions, and non-profit organizations. The State of the Carbon Cycle Report assesses scientific literature on the carbon cycle in North America since 2005. The National Climate Assessment, produced every 4 years, summarizes climate change impacts on North America.
Dr. Melanie Mayes was one of the lead editors of the State of the Carbon Cycle Report.
Outings
Once again, we're delighted to have our Tennessee State Naturalist, Randy Hedgepath, to lead us on outings both Saturday and Sunday. Randy posts photos of scenes around the park on his blog.
Tentatively, here's what Randy has lined up:
• A hike around the loop trail from Nature Center to FC falls including the trail to base of the falls. A "premium" trail, but it might be crowded.
• A 2.6 mile walk on Paw Paw Trail or a 2 mile walk on Wheeler Farm Trail. The Paw Paw Trail starts at the Nature Center (same as the Falls loop) and would feature Pink Ladies Slipper Orchids. Wheeler Farm is outside main park on Highway 30 and features wildflowers and a natural arch.
Details of time and meeting place for the hikes will be available at check-in. Average early May weather at the park involves highs in the mid 70s, lows in the low 50s. Average rainfall for May is around 4.8 inches, so be prepared for rain by bringing rain gear. It's a good idea to have a daypack for carrying water, snacks, and rain gear.