Tennessee Wild Blog

WUOT 91.9 FM Knoxville

Today Will Skelton, a long time wilderness advocate from Knoxville was featured on Knoxville's public radio station - 91.9 WUOT.  The segment entitled "Tennesseans Go Wild in Wilderness Areas" can be listened to online on the Public News Service website.  Enjoy! 

WUTC 88.1

On Sunday November 1, Tennessee Wild Field Organizer Jeff Hunter was interviewed by Richard Winham in the studios of Chattanooga's NPR affiliate WUTC 88.1.  Joining him was Mark McKnight from Rock/Creek and Dr. Robin Gottfried from Sewanee: University of the South.  Robin is the Executive Director of the University's Center for Religion and Environment.

In addition to a wide ranging discussion on the values of wilderness, there is some excellent music mixed in. Enjoy!

WGOW 102.3

On Tuesday October 20, Tennessee Wild Field Organizer Jeff Hunter was joined in the studio by Rudd Montgomery from Push Hard Lumber Company, Carl Abscher from ABC Tree Service.  Joining us on the line was Will Skelton, Editor of the Cherokee National Forest Hiking Guide.

For nearly 50 minutes, program host Jeff Styles asked questions about wilderness and trails here in Tennessee.  You can listen to that interview here at the Tennessee Wild blog.  Enjoy!

Sunrise over Ducy Basin - Kings Canyon National Park

In an interview with National Parks Traveler last week, new NPS Director Jon Jarvis goes on the record supporting additional "official" Wilderness areas in our National Parks System.

The Daily Times is reporting today that Congressman Jimmy Duncan and Senator Lamar Alexander have secured $500,000 in federal funding for fiscal year 2010 to fight the Hemlock Wooly Adlegid. This non-native pest is systematically killing our Hemlock trees throughout Tennessee and the rest of the Southern Appalachians.

Blue Ridge 2 Lined Salamander

Last weekend six folks joined Tennessee Wild hike leader Jeff Hunter on a hike into the Big Frog Wilderness.  Along the way, they saw wildflowers, evidence of black bear, feral hog, and racoon. They also encountered a salamander (above) in a spring.

Peregrine Falcon in flight

Yesterday, I led a hike to the Big Frog Wilderness in the Cherokee National Forest.  We gathered early Sunday morning at a local Starbucks just off the interstate.  Just as we were about to leave, I noticed a bird of prey following some smaller birds. September and October is migration time for birds, both large and small. Birds of prey like Coopers and Sharp-shined Hawks time their migration to coincide with the migration of their prey - smaller birds. 

Bald River Falls

On Saturday October 31 from 10 AM - 2 PM, Tennessee Wild will hold a Wilderness Workshop at the Chattanooga Nature Center.  Representatives from Campaign for America's Wilderness and The Wilderness Society will be on hand for this fun and interactive training. The workshop is free and open to the public.  Childcare will be provided.

A hiker on the Kirkland Creek Trail

A Flash Flood Watch in Monroe County has been issued for Saturday September 26.  As a result, the Kirkland Creek Trail is being postponed.  This trail has 11 stream crossings, including a ford of the Bald River right at the trailhead.  Safety dictates that we hike it on a drier day. The hike has been rescheduled for Saturday October 24.

Slots are still available for our hiikes on Sunday October 4 & 11.  Please consider joining us on the trail!

View of the Cherokee National Forest from the Cherohala Skyway

On March 30, the Omnibus Public Lands Act of 2009 was signed into law, adding 2 million acres of new federal wilderness areas in 9 states including Virginia and West Virginia.  Here in Tennessee, the US Forest Service has recommended a number of areas in the Cherokee National Forest be designated wilderness. In order for this to occur, Congress has to pass legislation.