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Video of a new accessible trail »
April 1, 2007
The Osborne Tract
A handicapped accessible section of the Appalachian Trail
You are here! Or maybe you wish you were!
Today I found myself in NE Tennessee after attending a trail meeting in Blowing Rock, NC. As I drove home to Chattanooga, I decided to take a detour near Elizabethton, Tennessee and drive up to visit a newly constructed segment of the Appalachian Trail. This segment of trail crosses a historic farm on a parcel of land commonly referred to as the Osborne Tract. This new section of trail was designed and built by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and their local trail maintaining organization, the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoe Club.
After winding my way up TN 91 into the Cherokee National Forest, I finally arrived at the Cross Mountain Trailhead. There I found a new gravel parking lot and a brand spanking new kiosk.
After stashing my valuables out of sight in my trunk, I walked across the road and checked out the new handicapped parking lot for the Osborne Tract. I was also struck by the fact that the access trail for the Osborne Tract was graded and sloped for access by wheelchairs. There was also a beautiful stile that was wheelchair friendly. For those of you who don't know what a stile is, it's a structure that allows hikers into an enclosed area, but either keeps livestock in or out, depending upon the situation.
The view of the Osborne Tract from near the trailhead
Continuing along the trail, I was greeted by the song of the Song Sparrow. The field that the trail passed through was surrounded by fencing. A hardwood forest bordered the trail to the west, and to the east, Shady Valley rolled out and offered majestic views. About a quarter mile from the parking lot, a series of old farm buildings were scattered across the landscape. While I was taking in the scene, a hiker made his way south along the trail, and passed me with a nod and a "hello." As he passed me, I noticed that he had a large Volkswagen hubcap affixed to his pack. I can only assume that he picked it up along the trail, and is carrying it out to the next trash receptacle.
While out on the trail, I recorded a brief audio dispatch (620 KB) explaining a bit about the trail.
A fence and some old structures on the Osborne Tract
After spending about 45 minutes walking the property and shooting some video and photographs, I headed back to the parking lot. As I arrived in the lot, a hiker emerged from the woods. Daniel Morrell is a 17 year old from Albany, New York who is attempting a northbound thru-hike. He started hiking in late February with his best friend Dean, but his buddy dropped off of the trail at Fontana Dam. His trail name is "Carefree", but he is also known online as Grandma Dixie. I asked Carefree if he'd mind spending a few minutes and allow me to interview him about his trail experiences. To listen to this 6 minute interview, please click here. (3 MB)
To see additional photographs of the Osborne Tract, and to read a recent newspaper article about this new segment of trail, please visit the Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoe Club Osborne Tract web page.
Great Places to Hike | By Jeffrey Hunter | 8:19 PM
Comments
Dear Jeffrey,
I checked out My grandson's (Dan Morrell) blog this morning and got a wonderful suprise--your interview with him. It was so good to hear his voice. We think about hime every day, miss him, love him, but most of all right now, we are very proud of what he is doing. Thank you for talking to him. You have a great web site. We enjoy checking it out. Where in NY are you from? We live in Bolton Landing on Lake George.
Posted by: Dorothy Robinson at April 2, 2007 8:26 AM
Mrs. Robinson:
I'm glad you enjoyed the interview. Your grandson is a nice young man, and he's taken to the trail like a duck to water. I'm only sorry that I didn't take a photo of him to add to the interview.
I'm originally from New City, NY (Rockland County), but lived in Warwick (Orange County) for about 15 years until 2003. My family spent summers vacationing along Lake George and Lake Champlain when I was a young boy, so I love that area. I've also spent a good bit of time at Schroon Lake.
Thanks again for your interest in this website. Check back from time to time for updates.
Jeffrey Hunter
Posted by: Jeffrey Hunter at April 2, 2007 11:50 AM
Jeffrey Hunter;
I'm Carefree's (Dan Morrell's) Mom. It was so nice to hear Danny's voice. The trail has clearly been good for him. So many times teens are "invisible" to the general public. I'm sure he appreciated the attention! He may get a bit lonely now and then, but he sounded happy in your interview. Thank you for taking the time to do that. We all miss him at home, but an unexpected audio clip was a real treat!. As a teacher, I was so happy to hear him mention books and teachers as influences too! Thanks again and happy trails. Susan Toohey
Posted by: Susan Toohey at April 2, 2007 4:56 PM
