MEMORANDUM:  Results of Trip to Possible Site for Trout Adventure Trail         February 27, 2010

TO:         Trout Adventure Trail File

FROM:    Ralph Artigliere

RE:          Feb. 26, 2010 Hike on Trail

PARTICIPANTS:  Ned Rand (Boy Scouts); Carl Riggs (TU State Council); Ralph Artigliere (Blue Ridge TU)

PURPOSE:  To assess the Springer Mountain and Three Forks area for trails suitable for designation as the Georgia Trout Adventure Trail.

BACKGROUND:  BRMTU initiated a project for designating portions of existing trails as an educational Trout Adventure Trail for scouts, youth groups, and the general public.  The project has been generally vetted with the US Forest Service, the DNR, Trout Unlimited National and State officials, the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, and the Fannin Chamber of Commerce.  The concept is a flexible trail system using existing trails with minimal adjustment or impact as a system for encouraging hiking with the additional component of corresponding age-appropriate education on natural habitat and ecosystem issues involving flora and fauna of the area.

CONCEPT:  The Appalachian Trail and Benton-MacKaye Trails in North Georgia provide famous and magnificent outdoor experiences.  Youth programs, such as the Boy and Girl Scouts, wish to capitalize on outdoor experiences to include educational components as well as fun and healthy exercise.   The Trout Adventure Trail would provide a self-contained opportunity to learn about key issues involving the places where hikes take place plus the ability of hikers to earn a pin, badge, or patch to commemorate the experience.  The trails are already well-marked.  For many reasons, the concept of the educational component is to provide information to hikers and adults in methods OTHER THAN detailed placards and signs enroute.  The preference is to let natural observational points speak for themselves supplemented by written and electronic information available largely off site.  Hopefully, any signs and markers will be minimal, congruent with present requirements and signage and as unobtrusive as possible. 

BRIEF SUMMARY OF OUTCOME OF VISIT TO LOCATION OF TRAILS:  The Springer Mountain Three Forks area provide excellent opportunity for trail designation because they provide access to the Appalachian Trail and Benton-MacKaye Trail experiences; presence of trout water along and across much of the trail; beautiful scenery; easy to moderate hiking opportunity; flexibility on access and route length and direction; nearby camping; information bulletin board already available at Springer Mountain; and varied habitat for educational elements.  This area appears to be an ideal location for the Trout Adventure Trail.  Next up:  another trip to the site to survey the trails for exact distances and identify specific sites along the trails for observational education.

GOALS AND LIMITATIONS:          1.  We do not intend to create any additional trails or spurs; existing facilities will be sufficient and will be protected from abuse.  2.  Our volunteers will commit to assisting in the ongoing maintenance to the extent the trail associations and clubs want our volunteer help.  (We may even be able to recruit help for maintaining other more remote trail areas if that is more desirable.)  3.  One of our our goals to promote the natural treasure and opportunity of the existence here of the AT and B-M Trails thanks to those in USFS and supporting volunteers; we are simply designating the use of those trails for our Trout education experience.  One of the great draws for the Trout Adventure Trail is the opportunity to hike on the AT and B-M Trails.  4.  We want to temper the impact on the trails with organized, planned, and responsible use of the trails through the materials we will provide to leaders and parents.  5. It is our utmost goal to promote outdoor activity for youth with a fun educational component.  Our underlying message of respect for the environment and the creatures and plants that exist in these hills is consistent with our TU goal to protect, preserve, and restore coldwater fisheries.

FINDINGS: 

1.        Springer Mountain Parking area is accessible from two directions on Forest Service Road (“FS”) 42.  Three Forks is available from two directions on FS 58.  This provides two points of access to the trails, both containing nearby camping.  Parking at Three Forks is more limited than Springer Mountain.  According to Forest Service personnel, Springer Mountain existing Bulletin Boards may be available for limited, suitable information about the Trout Adventure Trail if the project is ultimately deemed suitable.

2.       The hike on the Appalachian Trail from the Parking area at Springer Mountain to Three Forks is designated at 3.1 miles and is largely downhill.  It is an “easy” hike.  The Benton-MacKaye Trail takes a wonderfully meandering route from near the parking area to Three Forks, crossing the AT three times and rejoining it at Three Forks.  We estimate that the Benton-MacKaye Trail is considerably longer than the AT route.  The exact distance can be estimated fairly easily from maps and determined later.  We were working on a rough assessment of the vicinity for this trip.

3.       The .5 to .7 mile walk from Three Forks to Long Creek Falls along the Appalachian Trail provides a terrific adjunct to this system with a good deal of streamside hiking (Long Creek) capped by a magnificent Waterfall at the terminus if this is used as a hike up and back from Three Forks.

4.       The .9 mile walk from the Springer Mountain parking area to the start of the AT at Springer Mountain would be an attractive adjunct to groups accessing the Trout Adventure Trail.  Since this spur is not really trout related, it could be an option for hikers outside the Trout Adventure Trail.  To be sure, this brief hike is rich with wonderful visual and experience components, as well as the added attraction of placing the hiker at the start of the AT.   A scout troop that has but one opportunity to visit this area may understandably want to add the trip to the top of Springer Mountain as part of the experience.  It is not necessary to designate it as part of the Trout Adventure Trail.

5.       For cub scouts, brownies, and other younger hikers, the portion of the trail from Three Forks to Long Creek Falls would be a sufficient hiking and outdoor experience that may be supplemented with educational information about trout and area fauna; trees and natural landscape; water and habitat; and safety (especially waterfall dangers).

6.       For boy scouts, girl scouts, and other age-appropriate hikers, The Springer Mountain-Three Forks area provides an array of trail designation opportunities using different routes.  The objective would be to provide enough flexibility in routes for hikers to choose a route that meets their length, timing, and accessibility needs without providing so many alternatives that it becomes confusing to those who are not familiar with the system.  We surmise that having flexibility and a planning component would add to the attractiveness to some, such as boy scouts, who include planning a hike as a requirement for rank advancement and for hiking merit badge.  Also, having the ability to conduct a hike of over 10 miles is a benchmark length for scout hiking merit badge and an attractive number for a day hike for older youth.  Here are some alternatives using Springer Mountain Parking Area and Three Forks as potential starting Points, so hikes can go one direction or the other.

a.       Hike Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain to Three Forks to Long Creek Falls and return to Springer Mountain Parking Area on the same trail  (less than 10 miles unless round trip hike to Springer Mountain and back to parking area is added).  

b.      Same hike as a, except starting at Three Forks and returning to Three Forks:  Hike Appalachian Trail from Three Forks to Long Creek Falls to Springer Mountain Parking area and return Three Forks on the same trail  (less than 10 miles unless round trip hike to Springer Mountain and back to parking area is added).

c.       Springer Mountain Parking Area to Long Creek Falls on the Appalachian Trail returning to Springer Mountain Parking area via the Benton MacKaye Trail once Noontootla Creek is crossed.  This hike exceeds 10 miles.

d.      Same hike as c, but starting at Three Forks and returning to Three Forks.

e.      Hike Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain Parking area to Long Creek Falls and end up at Three Forks.  This hike is slightly less than 4 miles.

f.        Same hike as e, except start at Three Forks and hike AT to Long Creek Falls and from there backtrack slightly to Three Forks and take AT to Springer Mountain.   This hike is slightly less than 4 miles.

There are other possibilities, but the idea is to designate the trail system as the Trout Adventure Trail and provide learning opportunities at locations on both trails so that the educational component is accomplished regardless of route.  The patch or pin or medal for scouts could be awarded provided at least 5 miles are completed on the trail as certified by the scout leader and the hiker demonstrates understanding of basic learning objectives.  AT THIS POINT, WE MAKE NO DECISION ON PRECISE DESIGNATION OF THE TRAIL.  HOW COMPLEX OR SIMPLE WE MAKE THE ROUTE(S) IS TO BE DETERMINED.  WE COULD END UP WITH ONE ROUTE OR AS MANY AS 6 OR 8, IF WE COULD DO SO WITHOUT GETTING WAY TOO COMPLEX.  THIS IS AN OPEN ISSUE.  THE POINT IS, WE HAVE A GREAT PLACE AND LOTS OF CHOICES.

7.       NOTE:  The Long Creek Falls component is essential.  We know this section of the AT gets a lot of use already.  However, it is a magnificent opportunity for education because of its proximity to Long Creek (a beautiful trout stream), the waterfall, and the variety of trees and other flora shading and protecting this habitat.  Long Creek also contains in-stream structures built with TU assistance many years ago.  Our efforts must be tempered by efforts to preserve and protect Long Creek  (and of course Stover Creek and Noontootla Creek) from destructive wear.  We are cognizant that we would need to be especially careful to protect Long Creek because it is so accessible, even though it has significant human campsite and other interaction already.   However, part of our message is preservation and protection of habitat, and we must avoid doing that very harm by our use of these trails.

8.       Potential Learning Objectives for hikers are so wonderful and manifold that we must avoid the danger of trying to do too much.  Here are some examples of subjects we can point out on these trails and what potentially we can teach:

a.       Brook Trout:   Brook Trout are the only native species of trout in this area and the Appalachians for that matter.  Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout, as beautiful and wonderful as they are, are not native fish and their competition is harmful, if not deadly, to native brook trout.

b.      Natural Trout Habitat:  Trout need cold, clean water and adequate cover to survive.  Streamside plants and trees protect against erosion, provide shade, and provide needed cover for trout as they stand or when they fall into the streams.   The stream bottom, banks, and streamside vegetation and earth are home to insects and other trout prey.  When the natural surroundings are disturbed it takes away food, shade, and cover that trout need to survive.

c.       Man-Made Trout  Habitat:  Sometimes man can help the trout and all other animals in the ecosystem by first not needlessly disturbing the ecosystem and second by building structures to protect trout or provide cover and habitat.  In-stream structures on Long Creek and Stover Creek (the latter of which are visible from the bridge crossing Long Creek on the AT near Three Forks) provide ideal cover and habitat to help trout survive.  These structures are built by the USFS with the help of local volunteer organizations.

d.      Barriers to Protect Brook Trout from Rainbow and Brown Trout encroachment:  Waterfalls (like the Falls on Long Creek) are natural barriers keeping Rainbow and Brown Trout from getting to Brook Trout habitat (above the falls).   Sometimes, when natural barriers are not present, man can build a waterfall structure to keep brook trout safe.  There is such a man-made barrier on Stover Creek, the noise from which can be heard from the trail.  (We are not going to let hikers go to the barrier).  It is against the law to move trout from one location to another without involvement of the USFS or DNR.   Persons who introduce any non-native species to an ecosystem may expose the system to disease or danger from the non-native species. 

e.      Hemlock Trees:  An ecosystem consists of interdependent living things, plant, animal, and insect.  When any one of these is threatened, it can cause a change or imbalance that hurts other living things and structural aspects in the system.  For example, loss of trees can cause erosion that can cloud streams and increase water temperature, which endangers fish and insect life, not to mention loss of habitat for birds and other animals.  One tree under particular attack in this Hemlock Trees under attack by a non-native insect called the wooly adelgid.  As a sad note:    Hemlock trees and adelgid infestation are observable on these trails.  We saw magnificent stands of hemlocks on the trail between Springer Mtn and Three Forks with giant trees apparently hundreds of years old.  We also saw adelgid infestation on the trail along Long Creek.  If this trail is as successful as we hope and lasts for many years, those who hike it years from now may see a different landscape than the present one.  While this is not a happy subject, it is a life’s lesson we may not want to shy away from, especially with the adolescent and adult  hikers.   JIM WENTWORTH CAN GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE ON A PITHY BUT RELEVANT TEACHING POINT ON HEMLOCKS.

f.        Tree and shrub identification and information:  There are many different types of trees that could serve as learning experience.  We were particularly taken with Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel adaptation of folded, dewatered leaves awaiting warmth to restore their spring, summer, and fall fullness.   Some aspect of evergreen and deciduous tree and shrub education can be invoked.  Flowers are seasonal, but may also provide interesting observation.

g.       Insects and trout prey:  Trout eat a variety of insects, water dwelling in some or all stages of life, airborne, terrestrial, and combinations of the foregoing.  They also eat other fish, newts, salamanders, crayfish, snakes, worms, etc.  Small stream mountain trout are not particularly picky eaters.  They are pretty opportunistic and will eat just about anything edible that comes down the stream or lands on it or comes off the bottom.  (The rub for fisherman is that self-preservation from danger and flight to cover often trumps hunger, so mountain trout can be skittish and scarce.  You will not see them very often before they see you.)  WE HOPE TO GET HELP FROM DNR (Sheila Humphrey) ON POTENTIAL TEACHING POINTS FOR TROUT PREY. 

h.      Safety:  Climbing on waterfalls is so dangerous, we wish to include this as a teaching point for the trail for all age groups.

i.        Leave No Trace:  Leave No Trace is a tenet of scouting and the USFS that would be incorporated into the educational effort.

We are going to stop here on potential teaching points.  We could go on with other examples, but the point is we have many potential teaching points, some of which may be expanded at the choice of the hiker with references that we can make available by website and the internet.  We are equally sure that partners, stakeholders, and wildlife officers can help us develop a good core of topical learning objectives.   It would be our intent to develop 5-6 age-appropriate core learning objectives for the older group and the same number for the younger group.  The hiker would make observations and we may try to find a way to have the hikers demonstrate some basic knowledge to qualify for the patch, pin, or medal.   These LO’s can be supplemented with reference  to additional  WE WILL NOT DEVELOP SPECIFIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND CONTENT UNTIL WE HAVE REQUIRED APPROVAL FOR THE TRAIL PROJECT AND THE INPUT OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS RE THE ROUTES AVAILABLE.

9.       We walked from Springer Mountain Parking Area to Long Creek Falls and back to Three Forks, all on the AT.  From Springer to Three Forks is 95% or more downhill or level and well-marked.   There are only a couple points where one might carelessly take a wrong turn, and some information on trial marking and some guidance on what to look for enroute may be needed for the uninitiated AT hiker.   The walk took us roughly 3 hours with some time for lunch and some time observing and talking, and some time taking pictures at Long Creek Falls.   This walk is probably regarded by even casual hikers as “easy.”  A return hike is probably easy for experienced hikers and easy to moderate for  less initiated hikers.  The Long Creek portion of the trail (Three Forks to the Falls) seems more than the marked .5 miles when going uphill and less than .5 miles coming back.  It is entirely doable for cub scouts and even some younger sisters and brothers, given a reasonable pace.

10.   Our TU Chapter (and likely other Georgia Chapters) would support this project not only with organization, set-up, and cost of awards, brochures, promotion, and art-work, but also with long-term commitment to assist the GATC, BMTA, and USFS in maintaining portions of the trails and parking areas as well as responding to issues that may arise as a result of the designation as a Trout Adventure Trail.

CONCLUSION:  We find this trail system to not only be appropriate for the Trout Adventure Trail designation, it is probably uniquely suited in our area to provide young and old alike an entertaining, challenging, and educational experience for a day or half day.   The time has come to sit down with USFS, DNR, AT folks, and Benton-MacKaye folks, TU, Boy Scouts, and any other stakeholders so we can finalize this great project.  Meanwhile, we recommend another trip to the location with other TUers and scouters who want to come to record specific mileage, walk the B-M portion of the trail, and provide input and ideas to make this project the best it can be.

Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Unlimited Education Outreach

                Background:  The goals of Trout Unlimited are to preserve, protect, and restore coldwater fisheries.  One of the methods of conveying the conservation messages to TU members, non-members and children is through education and public service.  For example, BRMTU participates in river cleanups, which preserve and protect waterways, and there is an educational component to the cleanup efforts.  In the 2008-2009 chapter year, the chapter also engaged in safety education (Toccoa Tailwater Signage and Brochures); adult education (Trout Fishing 101 course, free fly tying classes);  member education (Safety and Fishing Segments at each meeting and in the chapter Newsletter and  Website); and youth education (Trout in the Classroom; Boy Scout Fly Fishing Merit Badge).

                The education program for 2009-10 includes the following:

YOUTH AND ADULT:  Last Year’s Efforts continued:  BRMTU will engage in at least two river cleanup efforts with educational components, we will continue the Toccoa River Signage and Brochure, and we will continue and/or add the following educational efforts:

YOUTH- Trout in the Classroom:  Fannin Middle School science teachers Jeff Weaver and Tony Tichler grow rainbow trout from eggs to releasable fish using large fish tanks and filter and cooling equipment provided by our chapter.  This is the fourth year for this wonderful program, and the fish are scheduled for release into the Toccoa River in April, 2010. The entire Middle School gets in the act with projects in other academic, art, and music classes in addition to the science curriculum.  This year for the first time our chapter is also sponsoring a special appearance in the science classrooms of Trout Prey expert, Sheila Humphrey, of Georgia DNR.   Special thanks to the FWS Hatchery in Suches, which provided the eggs this year, and Terry Bramlett whose expertise and support is invaluable to the program.

YOUTH- Boy Scout Fly Fishing Merit Badge:  BRMTU has four qualified Merit Badge Counselors for Fly Fishing Merit Badge and conducts multiple opportunities for scouts to achieve education, training, and opportunity to complete the requirements for Fly Fishing Merit Badge.

YOUTH-Cub Scout Fishing Programs:  In 2010, BRMTU is beginning new Cub Scout fishing opportunities for advancement, belt loop, or fishing patches.  The events will culminate in a fishing event at the FWS Hatchery.

YOUTH AND ADULT-  Fly fishing 101 and 202;  Fly fishing 101 and 202 are courses for beginning and intermediate fly fishing enthusiasts open to kids and adults, including our scouts.  The courses involve gear orientation, casting, knot tying, reading the water, and fishing components.

ADULT- Mentoring:  Members who are beginning fly fishermen are paired up with experienced chapter members at chapter fishing outings.

YOUTH AND PARENT OR SCOUT LEADER- Trout Adventure Trail:  The chapter is engaged in an ambitious new project of demarking an educational trail along trout waters for children and adult leaders to learn about trout, conservation, and outdoor skills.  This is a new project that will hopefully be completed this year.