Three Days Meeting Among The Cedars Of Lebanon

This weekend was the Winter edition of the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club at the Cedars of Lebanon State Park. The park is in Middle Tennessee about 33 miles from Nashville and part of the geological area known as the Central or Nashville Basin.

Because of the makeup of the geology at Cedars of Lebanon, there are a lot of fossils and I got a chance on Friday to get a look at these around Jackson Cave. Then later, I got to see some deer and help unload and set up for the weekends' festivities. Oh, I was the "fire builder" for Friday night it would be important later.

Day two started early with Wood Booger helping with breakfast because the Harvey Broome Group was the host and it is the one I am a member. Anyway, later that morning it was time for a hike across what the Cedars of Lebanon is famous for its Cedar Glades. This habitat type is unique to the central part of the Eastern United States (U.S.). These unique areas occur where limestone bedrock is near or at the surface. These areas have very shallow soil or exposed bedrock. Because of the shallow soil and the extreme conditions, most trees (except for Red Cedars) are unable to grow in the glades. This creates a habitat more similar to the Western U.S. than to the surrounding forests of Middle Tennessee.

The hike was led by Randy Hedgepath, who is the State Naturalist. The hike was on the five-mile loop of the Hidden Springs Trail. The trail winds through Cedar Glades finally to the area of the actually Hidden Springs. The reason is that they are underground like most of the water in the park. Cedars of Lebanon is the only State Park with no natural ground water. In the end, it was a good hike with an excellent leader. 

After more kitchen duty I went on another short hike, this time led by Mac Post on the half-mile Cedar Glades Trail. It features information signs that tell about the ecology & geology of the Glades. Also, it has one in honor of  Dr. Elsie Quarterman, the Vanderbilt Professor who was instrumental in protecting the Cedar Glades. Even though it rained on us it was a good hike.

That evening it was more kitchen work for dinner which was highlighted by Will Skelton's vegan chili for dinner. Our special guest speaker was Dr. Kim Sadler, who spoke on what else the importance of the Glades. It was a good program and closed out an active day.

Sunday morning started early with more time in the kitchen cooking bacon. Then it was on to the Executive Committee Meeting (Ex-Com not Ex-Con). As I said in a previous blog the local Sierra Club Group I am a part of, CareNET, got official status as a Conservation Committee. Some other news was the Wood Booger was voted in as Sergeant at Arms. I will have big shoes to fill as I am taking over for the retiring Dean Whitworth. He keeps the order and is a master fire builder. I think that is why I was appointed, because of my fire skills. Like I said I can break bones and build fires.

Overall it was another good three days of chapter fun. Oh, check out a review of the Fall Chapter Meeting here.