Preserving a little bit of the Earth - Bridgestone

Yesterday was Earth Day and it reminded me to post this info that I've always been proud of about BFUSA. Several years ago they made this donation of pristine hardwood forest to the state. To locals, the area is known as Scott's Gulf. Here's the info:

The Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness, a 10,000-acre gift to the citizens of Tennessee from the company, was called "The Grand Canyon of the Cumberland's" by an early 19th Century traveler and is recognized as a natural treasure for its uniqueness and diversity. It is entrusted to the Tennessee Wildlife Management Agency (TWRA) as a Wildlife Management Area with an easement to the Conservation Fund.

You may enjoy low impact activities such as gazing at one of the 9 waterfalls, hiking, bird watching, primitive camping, hunting, fishing, class 5 kayaking, canoeing, photography and cave exploring.

A premier hiking and backpacking destination in the Caney Fork River Gorge, the 26 miles of trails on the Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness are rated moderate to difficult. These trails offer access to the terrain of rolling hills, waterfalls, deep gorges, rocky hillsides, wildflowers, oak, hickory and pine forest, creeks, river pools, and general remoteness all combine to offer many degrees of difficulty.

Virgin Falls is the crown jewel of the Virgin Falls Pocket Wilderness and, some say, Scott's Gulf. A torrent of water exits a cave at the top and plunges 110 feet to disappear into the cold, dark depths of yet another cave. The steep sinkhole the water enters is very prominent and provides an excellent vantage point to enjoy the view. In addition there are several camping spots nearby, so one can literally camp across from the falls.

Early settlers in this area made good use of this natural resource. For many years there was a mill in operation in the sinkhole. As late as 1979 you could still see one of the original mill stones lying where it had been set, over 100 years before.

Lost Creek Cave is located in a large, obvious sinkhole. At one end of the sinkhole a waterfall tumbles down, only to sink into the ground and disappear. Across from the waterfall is a large cave entrance into which surface streams and overflow from the waterfall run during rainy weather. The cave is primarily composed of one huge borehole, large enough for a pair or three of Greyhound buses to drive side by side. The main passage curves in a spiral until it intersects the waterfall sinking from the surface. This underground waterfall is probably one of the most fascinating features of the cave.

Other points of interest may be found at: http://www.uppercumberlandcaving.net/Gulf/index.htm#top