Where the Green Hats Go: A Thank You to the Big Canoe Trails Committee
Those folks that keep up with all the going’s on here in Big Canoe tell us that the trails in Big Canoe are the most popular amenity. Just by taking a walk along any of the twenty-five miles of trails anyone can easily understand why. There are waterfalls, creeks, paved roads, dirt paths and all the wonder and beauty that goes along with a pristine mountain trail. The trails will take you around lakes, up the side of a mountain, to several water falls and on some less strenuous strolls along numerous streams. But along with the beauty comes a downside. Trees and limbs fall. Wooden steps rot. Vegetation occasionally must be cleared along the trails. Logs slam together in the creeks and form log jams. And, occasionally, there is the need for a new trail. Enter the Big Canoe Trails Committee with their lime green hats, chain saws, lever bars, rakes, hoes and other special tools used to maintain the trails in such a way that property owners and guests can enjoy walks through nature.
The Trails Committee at the BBQ fest in June (See article in Smoke Signals)
It’s hard to put your finger on the reason that a group of grown men and women would dig in the dirt, wade in the creeks, strain to pull a dead tree up the side of a cliff or lug large stepping-stone rocks onto a mountain trail. There is no pay unless you count receiving a cool looking lime green hat that has a picture of a bear carrying a shovel on his shoulder above the words BCTC Trail Builders as fair compensation. (These trade-mark hats were a gift from the Black Bear Society who went to considerable expense and effort to invite all Trails Committee members to a much appreciated “Thank You” party earlier this year.) The answer to why Trails Committee members are willing to go to such extremes must lie in pride and ownership. These hardy members truly love the nature that they have been blessed to enjoy and work as one to keep up “our” trails. This touch of personal ownership shows throughout the trail system.
The Trails Committee is now a generational thing as the ownership and chores have been passed down through the years. What was originally known as The Greenbelt, Nature Trails and Wildlife Committee (often referred to as the Nature Committee) whose goal, according to Bill Davenport in a 1996 article, was “to help maintain the natural environment that attracted many of us to Big Canoe; and to develop programs and practices that will let us enjoy this heritage in a sensible way”. Although originally formed only as an “advisory” committee, the small group of a dozen or so people soon found themselves using rakes, swing blades and other small tools to keep the hiking trails passable and inviting. Names like Bill Davenport, Jack Velderman, Bob Platt, Walt Heiss, Nancy Womack, Bill Voss, Mac McNay, Gerrie Harris and others set the ground work for what eventually morphed into today’s Trails Committee. Having just finished a mile long extension of the trail from the Upper Falls to what is today known as Nancy Womack Falls, their new goals set in the mid-1990’s were to continually expand the trails system to eventually have a total of 4 or 5 miles of trails almost encircling the property. When achieved, this would result in Big Canoe having one of the best private and protected networks in North Georgia. Lofty goals, they.
Today’s Trail Committee is led by Liz Scherer. Liz is a hands-on, hand-me-the-chainsaw, kind of leader that has a deep love for nature and possesses the unique skill set required to merge the Trails Committee into our modern High Tech era (please see bigcanoetrails.com). Under her leadership the Trails Committee has continued to carry on the tradition and hard work originally displayed by the Nature Committee. There are currently 51 Trails Committee members. During 2021 the Trails Committee added the following to their resume: Improvements to the John Williams Trail, Improvements to the Covered Bridge Trail, The Lake Disharoon Pavilion Viewing Project, Cleared trees at the Playfield, Developed Confluence Point, Built new stairs at the Meadows, Rerouted the Upper Falls Trail due to storm damage, Built a trail to the Choctaw Ruins, Added a new trail at Choctaw, Improvements to the Fire Hydrant Trail, Maintenance at Indian Rocks Park, Repainted Main Park signs. In addition, there were numerous trees, limbs and creek debris that was cleared away and a few Yellow Jacket, Wasp and Hornets nests to be dealt with.
So, the next time you see one of the Green Hats please stop and say thank you for all the work that has been, and continues to be, done in order to make our trails such a wonderful place to visit. And when you say thank you, look closely at the Trails Committee member and you will see the pride popping out. The trails continue to grow well past the lofty goal of 4 ~ 5 miles of trails set by the Nature Committee. Projects continue to be undertaken, trees continue to fall and one work session leads to another. The Green Hats sincerely hope that anyone walking the trails comes away with a bit more peace and enjoyment than they came with. Lofty goals, they.
Today, the Trails Committee continues to serve as an advisory resource to the General Manager and Director of Operations. Their work includes: trail maintenance, building new trails, performing studies, communicating trail information to residents, and providing recommendations. For more information concerning the Trails Committee, please visit their website bigcanoetrails.com.
