Today
Planned Event
11/02/2009 11:52:36
I have been wanting to join you guys for some time, however working on Sat interferes, however I am going to try and join the Over Mtn Hike later this Nov.562-2960
Member Gallery
Members:“If Faith can do it, then I can do it” seemed to be the unspoken motto among the members of the Cove Lake Chapter of TTA. In speaking with several original members of our group, Faith Dippold was named as the force that led to the creation of our chapter in the late 1990s.
Quite simply, from what was told, it seemed that Faith had read about the Cumberland Trail and asked a friend, Arlene Decker, to show her the trail section in Campbell County. The rest is history. Several friends from the First Presbyterian Church in La Follette met with Faith at Cove Lake State Park and began discussing plans to form a new chapter of the Cumberland Trail Association. And so, the Cove Lake Chapter of TTA was created, first meeting in the basement of the Presbyterian Church and later moving into the La Follette Recreation building.
Like all new organizations, the chapter experienced leadership changes in its early years. But, one determined, often head-strong woman seemed to keep the unit intact: Faith Dippold. Faith was committed to the Cumberland Trail and was always the first to support any activities that furthered the development of the trail. Sometimes to a fault, she pushed and prodded others to become involved with trail activities. She loved trail maintenance and especially loved working with the college students who came to work during the BreakAway weeks. She said that the students kept her young and she enjoyed their enthusiasm. The Cumberland Trail was indeed big in Faith’s heart and she committed herself to all CTC events.
The saying, “If you want something done, ask a busy person,” proved true with Faith Dippold. She gave a lot: organist of her church; involvement in Food Life Services; Campbell County’s Habitat for Humanity; HAVEN; the Cove Lake Hiking Club; the Cumberland Trail construction; and, the Community Garden. She personally took the responsibility to oversee the maintenance of the La Follette Nature Trail. It was on that trail that Faith spent her last day doing what she loved best…making the trail beautiful for those who shared her love of nature. We will all miss Faith; and, we will not forget the commitment to the many projects that she loved.
We love Larry.
We love Larry, partly because he is pretty good with a camera. Partly because he is so fun to be around. Mostly because he is a little crazy.
And we are proud of Larry. You see, we missed him a lot last summer during our hikes and meetings. But we knew where he was. Over there on the other side of the big mountain they call Cross. Sleeping on who knows what. Eating (gum-smashing, rather) who knows what. Awh, but what is that anyway to a good old mountain man who lived many a month on the banks of the Big South Fork or in his log house without electric in its woods.
And what was Larry doing over the mountain? Working on the CT. WORKING. No matter that he just had heart surgery. No matter his stiff joints. Larry had fallen in love with the Cumberland Trail, and the Cumberland Trail Conference had fallen in love with him. Spring Break-Away, Big Dig, Back-Country Outings, Larry spent 2008 living and breathing the Cumberland Trail, helping to build several miles of new trail in the Smokey Mountain Segment. Yes, we're proud of Larry.
And so, on Volunteer Appreciation Day, January 31, 2009, we were there at Cumberland Mountain State Park to help celebrate and congratulate Larry for his contributions to the CTC. There he was awarded the 2008 Bob Brown Award as the Cumberland Trail Conference's Volunteer of the Year. And as he was recognized for the 352 hours he contributed to the Cumberland Trail Project, we were not surprised at the expressions of love and affection shown Larry by CTC Director Tony Hook and others during the awards ceremony.
Because, you see…
We, too, love Larry.
