Ranger David Haggard has dedicated  approximately 40 years of service to our TN State Parks. We thank him for his years of service and for taking his Saturday to tour our small group into cypress swamp forest.

Patrick &  I drove up Friday to camp at Reelfoot Lake’s South Campground. The campground is set along the cypress lined shore of Reelfoot Lake. Which makes for a multitude of photo ops and a spectacular sunset.

Ranger David Haggard greeted our BCCC members at the Visitors Center on Saturday at noon. The first conversation quickly centered around the high winds. (15-20+mph) David, brought our group to the large map hanging on the wall in the Visitors Center, where he explained the location of the forest in relationship to the direction of the wind. He assured us the wind was of no concern, since our put-in was deep in the center of the huge cypress forest; therefore, the wind is blocked by miles of cypress trees. After more than one time assuring us, we would be safe, we were convinced and off we went. (It was a quick and easy drive to the put in.) 

The paddle was approximately 3+ hours of switchbacking through the cypress with just enough water for our boats to glide on. (Depending on how much water you disburse.) One difference from previous years was the silence in the forest. No bird songs and no eagle sightings. Ranger David explained, since it was warm the eagles left their nest and were out hunting. (As for the birds, I’m guessing they just didn’t have anything to say.) But that didn’t take away from the beauty, it just gave us a different experience.

Throughout the time we spent on the water, David explained how areas of the forest was harvested and the land was used by settlers, and how it was eventually returned to its natural state, when purchased by the State of TN, Parks Dept. It’s amazing to see the young forest in comparison to the older trees in the areas of the forest that have never been harvested. To say the cypress forest is beautiful is an understatement.  We returned to our vehicles sometime around 3:30. After loading and securing our boats, it was time to eat!

Because of the 17-20+mph winds that moved in overnight, our group was reduced to:

1 guide,

6 trusting paddlers, and

8 for an early dinner at The Boat House Restaurant. (Which I highly recommend!)

Report by:

Cynthia Lambert-Mayo

PS: Thank you, Patty, for pushing me out of my comfort zone.