Back in 2007 the USFS stated they no longer had the manpower to maintain Jack's River Fields, a multi-use campground, primarily due to it's remote location in the Chattahoochee National Forest in the Cohutta Mountains of NW Georgia.  BCHNG representatives Jim McGarvey and Jim Holland discussed the situation with Larry Thomas, USFS Operations Team Leader of the Conasauga Ranger District.  A memorandum of understanding was reached stating that BCHNG would take over all ongoing maintenance of JRF.  This maintenance includes mowing both fields and campground, including trimming, clipping back limbs along the edge of the fields, cleaning the bathrooms, stocking the toilet paper, removing & replacing garbage bags and cleaning out the fire rings.  BCHNG volunteers constructed 2 stalls with materials supplied by a grant from the American Endurance Ride Conference.   Highlines were constructed & JRF became an official horsecamp.
Maintenance of JRF has depended on volunteers who have to bring in their own tools and lawn equipment about every 2 weeks during the summer months to mow the grass  but they still have to maintain the campground & horse camp throughout the entire year.  This is a very time consuming and expensive endeavor but because BCHNG stepped up to the plate and took on the responsibility of maintaining this beautiful, remote campground, you and your family can still enjoy it year round.

On July 18, just after the Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference, BCHNG hosted a trail ride and barbeque lunch at Jack's River Fields for several USFS friends and Dennis Dailey, BCH of America's Senior Advisor on Wilderness Recreation and Trails.  We were proud to have Rick and Diana Lamb, producers of "The Horse Show" on RFDTV join us also.  They filmed interviews with Larry Thomas of the Conasauga Ranger District, Jim McGarvey, President of BCH of GA and Melinda Towe, President of BCH of North GA.  Everyone enjoyed a good ride and a delicious meal in spite of a little rain.
After the meal we were entertained by two accomplished and talented musicians, our own Nancy Chancey and Dennis Dailey.  We were treated to Wyoming cowboy music and yodeling by Dennis Dailey, not something we hear very much in the Appalachians!
Watch "The Horse Show" on RFDTV later in the year for a show about Jack's River Fields & how the hard work of BCHNG is enabling families to enjoy a gorgeous campground in the Chattahoochee National Forest that might otherwise be closed.