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2011 Newsletter
Blue Ridge Conservancy Saving The Places You Love NEWS SPRING 2011 Pond Mountain Project Completed! In late December, a four-year effort to protect Pond Mountain in the Pond Mtn. Project Completed . 1 northwestern corner of North Carolina was completed. Thanks to the dedicated Exec. Director’s Message. 2 efforts of Blue Ridge Conservancy, a private, non-profit land trust based in Boone, nearly 1,800 acres on this beautiful Ashe County mountain have been purchased Brush Creek Farm. 3 and transferred to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). The BRC Receives Z. Smith Grant. .4 project permanently protects significant views, open space, water resources and BRC’s New Office. 4 wildlife while creating recreational and economic opportunities. Founder’s Society. 5 At 5,000 feet in elevation, Pond Mountain overlooks the mountains of Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Immediately to the north are the peaks of Virginia’s BRC Hikes in 2011 . .6 Grayson Highlands State Park and Jefferson National Forest, Mount Rogers and Stick Boy Mayview Madness. .7 White Top Mountain. To the west lies Tennessee’s expansive Cherokee National 2010 Land Protection Report. .8 Forest. Visible to the east and south are the high peaks of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge. Pond Mountain is about a 30 minute drive from the mountain community Financial Report & Donors. 10-11 of West Jefferson. According to Walter Clark, Executive Director of Blue Ridge Conservancy, JOIN BRC TODAY! “protecting Pond Mountain involved multiple private and public partners. In Join or renew online, or by sending these days of tight economic resources conserving land is challenging – it takes time, the enclosed envelope. -
Elk Knob State Park, NC
Elk Knob – Elk Knob State Park, NC Length Difficulty Streams Views Solitude Camping 3.8 mls N/A N/A Hiking Time: 2 hours with 30 minutes of break Elev. Gain: 943 ft Parking: Park at main parking area beside the amphitheater. 36.33171, -81.68928 By Trail Contributor: Zach Robbins Elk Knob State Park is one of the newest state parks in North Carolina and also one of the smallest. The trail system may be minimal, but the Summit Trail is one of the finest trails in the state park system. The immaculately built trail winds its way for 1.9 miles through entrancing northern hardwood forests to the summit of Elk Knob, the second tallest mountain in the Amphibolite Range. Most of the land in the Amphibolite Range is privately owned and there isn’t much public land available for hiking. Fortunately Elk Knob is available for the public to explore and the views encompass some of the highest peaks in NC, TN, and VA. At just under 4 miles round trip this is a great half-day hike for the family and those wishing to discover the extreme northwest corner of North Carolina. Mile 0.0 – At the main parking area beside the amphitheater, find the Summit Trail (blue diamond blaze) and begin climbing gently through the forest. Mile 0.6 – Trail crosses a service road that climbs directly to the summit. Throughout the hike you will cross the service road multiple times, but resist the temptation to use this old road as a shortcut. It is overgrown, exposed to the sun, and steep. -
Blue Ridge Parkway DIRECTORY & TRAVEL PLANNER Includes the Parkway Milepost
Blue Ridge Park way DIRECTORY & TRAVEL PLANNER Includes The Parkway Milepost Shenandoah National Park / Skyline Drive, Virginia Luray Caverns Luray, VA Exit at Skyline Drive Milepost 31.5 The Natural Bridge of Virginia Natural Bridge, VA Exit at Milepost 63.9 Grandfather Mountain Linville, NC Exit at Milepost 305.1 2011 COVER chosen.indd 3 1/25/11 1:09:28 PM The North The 62nd Edition Carolina Arboretum, OFFICIAL PUBLICATION BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY ASSOCIATION, INC. Asheville, NC. P. O. BOX 2136, ASHEVILLE, NC 28802 Exit at (828) 670-1924 Milepost 393 COPYRIGHT 2011 NO Portion OF THIS GUIDE OR ITS MAPS may BE REPRINTED WITHOUT PERMISSION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE USA. Some Parkway photographs by William A. Bake, Mike Booher, Vickie Dameron and Jeff Greenberg © Blue Ridge Parkway Association Layout/Design: Imagewerks Productions: Fletcher, NC This free Travel Directory is published by the 500+ PROMOTING member Blue Ridge Parkway Association to help you more TOURISM FOR fully enjoy your Parkway area vacation. Our member- MORE THAN ship includes attractions, outdoor recreation, accom- modations, restaurants, 60 YEARS shops, and a variety of other services essential to the trav- eler. All our members are included in this Travel Directory. Distribution of the Directory does not imply endorsement by the National Park Service of the busi- nesses or commercial services listed. When you visit their place of business, please let them know you found them in the Blue Ridge Parkway Travel Directory. This will help us ensure the availability of another Directory for you the next time you visit the Parkway area. -
Blue Ridge Park Way DIRECTORY TRAVEL PLANNER
65 TH Edition Blue Ridge Park way www.blueridgeparkway.org DIRECTORY TRAVEL PLANNER Includes THE PARKWAY MILEPOST Biltmore Asheville, NC Exit at Milepost 388.8 Grandfather Mountain Linville, NC Exit at Milepost 305.1 Roanoke Star and Overlook Roanoke, VA Exit at Milepost 120 Official Publication of the Blue Ridge Parkway Association The 65th Edition OFFICIAL PUBLICATION BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY ASSOCIATION, INC. P. O. BOX 2136, ASHEVILLE, NC 28802 (828) 670-1924 www.blueridgeparkway.org • [email protected] COPYRIGHT 2014 NO Portion OF THIS GUIDE OR ITS MAPS may BE REPRINTED WITHOUT PERMISSION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE USA. Some Parkway photographs by William A. Bake, Mike Booher, Vicki Dameron and Jeff Greenberg © Blue Ridge Parkway Association Layout/Design: Imagewerks Productions: Arden, NC This free Directory & Travel PROMOTING Planner is published by the 500+ member Blue Ridge TOURISM FOR Parkway Association to help Chimney Rock at you more fully enjoy your Chimney Rock State Park Parkway area vacation. MORE THAN Members representing attractions, outdoor recre- ation, accommodations, res- Follow us for more Blue Ridge Parkway 60 YEARS taurants, shops, and a variety of other services essential to information and resources: the traveler are included in this publication. When you visit their place of business, please let them know www.blueridgeparkway.org you found them in the Blue Ridge Parkway Directory & Travel Planner. This will help us ensure the availability of another Directory & Travel Planner for your next visit -
Grandfather Mountain Trail
generations to come. to generations www.grandfather.com the mountain in its awesome state for for state awesome its in mountain the And with your help, we’ll preserve preserve we’ll help, your with And nowhere else on earth. on else nowhere say that Grandfather is like like is Grandfather that say Reserve family, it’s safe to to safe it’s family, Reserve the International Biosphere Biosphere International the in the Southeast. Southeast. the in including induction into into induction including of the most wonder-filled places places wonder-filled most the of to worldwide recognition, recognition, worldwide to Grandfather Mountain is one one is Mountain Grandfather features and natural diversity have led led have diversity natural and features and an impressive array of wildlife, wildlife, of array impressive an and imperiled. As its unique unique its As imperiled. Known for sweeping views views sweeping for Known 29 of which are globally globally are which of 29 and endangered species, species, endangered and and protect at least 70 rare rare 70 least at protect and communities that house house that communities you can fi nd 16 distinct ecological ecological distinct 16 nd fi can you of this ancient mountain, mountain, ancient this of On the slopes and peaks peaks and slopes the On impression. impression. Wonders never cease never Wonders visit here is sure to leave an an leave to sure is here visit High Swinging Bridge, a a Bridge, Swinging High NORTH CAROLINA NORTH MOUNTAIN scenery, to making the trip across the Mile Mile the across trip the making to scenery, Welcome to Grandfather Mountain Grandfather to Welcome ® GRANDFATHER habitat, to relaxing among unparalleled unparalleled among relaxing to habitat, Linville, NC 28646 Linville, NC explore. -
July-September 2017
Blue Ridge Hiking Club Hike List – July-September 2017 July 1, Crabtree Falls, Mineral Museum, and lunch at Mountain View Restaurant: Crabtree Meadows Campground, South Toe, Yancy Co., NC, BR Parkway milepost 340. 1-1/4 hours down BR Parkway south from Boone, milepost 340. Walk down on loop trail to a pretty waterfall. Steps going down, sloped trail coming back up. Approx. 3 miles, moderate with a few strenuous parts, 700 foot elevation gain, approx. 2 hours. On our return we will visit the mineral museum just off the Parkway and then enjoy a meal at the Mountain View Restaurant (gorgeous views!) across the Parkway from the museum. No dogs. Call hike leader, Juin Adams 828-295-9607. July 3: Trout Lake to Manor House & Figure 8 Trail: Meet at Trout Lake parking lot (1st exit left off Parkway just south of Cone Manor going to Rt. 221 and then take an immediate right, a U turn, onto Shull's Mill Rd going under parkway). Meet at 9:30. About 5 miles, relaxed pace. Done by noon. Guests and non-members welcome. No dogs. July 5: Trout Lake to Cone Cemetery. Meet at Trout Lake Parking lot (leave the Parkway at milepost 294.6 and turn onto Shull’s Mill Rd. and then right on the one-way road to the parking lot).about 5.8 miles round trip. Rated easy. No dogs. Contact hike leader, Roger. Bodo, [email protected] or 828-260-2019. July 8, Upper Thunderhole Trail/China Creek Loop: A beautiful hike featuring a wide variety of terrain, near Blowing Rock. -
Grandfather Mountain Hike
Grandfather Mountain - Linville, North Carolina Length Difficulty Streams Views Solitude Camping 11.5 mls N/A Hiking Time: 8.0 hrs with 2.0 hrs for breaks Elev. Gain: 3,378 ft Parking: Park at the Boone Fork parking area along Blue Ridge Parkway. 36.11986, -81.78131 By Trail Contributor: Zach Robbins A hike along the crest of Grandfather Mountain should be on everyone’s bucket list if they live in the Southeast. The crest trail is readily identified as one of the most rugged in the East and some may consider this the “Old Rag of North Carolina.” While not quite as rugged and technical as the nicknames suggest, Grandfather Mountain offers miles of exciting rock scrambles, ladders, cables, huge cliffs, exposed rocky summits, 16 distinct ecosystems, and views in every direction of tallest mountains in the Appalachian chain. As an international biosphere some flock to the mountain for a huge variety of plant life which is vibrant in the Fall and Spring seasons. The real attractions are the 4 named summits on the mountain massif – Linville, MacRae, Attic Window, and Calloway peaks. Topping out at 5,946 feet this mountain dominates the surrounding valleys by nearly 2,000 feet. There are 3 ways to access the crest trail. Two of them require difficult ascents from the valleys below and are part of the state park system. The third option is part of the private tourist attraction that existed prior to the state’s purchase of the land in 2008 to create a new state park. This attraction operates independently from the state park and costs $20/adult person to enter. -
Volume 11 – Issue 3 August-September-October 2019
Volume 11 – Issue 3 August-September-October 2019 Dear Fellow Birders, Hello everyone, it’s been a busy summer, as well as a very exciting one!! We’ve had several really interesting sightings of birds that are uncommon here in the High Country during the summer. For example, red-headed woodpeckers, blue grosbeak, yellow-breasted chat, and several instances of a black-billed cuckoo. I’m sure Guy will elaborate on our various sightings, but it’s a great time to be living in the High Country! We’ve also made progress with our Wetlands Campaign projects. As many of you witnessed during our annual meeting, the Foscoe Wetlands trail is now complete, making it possible for us to easily access the center of the wetlands. Hopefully, we’ll have some interesting birding there, especially during migration seasons. We thank Blue Ridge Conservancy for partnering with us and allowing us access to the wetlands. We also completed the majority of the Green Valley Park project and are just waiting until fall to plant the remaining black cherry trees. They were a bit too fragile to plant this summer. Again, we thank the board of Green Valley Park for their willingness to work with us on this project. Finally, we’ve finished stage one of the Brookshire Park project. We now have a viewing area with benches overlooking the eventual wetlands at the park. Stage two cannot proceed until the county completes the actual wetland restoration project. We will then erect a bird blind somewhere within the wetlands. HCAS appreciates Watauga County partnering with us on this project. -
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES • $52 Million • Classroom Resources Including Textbooks, Instructional Supplies and Equipment
Investing in Infrastructure •Targeted, long-term investments •Historically low interest rates •Will not jeopardize our credit ratings •No new INSTRUCTIONALtaxes RESOURCES • $52 million • Classroom resources including textbooks, •Broad, bipartisaninstructional supplies public and support equipment 2 15 Years Since Last Bond Referendum INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES • $52 million • Classroom resources including textbooks, instructional supplies and equipment Note: Population data from OSBM and voter approved debt from the Department of State Treasurer. 3 Now is the Time INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES • $52 million • Classroom resources including textbooks, instructional supplies and equipment 4 Ample Debt Service Capacity INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES • $52 million • Classroom resources including textbooks, instructional supplies and equipment Note: General Fund revenue data reflect budgeted amounts (HB 97) for FYs 2015-16 and 2016-17 and OSBM estimates for FY 2017-18 to FY 2025-26. Debt-service payments based on NC Fiscal Research Division estimates. 5 INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES • $52 million • Classroom resources including textbooks, instructional supplies and equipment Note: Based on data from the 2015 DAAC Study by the NC Department of State Treasurer and HB 943 estimates from the NC Fiscal Research Division. Debt amounts include General Obligation debt and Special Indebtedness, but do not include capital leases and debt issued by NC Turnpike Authority. Projections assume four debt issuances over the next four fiscal years. 6 Focus on Education INSTRUCTIONAL -
2011 Annual Report
One thousand miles connecting mountains to sea. First Place Photo: View from the Trail – Twilight below Potato Knob, Black Mountains by Stephen Schoof Firs t Place Photo : Youth Photo grapher – Se a Oats at Na gs Head by M iranda Knox ANNUAL REPORT January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 Dear Members and Friends of the MST, This annual report details the great progress made on the MST during 2011. It documents a breadth of success that is unparalleled in the history of FMST and that would not have been possible without our volunteers; federal, state and community partners; and the financial support of corporate and individual members. Some of our most significant accomplishments were the completion of key projects that linked together long, continuous stretches of trail. These strategic projects included: • The construction of five miles near Boone which created 300 miles of uninterrupted trail in the mountains. • The completion of a 100-foot steel pedestrian bridge over Little Lick Creek which had been the only gap in the 60-mile Falls Lake section. While these new links were being constructed, our trail volunteers continued the steady, critical work which ensures that all the miles that have already been built remain open and safe so that hikers can enjoy the astounding beauty and diversity of North Carolina. • No group of volunteers deserved more recognition in 2011 than the Carteret Wildlife Club which celebrated the 40th anniversary of their creation of the 22-mile Neusiok Trail in the Croatan National Forest while they set about once again repairing boardwalk and bridges— this time damaged by Hurricane Irene. -
Avian Guano As a Nutrient Input to Cliff – Face Ecosystems in Western North Carolina
AVIAN GUANO AS A NUTRIENT INPUT TO CLIFF – FACE ECOSYSTEMS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA A Thesis by ANGELA ELIZABETH LANGEVIN Submitted to the Graduate School at Appalachian State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE August 2015 Department of Biology AVIAN GUANO AS A NUTRIENT INPUT TO CLIFF – FACE ECOSYSTEMS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA A Thesis by ANGELA ELIZABETH LANGEVIN August 2015 APPROVED BY: Dr. Michael D. Madritch Chairperson, Thesis Committee Dr. Gary L. Walker Chairperson, Thesis Committee Dr. Howard S. Neufeld Member, Thesis Committee Dr. Sue L. Edwards Chairperson, Department of Biology Dr. Max C. Poole Dean, Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies Copyright by Angela Elizabeth Langevin All Rights Reserved Photo Copyright by Jason Hollinger Abstract AVIAN GUANO AS A NUTRIENT INPUT TO CLIFF – FACE ECOSYSTEMS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA Angela Elizabeth Langevin B.S., The University of the South: Sewanee M.S., Appalachian State University Chairpersons: Gary L. Walker and Michael D. Madritch Terrestrial cliff-face ecosystems are unique habitats that harbor diverse vegetational communities and an array of animal species. However, fundamental processes such as nutrient cycling in cliff-face ecosystems remain poorly understood. Cliff-face vegetative communities receive some nitrogen through atmospheric deposition, but few other nutrient- linkages have been explored. Seabirds are a well-established vector of nitrogen subsides between marine ecosystems and coastal cliffs, and I document a similar nutrient transfer between highly productive forest ecosystems and nutrient-poor terrestrial cliffs. Common ravens (Corvus corax) and peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) are vagile forest-dwelling raptor species that frequently nest on cliffs in the southern Appalachians. -
THE HIGH COUNTRY NOTES BEACON HEIGHTS NEAR GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN at Mile 15.7, MST Crosses Boone Fork, Which Requires Wading
2 | Mountains-to-Sea Trail 1/15/14 Beacn Heights to US 421 Near Deep Gap | 3 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE • The Linn Cove Viaduct, a 1,243-foot concrete engineering marvel that carries the BRP around the base of Grandfather Mountain. • Views of Grandfather Mountain, Table Rock, Hawksbill, and Pisgah National Forest that can encompass over 50 miles on a clear day. • Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, where the MST uses the park’s former carriage trails and passes by Flat Top Manor, which now serves as the parkway’s craft center. • Scenic long-range views, pastoral meadows, picturesque creeks, tranquil forests, and intriguing rock formations The nearby resort towns of Linville, Blowing Rock, and Boone offer all Mountains-to-Sea Trail below Linn Cove Viaduct amenities. They also make it easy to break this segment into several day PHOTO BY SHELTON WILDER hikes. THE HIGH COUNTRY NOTES BEACON HEIGHTS NEAR GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN At mile 15.7, MST crosses Boone Fork, which requires wading. Depending TO US 421 NEAR DEEP GAP on the water level, you will probably wade in water up to your knees. It by Carolyn Sakowski is worth the hassle as the MST from the creek crossing to Shulls Mill Road offers an easy stroll along an old turnpike road through the forest. This 43-mile segment offers the hiker some of the most astounding scenery FMST is trying to raise money to build a bridge here, so feel free to make in northwestern North Carolina. This part of the trail, which travels along contributions. the ridge line where elevations range from 3,400 to 4,300 feet, offers views looking down the escarpment into the North Carolina piedmont.