THIRD QUARTER 2013 Quarterly News Bulletin and Hike Schedule P.O. Box 68, Asheville, NC 28802 • www.carolinamountainclub.org • e-mail: [email protected] The Life and Times of Lewis Blodgett By Bobbi Powers National Climatic Data Center the rest of his Wow! Lewis Blodgett has been a mem- career. This was before personal computers, ber of CMC for almost half his life. This although the Center had room-size, state- diminutive nonagenarian with the piping of-the-art computers. My, how times have voice joined CMC in 1972 with his late changed! wife Jane, and is still active. Lewis met the love of his life in 1955. He Lewis turned 90 on May 27 and enjoyed and Jane married in 1956, built the house being part of the CMC’s 90th Birthday in Oakley where he still lives, and had 4 Bash on June 8. Want to know more about children. He has 2 grandsons, one of whom Lewis? (The answer is, “Sure!”) Read on: is serving in Afghanistan. He has lived the Lewis has been a weather guy all his American dream! life. As a child in New York State, he Lewis and Jane traveled abroad twice, to walked everywhere and watched the England and Ireland in 1982 and to Iceland weather, including the 1938 hurricane, in 2000. During the Iceland trip, he caught up which struck without warning near his with several Icelandic buddies he had worked home on eastern Long Island. (Ask Lewis with so many years ago. about his storm tales!) When America Since childhood, and with Jane after they Lewis Blodgett entered World War II, he applied for and met, he has loved to go on long walks, weeds. He also goes out with the was accepted into the Army-Air Force observing the countryside, the people, and the Friday Maintenance Crew, weather weather program offered at Massachusetts weather. But mostly he has hiked in WNC and permitting. His daughter Daphne Institute of Technology. After being com- also led hikes for CMC. Lewis says he has no and son-in-law now maintain the missioned a weather officer, he served favorite hikes; any excuse to be outside suits section of the AT that he and his in N. Africa, England, and Italy. He cel- him fine. He always told Alan Barton, hike wife maintained for years and he ebrated the war’s end in Rome. After he scheduler at the time, to assign him and Jane goes out with them. Plus, he mows mustered out, he enrolled in M.I.T. and any hike to fill in the schedule. Then they his lawn. Lewis and I sat on lawn earned a degree in Meteorology. After learned the hike before leading it. He’s still chairs on his back patio looking stints in Iceland (three years, during which doing 3-4 mile hikes. out over the rock garden while we time he learned a bit of the native tongue) His hiking at age 90 is not the only amazing chatted. I can assure everyone – and Washington, D.C., Lewis landed in thing. He volunteers at the Botanical Gardens this is not a small lawn! Asheville in 1955 and worked at the once a week, picking up trash and pulling continued on page 7 COUNCIL CORNER The trail main- extending the reach of CMC’s involve- been successful in obtaining grants from tenance area of ment into Chimney Rock State Park, the Friends of the MST and the ATC that the CMC is cur- and building new trail on Bearwallow will allow us to purchase additional tools rently as active as Mountain and at Thrive, a non-profit in and safety equipment for the crews. Skip ever. Attacking the Laurel Park. Kayah Gadish has formed Shelton is coordinating preparation of a annual tasks of the an additional crew, CMC’s eighth, to workshop on trail maintenance to be held spring walk-thrus attract younger CMC members to trail at the ATC Biennial in Cullowhee this of the AT and MST maintenance and, rather than work an summer, and Dwayne Stutzman has been have been aug- assigned list of trails, will work in vari- coordinating CMC’s role in remediating mented by contin- ous areas where help is needed. Her the ATV damage that was incurred on Max ued work on extending the MST toward crew will also plan periodic overnight Patch earlier this year. the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, assignments. Pete (A) Petersen has – Pete (R) Petersen 1 April Showers at Spring Social By Bobbi Powers The Spring Social’s usual theme song, John Denver’s “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” was usurped on April 27 by Gene Kelly’s “Singin’ in the Rain.” Hikes were canceled as the rain was relentless, but brightness prevailed indoors at the Arboretum as smiles and laughter lit up the crowd. Bubba’s BBQ and Les Love (quietly assisted by Catherine) were in their usual Trailbuilders at the dedication ceremony. places, with the former feeding us a good dinner and the latter, as emcee, setting the Ralph Turnberg trail dedication stage for an enlightening lesson/program On April 13, a new exercise trail Crew on their weekly projects as was about the Roadless Areas Rule. was dedicated to the memory of Ralph his wife, Nay Ann Brevard. Nay Ann Les introduced Ted Snyder, who is Turnberg at Thrive, a facility for psy- is still a regular with the crew. As nationally renowned for working to con- chosocial rehabilitation in Laurel Park. the trail was constructed on a steep serve natural resources during his career This facility was formerly known as the slope, it required the inclusion of as an attorney and into retirement. Ted Sixth Avenue Club. The trail, the idea several switch-backs and the instal- was the Sierra Club’s National President of Thrive’s Chris Dratz and Jim Kisner, lation of a large number of steps. It in the 1970s, but we know him best as was constructed over the winter by the also required the building of two instigator of the Mountain Treasures hikes Pisgah Friday trail maintenance crew of bridges. The project took over 550 and the Camporees. the Carolina Mountain Club. Ralph, a man-hours to complete by the volun- Ted gave an impassioned overview of long-time member of the Pisgah Friday teer crew. A sign designating the trail the Roadless Areas Rule as it affects the crew, had taken part in the work of as the Ralph Turnberg Exercise Trail Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests. building the trail but passed away short- was constructed by Larry Schwake, a He said, “It’s a big deal because it increas- ly before its completion. Ralph was a member of the crew, and installed at es the roadless areas in these forests key contributor to the Pisgah Friday one of the trail entrances. threefold … roads fragment land … this rule ensures no more roads and no more served more than 152,000 acres. George Bush suspended it. President commercial timber cutting!” DJ Gerken spoke about the legal aspects Obama reinstated it this year. Ted turned the microphone over to of the Roadless Areas Rule, reiterating Ted closed by saying the Forest Brent Martin, Regional Director of the how hard-fought this has been. “You can Service hears both sides of this issue Wilderness Society, who spoke about the get good things done in spite of law- and is influenced by John Q. Public. continuing fight to preserve the wilder- yers,” he chuckled. He explained that Ted urged everyone to be vocal in sup- ness with the Forest Management Plan. Pres. Clinton got the rule through at the port of the Roadless Areas Rule. Pisgah and Nantahala Forest have pre- end of his presidency on Jan. 12, 2001, but Ted, Brent and DJ are passionate about protecting our forest treasures, and we appreciate their talents and hard work on our behalf. How to join the CMC 1. Go to www.carolinamountainclub.org 2. Click on Join (top left) or Join CMC! (right center). 3. You will see instructions for joining online or via mail. or ... write to us at CMC, PO Box 68, Asheville, NC 28802 and we'll mail you an application CMC members study the Roadless Areas Rule at the Spring Social. Photo by Danny Bernstein. 2 email the hike leader. Laura Frisbie, cell: 828-337-5845, TRAIL MAINTENANCE See the Hike Schedule on the CMC website for [email protected] All members are encouraged to participate P400, SB6K *Form carpools at Westgate and in trail maintenance activities. Non-members more complete and timely information, including are invited to try it a few times before deciding scout reports, at www.carolinamountainclub.org. meet leader at BRP Cold Mountain Overlook at if they want to join the Club and be a regular 9:10 AM. Wilderness hike, limited to ten hikers— part of a crew. We train and provide tools. CHALLENGE PROGRAMS call leader for reservation. A favorite hike of many Below is a general schedule of work days. SB6K For hiking all 40 peaks above 6000’. that includes a gorgeous variety of environments. Exact plans often are not made until the last Contact Peter Barr, [email protected] Follow the ALT to Black Balsam and Tennent minute, so contact crew leaders for details. P400 For hiking every trail in Pisgah Ranger Mtn, then descend to Ivestor Gap, turn right and Crews marked with an * are currently seeking District. Contact Dave Wetmore, dwetmore@cit- hike down Grassy Cove Ridge to the Big East new members. MST and AT section maintain- com.net Fork of the Pigeon River, then right onto Bridges ers work on their own schedule.