CMC Weekly News
09/22/04
______________________________________________________________________________
Would someone like to make a nomination?
Blue Ridge Outdoors is seeking the nominations of hiking clubs around the region for the hiking categories in our annual Best of the Outdoors issue. We¹d appreciate if you could make a nomination for the following categories:
Best Blue Ridge Hiking Trails
Day Hike:
Weekend Hike:
Long Distance Hike:
Most Crowded Trail:
Best Kept Secret:
Inspiring Individuals
Any inspiring individuals from the hiking community that deserve special mention for extraordinary work this year?
Controversial Issues
Any issues of concern in the hiking community that deserve mention?
Please use this as opportunity to highlight the best of hiking in the Blue Ridge. Thanks. Jedd Ferris Assistant Editor Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine 114 Old Preston Ave. Charlottesville, VA 22902 434-817-2755 ext. 23
Note From The President
I had a wonderful day today sawing trees with Don Christenson on the AT from Streets Gap almost to Big Bald. This is John Soldati's section and he said if I wanted to I could clear his section of trees. He doesn't know that I really did it for the beverage he promised at the end of the day! Don C. mentioned something today that I think is important. He said that the financial information for the CMC was not readily available for members to analyze. I want everyone to know that the financial data is available all the time on the CMC web site under "Membership Listing". This may seem like an odd place for it but that is the password secure area for the membership info, Financial info, Minutes of CMC meetings and the section maintainers listings for the MST and the AT. Please feel free to read this important information about your club and if you have any questions please ask. Don Walton
Get Your own electronic copy of the Appalachian Trail "the register"
IVAN WINS !!!!!!! Another Delay on the Buck Spring Clearing Project. Just heard from the BRP.
Larry just let me know that Ivan has done additional damage to the Parkway and regrets but could not help us on this project and requested a delay. The new date is November 5th. a Friday with a rain date of the 12 Th. All plans, as originally outlined, will remain the same. Start at 8:300 AM at sight. Car pooling volunteers will meet at 8:00 AM at the French Broad O/L of the BRP and self organize car pools.
Bring loppers and hand saws. If you are a Certified sawyer please bring your saw and safety equip. We need 6-7 saws. If you have a weed-eater or can operate one let me know that your are volunteering to do this job. All others, if you have hands and a strong back we need you!! The more the merrier, Lets have a ball and get involved in a great project. Walt and Don please contact the News media and advise them of the change of date. Again, I am very sorry to keep changing dates on you. We just cant do this job without the help of the Parkway chipper and truck. Please let me know you are coming. Regards, Piet
Great opportunity to get involved in a Historical, Educational and Community Project. Mark your Calendar October 22 , 2004.
The Blue Ridge Parkway in conjunction with CMC, have permission to clear the foot print of the old Buck Spring Hunting Lodge originally build by the Vanderbilt Family at the turn of the century. We need many hands to accomplish this task and are asking all of you to join us and invite any other section maintainer and trail crew worker. We will also more than welcome your other better half. Date; October 22, 2004 Time: Self Carpool-French Broad O/L BRP 8:00 AM Pisgah Mt. Parking Entrance-Buck Spring O/L 8:30 AM Please bring loppers and hand saws as well as the regular personal items.
We will need 6-7 Chain saws. If you have one and would like to bring it, let me know along with your confirmation note that you are coming. I am also looking for four volunteer to run weed-eaters. The equipment will be on hand. Please volunteer!! The BRP will have personnel present to assist us in proper and specific removal and preservation requirements as well as a manned chipper to get rid off the debris. Several News Papers have expressed interest in covering the event and if you smile nicely at the right time, you might even get yourself on the news. Please reserve this date and join us in a worthy cause. DO NOT FORGET TO LET ME KNOW THAT YOU ARE COMING. 828-298-8371, pietboden@aol.com Thanks Piet
PROGRAMS AT WESTERN (WCU)
CULLOWHEE – The historic Haywood County community of Cataloochee will be the focus of a free program at Western Carolina University's Mountain Heritage Center.
A Wednesday, Oct. 20, program will feature Jerry Wolfe of Cherokee talking about the Ravensford community, while a Wednesday, Nov. 3, program will include Helen Vance and Mildred Johnson speaking about the town of Proctor, which was located on Hazel Creek .
The Mountain Heritage Center is located on the ground floor of Western's H.F. Robinson Administration Building. For more information, contact the center at (828) 227-7129.
Mark your calendars to be in Hot Springs on Oct. 2 at Noon!
NC is on the verge of getting the needed 300 applications for the A.T. license plate, which will start production! State Sen. Joe Sam Queen was responsible for getting the A.T. tag included in the license plate legislation, and is proud to support the A.T. The below noted celebration for the beginning of production of the license plate also coincides with a new initiative by Hot Springs to better identify the town with the A.T., e.g. the town will be embedding A.T. symbols in the sidewalk from one end of town to the other.
In addition to the link below you can get the information you need to sign up for an A.T. license plate on the Appalachian Trail Conference website at http://www.appalachiantrail.org/trailnews/nc_plate.html . It is a great looking plate that will enhance your vehicle!!! A picture of the plate is shown.
Celebration and Publicity
On Oct 2 at noon there will be a Celebration and announcement of our AT logo sidewalk project with Joe Sam Queen, Ray Rapp, our Mayor Debbie Ponder, Clark Wright is planning on attending, you and any ATC representatives are invited (and could have speaking parts if you like or set-up a booth) and we are going to make media contacts.
Please let other Carolina Mountain Club members know about this celebration on October 2, 2004. Thank you! Morgan
Hello Neighbor Trail Lovers,
Thanks for your hard trail work! I wanted to invite the Carolina Mountain Club members to the Heritage Trails Festival in Cumberland Gap, TN October 15/16. We are reaching out to our local hiking community in effort for help in support of Cumberland Gap's area trails and the history tied within. We hope to make this an annual event. We would be a happy to link your website to ours www.heritagetrailsfest.com and vice versa. The festival and the events are centered around hiking, biking, and running. We are also hosting the 4th Annual Titanium Chef Backcountry Cookoff. You are welcome to use the description attached for your calendar. Looking forward to hearing from you, Tina Dean Seymour, TN (across the mountain :D)
CMC Wilderness First Aid Course
The CMC Education and Training committee is organizing a Wilderness First Aid Course on Nov. 13 and 14, 2004. This is a 16 hour course, led by professional trainers and held at Warren Wilson College. CMC offered it two years ago and it was a great success. To stay certified, you should take the course every two years. (Hopefully, you don't need to use the information too much. So they feel that the course needs to be taken every two years. This will be my 5th time taking it and I learn something new each time.) The cost to the participant is $75, which is not the full cost of the course. CMC is also contributing to the costs. **This is the last year, CMC will contribute to the costs.** All participants must be members, We only have room for 30 people. I know that the course is a long time from now. However I encourage you to sign up now with all your details (name, address, telephone number, email) *and* a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check for $75 made out to Carolina Mountain Club. Send it to me Danny Bernstein, 488 Kimberly Avenue, Asheville, NC 28804
"Blue Ridge Parkway: Scenic Byway or Commuter Highway?"
An Invitation to Participate in the Future of the Blue Ridge Parkway ~September 25, 2004~ on the campus of UNC Asheville
Conference Jointly Hosted By: National Parks Conservation Association Southeast Regional Office 706 Walnut St. Suite 200 Knoxville, TN 37902 & WNC Alliance Public Parks Task Force 29 N. Market St. Suite. 610 Asheville, NC 28801. Conference Co-Sponsors: Blue Ridge Bicycle Club Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Foothills Conservancy FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway Conservation Trust for North Carolina Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. Background Now is Our Opportunity to Impact the Future of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Parkway is working on its first-ever General Management Plan. This Plan will guide all important policy decisions well into the future. The Parkway is required to hold public meetings and provide citizens opportunities to weigh in on the shape and content of the Plan. Everything from how best to protect natural and cultural resources, the location of campsites and the number of improved secondary roads intersecting the Parkway will be addressed. An inappropriate increase in intersecting roads will turn our beautiful scenic byway into a commuter highway. This conference offers you the chance to hear the options and possibilities, ask questions, and state your opinion on the content of the Blue Ridge Parkway Management Plan. Get Involved - Remain informed about the Parkway Plan. Sign onto the Parkway Plan list serve and you will be provided with the most up to date information, action alerts and notice of public meetings. To sign on please send an email to: Parkwayforum@npca.org .
