CMC Weekly News
09/29/04
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Note From The President
I have received several inquires this week about closed trails, trees down, trails impassable, roads impassable and requests for various information and reports about the trails in Western NC. I feel inadequate because we have very little information about the trails. There was a ban on hiking in all Pisgah Forests for awhile but this did not keep us from going on the trails. We are just now starting to receive info and we have requested all trail section maintainers to inspect their trail section and report back. As of now the most current information about trail issues is on the www.Carolinamtnclub.com web site under "Trail Issue Data". Also there is a daily web site for the Smoky Mountain National Park: http://nps.gov/grsm/gsmsite/roadinfo.html and a site for the National Park System that includes info about the Blue Ridge Parkway: http://data2.itc.nps.gov/morningreport/ . The CMC is cutting trees as fast as we can. There are litterly dozens per mile to clear and it is slow going. We are going to concentrate first from Mt. Pisgah to Asheville as the Shut in foot race is soon. Anyone that wants to help is welcome. I hope this helps you in you needs for trail information. Don Walton
It is not to late to get your AT License Plate
NC is on the verge of getting the needed 300 applications for the AT license plate, which will start production! State Sen. Joe Sam Queen was responsible for getting the AT tag included in the license plate legislation, and is proud to support the AT. In addition to the link below you can get the information you need to sign up for an AT 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.
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
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!
I just received information that this event has been canceled!!!
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
