CMC Weekly News
12/15/04
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Christmas Day hike
What are you doing on Christmas Day? Let's start a new tradition. If you want to skip the relatives and the 4,000 calorie meal, come hiking. Tom Bindrim is leading an 8 mile hike with about 1100 feet of altitude gain, suitable for everyone. We will meet at Westgate at 9 A.M. on Christmas morning. An early dinner afterwards, for those who want it. Please, if you are planning to come, let me know - Danny Bernstein (236-0192 danny@hikertohiker.org
Mt. Mitchell Web Camera
Many may not know that the web camera on the Mt Mitchell web site was funded by the Carolina Mountain Club Alan Barton Memorial Fund. It is satisfying to see that it is appreciated. Go to: Mount Mitchell Webcam
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy the web cam that
you sponsor for Mt. Mitchell. My family has a summer cabin near Mt. Mitchell and
I love hiking in the Black Mountains. I love being able to view the changing
weather and seasons year-round in an area that I love and cherish. Thanks again.
David Hedberg
The 3rd Southeastern Foot Trails Conference April 28 thru May 1, 2005
Registration and accommodation information will be posted here in early January 2005. Be a part of the third Southeastern foot trails conference at beautiful Table Rock State Park in Pickens, South Carolina! This conference will gather the leadership of the hiking community in the southeast, along with representatives for a variety of government agencies for a weekend of learning, networking, and fun! Another option is to sign-up for the American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation to be held at Table Rock State Park from April 24-29, 2005. Help rehabilitate the hiking trails in and around Table Rock State Park all week long. Learn, hike, and meet new friends all weekend. It's a great way to get involved! The Southeastern Foot Trails Conference will open Friday April 29, 2005 with several full day pre-conference workshops on the following topics:
Several full day hikes along the Palmetto Trail and the Foothills Trail will also be available on Friday. On Saturday April 30, 2005, the conference will kick into high gear with a variety of concurrent 90-minute educational sessions. These sessions will focus on the following topics:
In addition, up to eight 60-minute concurrent Share Fair sessions will take place Saturday afternoon. The topics of those sessions will be determined by the participants. Friday and Saturday evening there will be great entertainment and plenty of networking opportunities. On Saturday night there will also be a photo contest. More details about the contest will follow in January ‘05. Call for Proposals: Get information on how to
share
your expertise and experience. Submissions will be accepted online
through December 1, 2004. |
Sign Up Now for a Volunteer Vacation and Save
Start planning your 2005 vacation now and enjoy the savings. If you sign up now for one of our early 2005 trips you will pay the current price of $80. (There will be a modest price increase after November 15.) We have just posted our early winter-spring Volunteer Vacations schedule at www.americanhiking.org/events/vv/index.html . Click on the link under Early Bird Special for available trips. For the full 2005 schedule check back on our web site in mid November. You may also sign up for one of several great opportunities we have left for the 2004 season including projects in Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, and Ohio. If you have questions about the program send an email to Shearn@AmericanHiking.org or call 1-800-972-8608, ext. 206.
Map Reading Course-CMC Education Committee
In early April the CMC Education Committee plans to have a map-reading course. Right now the plan is to have breakfast some Saturday in southwest Asheville and then spend 4-5 hours on the trail, learning how to interpret and use topographic maps. We are hoping to have one instructor for each 4-5 participants.
This is just a heads-up, more specific information will be forthcoming. By the way, we need all the knowledgeable map readers we can get for instructors. If you’d like to help, let Dave Wetmore know at dwetmore@citcom.net . Dave
Road Settlement Bill
ASHEVILLE - As his tenure in the U.S. Senate ends, Sen. John Edwards has introduced legislation to settle the long- disputed North Shore Road controversy. But even bill supporters say there's virtually no chance it will go anywhere before the end of this congressional session. The Edwards bill calls for the government to compensate Swain County for a road that was promised in the 1940s but never built. A cash settlement would be made instead of building a highway through a remote section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The bill doesn't name a cash amount but says the government should compensate the county "in an amount to be determined by the parties to the agreement." Nicknamed the "Road to Nowhere," the government promised to build the road to replace N.C. 288, which was flooded during construction of the Fontana Dam. A section of the road was built, but the project was never completed because of environmental concerns and cost. Environmental groups fear the effects of road construction on the national park. But others pushing for the road say it could bring money to Swain County and would provide access to old family cemeteries for those forced to leave their homes when the dam was built. The National Park Service has been studying the issue and plans another series of meetings in February and March. Through the last round of meetings on the road, 88 percent of the comments submitted favored a settlement. Swain County commissioners and N.C. Gov. Mike Easley have also supported the settlement. But with time running out in this session, settlement supporters say the bill doesn't have a realistic chance of passing. "The most we could hope for would be that it could pass the Senate assuming they do this one-day session," said Ted Snyder, a Sierra Club member who supports the settlement. "I sort of doubt that there's time even to do that." Snyder said Edwards' move does make it easier to get the bill reintroduced in the next session of Congress. But getting the legislation passed will be an uphill battle. U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor, R-Brevard, supports building a road. So does Richard Burr, the Republican replacing Edwards in the Senate. Brian Nick, a spokesman for Sen. Elizabeth Dole said, "Sen. Dole doesn't plan on supporting Sen. Edwards' legislation." Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander does support a cash settlement and strongly opposes the road but didn't co- sponsor the Edwards bill. Road supporter Linda Hogue called Edwards introduction of the bill a shame. "John Edwards is gone. I don't see why he thought it was his place to try to get something started when he is not going to be there," Hogue said. Gannett News Service writer Raju Chebium contributed to this report. Contact Ball at 232-5851 or JBall@CITIZEN-TIMES.com . On the Net: www.NorthShoreRoad.info
Smokies Sets Next Round of North Shore Road Meetings
Managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have set the next round of five meetings for February-March 2005 to discuss the future of the proposed North Shore Road through the Swain County, NC portion of the Park. The upcoming meetings are the next milestone in the Park's development of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement which is due out by the fall of 2005. Since the last series of public workshops in February and March 2004 a team of specialists have completed extensive surveys and studies to identify the natural or cultural resources that might be affected by one or more of the five alternative actions being considered. At the next meetings set for February/March 2005 the Park and its consultants will present an impact analysis of each alternative along with the estimated economic impacts and construction costs of each action.
Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson said, "We are now at the point in the decision-making process where we can compare the pros and cons of each of various actions based upon concrete and factual information. So, we are looking forward to having an informed discussion of the action alternatives."The five alternatives which the Park is evaluating as possible resolutions of the 1943 Agreement include: 1) No Action (i.e., no road - no resolution), 2) a monetary settlement agreement to replace the 1943 Agreement, 3) construction of a picnic area and exhibits near the end of the current road at Laurel Branch, 4) constructing 7 miles of new road to terminate at a recreational and educational facility along Fontana Lake at Bushnell, and 5) building 29 to 38 miles of new road along a North Shore Corridor as called for by the 1943 Agreement. National Park Service will use a combination of the resource and cost information and public input to develop a preferred alternative which will be presented for public review in the form of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). A final series of public hearings will follow the release of the DEIS. Once the DEIS is released full completion of the decision process is expected to take an additional 12 to 16 months. The upcoming meetings will be held in Bryson City, Robbinsville, and Asheville, North Carolina and in Knoxville and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Information and comments on the North Shore Road decision process is available at: www.NorthShoreRoad.info . Written comments may be sent to: North Shore Road Project, PO Box 30185, Raleigh, NC 27622.
Mountain Trails: "A Late Summer Breeze"
After many days of procrastination, here is another piece on our grand mountain backyard. *It's late summer with Charlie, Jorge and me "Buccaneering" north on the MST (BRP 427) from Haywood Gap over to Rough Bald Gap Overlook. This sunny, blue sky day is one of those perfect times where one can see forever without the smog and haze that is usually carried east from the Ohio Valley and the coal burning power plants of big TVA nestled west of us. This will be a two mile plus hike looking for summer blow downs and minor trail repair. This morning, Charlie will hang back and tackle some serious tread repair while Jorge and I hike on ahead. On the east side of the ridge, the sun begins to climb rapidly, warming up the forest and chasing the morning's dark shadows from the groves of chestnut oak and hemlock. We move easily along this section of trail despite its exposed roots, rock and narrow tread. Sticking to our task, we remove several troublesome trees during the hike. No other hikers are on the trail enjoying this beautiful day and it seems as if we are the only people passing through this quiet woods hanging up in the air around four thousand feet. Before we even expect it, the morning passes and we are at the trail junction to Rough Bald Overlook. After a brief lunch, Jorge returns to pick up the truck and I have close to an hour to scout the access trail out to the BRP and Overlook. Leaving the heavy chainsaw and packs at the junction, I saunter out to the BRP and seeing that the path is clear, I return to the trail junction. At this point the BRP (and MST) begin to climb toward Mount Hardy about three miles north. Below is the township of Balsam and the much larger city of Waynesville. The cool shade of the pines and hemlock allow me to sit in this theatre of natural silence, the only sound is the soft whine of automobiles on the BRP and the early afternoon breeze beginning to lift up from the valleys below. The soft wind brings the smell of mowed fields and cut backyard grass mingled in with the deep and damp smells of the mountain forest. The August sun is high now and the dark shadows have returned to the woods, except for small islands of bright sunlight on the ground. The breeze quickens and from the south bound trail a small yellow butterfly zigzags its way caressing the late summer weed- flowers looking for a timely lunch. I watch this silky fly dart about as it passes me and sails up on the rising wind and disappears down the trail to Mt. Hardy. What a place to live. You guys take care out there. J * Charlie Hamberger, Jorge Munoz: two outstanding trail volunteers with who I have the pleasure to hike and work in these mountains. John Soldati
