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An eight-mile stretch just south of US 221 at the Linville Falls Community, and an 11-mile section between NC Highway 80 and Mt. Mitchell State Park remain closed. Repair of the Mt. Mitchell to NC 80 section is underway and should be completed by Memorial Day. Access to Mt. Mitchell is currently available via the Parkway from Asheville, but there is no through traffic and motorists must use the Parkway for the return trip.

Opening of the section south of Linville Falls remains elusive. Contracts for repair have yet to be announced.

Over 4,000 numbered tags have been sold in North Carolina as of the end of February. "We are very excited about the sales progress of these tags," exclaimed Houck Medford, executive director for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. "Our promotional and marketing threshold is 50,000 subscribers which will provide an additional $1 million per year for Parkway projects and programs. These revenue funds are not intended to support park operations but only those projects and activities which enhance the quality of the visitor's experience. Tags can be ordered online at www.ncdot.org/dmv or from the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, www.brpfoundation.org/tag.php .

I am writing from The Mountaineers Books, a book publishing company in Seattle, WA. We publish hiking and climbing guides, and outdoor recreation how-to's. I am looking for an author to write a book for us that will be a part of our popular series, Best Hikes with Dogs. We have published books in this series for western Washington, the Inland Northwest, Oregon, San Francisco Bay Area, Arizona, Colorado, and others. Each book covers roughly 50 - 60 hikes and covers trail write-ups, photos, and maps. Each book also includes information particular to hiking with dogs, such as trail etiquette, canine first aid, gear, permits and regulations, and weather. We would like to add a North Carolina title to the series, one that may originate in one of the major cities, such as Raleigh/Durham, and then branch out to include other parts of the state.

I am writing to you in hopes that through your organization you know (or are) someone who likes to hike with dogs, is familiar with the best hikes in North Carolina, and is a writer. This person does not have to be a published author, but needs to have some writing samples I can look at.

Acquisitions Department The Mountaineers Books 1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201 Seattle, WA 98134 206-223-6303 x 118 206-223-6306 fax intern5@mountaineersbooks.org www.mountaineersbooks.org

There is a new magazine, Southern Hiker, which specializes in hiking trails, hiking and maintenance news from Appalachia to Florida. Based in Alabama, the bimonthly magazine is only available by subscription. There is a lot of hiking club news since it focuses on those of us who hike and maintain trails, week-in, week-out; No twenty-year old jumping off the page in low-cut boots. The current issue, which is the second issue, has an article on the Oceans-to- Lake trail, Leave no Trace principles in trail maintenance and a primer on the Smokies written by me. For all information, see http://www.southernhiker.com/ Danny Bernstein danny@hikertohiker.org

I’m inviting you to celebrate our backyard forests and the arrival of spring.

Asheville’s forests provide recreation, scenic beauty, economic stability, clean water, and much, much more. So let’s celebrate our region’s forests, and the arrival of spring, by getting Into the Woods, at the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition’s second annual celebration and silent auction, Saturday, April 9th, at 7:00pm in the Haywood Park Hotel Ballroom in Asheville.

The event includes food and wine, music by the Buckerattes, and a silent auction that includes local and regional art, outdoor gear, vacation packages, and much, much more. It’s sure to have lots of fun.”

All proceeds from Into the Woods benefit the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition, a group of 14 local, state and regional organizations working to protect and restore the wildlands, water, native forests, and ecosystems of the Southern Appalachian landscape – those areas providing unparalleled recreation opportunities, rare wildlife habitat, sustainable economic development.

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased in advance by calling 828-252-9223 or emailing safc@safc.org or can be purchased at the door. Jackie Dobrinska, Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition, 46 Haywood Street, Ste 323, Asheville, NC 28801 www.forestcoalition.org

UPCOMING WORKSHOP TO TEACH ABOUT HOW YOU CAN "LEAVE NO TRACE" WHILE HIKING ON WNC TRAILS

Hiker says lack of preparation stranded group in the Smokies Park rescues four hikers stranded on snowy A.T.! The recent headlines on the incident in the Smokies illustrate the potential for what can happen if hikers don't follow Leave No Trace principle #1. The bedrock principle states "Plan ahead and prepare." Doing just that usually sets the stage for a successful trip for you and for those who follow.

Many hikers claim to know all about Leave No Trace (LNT) and ways they can keep trails in good shape. When you ask them about LNT; however, they often say "Pack it in/Pack it out," referring to their trash. Well, that's really just part of it.

Everyone who hikes probably has met a rowdy group making a lot of noise on the trail or seen hikers feeding wildlife. Have you ever done these yourself? Or, have you wondered what you could say to try to educate them? Leave No Trace is a national program designed to "build awareness, appreciation, and respect for our wildlands." Taking an LNT course will help you identify where you fall on the spectrum of outdoor ethics and will provide tools for educating others.

All hikers are invited to an upcoming LNT Trainer course to be held on the Warren Wilson campus trails in Swannanoa. Ed Raiola of Warren Wilson College and Matthew Davis of the Appalachian Trail Conference will be co-leading a Leave No Trace Trainer Course on Saturday April 30th and Sunday, May 1st on the campus of Warren Wilson College. The course will start at 8am on Saturday and will conclude by 4pm on Sunday. There is a $45 fee for the course, which includes a 1-year LNT membership and other goodies, and the course is limited to the first 10 registrants. For more information on the course or to register, contact Ed Raiola at 828-771-3007 or eraiola@warren-wilson.edu

. For more information on LNT, visit the Center for Outdoor Ethics website at www.lnt.org.

BIENNUAL WORKSHOP COMMITTEE NEEDS YOU!

The Biennual Workshop Committee needs one or two more members to do an effective job of running the workshops at the upcoming meeting. These are on Saturday afternoon, July 2, all day Sunday, July 3 and Monday afternoon, July4, and are a major part of the entire week-long meeting. We will make sure the presenters know the room they are to use, install the proper sign at the door, check to make sure the desired AV equipment is there and working, and handle any problems that develop before or during a presentation. Please join this very important committee! Howard McDonald 828-693-8258 or hamcdonald@cytechcis.net

Volunteer of the Year Nominations Sought

American Hiking Society seeks nominations for this year’s Volunteer of the Year awards. We will be awarding nine regional awards and one of these nine regional winners will be chosen “National Volunteer of the Year." The work for which s/he is being nominated must benefit hikers and/or the hiking experience. For more details or to nominate your volunteer go to www.americanhiking.org/events/ntd/awards.html . If you have questions please contact Shirley Hearn at 1-800-972-8608, ext. 206 or by Shearn@AmericanHiking.org .

Don’t let good deeds go unnoticed – nominate someone today!

Call for 2005 CMC Nominating Committee Candidates and 2006 CMC Council nominations CMC WANTS YOU!!!!!!!

This is your opportunity to get involved in your club's leadership. Applications are now being accepted for the 2005 Nominating Committee, and for officer and council positions for the 2006 CMC Council. Serving on the Nominating Committee is one of the most important responsibilities within the club. You participate in a process that determines the next generation of leaders of your association. Serving as a member of the council is a commitment that yields countless rewards. If you consider yourself a strategic thinker with the executive ability to get things done, then CMC wants you! I strongly encourage you take this opportunity to become either a member of the Nominating Committee or, serve on the Council as a councilor or as an officer of the club. Don’t forget CMC WANTS YOU to get involved, and become a part of your club’s leadership. Applications are due to cmcinfo@carolinamtnclub.org by April 30, 2005. Download the application and job description for the Nominating Committee. Download the application and job description for Councilor. For more information regarding CMC’s organization please refer to the Club Bylaws on the CMC web site, or contact Don Walton, donwalton@bellsouth.net Don’t be shy, get involved. Thank you. Don Walton Immediate Past President

The CMC is starting a Hike Information exchange system on www.Yahoo.com which can be used to exchange information relating to hiking. This group system is intended to help coordinate off schedule hiking activities that benefit the club and it's members. For example, a hike leader may need to scout a hike but cannot find anyone to go along or maybe someone needs directional help to adequately hike a trail.

The email address used to communicate is cmchikeinfo@yahoogroups.com . The address to use to join is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cmchikeinfo/ You have to be a yahoo member (free) to join. When you join you will need to provide your name in the setup in the "Real Name" field. This is desirable for people to know who you are. If you have any questions please contact me. Don Walton

The deadline for early registration for the 3rd Southeastern Foot Trails Conference planned for April 28 – May 1, 2005

The deadline for early registration for the 3rd Southeastern Foot Trails Conference planned for April 28 – May 1, 2005 at Table Rock State Park in Pickens, SC is March 31st. You can sign up after March 31st, but you won’t get a t-shirt, and you’ll miss out on the early registration discount. With a host of great activities planned, you won’t want to miss this great event. Please share the following announcement with your colleagues and fellow hiking enthusiasts! Thanks!

Join us for the 3rd Southeastern Foot Trails Conference planned for April 28 – May 1, 2005 at beautiful Table Rock State Park in Pickens, South Carolina. This event will bring together the conservation and hiking community for a weekend of “Building Skills & Strengthening Partnerships”. Representatives from a variety of government agencies will also be present. This event is presented by American Hiking Society and co-hosted by Palmetto Conservation Foundation and the Foothills Trail Conference.

The event will kick off on Thursday afternoon April 28. Hikes of varying length and difficulty will be offered and led by local trail groups along the gorgeous Blue Ridge Escarpment. Thursday evening dinner will feature guest speaker Brad Wyche of Upstate Forever. Evening entertainment will be provided by Johnson City, Tennessee photographer Jerry Greer. Jerry will treat us to a slideshow featuring the beauty of the Southern Appalachians.

Friday April 29th will offer a number of excellent pre-conference workshops including;

Board University – presented by the Institute for Conservation Leadership. This training class is designed specifically for members of non-profit Boards. Grant Writing – Sonja Carlborg, Grant Writer for American Hiking Society will lead this excellent full day course Sustainable Trail Construction – Come learn how to build sustainable trails from the experts!

Friday’s evening entertainment will be provided by Drovers Old Time Medicine Show. Plan to kick up your heels for some live bluegrass music!

Saturday will feature a full slate of concurrent educational sessions. The attached PDF file contains a listing of the sessions planned as of March 19, 2005. Additional sessions on Volunteer Management and GPS 101 are planned.

Sunday morning will feature naturalist led hikes in Table Rock State Park. Celina Montorfano, Director of Conservation Programs for American Hiking Society will also lead a session teaching folks how to approach your elected officials at the federal level.

To register for this event, please visit www.AmericanHiking.org . Early registration ends March 31. Options for a single day, partial, or full registration exist. For more information, please contact Jeffrey Hunter at (423) 266-2507 or jhunter@AmericanHiking.org .

See y’all in South Carolina!

Jeffrey Hunter

Southern Appalachians Initiative

American Hiking Society

175 Hamm Road - Suite C

Chattanooga, TN 37405

(423) 266-2507

jhunter@americanhiking.org

http://www.americanhiking.org/alliance/sai.html