______________________________________________________________________________

The CMC council meeting is at 6pm next Tuesday at Earth Fare in Westgate Mall. CMC members are welcome to attend.

These are the themes at the ATC Conference this week in Johnson City. The name has changed to Appalachian Trail Conservancy and this just the start of many changes to come. The ATC truly is changing it's colors. The ATC web site has been totally redesigned! Among other major efforts is the goal to double membership from 35K in the next two years. If you are not a member of ATC please join the Journey.

This years conference was a well run machine. Many of the CMC folks were involved to make it a great success and it is not over yet. There are still hikes to lead thru this Friday. Southern Highlands 2005.

N.C. “Friends of the A.T.” Plates Hit the Road

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) this week began mailing out the new Friends of the Appalachian Trail license plates. Supporters who have changed vehicles since they sent in their applications—or who did not fill out the application completely—will be getting a letter soon from the DMV asking for updated information, according to Clark Wright, an ATC member and New Bern, N.C., lawyer who has been bulldogging the process since early 2003. The plates can now be ordered in person at North Carolina DMV offices, and the agency is in the process of updating its Web site to allow online ordering. The more people who sign up for the plate, the more Trail projects in the state will benefit over the years. ATC receives $20 per plate from the special fee for those projects, and one of its partners, the state natural-heritage program, also stands to benefit from personalized versions of the plate. Learn more.

They're Here! ATC's First GIS-based Hiking Maps

The ATC's first hiking maps produced through its geographic information system (GIS) are now available, developed with the help of volunteers Collins Chew of the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club, Stewart Holt (GPS-based profiles), and staff members. They cover the Tennessee-North Carolina A.T., from Damascus, Virginia, south to the boundary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is also the area for most of the hikes associated with the July 1-8, 2005, 35th meeting of the Conference membership in Johnson City, Tennessee, known as Southern Highlands 2005. Order yours today from the Ultimate A.T. Store.

Battle lines drawn as Georgia seeks to lighten Atlanta’s load! Residents of far Western North Carolina have launched the beginnings of what organizers say will be a massive fight to defeat a proposed new interstate through the mountains — one that would bisect Clay, Cherokee, Graham and possibly Macon counties en route from Savannah to Knoxville. See details

CAMPOREE AGAINST THE NORTH SHORE ROAD And celebratory Bar-B-Que 23 and 24 July 2005 Bryson City, N.C.

In order to give its supporters an opportunity to hike in the heart of the Smokies threatened by the North shore Road, the Great Smokies Coalition will hold a camporee on Saturday, 23 July and Sunday 24 July.

Tent camping will be the order of the day, at Smoky Mountain Meadows Campground. Participants will arrive on Friday, 22 July and depart on Sunday, 24 July.

On Saturday, 23 July, we will operate a mix of hikes, from short to long, some supported by boat or ferry across Fontana Lake. Depending on demand, a series of shorter hikes will be held on Sunday. Note that a full moon falls on 21 July, a solace to hikers of long trails after sundown.

The campground fee is $6 per person, per night. The Bar-B-Que will be on a break even basis, estimated around $10 per person. For those taking hikes supported by boat or ferry service, that cost will be split among the users.

Directions to Smoky Mountain Meadows Campground. Take US 74 to exit 64, Alarka Road, (about three miles west of Bryson City). At foot of ramp, turn left on Alarka Road, and follow it 1.6 miles. Turn left on East Alarka Road and follow it 0.8 miles to entrance of campground, on left.

To register, or for information, or for questions, contact Ted Snyder. 864/638-3686, or tedsnyder@nuvox.net

All section maintainers are invited to a workshop for section maintainers, led by John Soldati, a trail crew leader. Come and learn what you are really supposed to do on your section and meet your section neighbors. Date: Saturday, July 23, 2005 at 9 A.M. Meet: Folk Art Center at the rear most parking area. Gather around a large black truck. Topic: Trail Maintenance for the Section Maintainer. Section maintaining in real time. We will hike over one or more sections reviewing maintenance skills and duties that may be expected of section maintainers. Tools: Bring polaski or hazel hoe and/or loppers. Light day pack with water, lunch etc. John needs to know that you are coming - Reply to: J. Soldati: jr4152@bellsouth.net

Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior, Announces Designation of Mountains to Sea Trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway as Part of the National Trail System

The Blue Ridge Parkway segment of the Mountains-to-Sea trail extends nearly 193 miles as it ascends and descends with the contours of the Parkway, crossing expansive forests, wildflower gardens, major rivers, and historic sites. The entire trail stretches nearly 935 miles from Clingman's Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockey's Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks. When completed, this trail will connect 37 counties, including numerous cities, state parks, and U.S. Forest Service lands.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is hosting a public meeting on July 12 and is accepting written comments through July 20 to gather input on the draft Environmental Assessment and Development Concept Plan for a proposed regional destination center to be built on the Parkway at Asheville. The draft is available on the Internet at http://parkplanning.nps.gov .

Select "Plans/Documents Open for Comment" then click on the document link. Comments can be made directly on-line by selecting the "Comment on Document" link and using the comment form. Written comments may also be submitted to: Superintendent, Blue Ridge Parkway, 199 Hemphill Knob Road, Asheville, NC 28803. Comments must be postmarked by July 20.

The public hearing will be held July 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Simpson Hall on the campus of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Victoria Road, Asheville.

Alternate MST Section Maintainers Wanted!

The CMC has 2 Alternate MST sections open. One is from Pressley Gap to Buckhorn Gap 2.7 miles and the other is Cat Gap to Neil Gap 3.0 miles. Both of these trails are in good shape and are waiting to start a love affair with an affectionate maintainer! If interested please contact Jim Tanquary, jdtanquary@juno.com or Don Walton at donwalton@bellsouth.net .

MST Coordinator wanted!

The CMC position of Coordinator of the Section Maintainer System for the Mountains to the Sea Trail is open. This prestigious duty for the CMC includes supervising the 5 big sections of the MST (160 miles) which includes 100 volunteer section maintainers. The job is about 1/3rd recruiting of maintainers, 1/3rd communicating with all of the various federal and state agencies and 1/3rd management including recording and reporting all of the hours worked to various places. If interested, please contact Don Walton

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association www.BMTA.org hopes the Carolina Mountain Club will join them in celebrating the Trail Grand Opening on the weekend of July 16-17. Free camping will be provided, compliments of the Cheoah District, USFS, at Rattler Ford Group Campground near the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. The ribbon (vine) cutting will take place Saturday at 11:00 AM at Mud Gap on the Cherohala Skyway near the state line between Robbinsville, NC and Tellico Plains, TN. This will be followed by your choice of two Fun Hikes - to Whigg Meadow or Beech Gap. Saturday evening activities include a group Chili Supper (hiker-friendly donation) followed by a bonfire and entertainment. Additional hikes are planned for Sunday in the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, to Hooper Bald, and Maple Springs Observation Point.This event is open to everyone! Come spend the day or the entire weekend. Reservations are not required, but an RSVP would be appreciated at BMT-GOCelebration@hotmail.com . Be a part of Benton MacKaye Trail History! Put this weekend on your calendar now.http://www.bmta.org/BMTGrandOpeningCelebrationWeekend.htm

Taylor hosts town hall meetings in area

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor, R-Brevard, will host town hall meetings in July in Brevard and Hendersonville to give constituents an opportunity to talk about issues concerning the federal government.

The Hendersonville meeting will take place at 4 p.m. July 11 at the Henderson County Public Library on Washington Street. The Brevard meeting will follow at 8 p.m. that day in the main courtroom of the Transylvania County Courthouse.

"This is an opportunity for folks to share their concerns with me on important issues such as taxes, immigration, Social Security and the budget," Taylor said. "I urge people in Transylvania County to take this opportunity to have a voice in our federal government."

Taylor is sponsoring the meetings.

N.C. “Friends of the A.T.” Plates Hit the Road

They're Here! ATC's First GIS-based Hiking Maps

Interstate 3