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Did you know? Alliance Club Members Receive a Discount on American Hiking Society Membership

Since its founding in 1976, American Hiking Society has been the only national voice for hikers – fighting to protect and preserve footpaths, preserve the natural areas that surround them, and promote hiking itself. American Hiking is there: Speaking for hikers in the halls of Congress and with federal land managers; Educating hikers about hiking responsibly and getting back safely; and Helping to build and maintain foot trails in every state of our nation. Carolina Mountain Club is proud to be a member of American Hiking Society’s Alliance of Hiking Organizations and because we are, you – as a member of CMC are eligible for a $5 discount off of basic American Hiking membership. Your membership not only supports hiking and trails, but will get you free subscriptions to American Hiker and Backpacker magazines and a slew of other benefits. Visit www.AmericanHiking.org to join or for more information.

Parkway Extends Comment Period for Environmental Assessment on Proposed Asheville Visitor Center

The Blue Ridge Parkway has extended to July 30 the comment period for the draft Environmental Assessment and Development Concept Plan for the proposed regional destination center at Asheville; the public hearing will be held as originally announced on July 12 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.

A limited number of printed (286 pages) and compact disc copies are available at Parkway Headquarters and at the Folk Art Center. Review copies are also available at the Pack Memorial Library and branches in Black Mountain, Enka-Candler, Leicester, South Buncombe/Skyland, Weaverville and West Branch.

Comments and requests should be made to Superintendent, Blue Ridge Parkway, 199 Hemphill Knob Road, Asheville, NC 28803.

On Friday (7-29-05) Congress passed a $286.5 billion transportation bill for the United States. Johnston County will receive 1.6 million dollars for the Neuse River Greenway/MST. This is a huge shot in the arm for the MST East Plan. NC State Parks and Recreation/DENR will fund a Master Plan for Johnston County for a price tag of $50,000 to show the detailed route of the MST.

For the second month in a row the MST has made Backpacker Magazine. This months edition highlights the MST section from Grandfather Mt. to Blowing Rock. Look for the MST to be featured in Blue Ridge Magazine this fall. www.ncmst.org

Registrations received to date for Multi-Club are far below expectations. We are being forced to consider down scaling and revamping the event in order to minimize financial losses. Most of the registrations at this point seem to be from our own club (NBATC) which even brings up the point of whether the event should even be held at all.

We are asking all club Presidents to talk up the event and ask their members to mail in their registrations immediately if they are planning to attend. The original deadline was set at August 1, 2005 but that has been extended to allow for additional registrations due to the low turn out to date. We have a Multi Club Committee Meeting on August 9, 2005 at which we will need to make some very important decisions (including whether or not the event will even be held). Please ask your members to mail their registrations so that we will have received them by this date.

Thanks for your help in making the 2005 Multi Club a successful event. Please contact us if you have further questions.

David A. Helms, Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club, Multi-Club Committee, 145 Belmont Place, Lynchburg, VA 24502-4593, Home Phone: 434-237-2180

Hello all of you! Another opportunity to make history and give a little back for enjoying all our wonderful Western Carolina Trail. Reserve the date -- August 20, 2005 Join us in building the MST extension from Balsam Gap to Heintooga Road. Meeting Place Moose Cafe next to the Farmers Market at 9:00 AM or BRP Maintenance Office at Balsam Gap @ 9:30 AM or Woodfin/Cascades O/L on the BRP. @ 9:30 AM Tools.- Bring loppers, rakes, digging tools. If you do not have any, some will be available. Car pools will be formed. Please pass the word and bring all your hiking or trail working friends. Piet

As a reminder, Fontana Village is holding a block of rooms & cottages until August 1 for the CMC hiking weekend on October 1-2.Anyone planning to attend should make reservations before August 1 to guarantee getting a room. Accommodations will be on an “as-available” basis after 8/1.

Are you interested in participating and helping to recruit people for the Relay for Clean Air this year. It starts this year at Newfound Gap, Thursday evening, August 25 and continues through Friday, August 26 where it will end at the Orange Peel, in Asheville, and the AirAid concert featuring Steve Earle, Larry Keel and Steve (Big Daddy) McMurray of Acoustic Syndicate. Tickets to AirAid, normally $20, will be discounted to $15 for Relay participants. BioWheels is donating a free water bottle to each participant and there will probably be other perks. But, mostly we're just demonstrating for clean air and trying to raise money for the Canary Coalition. Participants will be given per/mile pledge sheets to help find contributors. Please let me know if you plan to be a part of it. The schedule, flyers and more information are available on our website, www.canarycoalition.org

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REPERTORY THEATRE in Mars Hill will be presenting the play “SHELTON LAUREL” in August.

The historic drama explores the massacre of 13 unarmed men and boys by a Confederate militia detail during the Civil War and the repercussions of the tragedy generations later. In 1894, Colonels Keith and Allen, two of those blamed for the killings, meet in a Marshall church with Patsy Shelton, whose husband and two sons were among those killed. On the verge of madness induced by his lifelong guilt, Keith is haunted by ghosts of the dead. As the three confront each other and try to expiate the horrors of that long-ago day, the ghosts infiltrate their thoughts and memories, leading to a moment at which reconciliation might be possible.

Due to the fact that many CMC’ers have hiked in that area and expressed interest in the history of that massacre I though that it would be of interest to members to see that play.

I have reserved 15 seats (with more available with an early enough notification) for the night performance to be held on Friday, August 12th at 7:30 PM. The cost of the ticket is $18.00 (which is a group rate I have obtained). The normal cost is $23.00.

If you are interested please let me know at the earliest possible time. I would need to know no later than Friday, Aug. 26th so that I may be able to arrange for more seats is necessary.

Reserve now by mailing a check in the amount of $18.00 made out to Carroll Koepplinger and mail to me at:3306 Idle Hour Drive, Asheville, NC 28806. I will take care of obtaining all the reserved tickets.

You may also contact me at: Carrollkoepp@Bellsouth.net or 828-667-0723 to let me know of your intent to reserve a ticket.

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 .

There is also a MST section open from Craven Gap to Ox Creek Road. This is close to Asheville and won't last long. donwalton@bellouth.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

Elizabeth Allen, Christopher Barko, Peter Barr, Jacqueline Bush, Joe Burchfield, Gail Buzby, Heather Haley and Tyler ChaPman, Connie Clinard, Diana and Tony Dagenhart, Sara Dykes, Carl Granados, Karen Green, Norma Grivich, Lucinda Hastings, Ed and Linda Hauschild, Donna Holley, Carol Mayhew, John Mazurowski, Mark Monnin, Nan Needs, Barbara Pope, Donna Robinson, Deborah Schwer, Leighton Scott, Susan Sentell, Chris Slater, Mariana Spivak, Lana Stephens, Danny Sullins, John Swope, John Travis, Bill Twitty, Stephen Wherley, Michelle and Joseph Worth.