Contact: Ruth Hartzler, ruthmtn@aol.com or 251-0886.

WNC’s largest hiking club opposes construction of a proposed road through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Carolina Mountain Club Council adopted the following position on October 6, 2005:

“The Carolina Mountain Club supports the Monetary Settlement Study Alternative to settle the 1943 agreement concerning a proposed road on the north shore of Lake Fontana in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The monetary settlement would provide compensation to Swain County.  No additional roadway would be built.”

Gerry McNabb, President of the Carolina Mountain Club, commented …..

We fully agree with the position taken by the Swain County Commissioners that a cash settlement will best satisfy the intent of the 1943 agreement with the U. S. Department of the Interior for the TVA flooding of their land between Bryson City and Fontana Dam.  Not only will it provide the county with assets more urgently needed than a park road, but it will protect the integrity of the trails and the environment that we treasure there. 

The Carolina Mountain Club, WNC’s largest hiking club, has taken this stand to protect trails in one of the largest continuous forest canopies east of the Mississippi River.  The proposed road would follow the Appalachian Trail for 1.5 miles and adversely impact AT viewsheds for miles.  The Benton MacKaye Trail and the Lakeshore Trail, two long-distance trails, fall within the proposed road corridor for almost its entire length.  Sections of the Forney Creek, Bear Creek, Hazel Creek, Eagle Creek and Lost Cove Trails also fall within the proposed road corridor.

These trails are located in one of the largest roadless areas in the Southern Appalachians.  The proposed road would destroy wilderness values important to the hiking experience.  Not only is the North Shore area unique in WNC, it is unique nationally and globally.  Also, the proposed road would adversely impact the overall environmental health of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed road is due out shortly. Since one of the Carolina Mountain Club’s key objectives is to encourage the conservation of our natural scenery, the Club felt it urgent to take this position.

The 700-member Carolina Mountain Club was formed in 1923.  It maintains 400 miles of trails in WNC and offers over 150 hikes per year.

To learn more about The Carolina Mountain Club visit

www.carolinamtnclub.org