June 21, 2006

        Please send me your hiking news, hike and maintenance reports by Monday evening before the newsletter comes out, that is, by Monday evening July 3 to Danny Bernstein danny@hikertohiker.org. Include your email address at the end of your story. Thank you.

What's Happening the Next Two Weeks

Linda Beja is moving to Alaska! Come and say goodbye - RSVP by Wednesday July 5

For all of those who would like to go with her but can’t and also those who would like to tell her goodbye, we are going to have a party to celebrate. The party will be at my house at 6pm on Saturday July 8th. Please bring a covered dish to share. Beer, wine, soft drinks and paper products will be provided. Please RSVP to: donwalton@bellsouth.net by July 5th. Driving directions will be provided.Don Walton

NOC weekend Oct 6 to 8 

Look at the details. Time to make a reservation!

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Slogan Contest.

Write a slogan for our club that describes CMC and what our club is all about. We are a club that maintains trails, leads hikes and promotes conservation of the trails, National Forest and Parks in our area. A catchy one or two line phrase is what we are looking for. So get creative and submit your entry no later than September 30 !! Send your entry by e-mail to backpacker54nc@bellsouth.net or by mail to CMC, PO Box 68, Asheville, NC 28802, Attn: Chip Miller. The winning slogan writer will receive a $100 gift certificate to Diamond Brand.

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Adopt a piece of the MST

The following MST Sections are available for adoption:

NC 215 to Devil’s Courthouse Junction
Buckspring Tral Junction to Pisgah Inn
Glassmine Overlook to Balsam Gap Overlook
Rainbow Gap to NC 128
A section from Highway 74A to the BRP Headquarters(Trail Spur).
If you are interested contact donwalton@bellsouth.net

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Say Goodbye to the Mt. Mitchell Tower

The tower on top of Mt. Mitchell is scheduled to come down sometimes this summer. Though the Park has not yet chosen a contractor, the tower may fall as early as July. According to the Mt. Mitchell State Park spokesperson, the tower, completed in 1960, is in a constant need for repairs. They are planning to replace it with a more handicap-accessible path and a platform. It has been rumored that though the path to the platform may not be wheel-chair accessible, rangers will take those unable (or unwilling??) to walk in golf carts.

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More MST Construction

During the week of September 9-16, 2006 the FMST and American Hiking Society - www.americanhiking.org will host a Volunteer Vacation on the Blue Ridge Parkway between NC-18 and NC-16 to construct the MST. As the sponsoring club of this week long trail building exercise we are responsible for food cost. The Great Outdoor Provision Company - http://www.greatoutdoorprovision.com/ will match this fund raising campaign - dollar for dollar.

As of June 3, 2006 the Falls Lake section of the MST (26 miles) is now considered a National Recreation Trail by the US Department of the Interior. This is a huge honor! You can read the full press release at our website.

July 22-23, 2006 - Save the Date! - MST Trail Construction along the Blue Ridge Parkway between NC-18 and NC-16.

Thanks for your support of the MST!

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Enter the Blue Ridge Parkway Photo Contest

Calling all you photographers! Why not enter the Blue Ridge Parkway photo contest? All the details are at http://www.blueridgefriends.org/index.cfm/fa/contest.enter/event/2006%20Photo%20Competition.htm

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Conservation

See the hike for Wednesday June 28.

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New National Parks Proposal Restores Conservation Emphasis
By JENNIFER TALHELM

Associated Press July 19, 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Interior Department on Monday reversed a controversial proposed national parks policy that would have allowed more use of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles and put less emphasis on conservation.

A draft of the new policy stresses that when there is a conflict between preserving and using natural and historical places, conservation will remain the parks' predominant job.

"That is the heart of these policies and the lifeblood of our nation's commitment to care for these special places and provide for their enjoyment," said Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne.

The new parks management policy, which is to become final in three weeks, is one of the first moves for Kempthorne, who was installed less than a month ago.

Critics, including several members of Congress, had chided former Interior Secretary Gale Norton and the Park Service for proposing wide-ranging park management changes they said would benefit commercial and recreation interests at a cost to conservation.

The new draft also says the parks should aim for the highest clean air standard, preserve their solitude and keep lands eligible for wilderness designations free from snowmobiles, ATVs and other intrusion.

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Your Chance to Save the Water Quality in Fontana Lake

N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources on behalf of the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) Public Hearing regarding Reclassification of selected tributaries from the north shore of Fontana Lake. Written comments must be received by July 14, 2006 and should be sent to:
Elizabeth Kountis
Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Division of Water Quality, Planning Section
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 276991617
phone (919) 7335083, extension 369
fax (919) 7155637
Elizabeth.Kountis@ncmail.net

Background

Session Law (SL) 2005­0097 directed that “The Environmental Management Commission shall initiate a rule­ making proceeding…to adopt rules to reclassify the entire watersheds of all creeks that drain to the north shore of Fontana Lake between Eagle and Forney Creeks, including Eagle and Forney Creeks, as outstanding resource waters…” The purpose of these rule amendments would be to provide supplementary protection for the resources and quality of the subject waters. According to the bill, these creeks ‘…may provide habitat for federally and State­ listed endangered species…”, “are renowned for exceptional trout fishing…”, and “…water quality for Forney Creek documents that the creek has excellent water quality…” Water quality studies conducted in August 2005 show that the waters proposed to be reclassified meet Class ORW criteria.

Speaking Points for Comments (provided by SELC)
· The streams subject to this reclassification enjoy some of the finest water quality in the state.  Many of these streams are highly prized trout fisheries and recreational waters and all of these streams are important to the integrity of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

· The North Carolina legislature, by directing the Environmental Management Commission to reclassify these streams as outstanding resource waters, required the EMC to take steps necessary to protect the outstanding resource values of these waters including their pristine water quality, significant trout fisheries, and importance as components of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

· Previous experience in and around the Park demonstrates that the water quality standards in the draft rule are necessary to protect these streams from contamination and acid drainage generated when the geology of these watersheds is disturbed.

· Because water quality in these streams is already threatened by high rates of acid rain in the Park and naturally-occurring acid runoff, exceptional care is needed to protect the water quality of these streams from additional acid runoff created by human activities. 

· The additional standards identified by the draft rule are necessary to protect against the threat of acid-producing rocks to water quality in these watersheds and to conserve important aquatic habitat by controlling stormwater runoff and maintaining the unique hydrology of these watersheds. 

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For all you Everest Dreamers and Fans

A movie celebrating the life of Sir Edmund Hillary could be on screen within two years. The film is provisionally titled Higher Ground and centres on Sir Edmund's 1953 conquest of Mt Everest. From the New Zealand Herald

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