November 8, 2006

Hunting Season:

Bear and Boar Season
October 16 - November 18, 2006

Deer Season
November 20 - December 9, 2006

        Please send me your hiking news, hike and maintenance reports by Monday evening before the newsletter comes out, that is, by Monday evening November 20 to Danny Bernstein danny@hikertohiker.org. Include your email address at the end of your story. Thank you.

       For CMC members only - Send all address and email changes to Jean Gard at jeangard@charter.net.

What's Happening the Next Two Weeks

Environmental Action Tour

On Thursday, November 16th, at 7 pm, Patagonia and Black Dome present the Environmental Action Tour with Timmy O'Neill. This is the latest multimedia show from America's most outrageous climber/comedian who will present an evening of stories, film and interviews with leading advocates of the EnviroActive movement. The show will highlight the work of the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition (SAFC) and program coordinator Josh Kelly to protect the remaining ancient forests of the south.
Asheville is one of only 3 stops on this national tour! Think 'David Letterman meets David Brower'. Come and enjoy a fun night with cool guests, prizes, and support 1% For the Planet. Tickets are $8.00 and available at Black Dome. Some tickets may be available at the door. The event will be held at Dougherty Arts Center (previously NC Stage Company), 33 Haywood Street. More info at: www.safc.org or phone 828.252.9223

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Other Important News

CMC Annual Dinner and Meeting a great success

The CMC Annual Dinner and Meeting was a great success. See some pictures.

Dale Ditmanson, Superintendent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, was our guest speaker. He gave a slide presentation outlining the state of the National Park. Kevin Fitzgerald, the Assistant Superintendent, also came.

Lenny Bernstein, CMC president, gave the state of CMC. Read his talk.

Howard McDonald and Jane and Lewis Blodgett became honorary life members. Howard was president of CMC and an A.T. supervisor for almost 10 years. He has the most hours worked of any active trail maintainer. Jane and Lewis have been active hike leaders for many years. Jane was editor of Let's Go for 20 years. Lewis is an active trail maintainer and was CMC's representatiave on the A.T. guidebook committee.

The Distinguished Service Award went to Bill Newton for maintaining sections of the A.T. and MST and coordinating and planning the work of the CMC Pisgah Friday Trail Crew.

The Award of Appreciation went to Bruce Bente for putting together the hiking schedule each quarter, finding hike leaders, training and recruiting hike leaders.

Gerry McNabb won the slogan contest with Hike - Save trails - Make friends.

In addition, many trail maintenance awards were given out. See the complete list.

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Carolina Mountain Club named one of the best hiking clubs in the area

But we knew that.

In Blue Ridge Outdoors (November issue), the Readers Poll named Carolina Mountain Club a runner-up in the Favorite Hiking Club category. BRO reaches a quarter-million readers from D.C. to Atlanta and is widely regarded as the country's top regional outdoor publication.

The same poll named Shining Rock Wilderness the most likely place to get lost (we knew that too) and a GPS the most useless piece of gear - well, they can't get it all right.

Check it out. The magazine is free.

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Wilderness First Aid Course offered again by CMC - Nov. 18-19.

Do you feel competent handling a crisis out in the wilderness? The CMC is offering a Wilderness First Aid Course on November 18 and 19 at Warren Wilson College. This 16 hour course will be taught by Landmark Learning.
The CMC is funding some of the cost for each person which includes a 2-year certification. To register: send a check for $75 made out to CMC, including your address, home phone # and e-mail address, also a business size
self-addressed stamped envelope to: Marlene Santa Maria, 49 Apple Tree Way, Asheville, N.C. 28805. Any questions, call 299-9095 or Marlena98@hotmail.com.

If you want to take this valuable course, send in your registration to Marlene ASAP.

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Heard on the Trail

The Natchez Trace -the other Parkway

From Danny:

Last week, I took a swing through Mississippi and Alabama. As part of that road trip, I drove about 80 miles of the Natchez Trace Parkway, which could be considered the first interstate highway.
It goes from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN, a National Park unit which replicates the original road built in the Jefferson era to encourage trade and movement of goods and people. The original road lasted till about 1820 when steamboats on the Mississipi offered better transport.
The 444-mile road is quite flat and goes through woods and farmland. It should be ideal for biking. See www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm

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