December 6, 2006

Hunting Season:

Bear Season
Dec. 11 to Jan. 1, 2007

        Please send me your hiking news, hike and maintenance reports by Monday evening before the newsletter comes out, that is, by Monday evening December 18 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

Nominate a CMC Hiker as the Hiking Outdoor Person of the Year! By Dec. 18

The Asheville Citizen-Times is looking for nominations for outdoor person of the year in various categories, including hiking. Though hiking is not supposed to be competitive, (we don't try to go faster or do more miles than the people we're hiking with), we do notice when people have the perseverance to complete hiking challenges. Use any criteria you want but send in your nomination to Karen Chavez at KChavez@citizen-times.com. Your nominations must be in by Monday Dec. 18.

 ---------------------- Back to Top

Mountain Voices Alliance joins the Western North Carolina Alliance

With your vote, the WNC Alliance will welcome a new Buncombe chapter into its fold on Thursday, December 7th at 5:30 p.m. in the office of the WNC Alliance. If you're concerned about the pace and nature of development in Buncombe County, then please mark your calendar to attend and learn more about this exciting partnership with Mountain Voices.

Buncombe County has the highest number of members in our organization, yet we've lacked an active county chapter for some years. All that will change on Dec. 7 when the Mountain Voices Alliance (MVA) joins the WNCA. The MVA (www.mvalliance.net), a group of outspoken and well-researched citizens, have taken a lead in bringing accountability and responsible planning to local government. They've worked tirelessly for the pass several months to promote the understanding of growth impacts and expose the loopholes and lack of enforcement in local environmental ordinances.

Please join us for an informational meeting on Thursday, December 7th at 5:30 in the office of the WNC Alliance. We’re located at 29 North Market Street, Suite 610 on the 6th floor. The building is at the corner of Market and Walnut, just across from Magnolia’s Restaurant. We’ll provide some background on what’s happening on the development front, discuss future events and plans, and ways for folks to get involved in this critical issue.
Jody Flemming Executive Director, WNCA 828-258-8737

 ---------------------- Back to Top

Other Important News

CMC members will work with Hot Springs on the A.T.

On Sunday, November 5th, a festival with a purpose took place in downtown Hot Springs, complete with tasty BBQ from the local Smokey Mountain Diner. As a "thank you" to the town, the Appalachian Trail community collected more than $400 for the fire department, contributed 26 new books, maps and videos to the town library, and held a dedication ceremony for the section of the Trail adopted by the Hot Springs School. Our own Chip Miller will work with the school on the A.T.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) was also gathering information on how this community wants to establish itself as a Gateway Trail Town. The information that ATC collects will become tools for other towns to use along the National Scenic Trail.

 ---------------------- Back to Top

Help the AT Supervisor

I have been the AT Supervisor for almost ten years and would like to turn it over to younger people at some time in the not too distant future. If you are interested in joining me in order to ease the load and to become familiar with all that goes with the Supervisor position, please contact me, Howard McDonald at  <hamcdonald@cytechcis.net> or 828-693-8258. Thank you!

From your editor - This is a great opportunity for someone who loves the A.T. to learn from our A.T. expert, Howard McDonald. Whether you're a hiker hoping to finish the A.T., a section maintainer or on the trail crew, you will become the A.T. expert in our club.

 ---------------------- Back to Top

Donation Boxes to be Placed Along Parkway

The first of several new donation boxes funded by Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway was unveiled last week at the Folk Art Center along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The boxes are expected to raise thousands of dollars annually with plans to fund a broad range of activities, including trail construction, viewshed restoration and volunteer support. The Blue Ridge Parkway has no entrance fee and private support and philanthropy are increasingly important for preserving the Parkway and providing the services that help people enjoy the park.

 ---------------------- Back to Top

Great Southeastern Hiking Festival - May 3 - 6, 2007
Make plans to attend the American Hiking Society's Great Southeastern Hiking Festival. It will be held at the Montreat Conference, our own backyard. Workshops, music, seminars, and of courses, hikes, hikes, hikes. Check it all out at Great Southeastern Hiking Festival website. If you want to present a workshop, use the form on their website. Carolina Mountain Club members have so much expertise - hike leadership, maintenance, trail building, using a GPS, conservation activities ....Let's share some of it! [The last time in the eNews for now]

 ---------------------- Back to Top

Conservation

Negotiations for the sale of Chimney Rock still Ongoing

On Monday Dec. 4, John Boyle of the Citizen-Times writes that At this point in the game, the cards are played close to the vest.

“The negotiations are still going on — and they’re very active,” said Charlie Peek, spokesman for the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation, which is negotiating with the owners of Chimney Rock Park to buy the 1,000-acre property in Rutherford County.

“Our desire is to keep this moving forward and take the time to make sure we’re satisfied with the decision,” said Morse, whose family has owned the park for a century. The public has access to about 550 acres of Chimney Rock Park, including the 315-foot-high chimney, a 404-foot-high waterfall and miles of hiking trails.

In July, Morse announced the company’s plans to sell the park, with an asking price of $55 million. North Carolina had offered $20 million before the property was put up for sale, Jill Lucas, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Administration, said in July. The state plans to create Hickory Nut Gorge State Park near Chimney Rock.

Jim Proctor, part of the grassroots organization Save Chimney Rock Park, said the group is focusing on keeping both sides negotiating.

“The bottom line is the only entity whose main focus is preserving the natural heritage and the integrity of what’s there is the state,” Proctor said. “Private individuals, even if they’re interested in preservation, have to make a profit to be a viable business.”

 ---------------------- Back to Top

Heard on the Trail

Lookin for hiking blogs!

Do you know of hiking blogs? Preferably of hiking in the Southern Appalachians? If so, share them with eNews readers. Send the information (the website) to me at danny@hikertohiker.org

 ---------------------- Back to Top