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Wednesday, 14 November 2012 00:00

Residents recognized for land stewardship and research

Two environmentalists were honored by the Franklin-based Land Trust for the Little Tennessee at its annual celebration Nov. 3 in Macon County.
Wednesday, 14 November 2012 00:00

Community asked to weigh in on regional bike plan

The Land-of-Sky Regional Council will host a round of community input meetings Nov. 5 through Dec. 6 to gather input for a regional bicycling plan.
Wednesday, 14 November 2012 00:00

Discussion focuses on climate change and the Appalachians

A discussion about the local effects of climate change and development will be held at the historic Rickman Store near Franklin from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 17.
Wednesday, 14 November 2012 00:00

Venus and moon dance in front of the sun

Early mornings kind of go with the territory around here. With work, kids and the never-ending list of chores, every homeowner know the wee hours are often the only time one has to exhale. But I’m a crepuscular creature, and…
Wednesday, 14 November 2012 00:00

Take only pictures, leave only footsteps: Outdoor photographers hone the craft of capturing the Smokies

They stood in a line, trigger fingers poised, eyes fixated on the target.  It was early morning, and the predawn sun had not yet peaked over the tops of the eastern range. An antlered male elk had his head down,…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Guided hikes continue as fall gives way to winter

Hike amidst flowing creeks and historic remnants along the Smokemont Loop Trail on a guided hike through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Thursday, Nov.15. The hike is sponsored by the Friends of the Smokies.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

An easy, historical hike on the Carolina side of the Smokies

Hikers can participate in a leisurely, guided hike Saturday, Nov. 17, on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The hike will follow the Kephart Prong Trail, located just nine miles from Newfound Gap or five…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Water stewardship videos shown in Swain

Four short videos that are part of a Watershed Film Series titled “It’s Our Water” will be shown the evening of Nov. 15 in the fellowship hall of the Bryson City United Methodist Church. The videos will cover issues from…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Trails initiative seeks input from Haywood residents

A public workshop focusing on ideas for Haywood County trails that could become part of a Regional Trails Plan will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in the multi-purpose room at the Waynesville Recreation Center on Vance Street.…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Fourth-graders conquer Appalachian trails on hiking trip

More than 70 fourth-graders and parents trekked across the Appalachians in Macon County as part of an annual student trip to Siler Bald. Eight hike leaders from the Nantahala Hiking Club — which is the Franklin-based Appalachian Trail Club —…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

New trout website aims to hook anglers

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has fired up its new trout fishing webpage, which provides useful information for trout anglers looking to know more about their favorite outdoor pastime. “We wanted to consolidate all the trout-related information on our website…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Diamond Brand partners to produce outdoor rec website

Asheville retailer Diamond Brand Outdoors has partnered with RootsRated.com to introduce a new, locally-sourced digital outdoor recreation guide for the greater Asheville area.  Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to generate reviews of their favorite recreational areas and opportunities in the…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Lily effort takes root around WCU

An effort to re-establish a favorite local flower while also growing a scholarship fund at Western Carolina University is off to a blooming start.
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

A WCU campus run with a twist and a message

Western Carolina University, as part of its Love Your Body Week, will hold a station run on campus at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 13. The Amazing Catamount Challenge will consist of teams of up to four participants who will be…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Stranded hiker rescued from national park backcountry

A hiker stranded on the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was successfully evacuated by rescuers last Friday after spending one night in the cold.   An air rescue operation was launched at 2 p.m. Nov. 2…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Some things never get old

Last Saturday (Nov. 3) was this year’s annual fall hike in the Waynesville watershed. The hikes started back in 2007, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be invited to tag along on most. The Waynesville watershed comprises nearly 8,600 acres,…
Wednesday, 07 November 2012 00:00

Cherokee hopes bounty will help rein in pesky coyote population

In Cherokee, a dead coyote is worth more than a live one — about $25 more. In the coming weeks, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian’s Fisheries and Wildlife Department will begin doling out $25 bounties to enrolled tribal members…
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 01:37

Pack your brownbag and head to WCU for garden talk

A Western Carolina University lunch speaker series is drawing to a close for the fall with a talk about community agriculture Wednesday, Nov. 14. Philip E. Coyle, professor of anthropology, will discuss “Community Gardening as Intensive, Sustainable Agriculture: The Sylva…
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 01:36

Haywood Farmers Market moves indoors for November

The Historic Haywood Farmers market will move indoors starting this weekend, with Saturday’s market held from 8 a.m. until noon at the Shelton Barn House in Waynesville, just in time to get out of the snow. The site is just…
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 01:35

Cataloochee Ski Area breaks records with October opening

For only the second time in its history, Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley will be open for skiing in October, with lifts ready to roll on 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31. Cataloochee will continue to operate for day skiing…
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 01:34

Bears descend on Panthertown Valley

The U.S. Forest Service is discouraging people from backcountry camping of bringing food into the Panthertown Valley area outside Cashiers in the Nantahala National Forest, following several bear encounters. Recently, backpackers in Panthertown experienced three separate bear encounters.  A bear…
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 01:33

Backcountry camping fees coming soon in the Smokies

Great Smoky Mountains National Park plans to implement changes to its current backcountry reservation and permitting process in early 2013. As reported last March, the National Park Service approved the park’s proposal to begin collecting fees for use of the…
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 01:32

Put your roots down at ginseng expo

The upcoming International American Ginseng Expo in Western North Carolina will be an opportunity for local ginseng retailers to learn how to promote their ginseng overseas, meet wild forest ginseng experts and to network with state officials, harvesters, buyers, sellers…
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 01:31

Forest Service cracks down on ginseng poaching

Kristin Bail, forest supervisor of the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests, warned would-be ginseng poachers last week that law enforcement officers are cracking down on the illegal act.
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 01:28

See shuttle artifacts and night sky viewing

A special presentation of the fall night sky and the first public display of new space shuttle artifacts will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 9, at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute. 
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 01:27

Forest Service to open “green” ranger station

A new, environmentally friendly ranger office will be opening in Mars Hill in Madison County Nov. 13 to serve the public. The office will host staff from the Appalachian Ranger District in the Pisgah National Forest. The existing district office…
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 01:26

Benton MacKaye guide series now complete

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association has announced this fall the completion of the new Benton MacKaye Trail Guide — Smokies Section. The guide completes the series of three trail guides, including the Georgia section and Tennessee/North Carolina sections.  The 275-mile…
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 01:25

Mountains to Sea Trail photo contest

Public submissions are being accepted for a statewide outdoor photography contest. The Friends of the Mountain to Sea Trail are offering cash prizes, gift cards for outdoor gear and the chance to have participants’ photographs published. Photos must be related…
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 01:23

This winter?

Finch irruptions are not that uncommon. They generally occur in some numbers, in some locations almost every year. But in some years the movements are larger and more widespread. The winter of 2012-2013 is shaping up to be one of…
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 01:20

The fading glory of Burley: Once a staple cash crop, only a handful of tobacco fields are still hanging on

This year, Bill Holbrook will start drawing on the “old man pension” — as this local tobacco farmer likes to refer to Social Security. At 66 years old, Holbrook is one of the older, if not the oldest, tobacco growers…
Wednesday, 24 October 2012 12:49

WCU group sets record in 175 mile relay run

Students and faculty members from Western Carolina University’s athletic training program finished the 2012 Mountain Jug Run for Research in record time, completing the 175-mile relay run from Boone to Cullowhee in 29 hours, nine minutes and 17 seconds.
Wednesday, 24 October 2012 12:48

Farmers market says goodbye to summer

It is time to pack up and move indoors. Saturday Nov. 27 marks the last weekend of the season that the Jackson County Farmers Market will be held outdoors. The market is located in the Bridge Park parking lot from…
Wednesday, 24 October 2012 12:47

Jump on board the growing Farm to School program

An all-day workshop put on by the Growing Minds Farm to School program will help schools connect with local farmers and teach children the importance of healthy, locally grown food Nov. 10 at University of North Carolina Asheville’s Sherrill Center.
Wednesday, 24 October 2012 12:46

Symposium brings together outdoor educators from the region in Cullowhee

Students and professionals in outdoor education fields will partake in the annual Adventure Education Conference, Nov. 2 at Western Carolina University. The conference, hosted by the WCU parks and recreation management program, will offer interaction through presentations and networking opportunities.…
Wednesday, 24 October 2012 12:45

Hike to Waynesville’s watershed

A birder, ecologist and forester will lead a guided fall hike through Waynesville’s 8,600-acre preserved watershed from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. Naturalist and birder Don Hendershot and Blair Ogburn of Balsam Mountain Trust will talk about…
Wednesday, 24 October 2012 12:43

Safety courses mark start of fall hunting

Free hunter safety courses will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 5-7 on the Haywood Community College campus. Participants must attend the three consecutive evenings to receive their certification. The HCC’s Natural Resources Division and the North Carolina…
Wednesday, 24 October 2012 12:43

HCC Woodsmen team rocks the Cradle at Timbersports meet

Haywood Community College’s Timbersports Team took first place by a landslide at the John G. Palmer Intercollegiate Woodsmen’s Meet held at the Cradle of Forestry earlier this month.
Wednesday, 24 October 2012 12:43

Bike Haywood honored for Haywood County master plan

Bicycle Haywood NC and Haywood County both received top awards from a national planning organization for their bicycle advocacy work. The creation of Haywood County’s Comprehensive Bicycle Plan and Health Impact Assessment helped Bicycle Haywood clinch top honors in the…
Wednesday, 24 October 2012 12:42

Celebrate fall with the LTLT

The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee will host its fall celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Rainbow Springs along the Upper Nantahala River in Macon County. The day includes music, activities for kids, an…
Wednesday, 24 October 2012 12:40

The sounds of silence

This morning when I had coffee on my deck, I did not hear the hooded warbler that nests in the tangles in the young woods below my yard. I did not hear a northern parula singing from the tops of…
Wednesday, 24 October 2012 12:36

Bear alert: Forays against backpackers’ food prompts camping ban in the Pisgah Forest

A series of close bear encounters in the Pisgah National Forest have prompted a temporary ban on overnight camping in the Shining Rock Wilderness, Graveyard Fields and Black Balsam areas in Haywood County. The restrictions took effect last Wednesday (Oct.…
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 14:23

Get your cameras and get outside

Lens Luggers of Western North Carolina is hosting an all-day photography outing Oct. 27 to suit even the novice recreationalist. The group will have photographers to help all levels of skill. Participants will carpool to photo-worthy places and learn how…
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 14:22

A Natural twist on Halloween fun

Highlands Nature Center will host the Halloween “Enchanted Forest” Nature Trail Oct. 30 for a trick-or-treating experience in nature. Group tours will leave every 15 minutes from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors should bring a flashlight to go trick-or-treating…
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 14:22

Blue Ridge Parkway goes mobile for leaf season

Just in time for fall leaf season, a free new mobile app for the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding regions has been launched, called the “Blue Ridge Parkway — Travel Planner.”   The app includes GPS mapping capabilities for hundreds…
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 14:20

Students lend a helping held to bald restoration

A group of Western Carolina University students lent a hand to help restore the open balds on the summit of Yellow Face, a peak off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Plott Balsams.
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 14:19

Federal court upholds closure of the Tellico trails

A federal judge has upheld the U.S. Forest Service and conservation groups’ efforts to close the Tellico Off-Road Vehicle Area to protect brook trout in the Tellico River watershed.
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 14:19

Weigh in on policies impacting locally-grown food

Farmers are invited to a listening session on regulations that could hamper or help local food production and markets, being held from 4 to 6 p.m., Oct. 22, at Western Carolina University. The listening session is one of several statewide…
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 14:18

Bears pilfer food from campsites in Pisgah National Forest

Six bear encounters have been reported in the Pisgah District of the Pisgah National Forest over the past two weeks. All the incidents involved bears taking food from campsites. While no injuries were reported, visitors’ tents and packs were damaged.…
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 14:17

Run for the Power of Pink

The Power of Pink 5K and Memory Walk to raise money for mammograms for underserved women will be held in Haywood County on Saturday, Oct. 27. The annual race is sponsored by Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation, in partnership with…
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 14:16

Turkey shoot-out golf tournament

The annual Turkey Shoot-Out Golf tournament will be held November 10 and 11 at the Maggie Valley Club. The tournament is a 36-hole three-player team scramble for people feeling cooped up from the cold weather. Entries must be submitted no…
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 14:15

Franklin half-marathon held on Little T Greenway

The 13-mile Conquer the Mountain Half Marathon will take place on the Little Tennessee Greenway in Franklin Saturday, Nov. 3. The race is a benefit for the Macon County REACH, a domestic violence and rape crisis center headquartered in Franklin.…
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 14:14

A journey through the Smokies’ timber era past

Hikers are invited to see the how the changes of time have affected the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during a history-oriented walk at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 departing from the Smokemont Campground. Smokemont was home to a major…
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 14:12

Enjoy the fall colors on foot

A 5-mile trail run will be held on the single-track trails of Nantahala Outdoor Center Saturday, Oct. 27.
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 14:10

For you the bells toll

Waiting in the ubiquitous checkout line, I spied a National Geographic special publication, “50 of the World’s last great places – Destinations of a Lifetime.” Thumbing through, right between Bialowieza (remnants of ancient European forests on the border of Poland…
Wednesday, 17 October 2012 14:03

Camping’s golden era: Short on gadgets, but flush with style

It was the golden age of camping. It was absent of Gore-Tex, Smart Wool, Nalgene water bottles or light-weight Titanium cookware. Instead the men and women wore scratchy wool underwear and sharpened their knives around the campfire.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 13:41

Take outdoor photos with the experts

The Lens Luggers outdoor photography group will host two excursions, Oct. 20 and 21, to give visual enthusiasts the opportunity to hone their wildlife photography skills. The group will meet at 6:30 a.m. at Maggie Valley Inn and carpool to…
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 13:40

Join a guided hike to Hemphill Bald at Cataloochee Ranch

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is leading a hike to Hemphill Bald at Cataloochee Ranch at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13. The moderate 5-mile roundtrip hike with an elevation change of 900 feet begins on a road used for hiking…
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 13:40

Free seminar to cover ins-and-outs of conservation agreements

A free workshop for landowners interested in learning more about conservtion agreements with a land trust will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m Oct. 8 at the Jackson County Library. Landowners can learn more about their options for preserving…
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 13:38

Old time campin’ on tap in the Pisgah Forest

Historical and outdoor enthusiasts can go watch a small group of re-enactors in a reconstructed campsite of the early 1900’s from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 13 at the Cradle of Forestry in the Pisgah National Forest.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 13:34

Tuckasegee to receive 19,600 trout this fall

The delayed harvest section of the Tuckasegee River in Jackson County, one of 15 spots on the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, will receive an infusion of 19,600 trout this fall. The stocking will be conducted by the North…
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 13:34

Massey Branch Boat ramp to close

The U.S. Forest Service will close the Massey Branch Boat Ramp on Lake Santeetlah beginning Oct. 15 so that improvements can be made to the boating access area. The Forest Service estimates that the boat ramp will reopen in April.…
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 13:33

Guided hike will explore historic parts of Cataloochee Valley

A guided hike in the Cataloochee Valley area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be held Thursday, Oct. 18.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 13:32

Raising hellbenders is no small feat

Biologists with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission have launched a captive breeding program for the giant, odd-looking Hellbender salamander, also called water dogs or snot otters. If successful, the program could be a first.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 13:31

Leaf lookers take heed

The U.S. Forest Service has launched a web site for “Leaf Viewing in Western North Carolina.” The site features scenic drives and areas in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests for enjoying fall foliage. The site describes the types of…
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 13:29

A braver, newer world

Or at least a younger one anyway — one of the ranking members of the House’s Committee on Science, Space and Technology, Rep. Paul Broun, R-Georgia, told a gathering at Liberty Baptist Church in Hartwell, Ga., on Sept. 27 that…
Wednesday, 10 October 2012 13:25

Uncovering the past before it’s too late: Old Smokies’ homesites slowly succumbing to time and elements

As Don Casada veered off-trail and began bushwhacking his way over fallen logs and through overgrown shrubs along the shore of Lake Fontana, he barely glanced at the trusty GPS unit in his hand. He’d been this way before, many…
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 00:00

Scrap indoor pollutants

Like the Roach Motel of commercial fame, synthetic scents have crept into our homes and lives and are not going away anytime soon. They are found in perfumes, laundry detergents, air fresheners, fabric softeners, soaps, and magazines to name a…
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 00:00

Close encounters: Boaters at odds with those who don’t want Chattooga boating ban lifted

An age-old question has emerged in the raging debate over the Chattooga River wilderness: how many people is too many in the woods. Paddlers have demanded the U.S. Forest Service lift a long-time ban on the upper Chattooga River outside…
Wednesday, 04 July 2007 00:00

Natural gas

Editor’s note: Naturalist Don Hendershot is writing a series of articles exploring alternative fuels. Natural gas is the fossil alternative to fossil fuels. It is a fossil fuel composed of the remains of eons-old plants and animals. And like oil…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 20:18

Ice Age comes alive in new exhibit

A new exhibit at The North Carolina Arboretum, After the Dinosaurs: The Age of Mammals and Ice, unlocks the mysteries of the Ice Age with creatures that roamed the earth more than 20,000 years ago.  Real fossils and teeth from…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 20:17

Free pesticide disposal day

A pesticide collection day for unwanted pesticides will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, at the recycling center in Bryson City. Pesticides that will be accepted include the following: insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, fumigants, rodenticides and growth…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 20:16

Hike to Highland’s Rock Mountain

A guided hike to the summit of Rock Mountain in the Highlands area will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, led by Dr. Gary Wein, the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust Executive Director and a botanist.
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 20:15

Grants to help farmers put out new roots

Farmers in Western North Carolina can tap $3,000 to $6,000 grants from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission to help farmers branch out to new crops. WNC AgOptions seed money offsets the risk of trying something new and gives farmers…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 20:13

Survey shows outdoorsmen are environmentalists

A new national poll released last month shows sportsmen prioritize protecting public lands above energy production. The poll conducted for the National Wildlife Federation shows threats to America’s conservation heritage are priority issues for sportsmen, on par with gun rights.
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 20:12

Pick up winter gardening tips from leading WNC botanist

An organic winter gardening workshop be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Cullowhee home of renouned botanist Dan Pittillo.
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 20:11

Hikers needed for Mountain-to-Sea Trail routes

Hikers are needed to hike proposed Mountain-to-Sea Trail routes in Jackson and Swain counties in and give feedback about the routes. Two meetings to give information about the routes, answer questions, and receive input will be held at 5:30 p.m.…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 20:11

Learn about the how and why of fall colors

The Highlands Nature Center will host a program on fall colors from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6. Naturalist Patrick Brannon will lead activities about how leaves change color, deciduous versus coniferous trees, and the winter survival…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 20:10

Catch fall colors with Parkway hike

Blue Ridge Parkway rangers will lead an easy to moderate 2.5 mile roundtrip hike to the summit of Sam Knob in the Shining Rock Wilderness in Haywood County at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 5. Enjoy the changing fall foliage…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 20:10

Hikes with Land Trust for the Little Tennessee

The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee will host a guided hike to Yellow Creek Falls in Graham County on Friday, Oct. 5. The LTLT purchased the 905-acre Yellow Creek property in 2008 to conserve it. The forested tract includes…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 20:08

What to bee-lieve

Apparently what was apparent to many scientists and researchers back in 2008 is becoming more apparent — or not. Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder has been raising hackles and eyebrows for the better part of the last decade. Colony Collapse, characterized…
Wednesday, 03 October 2012 20:04

Up-and-coming: Gorges State Park unveils new visitor center

Gorges State Park born just more than 10 years ago is now finally on its way to becoming one of the premiere parks in the North Carolina system. The most recent addition — a 7,100-square-foot, eco-built visitor center opening this…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:23

Rooted in the Mountains symposium comes to WCU

The third annual Rooted in the Mountains symposium at Western Carolina University will be held from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at A.K. Hinds University Center. Rooted in…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:22

Help sought in mapping historic settlements

When the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created in the 1930s and 1940s, hundreds of families were forced to leave their homes and farms to make way for the new park. An extensive research project is now underway to…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:22

Take a volunteer vacation along the A.T.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Rocky Top Trail Crew is looking for volunteers to help reconstruct a remote section of the Appalachian Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Sept. 30 to Oct. 7. Food, gear and equipment will be…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:21

Haywood Master Gardeners to give grants

The Haywood County Master Gardener Volunteer Association is accepting applications for grants for horticultural projects in Haywood County. The deadline for submissions is Monday, Oct. 1. The grant money must be used for research or educational purposes in the area…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:19

Help bring back the Cullowhee lily by planting bulbs

An effort to re-establish the Cullowhee lily on the Western Carolina University campus gets under way this fall with a fundraising drive, a bulb sale and ceremonial planting in the Centennial Garden.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:18

First whitewater releases hit the Upper Nantahala

Paddlers hungry to sample the newest whitewater run to hit WNC’s rivers will flock to the upper reaches of the Nantahala River this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29 and 30.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:17

NOC serves up guest appreciation festival

Nantahala Outdoor Center will host its end-of-season Guest Appreciation Festival Sept. 28-30. A cornerstone of the annual event is the used gear marketplace, a flea market where enthusiasts can buy and sell gear to one another. Kids can experience the…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:17

Competition and culture at Forest Festival Day

Grab your axes. The 17th Annual John G. Palmer Woodmen’s Meet at The Cradle of Forestry in the Pisgah National Forest will take place Saturday, Oct. 6. Events will run from 7:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. and feature competitions such…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:15

Dry Falls reopens after extensive rehab

The U.S. Forest Service reopened Dry Falls in the Nantahala National Forest Saturday, Sept. 22. The site has been closed since April for repairs. Significant improvements were made this year to the historic and scenic Dry Falls Trail.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:15

Introduce kids to the joys of mountain biking

Grab the kids and the bikes and head to the trails of Deep Creek outside Bryson City to celebrate ‘Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day’ 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6. Bryson City Bicycles will lead a free group mountain…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:14

Learn how to forage for edibles

Wild foods expert Alan Muskat of Asheville will lead a foraging workshop from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28 and 29, at Haywood Community College in Waynesville. Participants will learn “find dining,” or how to safely identify,…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:13

Birds of prey to swoop into farmers market

Owls, falcons and other birds of prey will make an appearance at the Haywood Historic Farmers Market in Waynesville from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29. Doris Mager, known as the eagle lady, has dedicated her life to rehabilitating…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:12

Birds and butterflies and flowers, oh my

I had the pleasure of leading nine women from the Great Smoky Mountains Audubon Chapter on an outing along the Blue Ridge Parkway last Saturday (Sept. 22.) Initially hyped as a birding trip, the early fog and high wind had…
Wednesday, 26 September 2012 14:08

Galax takes a beating from blackmarket trade

They operate in groups, or sometimes alone, packing duffle bags of the illicit product by foot through the Western North Carolina wilderness as they try their best to evade federal agents. Once out of the woods, they smuggle their contraband…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 14:20

Pour Le Pink 5K to raise money for breast cancer services

The Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Foundation will hold a breast cancer benefit 5K run/walk at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, in Highlands. The event will begin and end on the hospital campus. Pour Le Pink 5k will provide support for maintaining the…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 14:19

Streak along the Tuck for a good cause

The annual Smoky Streak run will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, along the Tuckasegee River in Sylva to raise money for mammograms for women who otherwise couldn’t afford them. Both the 5K and 10K run will start and finish at…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 14:18

Library to host local herbalist

Discover the world of herbs, from cooking to healing to the best ways to grow them, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the Jackson County Library in downtown Sylva. At this “make and take” workshop, local herbalist Becky Lipkin…
Wednesday, 19 September 2012 14:17

Discover where Civil War history intersects with hiking trails

The Macon County Public Library will present “Hiking Through History” with Leanna Joyner at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, in the library’s meeting room. The presentation will cover the history of Civil War events in the mountains of Western North…
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