To the Editor:

Since the mid 1990s, Mexican criminals have been growing marijuana in our national forests. In recent years these operations have spread to at least 20 states and 67 national forests as well as on private land. We are still a sovereign nation, are we not? If that’s correct it begs the question: why have our national parks been surrendered by our government to Mexican drug traffickers?

An area of 3,500 acres in southern Arizona has been closed to U.S. citizens because of the dangers posed by drug smugglers. We can conclude from this that it is no longer safe for Americans to visit any national park less they inadvertently wander into a pot-growing operation guarded by well-armed drug traffickers who won’t hesitate to kill to protect their merchandise.

Wisconsin has just one national forest (the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest) where the first site in that state was discovered in 2008. Most people arrested there have been illegal immigrants from Mexico with connections in California (a shocker there) where traffickers were discovered in 1995.

Numerous arrests have been made of course, and tens of thousands of plants worth more than a billion dollars have been eradicated over the years. Many cases of arrests are “pending.”  

The relaxation of marijuana laws and now its legalization in some states significantly adds to the problem and sends critically mixed messages to law enforcement agencies.   Considering the experience of the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency and our sheriff in Jackson County recently, perhaps our inability to end (permanently) the desecration of our national forests is tied to our governments failure to obtain ACLU approval before making arrests.

In the end our government’s inability or unwillingness to reclaim our national forests and protect private property from drug traffickers (who are in this country illegally) demands this issue be an essential part of the debate about gun control. This is precisely why the 2nd Amendment was added to The Constitution of the United States. If our government refuses to act decisively, than we must.

David L. Snell

Dillsboro

To the Editor:

Almost everyone has an opinion about how to combat violent, mass killing. My hope is that we will not be distracted by all the static and go for quick solutions that may make us feel safer but will, most likely, be ineffective. We need to keep our eye on the cause here: mental illness. Would that we could pass a law against mental illness!

In the last 10 to 20 years, we have made great progress in our understanding and approach to brain disorders and now recognize that these are treatable illnesses. We are now on the verge of some significant breakthroughs. I hope we will put our money and our minds where it will have the most benefit: early identification and adequate treatment of mental illness, and hopefully, at some point, prevention. Look what we have done with cancer, heart disease, and polio. Let’s not do the typical “knee-jerk” reaction and think we can pass a few laws and see this problem in the rear view mirror. Let’s do the hard work. Let’s fund research and treatment of mental illness.

Ann Nandrea

Franklin

Those vying to be the next sheriff of Haywood County have until 2 p.m. Jan. 17 to get their applications turned in.

Haywood Sheriff Bobby Suttles is stepping down with two years left to go on his term. Because Suttles is a Democrat, the Democratic Party gets to appoint a successor to serve out the remaining two years. Suttles’ last day is Feb. 8.

So far, Chief Deputy Larry Bryson, second in command at the sheriff’s office currently, has publicly said he will seek the appointment. N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Lt. Greg Christopher is expected to announce soon whether he will submit his name also.

An interesting twist is the announcement last week by a Republican contender for the seat. Bill Wilke, a sergeant with the Asheville Police Department who ran for sheriff against Suttles in 2010, will formally seek the appointment.

It could be a long shot, especially given the language in a press release issued by the Haywood Democrats calling for applications stated “Democratic candidates for the office of Haywood County Sheriff” may now pick up an ‘Intent to Run’ form … , a testament to the low probability a Republican would win the Democratic Party’s nod.

The Haywood County Democratic Executive Committee will hold a meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 14, at the Democratic headquarters to discuss the process for naming a replacement. Those seeking the office can call 828.456.4942 or 828.734.9056 for details on how to apply.

Western Carolina University has agreed to a $600,000 out-of-court settlment in a civil suit brought by the family of Ja’Quayvin Smalls, a junior defensive back from Mount Pleasant, S.C. who died during an off-season football practice in July 2009.

Singer/songwriter Ben Wilson will be featured at the Friday Night Live music series from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville.

Renowned performer Tim Hawkins will be taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Hawkins is best known for parodying popular songs and stand-up material on topics such as marriage, home schooling and parenting. His performances are vigorous, well timed and honed to perfection. The dad of four children has more than 100 million views on YouTube and more than 120 sold out shows each year.

Tickets $25 and VIP passes (which include a talk back session with the artist) are $40. www.GreatMountainMusic.com or 866.273.4615.

Legendary rock group STYX will be performing at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center.

Tommy Shaw, James “JY” Young, Lawrence Gowan, Todd Sucherman and Ricky Phillips have had more live performances since 1999 than all of the combined previous years of STYX. With two Super Bowl appearances, Pollstar Box Office chart-topping tours with Def Leppard, Journey, Boston, REO Speedwagon and Bad Company (to name only a few) and two more studio albums, STYX continues to conquer the planet. Hits include “Lady,” “Come Sail Away,” and “Mr. Roboto,” among others.

www.ticketmaster.com or 800.745.3000.

Electropop trio Stereospread, based in Waynesville, is releasing their highly-anticipated first album, The Heart & the Thief, this month.

An opening reception for “Ball Mason Jar Art” by Brent Martin will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at City Lights Café in Sylva.

Last year was a promising year for local food production and farm education in WNC, according to the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. ASAP provided some year-end figures to paint a picture of different milestones and achievements in 2012 and the preceding decade.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has announced the winners of the eighth annual Wildlife in North Carolina magazine outdoor photo competition.

A comprehensive U.S. Forest Service report released last month examines how expanding populations, increased urbanization, and changing land-use patterns could impact natural resources, including water supplies, nationwide during the next 50 years.

To the Editor:

We are writing in response to the gun control controversy. I agree that the recent acts of violence are outrageous and totally reprehensible. We do feel, however, that that some people are reacting to these tragedies by blaming anyone and anything that they can in order to feel that they have power over the situation instead of examining all the facts and basing their conclusions on the evidence that is presented. Instead, they give a knee-jerk reaction and try to come up with solutions that truly will not solve the problems.

The violence at Columbine, the movie theater in Colorado, and now Sandy Hook as well as in other places around our country was perpetrated using firearm; this is true. However, the main weapon which was in use in all of these and so many other attacks were the actual perpetrators. These individuals, for whatever reasons that they may have had, were the true weapons, weapons of mass destruction. 

Some of the people in our country feel that all mass murders and attacks are done with guns, this is far from the truth. How many died in cult murder/suicides from poison? How many died in the fires at Waco, not to mention anthrax or the Unabomber? How many people in our country have been murdered in groups or individually by knives, baseball bats, machetes, axes, screwdrivers, ice picks, or everyday sticks or rocks? 

Yet the only thing that seems to be regulated or banned are firearms.

We feel that what is in need of regulating are people. Guns can only be legally purchased by people without criminal backgrounds and have no recorded mental disorders. All of the weapons used at Columbine and Sandy Hook were purchased legally by persons other than the shooters, thus they were stolen by these criminals. The Colorado theater shooter purchased his own weapons legally and then used them illegally. Why place more regulations on law-abiding citizens and deny them guns for hunting or personal protection when criminals will pay no heed to those laws and simply steal weapons or buy them on the black market? Doing so would be a criminals dream come true, a land where the everyday citizens are unarmed and ripe for the picking.

No one in their right mind would ever take a weapon into a theater and shoot total strangers, and it would take a total sociopath to enter a school and shoot innocent children. Why not take all the time, money, and energy that some are trying to put into taking away the constitutional right of every American citizen to own and bear arms and put it into recognizing, diagnosing, and treating the thousands of people who are suffering from a wide range of mental disorders? This would be a better solution.

Remember this — throughout the history of man, there have been those who have chose to commit murder. Prior to the invention of guns these murders were still committed. Also, throughout history one of the first acts of dictators upon taking over a country was to disarm the citizens so that they were easier to control. 

Taking away the right to own a firearm will not protect anyone, it will simply put us at the mercy of criminals who care nothing for those or any other laws.

Karl and Tina Marsh

Whittier

Swain County suffers from a serious lack of soccer fields, a plight soccer enthusiasts there hope to do something about.

A line-up of art classes will begin in January, offered through the Inspired Art Ministry at the First Baptist Church in Waynesville.

• Drawing classes for adult beginners through advanced will go from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14 and meet weekly for six weeks. Tuition is $55.

• Painting classes for adult beginners through advanced will go from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15 and meet weekly for six weeks. Students work in acrylic, oil, watercolor, colored pencil and/or oil pastel. Tuition is $55. Both adult classes will be taught by Char Avrunin who is a nationally collected painter.

• “Taking Control of Your Digital Photography – From Camera to Computer” will be taught by master photographer Ed Kelley. Two classes are offered from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., both beginning Tuesday, Jan. 22, meeting weekly with four classroom sessions and one on-location outing. Tuition is $145.

• Art classes for children ages 5 to 14 will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, and meet weekly for five weeks. Tuition is $75 and includes materials. Professional artist Scottie Harris will be the children’s teacher.

828.456.9197 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.iam.webs.com.

Nationally acclaimed Western North Carolina bluegrass group Balsam Range will continue their winter concert series at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at The Colonial Theatre in Canton.

Cartoonist and illustrator James Lyle will do a presentation and demonstration on comic books and graphic novels for the Art League of the Smokies at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, at the Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City.

Wildlife program seeks help with classes

Wild South’s Wildlife Outreach Initiative, along with Mountain Wildlife Days, are in the process of scheduling wildlife education programs for both adults and students during the 2012-13 school year.

The programs emphasize on close-up wildlife experiences for a variety of audiences. However, participants are needed to justify the expense of providing a qualified wildlife expert. Because of the limited funds available, the organizers need to hear from schools or organizations, and possibly receive contributions, to provide the wildlife education.

In 2011-2012, wildlife education presentations in Western North Carolina totaled more than 22 programs and provided for an estimated 2,800 children and adults. They were held in Enka, Maggie Valley, Franklin, Cashiers, Sapphire Valley, Brevard, Hendersonville and Asheville.  

www.wildsouth.org.

Learn to be a master gardener

There is still space available in the 2013 N.C. Cooperative Extension Master Gardener class, which is geared toward gardeners who enjoy horticulture and would like to share knowledge with others.

Participants will learn about botany, propagation, pest control in the landscape and garden, as well as many other topics. Classes are taught from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays at the Extension center on Raccoon Road in Waynesville. Cost of the class is $100, which includes the class manual, 40 hours of instruction and other class materials. The classes start Jan. 9, and run through the end of April.

828.456.3575.

Cataloochee Ski Area is opening its winter race series beginning 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, for middle school competitors, followed by high school races at the same time on the following day, Wednesday, Jan. 9.

The race series occurs weekly until early March, and the cost is $150 for the whole season. That price also includes the price of skiing on Tuesday and Wednesday, so competitors can practice on the slopes either the day following or preceding their race.

Adult races will also be held throughout the ski season on Thursday nights, and recreational races will be held on Sundays.

www.cataloochee.com.

Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust conserves five parcels in 2012

With the help of community members and donors, the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust will have conserved five new properties by the end of 2012.

The properties include two in Highlands, one that holds a mountain bog that is home to numerous rare plant species and another containing a forest and a waterfall. Other properties include one in Jackson County that protects more than 30 endangered plants and one that protects part of the Nantahala River in Macon County.

www.hicashlt.org.

Nominate your favorite wildlife protector

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is accepting nominations for an award recognizing those who make outstanding contributions to wildlife diversity in the state. The award is called the Thomas L. Quay Wildlife Diversity Award, and nominations are open through Jan. 30.

The winner will be announced at the Commissioners’ meeting in July. The winner will join a list of seven existing winners ranging from the first, Quay himself, a volunteer and retired zoologist, to Harry LeGrand, an authority on the conservation of rare vertebrate animals and their habitats.

Those interested must fill out a form and complete an essay. Nominations from 2010 and 2011 will be automatically be considered as well, while nominations submitted prior to 2010 will be considered upon request.

919.707.0058.

Group saves land from development

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy recently purchased 260 acres visible from the Appalachian Trail and the overlook at the Rhododendron Gardens on Roan Mountain.

Located in the middle of the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area, the parcel adjoins the 225-acre Spear Top Mountain property that the organization acquired in 2011. Together, these adjoining conservation projects protect the summit and three sides of the mountain.

“This area is so special and precious, with beautiful waterfalls and many rare plants and mushrooms. It just needs to stay natural,” said landowner Laura Mitchell, who sold the property to the organization in early December.

Protecting this parcel has been a priority for SAHC since the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area was created in 2008. The newly purchased tract holds rich cove and northern hardwood forests, extending to 4,800 feet in elevation along the upper reaches of Spear Top Mountain’s western slopes. The headwaters of Justice Creek originate on the property, and tributaries of the North Toe River, a trout stream, flow through it.

SAHC plans to lead guided hikes on the property beginning in 2013.

Hikers of the Appalachian Trail now have a new shelter where they can rest their bones. The U.S. Forest Service announced Dec. 18 the completion of the Long Branch Shelter, located in the Standing Indian Basin in the Nantahala National Forest.

Writer Amy Allen will discuss her journey along the Appalachian Trail as she presents her book, Summoning the Mountains: Pilgrimage into Forty, at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.  

Allen, a recently divorced single mom, cast aside family and society’s expectations to follow a lifelong calling. On the eve of her 40th birthday, she reached for her personal goal of hiking the Appalachian Trail. After settling her teenage sons at their father’s house, Allen embarked on her 2,000-mile journey.  

Taking on the name her sons give her, Willow, she transports the reader into the forest, giving the armchair hiker a glimpse into a world of coyotes, butterflies and bears. She shares her experiences of storms, injuries and the determination to ward off hunger and doubt. Summoning the Mountains is a book about embracing challenges and accepting change.  

828.586.9499.

By Tom Rogers • Guest columnist

The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School is beyond comprehension. Such an event should never occur in this country or anywhere else. But it did.

After we care for the survivors, honor the heroes, hold memorials for the victims and the shock of the event diminishes, as a nation we want to know: “Why?”

We want to know how to keep it from ever happening again and then do it.

To the Editor:

I challenge The Smoky Mountain News to assist in opening a respectful, thoughtful, meaningful conversation in our region about gun policies in the United States. Give us credible, objective statistics relating to gun policies and violence, in this country and others. I realize this is a touchy subject, with hunting so ingrained in our culture here in Western North Carolina. However, The Smoky Mountain News is no stranger to controversy. I remember when you provided us with in-depth reporting about the Haywood hospital, even when it meant loss of advertisement revenue.  

In particular, I would like to read your interviews with ordinary people, not spokesmen or politicians, about how a ban on military-type assault weapons and limiting the size of ammunition clips would infringe on hunting rights. I would also like to hear how closing the gun-show background check loophole to reduce the likelihood of criminals and mentally unstable people obtaining guns would infringe.  

I have seen proposals of a small tax on gun and ammunition purchases to fund our mental health system, which has been subject to budget cut after budget cut, so that interventions may be made to protect us from unstable people with guns. Funding could also be obtained this way for more law enforcement officers to protect our schools. How do people in the community feel about this?

Lastly, I would like to hear from citizens their solutions for reducing the incident of tragedies such as which occurred at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. Is it too much to hope that we can come to some consensus to present to our legislators?

Carole Larivee

Waynesville

Fine dining, jazz for New Year’s Eve

There will be a special jazz performance and dinner at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville.

The event will feature musicians Sheila Gordon (keyboards/vocals), Mike Creech (guitar) and Danny McMahon (percussion). Situated inside The Classic Wineseller is Angelino’s Ristorante, which will be preparing and serving the three-course meal. Patrons will also receive a bottle of wine and complimentary glass of champagne.

Tickets are $35 per person, and there will be a cash bar.

www.classicwineseller.com or 828.452.6000.

New Year’s Eve fireworks in the Smokies

The final details are being put into place for the annual “New Year’s Eve Celebration in the Smokies” that will be held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, at Fontana Village Resort.

The 2012 New Year’s Eve Bash includes a holiday dinner party prepared by Chef Tracy Williams and his team in the Mountview Restaurant, a New Year’s Eve Gala party with live music featuring the Caribbean Cowboys at the Fontana Events Hall, and Fireworks on the Village Green to ring in the New Year at midnight. Reservations are now being accepted.

www.fontanavillage.com/events/pdfs/newyears2012 or 800.849.2258 or 828.498.2211.

Cherokee to ring in New Year with fireworks

Celebrate the New Year at Cherokee’s Annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks display at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, located at the Acquoni Expo Center. This special holiday event will include fun for the entire family, surrounded by the scenic mountains of Western North Carolina.

www.cherokee-nc.com or 800.438.1601.

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will ring in the New Year with an evening of live music, dancing, dining and celebration starting at 7:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, at the train depot in Bryson City.

Registration is ongoing for the eighth annual “Dulcimer U Winter Weekend” conference for mountain dulcimer enthusiasts, which will be held Thursday, Jan. 3, through Sunday, Jan. 6, at the Terrace Hotel at Lake Junaluska.

Haywood County Arts Council Executive Director Kay Miller is stepping down after nine years on the job.

An ongoing investigation into gravestones purchased from Moody’s Funeral Home in Sylva but never delivered to the buyers has resulted in charges against the former funeral home director.

The Nantahala Hiking Club recently renovated an 80-year-old Appalachian Trail shelter about a mile north of Burningtown Gap in Macon County.

The Franklin Young Professionals were recently awarded a plaque for their participation in the N.C. Big Sweep river cleanup this fall.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has once again launched a year-end fundraising campaign called the 469 Challenge.

Inspired by the miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the 469 Challenge is an effort to bring in one donation for every mile during the last two months of the year. In 2011, the Foundation raised 452 donations towards the 469 Challenge. As of Dec. 5, the Foundation had raised 233 donations towards the 2012 Challenge.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is the primary fundraiser for the Parkway. Since its founding in 1997, it has provided more than $3.4 million to fund Parkway projects. In 2012, the Foundation funded projects at popular spots including Graveyard Fields near Waynesville. The Foundation also funds year-round initiatives like Parks as Classrooms, allowing rangers visit schools in Parkway communities to connect students with nature and the cultural heritage of the region.

With more than 16 million visitors a year, the Parkway is the most visited feature of the National Park Service, more so than Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon combined. Yet there is no entrance fees and declining federal budgets are forcing the Parkway to rely more on donations.

www.brpfoundation.org.

A $130,000 grant from The Biofuels Center of North Carolina is providing seed money aimed at developing the clean energy industry in Western North Carolina. The Field to Fryer to Fuel project, led by AdvantageWest, will pilot a new business model for the production of biodiesel from locally grown feed stocks. The goal is to reduce the region’s dependence on imported fuels. The project has also received $64,000 in federal economic development funds.

For the pilot program, 60 acres of canola have been planted at Biltmore Estate — one of several project partners — that will be pressed into food-grade oil for area restaurants. The used fryer oil will then be converted to biofuel for motor vehicles and home heating.

To the Editor:

As the executive director of Cherokee Preservation Foundation for the past 10 years, I’ve seen the tremendous value that a wide range of wonderful nonprofits contribute to our region. Unfortunately, the federal “fiscal cliff” poses a serious threat to Western North Carolina’s nonprofit sector and the communities and people who depend on them — in part because of the effect on every citizen’s personal tax choices. If Congress doesn’t act before Dec. 31, more than $54 billion will arbitrarily be cut from federal programs. Demand for nonprofits’ services would continue to rise while federal funding would decrease — and this on top of declines in funding from individuals, foundations, corporations, and state and local governments.


The proposed cap on itemized deductions would essentially eliminate tax incentives for individuals to give to charitable nonprofits. Most people will deduct first the state/local taxes they’ve paid, and then their mortgage interest. With a cap on itemized deductions, it’s unlikely each of us would have any room left to deduct charitable contributions. The charitable tax deduction is a unique aspect of Americans’ ability to support the causes they care about. Gutting it would pull the rug out from under those very organizations and causes that keep our communities glued together.  

Please join me in contacting our elected leaders and asking them not to throw our communities off the fiscal cliff.  

Susan Jenkins

Waynesville

Gary Peebles • Guest Columnist

In an entirely predictable way, the Connecticut shootings have touched off another round in the debate about gun control in America. Both sides have valid points. The left is correct; guns are exceptionally efficient killing machines that seem to carry a mystique about them, after all you don’t read stories of 20 children being bludgeoned the death by a baseball-bat wielding loner.

By Dean Williams • Contributing Writer

Angela Faye Martin’s Anniversary, the follow-up CD to her Mark Linkous produced Pictures From Home, opens appropriately with the line “My heart is broken today/I’ve got some dreams that just won’t go away.” Martin resides with her husband Brent in a little old country house crowded with books and outsider art in the deep woods of Macon County near Franklin.

Keeping disco alive, legendary group KC and The Sunshine Band will be hitting the stage with their wild, funky music at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center.

A native of Miami, Fla., KC’s music is a blend of funk, rhythm and blues, and disco. The group’s most well known songs include the hits “That’s the Way (I Like It)”, “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty,” “I’m Your Boogie Man” and “Get Down Tonight,” among others.

www.ticketmaster.com or 800.745.3000.

There will be a winter solstice party at from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at City Lights Café in Sylva.

Pavel Wlosok, associate professor of jazz studies in the Western Carolina University School of Music, is releasing a jazz record of original compositions recorded live at a club in Asheville.

Nationally acclaimed bluegrass sensation Steep Canyon Rangers from Asheville has racked up yet another accolade — and their second Grammy nomination.

Recreational Equipment Inc. donated $5,000 to support the Smokies Trails Forever program and helped fund a crew and 106 volunteers to preserve and protect the iconic Chimney Tops trail.

The Chimney Tops trail, located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, had been slowly deteriorating due to a combination of heavy use, abundant rainfall and steep terrain. It eventually became an eroded obstacle course of slick broken rock, exposed tree roots and mud.

The Trails Forever crew, along with volunteers, reconstructed the trail using sustainable materials to preserve the path and protect the trail corridor. The work was completed in a lasting and aesthetically pleasing manner, improving hiker safety on the way up to the sweeping views from the Chimney Tops.

The Smokies Trails Forever model integrates Park staff with volunteers and private funding support, like REI. Critical trail improvements will continue in 2013. Previously, REI has helped purchase a trailer for tool and equipment storage. They also contributed to Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s celebration of National Public Lands Day this past September.

www.friendsofthesmokies.org or 828.452.0720.

Show your support for the Mountain to Sea Trail by being one of the first 300 people to buy a specialty Trail license plate. Once the Trail has pre-sold 300 plates, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles will start producing and mailing them out to supporters.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy seeks to fill 15 volunteer positions as Appalachian Trail community ambassadors. These ambassadors will support the AT Community program and their designated communities with outreach, education, local projects, events and initiatives.

Hammocks by Eagle’s Nest Outfitters — $55 to $80

These hammocks are a great gift for anyone simply looking to relax or hit the trail with an ultra-light, overnight shelter. Within seconds, you can be swinging from your favorite backyard tree or looking out over the Smoky Mountains.

If you want to upgrade your dangling piece of paradise, a whole slew of accessories from rain flies to bug nets to insulated covers are available. You can also get creative with everything from custom hanging hammock speakers to tailored Christmas lights.

An added perk: the company that makes them is based in the River Arts District of Asheville, where they’ve been designing and manufacturing gear for more than a decade.

Outdoor Research Transcendent Hoody — $195

Down is the king of insulation. If only more outdoors enthusiasts understood its advantage over fleece, things would be different. Down jackets are windproof and typically a better insulator than their synthetic counterparts. This jacket by Outdoor Research — with lightweight, lofty down feathers, hood and a durable shell that comes in a variety of color combinations — is no exception. This well-designed must-have gets the vote of the folks in Sylva.

Dehydrated meals by Backpacker’s Pantry and Mountain House — $4 to $9

You vowed after graduating from college that your days of eating Ramen noodles and Kraft macaroni and cheese were over, so why revert on the trail? With the variety of lightweight, gourmet food out there today, hikers can enjoy everything from spaghetti and meat sauce to risotto with chicken to their southern favorite, biscuits and gravy, without the hassle of preparation. Let’s face it, the last thing you want to do after hiking 15 miles is dice onions. These meals are ready in a matter of minutes and weigh a fraction of what your canned beans do. The pre-prepared meals will appease vegetarians, meat-atarians and even the pickiest eaters for each meal. It’s not a bad idea to keep a few on hand in the pantry in case a winter storm knocks out power and forces you to breaking out the camping stove.

Sunglasses by Costa Del Mar — $130 to $270

Are you an avid fly-fisherman, a backcountry camper or a honky-tonk hero who wears sunglasses indoors? Chances are if you have a pair of eye sockets, Costa has got a pair of shades for you. This hard-to-find brand has some of the clearest optics on the on the market, making everything from glass to plastic lenses in more than a dozen different shades and colors. Also, their polarized lenses help reduce glare off the snow, water and almost any other surface that can be otherwise blinding. Partner your choice lens with your favorite bodystyle. Blackrock is one of the few outdoor shops in WNC that carries a wide variety of them and anything not in stock can be special ordered.

GoPro Hero3 Camera: Black Edition — $400

If you’re tired of showing boring vacation photographs and videos to friends and family, try strapping a camera to your head. With this new camera form GoPro, you’ll be able to show them your sky-diving, mountain biking or whitewater rafting trip from the front seat. These cameras can shoot high-definition video and quality photographs and have been used to catalogue a litany of high-profile extreme sporting events. Also, the waterproof and bombproof design allows them to take a beating — one recently fell from 12,500 feet unscathed. This latest model is 30 percent smaller, 25 percent lighter and twice as powerful as previous ones.

SkinFare Topical Nourishment — $10

Touted by the company as “quite possibly the world’s best $10 gift,” this balm is the ultimate skin salve. For lasting relief, it can be applied to skin to help soothe bug bites and minor burns, dry spots, chaffing and certain rashes. Furthermore, it acts as a mild insect repellent and sunscreen. The product comes in a 100 percent biodegradable paper container and its ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil and pal fruit oil are USDA certified organic. For the all-around, earth conscious skin treatment, this is your best bet.

Pyranha Nano — $1,100

The Nano tackles classic boat design conundrums, pulling off features that were once mutually exclusive. This versatile kayak is a combo of three other models — each laser-tailored to their own type of paddling — and arrives at a unique three-in-one design for paddlers wanting a little bit of everything out of their run.

Technically a creek boat, it can handle whitewater runs, yet doubles as a play boat.

It may not fit in a stocking, but at seven feet and four inches it’s just small enough to slide under the tree. This boat is recommended for the expert novice who is the jack-of-all-whitewater-trades but master of none.

Otterbox iPhone 4/4S Defender Case — $50

Outdoors lovers’ favorite rugged activities often involve dust, dirt and rocks — three things that are intrinsically at odds with the fragile nature of expensive iPhones. There’s nothing more devastating than the distinct sound of $400 smartphone shattering on a cliff ledge. But with the Otterbox case, you can take your interactive text, talk, video and internet anywhere with you, knowing that it will probably be OK inside this vault-like case. The Defender comes with a screen protector, a hard-plastic shell and a silicone outer case to protect your phone from falls, scratches and dust. Only the truly irresponsible phone owners can fail Steve Jobs with this thing on.

Outdoor 76 t-shirts and “828” caps — $22 to $26

If you fish local, hike local or kayak local, then you might as well support local outfitters or organizations that protect the resources that make those activities possible. Outdoor 76 has partnered with conservation group Land Trust for the Little Tennessee to sell “828” caps in a variety of styles and colors — from camouflage to bright blue. Each purchase makes a donation of $2 to LTLT to be used by the organization responsible for a litany of stewardship projects from stream protection to land conservation. You can also represent your local outdoors shop by picking up one of the cool, long-sleeve t-shirts or hats with their name on it.

NatGeo Maps — $12

Some say they’re the most important printed documents in Western North Carolina. These path-finding gems are waterproof, tear-resistant and cover almost every square inch of wilderness playground in the region. Whether on a day hike to a nearby bald, a GPS-guided search or a week-long sojourn through a wilderness area, these maps will keep you on track. Poring over one from the comfort of your armchair on winter evenings is oddly fulfilling as well. Proceeds from the map sales are used by the National Geographic Society to fund programs in research, exploration, conservation and education.

TOMS shoes — $44 to $69

There are a lot of cool shoes out there, but there aren’t a lot of cool shoes with a cool story. TOMS shoes live by the mantra “One for One” — for every pair you buy, a child in need gets a pair for free. The founder of the company started it with philanthropy in mind after visiting Argentina in 2006 and seeing the large number of children without shoes. TOMS has now given 2 million shoes to children worldwide. The shoe design — a canvas or cloth upper — is based in a traditional Argentinean shoe. Needless to say, they’re also very comfortable and trendy, and while they were originally conceived as slip-on, flat-bottom shoes, they come in a full-range styles such as wedges, classics, cordones, botas and stitch-outs.

Patagonia Better Sweater — $99

From amazing outdoor gear to a global responsibility, Patagonia is becoming one of the strongest brands in the industry for all the right reasons. This season, the choice buy for those who want to stay super warm and look great is the company’s classic sweater. This hip-length garment combines a durable, knit exterior with the comfort of soft fleece on the inside. Also, so your hands aren’t left out in the cold, the sweater-jacket combo features two hand-warming pockets. Its size is perfect for wearing as an outer jacket or under a shell.