Little Sandy Mush Bald slopes purchased for nature preserve
The northern slopes of Little Sandy Mush Bald, an iconic view for those who live in the coves and farms of the surrounding Sandy Mush community in Buncombe County, will remain undeveloped following the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s purchase of 241 acres in Madison County, which includes part of the bald.
The land was owned by eight members of the Grateful Union Family before they agreed to sell to SAHC to see it preserved.
“Since 1979, they have shared this very special place, showing a commitment to their personal goals of living lightly on the earth and being good stewards of the land,” SAHC Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese said of the former owners. “It is rare to see this degree of cooperation among a group of people that stands the test of time.”
The tract boasts some of the best northern hardwood forest in Madison County and adjoins two properties that have been protected by conservation easements with SAHC. Rising to 4,800 feet in elevation at the Summit, it’s visible from N.C. 209 and houses the origins of Little Bald Branch — an Outstanding Resource Water, according to the N.C. Division of Water Quality — and three of its tributaries.
SAHC plans to own and manage the tract for the long term as a nature preserve, with guided hikes to the tract offered as part of the organization’s outreach program.
