Lands protected in WNC
From mountains to coast, a cadre of land conservation agencies is working to preserve the properties most important to North…
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Telling NOC’s story: Book shows early years of outdoor center through the eyes of staff, leaders
It was 1972, and the world of whitewater paddling was changing. Americans were just about a decade into experimenting with…
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Smokies visitors spend $922.9 million in gateway communities
A new report from the National Park Service shows that 11.3 million visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Back in the saddle
I have had, since 2004, one of the best gigs any bird nerd could ask for. That was when I…
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Report hellbender sightings
If you’ve seen a hellbender, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission wants to know.
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New videos explore local food scene
A new video series celebrating Western North Carolina’s local foods economy — and the small businesses and communities that drive…
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Red wolf status grim, review says
A five-year red wolf status review, released April 24, showed that only about 40 red wolves are left in the…
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Job Corps center expands opportunities
The Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center is increasing its partnerships and training options, providing more opportunities for the students…
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Masa to be added to A.T. Hall of Fame
The late George Masa, whose photographs were pivotal to the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will be…
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City Lights Café recognized for green practices
City Lights Café in Sylva has been recognized by the state for its sustainability efforts, earning certification from the N.C.…
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Best of the burden: Smokies mules make backcountry operations possible
In popular culture mules get a bad rap, cast as stubborn, ornery and even mischievous. But Danny Gibson, animal packer for the…
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Road work begins in the Smokies
A handful of road projects will impact travel in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park over the coming weeks.
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Smokies chief ranger retires
After 35 years of service — 30 of them in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Chief Ranger Steve…
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Glenville no wake zone request denied
Jackson County’s request for a no wake zone on Lake Glenville has been denied following an April 26 vote from…
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HCC students take fifth at national competition
The Haywood Community College student chapter of The Wildlife Society finished fifth place overall against 24 other schools at the…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Puc Puggy’s digs
One of Western North Carolina’s most celebrated visitors acquired his love of — and curiosity about — nature at his…
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Hanging Dog Campground closed
Hanging Dog Campground, located in the Nantahala National Forest near Murphy, will not re-open following a decision from the U.S.…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Testing the early spring winds
I had the great pleasure of leading an early spring birding trip for Alarka Expeditions this past weekend, April 21-22.…
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WNC tackles cross-state run and cancer simultaneously
Black Mountain resident Kenny Capps is in the midst of a cross-state run that he’s undertaking while also battling an…
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Bethel student wins state poster contest
Bethel Elementary School third-grader Jade Cody has been named the state winner in a poster contest sponsored by the N.C.…
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Backyard trails: Local mountain bike trails surge in popularity
In 2013, Western Carolina University cut the ribbon on 7-mile trail system zig-zagging an otherwise unbuildable piece of university property.…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Not quite a wrap
The starting date for my annual bird survey for the U.S. Forest Service is May 1. All of our nesting…
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Smokies starts spring openings
Spring is coming to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with many seasonally closed facilities reopening for warmer weather.
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Outdoor 76 to join Motion Makers in Cherokee
Franklin-based outfitter Outdoor 76 has announced that it will open a second store, joining Motion Makers Bicycle Shop at a…
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Database boosts plant research in Toxaway
The Southern Highlands Reserve has launched a digital database to advance its ability to research native plants from its perch…
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Synchronous firefly lottery to open April 27
This year’s synchronous firefly viewing in the Elkmont area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be Thursday, June…
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Haywood students win Envirothon
Tuscola High School students came in first place during the annual Area 1 Envirothon, held March 23 in Waynesville.
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A.T. identities: Thru-hikers share their trail names’ origins
On the Appalachian Trail, everybody’s story is the same, in a sense — the chill of the cold, the heat…
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Bear activity prompts warning in Panthertown
An increase in serious bear encounters in Panthertown Valley has led the U.S. Forest Service to recommend that backcountry campers…
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Clean up the Tuck
The nation’s largest single-day effort to remove trash from a river will return to Western Carolina University with the 34th…
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Team up for the planet
In a month-long celebration of Earth Day, the #WNCforthePlanet initiative invites businesses, civic groups and community organizations to take part…
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‘Death Race’ raises money for students
In a 68-mile fundraising run through the mountains of Northern Georgia, Matt Kirby conquered the terrain in 20 hours and…
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Trail work resumes on Rainbow Falls Trail
The second phase of a two-year trail rehabilitation project in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will begin Monday, April…
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Wildflower spotting: New book guides search for April blooms
The combination of a stress-filled week and the dawn of a perfect, sunny and 70-something degree day worked like a…
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Bicycle shop coming to Cherokee
The success of Cherokee’s 10.5-mile Fire Mountain Trail System has spurred Motion Makers Bicycle Shop to open a new location…
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‘Enjoy yourself’: WNC duo runs with outdoors-inspired sunglasses brand
For Nick Provost and Peter Moyle, co-owners of the startup outdoors brand Gnarcissist Gear, it all started with granola bars…
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Become a master outdoor educator
The Landmark Outdoor Educator Semester will return with classes May 9 through June 28, a 51-day program that yields a…
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Scholarships available for outdoor camp
More than $25,000 in scholarships is available for kids interested in attending Youth for Christ Outdoor Mission Camp in Maggie…
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Database boosts plant research on Toxaway Mountain
The Southern Highlands Reserve has launched a digital database to advance its ability to research native plants from its perch…
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Trout waters to reopen
Hatchery-supported trout waters will open once more at 7 a.m. Saturday, April 7.
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HCC named Tree Campus USA
Haywood Community College was recently named a 2017 Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, commemorating this accomplishment by…
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Walking Waynesville’s watershed: Hike offers rare glimpse into unspoiled area
Of all the rugged places in Western North Carolina, one of the most pristine and unique is also one of…
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Pier under construction at Lake Junaluska
A new meditation pier that will extend more than 40 feet into the water and seat eight people is under…
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Runners brave the Assault on BlackRock
This year’s Assault on BlackRock drew 105 runners and brought in more than $4,000 for the Jackson County Shop with…
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From enemy to ally: Kudzu Camp seeks to overturn misconceptions
It was 1983 when Avram Friedman first rolled into Sylva, driving the repurposed school bus that was home for him,…
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Hunting for kudzu
Even as I parked my car at the bottom of a steep and weedy hill that Friday morning, I wasn’t…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Spring has sprung
It doesn’t take a calendar to know spring is here. Spring is surely in the air but it’s also in…
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Work crews return to Elkmont
Rehabilitation work in the Elkmont area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has started up again, with work crews…
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Volunteers remove 8 tons of trash from Lake Junaluska
More than 100 volunteers congregated at Lake Junaluska for Lake Cleanup Day Saturday, March 10, removing more than 8 tons…
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The sediment spotter: Fifth-grade science project spurs real-world change
While elementary, junior high and high school students from across the region offered a plethora of good ideas during last…
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