Hike - Save trails - Make friends
April 27, 2012
From the Editor
Carolina Mountain Club is still looking for a committed CMC member who would like to take over the eNews. After seven years, I'm leaving this post after the June eNews.
Being eNews editor is all about the editing, writing and staying on top of Conservation News in the area.
The technical skills are not that important. If you are comfortable with word processing, email and searching on the web, you can learn the rest. The eNews will probably be done in a different manner than now, so don't worry about the technical details.
So if you are interested and want to find out more about editing the eNews, please email our CMC President, Marcia Bromberg. Danny.
News and Happenings
Trail Maintenance News Update
To: CMCers who love grubbing in the dirt, sweating, and using tools
From: Pete Petersen, Councilor for Maintenance (and Bobbie Powers)
Without trail maintainers, where would we be?
The answer: Bushwhacking!
Did you know that about 80 people – 10 of whom are women – show up regularly to keep our many miles of hiking trails “hikable?” And did you know that their ages run from 20’s through age 85?
Did you know that a new Thursday Crew is set to hit the trail in May? Bill Folender, who has been in Africa, has returned and needs some enthusiastic men and women with a willingness to hike, work, and have some fun.
Not available on Thursdays? No problem.
The Monday Crew, which works north and east of Asheville, needs additional volunteers, as does the Wednesday Waynesville West Crew.
The Wilderness Crew is in need of a few stalwarts with an aversion to power tools. This group works two Saturdays each month. The only crews at full-strength at the moment are the two Friday Crews.
The CMC website has an up-to-date listing of all the crews, leaders, and areas maintained. Check this link.
You’ll be amazed at the opportunities to work up a sweat!
Footnote: Section Maintainers are a key element to keeping the MST and A.T. clear. They are the first line of defense with their pruners, hand saws, and weed whackers. Sections often open up to new recruits if this might be an interest for you. There is a big push to get multiple people going out together, a buddy system for safety.
Saturday Work Day
Reminder that Saturday May 5, is our 2nd work day of this year. We'll be working again at Soco Gap, meeting at the Home Depot in Asheville at 8:30 (Enka-Candler exit 44 off I-40 on the hill behind McDonalds). The second meeting place will be Soco Gap at 9:15 (take hwy 19 south through Maggie Valley toward Cherokee and we'll meet on the ramp up to the Parkway).
Take note this will be on Cinco de Mayo and building on the MST is a good way to celebrate this festive holiday!
Les Love and Piet Bodenhorst
CMC Survey Results
Thanks to all of the CMC members who took the time to respond to the recent member survey. Those responding ranged from members new to the club (as recent as one month) to several who have been members for over 40 years. The 31% response rate to the on line survey and 62% response rate to the mailed survey shows that our members care about the club. The fact that over a third of the responders took the time to add comments is even more evidence that the CMC has a concerned and involved membership!
The next issue of Let’s Go will include results from this survey, results from a review of Hike Sign-up Sheets and ideas for addressing recommendations, ideas and conclusions from both.
Opportunity to Inventory Pisgah National Forest
I am the Associate Director of Wild South based in Asheville, NC.
Wild South is a conservation organization dedicated to inspiring people to appreciate, protect, and enjoy the wild character and the natural legacy of the South. We have been involved in active stewardship of National Forests across the Southeast for over a decade.
With the generous support of the National Forest Foundation we are pleased to announce that we will continue working with the National Forests in North Carolina to inventory system trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The purpose of this inventory is to gather baseline data on the condition of trails in our National Forests for development of a Trails Strategy. This "strategy" will be the foundation for an ongoing collaborative effort to maintain a sustainable trail system that satisfies users while protecting the integrity of forest resources.
As someone who is interested in recreation and trails on our National Forests we wanted to reach out to you in our effort to recruit volunteers for this one of a kind project. We need volunteers who can committ to hiking and recording data on trails across the Pisgah National Forest. Because this project will involve training we need to have folks who can help for an extended period of time and we'd like to begin right away.
All volunteers will be paired up, trained by the Forest Service, and provided equipment including: advanced handheld GPS computers, clinometers, first aid kits, daypacks, maps, and other necessary items. All you will need you to provide are your hiking boots, a fresh pair of legs, your time and enthusiasm.
This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in the future of recreation on our National Forests and the beloved Pisgah.
Please contact me at 828.258.2667 ext. 2, or email me at ben@wildsouth.org to get involved.
If you have questions please do not hesitate to call and if you know of other people who would be interested in this project please help spread the word.
Once folks have expressed an interest I will set up a time and date for a conference call to discuss the project in more detail.
We look forward to working with you.
For the forests,
Ben Prater www.wildsouth.org
CMLC thanks CMCers for their support in winning $5,000 gas grant from CITGO
Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy (CMLC) is excited to announce the winning of a $5,000 grant for gas from CITGO’s Fueling Good program in April. The grant was awarded to the highest online vote recipients in various regions of the country, and CMLC was among the highest vote-getters in the Southeast. Thank you to all the CMC members who voted daily in support of CMLC. With the gas money, we’ll continue to save the places you love!
And check out the story about Peter Barr at Blue Ridge Outdoors.
Chet Howland CMLC Outreach Associate
Our Past and Future in Wilderness; An evening of inspiration!
Wednesday, May 23rd, 6:00 -9:00 pm
Transylvania Public Library, 212 South Gaston Street, Brevard, NC
The Wilderness Society, The National Forests of North Carolina and Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards invite you to an evening of inspiration that will explore our Eastern Wilderness Areas, how they were protected, and what they mean to us today.
The night will feature a look back at the history of Wilderness designation across time and across our region. Doug Scott, author of The Enduring Wilderness and Our Wilderness: America’s Common Ground will trace the journey from concept to law of the land. We will also explore the future of Wilderness with a discussion of challenges and opportunities that lay ahead, including the inspiration of a future generation of Wilderness Stewards. The evening will allow us to hear from those inspired by Wilderness, and those charged with managing our designated areas.
This is a free event, with doors opening at 6pm and the presentations beginning at 7pm.
Interview
Meet Kathy Kyle
Kathy Kyle came on her first CMC hike on New Year's Day 2007 where she met many hikers
including Michael Cornn.
They were married less than a year later becoming one of many CMC
couples.
Now they hike regularly with the club.
Read the Interview with Kathy Kyle.
The Small Print
The next issue will come out on Friday, May 25. Wednesday hike reports for the hike just before the eNews comes out will be published in the next eNews.
Hiker leaders, please send all your eNews hike reports and photos to hiking@carolinamountainclub.org
So send me your news by Monday evening at 9 P.M. before the newsletter comes out, that is, by Monday evening May 21 to Danny Bernstein at danny@hikertohiker.com. Include your email address at the end of your story. Thank you.
The CMC Calendar is meant to answer the perennial question "When is this happening again?" It is also meant to prevent conflicts between competing CMC events. Please check it often.
Westgate parking - Park in the northernmost part of the lot - past EarthFare, in the last row of parking spaces.
How to join the Carolina Mountain Club
1. Go to www.carolinamountainclub.org
2. Click on “Join CMC” on the right side and follow the instructions
For CMC members only - Send all address and email changes to Gale O'Neal at gogalemail@gmail.com. Do not resubscribe yourself to the eNews. That will be done automatically.
If you are a non-member subscriber, you need to go back to the eNews and make the change yourself.