Thanks again, Don!

 

 

FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway Adopt-A-Trail eNewsletter

 

     For all those who are actively working on various trails of our beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, consider this eNewsletter yours!

FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway is privileged to work with such dedicated individuals who take seriously the need to keep our Parkway trails beautiful to hike and safe to travel. We would love to share your stories and photos with other Adopt-A-Trail teams and perhaps also reach out to inspire others to be a part of the Adopt-A-Trail program. Please send information and share with me your ideas!

 

 

What’s New on the Blue Ridge Parkway?

    

     Just a little note from the Carolina Mountain Club: “CMC membership has significantly grown and taken over more responsibilities during the past few years. They maintain over 400 miles of trail with more section maintainers and trail crews than ever before. They offer over 175 hikes per year, again more than ever before, and have accepted education and training as a new mission.”

 

The Carolina Mountain Club has been an inspiration and mentor for us at FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway in setting up our Adopt-A-Trail Program.

 

 

Parkway Trail Works…

 

 

 

Do any of these faces look familiar? If you have been to the Gully Creek Trail, you might have met Henry Fansler, Chris Halt, Carol Dimling and Susan MacLeod of the Foothills Group of the Sierra Club, or at least seen these volunteers helping to beautify the Trail. What a spectacular job they do!

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Adopt-A-Trail Volunteers Experiences:

    

The Pisgah Group Sierra Club – maintaining the Mountain To Sea Trail from Haywood Gap to Bearpen Gap…they have had their challenges with the hurricanes!

 

 

 

Kemp Davis writes: “(in the above right-hand photo) … Rebecca Sewell (in the above left-hand photo) is holding a bow saw, viewing some of the considerable hurricane damage on our section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail near highway 215 in North Carolina.  She is pictured in your brochure accepting an award several years ago.  Also have a shot of me removing a blow down this fall with a bow saw on the same trail.” 

 

 

Lessons Learned:

    

Attention all Adopt-A-Trail volunteers!

    

This is where I need your help.

All of your suggestions are great – so please share them with me on what you would like to see in this eNewletter!

   

Contact me, Linda Kassar, send Lessons Learned about your adopted trail work or simply advise for other groups. In addition, remember to submit any of the following to share in our eNewsletter: photos, stories about your group, adventures along the trail, special places to hike, work dates for your A-A-T group and contact information to sign up, for our next eNewsletter – which I hope to have by June 2005. 

 

Email  Linda_Kassar@FriendsBRP.org or submit work to FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, attention: Linda Kassar, P.O. Box 20986, Roanoke, VA 24018.

 

 

A-A-T Groups’ Trail Dates

 

FRIENDS’ Fisher's Peak Chapter trail work dates:

§         Saturday, April 9 and 23, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

§         Saturday, May 14 and 21, 8:00 AM-1:00 PM

Volunteers bring a sack lunch, if you would like to eat together after the trail work.

Volunteers must sign up in advance by contacting:

Name: Dottie Bramley

Email address: pdbramley@valink.com

Telephone: (276) 236-7658

 

 

Mountains-to-Sea Trail work dates:

Doughton Park - Blue Ridge Parkway - NC-18 to NC-16 - North Ashe Task

§         April 8-10

§         May 6-8

§         May 13-15

§         July 22-24

Volunteers must sign up in advance by contacting:

Name: Jeff Brewer

Email address: jdbrewer@bellsouth.net

Telephone: (919) 868-6274

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s Next?

   

 Here is the latest News Release received from Phil Noblitt at the Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters:

 

Parkway Begins Spring Openings

 

(Asheville, NC)  Most of the Blue Ridge Parkway is now open for travel, and some campgrounds, picnic areas and concessionaire facilities will be opening this week.  All will be in operation by mid to late May.

 

In announcing spring openings, Parkway Superintendent Daniel W. Brown noted that the campground at Mt. Pisgah is joining Price Park and Linville Falls on the national reservation system.  For more information, visit www.ReserveUSA.com on the Internet or call toll-free (877) 444-6777.  The Parkway’s six other campgrounds and a number of individual sites at Mt. Pisgah, Price Park and Linville Falls will still be available as first-come, first-served.

 

All of the Parkway in Virginia is open.  In North Carolina, there are only two closed sections—an eight-mile stretch just south of US 221 at the Linville Falls Community, and an 11-mile section between NC Highway 80 and Mt. Mitchell State Park.  Repair of the Mt. Mitchell to NC 80 section is underway and should be completed by Memorial Day.  Access to Mt. Mitchell is currently available via the Parkway from Asheville, but there is no through traffic and motorists must use the Parkway for the return trip.  Brown cautioned that the Parkway is subject to springtime snow and ice, and that temporary closures are still possible.  For information on current road conditions, call (828) 298-0398.

 

The Otter Creek and Linville Falls campgrounds and picnic areas will open Friday, April 1.  Other campgrounds will open May 13.  Visitor centers at Humpback Rocks and Craggy Gardens will begin weekend operations in mid-April, and all will be open by late May.  Exceptions are the Museum of North Carolina Minerals near Spruce Pine and the Folk Art Center at Asheville, which are open year-round, and the Parkway Craft Center at the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, which opened March 15.  The new Blue Ridge Music Interpretive Center, currently under construction, is also expected to open in late spring or early summer.

 

The Pisgah Inn and restaurant open this week, joining the Peaks of Otter lodge and restaurant which are open year-round.  Most other concessionaire facilities, including the Bluffs Lodge and coffee shop at Doughton Park and the Mabry Mill restaurant and gift shop at Meadows of Dan, will open April 30.  The water and sewer systems at Mt. Pisgah are being renovated and ditching and the installation of new lines will create some unsightly areas in the vicinity of the lodge and campground.  These facilities will remain open, although some individual campsites will be temporarily out of service. 

 

Beginning in June, Ranger-led campfire programs, nature walks and other interpretive services will be offered at campgrounds, visitor centers and selected locations along the Parkway.  Weekly schedules will be posted.  In addition, the summer concert series at the Blue Ridge Music Center will be offered on Saturday evenings June to September and on Sunday afternoons in the fall.  The series is provided through the partnering organization, the National Council for the Traditional Arts. For information about specific performances, visit www.ncta.net on the Internet.   

 

--more--

Updated information on openings and closings and additional information about the Parkway are also available at www.nps.gov/blri.

 

Brown said that Rangers are continuing to emphasize traffic patrols, especially on weekends, to reduce accidents.  Motorcyclists are urged to exercise special caution.

 

##

 

WE NEED YOU!

 

Volunteers in Parks Parkway Needs 2005

 

Volunteers are needed to assist with traffic control and parking during the October weekends at the Peaks of Otter and Humpback Rocks.  At the Peaks we would need 5+ volunteers, and at Humpback Rocks 3 volunteers for each weekend.  These can be individuals that want to work a full weekend or Saturday or Sunday of several weekends.  We are also looking for volunteer organizations that would be interested in providing this service as a fund raising activity.

*         Note: We can provide a campsite with hook-ups for a volunteer couple at the Peaks of Otter and Otter Creek Campgrounds.

 

Humpback Rocks Area (MP 6)

Volunteer demonstrators (primarily on weekends) at Humpback Rocks Area (MP 6) with knowledge of late 19th and early 20th century, “mountain homesteading” skills. (e.g. basket makers, cobblers, gardening, toy makers, broom makers, cloth dyeing, spinning, weaving, quilting, dulcimer players, musicians, open hearth cooking, making apple butter, making cider, wood splitting, making shingles, working with small livestock, wood working and tool making.) May-October

 

Volunteers are needed to assist with traffic control and parking during the October weekends at the Peaks of Otter and Humpback Rocks.  At the Peaks we would need 5+ volunteers, and at Humpback Rocks 3 volunteers for each weekend.  These can be individuals that want to work a full weekend or Saturday or Sunday of several weekends.  We are also looking for volunteer organizations that would be interested in providing this service as a fund raising activity.

 

Otter Creek and Peaks of Otter (MP 60.9)

Campground Hosts at Otter Creek and Peaks of Otter campgrounds. May-October

 

James River Visitor Center (MP 65)

Assistance staffing the James River Visitor Center, 4 hours per day, May-October

 

Peaks of Otter (MP 86)

Assistance staffing the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center, 4 hours per day, May – October

Volunteers (1 or 2 per program) to conduct “Kids Fishing” program on Saturday mornings (9am-11am) at Abbott Lake in the Peaks of Otter area. May-October

 

Johnson Farm in Peaks of Otter Area (MP 86)

Volunteer demonstrators (primarily on weekends) at the Johnson Farm in the Peaks of Otter area with knowledge of early 20th century, “mountain homesteading” skills. (eg. basket makers, cobblers, gardening, toy making, broom making, cloth dyeing, spinning, weaving, quilting, dulcimer playing, musicians, wood splitting, making shingles, wood working and tool making.) May-October

 

 

 

Rocky Knob (MP 167)

Information Desk Volunteers, Rocky Knob Visitor Center, May-October.  Assistance to cover staff lunch breaks (12-2 pm) on a regular basis.

 

Mabry Mill (MP 176)

Volunteer Cultural Demonstrators, May-October - Needed on a one-time or regular basis.  Knowledge and skills of early 20^th century mountain trades (e.g. wheel wrights, toolmakers, wood workers, broom makers, cobblers, loggers, white oak splint makers).

 

Individuals knowledgeable about early 20^th century furnishing (especially of mountain cabins) to assist with acquiring period furnishing of Matthews Cabin.

 

Blue Ridge Music Center (MP 213)

Luthiers to demonstrate the process of instrument making.  Demonstration presented before and during Saturday concerts.  Needed on a one-time or regular basis.

 

Trail Maintenance Workers/Adopt-A-Trail Groups

 

Information Desk Volunteers, Blue Ridge Music Center Visitor Center, June-October.  Assistance to cover information desk on a regular basis

 

Brinegar Cabin Complex (MP 238.5)

Volunteer Cultural Demonstrators, May-October. Knowledge and skills of late 19^th and early 20^th century homesteading skills (e.g. weaving, spinning, food preservation, farming, tool making, herbal uses, basket makers, cobbler).  Needed on a one-time or regular basis.

 

Gardener to plant and maintain a historic garden plot focusing on heritage vegetables and crop plants such as flax, sorghum, and buckwheat. Also, plant and maintain an herb garden focusing on traditional medicinal herbs.

 

Volunteer Assistants for the Brinegar Days Festival.  First weekend in August.

 

 

Moses Cone Visitor Centers (MP 294), Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Centers (MP 304), Linville Falls Visitor Centers (MP 316), and Museum of NC Minerals Visitor Centers (MP 331)

Information Desk Volunteers, May-October - Must be able to operate or learn to operate a cash register and handle money. Needed any day of the week, 7 days coverage; work full day, half day or lunch relief shifts depending on availability.

 

 

Folk Art Center (MP 382) Craggy Garden Visitor Center (MP 364.5)

Information Desk Volunteers, year round. Operate or learn to operate cash register and handle money.  Needed any day of the week, 7 days coverage; work full day, half day or lunch relief shifts depending on availability. 

 

Visitor Center Volunteer Couple to assist in visitor services and light maintenance

 

Waterrock Knob Visitor Center (MP 451.2)

Information Desk Volunteers, May-October. Operate or learn to operate cash register and handle money.  Needed any day of the week, 7 days coverage; work full day, half day or lunch relief shifts depending on availability.

 

 

Thank You!

 

     To our current Adopt-A-Trail team captains and their team members: John and Isolina Anderson of the Humpback Rocks and Mountain Trail, Margie Belcher and Family of the Black Ridge Trail, Dottie and Pete Bramley and the Fishers Peak group, The Foothills Group Sierra Club of Gully Creek Trail, Aubrey Arrington of the Cumberland Knob Trail and the Fox Hunters Paradise Trail, Randall Parks of Bluff Mountain Trail, Ralph Nilles Group of the Tanawha Trail, Bob and Sylvia Burkett of the Flat Rock Trail, Dean and Patricia Franklin of the Duggers Creek Trail, Courtney and Bo Mauzy of the Craggy Pinnacle Trail, the Pisgah Group Sierra Club and the Carolina Mountain Club who help maintain the Mountains to Sea Trail, Houck and Kathy Medford of Devil's Courthouse Trail, Jon Barbour of the Richland Balsam Trail, and  Scott Philyaw of the Waterrock Knob Trail.

     And a special thanks to all of our Blue Ridge Parkway National Park Service personnel!