Archived Outdoors

Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:47

The Naturalist's Corner: To feed or not to feed?

Anyone who reads this column regularly knows I am a fan of backyard bird feeding. The constant feathered activity just a few feet from the kitchen window is a constant reminder of the incredible diversity that spins around the sun…

Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:44

Wildlife could be affected by hunting laws

It’s not too late to weigh in on a few controversial changes to the state’s hunting laws under study by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Each year, the Wildlife Commission proposes a litany of changes to the hunting and fishing…

Wednesday, 28 January 2009 16:20

Long-awaited Panthertown maps, trail signs move forward

The Friends of Panthertown has received a $7,500 grant from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area to develop a trail guide and interpretive signs for Panthertown Valley. Panthertown, a bowl-shaped recreation area outside Cashiers marked by granite domes and waterfalls,…

Wednesday, 21 January 2009 16:03

Duke, county at odds over permits

Duke Energy, which sued Jackson County two weeks ago for failing to issue county permits to tear down the Dillsboro dam, says it may not even need the contested permits. But Jackson County Manager Ken Westmoreland and County Planner Linda…

Wednesday, 21 January 2009 16:01

Broken bridge ignites debate with Park over North Shore cemeteries

Swain County residents with family buried in cemeteries in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park claim the park service is dragging its feet repairing a washed out bridge used to visit the old graves. A bridge spanning the mouth of…

Wednesday, 21 January 2009 15:58

Graves in the park

When Fontana Lake was constructed during WWII, some communities were submerged by the rising lake while others were merely rendered inaccessible. The only road in and out of a 44,000 acre area where about 2,000 people lived got flooded, effectively…

Wednesday, 21 January 2009 15:56

Woodsmen’s coach Jimmy Lawrence is devoted to the sport

Jimmy Lawrence, the coach for Haywood Community College’s Woodsmen’s Team and president of the South Atlantic Woodsmen’s Association (SAWA), loves the lumberjack sport. Lawrence graduated from HCC’s Wood Products program in 2004. Before that, he received a Lumber Specialist diploma…

Wednesday, 21 January 2009 15:45

Plants that are easy to grow from seeds

We’ve talked about saving money by growing plants from seeds, and that many more plant varieties are available as seeds compared to what you find at the local nursery. Then we discussed how to get seeds to germinate and grow.…

Wednesday, 21 January 2009 15:42

The Naturalist's Corner: Winter miracle

It’s late January and it’s 15 degrees outside, snow is flying, the Alberta Clipper has the huge yellow buckeye swaying like the mast of a sailing ship but inside that yellow buckeye, a good 50 feet above ground in a…

Wednesday, 14 January 2009 14:56

Growing plants from seeds — the basics

Editor’s note: (This is the second of a 3-part series on growing plants from seeds.) Growing plants from seeds can save you money, and give you many more plant varieties to choose from. If you provide the conditions they need,…

Wednesday, 14 January 2009 14:46

The Naturalist's Corner

Happy new ivory-billed search in 2009 May old woodpeckers be forgot and never photoshopped. A $50,000 reward has been offered for a definitive photo of an ivory-billed woodpecker. I’m thinking that photo might be worth a buck or two more.…

Wednesday, 07 January 2009 13:45

Paddling industry pins hope on new designs to stoke interest

The new lines of kayaks and canoes this year have one mission in common: to lure new converts. “Most of the manufacturers are coming out with boats that are more beginner and intermediate friendly. This is a push to get…

Wednesday, 07 January 2009 13:45

All in the design: NOC experts lend ideas on kayaks

When the new line of 2009 kayaks hits the outfitters’ stores in coming weeks, the mark of paddling guru Wayner Dickert will be lurking beneath more than one hull. The former Olympic paddler has long been a go-to guy for…

Wednesday, 07 January 2009 13:52

The Naturalist's Corner: In the midnight hour

Like ships that collide in the middle of the night, “midnight rules” and their undoing perpetuate and reinforce philosophical and ideological divisions in this country while enhancing partisanship and strengthening the hold and influence politicians and power brokers have over…

Wednesday, 07 January 2009 13:45

Grow your plants from seeds

By Jim Janke Editor’s note: This is the first of a three-part series on growing plants from seeds. Today we talk about the benefits of growing plants from seeds, and what seeds need to germinate. Next week we’ll discuss how…

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:49

Chance to wet those lines for cash; tournament this month in Cherokee

A trout-fishing tournament open to all ages will be held March 26 in Cherokee from daybreak until 5 p.m. The tournament features $10,000 in cash prizes. The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce and the fish and wildlife management department of the…

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:49

Pink Beds area slated for controlled burn

In the next six weeks, depending on weather conditions, rangers in the Pisgah National Forest plan a prescribed burn in the Pink Beds area of Transylvania County. The burn area will be up to 2,000 acres in size. The…

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:48

Learn to fly fish from seasoned anglers

The Tuckaseigee Chapter of Trout Unlimited will conduct basic fly-fishing courses at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Jackson Street in Sylva through May. The classroom sessions run the first and second Thursday of each month from 6 p.m. to 8…

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:47

Runners embrace spring with lineup of 5Ks

Spring is nearly here, and the running calendar proves it. Here are some 5Ks coming up in the next few weeks. • Meadowbrook Cubs on the Run 5k and fun-run held March 19 will benefit Meadowbrook Elementary School’s physical education…

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:47

Want to keep bees?

A daylong course in beginner beekeeping will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at the Swain County N.C. Cooperative Extension Service in Bryson City. The school is sponsored by Smoky Mountain Beekeepers, representing Jackson, Swain…

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:46

Sell plants, more at Dillsboro growers’ fair

A growers’ fair will be held April 16 in Dillsboro to benefit Full Spectrum Farms, a nonprofit devoted to supporting those in the autism community. The fair will be at Monteith Farmstead, the site of last year’s popular Appalachian Growers…

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:45

First major paddling race of the season

Watch world-class paddlers compete in both downriver and slalom competitions in the season’s first major competitive event on the Nantahala River March 26-27. Paddlers from across the country will be compete in the Bank of America U.S. Open, which serves…

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:44

Tourism entities get ready for the spotlight during world kayak championships

The 2013 World Freestyle Kayaking Championships being held in the Nantahala Gorge are still two years away, but planning must start now if the region wants to be ready in time. The freestyle kayaking championship will bring thousands of international…

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:43

Kayak demo day at WCU

Western Carolina University’s Base Camp Cullowhee has teamed up with local kayak manufacturers to host its sixth annual kayak demo day on the East Fork of the Tuckaseigee River at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 19. Attendees will be able to…

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:43

Know what to do in a wilderness emergency?

A Wilderness First Aid course will be held at Medwest Health & Fitness Center in Haywood County from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 26 and 27. Learn how to respond to a variety of emergencies in remote locations such…

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:41

The Naturalist's Corner: Ridin’ the tide

On a recent trip to Isle of Palms, South Carolina, we had access to a sea kayak and decided to take advantage. There’s a pretty dramatic tide at Isle of Palms with currents to match so you have to plan…

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 19:37

Hemp house going up at Lake Junaluska

If someone said the word “hemp,” the first thing to spring to mind probably wouldn’t be home construction. But if you’re looking for a strong, green, energy-efficient building material that’s resistant to pretty much everything, hemp might be your best…

Wednesday, 09 March 2011 21:23

Deadly bat threat spreading in WNC

Biologists recently confirmed white-nose syndrome at a third site in North Carolina, meaning two counties are now positive for the disease that has killed hundreds of thousands of bats in the eastern United States. The disease was confirmed late last…

Wednesday, 09 March 2011 21:21

North Carolinian to head Friends of the Smokies

The Rev. Daniel P. Matthews of Waynesville has been selected as the new board chair of Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the first from North Carolina since the regional organization’s inception in 1993. Matthews and his wife,…

Wednesday, 09 March 2011 21:20

Learn about white-nose syndrome in bats

Western North Carolina Alliance has put together a panel of experts to talk about white-nose syndrome, a disease that threatens our bat population. The program will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, at the University…

Wednesday, 09 March 2011 21:19

Agriculture program set for March 25

A free workshop will be held March 25 on the voluntary agricultural district programs and farmland protection planning for counties and municipalities. The workshop (rescheduled from March 18) will be at the Haywood County Center in Waynesville from 9 a.m.…

Wednesday, 09 March 2011 21:19

Go green on this St. Patrick’s Day

A St. Patrick’s Day “green” fundraiser is set for Saturday, March 12, from 6-9:30 p.m. at Nantahala Brewery in Bryson City. The brewery is on Depot Street. There will be Irish music by Bean Sidhe (“Banshee”), plus Celtic jamming. Bring…

Wednesday, 09 March 2011 21:18

Rent greenhouse space at Waynesville’s Armory

Don’t have a greenhouse, or worried your cat will destroy any new plants? Then get an early start on this year’s garden by letting the folks at Old Armory Recreation Center Greenhouse take on your plants. The greenhouse will open March…

Wednesday, 09 March 2011 21:17

Five best hikes of the Smokies

Still haven’t checked out the national treasure of hiking trails in our backyard in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Or haven’t ventured beyond one or two trailheads? Join Friends of the Smokies hiking enthusiast and author Danny Bernstein and…

Wednesday, 09 March 2011 21:16

Only Catamounts left in WNC are at WCU

Last week the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tried to put the last nail in the coffin of the eastern cougar by declaring it extinct. The cougar (catamount, panther, puma, painter, mountain lion) will surely not go quietly. This legendary…

Wednesday, 09 March 2011 21:13

Local mountain bikers join forces

In Western North Carolina’s thriving outdoors community, mountain bikers have long been at the center of the action. But now, they’re looking to make their presence official by kicking off a local chapter of the Southeast Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA).…

Wednesday, 02 March 2011 21:14

Wildlife advocates gather for March meeting

Western North Carolina Wildlife Advocates — including Wild South, Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance, and representatives from Mountain Wildlife Days, among others — will will gather at 1 p.m. on Friday March 11 at Haywood Community College’s main…

Wednesday, 02 March 2011 21:14

Take a group trip to see Cataloochee’s elk

The WNC Nature Center’s “NC Elk Experience” trip to Cataloochee Valley will take place on Tuesday, March 15. Tickets are $18 for Friends of the WNC Nature Center and $20 for others. Those who purchse tickets should meet at the…

Wednesday, 02 March 2011 21:12

Blue Ridge Breakaway registration is open

Registration begins this week for the second-annual Blue Ridge Breakaway bike ride, which is scheduled for Aug. 20. The cycling event brought more than 300 riders to Haywood County last year. The event will feature a century (105 miles), metric…

Wednesday, 02 March 2011 21:12

Public workshop to design Webster trail

Anyone interested in helping design, build or use a trail at Jackson County’s new Department on Aging campus in Webster are urged to attend a workshop on Tuesday, March 15. The workshop will be in the conference room at the…

Wednesday, 02 March 2011 21:11

Need a summer job?

The Waynesville Recreation Center is looking for lifeguards, with a training course on tap for this month for those who do not have certification. Lifeguards must be at least age 17. A pre-test for the course will be held on…

Wednesday, 02 March 2011 21:09

Life of Riley in Louisiana

Different people have different ideas of camping. Some people like to carry their camp on their back as they hike for untold miles, eating freeze-dried beans and drinking purified water from the streams. Some people’s idea of the camp is…

Wednesday, 02 March 2011 21:06

Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest turns 100

By Brent Martin • Guest Writer The Nantahala-Pisgah national forests celebrated their 100th birthday March 1. Of course, the forests, mountains and rivers defining our landscape as the special place that it is have been here for millions of…

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 21:11

Area grants support mountain initiatives

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership has awarded a new round of grants to preserve and promote Western North Carolina’s heritage. There were 20 grants totaling nearly $245,000. The grants will focus on craft, music, natural heritage, Cherokee traditions…

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 21:10

From truffles to crawfish, grants encourage the avant garde farmer

The WNC Agricultural Options program recently awarded $326,000 in grants to help farmers diversify and for joint marketing and distribution efforts. “These farmers have a wide variety of innovative ideas and we expect successful outcomes from which other farmers can…

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 21:09

Native pond group to form in WNC

Interested in being part of a native pond society? Carol and Bob Grytten of Haywood County are gauging interest in Western North Carolina. “Our purpose is to help others who wish to learn more about having and maintaining ponds, water…

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 21:09

Franklin Bird Club to host warbler talk

The Franklin Bird Club will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, at the Macon County Public Library. Artist, illustrator and bird expert John Sill will present a video and talk about warblers. This will also be an organizing meeting…

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 21:07

Haywood on the road to being a bike-friendly

Haywood County wants to create the county’s first-ever comprehensive bicycle plan. The county is now accepting proposals from consultants interested in steering the process. The selected firm will be responsible for: • The collection of relevant background data and other…

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 21:06

Pisgah Fly Masters readies for annual competition

The fourth annual Pisgah Fly Masters fly-fishing tournament, sponsored by the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and Davidson River Outfitters, is scheduled for March 19 and 20 in Transylvania County. A casting competition on March 19 will test anglers skills…

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 21:05

Highlands Biological Station honored for science contributions

Highlands Biological Station in April has received a partnership award in science, mathematics and technology education from the N.C. Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Center, based in Research Triangle Park. Founded in 1927, the Highlands Biological Station is a year-round…

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 21:04

Bridges in lieu of old culverts helps aquatic species move freely

A restoration project to improve fish passage on streams feeding into the Little Tennessee watershed finished last month on Bradley Creek in Macon County. Like with most creeks, Bradley Creek had been squeezed into culverts so roads could pass over…

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 21:02

Stalked by a not so wild elk

An old friend from Mer Rouge, La., George Bowe, was passing through a couple of weeks ago so we decided to take a ride down to Cataloochee and see if the elk were out. We got down to the valley…

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 20:59

Trail running takes off

Once upon a time and not particularly very long ago, trail running in Western North Carolina was a fringe sport at best. Hitting the trails instead of roads served as a refuge for longtime runners who couldn’t bear to give…

Wednesday, 23 February 2011 20:57

A mountain Assault: Black Rock Trail Race to aid Community Table

If you are looking for a trail race — with the emphasis on “race” — the Assault on Black Rock Trail Race might not be for you. But, if you are willing to walk, crawl or yes, run, your way…

Wednesday, 16 February 2011 21:02

Wildlife Club to host community potluck

The Wildlife Club at Haywood Community College will hold a fundraiser at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25. The dinner/potluck will be at the Haywood County Fairgrounds off N.C. 209. A $10 donation is requested; $5 if you bring a potluck…

Wednesday, 16 February 2011 21:01

Erosion-control training for earth movers

Two soil erosion-control trainings are available to contractors in Western North Carolina in early March. One is classroom-based and free, the other is in the field and has an admission fee. A Mountain Soil Erosion Control training will be held…

Wednesday, 16 February 2011 21:00

Master Gardeners offers jump start on spring landscaping

Order forms for edible bushes and other plants are now available from the Haywood County Master Gardener Association. Plants available include: red, black and golden raspberries, blackberries, asparagus, blueberries, strawberries and various shrubs. Money raised by the plant sale goes…

Wednesday, 16 February 2011 20:58

Help restore the Cherokees’ rivercane

Volunteers are needed to help transplant rivercane from near Western Carolina University to a site near Cherokee as part of a rivercane restoration project. Rivercane is a mainstay of Cherokee culture, and traditionally has been used in making baskets, blowguns…

Wednesday, 16 February 2011 20:58

New fishing opportunities for handicapped children

There’s a new handicapped-accessible fishing pier in Western North Carolina, located at the Charles D. Owen Park in Buncombe County. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission recently partnered with the Buncombe County Parks, Greenyard and Recreation Department to construct the pier.…

Wednesday, 16 February 2011 20:56

NOC donates gear to wounded veterans

Nantahala Outdoor Center is donating nearly $5,000 worth of paddling equipment for the recovery of injured military veterans. The donation will benefit the Johnson City, Tenn., chapter of Team River Runner, a nonprofit organization established to help military personnel wounded…

Wednesday, 16 February 2011 20:55

The Naturalist's Corner: Time to shift gears

Environmentalism across the U.S. and around the world was spawned from the sludge of greed, industrialization and indifference. Some of the earliest environmental writings in the world date back at least to the 10th century and the Arab Agricultural Revolution.…

Wednesday, 16 February 2011 20:55

Get friendly with stream life with WATR

“Saving our Streams” movie night and classroom bug exploration is set for Feb. 24 from 6:30-7:45 p.m. at the Grove Church outside of Bryson City sponsored by the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River. The event will feature hands-on lessons…

Wednesday, 16 February 2011 20:49

Cherokee hits the big time: Top U.S. anglers to sample reservation waters

This little slice of Western North Carolina just landed the big one when it comes to competitive fly-fishing. The 2011 U.S. National Fly Fishing Championship will be held this spring from May 19 to 22 in Cherokee. In addition to…

Wednesday, 09 February 2011 16:26

Malady deadly to bats found in North Carolina

White-nose syndrome, the disease that has killed hundreds of thousands of bats in the Eastern United States, has been discovered in a retired Avery County mine and in a cave at Grandfather Mountain State Park, marking the arrival of the…

Wednesday, 09 February 2011 21:08

Smokies road status now available via texts or twitter

Travelers can sign-up to receive status updates about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s most frequently used roads via text message or the Internet. Previously, travelers had to place phone calls to the park to determine the status of…

Wednesday, 09 February 2011 21:08

New staffer in Jackson conservation group

The Wilderness Society recently appointed Jill Gottesman as outreach coordinator in an effort to increase conservation efforts in North Carolina. She will work out of the conservation group’s Sylva office. Gottesman, former outreach director at Georgia ForestWatch, will be responsible…

Wednesday, 09 February 2011 21:07

Watch for crossing fish

You’ve heard of deer crossings? Well, fish need crossings too, the Little Tennessee Watershed Association announced recently after the Franklin-based conservation group and some partners studied the group’s river namesake from the North Carolina state line to Lake Emory in…

Wednesday, 09 February 2011 21:06

Focused efforts to save hemlocks showing promise

Good news on the hemlock front — the U.S. Forest Service reports it has had some success in ongoing efforts to protect these trees from the hemlock woolly adelgid. The non-native invasive insect has killed thousands of hemlocks in the…

Wednesday, 09 February 2011 21:05

Ease pain of income tax by helping wildlife

Whether you love to hunt, fish, bird watch, or just want to do your part to ensure that wildlife in North Carolina flourishes, you can help conserve the state’s wildlife and wildlife habitats by checking line No. 30 on your…

Wednesday, 09 February 2011 21:05

State grants commission new power

Starting March 1, the executive director of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will have the power of implementing an emergency response plan in the event of a wildlife disease outbreak. An emergency response plan would be developed in consultation with…

Wednesday, 09 February 2011 21:02

The Naturalist's Corner: A bog of dreams

The Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy (CMLC) and partners are literally moving the earth over in Flat Rock to help restore the Ochlawaha bog. Excavators are stripping about a foot of fill dirt from an old tomato field in hopes of…

Wednesday, 09 February 2011 20:50

Snow sports equals big bucks for North Carolina mountains

The rest of the economy might have suffered, but a couple of snowy winters are adding up to big bucks and good times for North Carolina’s ski industry. Last year, the total economic impact of this segment of the state’s…

Wednesday, 02 February 2011 21:21

Informal camping club needs members

In the hunt for an informal camping club with no annual dues and no actual meetings except for actually going to campouts? Check out the Vagabonds, which is now seeking new members. While there are no planned activities, members do…

Wednesday, 02 February 2011 21:20

Free guide available to managing invasive plants

The U.S. Forest Service is distributing free copies of a new guide, titled “A Management Guide for Invasive Plants in Southern Forests,” that gives homeowners, gardeners, land managers and others information on controlling and removing invasive plants in the South.…

Wednesday, 02 February 2011 21:19

Registration open for Maggie Moonlight Race

Runners can register now for one of Western North Carolina’s most storied summer road races. Registration for the Maggie Valley Moonlight Race opened this Feb. 1, and continues through race day, Saturday, Aug. 27. The fee to participate in this…

Wednesday, 02 February 2011 21:19

Conservation group seeking feedback

Wild South, a regional nonprofit that works to restore the South’s natural landscapes, wants help on accessing wildlife resources. An online survey has been set up at: www.wildsouth.org/index.php/component/content/article/3-newsflash/400-wildlife-survey. Wild South says concerns regarding wildlife resources have arisen, including: illegal activities,…

Wednesday, 02 February 2011 21:18

Trees, berries order to benefit 4-H

The Swain County Cooperative Extension is now taking orders for 3- to 4-foot apple, pear and peach trees, along with three-year old blueberry and two-year old grape varieties. Prices are $12 for the apple, pear and peach trees and $8…

Wednesday, 02 February 2011 21:16

Wildlife Commission reaffirms support for hunting with dogs

The Commissioners of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission unanimously adopted a resolution recently reaffirming the agency’s longstanding support for hunting with the use of dogs. “We support the use of dogs in hunting in North Carolina where such hunting is…

Tuesday, 01 February 2011 21:15

Gardening for a cause

The Sylva Community Garden project is seeking new members to join for the upcoming season. Plots of 15-feet by 30-feet are available for free in downtown Sylva. Gardeners participating must agree to donate at least one-half of the produce grown…

Wednesday, 02 February 2011 21:12

The Naturalist's Corner: Take this book outside

Don’t put this book on your bookshelf, mounted there like some hunter’s head of a deer, to prove you can read. Don’t put this book on the coffee table, turned slightly askance — to be noticeable, so people will know…

Wednesday, 02 February 2011 21:10

New wilderness area near Highlands unlikely

The situation doesn’t look promising for the formation of a new wilderness area in the Nantahala National Forest, the dream child of Brent Martin, the Sylva-based Southern Appalachian program director for The Wilderness Society. Martin envisioned easy political passage of…

Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:25

Agrarians: Learn to write a business plan

Mountain Bizworks wants to help farmers and would-be farmers looking to turn an idea into a practical business plan. The ag-biz foundations course will cover key elements every business plan needs, including writing a mission; financial planning and resources; and…

Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:24

State slashes power bill

A mandate to cut electricity use in state government buildings has saved North Carolina tax payers $55.3 million last fiscal year. The state law passed in 2003 required public buildings to reduce water and power use by 20 percent by…

Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:23

Soccer for big kids

Co-ed soccer for adults will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday nights starting Jan. 26 at the Old Hazelwood Gym in Waynesville. The soccer games are organized by Haywood County Recreation and Parks Department. The cost is $3…

Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:23

Reel basics class set for Pisgah Center

Learn the ins and outs of the fly fishing rod and reel from 10 a.m. until noon Jan. 29 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. Participants will learn to attach backing and line to the reel, discuss the various…

Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:22

Podcast spreads the word about threat to Smokies’ bats

A podcast released by Great Smoky Mountains National Park outlines efforts to save bats from White-nose syndrome, a potentially fatal disease sweeping through the Smokies’ bat population. The park is home to at least 11 species of bats, a primary…

Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:20

The Naturalist's Corner: Godzilla meets Barbi

Pandemonium had engulfed Shoal Creek by the time authorities arrived. One fisherman sat, dazed, on a boulder, rocking back and forth, his head in his hands, mumbling, “It was big as a horse – and those pinchers, oh, those pinchers…

Wednesday, 26 January 2011 21:17

Jockeying for space on the Nantahala: Outfitters and summer camps spar over control of river traffic

Rafting outfitters in the Nantahala Gorge have arrived at a compromise with summer camps and colleges vying for the chance to take kids down the Nantahala River without going through an existing commercial outfitter. The U.S. Forest Service issues only…

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 20:10

Want more bike lanes? This survey is for you

If you like to bike, but don’t like how few bike lanes there are in your community, now’s the chance to tell the N.C. Department of Transportation to do a better job of accommodating cyclists. A 5- to 10-minute survey…

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 20:09

Motorcycle maps make parkway sidetrips a breeze

A new series of maps designed for motorcycle riders chronicle the side trips and excursions along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The maps identify thousands of miles of classic motorcycle rides that lay beyond the parkway. The routes on the map…

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 20:08

New mountain bike trails at Jackrabbit

After years of hard work by the mountain bike community, a new system of trails at Jackrabbit Recreation Area on Chatuge Lake near Hayesville is quickly becoming a top single-track destination. The 14-mile trail system skirts the edge of peninsulas…

Tuesday, 18 January 2011 20:07

Group training runs kick off this week for new half marathon

Runners who need a little inspiration to stay in shape this winter can now look toward a new half marathon to be held at Western Carolina University on Sunday, April 3. To help runners get ready — including those who…

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 20:06

Plott Hound exhibit hits the road

Anyone who missed the historical exhibit on the Plott Hound at Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center has through April to make a trip over to Headwaters Outfitters in Rosman to check it out. The only American hound not from…

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 20:05

Agritourism no longer a newfangled venture

Farmers interesting in tapping the potential of agritourism can attend an all-day workshop on Thursday, Jan. 27, at Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. Put on by the N.C. Cooperative Extension, “The Business Side of Agritourism” will explore the myriad ways…

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 20:01

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