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Wednesday, 19 October 2011 13:41

Recycle that old bike for a good cause

Bryson City Bicycles is in search of gently used bikes to be tuned and donated to kids in need. The bike shop will again support the Swain County Family Resource Center with a Christmas Cheer Program by fixing up these…
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 13:40

HCC takes first at Woodsmen’s meet

The Haywood Community College Timbersports Team finished in first place in the John G. Palmer Intercollegiate Woodsmen’s Meet and Forest Festival Day held at the Cradle of Forestry. The team competed against Montgomery Community College, North Carolina State University, Penn…
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 13:39

See historic farmhouse and silo on guided hike

A nature walk by The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee will be held Friday, Oct. 21, at Tessentee Bottomland Preserve in Macon County just south of Franklin. The walk will feature different types of forest stands, historic farmhouse and…
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 13:37

Final lecture in Rickman Store series

The Wilderness Society’s Brent Martin will lead the final presentation in the “Gardening for Wildlife” series of lectures at 7 p.m. on Oct. 21 at the Rickman Store in Macon County. Martin, the southeast representative for the Wilderness Society, will…
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 13:37

Take a hike in the Waynesville Watershed

Come hike the 8,600-acre Waynesville Watershed property at the head of Allens Creek in Haywood County, which is normally off-limits to all public access. The last hike of the year there is set for Saturday, Oct. 29, at 9 a.m.…
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 13:36

Cooking with wild game at the Pisgah Center

Learn how to cook wild game outdoors in a class from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Oct. 22 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. Topics will include equipment, preparation and cooking techniques best suited for the outdoors and…
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 13:36

Kids hike the Appalachian Trail as part of school work

Earlier this month the fourth-grade classes from Cartoogechaye Elementary School hiked 4 miles on the Appalachian Trail from Wayah Crest picnic area to Siler Bald. The Nantahala Hiking Club led the hike as part of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Trail…
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 13:33

WCU group completes fundraising relay run in record time

Western Carolina University faculty and students from the athletic training program finished the fourth annual Mountain Jug Run for Research in record time, completing the 175-mile relay run from Cullowhee to Boone in 29 hours, 11 minutes and 54 seconds.…
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 13:32

Homage to Mariah

“Mariah blows the stars around And sends the clouds a’flyin’ Mariah makes the mountains sound Like folks were up there dying” We recently spent a weekend on Isle of Palms. When we hit the bridge over Cooper River on the…
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 13:29

Close encounters of the bear kind

The battle has been an epic one, but Wolfgang Restaurant in Highlands might have finally gotten the best of a bear addicted to a nightly feast of its trash. The bear had gotten into the unfortunate habit of visiting the…
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 13:27

Forget the birdfeeders and dog bowls, this bear went straight for the kitchen cupboard

Steve Hewitt of the Villages of Plott Creek in Haywood County already has a pretty good idea about the concept of live and let live when it comes to bears. There have been a number of bear sightings in his…
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 13:11

Bear encounters: Bears on the prowl for food lead to increased sightings

A bad year for acorns in the higher elevations, coupled with a poor berry crop region wide, has resulted in an influx of black bears into areas where the majority of mountain residents live: the cities, towns and mountainside developments…
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:46

Fishers to converge on reservation for prizes

Time to get those lines wet, via the Rumble in the Rhododendron in Cherokee coming up Oct. 21-23. The cost is $225 per fly-fishing team. “Fips Mouche” rules for two-person teams apply. Additionally, there will be a separate casting competition.…
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:45

Learn fly-fishing basics from an expert

Fly fishermen are passing on their craft with a series of how-to classes in Sylva. Members of the Tuckaseigee Chapter of Trout Unlimited will hold basic fly fishing courses from 6 to 8 p.m. the first and second Thursdays of…
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:44

Introduce kids to fly-fishing in Pisgah

 Kids ages 12 and older can take a free fly-fishing class Oct. 15 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. The “Kids’ Introduction to Fly Fishing” class will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Instructors will cover equipment,…
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:43

Fall color web site

Want to find the best fall color? The U.S. Forest Service of North Carolina has posted a new leaf viewing page on its website. It describes the colorful foliage that folks can enjoy in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests…
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:42

Goats prove usefulness to Catamounts

An environmentally friendly weed-eradication strategy that has been gaining popularity across the nation made its way to Western Carolina University recently in the form of 70 kudzu-chomping goats. The goats were transported from Wells Farm in Horseshoe to eat away…
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:42

Where’s the beef?

Learn all about beef cattle in two upcoming workshops scheduled for Macon County. The first is designed to teach the basics, from genetic selection, herd health and management, on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the…
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:41

Franklin 5K coming to the greenway

The Franklin Cross Country team will hold the Grayson Hall Memorial 5K race on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 9 a.m. at Tassee Park on the Little Tennessee Greenway in Franklin. There will also be a one-mile fun run/walk. This is the…
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:40

Cataloochee scores new school director

Cataloochee is welcoming new Ski and Snowboard School Director Mark Rozof, who was a member of the Cataloochee school last season. He worked as an instructor, clinician and supported the race program.  Rozof has been a member of Professional Ski…
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:40

Mega trail work party at Tsali this weekend

Get out your work gloves and head over to Tsali Recreation Area this month (Oct. 15-16) to help work on the famous mountain biking Mecca’s trails. The local Nantahala chapter of the Southeast Off-Road Bicycle Organization, or SORBA, is organizing…
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:39

Taking flight with birds of prey

The “Eagle Lady” will be doing a free program with her live birds of prey at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Oconaluftee Visitor Center outside Cherokee at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15. Naturalist Doris Mager has been working…
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:38

‘Roosevelt’ headlining in Highlands, Cashiers

A one-man show will portray the life of Theodore Roosevelt, the Conservation President, in two upcoming performances on Friday, Oct. 14, in Highlands at the Performing Arts Center and on Saturday, Oct. 15, in Cashiers at the Orchard Restaurant. Roosevelt,…
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:37

New Wildlife Commission website

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has launched a new, interactive website at www.ncwildlife.org that features reorganized content, streamlined navigation and improved menus. Whether you’re a hunter, angler, boater or just simply enjoy nature, the newly redesigned website is designed to…
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:36

Leaf-lookers’ primer

How did it get to be October already? Oh well, it’s here and the deep red sourwoods shinning from the road shoulder as we climbed up the Saluda grade on I-26 from one last weekend to the beach, plus pockets…
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:34

Mud, Cowbells, and Beer: The Cyclocross Passions

For a good part of the past decade I have spent a lot of time riding and racing my bike. That is, up until the last few years, when starting both a career and a family finally brought an abrupt…
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 14:00

Providing shelter for hikers

The Nantahala Hiking Club, the Franklin-based Appalachian Trail maintaining club, is building a new Appalachian Trail shelter about half way between Albert Mountain and Rock Gap to replace the existing “Big Spring” shelter which is nearing the end of its…
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 13:59

Enjoy an ancient form of flower arranging

The unique flower and decorative plant arrangements of Ikebana International will be on display during a special exhibit, part of the Carolina Bonsai Expo. The event will take place at The North Carolina Arboretum on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 8…
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 13:57

Lace your shoes for the Bethel half marathon

The popular Bethel half marathon and 5K race is set for Saturday, Oct. 8, the 18th version of this event. Both races will begin simultaneously at Bethel Middle School on Sonoma Road at 8:30 a.m., and the courses will take…
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 13:56

Founder of WNC Alliance Esther Cunningham dies at 93

The Western North Carolina environmental community recently lost one of its most credible and visible faces with the death of Esther Cunningham of Macon County. Cunningham died Sept. 20 at age 93. The Macon County native was a wife, mother…
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 13:56

Fall color forecaster tells all

Hear this fall’s official leaf forecast, including the why and how of leaf color production, at the Jackson-Swain Master Gardeners’ Association meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12. Kathy Mathews, associate professor of biology at Western Carolina University who…
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 13:55

Valentine to sign books

A book signing with nature photographer James Valentine, a well-known naturalist, photographer and filmmaker, is set for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. His new book is Southern Appalachian Celebration: In…
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 13:54

Hiking to celebrate

The Nantahala Hiking Club offered three hikes (Ranger Falls, Appalachian Trail north of Winding Stair Gap, and Bartram Trail) this past Saturday Sept. 24 to celebrate Family Hiking Day and National Public Lands’ Day. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and its…
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 13:52

See John Muir “live” in Waynesville

Pull a chair up to the fire and enjoy listening to America’s famed wilderness adventurer, John Muir, a critical player in the formation of our National Parks. The one-man performance will be played by acclaimed actor/storyteller Lee Stetson at 7…
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 13:52

Bear group to talk about camping, hiking in bear country

Learn about hiking and camping in a year when the bear activity is particularly high, forcing the closures of many campsites in the Smokies. The B.E.A.R. Taskforce will hold “B.E.A.R. Talk ... Hiking and Camping in Black Bear Country” on…
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 13:51

Photography exhibit open in Asheville

A juried exhibit of the Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association “Autumn in the Southern Appalachians” is ongoing through Oct. 24 at the Pack Place gallery in Asheville. An opening reception is set for Friday, Oct. 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30…
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 13:50

Workshops dig in to points of vermicomposting

Learn all about keeping worms for making compost at two upcoming workshops. The N.C. Cooperative Extension Service and the Jackson/Macon Conservation Alliance will hold free composting, a.k.a. vermicomposting events, on Wednesday, Oct. 5, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at…
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 13:48

Western icon with ties to Western NC

Acclaimed storyteller and actor Lee Stetson will bring his one-man show on John Muir to Western North Carolina in October. Stetson who was the “voice of John Muir” in Ken Burns’ recent PBS special “The National Parks-America’s Best Idea” has…
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 13:46

Tour de Franklin to showcase fall’s best

Bicyclists from near and far will take to the road for the eighth-annual Tour de Franklin “Halloween Hunard” charity bicycle ride on Sunday, Oct. 30, starting from Smoky Mountain Bicycles in Franklin at 9 a.m. With more than 100 cyclists…
Wednesday, 05 October 2011 13:39

Hike, bike, paddle, fish, climb: OutdoorAthlon coming to Franklin has it all

Joe and Dawn Johnson of Atlanta might be making another trip to the mountains next weekend after learning about the WNC OutdoorAthlon in Franklin Oct. 8 and 9. The couple both enjoy mountain biking, and she jogs routinely for exercise…
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:38

Paddling Club to hold organizational meeting

A meeting to organize the Smoky Mountain Paddling Club will be held at the meeting room in United Community Bank at 1640 East Main Street in Sylva at 6:30 pm. on Thursday, Oct. 6. Paddlers of all ages and levels…
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:38

Celebrate mountain heritage at the ‘Cradle’

Celebrate the heritage of Western North Carolina during the annual Forest Festival Day on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is the Cradle of Forestry’s largest event of the year. This event commemorates the traditions of…
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:37

Testing the waters

The Summit Charter School’s eighth-grade class tested seven water sources commonly used by hikers along the Appalachian Trail in Macon County. Testing took place during the group’s annual overnight field trip to the Standing Indian area earlier this month. The…
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:36

Certain trout waters open next month, under specific rules

Delayed-harvest trout water rules on 15 Western North Carolina counties start Oct. 1, replacing a different set of regulations on these streams. Under delayed-harvest regulations, no trout can be harvested from these waters between Oct. 1 and one half-hour after…
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:35

Seed swap taking place in Sylva

Time to swap those seeds, plants and bulbs at the annual Jackson County Farmers Market exchange scheduled for 9 a.m. until noon Oct. 1 in downtown Sylva. Additionally, starting that same Saturday, an exciting new children’s program starts for the…
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:34

Hone those birding skills

A guided bird walk sponsored by the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee is set for Friday, Sept. 30, near Tilley Creek in Cullowhee. The bird walk will be led by Jeremy Hyman, an assistant professor of biology at Western…
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:34

Monarchs to be monitored by students

For the second year in a row, sixth-grade students from Macon County will find themselves galloping through goldenrod to catch, tag, and release Monarch butterflies as part of “Migration Celebration,” a field trip designed to engage students in real science…
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:33

“Two Special Rocks” program at the Pisgah Center

“Two Special Rocks,” a program on how Looking Glass and John Rock were formed, will be held on Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. The program will discuss what the rocks are…
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:32

Hope is a thing with wheels

Avid birder and burgeoning cyclist Lena Gallitano has come up with an ambitious plan to combine two of her passions. Gallitano will take part in Cycle North Carolina’s annual fall ride. This year’s trek will be a modest 500-mile affair…
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:31

New segment added to Overmountain Victory Trail

A celebration of a new piece of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Hefner Gap Overlook at milepost 326 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Overmountain Trail preserves…
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 13:30

Grass as a water filter: HCC students research best kinds to use in water gardens

Haywood Community College students are learning best management practices to reduce stormwater runoff by using the campus itself as laboratory, hoping to restore natural hydrology wherever possible as the campus grows and changes. Preston Jacobsen, a sustainability analyst, said the…
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 14:50

Author Janisse Ray leads retreat, speaks to trail group

The Wilderness Society will host a three-day nature writer’s intensive with author Janisse Ray at The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center from Sept. 29-Oct. 2. The workshop is for writers committed to communicating the importance of place — where you…
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 14:50

Hunting and Fishing Day activities in Pisgah

Looking for a way to celebrate national hunting and fishing day with your kids? Head to The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education on Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., where a full schedule of events have been lined…
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 14:49

Have a barrel of rain water

Need a rain barrel? You can buy one through Haywood Waterways Association, the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce and the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service. These Haywood County groups are selling rain barrels to raise awareness of water conservation. They will…
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 14:48

Explore Smokies’ Cataloochee Valley on guided hike

 Catch the first glimpses of autumn color, explore old cabins and cemeteries, and even ring the bell of a picture-perfect mountain chapel during a guided hike along Little Cataloochee Trail with the Friends of the Smokies. Tuesday, Oct. 4, hiking…
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 14:47

NOC honors guests with free festival

Nantahala Outdoor Center’s popular Guest Appreciation Festival begins Friday, Sept. 23, and continues through the weekend, offering free attractions, live music and entertainment. The festival, NOC’s way of thanking the company’s guests at the end of the primary paddlesports season,…
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 14:47

Local races raise breast-cancer awareness, funds

Road races by three area hospitals this month shine the spotlight directly on breast-cancer awareness. You don’t have to be a runner to participate in these important efforts; walkers are welcome, too. The first of the races is the popular,…
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 14:46

Photo contest highlights state trail

Want an excuse to get some great hiking in and take photographs? The Outdoor Provision Co. is recognizing Mountains to Sea Trail month with a photography competition. The trail spans the state from the Outer Banks to the Great Smoky…
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 14:45

WNC outdoor school program garners conservation award

Muddy Sneakers, an innovative program that brings the joy of learning outside to fifth-grade students, has been named the Conservation Organization of the Year for 2010 by the Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards program. The North Carolina Wildlife Federation and the…
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 14:44

Experts introduce kids to trail-bike riding

Bryson City Bicycles will take young riders on a free youth mountain-biking event on Saturday, Oct. 1, beginning at 9 a.m. at Deep Creek. The ride is for kids ages 6 to 16. It is part of the nationwide celebration,…
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 14:44

BicycleHaywoodNC helps out Haywood schools

BicycleHaywoodNC has donated 15 bicycles and 15 helmets to Haywood County Schools this month to use in physical education classes. The idea is to teach elementary students how to be safe cyclists. BicycleHaywoodNC purchased the bicycles through a grant received…
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 14:43

There’s still time

Migration is at full tilt across the region right now. In the passerine (songbird) department thrushes, grosbeaks and tanagers are joining in making those fallouts and mixed flocks even more exciting. And while the night skies have been busy for…
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 14:40

One bag at a time: Students free Richland Creek from a tangle of trash

When droves of Haywood Community College wildlife and forestry students scrambled down the banks of Richland Creek last weekend with trash bags in hand, they knew it would be hard to top last year’s famed refuse recovery. An old moonshine…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:45

Trout Unlimited to hold river clean-up

A river-sweep cleanup of the Tuckasegee starting at the new CJ Harris boat ramp in Dillsboro is set for Thursday, Sept. 22, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. A rain makeup date is Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the same times.…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:45

Calling volunteers to clean waterways

Get out your gloves and pitch in cleaning up litter from Richland Creek in Waynesville as part of the North Carolina Big Sweep. Haywood County Big Sweep will be Saturday, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:43

Hands-on learning helps kids understand water issues

It requires getting a little wet, but that’s all part of the fun when the Haywood Waterways Association and Haywood County Schools hold the annual Kids in the Creek program. The event is for Haywood County eighth graders and will…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:42

Outdoors sports festival brings new triathlon and 5K to Franklin

Outdoor enthusiasts can look forward to a two-day WNC OutdoorAthlon this fall in Macon County, Oct. 8-9. Activities include a triathlon, 5k, rock-climbing wall, disc-golf clinics, paddling demos and more. The slogan is “Live, Love, and Learn about the Mountains…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:42

New half marathon gearing up in Cherokee

Registration is open for a new half-marathon race taking place on the Cherokee Indian Reservation Saturday, Oct. 15, starting at 8 a.m. The day’s events also feature a 5k race. Proceeds will benefit the Madison Hornbuckle Children’s Cancer Foundation, providing…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:41

Workshop to explore the ethics of ecology

Training for leaders and activists in the conservation movement will explore the deeper issues of ethics, values and the root causes of ecological issues facing society from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 21 and Sept. 28 in Sylva. “The…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:40

Don’t poach it, grow ‘sang legally instead

Learn how to grow that lucrative cash-plant, ginseng, at home. The N.C. Cooperative Extension Service and the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance will offer a free seminar on ginseng production for homeowners. You’ll learn about state regulations for growing and hunting ginseng,…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:39

Photography workshop to be held at Balsam Mountain Preserve

Shutterbug alert: Balsam Mountain Trust in Sylva will hold a digital photography class Sept. 24, from 3 p.m. until sunset. Students will learn both composition and digital “darkroom” techniques. There will be both classroom instruction and a field trip to…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:37

WCU’s Rooted in the Mountains symposium

The second-annual Rooted in the Mountains symposium at Western Carolina University will be held Thursday, Oct. 20, and Friday, Oct. 21, in the Grandroom of the A.K. Hinds University Center. The Rooted in the Mountains event was created to raise…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:36

Get outdoors and support land conservation

Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy is challenging outdoor enthusiasts to support land conservation simply by hiking. The Hiking Challenge encourages all those who enjoy the beauty of Western North Carolina’s mountains to explore and discover the breathtaking scenery of the conservancy’s…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:36

Land Trust to hold Tessentee Preserve clean-up

The Land Trust of the Little Tennessee will hold a Stewardship Workday at Tessentee Bottomland Preserve in southern Macon County on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m. until noon. This will be a general “cleanup” day. September and October will…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:35

See the elk via two guided trips

As part of their popular Eco Tour Outreach Program, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust hold two elk tours in Cataloochee Valley with a Smokies elk specialist will on Thursday, Sept. 22, and Wednesday, Sept. 28. The event includes a picnic dinner; the…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:34

Learn to share the land with bears

With fall comes hungry bears, and the B.E.A.R. Taskforce wants to help people learn to peacefully coexist with these great animals and decrease the growing number of human-bear conflicts. “B.E.A.R. Talk …..In Your Neighborhood” will be held at 5:30 p.m.…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:32

A few hours on top

Yesterday’s (9/11) wonderful late summer weather — mostly clear mid 70s — enticed my family up to Black Balsam for a walk on top. Black Balsam is an easy way to explore unique high elevation balds because you can drive…
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:29

Open season: Crack down on wild boar may meet resistance from hunters

There’s a new call to arms for hunters of wild boar: shoot as many as you can — day or night, anytime of year — and ask questions later. Wild boar are a reviled scourge on the landscape. Yet until…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:24

Movie time for extreme sports addicts

For some adrenaline-pumping outdoor flicks, catch the Sept. 12 “Radical Reels” tour hosted by REI in Asheville, with proceeds benefiting the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. These outdoor sport films feature on-the-edge skiing, mountain biking, kayaking and more. The show gets under…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:23

Jet boat business takes off in Bryson City

Smoky Mountain Jet Boats in Bryson City, which for six years has been building New Zealand style jet boats, is now expanding to build larger boats. Smoky Mountain Jet Boats has been making a 12-passenger boat since 2006. This year,…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:22

Tour a local buffer demonstration trail

Get a firsthand understanding of stream buffers by touring a demonstration trail at Monteith Farmstead Park in Dillsboro at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, just before the annual fall dinner of the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River. There are…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:21

WCU groups sponsor amateur river race

The third-annual Citizens Race, a competition for amateur paddlers on a calm section of the Tuckasegee River, is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Participants are timed as they paddle canoes, kayaks or stand-up paddle boards through nine slalom…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:20

New exhibit teaches fundamentals of shelters

Learn about the functions of shelters, including how animals and humans adapted to various environments, through a new exhibit at The N.C. Arboretum. Opening September 24, Sustainable Shelter explores biodiversity, human and animal architecture, ecosystems, and energy and water conservation,…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:20

A good leaf season might be in sight

Western North Carolina’s lackluster economy could get a significant boost from leaf lookers this year, if the annual prediction is right and we enjoy an excellent fall color show. Kathy Mathews, who serves as the region’s and Western Carolina University’s…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:18

Celebrate Public Lands Day by volunteering

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park will celebrate National Public Lands Day by hosting several volunteer projects Saturday, Sept. 24, in a unified effort with many public lands across the country.   National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:17

Get out and work in Pinnacle Park

The Pinnacle Park Foundation, the Jackson County Greenways Project and the town of Sylva will hold a volunteer workday at Pinnacle Park beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept.16. Tasks include bridge installation and trail repair and construction. Pinnacle Park,…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:17

Community garden receives grant

The Green Thumb Gardeners in Haywood County has received a state grant that will enable the group to expand its community garden. The funding is through Nourishing North Carolina, a statewide community garden program making local, healthy food more accessible…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:16

Learn how to identify hawks on the Parkway

With September’s arrival, many different species of hawks are winging their way south across the Blue Ridge Parkway, making for a great opportunity to work on identification techniques. To this end, on Saturday at Waterrock Knob Visitor Center (M.P. 451.2)…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:16

Highlands symposium to celebrate native plants Sept. 16-17

One of the South’s most-recognized horticulturist names is headlining the 12th annual Native Plant Symposium held Sept. 16-17 at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. Michael Dirr, author of the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants and a professor of horticulture at…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:15

Food dehydration subject of hiking club meet

Hikers can learn how to use proper dehydration techniques to make their own trail and backpacking foods at the monthly meeting of the Nantahala Hiking Club, set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, at the Macon County Public Library.…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:14

Every breath sings mountains

Friday, Sept. 23, is the autumn solstice. The solstice is about balance and harmony — the day and night are equal. Here in the Smokies, we wave goodbye to summer as Joe-pye and goldenrod fade, apples and pumpkins brighten and…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:12

Meet, learn about llamas

It’s not everyday you get to have afternoon tea with llamas, those unusual but valuable pack animals that are showing up frequently now on our trails. The Cradle of Forestry in America will offer Afternoon Tea with Llamas at 11…
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 14:11

Cowee Mound site of bird-monitoring work

Cherokee students and teachers have undertaken the first part of a long-term monitoring project of birds at the Cowee Mound in Macon County. A group with the Robbinsville-based Cherokee language camp in July participated in a breeding-bird sample survey at…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:25

Youth dove hunt to be held in Haywood

About 20 young hunters, accompanied by licensed-to-hunt adults, will take part in a dove hunt Saturday, Sept. 3, at the Mountain Research Station off Raccoon Road near Waynesville. There also will be a lunch and special educational sessions throughout the…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:25

Learn about Monarchs on the Parkway

Monarch butterflies are back. The first of the monarch butterflies have been spotted recently on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a key migration route for Monarchs on that long journey south to Mexico for the winter. A wave of monarchs will…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:24

Swain kid launch outdoor adventure club

Swain’s newest 4-H Club, the Outdoor Adventurers, waded into a mountain stream recently looking for salamanders, damselflies and other critters in a program led by Smokies Rangers Katrina Krebs and Will Butler at Smokemont Campground. Outdoor Adventurers 4-H Club youth…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:20

Moonlight Race makes a comeback

The Maggie Valley Moonlight Race this past weekend had 430 runners take to the street, a respectable comeback after a two-year hiatus, boding well for the likelihood the storied race will be on the calendar again next year. “It was…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:19

Cataloochee Ranch commemorates the chestnut tree

Come celebrate the return of the great American chestnut tree Saturday, Sept. 10, at Cataloochee Ranch outside Maggie Valley. This second-annual event features live bluegrass music by Hazel Creek, clogging demonstrations, crafts (including wood-turned bowls, pine needle baskets, stained glass,…
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:18

HCC student turns business plan into business reality

Dustin Cornelison of Haywood County has turned his belief in living a sustainable and frugal lifestyle into an actual business. Drawing upon his past experience as a sustainability technician for an environmental education center and his skills as a welder…
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