Mountain Lake 5K results

The Mountain Lake 5K in Highlands last weekend raised around $2,500, which will be used to purchase fitness equipment and for scholarships.

The race is put on each year by the Highland Road Runners Club. The threat of rain Saturday morning held off until the race was over and the last of the equipment was taken down and put away.

Gordon Murray, 41, came in first with a time of 19:51, followed shortly by Matthew Worth, 18, at 20:15 and John Hood in third with 20:42. The top female finisher was Mary Brooks, 46, at 22:46, followed by Anna Katherine Bowman, 35, at 23:32 and Kathryn Arvidson, 50, at 25:35.

(Do you have a race going on in The Smoky Mountain News coverage area, or are you participating in a race somewhere else? Email results or a picture to becky@smokymountainnews.com and we’ll try to include it in an upcoming edition of SMN.)

Get ready to rumble, and rumble, and rumble

Mountain bikers will converge on Tsali — the king of Western North Carolina bike trails — on Saturday, May 17, for a 12-hour race aptly called 12 Hours of Tsali.

The race will go from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Teams of up to four riders take shifts, riding as many laps as possible on the trail system in the 12-hour race window. Each team gets a baton carried by the rider making the laps. The baton is handed off when riders switch out, which can only be done in the designated transition area.

There is also a solo rider division for those with hearty legs.

The race is being put on by Gone Riding. Local sponsors include Motion Makers, NOC and Smoky Mountain Bicycles.

Spectators are welcome, although car-pooling is highly recommended due to a dearth of parking. If you park along the road, make sure your car isn’t hanging over the white line or you could get a ticket or be towed. There will be no food, so bring your own.

Tsali is located outside Bryson City. Take U.S. 19 south from Bryson City, go right on N.C. 28 before entering the Gorge, and go for 5.5 miles. Look for a sign and hang a right on a gravel road.

For more, go to at goneriding.com or call 352.873.9279.

Biking community to hold benefit ride

The local biking community is pulling together with a benefit ride to help one of their own who is fighting skin cancer.

The ride will take off from Smoky Mountain Bicycles in Franklin at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 25. The ride is about 30 miles through the beautiful Burningtown area.

The ride benefits Alan McGovern, who was diagnosed with melanoma in March. He has had two surgeries and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. McGovern is self-employed and has no health insurance.

McGovern’s family is very involved in the cycling community. His wife, Cindy, has volunteered at the last two Tour de Franklin rides, dressing up as a pumpkin in 2006 and as grapes in 2007.

Cost of the ride is $15, with checks made out to the McGovern family. A SAG vehicle will be on route with beverages and food, but there are no official rest stops. Burgers and hotdogs will be served up at the bike shop after the ride. For more information, call 828.369.2881.

Virtual mountain biking anywhere, anytime

Bored at work and need a mountain bike fix? Check out mountain bike games on line, where you use the arrow keys on your keyboard to control the mountain bike.

For a basic game, go to www.break.com/games/mountain-bike.html. It’s fairly easy to play, using up and down keys to accelerate and break, and left and right arrows to lean forward or backward.

For more advanced games, go to teagames.com and choose from a dozen different bike courses. When hill climbing, landing a jump or doing downhills, the left and right arrows are crucial to keep the bike from flipping. In addition to the arrow keys, a half dozen keystrokes can be used for various ariborne tricks.

Mark the arrival of spring birds

Spring marks the arrival of migratory birds, a time of year celebrated by International Migratory Bird Day held this year on Saturday, May 10.

The Cradle of Forestry will hold a series of bird-related activities for International Migratory Bird Day.

The day will kick off with a guided bird walk to practice identifying birds by sight and sound. At 2 p.m. another guided walk, “Birding for Beginners,” will cover birding basics.

Family oriented activities and games will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. In the game “Risky Business,” participants experience the challenges birds face during migration. Visitors can learn about bird adaptations and needs by playing “Fill the Bill” and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s “Bird Jeopardy” game.

Visitors can make a colorful mobile to hang outside their window to prevent birds from colliding with the glass. Children will be invited to make a pair of binoculars.

Group size for the bird walks are limited, so registration is recommended by calling 828.877.3130. The Cradle of Forestry is located on U.S. 276 four miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Entrance is $5 for adults. For more information go to www.cradleofforestry.org.

Highlands heralded as an ornithology hotbed

The Highlands Plateau has been recognized as an “Important Bird Area” by the Audubon Society, with a dedication to be held on Saturday, May 10.

The ceremony will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Highlands Nature Center. There will be mountain music, light refreshments, exhibits by local conservation organizations and the opportunity to speak with state and local experts on bird and habitat conservation issues.

Awards will be presented to several organizations that have made important contributions to preserving bird and wildlife habitat in Highlands, including:

• Town of Highlands, Mayor Donald Mullen

• Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, Executive Director Gary Wein

• Nantahala National Forest, District Ranger Mike Wilkins

• Highlands Nature Center, Director Patrick Brannon

• Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance, Executive Director David Bates

• Land Stewards of the Highlands Plateau, President Cindy Trevathan

The Highlands Plateau Audubon Society and Audubon North Carolina will lead the program. Speakers include Chris Canfield, executive director of Audubon North Carolina, and Curtis Smalling, Important Bird Area Coordinator for North Carolina.

The Highlands Plateau is home to a unique bird habitat, playing a crucial role in the survival of species of special concern.

A bird walk for both novices and experts will be held at the Nature Center at 7 a.m. prior to the program. To go on the bird walk, call 828.787.1230.

The mission of the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society is to provide opportunities to enjoy and learn about birds and other wildlife and to promote conservation and restoration of the habitats that support them.