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Showing posts with label Appalachian Trail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Appalachian Trail. Show all posts
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Four national forests reopen trailheads and access points to Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Cherokee, Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests temporarily shut down trailheads, access points to Appalachian National Scenic Trail
File Photo November 2016
Asheville, NC, March 28, 2020 - The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in North Carolina, and the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee are temporarily shutting down trailhead facilities and other access points to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail to prevent groups from congregating and to protect public health and safety.
The decision aligns with state and local measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"We realize our communities and our visitors value the recreation opportunities the forest has to offer," said JaSal Morris, Cherokee National Forest Supervisor. "A lot of consideration went into this decision. The health and safety of our employees and the public remain our top priority."
The following popular access sites are affected by these changes:
•Wayah Bald - Nantahala National Forest
•Cheoah Bald - Nantahala National Forest
•Hampton and Dennis Cove Trailheads (Laurel Falls) - Cherokee National Forest
•Osborne Farm - Cherokee National Forest
•Max Patch - Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests
Roan Mountain/Carvers Gap - Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests
•Lovers Leap - Pisgah National Forest
For a complete list of access sites affected by these changes visit: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/currentclosures
USDA Forest Service managers remind national forest visitors to recreate responsibly by avoiding gathering in groups of more than ten people and not engaging in high-risk activities, like rock climbing, that increase the chance of injury or distress. Also note that law enforcement and search and rescue operations may be limited due to COVID-19.
Guidelines for health and safety, recommended by the CDC, are available at:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html
See the Cherokee National Forest website for the latest recreation information at https://www.fs.usda.gov/cherokee. For the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests visit www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nfsnc, and on Twitter at twitter.com/NFsNCarolina.
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Published at 5:35pm on Saturday, March 28, 2020
Sunday, January 28, 2018
2018 Trail Ambassador (TA) Training and Refresher Course
The NHC will again provide training to Trail Ambassadors who will do day hikes on our 60-mile section to meet thru-hikers this spring. TAs will provide local knowledge and Leave No Trace education. With a 14% increase in northbound thru-hikers in 2017 over 2016, anything NHC can do to help with visitor use management will ensure a pleasant hiker experience and help protect the resource.
Training will take place on Saturday, February 10, 2018, at 9 am - 3 pm at the NHC Clubhouse (173 Carl Slagle Road, Franklin). If you have been through training previously, you must attend for policy and procedural updates. The USFS, ATC and the Georgia maintaining Club will conduct their TA workshop on Friday, February 2nd in Blairsville, GA. NHC TAs are invited to attend.
We are looking for folks to do 2-day hikes a month in March, April, and May. This is a great opportunity to see spring come to the mountains and meet hikers on their journey to Maine.
If you are interested in this type of volunteer activity,
please contact Bill Van Horn at 838-369-1983.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Wayah Bald After the Camp Branch Fire
Macon Media and The Franklin Press were given the opportunity to visit the Wayah Bald Fire Tower on the afternoon of Monday, November 28th and view the aftermath of the Camp Branch Fire and observe conditions along the Wayah Bald Road and Wayah Road. The images, sounds and video collected during that visit are posted here. An article by Tim Reaves will appear in The Wednesday, November 30, 2016 issue of The Franklin Press with his observations of the visit.
Public Information Officer Gil Knight chaperoned the visit and made sure we were safe during our tour and answered the many questions we had.
Video and photos are posted below.
DAY SPONSOR
Carrion Tree Service is underwriting the daily weather briefing and public safety updates for today. they are a fully licensed and insured tree service, specializing
in dangerous tree removal, view clearing, pruning, and crane services with a 24 Hour emergency response.
Their phone number is 371-4718. They are located at 120 Depot Street.
They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.
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Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Appalachian Trail Community Committee Holds Annual Meeting
Officers Elected
The Franklin Appalachian Trail Community Committee met for their annual meeting at The Lazy Hiker due to their space being double booked by the Town of Franklin.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Chairperson..........Rob Gasbarro
Vice Chairperson...Matt Bateman
Sec/Treasurer.......Kristina Moe
MEDIA ROLL CALL (media outlets present for the meeting)
Macon Media (me)
Here is the video of the meeting:
Agenda
AT Community Committee Meeting
Annual Meeting
June 9, 2015
10:00 - 11:30 am
1. Welcome: (Matt Bateman)
Introductions
New members
Guests
2. Review minutes of May 12, 2015 meeting (Kristina)
3. Old business:
TDA and/or TDC issues
AT Community Conference Nov 2015
2 013 Hiker Service Brochure corrections/updating
Hiker Survey for 2016 Questions and survey locations
4. New business:
Council nominating recommendations for Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary/Treasurer, discussion and vote
Focus of effort going forward
5. Updates from Committee members
6. Next meeting date (July 14, 2015)
Monday, April 23, 2012
A Hiker Passes Through Macon County:
Jonathan Welch's Account
A former staff photographer with the Mountain Xpress is attempting a thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail and is keeping an interesting blog of his experiences. [AT Blog]
He recently came through Macon County and made a stop over here, riding in the shuttle driven by Ron Haven.
You can see the two blog entries as he passed through our county by clicking the two links below:
Farewell GA, nice to meet again NC
"It's all about the smiles, not the miles!"
He is keeping an interesting record, photographic and written, of his journey and I hope that he keeps it up for the duration of his attempt. I will be checking on his progress from time to time and I hope that some of you will as well.
Hat Tip to the Mountain Xpress for posting a recent story on Welch's journey that alerted me to this endeavor.
Check out galleries of Jonathan's photographic work on his website.
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