 Insane 5K Fundraiser is this Saturday, October 18 Stay for Race Awards, Skullcamp Microbrews and Bridge Ribbon Cutting
Here's your chance to run the first 5k on the new
E&A Rail Trail this Saturday morning and help raise funds for the continued trail development to Stone Mountain.
Will YOU ring the gong?
Thank you, Skullcamp Brewing for donating proceeds from the sale of Trale Bred red ale to the Elkin Valley Trails Association for trail development!
Two great opportunities to VOLUNTEER:
INSANE TERRAIN THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 at Elkin Municipal Park:
Race coordinators are in need of at least an additional 4 people to help on Saturday morning.
Volunteers are needed in helping participants check into race, handing out goodie bags, helping with door prizes, setting up post race snack table with apples and bananas, course marshals and assisting with the water/aid station at the 1.5 mile mark.
Free t-shirt for helping (need to know by Thursday for t-shirt size) and Sheetz coffee in morning.
Times are no later than 7am to 10:00am or can come from 10 am to 11:00am+/- to help break down/clean up after awards and bridge celebration.
Contact Robert Ball at 336-366-9212 or at [email protected]
VINEYARD STOMP 5K
OCTOBER 25 at Grassy Creek Winery & Vineyard:
Donations benefit EVTA!
Grassy Creek wants to round up about 10-12 volunteers to help out the morning of the race. Volunteers are needed to hand out water, to be out on the trail directing and things of that sort.
The race is at 10 AM with people beginning to come at 8 AM for registration. Volunteers need to arrive around 8:45.
If you can volunteer, please contact Grassy Creek Winery & Vineyard at [email protected]For more information: Visit Grassy Creek Vineyard Stomp |
 Bridge Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Immediately After Insane Terrain. Come for the Insane Terrain on Saturday morning and stay for a ribbon cutting ceremony immediately after the race awards at Elkin's Municipal Park. At approximately 10:15, EVTA will officially turn the first bridge on the E & A Rail Trail over to the Town of Elkin. Join us as we celebrate this milestone and enjoy a community walk down the trail!
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 Captain Mark Garner to be Honored with Naming and Dedication of Overmountain Victory Trail... VFW Post 7794 Ceremony is on Veteran's Day, November 11 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7794 of Elkin recognizes Mark Garner, a local area Afghanistan War Casualty with the changing of its post's name and the dedication of a local trail in his honor. The National Veterans of Foreign Wars approved the renaming of Post 7794 to the CAPTAIN MARK GARNER Post in September 2014 and the Town of Elkin approved a request to name a section of trail within Elkin Municipal Park in his honor at the October 6th Town Board Meeting. Captain Mark Garner, United States Army, was raised in State Road, North Carolina and graduated from Elkin High School. He furthered his education at the United States Military Academy at West Point and received his commission upon graduation. Following various military assignments he was ultimately assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany. Captain Garner, 30, died July 6, 2009, in Argandab District, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. At the time of his death he was traveling in a convoy of U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists. Captain Garner was buried with full military honors at Hollywood Cemetery in Elkin on July 18, 2009. Captain Garner will be honored on Veterans Day 2014 with the naming and dedication of a section of trail in Elkin Municipal Park. This section of trail is part of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail that runs from Elkin to Kings Mountain National Military Park in South Carolina. This section of trail will eventually be a section of the North Carolina Mountains to Sea trail as well. A prominent marker honoring Captain Garner will be placed along the trail. During the same ceremony, VFW Post 7794 will unveil the new Post charter honoring "Captain Mark Garner." The program is scheduled for 11 am on Tuesday, November 11th in Elkin Municipal Park. For additional information regarding this release, please contact Post Quartermaster Sam Bishop at (336) 366-9751 or email at [email protected].
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Next Trail Workday is Saturday, October 18 Wells Knob Section
When: October 18th at 8:30 until 12:00 or so (rain date November 1st) What: We will be finishing the approaches to the 2nd bridge on this section, "rough cutting" a small re-locate, installing water bars and a culvert Where: Meet at the bridge at Wits End Eventing's driveway. Directions: From Elkin take Rt. 21 about 12 miles north to Traphill Rd. (as if you are going to Stone Mountain State Park) Turn left on Traphill Rd. and then left on Roaring Gap Church Rd. Go 1 3/4 miles and turn left on Roaring Gap Road. Go 1/2 miles to Wits End's driveway on the right. What to bring: Rakes, shovels, lobbers, gloves, bow saws, smiles
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 "100 Strong" Local Artist John McComb Installs Sculpture on E & A Rail Trail.
Thank you, John McComb for this wonderful addition to the E & A Rail Trail in Municipal Park. Wow! McComb says "100 Strong" honors the idea that when the energies, efforts, and sacrifices of communities come together to work on a common goal, good things happen.
You can read The Tribune's article on John and his inspiration for this art on the trail here:
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Beautiful Brick Footbridge Discovered Near Trail. Can You Help Us With the Mystery?
This old brick bridge was found by Rob Libbert while GPSing EVTA's potential mountain bike course. The bridge is on land bought by Elkin in 1928 from the Shoe Factory. We would love to hear any stories that you might know about the history of this structure. It could possibly have a future as part of a mountain-biking and hiking loop in Elkin so that all of us can enjoy it!
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E & A Rail Trail is a Birding Hotspot... Participate by Reporting Birds Along the Trail!
As one participates in an activity on the Elkin and Alleghany Rail-Trail one of the most common animals they will observe is birds. Some of you may be familiar with the more common species of bird found on the trail. For example, most of you are familiar with Cardinal, Titmouse, Chickadee, Crow, Mockingbird and Robin. Did you know that over 80 species have been reported on the trail here in Elkin alone? The Elkin and Alleghany Rail-Trail is listed as a birding hotspot with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and we can use your help by reporting the birds you observe on the trail.
To report your observations go to
Here you can see what species have been reported, the time of the year they were reported, and submit your observations. Your reports will help us maintain this area as a designated hotspot and will help us develop a seasonal checklist.
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 Consider Making a Donation to EVTA This Year!
Here's a reminder that you can make a tax-deductible donation to EVTA to help us develop a segment of the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail from Stone Mountain State Park to Elkin. EVTA is a non-profit 501-c-3 affiliate of NC Rail-Trails, Inc.
Plans for our segment of trail include sections for hiking and horseback riding north of Elkin and hiking, trail running and mountain-biking sections in the town limits and and vineyard loop spur trails. We will be developing trail segments beyond where the current in-town section of trail ends as we work on getting the next bridge built across the Elkin Creek. Planning for this bridge is in the works and with your help, we can raise the funds needed to complete the project by Fall of 2015.
Donations can be mailed to: Elkin Valley Trails Association PO Box 91 Elkin, NC 28621
Donate with a credit card:
Together we're getting it done! |
 Elkin High School Cross Country Runners Home Meet Held on the E & A Rail Trail!
Elkin High School cross country team recently used the E & A Rail Trail for a home meet. The run started on the edge of the practice soccer field, headed up trail, across the 1st bridge to the current end of the trail, turned around and returned. It was the first home meet in more than 40 years. The Elkin High School team is a real contender to win the 1A State Championship in November. They routinely use the trail for training and practice.
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Is There an Experienced Mini-Excavator Operator Out There? EVTA needs someone to operate a mini-excavator on our trail work on weekdays or weekends. (That's a really cool earth moving machine for those of us who don't know this sort of thing). We have the machine but we need an experienced operator. If you qualify, please respond to Bill Blackley at [email protected]. |
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 Wave at Gerald Combs ... He'll Be Paddling the Yadkin in his Nifty New Kayak! Congratulations, Gerald, for having the fastest ducky in town on the day of the Duck & Turtle Regatta Fundraiser. Kayak donated by Yadkin River Adventures.
984 Ducks and Turtles were launched and the Regatta raised almost $5000 to be used for community projects by EVTA and the Yadkin Valley Rotary Club.
Thank You to all of the 28 generous business who donated some awesome prizes to the Regatta this year...and to all of you who donated to EVTA by participating!
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