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Thanks to all our supporters, small and large donors and volunteers we are creating an awesome trails network for our region. This takes a lot of hard work, enthusiasm and money!
Please consider a tax-deductible donation to
EVTA.
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Save the Date!
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Paddle to Fiddlers by the River Festival
May 10 - 11
Tour de Vino
May 17
Trails Boogie 2014
Thursday, June 5
Tour de Yadkin
Nights in the Village
June 13 & 14
Duck & Turtle Regatta At the Pumpkin Festival September 27 Insane Terrain 5k October 18 |
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Our Primary Focus...building a segment of the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail from Stone Mtn to Elkin...
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Location of the trail: The MST from Stone Mountain Park through Elkin to Pilot Mountain State Park was on major paved highways. Recently, the routing was changed for safety to lesser used back roads and can be found on the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea web site: NCMST-Plan Your Hike (Click on west bound or east bound).
Our next step is to move off the paved roads onto trails or gravel roads. On the Stone Mountain to Elkin portion, we have designated 10 sections. We hope to have 3 sections relocated off paved roads to trails by the end of 2014. As they come "on-line" we will update the FMST web site and make announcements on our web site.
Please be aware that as easements are obtained, the trail may move from it's current location. This is an on-going process which will take many years. Infra-structure, such as parking and camping are addressed as the trail progresses. Maps showing the locations of landmarks and points of interest will be forthcoming as the sections are constructed.
Although the landowners generally determine who will be using the trail, the groups that "put in the effort" will ultimately decide the trail users. Currently, the equestrians are very involved in constructing the trail from Stone Mountain State Park towards Elkin. Because of their efforts, that section will be "horse and hiking". Other sections will be bike/hiking and hiking only sections.
The trail will be about 22-23 miles from Stone Mountain to Elkin and about 35-40 miles from Elkin to Pilot Mountain.
...on to Pilot Mountain!
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Don't Miss These Spring Events!
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What a busy Spring for outdoor activities, festivals and fundraisers...
Paddling on the Yadkin to Elkin Valley Fiddlers by the River Festival:
Saturday, May 10, 2014 - 9:00am through
Sunday, May 11, 2014 - 10:00am
May 10 at 9 AM meet at Crater Park in Elkin, then shuttle to Ronda where paddle to Elkin begins, followed by camping at Crater Park that night. On Saturday, the festival fun begins at 11 AM when the Elkin Valley Fiddlers by the River presents its all-day old-time, bluegrass and roots music festival featuring the Kruger Brothers. Join us for paddling, live music, and a stroll along the trail on the Big Elkin Creek!
Tour de Vino Cycling
May 17 before the Yadkin Valley Wine Festival
With four great and sometimes challenging rides, there is something for everyone. The rides are a 31, 50, 71 or 100 mile scenic ride into parts of Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin and even a touch of Alleghany counties of North Carolina. The ride gets its name for passing several vineyards and wineries in the Yadkin Valley wine region. Then returning to Elkin where showers and a post ride meal are waiting for you, and one of the finest wine festivals is going on at the park next to the return area. The Yadkin Valley Wine Festival. (www.yvwf.com). Entree to the ride gets you a free tasting ticket to the festival. All proceeds go to the Elkin Valley Trails Association. So bring your bike, a lawn chair or spread and some friends, and join the fun.
Trails Boogie 2014
The 2014 Trails Boogie Celebration will be held Thursday evening, June 5 at the Liberty in Downtown Elkin with music by Dennis Gruenling and Doug Demming with the Jewel Tones. These awesome, award-winning musicians are back for the fourth year and have become a part of the EVTA tradition.
Doors open at 5:30 and music starts at 6. Admission is free and donations to EVTA are welcome. Barbecue and cold beverages by Liberty catering are available to purchase all night so come right after work for social hour and dinner (thanks Erika and Jeff or donating 10% after costs to EVTA!)
Trails information, silent auction, swing/shag/blues dancing and some awesome jump blues/swing music will make it a night to remember! Please contact Denise Lyon if your business would like to donate to our silent auction part of the fundraiser.
Thanks to this year's Trails Boogie sponsors....United Water and Duke Energy, and to all our silent auction donors!
Check out the music...plenty of youtube videos! :
Tour de Yadkin "Nights in the Village"
On Friday, June 13th, the Tour de Yadkin moves to the Historic Village of Elkin. Following the 4 PM paddle from Ronda to Elkin, join the 'Nights in the Village" event and enjoy an evening of good food and fun as various restaurants and merchants open their doors to paddlers and others to create an evening to remember.
On Saturday, June 14th, Tour de Yadkin paddle begins at 11 AM at Crater Park and ends at Mitchell River with a wine tasting and bluegrass music featuring the Oak Creek Boys at Carolina Heritage Vineyard and Winery. Paddlers will shuttle back to Elkin for an early evening (5:30 PM) Yadkin Riverkeeper beer launch at 222 Public House featuring Foothills beer and live music, followed by dinner at restaurants throughout the Village. Camping available both nights at Crater Park or visit the Yadkin Riverkeeper website for special lodging options. EVTA will also lead a hike on Saturday morning, June 14, along the E & A Rail Trail and across the beautiful BRIDGE on the Elkin Creek!
Volunteers needed: EVTA needs volunteers for the May 10 and June 13/14 paddling events. Help is needed for walks along the trail, directing participants, handing out water and welcome bags! If you would like to be a part of these events and spread the word about our trails, please reply to this email...thanks!
http://yadkinriverkeeper.org
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Trail Progress...
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 | | New footbridge on Stone Mtn Trail/Well's Knob. |
Watch for good things coming this Spring:
Opening of E & A Rail Trail
Pedestrian bridge completion over Elkin Creek on the E & A Rail Trail
Opening of Well's Knob section of Stone Mountain Trail in Wilkes County for hiking and horseback riding
Update on in-town mountain bike trail development
We'll be announcing dates for these openings
in upcoming emails ... stay tuned!
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| Our Trails Are For the Birds... | The E & A Rail Trail in the city limits of Elkin is quickly becoming a birding spot. Thanks to photographer and bird enthusiast, Ron Storey, our local birds are being documented in his amazing photographs. Ron will be sharing these photographs of Elkin Valley birds in a link on the EVTA website soon. Ron and others are planning a future fundraiser which will be done by counting different species of birds along the
E & A Rail Trail and getting pledges of a certain amount for each species seen starting about two weeks prior to the count. Please reply to this email if you are interested in being on a contact list for birding walks and other events!
RonStorey.com |
| Adopt-a-Trail... | |
Let EVTA know by replying to this email if you, your organization, church, business or company would like to adopt a part of our trail network. To get the trail in faster, we are going to need people who will adopt a section and oversee layout, flagging and construction in the early phases. Then the Adopt-A-Trail initiative will help oversee maintenance of adopted segments. What a great way to help maintain our trails and get yourself outdoors!
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Celebrate Earth Day...
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Given EVTA's own commitment to blue-ways and the role we have played in the watershed study for Elkin Creek we hope you will attend this Earth Day event:
Everyone is invited to celebrate Earth Day on April 29th ( a week late ☺) from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the sanctuary at Elkin Presbyterian Church, 151 Hillcrest Drive, Elkin, NC 28621. (Refreshments will be provided.) Dean Naujoks of the Yadkin River Keeper will give us an update on the state of the Dan River since the Duke Energy coal ash spill and on similar threats to the health of our own river, the Yadkin. We will view together the award winning film Watershed on the Colorado River produced and directed by Robert Redford. And we will hear from Julian Charles, a well-respected local musical talent, who has composed some original "ecological" songs for the occasion.
For more information contact: Rev. Stuart Taylor
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Stone Mtn State Park April Events...
| Saturday, April 19th Scavenger Hunt
Meet with a ranger at the A Loop Washhouse at 1 pm to participate in a Scavenger Hunt.
Sunday, April 20th Still Hike
Meet with a ranger at the Visitor Center at 11 am for a hike to a local still site that got destroyed by local ALE officers in the late 1950's. We will also discuss the history of moonshining.
Sunday, April 20th Mammals of Stone Mountain
Meet with a ranger at the A Loop Washhouse at 2 pm to learn about the different mammals that live in Stone Mountain.
Tuesday, April 22nd Earth Day Hike - TRACK Trail
Join a ranger on the Kid's Track Trail for a family friendly hike to Stone Mountain. This program will begin at 1 pm.
Saturday, April 26th Skins and Skulls
Meet with a ranger at the A Loop Washhouse at 10 am to learn about the different animals that call Stone Mountain their home.
Saturday, April 26th Hutchinson Homestead Tour
Meet with a ranger at the Lower Parking Lot for a short hike to the Hutchinson Homestead to learn about the living in the 1800's.
Sunday, April 26th Sunset Hike to Stone Mountain Falls
Meet with a ranger at the Upper Parking Lot at 6 pm for a short hike to the top of Stone Mountain Falls.
Questions? Please call Janet Pearson, Park Superintendent, at the park office. 336-957-8185.
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