Join CMC Quarterly Trail Maintenance Crew in celebrating National Trails Day on Max Patch on June 1st!

By Paul Curtin

Join us on June 1st - the 51st Anniversary of the National Trails Day Act - on MAX PATCH, one of the iconic jewels of the Appalachian Trail, and a highlight of all trails in Western North Carolina.  The Carolina Mountain Club Trail Maintenance Crew members, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Pisgah National Forest Appalachian Ranger District, REI, and Farm to Feet are partnering to offer a unique opportunity to spend the day assisting in the rehabilitation of the A.T. as it traverses Max Patch Bald in the Pisgah National Forest.  Last year's event was a great success with nearly 100 volunteers and we expect no less this year.  Come see the work done since last year, including a 3-panel kiosk, locust fencing, steps, and tread work.  Come this year to contribute more.

Registration is limited, and pre-registration is required.  To read more, click here.

 

Here is a link to the registration:  https://www.carolinamtnclub.org/eventform.cfm

A Cool, Moist, (But Warm) Spring Social

by Stuart English

Seventy-five brave souls came to Carolina Mountain Club's 14th Annual Spring Social. Nineteen of them attended the two hikes led by Bobbi Powers and Michael and Kathy Corrn in the rain. The previous day the area had received an unprecedented amount of rain in less than 12 hours. The French Broad River was creeping onto Highway 191 at the entrance of the Arboretum, where the Social was held. Bent Creek seemed almost Straight Creek there was so much water in it.

To read more, click here.

By her own admission, Beth Jusino was not an outdoor person. Yet, this writer and editor walked about a thousand miles on the Camino de Santiago, from Le Puy-en-Velay in France to St. Jean Pied de Port at the foot of the Pyrenees to Santiago in northwestern Spain, and then to Finisterre, believed to be the end of the world in Medieval Times. Whew! I too walked this route, but it took me three trips.

To read more, click here.

For an interesting article covering the area of a hike led by Beth Fluharty, click here.

Interested in contributing to a conservation study of beetles?  Clayton Traylor, a PhD student at the University of Georgia, is studying the conservation of saproxylic beetles - those that are dependent on dead or decaying wood.  He is launching an iNaturalist project for target species in need of conservation by determining their habitat requirements. The species are large and noticeable and easy to identify.

Please see the attached flyer for more info, and when you spot them, drop Clayton an email at

[email protected]   or upload a photo to iNaturalist.org