Personal explorations related the outdoors in Western North Carolina and beyond.
What a lush, beautiful spring it has been. Our tomatoes are hanging in there with the cooler temperatures, and I’ve been spending too much time reading along the banks of the Swannanoa river. Our mighty Beech is reaching ever closer … Continued
Drafts of the Nantahala and Pisgah forest plan and environmental impact statement (EIS) are now available. A formal 90-day public review and comment period began on February 14. The proposed plan is built on significant public engagement and the best … Continued
I’ve always dreaded winter. The shorter days, the biting cold, and all the preparations involved just to be comfortable anywhere make it difficult to endure, to enjoy. I grew up in Denver in the 90’s when it snowed and snowed … Continued
Below are the comments I am submitting to the National Forests in NC regarding their Wilderness Inventory Evaluation process, which is underway as a part of the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests Plan Revision. They’re looking for very specific, particularly … Continued
Mullinax, Squirrel Gap, & Poundingmill Trails And A Reflection on Wilderness…ness On Saturday, November 14, 2015, my wife and I found ourselves with some free time and a babysitter, so we headed down to the Turkeypen trailhead to do a … Continued
Update October 5 5:00 pm All of the Pisgah National Forest sites have reopened, and the Blue Ridge Parkway is open again as well. Chimney Rock State Park is open again, but it looks like the trails in DuPont State … Continued
The Forest Service in NC announced completion of trail and parking lot improvements at Toms Creek Falls, a beautiful waterfall in the Grandfather ranger district of Pisgah National Forest including the installation of an accessible observation deck. Since the Falls … Continued
The National Park Service has announced its 2015 Spring/Summer facility schedule, which confirms that the Crabtree Falls campground will reopen on May 1, 2015! The campground has been closed since the end of season in 2012 due to budget cuts. … Continued
Oh, and the Graveyard Fields area is closed to overnight camping temporarily, too! The US Forest Service has announced a temporary closure of the Graveyard Fields area to overnight camping due to bear activity in the area. This isn’t unusual … Continued
Oskar Blues Brewery has officially announced that it is developing a long-rumored “Beer & Bike destination” in Western North Carolina, not far from its Transylvania County brewery near Brevard. Dubbed the “REEB ranch”, the 145-acre property – formerly called Shoals Falls … Continued