Outdoors

According to the Asheville Citizen Times and the Times-News Online today, the Blue Ridge Parkway Protection Act has been introduced into the house, which would authorize $75 million to acquire high priority lands adjacent to the existing Parkway corridor. The … Continued

An article in the Roanoke Times mentions the possibility of adding mountain bike trails to the Blue Ridge Parkway’s list of off-road recreational activities. In 2008, the Parkway asked for public comment on its trails development plan, and specifically those trails which … Continued

A while back, I was surfing around Google Maps and noticed that “The Loop” on US 441 in the Smokies wasn’t showing up properly on the map. And when you tried to use the Street View to go around the … Continued

In addition to the major rockslide blocking Interstate 40 just east of the Tennessee border, with the heavy rains from the remnants of tropical storm Ida, rockslides are occurring all accross the region: Interstate 40 remains closed and will be … Continued

FR 477, Avery Creek Road, is closed beyond the Pisgah horse stables due to a landslide that occurred during the recent rains. This slide appears to have happened in the same spot as an earlier slide from the rains in … Continued

A number of trail projects are listed on the Forest Service’s 2009 Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA). A lot of these will undoubtedly be placed on hold or canceled as they wind their way through the bureaucracy, but we might actually … Continued

According to the Asheville Citizen-Times, officials have closed the picnic area due to bear activity in the area. I can vouch for that – on a recent family trip to the area, we witnessed a bear chase a family out … Continued

Though I didn’t see a Forest Service announcement to this fact, I have confirmed with a personal visit that Yellow Gap Road appears to be open again. This closure was in the Pisgah National Forest near the Pink Beds area. … Continued