View from the Highlands41 Years Protecting the World’s Oldest Mountains

2015 Fall Issue

Elk Hollow Branch, in the Highlands of Roan Photo by Witt Langstaff, Jr.

Conserving Mountains • Farms • Streams • Habitat

Board of TrusteesNancy Edgerton, President Asheville, NCJack Hamilton, Vice-President Asheville, NCMilton “Buddy” Tignor, Jr., At-Large Asheville, NCJay Leutze, Secretary Minneapolis, NC Laura McCue, Treasurer Asheville, NCCourtney Blossman Asheville, NCPatty Cunningham-Woolf Asheville, NCLyman “Greg” Gregory, III Asheville, NCJim Houser Charlotte, NCAnne Kilgore Kingsport, TNBill Lowndes Asheville, NCRick Manske Asheville, NCRobbie McLucas Asheville, NCJeff Needham Kingsport, TNKathy Singleton Kingsport, TNMary Bruce Woody Asheville, NC

Office34 Wall Street, Suite 502, Asheville, NC 28801-2710

828.253.0095 • FAX 828.253.1248sahc@appalachian.org

StaffCarl Silverstein Executive Director Kristy Urquhart Associate Director Michelle Pugliese Land Protection DirectorWilliam Hamilton Farmland Program DirectorHanni Muerdter Stewardship & Conservation Planning DirectorMarquette Crockett Roan Stewardship DirectorSarah Sheeran Stewardship AssociateCheryl Fowler Membership DirectorLisa Fancher Finance Compliance DirectorAngela Shepherd Communications Director Pauline Heyne Donor Relations ManagerChris Link Community Farm & Food Associate

Spencer Scheidt AmeriCorps Stewardship & Volunteer Associate Jesse Wood AmeriCorps Stewardship & Volunteer Associate Haley Smith AmeriCorps Conservation Education & Volunteer Associate Teagan Dolan AmeriCorps Land Protection & Education Associate Map: SAHC Focus Areas. Over the past 41 years, we have

protected over 68,000 acres across ten counties in NC & TN.

Appalachian Trail Countryside

Highlands of

Roan

Black Mountains

Balsam Mountains

French Broad River

ValleySmoky

Mountains

Accreditation Renewal — Success!The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, recently renewed SAHC’s accreditation for another 5-year term.

“Accreditation strengthens our credibility as a regional land trust,” says Executive Director Carl Silverstein. “Being accredited assures our members, the landowners with whom we work, and the public that we follow rigorous ethical and professional standards. SAHC holds itself to the highest possible standards, and we appreciate this formal recognition of our doing so.”

We are one of 317 land trusts from across the country that are accredited. Accredited land trusts are authorized to display a seal indicating to the public that they meet national standards for excellence, uphold the public trust and ensure that conservation efforts are permanent. The seal is a mark of distinction in land conservation.

“SAHC is one of the first land trusts to achieve renewed accreditation, a significant achievement for the land trust and significant major milestone for the accreditation program,” said Commission Executive Director Tammara Van Ryn. “Accreditation renewal, which must be completed every five years, provides the public with an assurance that accredited land trusts continue to meet exceedingly high standards for quality.”

Thank you to all who wrote letters to the Commission, and to our accreditation team who led us through the process!

Thank you for being a part of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, and for supporting our crucial efforts to protect the

unique rolling ridges and gem-like coves of these ancient mountains. We have much to share with you in this issue.

Our renewed accreditation is a testament to our rigorous standards of professionalism and excellence — we hope you are

proud of what you have helped accomplish.

In this issue of the View, we recap our summer events, hikes, and volunteer work days – and tell the stories of our most recent land protection projects. Our seasonal Roan Naturalist met over 4,500

people in the Highlands of Roan this summer! You’ll find his report and an excerpt from his field journal on pages 10-12.

With increasing development pressures in the region, farmland conservation has become a greater and greater portion of our work

(p. 6-7). We are pleased to announce that our Farmer Incubator Program is growing by leaps-and-bounds (p. 8-9), and invite you to

contact us about visiting, if you have not yet seen it for yourself.

We hope you enjoy this issue, full of personal stories and upcoming events. All of what we do is possible because of your support.

Thank you!

Carl Silverstein Executive Director

Letter from the

Director

Highlights:• New Land Protection Updates

(pages 4-7) Haywood Gap Doubleside Knob Ivy Creek Fairview Bottomlands

• Our Community Farm (pages 8-9)

• Highlands of Roan Volunteers & Management (page 10)

• Conservation Field Journal (pages 11-12)

• AmeriCorps Project Conserve (page 13)

• Of Land & People: Ken & Lotta Murray and the Tilson Farm (pages 14-15)

• Partnerships in Business, Lost Cove Rafting Excursion (pages 16-17)

• Upcoming Events/Outreach (pages 18-19)

• Appalachian Spring Recap (pages 20-21)

• Members’ Corner (pages 22-23)

For recent updates, visit us at Appalachian.org and follow us online.

Do you have a photo or story to share? We love to hear from our members. Contact us at sahc@appalachian.org.

The mission of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is to conserve the unique plant and animal habitat, clean water, farmland and scenic beauty of the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee for the benefit of present and future generations. We achieve this by forging and maintaining long-term conservation relationships with private landowners and public agencies, owning and managing land, and encouraging healthy local communities.

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“This conservation project is particularly exciting because of the quality of water sources, habitat, and connectivity to other protected lands,” said Executive Director Carl Silverstein.

The Haywood Gap properties include five tributary streams of Bald Fork, which flows into Sandy Mush Creek, a tributary of the French Broad River and classified as Trout Waters by the NC Division of Water Resources. The conservation easements also protect healthy forest habitat with diverse hardwoods and a variety of community types, including high elevation rock outcrops, rich cove forest and montane oak forest.

“Large rock outcrops at high elevations are rare,” added Silverstein. “They are a priority habitat to protect because several rare plants and animals – such as the rock vole and the Alleghany woodrat – thrive in these communities.”

The healthy understory plant communities support a range of native

species — large and small mammals, birds, migratory species, amphibians and reptiles, and aquatic life.

Located in the far western corner of Buncombe County, near where Buncombe, Haywood, and Madison Counties converge, the Haywood Gap conservation area reaches 4,380 ft. elevation and is visible from Sandy Mush Road and Sandy Mush Bald.

The tracts adjoin 601 acres owned by the Long Branch Environmental Education Center, which we protected with a conservation easement in 1995. The landowners, who have owned the land since 1977, expressed a deep desire to see it preserved for future generations.

“This project continues our decades-long commitment to conservation in the Sandy Mush community,” continued Silverstein.

We are grateful for the vision of the landowners, private philanthropic leaders, and Buncombe County for the permanent protection of Haywood Gap.

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Haywood GapOn a clear day, Haywood Gap is visible from downtown Asheville in the sweeping arc of mountains that frame the western horizon. We recently placed conservation easements on 236 forested acres in two adjoining tracts at the gap, protecting 8,980 linear feet of stream corridor in the French Broad River watershed.

New land protection projects

SAHC-protected lands

Haywood Gap

Doubleside Knob

Haywood Gap tracts are prominent in views from surrounding areas.

French Broad River Valley Focus Area

“We bought our share of Sandy Mush land back in the mid-late 70’s, realizing how important nature and protecting it was. We were so struck by the gorgeous land itself – and the incredibly beautiful valley we had to go through to get to it. For my husband Bill, it connected to his past, growing up in Andrews, NC in the Snowbird Mountains. For me, it connected to my deep love of mountains. Protecting land feeds the future, protects the water and food supply, and feeds all of my senses. We are so fortunate to be connected to such a beautiful, peaceful and nourishing place.”

~ Evelyn Bloch, one of the Haywood Gap landowners.

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This mature, forested property is adjacent to an existing conservation easement held by SAHC and is connected to a large network of protected land in Sandy Mush. Adding to connectivity of conservation lands helps create wildlife corridors.

High elevation boulder fields and seeps and streams on the land provide important habitat. Southern Appalachian oak forest and mixed hardwoods occur throughout the tract, with elevations reaching above 4,000 ft. at the top of Doubleside Knob.

SAHC’s purchase protects water quality. The property contains the main branch of Long Branch, which flows into Beaverdam Creek.

Doubleside Knob is visible from hiking and mountain biking trails of the nearby Rough Creek Watershed, owned by the Town of Canton. In 2002, SAHC worked with the Town of Canton and Clean Water Management Trust Fund to permanently protect the 870-acre Rough Creek watershed, which now contains 10+ miles of trails available for public day use by hikers and mountain bikers.

Part of a mountainous backdrop, the purchase protects scenic views from Long Branch Road and Beaverdam Road as well.

Doubleside KnobTucked away in Haywood county, this steep, wooded 31-acre property contains lovely streams and seeps in a boulderfield, forming excellent habitat. Recently purchased by SAHC, it can be viewed from the publicly accessible hiking and mountain biking trails of the Rough Creek Watershed.

Gloria Nelson and Mary Morehouse“For years we have walked this property and enjoyed the beauty of the trees, the animals, and the streams that run through it,” said landowner Gloria Nelson. “For this reason we wanted this land to remain just as it is. We are very happy that the conservancy now owns it and will be able to preserve it for years to come.”

Mary Morehouse was once Gloria’s Nelson’s teacher, and they have remained close throughout their lives, often visiting each other to spend time on the land they love.

French Broad River Valley Focus AreaDoubleside Knob ( just left of center) is visible from the public hiking/biking trail of Rough Creek watershed.

Large hemlock tree on the tract. The tract contains headwater streams.High elevation boulder fields provide habitat.

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French Broad River Valley Focus Area

Ivy CreekChancellor Emerita of UNC Asheville Anne Ponder and her husband Chris Brookhouse have protected their 102-acre property in Madison County with a conservation easement, preserving pastoral and forest land for future generations.

Visible from the French Broad River, Ivy Creek farm is characteristic of Madison County’s rural landscape, with open pasture ridge tops and steep wooded slopes. The tract is approximately 30% pasture, grazed by cattle, and 70% forest, with a variety of forest types and mixed hardwoods.

The property contains seeps, springs, streams and water courses of high water quality, including Ivy Creek and unnamed tributaries of the creek, which flows into the French Broad River. Permanently protecting the tract preserves water quality, future agricultural use, open space, and wildlife habitat on a parcel that could otherwise have become a fairly dense development.

Concerned about this potential for future development, the landowners donated the conservation easement and made a gift toward future stewardship of the tract.

“We are grateful to Anne and Chris for

their foresight in realizing the potential vulnerability of this property, and for proactively working with SAHC to protect the scenic value as well as water and agricultural resources of the farm,” said Executive Director Carl Silverstein.

Conservation of the Ivy Creek farm was made possible by a Mountain Revolving Land Fund Mini-Grant from the Conservation Trust for NC and a gift from private donors, to cover the transaction costs of the project.

Anne and Chris will continue to live and farm on the property, with the peace of mind that it has been permanently protected from development.

Ivy Creek

Sandy Mush Game Lands

French Broad River

New land protection project

Other SAHC-protected lands

The Ivy Creek property is a scenic Madison County mixture of pasture and forest

Landowner Perspective: by Anne Ponder“A convergence of truly great Asheville folks led us to establish a conservation easement on our property in Madison County. Last year we were inspired by the creation of the McCullough Institute at UNC Asheville, created by the late Charles McCullough and his wife Shirley Anne to research conservation and sustainability. At an event announcing the Institute, financial advisor Michael Andry of Wells Fargo Private Bank introduced me to Carl Silverstein — and our conversations turned to action.

I worked with Carl, Michael, and Farmland Director William Hamilton to place 102 acres of our property, acquired in 1995, into a conservation easement. My husband Chris Brookhouse and I knew that if we didn’t protect our farm and forest land now, its beauty and proximity to Asheville could provide an irresistible opportunity for future development.

Born in Asheville, I have had the great good fortune to return to this remarkable place, becoming chancellor of UNC Asheville in 2005. The natural beauty of our mountains is an asset for the environment, for prolonging the biodiversity of flora and fauna in our region, for preserving farm land, and for the sanity and grace that a walk in the woods or a view of the blue hills gives us. Because we placed our property in a conservation easement, generations to come will have the advantages which this natural beauty affords.

We are grateful for each of the people we worked with along the way, as we pursue a stewardship plan for our conservation easement in the years ahead.”

Streams on the farm flow into Ivy Creek.

Cattle graze on the Ivy Creek farm.

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Black Mountains Focus Area

The recently protected tracts adjoin lands already in conservation easement with SAHC and near more than 1,500 protected acres in the region.

85-93% of these parcels contain nationally significant prime agricultural soils, primarily Statler loam, Toxaway loam, Rosman fine sandy loam, Rosman loam, and Dillard loam.

The concentration of nationally recognized prime soils on the parcels is extremely important. Prime soils in the Appalachian Mountains are a rare and threatened resource — only 2% of the land mass consists of prime soils, and much of that has already been converted to some other use. Prime soils take thousands of years to form through the geologic processes of flooding, freezing and thawing. Because of these soils, the Fairview Bottomland farms qualified for highly competitive federal and state conservation funds.

The conservation easements also protect 2,170 linear feet of Ashworth Creek and frontage along the NC Scenic Drovers Road Byway. Having a well-vegetated, forested buffer along Ashworth Creek protects water quality and provides important wildlife habitat, including corridors or aquatic species, small mammals and migratory songbirds.

The Fairview Bottomlands conservation projects were made possible with generous contributions by Fairview residents and others in WNC who wanted to support the permanent preservation of the valley, donations by the landowners, Buncombe County, and the Federal Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program of the US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Fairview BottomlandsA bucolic stretch of land along the Drovers’ Road Scenic Byway in Fairview has now been protected for posterity. We placed 30 acres of fertile bottomland into conservation easements to safeguard the scenic vistas of the valley and working, productive agricultural land. The three adjoining tracts contain high percentages of nationally significant, prime agricultural soils, with portions actively farmed by Flying Cloud Farm and Bel Aire Farm.

Bill and Kitty Lynch of Bel Aire farm.New Fairview Bottomlands CEs

Other SAHC-protected lands

Fairview BottomlandsDrovers Road Scenic Byway

A crucial element of any great farmland preservation effort is the people who work the land. Isaiah and Annie Louise Perkinson of Flying Cloud Farm grow organically produced vegetables and fruits on two of the recently protected tracts. Their presence and hard work on the land is a testament of why protecting these tracts for continued agricultural use is important.

“ ‘Bel Aire’ was the name Dr. James Lynch gave to his farm when he retired from practicing surgery in Asheville and moved to Fairview to set up a country doctor practice out of the front rooms of the log cabin he built on family land. He was a true country doctor, taking payments in sacks of potatoes, fresh eggs or even hard labor. He took to farming and stewardship of the land, using local labor to help with erosion, drainage and flooding on his creekside bottomlands. He practiced rotational crop planting and letting fields lay fallow as well as rotational grazing of his herd of Hereford cattle. Tried and true agricultural practices that are still being followed today here in “Lynch’s Bottoms” of Fairview.”

Provided by Kitty Lynch of Bel Aire Farm

Historic Perspective: Dr. Lynch’s Bel Aire Farm

Flying Cloud Farm grows organically-grown produce in protected prime soils.

Vineyards of Bel Aire Farm

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Growing StrongCrops and cattle are growing strong for the entrepreneurial farmers in our Farmer Incubator Program! We have made significant infrastructure improvements at our Community Farm over the past few months, thanks to generous supporters.

We’ve added 5,000 ft of fencing, increasing our carrying capacity of livestock, and built a wash shed so vegetable farmers can hydro-cool, wash, spray, bag and pack produce in an enclosed area with plumbing and electricity. We also installed irrigation equipment and built a mobile walk-in cooler for

vegetables to be harvested, stored, and kept cold while at market. We’re especially excited about purchasing our New Holland tractor and bush hog attachment! The benefits of having a 4WD tractor with a bucket on site are endless, improving efficiency on the farm.

Piney Woods Cattle update by Incubator Farmer Gina RaicovichThis winter two bulls joined our herd! We leased one bull from a top Piney Woods breeder in Mississippi. He and our girls will produce some great breeding stock for those interested in starting a Piney Woods herd of the their own. In addition, we purchased a yearling bull, from the same breeder, who will breed with our heifers in years to come. Much research went into finding genetically strong sires, and we’re looking forward to seeing the results.

This fall we’ll have 6 calves romping about, and we just can’t wait! Another two calves will come in the spring. In the next year we hope to start selling some of our stock, while also retaining some calves to grow the herd to a financially sustainable size. It’s exciting to see forward movement on this long term investment.

In addition, we are also pleased to report that the Piney Woods have been munching on pasture weeds as well as the more palatable grasses. This breed seems to enjoy a wider range of forage than most and we are tracking how they can help improve pasture quality by putting pressure on weeds through doing what they do best — grazing!

Both male and female Piney Woods cattle have horns.

Hurray for Big Blue! Our new 4 WD tractor will help immensely with tasks on the farm.

Second Spring Market Garden Second Spring has had great success in production, expanding the cultivation area and breaking new ground to keep with demand. Their market outlets have increased, and their salad mix is carried on the menu by area restaurants: Table, Cucina 24, Chestnut, Rhubarb, Ambrozia, King James Public House, West End Bakery, and Root Down Food Truck. We hosted a walk-behind tractor and hand tools Collaborative Regional Alliance Farmer Training workshop to showcase the unique growing methods of Second Spring farmers.

Trustee Bill Lowndes, Casara of Second Spring Market Garden, and Community Farm & Food Associate Chris Link tour the garden area.

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Goats Munch to Control KudzuWe’re working with KD Environmental Services to control invasive kudzu remaining on a section of the farm, using goats in two 1-acre paddocks. Goats are a great form of biological control when there is a high density of invasives.

Thanks to the Community Foundation of WNC, USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and Blue Ridge Tractor Company of Wilksboro, NC for grants

toward these improvements.

Farm Pathways: Access to Land, Livelihood, and LearningIn collaboration with the Organic Growers School and WNC Farmlink, we received a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) to begin program development for Farm Pathways: Access to Land, Livelihood, and Learning. The grant award will help SAHC and collaborating partners build capacity for Farm Pathways, a whole-farm training

and innovative land access program for new and aspiring farmers in Western NC. Farm Pathways is designed to support beginning farmers in five key ways: classroom and experiential education through a Beginning Farmer Training Curriculum, membership in a peer network with mentors, apprenticeships on farms, coaching programs to develop viable business plans, and support in negotiating equitable leases or finding affordable farmland under conservation easements.

This grant will help to develop curriculum

and resources that beginning farmers in the region need to start successful farm enterprises.

This material is based upon work

that is supported by the National Institute of Food

and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2015-70017-22854. for Farm Pathways: Access to Land, Livelihood, and Learning.

Xplore USA student volunteers assisted with trail building at the farm.

Our Farmer Incubator Program assists beginning farmers in WNC.

Farm Visits and VolunteersOur summer intern, Suki Affatato, provided immense support on the farm this summer through a variety of projects. She coordinated a volunteer work day with Xplore USA — a group of 16 teenage volunteers visiting from Germany, France, Spain, and Italy — to assist with our Discovery Trail.

Harnessing the collective energy of 16 volunteers for two hours, we were able to accomplish what would have taken

a full-time staff member 4 days to accomplish!We hosted a variety of farm tours, including Daniel Boone Council Cub Scout Pack 108, the Jubilee! Community, and Land Trust Day hikers. Members of the French Broad River Garden Club came out to visit, planning for a farm tour later this fall.

Thanks to summer intern Suki Affatato for coordinating the Xplore USA volunteers.

Cub Scouts from Pack 108 toured the farm.

The enclosed wash shed enables farmers to prepare and bag their popular salad mix on site.

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Balds – The Place to Be

This summer a wonderful group of 24 volunteers mowed and lopped on Grassy Ridge over two days, and the Roany Boyz team returned the following weekend to continue managing Engine Gap. The BRIDGE crew ported in equipment for our volunteers, and managed 14 acres of balds. Thank you ALL for keeping the balds beautiful!

According to Lee, 4,500 is a conservative estimate of the actual number of folks visiting the Roan, with the highest visitation occurring in June during peak flower blooms.

“The balds during the peak blooms are packed, with long lines of photographers and school groups flooding the trail,” said Lee. “Many photographers camped out, too, hoping for a sunset or sunrise shot.”

“No matter what point in the summer, so long as the weather’s good, there is a constant stream of hikers coming out of Carver’s Gap,” he continued. “On all but the rainy weekends this summer, the parking lot was full and overflowing.”

Lee struck up conversations to greet visitors, then offered information

and advice about the balds. He talked about Leave No Trace ethics in 534 conversations and engaged in interpretive discussions with 978 people. He also recorded notes on usage of the trail and shelters, which will be helpful in making future management decisions. Check out an excerpt from his summer field journal on the following pages!

“Like many transplants to WNC, my wife and I (and our four legged children) were attracted by the quality of life, natural beauty, culinary and music scene, moderate seasons, laid back atmosphere… and the list goes on. We wanted to help, to do something as part of this great community. After a little research and a few helpful phone calls, we found SAHC. Our timing was fortuitous, as the annual Grassy Ridge Mow-Off was just around the corner, a volunteer event to maintain and restore the grassy balds in the Highlands of Roan, on the NC/TN border.

From Carvers Gap, we began our gentle ascent to the ridge and the site of our day’s adventure. The hike was lovely and the vistas were spectacular, with unencumbered views of the surrounding mountains as we ultimately arrived at our destination. Greeted by the SAHC crew, some volunteers, like me, grabbed clippers and saws to trim back rhododendron, while others strapped on industrial weed whackers. It was quite a scene on top of the ridge with all of those people donating their own time to help restore the bald. I’m proud that SAHC is part of our community and believe in what they stand for, and I’m happy to participate in maintaining the world’s oldest mountains, right in our backyard.”

Throughout the summer, Roan Naturalist Lee Farese educated visitors and monitored use on the Appalachian Trail between Carver’s Gap and 19E. In 26 days on the mountain, he met over 4,500 people! His findings echo what we already suspected – the Roan is extremely popular.

Volunteer Perspective: Sean Rubin on his first Grassy Ridge Mow-Off

Balds Management AcresBRIDGE Crew 13 (Round Bald/Grassy Ridge) 14Grassy Ridge Mow-Off 2.25Roany Boyz (Engine Gap) 5

USFS Track Mower (Round Bald) 10Total 31.25

Sean Rubin (right) volunteers for his first Grassy Ridge Mowoff

Thank You Volunteers!

Grassy Ridge Mow-Off

Roany Boyz, photo by Will Skelton

Summer Trail UseDay Hikers 3396Backpackers 946Thru Hikers 92Other 90

Groups 19Total 4524

Lee Farese

The seasonal Roan Naturalist position was made possible by collaboration between SAHC, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and the USFS.

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ConservationField JournalOn the Roan with Lee Farese, Roan Naturalist

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This morning I’m looking down over Roaring Creek, the slow haze working on the hillsides. Clouds are thinning, dew drying. There are towhees singing, catbirds, and buntings. I’m slowly beginning to wrap up my season on the Roan. Such a shift has come over this place since my arrival in May.

I wake gratefully to the few lingering voices of campers. Having breakfast, we talk about Leave No Trace, wildernesses visited around the country, and the natural history of the area. One traveller, a writer, is fascinated with the idea of disturbance ecology. After breakfast I walk east along the trail, toward Little Hump. The black-eyed susans are thick in the meadow and I find a few small blackberries. Cow parsnip stalks are now brittle and browning, and towhees are calling somewhere. I work my way up amid bee balm, then spend the morning clipping back blackberry.

Before the summit I meet a hiker I know from Newland, who tells me stories from his time on this trail. Cold winters and perfect summer days. Thick patches of nettles. When I stop at the rocks just short of Little Hump’s summit, he continues on. I have my lunch, enjoying mid-day on the bald. Hot already, the cloud-shadows slip quietly over the grass. Coming back down Little Hump, I meet several hikers out for the day. They tell me about their impressions of the trail, then want to know why the balds are the way they are.

Clouds creeping over the Highlands of Roan

I return to the shelter and gather my things, then in the

heat begin back up towards Grassy Ridge and Carver’s

Gap. The area between Overmountain and Stan Murray

shelters is one of my favorites on the trail. Something in

the soil, I’ve decided. The cow parsnips are eight feet tall.

There are crooked old Red Oaks and Hawthorns, and ferns

up to my ears. There is a small gathering of chokecherries

that bloomed back in May. This is one of the few sections along the trail I’ve found fire pinks,

monkshood, larkspur, and spiderwort. It is always a treat to walk through.

Near the Stan Murray shelter the Turk’s cap lilies are done blooming, but there are wren

chicks still begging from a snag and I watch their parents diligently delivering food. I continue up

towards Grassy, meeting a few more hikers along the trail, finding a perfect bobcat print near a

small overhang likely used as shelter.

The balds when I get there are quiet with Sunday

afternoon. I walk slowly across them, picking blueberries,

talking with the folks I find. A couple asks if they can film

as I tell the story of Jane Bald. There is a young family out

for an evening picnic, and two new birders trying to figure

out if what they’ve briefly seen are towhees. It’s a still and

quiet afternoon; swallows are chattering low across the new-mowed slope of Round Bald, and

you can tell the sky is considering raining.

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Turk’s Cap lily

Ferns along the Trail

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AmeriCorps Project Conserve

Jesse Wood, Stewardship & Volunteer AssociateReturning for her second service term with SAHC, Jesse earned her BS in Biology from Furman University in Greenville, SC. She hopes to continue conducting field research by pursuing a Masters degree in conservation/wildlife biology or ecology in the future.

Spencer Scheidt, Stewardship & Volunteer AssociateSpencer Scheidt was born and raised amidst redwoods and fog in Northern California. As a Biology student and backpacking instructor at UNC Chapel Hill, he developed a love for the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Outside of the office you might find him clambering around at Rumbling Bald or fishing the streams in Pisgah National Forest.

Teagan Dolan, Land Protection & Education AssociateTeagan Dolan hails from Morehead, Kentucky and earned her BS in Environmental Policy, Planning, and Law with a minor in Water Resources from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY. Growing up near coal country greatly influenced her passion for conservation, balanced with a respect for land history. She is excited to bring that passion to the SAHC team.

Haley Smith, Conservation Education & Volunteer AssociateHaley is a native of Asheville and grew up exploring the mountains of WNC before attending Washington and Lee University in Virginia to complete a dual degree program, earning a BS in Biology and a BA in Environmental Studies. Haley is excited to be working in her hometown to inspire the next generation of conservation advocates.

Fare thee well!Andrea Thompson and Caitlin Edenfield have each served two terms as AmeriCorps Associates with SAHC, and they will be deeply missed!

“I am so grateful for my AmeriCorps experience at SAHC,” said Andrea. “I know I will always look back on this time as some of the best years of my life. To the staff, Trustees, members, and supporters of SAHC, you make the world a better place.”

This fall, Andrea will be working with MountainTrue to restore habitat in mountain bogs. In January she plans to pursue a Masters Degree in plant biology, perhaps even collaborating with SAHC for her thesis project.

Caitlin is working on an Executive Master Natural Resources degree from Virginia Tech. She recently married, and she and her husband are beginning their life together in move to Illinois. We wish her

congratulations, and best of luck to both Andrea and Caitlin!

Reflection: Kana Miller, 2014-15 Conservation Education & Volunteer Associate“The past 11 months have been incredible. Since day one, I’ve felt so lucky that I ended up at SAHC. I’ve hiked all over WNC and East TN, from the high elevation grassy balds in the Highlands of Roan to the sparkling waters of the Catawba River and the rolling hills of Sandy Mush farmland. I’ve assisted with event planning and seen what a fun AND effective fundraising event looks like. I’ve gained new outreach and communications skills. While I’m saddened this amazing year has come to a close, I know I’ll keep SAHC within arms reach!”

Our AmeriCorps Associates serve 11-month terms. In addition to serving WNC communities, Project Conserve provides critical growth opportunities and on-the-job experience for service members. This September, we welcome one returning and three new AmeriCorps Associates.

Caitlin, left, with supervisor Michelle Pugliese.

Andrea will continue as an SAHC volunteer.

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Ken Murray became acquainted with SAHC when his mother, Katharine Tilson Murray, had the foresight to permanently protect the family homeplace with a conservation easement in 1999. Since retiring to the land in Unicoi County, where he often vacationed as child, Ken and his wife Lotta have become passionate supporters of SAHC, joining our Gray’s Lily Leadership Circle and frequently participating in guided outings on our other protected tracts.

After Ken retired from the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC in 2011, he and Lotta hiked the Appalachian Trail together for six months.

“It was amazing, the most incredible

thing I’ve ever done,” recalls Lotta. The timing was excellent. “It was a good transition, coming from the remote experience of hiking the Trail to live at the Tilson homeplace, which is also quiet and out-of-the-way. A simple lifestyle is what we wanted.”

Ken’s decision to return to the family homestead and enthusiasm for SAHC stem from summers exploring and adventuring in this wooded corner of TN. Throughout childhood, he spent time on the property during school vacations.

“When I was a kid, I couldn’t imagine why everyone in the world wouldn’t want to be here,” Ken said. He and a neighbor would trek through the creeks and cove. But it wasn’t all play — a framed photo in the farmhouse shows Ken as a youth, discing ground for the garden with a team of mules. “For a

kid growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut this was a really cool place,” he added. The experiences sparked a passion for the land that has only gotten stronger over the years.

In 1977, Ken began making improvements and repairs to the family homestead, starting the process of land management. In recent years, he has worked to remove invasive species and address erosion issues on the property.

“We support the mission of SAHC because they’re helping us protect this land, and because of the very active hiking program,” notes Ken.

We are grateful to Ken and Lotta for their ongoing support, and love seeing them on the trail!

L a n d | A N D P E O P L E

Ken and Lotta Murray:From DC to the AT, to the hills of TNKen and Lotta Murray have transitioned from the hustle-and-bustle of Washington, DC, to the quiet coves of mountainous East Tennessee, carving out an idyllic home and garden on a tract where Ken’s great-grandfather homesteaded over 160 years ago. Introduced to SAHC while managing one of our conservation easement properties, they have become committed philanthropic leaders and engaged members, frequently exploring the Southern Appalachians through our guided group hikes.Ken and Lotta Murray

Ken collects historic farm implements found on the tract, which provide a snapshot of the family’s life in years gone by.

The Tilson homeplace occupies an expansive, bowl-shaped cove just south of Erwin, TN.

“When I was a kid, I couldn’t imagine why everyone in the world wouldn’t want to be here.”

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With the main route between Jonesborough, TN and Asheville, NC, running right by the Tilson homestead, travelers – including influential politicians – would often stop to rest a for a night, sharing stories and perspectives of the outside world that nurtured the growing young minds of John Q. Tilson and his siblings. They grew up to have successful careers as doctors, teachers, a federal court judge, and leading US Congressman.

The subsistence farm had a springhouse, grain storage, and smokehouse familiar to many mountain homesteads from the late 1800s, all still standing. To assist with hardships suffered during

the Great Depression, John Q., who had prospered as a lawyer, purchased the original homestead

tract from his siblings. He often hosted gatherings for friends and family, and the land is now owned collectively by his descendents.

In the 1990s, his daughter, Katharine Tilson Murray, worked with SAHC to permanently protect the 377-acre tract with a conservation easement.

“Placement of the conservation easement on this property, and providing for SAHC in her estate planning, enabled it to be preserved,” said Ken Murray. “My mother had a vision, and we are very grateful for that.”

Ken notes that as families grow, they typically divide their homestead into smaller and smaller pieces over time. “The conservation easement alleviates a lot of pressure on future generations because it has to be owned as one parcel,” adds Ken. The family plans to own and enjoy this property for many years to come.

L a n d | A N D P E O P L E

The Tilson Homestead Farm, Unicoi TN

John Q. Tilson and siblings, with parents sitting in the front, center.

Recently painted and well cared-for, the Tilson farmhouse remains much as it appeared in the late 1880s.

The farm still supports a small cattle herd.

The road from NC to TN ran directly by the Tilson home. Travelers frequently stopped to rest, sharing perspectives on the wider world.

The original 2-story log cabin was relocated on the tract & reassembled as a 1-story structure.

John Q. TilsonJohn Quillin Tilson, or John Q. as he was frequently known, served as a US Representative from Connecticut for almost 22 years and House Majority leader for six. He spent early life on the Tilson homestead. With roots tracing back to the Mayflower, Tilson’s family had migrated to the Nolichucky River and then to a secluded cove south of Erwin, TN.

“In this house, humble though quite the best in the community, entirely without the aid of doctors and nurses, were born eight children,” he remarked in a published account of The Tilson Family.

They lived in the existing log cabin on the property, until his father built the 2-story white farmhouse in 1879.

Moving to New Haven, Connecticut, in later years, John Q. frequently returned to his birthplace, and festive gatherings on the homestead attracted influential leaders from across the area.

Growing up in a backwoods corner of Unicoi County wasn’t for the faint of heart – but having a main travel route run right by the doorstep could bring a new world of opportunity and excitement to the hearth.

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Pa r t n e r s h i p s | B U S I N E S S C O M M U N I T Y

The day began with a hike, to the crest of Flattop Mountain, passing through abundant fields of milkweed spread across the upper elevation meadow — a hopeful sign for Monarch butterflies.

After taking in beautiful, clear views from the top, we descended into the gorge. Hiking down the trail was like hiking a ‘boulder-fall’ — it appeared a bit like a waterfall, but instead of water, massive moss-covered rocks

and boulders rippled one after another. They blanketed the path with rich textures and varying shades of green.

Upon reaching the edge of the abandoned community, the trail leveled out and our group felt as if we were walking back in time. Imaginations soared as we pondered what it would have been like, ‘once upon a time.’ The remoteness of the place affected us deeply. We explored and imagined, talking about how it might have felt to live so removed from the outside world. Lost Cove

provided a great space for reflection.

Last year, with help from USA Raft, we led a successful “Raft Out the Trash” volunteer day, removing over a ton of garbage from the cove. We were gratified, and pleased, to see that the cleaned up areas had remained mostly clear. This trip, we picked up and removed just 3 small bags of litter.

After exploring the area, we continued down the soil ‘road’ where the old-time moonshiners would have driven illicit goods to the river and railroad tracks. It was really just a crumbly soil path, strewn with boulders and hard to walk on. We couldn’t

In July, SAHC and Highland Brewing Company were joined by The Aloft Hotel, Altamont Environmental, Traveling Chic Boutique and USA Raft to explore Lost Cove, where SAHC protected a 95-acre tract in 2012. We hiked into the gorge and rafted the Nolichucky River while learning about the historical significance of the area.

“For Love of Beer & Mountains” Corporate Partner Lost Cove Excursion

Highland Brewing Company (HBC) has partnered with SAHC to support conservation and heighten awareness of the natural treasures of the Southern Appalachians. As part of the partnership, HBC names each seasonal release for a feature of our natural landscape. Their latest seasonal, Lost Cove American Pale Ale, is named for this area.

HBC began brewing craft beer in Asheville, NC in 1994. Since that time, they have grown from a humble three-person

operation to a staff of over forty, with expanding regional distribution. They instill values of integrity and respect in every employee, for people and for our environment. HBC support SAHC by donating $1 from each pint sold at seasonal release parties, held at Highland’s Tasting Room in Asheville, NC. They also donate venue space for events, co-lead hikes, assist as volunteers for habitat restoration, and print packaging materials to raise awareness for conservation.

About the “For Love of Beer & Mountains” Partnership

Lost Cove, a historic, abandoned community on the border of NC and TN, is a great space for reflection.

The trail down, with lush textures and shades of green.

A plentiful field of milkweed.

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Mt. Mitchell: $25,000+ See your name here!

Waterrock Knob: $15,000+ Altamont Environmental Highland Brewing Company New Morning Ltd. Salesforce

Roan Mountain: $10,000+ Conservation Advisors Mast General Store

Cold Mountain: $5,000+ Causeway Interactive Eastman Chemical Company Kee Mapping & Surveying Strader Fencing, Inc.

Big Yellow: $2,500+ Equinox Environmental First Citizens Bank Jubilee! Community

Max Patch: $1,000+ Addison Farms Vineyard Brunk Auctions Carolina Tree Care East West Capital, LLC I Do Music Keith Hargrove Architect PC Navitat Canopy Adventures Network Computer Solutions Parsec Financial Management Roberts & Stevens, Attorneys at Law Samsel Architects Starks Financial Group USA Raft Yoga with Lillah

Corporate Partners & Giving Levels

Land Trust Day

USA Raft is based in Erwin, TN with another location in Marshall, NC. They offer whitewater rafting on the Nolichucky, French Broad and Watauga Rivers — plus some unique recreation opportunities such as wild caving, whitewater stand up paddleboard, kayak lessons and bellyak instruction. The Erwin location offers bunkhouse and cabin rentals, river frontage, stocked trout pond and Appalachian Trail access, all on the property.

“We are very proud of our relationship with such an active and wonderful organization,” said Matt Moses, USA Raft General Manager. “We specifically choose this group to support because it is full of people that are actively making our surroundings better for future generations. There have been many land acquisitions and projects close to both of our locations, including Lost Cove, that our staff and guests benefit from. We appreciate the opportunity to be a part of SAHC.”

Please join us in thanking all our Land Trust Day sponsors, who collectively raised $13,000 for conservation in one day!

imagine navigating the route with any sort of vehicle. We reached the river and prepared for the final, waterborne leg of the outing.

The USA Raft guides were great — personable and capable — they definitely knew their way around the river. Even

though the river was low, it was still a fun ride! We rafted down to take out at USA Raft’s outpost in Erwin, TN, where our Duke Stanback summer intern, Martha Dawson, had a picnic lunch spread and cold beverages laid out, awaiting our arrival.

What a great way to end an incredible excursion! We enjoyed fellowship with partners on the trip, reflecting back on the events of the day. Thank you, USA Raft, for providing the space — and for guiding us down the river!

USA Raft guides were experienced, professional, and congenial for our final leg of the outing.

We ended the excursion with a fun picnic lunch at USA Raft’s outpost.

Pa r t n e r s h i p s | B U S I N E S S C O M M U N I T Y

V i e w f r o m t h e H i g h l a n d s | 1 7

E v e n t s | O U T R E A C H

“For Love of Beer & Mountains” Clawhammer Hike Saturday, September 26

Gray’s Lily Leadership Circle Sunday, October 4

“For Love of Beer & Mountains” Thunderstruck Release Party Highland Brewing Co., Asheville NC Friday, October 9 $1 from each pour will be donated to SAHC to support conservation!

“For Love of Beer & Mountains” Thunderstruck Hike Saturday, October 17

Lost Cove Hike Thursday, October 22

Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo Saturday, October 31

Check Appalachian.org for updates and more events!

C alendarUpcoming Hikes and Events

For more information or to register for ANY of our hikes contact Haley Smith at 828.253.0095 ext. 205 or haley@appalachian.org. Directions & additional details will be provided after registration.

The hike to Clawhammer Mountain will be a long and strenuous 10+ mile trip along multi-use trails that traverse mountain bike, equestrian, and hiking trails as well as forest service roads. We will follow the trails up a steep climb along a creek, through wildflower patches, and through a rich cove forest. From Clawhammer Cove to the summit of Clawhammer Mtn, hikers will climb close to 1,500 ft, finishing at 4,072 ft elevation. The cliff-top view at the summit offers stunning scenic views of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Looking Glass in Pisgah National Forest. Note: There are a few single log bridges, muddy

areas, rocky/steep inclines and a chance of yellow jackets; we want to provide a fun and safe trip so please be aware of these conditions.

Clawhammer Mountain Date: Saturday, Sept. 26 | Time: 10 am | Difficulty: Very Strenuous Where: Pisgah Nat’l Forest, near Brevard | Cost: Free; registration required

“For Love of Beer & Mountains” Partnership Hikes

Participants will hike 5 miles over rugged terrain, through red spruce and fraser firs, red oak forest, and other high elevation trees while occasionally stopping at rock outcroppings for views of Thunderstruck Ridge, for which HBC’s Thunderstruck Coffee Porter is named. The group will hike through the 1,595-acre Plott Balsam Preserve, protected by The Nature Conservancy, and eventually reach Blackrock Mountain, which SAHC protected in 2013, at a towering 5,600 ft elevation. This beautiful section of mountains can be seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway. So come out, and let’s celebrate land conservation together!

Thunderstruck Ridge Date: Saturday, Oct. 17 | Time: 10 am | Difficulty: Strenuous Where: Off Blue Ridge Parkway, near Sylva | Cost: Free; registration required

Our Gray’s Lily Leadership Circle Signature Event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4 at our Community Farm.

The Circle is comprised of philanthropic leaders supporting SAHC at a level of $1,000 or more annually. For more information, contact Pauline Heyne at 828.253.0095 ext 216 or pauline@appalachian.org.

Leaders: Drew Stevenson, Highland Brewing Company, and Haley Smith, SAHC AmeriCorps Conservation Education & Volunteer Associate

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E v e n t s | O U T R E A C H

Lost Cove HikeDate: Thursday, Oct. 22 | Time: 10 am Where: Lost Cove, on NC/TN border | Difficulty: Very Strenuous Cost: Free for everyone; pre-registration required

Join us for a chance to visit one of our most rugged and remote properties in the Nolichucky Gorge! Nestled near the border between NC and TN, the secluded Love Cove is a ghost town with a colorful history of self-sufficient families, railroad crews, timbering, and moonshine. See fall colors in a beautiful gorge and within this abandoned community.The group will start the 8.75-mile round-trip hike by climbing to the top of Flat Top Mountain. From there, we will have an opportunity to look directly into the Nolichucky Gorge and catch a glimpse of the Lost Cove tract. Heading west, we will descend two miles along a switchbacking soil road until the Lost Cove Trail dead-ends at another soil road. This intersection marks the beginning of the Lost Cove community, where we will explore the abandoned town. Lunch will be from a hidden rock bluff overlooking the beautiful Nolichucky River. We’ll end the day by the river to do some final exploring before the return trek back up the trail. Expect a long but rewarding day of hiking. Be sure to bring: Rain jacket, sturdy hiking shoes, extra layers, water, lunch/snacks, camera, and backpack to carry all personal items. Well-behaved dogs are welcome but must remain on a leash.

Bookwalter Binge Charity Gran FondoDate: Saturday, October 31 | Where: Black Mountain, NC

The Bookwalter Binge Charity Gran Fondo is a challenging bike ride in Black Mountain, NC. Cyclists will ride an 83, 62 or 30-mile course, enjoying the colorful fall foliage and experiencing the hospitality and charm of Black Mountain and Asheville. Participants will also be able to ride and converse with past, present, and future professional cyclists, including celebrities who will join the ride as guides and guests.

Proceeds will benefit SAHC’s conservation efforts, and we are so grateful to have been chosen as the charity benefiting from the 2015 Bookwalter Binge! For more info, to register to ride, or to become a volunteer, visit: www.bookwalterbinge.com.

HELP! Volunteers Needed for the Bookwalter Binge!We need volunteers to help run the Bookwalter Binge, and also to prepare for it beforehand. Helping hands are needed for a variety of volunteer tasks — from marking the cycling route before the event to marshaling the course, keeping the riders safe, and helping with the after-party.Whether your love is for cycling or volunteering, we have a place for you to help. Don’t worry, the day finishes with plenty of time for Halloween celebrations, and the shifts have a variety of lengths, so you can help out even if you only have an hour to spare. For more details on volunteer positions and opportunities, or to sign up, visit http://bb.ivolunteer.com/bbinge_001

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Appalachian Spring Member Celebration

After mingling for a bit, folks sat down to enjoy the buffet dinner as Executive Director Carl Silverstein began the evening program, highlighting our conservation achievements over the past year. SAHC Trustee Laura McCue recognized outgoing Trustees, Leslie Casse and Florence Krupnick, who served two terms on our Board.

The new nominations to the SAHC Board of Trustees were approved by the vote of members assembled at the event or by proxy. We are very pleased to welcome Robbie

McLucas and Jeff Needham to the Board!

Jeff lives in Kingsport, TN and is the Strategic Technology Director with Eastman Chemical Company. He is passionate about the environment and SAHC’s mission. He brings to SAHC strong leadership, analytical, and strategic planning skills, plus close ties with community leaders in Kingsport.

Robbie is a real estate agent in Asheville, and has served for several years on the SAHC Communications Committee. A dedicated SAHC volunteer, he previously worked with the Jackson Hole Land Trust. Robbie generously supports SAHC through One Percent for the Planet and actively promotes SAHC through social media.

Current Trustees Patty Cunningham-Woolf and Lyman J. “Greg” Gregory, III were each elected to serve a second 3-year term on our Board.

A p p a l a c h i a n | S P R I N G

Wilson Worley, Attorneys at Law | One-Stop Wine and Spirits | Carolyn Novak

We are very grateful for the support of our event sponsors:

As guests arrived at the Farmhouse Gallery and Gardens for our annual Appalachian Spring Celebration in May, they were greeted by music from Bill and the Belles, and an occasional, eerie scream from flamboyant peacocks living on the property.

Carl highlights our recent conservation successes as guests enjoy dinner.

New Trustees Robbie McLucas and Jeff Needham.

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A p p a l a c h i a n | S P R I N G

BB BarnesBear N FriendsBiltmore EstateBlack Dome Mountain SportsBoone Street Farmers MarketBoone’s Creek Potters’ Gallery & Gift ShopChestnut Restaurant

Common Grounds/Screen DoorDancing Bear ToysEagles Nest Outfitters (ENO)Evergreen of KingsportThe Historic Gatlinburg InnJulie Calhoun-RoepnackMahoney’s OutfittersMauk’s of Jonesborough

Natural Foods MarketREI AshevilleRiverbend Malt HouseRobin’s on RoanRush Street Neighborhood GrillSandy Mush Herb NurseryShoji Spa & Lodge

Coralie Tweed Morgan David A. Ramsey

GreenRiver Woods Witt Langstaff, Jr.

We’d like to give a huge thank you to the following for contributing raffle items:

Stanley A. Murray Volunteer of the Year: Craig Thompson

Anne Kilgore, SAHC Trustee and Director of Sustainability at Eastman, recognized SAHC’s honored volunteers in attendance and presented this year’s Stanley A. Murray Volunteer of the Year award to Craig Thompson, for his outstanding service in the Highlands of Roan.

In 1989 the Stanley A. Murray Award for Volunteer Service was created to honor persons who have made outstanding volunteer contributions to the work of SAHC, emulating the lifelong dedication of our founder, Stanley A. Murray.

Craig lives in Jonesborough, TN. Recently retired, he is an avid hiker and photographer and has traveled extensively throughout the US. He has served SAHC as a model volunteer in key capacities. Craig cares passionately about the Roan Highlands and participates in almost

every habitat management workday we hold there — assisting in coordination of the NC BRIDGE crew, Grassy Ridge mow-off, Roany Boyz, and other workdays.

Craig has been an enthusiastic participant in our recent “triple mowing” experiment, in which we are partnering with the US Forest Service and volunteers to look at new ways to control blackberry. Craig recognizes the importance of engaging new generations of conservationists in SAHC’s mission. He is actively pursuing outreach on our behalf in the Tri-cities region, in order to recruit new members and build our constituency. Thank you and congratulations to Craig!

As the raffle ended, the night concluded, and guests trickled out to return home, we were grateful and pleased to have been able to gather under the shadow of the mountains to celebrate and carry forward our conservation – now 41 years strong and growing.

Trustee Anne Kilgore presents the Stanley A. Murray Volunteer of the Year Award to Craig Thompson.

We enjoyed an evening of camaraderie and celebration!

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M e m b e r s ’ | C O R N E R

Welcome, New Members!Robert AlandRebecca BannerShelly BarberGretchen BatraSusie & Ira BellJohn Blume & Drucy GlassAnn BrennanPatricia & Malcolm BrownMary BuckwalterBoone & Claudia CadyKathleen and Bob CampbellJulia CarterThomas CashDouglas & Mindy ClarkJohn & Etta ClarkBrian CooperNancy CrosbyJames & Pamela DanielJohnny DavisonRick & Bridget EckerdSaylor Fox & Bettye BooneBarry Gold & Cindy CarpienDebra HallRobert & Rosslyn Hicks

Laing & Enid HinsonPatti HughesLaurie JaegersTim JohnstonEugene KingSusan & Robert KingAlston KirkEdward & Anita LandryArt LangJohn Legerton & Kathy MeachamAlan LeisersonElizabeth Lide & Paul KayhartBill and Kitty LynchDennis MarcinkoJeff and CeeGee McCordCameron McQueenLinda & Charles NelmsTaylor OvertonMartin & Christine PetersenKenneth PhillipsLee PirtleEdith PortershirleyPatrick & Norma PriceMichael and Cynthia Pugliese

Mark & Lori RasmussenDaniel Reese & Elaine FrantzRonald SchwartzSusan & Philippe SevinJohn SirianniJohn SmithLillian SmithAnn and Farley SnellJane and William StanhopeMary StewartSteve SwearingenLynn WellsAdam & Carolyn Whitehead

June Jamboree Recap

Welcome, New Business Members! Blue Ridge Tractor CompanyBoone’s Creek Potters GalleryCatawba Brewing Co.The Gatlinburg InnMarket Place RestaurantNest Interiors & GiftsRhubarb RestaurantRiverbend Malt HouseRobin’s on RoanTraveling Chic BoutiqueWest Asheville Lounge KitchenWomble Carlyle Sandridge &

Rice, LLP

Thank you to all who joined us for our annual day of hiking in the Highlands of Roan! With five different hikes in one day on the Roan Massif, and close to 100 people participating, it’s a big event to organize — but oh so rewarding.

The hikes on the balds were especially well attended, with the Carvers Gap to Grassy Ridge Ed Schell Memorial Hike and 15-mile Challenge Hike each drawing sizable crews. Others enjoyed shorter, more intimate excursions for the Roll N’Stroll, Salamander Scavenger Hunt, and Birding with Simon Thompson. A great time was had by all.

Birding with Simon Thompson

Salamander Scavenger Hunt

Challenge Trail hikers!

Ed Schell Memorial Hike

Tributes A tribute gift is a special way to honor someone.

In honor of Troy Draper Michael & Lynne Hill

In honor of Gabriel Walden Dunsmith Julia Carter Pat Dunn & Lee Ann Smith Debra Hall Elizabeth Oldham David & Melissa Smith Doug and Barbara Smith Lynn Wells Adams Wood

In honor of Paul J. Fitzgerald Chas Fitzgerald

In honor of Jim Froula & Bill Hess Glen & Mary Jo Hess

In honor of Bob Hart and in memory of Nancy Hart Richard & Eileen Hayes

In honor of Jay Leutze Patricia & Malcolm Brown

In honor of Judy Murray & Tom Gatti Mack Prichard

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Memorials We share in honoring the memory of those friends who have passed.

In Memory of Nina Combes Linda Luvaas Carole & Bruce Parsons Martin & Christine Petersen Susan & Philippe Sevin Adam & Carolyn Whitehead

In Memory of Gary Cook Ann Brennan

In Memory of Lena DeLoach Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club

In Memory of Lou Fonberg Ignacy Fonberg

In Memory of Charlie Klabunde Mary Fanslow

In Memory of William Borden Leonard John Blume & Drucy Glass Anne Corrigan James & Pamela Daniel Samuel T. Di Misa Michael Frost Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, Inc. Bill Holman Edward & Anita Landry Sarah Lane & Gerald Oakley Elizabeth Lide & Paul Kayhart Leon Rubis Lillian Smith Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP

In Memory of Ed Schell Mary Fanslow Carolyn Novak & Don Johnson Paul & Lois Somers

In Memory of Bob Spurgeon Zach Spurgeon

In Memory of Nina Elizabeth Wills Laing & Enid Hinson

M e m b e r s ’ | C O R N E R

We mourn the loss of passionate conservationist Charles Thomas McCullough, Jr., who passed away in May at the age of 80, survived by his loving wife Shirley Anne McCullough, daughter Leslie Casse and son-in-law Daniel, and grandchildren Will and Ellie Casse.

A founding partner of Blue Ridge Bone and Joint Clinic, Charlie was born in Morganfield, KY. “His was the extroversion and iron will forged as the youngest of three boys in a small western Kentucky town,” said Leslie.

He attended the University of Kentucky and Vanderbilt Medical School, where he met and married Shirley Anne. Following graduation from Vanderbilt, Charlie served as a flight surgeon in the US Air Force, then moved to Asheville with his family in 1971 to join the Bone and Joint Clinic. His extensive civic involvement was tied to his love of Asheville, the mountains, the environment and farms like those he saw as a child in Kentucky.

“His life was an American tale,” continued Leslie. “As a boy, he delivered papers to 147 homes on a bicycle paper route. He was a soda jerk at Waller’s Drug Store. Summers, before and during medical school, he worked on a riverboat on the Mississippi River. My father did not like pretension, but he loved tradition. He could be Scotch-Irish frugal but gave generously of his time and resources to his beloved SAHC and our wonderful university.”

Retiring from medical practice in 1999, Charlie remained active in conservation efforts. As SAHC President, he was particularly proud of working on our capital campaign, ‘That Places of Wonder Remain.’ He and Shirley Anne recently made an endowment gift to help establish the McCullough Institute at UNC Asheville, a national model for blending environmental study with business and sustainable economic growth in urban and rural landscapes. SAHC plans to partner with the Institute, providing practical work experience for students.

A caring physician and friend, he was a happy person who loved his life as a husband, father and steward of the land.

In Memoriam: Charlie McCullough

In Memory of Dr. Charles T. McCullough

John Adornato IIIAnn BabcockRod & Bess BairdGretchen BatraNathan & Anne BurkhardtCalvin &

Martha Ann ClaxtonRob & Cindy Corley

Community Foundation of WNC

Jeff & Susan CovingtonNancy CrosbyCharles &

Jeanne CummingsPriestley & Brent FordBetty Gilman

Tom HunterDavid & Thorunn IveyBob & Julie JohnsonTim JohnstonSusan & Robert KingCarl LoftinLinda & Charles NelmsEdith Portershirley

Patrick & Norma PriceAleta RobersonRachelle RobertsJohn & Susie RuhlJean WebbStephen &

Mary Bruce WoodyJames Woollcott

Charlie with grandchildren, Ellie and Will Casse

Charlie instilled a love

for nature in daughter Leslie at an

early age.

We are grateful that Brunk Auctions is going to match donations made in memory of Charlie, during the month of September, up to $3,000.

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Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDAsheville, NC

Permit No. 460

34 Wall Street, Suite 502Asheville, NC 28801-2710

(828) 253-0095

Return Service RequestedPrinted on Post Consumer Recycled Paper

A p p a l a c h i a n . o r g

Upcoming Hikes & Events!“For Love of Beer & Mountains” Clawhammer Hike Saturday, September 26Gray’s Lily Leadership Circle Event Sunday, October 4“For Love of Beer & Mountains” Thunderstruck Release Party Friday, October 9“For Love of Beer & Mountains” Thunderstruck Hike Saturday, October 17Lost Cove Hike Thursday, October 22Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo Saturday, October 31See pg 18 for more events & details. Follow us online for recent updates!

Remember SAHC in your estate planning and leave a gift that will impact local land and water conservation, forever. By joining the Legacy Society you help protect our incredible landscapes and mountain heritage for future generations. Contact Pauline at 828.253.0095 ext 216 to learn more.

What will be Your Legacy?