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Bearwallow Beast 5K Trail Run & Festival RESCHEDULED for Sunday, June 23rd
Date of this Event: Sun, 06/23/2013 - 2:00pm

BEARWALLOW BEAST 5K TRAIL RUN & FESTIVAL HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR

SUNDAY, JUNE 23rd

Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy presents the 2nd annual Bearwallow Beast 5K--a challenging footrace race that ranks among the most difficult in the southeast. The race features nearly 1,400 feet of elevation gain over its 3.1 miles.

Voted one of WNC's Best Races by the Mountain Xpress in 2012!

When: Sunday, June 23rd
Where: Gerton, NC
Cost: $35 registration

We very much hope that the majority of pre-registered runners can attend our make-up date for the Bearwallow Beast. If you are not able to make it, please email julianne@carolinamountain.org if you wish to to pick up your t-shirt at the CMLC office or if you would like it to be mailed to you. Per the policy outlined via the IMAthlete website, registration fees are non-refundable. Wesincerely thank you for supporting conservation in western North Carolina through your registration fee and hope that you will enjoy the year-long membership to Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy that was included with your registration.

Join the race to save our mountains!

www.bearwallowbeast.com

New registrations for the Bearwallow Beast 5K will be accepted Friday, May 17th through Thursday, June 20th. Register now at imathlete.com

Volunteer with CMLC, CMC, & REI Asheville on National Trails Day: Sunday, June 2nd
Date of this Event: Sun, 06/02/2013 - 9:00am

Get your hands dirty with CMLC, Carolina Mountain Club, and REI Asheville on National Trails Day, Sunday June 2nd. Help build the new Trombatore Trail, a three mile extension of the popular Bearwallow Mountain Trail in the Hickory Nut Gorge.
 
Spend a fun day in the woods while being part of constructing one of the region's newest and most exciting hiking trail systems. The new trail is a segment of the developing 12-mile Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Trail that will connect the grassy bald of Bearwallow Mountain to other conserved lands in the Gorge, including the scenic summit of Blue Ridge Pastures as well as CMLC's 600-acre Florence Nature Preserve.
 
No experience is necessary, but adequate physical fitness (for working in rugged terrain while using heavy tools) is required. Participants will receive a special edition REI volunteer T-shirt. Space is limited to 25 volunteers. Ages 12 and up are welcome. Workday will last from 9 AM - 3 PM. Wear long pants, long sleeves and closed-toe hiking shoes or boots, dress for poison ivy, bring work gloves, sun protection, water and snacks/lunch.
 
Registration via REi Asheville is required. Meet at the Bearwallow Mountain trailhead (directions: http://bit.ly/14somTT).
 
 
For questions, contact CMLC Trails Associate Sarah Bromley at sarahb@carolinamountain.org or 828-697-5777.

Support CMLC by Shopping at Mast General Store in Hendersonville on Land Trust Day - Saturday June 1st
Date of this Event: Sat, 06/01/2013 - 10:00am

Help CMLC by shopping at Hendersonville's Mast General Store (527 N. Main St.) on Land Trust Day: Saturday, June 1st, 2013. In support of land conservation in western NC, Mast General Store will donate 25% of all sales on Land Trust Day to CMLC (Hendersonville location only). Browse Mast General Store online now and make your list to purchase in the store on June 1st.

REI Asheville Honored by CMLC and NC Land Trusts for Promoting Conservation

REI Asheville was honored as the 2013 Corporate Conservation Partner of the Year, one of several awards bestowed annually by North Carolina’s 24 local land trusts to businesses, governments and individuals who lead efforts to protect the state’s streams and lakes, forests, farms, parkland and wildlife habitat, thereby protecting clean drinking water and air quality, local food, outdoor recreation, and North Carolina’s unique natural heritage. REI Asheville was nominated for the award by Hendersonville’s Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. The awards were announced at the annual North Carolina Land Trust Assembly in Raleigh.

Commitment to environmental stewardship is at the core of REI’s corporate philosophy.  Whether it is partnering with nonprofits to protect the outdoors and promote outdoor recreation, or mobilizing thousands of volunteers annually to help protect natural places, REI passionately strives to conserve lands and environmental resources.

REI Asheville has been an exemplary partner to many conservation organizations in the North Carolina mountains. Since the store’s opening in 2008, REI Asheville’s outstanding generosity has included countless in-kind donations to organizations and funding of volunteer stewardship programs throughout the region.  In 2010, REI made a $10,000 grant to Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy to promote trail-building efforts in Hickory Nut Gorge. In addition, REI awarded a total of $25,000 in 2012 to four conservation organizations in the region.

“REI Asheville has been an outstanding supporter of conservation throughout western North Carolina since the store opened in 2008.  Their generous support of Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy and other conservation organizations has included grants to support volunteer stewardship programs, sponsorship of our annual trail race and other events, and donations of outdoor gear for fundraising events and for our volunteers.  We are thrilled to see REI Asheville receive the 2013 North Carolina Land Trust Corporate Conservation Partner Award,” said Kieran Roe, Executive Director of Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy.

CMLC conserves land and water resources to benefit the quality of life of residents and visitors in Henderson, Transylvania, and surrounding counties. Since 1994, the land trust has protected nearly 23,000 acres of natural lands in our mountains. For more information, visit www.carolinamountain.org.

CMLC is Applying for Accreditation Renewal with Land Trust Accreditation Commission

The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy (CMLC) is pleased to announce it is applying for accreditation renewal. A public comment period is now open.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs. The accreditation seal lets the public know that "the accredited land trust has undergone an extensive, external review of the governance and management of its organization and the systems and policies it uses to protect land.”

“In 2008, CMLC became the first land trust in the state of North Carolina to earn accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission,” said CMLC Administrative Director Rebekah Robinson. “We are proud to renew our accreditation to ensure our landowners, partners, and supporters know that we uphold the highest standards in our efforts to conserve and steward the precious natural resources of western North Carolina.”

The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how CMLC complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards, see www.landtrustaccreditation.org/getting-accredited/indicator-practices.

To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 112 Spring Street, Suite 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Comments on CMLC’s application will be most useful by July 1, 2013.

Hike with CMLC at Picturesque Johnson Branch Conservation Easement - Saturday, May 11
Date of this Event: Sat, 05/11/2013 (All day)

Join Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy (CMLC) on Saturday, May 11, for a guided hike through the scenic Johnson Branch conservation easement in Transylvania County. This hike has been one of CMLC's most popular hikes from previous years, featuring a picturesque 68-acre property conserved by the Jones family through CMLC in 2009. Hikers will enjoy a moderate hike that includes several waterfalls, beautiful rich cove forest, a plethora of spring wildflowers, and a scenic view high above the French Broad River valley.

The hike will be led by the landowners David and Betty Jones who will tour hikers on their protected property as well as share stories of the land and the close connection that they share with it. This property is not otherwise open to the public for hiking.

Total cumulative hiking distance is 2.0 miles. This hike is rated as moderate in difficulty, featuring a total elevation gain of 700 feet.

This CMLC hike is open to the public: members and non-members are invited, so please consider registering a friend to attend the hike!

Participants are required to be in reasonable physical condition and capable of completing a two mile hike over uneven, forested terrain. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate dogs on this hike. Hikers should wear sturdy walking shoes (no flip-flops), bring several layers of clothing in preparation for changing warm and cold temperatures, pack plenty of water as well as a snack/lunch to eat during the hike. Hikers who attend are required to participate in the entire duration of the hike.

Space is limited on our hikes, so please reserve your spot today by using CMLC's Online Hike Sign-Up Form. Hike meeting locations, times, and additional details will be sent through email upon confirmation of your spot on the hike within 1-2 days business days after requesting a spot. This hike can accomodate 25 hikers. Reservations for a spot on this hike will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis using:

CMLC's Online Hike Sign-Up Form

For questions, contact CMLC Outreach Associate Sarah Bromley at sarahb@carolinamountain.org. Please allow one full business day for a response to Hike Sign-Ups and hike inquiries.

CMLC conserves land and water resources to benefit the quality of life of residents and visitors in Henderson, Transylvania, and surrounding counties. Since 1994, the land trust has protected more than 23,000 acres of natural lands in our mountains.

Read CMLC's Spring 2013 Landscape Newsletter & 2012 Annual Report

In this issue:

  • A Doggone Good Year: Conservation Successes in 2012

  • Public Access Makes Conservation Tangible to Everyone by CMLC Executive Director Kieran Roe;

  • 2012 Annual Report, Financial Summary & Donor Listings;

  • Honoring Our Land Protection Fund Donors;

  • In the Field with CMLC: Creating an Edible Forest at Eagle's Nest Camp;

  • AmeriCorps Project Conserve: Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. with a Day of Service;

  • Bearwallow Beast 5K Trail Run & Restival - Sunday May 5th;

  • Our Newest Yellow Lady Slipper Volunteer: Claire Dillman;

  • CMLC Hiking Challenge 2.0;

Join CMLC for a Wildflower Guided Hike in Sherwood Forest - Saturday, April 27
Date of this Event: Sat, 04/27/2013 (All day)

Join Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy (CMLC) on Saturday, April 27, for a guided wildflower hike through Transylvania County's Sherwood Forest. Hikers will enjoy an easy walk through a rich cove forest to observe a beautiful display of spring wildflowers.

CMLC has protected a total of 3.7 acres among multiple projects within the Sherwood Forest community, including 2.2 acres recently placed in conservation easement in late 2012. While small in size compared to other conservation projects, lands within Sherwood Forest and its vicinity are of particular ecological significance, hosting an abundance of rare plant species. Sherwood Forest is adjacent to the Little River--near its headwaters, and upstream from DuPont State Recreational Forest. It is also proximate to Cedar Mountain Bog, another ecologically-significant CMLC conservation project. Altogether, CMLC has protected 7,600 acres in the Little River watershed.

Total cumulative hiking distance is 2.5 miles. This hike is rated as easy in difficulty, featuring a total elevation gain of 500 feet.

Participants are required to be in reasonable physical condition and capable of completing a two and a half mile hike over uneven, forested terrain. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate dogs on this hike. Hikers should wear sturdy walking shoes (no flip-flops), bring several layers of clothing in preparation for changing warm and cold temperatures, pack plenty of water as well as a snack/lunch to eat during the hike. Hikers who attend are required to participate in the entire duration of the hike.

Space is limited on our hikes, so please reserve your spot today by using CMLC's Online Hike Sign-Up Form. Hike meeting locations and additional details will be sent upon confirmation of your spot on the hike within 1-2 days business days after requesting a spot. This hike can accomodate 20 hikers. Reservations for a spot on this hike will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis using:

CMLC's Online Hike Sign-Up Form

For questions, contact CMLC Outreach Associate Sarah Bromley at sarahb@carolinamountain.org. Please allow one full business day for a response to Hike Sign-Ups and hike inquiries.

CMLC conserves land and water resources to benefit the quality of life of residents and visitors in Henderson, Transylvania, and surrounding counties. Since 1994, the land trust has protected more than 23,000 acres of natural lands in our mountains.

Attend CMLC's Annual Meeting: Sunday, May 19 @ Camp Tekoa in Hendersonville

Join CMLC for our Annual Meeting featuring an engaging presentation by speaker Dr. Timothy P. Spira, professor at Clemson University and author of Wildflowers and Plant Communities of the Southern Appalachian Mountains and Piedmont, recognition of our Lady Slipper Volunteer award winners, and the announcement and presentation of our prestigious Lela McBride Award.

Sunday, May 19th

Camp Tekoa's Laurel Lodge - Hendersonville

2:00pm - 4:00pm

This is a free event. No RSVP is necessary. Attendance is open to everyone. For directions to Camp Tekoa, click here. For more information, contact CMLC Outreach Associate, Sarah Bromley, at sarahb@carolinamountain.org.

 

CMLC Launches WAC-HNG: Weed Action Coalition of Hickory Nut Gorge to Manage Invasive Species

CMLC is excited to announce the establishment of a group aimed at protecting the scenic beauty and natural communities in the Hickory Nut Gorge by combatting invasive plants. The mission of the newly formed Weed Action Coalition of the Hickory Nut Gorge (WAC-HNG) is to thwart further establishment and spread of invasive and exotic plant species in the Gorge through invasive species management. The Coalition, made up of land trusts, local businesses, municipalities, state agencies, and private landowners, is made possible by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and North Carolina Firewise--a program of the North Carolina Forest Service.

WAC-HNG [pronounced whack-ing] will work throughout the Lake Lure watershed which encompasses more than 66,000 acres of publicly- and privately-owned land.  Invasive plants are posing a risk to many of the Gorge’s unique habitats. Encroaching non-native plants decrease ecological biodiversity and disrupt the complex interactions that rare and endangered species depend on. The presence and spread of invasives also decreases the Gorge’s scenic beauty so cherished by countless residents and visitors.

WAC-HNG has made the management of invasive plant species its top priority. Currently focused on inventorying the existing invasives in the Gorge, the group will begin providing resources to interested landowners as early as this winter, with invasive treatments beginning in the spring. For more information, visit:

www.WACHNG.org