News & Events: Upcoming Events

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).

Click here to register for National Trails Day!

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.

Nelson Mandela Day 2012

Date of this Event: Wed, 07/18/2012 - 10:00am

Wednesday, July 18th is International National Mandela Day, a day to inspire and challenge citizens to do service in their communities and be a global force for good. Please stand with the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy in celebrating and honoring the life and achievements of Nelson Mandela, who spent 67 years of his life fighting for equality and justice, by donating at least 67 minutes of your time to making the world a better place. CMLC will be offering several activities for youth as well as a service opportunity for adults that will fulfill the challenge set forth for the day.

Planned activities and events for the day include:

An opportunity to learn about the mission of CMLC and the life of Nelson Mandela
An educational guided plant walk showcasing native plants
Stewardship volunteer opportunity in CMLC's Community Arboretum
Scavenger hunt and crafts for youth (with prizes!)
Refreshments, and a chance to socialize with other individuals who are passionate about making the world a better place

This event will run from 10 AM to 2 PM, with scheduled service and activities throughout.

If you are interested in attending, to do service or for arts and crafts, please RSVP with the number planning to attend. For RSVPs or general questions on the event, please contact Mark van der Linden at 828-697-5777, ext 211, or by emailing here.

If you're curious about the day, please visit the International Nelson Mandela Day website!

Cherokee Basket Weaving Demonstration & Guided River Cane Tour - May 12th, 2012 @ 2:00pm at Fletcher Park

Date of this Event: Sat, 05/12/2012 - 2:00pm

Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy presents Cherokee artisan, James W. Long, who will demonstrate traditional river cane weaving and dying techniques, Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 2:00pm at the Fletcher Community Park. After the presentation, CMLC will lead a guided tour of the Cane Creek greenway highlighting recent projects that improve water quality and wildlife habitat along Cane Creek. This is a FREE event and open to the public.

Long will use river cane and dyes he has gathered himself from natural sources to demonstrate how artisans split and weave river cane and use native plants and roots to create the rich browns and oranges of baskets and mats. The guided tour will showcase river cane growing in its natural habitat and focus on CMLC’s work to restore this once-abundant plant to the banks of Cane Creek.

In addition to its cultural uses, river cane provides habitat for wildlife and prevents erosion. In partnership with the Town of Fletcher, CMLC volunteers and staff are replanting river cane and removing competing non-native plant species at the greenway.

Long, a member of the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, began learning the art of basket weaving from his parents at the age of 11. He soon mastered other crafts as a way of continuing cultural traditions. He said it has become harder to find the quality natural materials he needs for his artwork and he is always excited about the opportunity to share his craft with others. Long’s work will be available for sale at the event.

The demonstration and tour will highlight the important relationship between culture and nature and will appeal to anyone with an interest in history, art, or the environment. All are invited to attend this free event sponsored by the Community Foundation of Henderson County.

Volunteers Needed fpr Earth Stewardship Day - Saturday April 28th

Date of this Event: Sat, 04/28/2012 - 9:00am

The Hendersonville-based Environmental Conservation Organization (ECO) and CMLC are seeking volunteers for service on ECO's Earth Stewardship Day Saturday, April 28, 2012. Volunteer opportunities include constructing a community garden, pollinator & native grasses planting, trail maintenance at Holmes Educational State Forest, beautification and stream buffer restoration at Hendersonville's Sullivan Park, orchard plantings at Upward Elementary School, beaver dam removal on Lewis Creek, and other great service projects that will improve our environment and community. For more information or to sign-up for a project, contact ECO's Water Quality Administrator, Rachel Hodge, at 828-692-0385 or eco@eco-wnc.org.

You'll Never Look at Your Yard the Same Way Again: FREE Invasive Species Workshop - April 18th

Date of this Event: Wed, 04/18/2012 - 6:00pm

Not sure which plants in your yard are invasive? Or why invasive plants are such a problem? Don't know where to start or how to get rid of the plants that pose the greatest threat ? Worried that your efforts to eradicate invasive plants aren't making a difference?

Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy and the Friends of Hickory Nut Gorge invite you to a FREE workshop at the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Center to help you to take charge of the invasive plants around your home.

You'll learn how to identify and treat invasive plant species, where to access and purchase resources for treatment, and where a variety of organizations and fellow landowners are already working in the Hickory Nut Gorge.

Do you have something from your yard you need help identifying? Seal it up in a plastic bag and bring it with you--we'll help you figure out what it is and how to treat it!

When: Wednesday, April 18th at 6:00 pm

Where: 4730 Gerton Hwy. 74A, Gerton, NC (next to Nita's and Susan's Hickory Creek Market)

Snacks and beverages will be provided. Bring a friend!

For further details, contact Julie Brockman at julie@carolinamountain.org or 828-697-5777 ext. 209.

Celebrate National Volunteer Week with CMLC!

Date of this Event: Sun, 04/15/2012 (All day)

April 15th to 21st is National Volunteer Week!

Celebrate service and volunteerism by getting involved with National Volunteer Week! This annual week-long celebration aims to promote volunteerism and thank those who are actively involved with service in our community. Click here to learn more at the CMLC Volunteer website!

Lewis Creek Restoration Days - Get Outside and Volunteer - Dec. 10th

Date of this Event: Sat, 12/10/2011 - 10:00am

CMLC is working on restoring bog habitat and constructing a trail extension at Lewis Creek, and we need your help! We need volunteers for three workdays coming up at the end of November and the beginning of December.

Here are the dates and what you'd be doing to help!

Sunday, November 20th: Flagging a path for a new section of trail through the bog area, clearing understory from the flagged trail, clearing the field of cut brush.
Tuesday, November 29th: Chipping wood into mulch for the new section of trail.
Saturday, December 3rd: Spreading wood chips to help form the new section of trail, and helping to restore the ecological integrity of the bog by removing invasive plants.
Saturday, December 10th: Spreading wood chips to help form the new section of trail, and helping to restore the ecological integrity of the bog by removing invasive plants.

All of the workdays will be from 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM. December 10th is bolded as we particularly need help on this day!

If you're interested or would like more information, please get in touch with Mark at mark@carolinamountain.org or at (828) 697-5777. Thank you!

Join us at CMLC's Holiday Friend-Raiser December 6th

Date of this Event: Thu, 11/03/2011 - 9:26pm

CMLC's Annual Holiday Party

Tuesday, December 6th, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Salon Blue Ridge
(Architectural Warehouse & Showroom)

518 S. Allen Road (off of Upward Road)
Limited space, please RSVP by Thursday, December 1st

Join CMLC for a festive evening as we wrap up a successful 2011! Attendees enjoy wine, hors d'oeuvres and live jazz guitar by Dan Keller.

This year's holiday gathering is a true FRIEND-RAISER as follows:

$25 per for CMLC members

$35 per for CMLC non-members

FREE for CMLC members that bring a non-member as guest**

**You, members of your household and your non-member guest are welcomed gratis if you will kindly encourage that your guest become acquainted with CMLC's mission to conserve a regional network of locally and nationally significant farm, forest, park and natural lands. How can you know if your guest is a non-member? Simply ask! Email Kristin Harkey at kristin@carolinamountain.org.