Buncombe County Recreation Services and National Park Service team up for Parkway hike

Press release from Buncombe County Recreation Services:

Buncombe County Recreation Services announces Blue Ridge Parkway Hike in Celebration of the National Parks Service 100 Year Centennial

The National Parks Service is celebrating 100 years! To commemorate the occasion, Buncombe County Recreation Services and the Blue Ridge Parkway are hosting a hike on Saturday, October 1, 2016 beginning at 10 a.m. at the Craggy Gardens Visitors Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile post 364 (north of Asheville and about 18 miles from the Folk Art Center).

The hike, part of the 100 Hikes initiative, will be led by a NPS Ranger, who will give some history on the area and answer questions along the way. The round trip hike from Craggy Pinnacle is 1.4 miles and begins with a moderate uphill climb to the summit at Craggy Gardens. The elevation is 5,892 feet so bring a jacket and dress in layers. Temperatures at the summit are known to fluctuate as much as 20 degrees cooler than the starting point of the hike. October is a beautiful time on the Parkway, so make sure to pack your photography gear to capture the experience. You can also use your smartphone and the hashtag #FindYourPark, if selfies with scenic backdrops are more your style. Water bottles and snacks are suggested too; there is a great picnic area at Craggy along with the views. Please remember to Leave No Trace and pack out whatever items and litter you pack in.

“At the Blue Ridge Parkway we’re excited to celebrate 100 years of the National Park Service with 100 community-driven hikes, each of which will foster connections to natural public spaces for young and old alike,” says Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Mike Woods, “We’re so pleased these hikes will strengthen relationships with the many wonderful people and places that surround the Parkway.”

Buncombe County Recreation Services and the National Park Service have collaborated on two previous hikes in support of 100 Hikes during the summer. The initiative is intended to create connections with the next generation of park visitors, supporters, and advocates by instilling ownership of public lands in young people. Previous hikes worked to integrate existing Buncombe County Recreation Services programs into the 100 Hikes initiative. The department’s Home School Physical Education class kicked off the collaboration connecting participants to fitness experiences involving nature and the outdoors.

Buncombe County Special Olympics athletes were also treated to a hike organized by the department. Caitlin Worth of the Blue Ridge Parkway led athletes on an educational adventure around the ponds at Charles D. Owen Park. Athletes learned about the ecosystem function of the park and the flora and fauna that supports it.

“The 100 Hikes initiative has been an opportunity to connect with the National Park Service and to encourage the public to use the recreational amenities available to them,” says Buncombe County Recreation Manager Josh O’Conner, “We hope that it will build momentum that encourages residents to get out and get active in their parks year round.”