PRESS RELEASE: Pardee Hospital announced today that it has agreed to sponsor Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy’s (CMLC) White Squirrel Hiking Challenge. The challenge encourages outdoor enthusiasts – and anyone interested in keeping Western North Carolina’s mountains beautiful – to explore and discover the lands CMLC has helped conserve, while staying healthy and active in the process. Pardee’s first guided hike took place Sunday, June 12 at the Trombatore Trail. Sarah Philipp, an athletic trainer at Pardee Sports Medicine, discussed the importance of using hiking poles while trail walking and Pardee Signature Care Center coordinator Chelsea Darley shared information about Pardee’s Heels in Motion community walking program. For more information, visit carolinamountain.org/.
Throughout the challenge, participants will have opportunities to hear health and wellness advice from Pardee Hospital orthopedic surgeons, health and wellness coaches, and other providers. CMLC members and Pardee participants who complete all eight hikes will earn the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy’s coveted white squire embroidered hiking patch, a certificate of completion, recognition in print and online publications, and a $10 gift certificate for hiking gear at Hendersonville’s Mast General Store. The hikes in this year’s challenge include Alexander’s Ford, Bearwallow Mountain, Whitewater Falls, Wintergreen Falls, Buffalo Creek Park, Little Bearwallow Trail, Vaughn Creek and Trombatore Trail to Blue Ridge Pastures.
“When Pardee gets community members to sign up for the White Squirrel Hiking Challenge, we’re getting people to be more active, more often, which translates to a healthier Western North Carolina,” said Johnna Reed, chief administrative officer for Pardee Hospital. “The partnership with Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy is just one more way Pardee is working to keep our community healthy.”
Pardee Hospital is a nationally recognized not-for-profit community hospital founded in 1953 and is managed by UNC Health Care. The hospital is licensed for 222 acute care beds. Pardee Hospital has several locations separate from the main campus, including a comprehensive physician information practice network, two urgent care locations and five orthopedic clinics. To find a physician, visit pardeehospital.org.
Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy (CMLC) improves the quality of life for all who live in Western North Carolina by promoting and implementing land conservation and stewardship. CMLC protects land, water resources, and natural habitats in Henderson, Transylvania and surrounding counties. Dedicated to saving the places you love, CMLC works to permanently conserve and actively care for a regional network of farms, forests, parks and natural lands within the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hickory Nut Gorge and French Broad watershed. By working with landowners and partnering with local organizations, CMLC strives to enhance our community by safeguarding clean drinking water, establishing new parks, protecting rare species, building public trails, preserving cultural history and maintaining our mountains’ natural scenic beauty. To learn more, visit carolinamountain.org.
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