Press release
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
Land Trust Day
Open House and Guided Hike at SAHC’s Community Farm
Date: Saturday, June 7
Start Time: 10 am (approximately 2 hours)
Difficulty: 3
Leaders: Yael Girard, SAHC Community Farm & Food Assistant and Anna Zanetti, SAHC AmeriCorps PR & Outreach Associate
Please bring: Sturdy hiking shoes, camera for photos, water, sunscreen, insect repellent, long pants, bag to carry belongings, and optional blanket/camp chairs and lunch if you would like to picnic.
Special note: You will be walking through a pasture and wildlife area, so please be aware you may encounter ticks, bees, and snakes — plan accordingly.
In conjunction with Land Trust Day on Saturday, June 7, SAHC will host an open house and guided interpretive hike along the Discovery Trail at our Community Farm in Alexander, NC.
Led by SAHC’s Community Farm & Food Assistant, Yael Girard, participants will learn about the many facets of the Community Farm, including a history of the farm, community involvement with volunteers, trail construction, stream restoration project, use of agricultural best management practices, short leaf pine restoration project, educational opportunities, and our new Farmer Incubator Program. This will be a wonderful excursion for families and children. Enjoy a meandering 1.5-mile tour along an easy-to-moderate trail. We also hope to see wildlife along the way; in order to have better chances for spotting wildlife, we do ask participants not to bring dogs on this hike. After the tour, enjoy an optional picnic lunch on the farm or consider going to one of our Land Trust Day partner restaurants or retail areas including King Daddy’s Chicken & Waffles, Laughing Seed Café, Jack of the Wood, Mast General Store, New Morning Gallery, Bellagio Art to Wear, Bellagio Everyday, Second Gear, the Weinhaus, or Wild Birds Unlimited.
JUNE JAMBOREE 6/14
Honoring our origin in the stunning Highlands of Roan, SAHC hosts a day of guided hikes each June to gather and enjoy our treasured flagship focus area.
This year we have five guided hikes planned, catering to a variety of skill levels and interests. Since the hike locations are spread out across the Roan, we will host post-hike gatherings at two different locations. Descriptions, details and start times for each hike, as well as the post-hike socials, are given below. You will receive directions to the departure location and carpool information upon registration.
Hike #1 — Carvers Gap to Grassy Ridge
Start Time: 9:00am-2:30pm
Leader: Bill Ryan
Difficulty: 7.5
Bring: sturdy hiking shoes, camera, walking stick, water, lunch, sunscreen, binoculars, and appropriate clothing.
Fellowship Location: Roan Cabins (2:30 – 5 pm)
This classic and rewarding hike is full of adventure atop the highest elevation balds in the Highlands of Roan, widely considered among the most spectacular scenery along the Appalachian Trail. Grassy Ridge, elevation 6,189 feet, is the highest point near the AT. Enjoy a natural, unobstructed 360-degree view and so much more — blooming rhododendron, flame azalea, patches of spruce fir forest and rare plants such as Gray’s lily and Roan Mountain bluets. Contact Anna Zanetti at anna@appalachian.org or 828.253.0095 ext 205 to register for the hike.
Hike #2 — Roll n’ Stroll in Rhododendron Gardens
Start Time: 12:00-2:00pm
Leader: Judy Murray
Difficulty: 2+
Bring: sturdy hiking shoes, camera, walking stick, water, lunch, sunscreen, binoculars, and appropriate clothing.
Fellowship Location: Roan Cabins (2:30 – 5 pm)
The Rhododendron Gardens on top of Roan will be blazing with color this time of year. Judy Murray, will take hikers along gentle terrain with stunning views of the Roan landscape. On this leisurely stroll hikers will learn about SAHC’s newest land protection projects including several tracts in Yellow Mountain State Natural Area like the Justice Creek property on Spear Tops and Hawk Mountain Farm. This hike is designed to give people of all hiking abilities the opportunity to get outside and enjoy some of the property that SAHC has diligently protected over the last four decades. *This trail is paved and wheelchair accessible. Contact Anna Zanetti atanna@appalachian.org or 828.253.0095 ext 205 to register for the hike.
Hike #3 — Yoga on the Mountain
Start Time: 11:00-2:30pm
Leader: Danielle Fath-Goldstein
Difficulty: 4
Bring: sturdy hiking shoes, camera, walking stick, water, lunch, sunscreen, binoculars, and appropriate clothing.
Fellowship Location: National Trails Tract (2:30 – 5 pm)
Lay your yoga mat in the open meadow, tucked within the stunning Highlands of Roan. Prepare to move into your exalted warrior or tree pose while feeling the sun warm your skin as the high elevation breezes simultaneously cool you. Enjoy an easy to moderate hike through our protected Natural Trails Tract in the Roaring Creek Valley, along pristine streams and critical bird habitat, to the Pisgah National Forest for a gentle yoga practice. The meadow lies below the Appalachian Trail and Yellow Mountain, overlooking one of our most cherished conservation focus areas. After yoga we will walk a short gravel road, which is also the route of the Overmountain Victory Trail, back to our cars. Contact Anna Zanetti at anna@appalachian.org or 828.253.0095 ext 205 to register for the hike.
Hike #4 — Kids in the Creek
Start Time: 11:00-2:30pm
Leader: Lizzy Stokes-Cawley
Difficulty: 3
Bring: sturdy hiking shoes, camera, walking stick, water, lunch, sunscreen, binoculars, and appropriate clothing.
Fellowship Location: National Trails Tract (2:30 – 5 pm)
Bring your kids to play in the creek on SAHC’s beautiful National Trails Tract. This shorter hike is designed to get kids outdoors and explore some of the beautiful water protected by SAHC. Kids will learn about some basic stream ecology, look for crayfish and salamanders. Kids are welcome to bring fishnets, buckets, or other toys to play with in the creek. This hike is for kids 7 years and older. Parents are welcomed to participate as well. Please bring water appropriate clothing and shoes plus appropriate day hiking materials. Contact Anna Zanetti at anna@appalachian.org or 828.253.0095 ext 205 to register for the hike.
Hike #5 — Challenge Hike
Start Time: 8:00-3:00pm
Leader: Tom Gatti
Difficulty 10+
Bring: sturdy hiking shoes, camera, walking stick, water, lunch, sunscreen, binoculars, and appropriate clothing.
Fellowship Location: National Trails Tract (2:30 – 5 pm)
The June Jamboree Challenge hike will start where the Appalachian Trail crosses Highway 19E, 4 miles west of the town of Roan Mountain. Participants will steadily hike 5.4 miles climbing a total of 2,707 feet to the summit of Hump Mountain. We will continue south along the Appalachian Trail over Little Hump and then along the spine of Yellow Mountain to Yellow Mountain Gap at 8.7 miles. From Yellow Mountain Gap we’ll hike another 1.7 miles to Low Gap and the Stan Murray Shelter. From here we leave the trail (long pants are recommended) and make our way to Elk Hollow Creek which we will follow for a mile or so down to the National Trails Tract, celebrate, and ride back to our cars. Contact Anna Zanetti at anna@appalachian.org or828.253.0095 ext 205 to register for the hike.
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