Asheville-area health professionals are seeing itchy, sniffling allergy sufferers up to nine months of the year.
Trout hatchery renovation could impact local tourism
A renovation expected to begin next year at the 67-year-old Bobby N. Setzer Fish Hatchery in Brevard will diminish upcoming trout stockings in local rivers by two-thirds. However, the effect that renovation could have on tourism and businesses that rely on anglers is difficult to determine.
One writer’s quest to understand the Blue Ridge Parkway
Part of its appeal is its uniqueness. The park is the road; the road is the park. Unlike other sites, where car access was at some point fitted into an already stunning landscape, the entirety of the Blue Ridge Parkway itself was fabricated with the intention of being the park.
Why I volunteer: Giving back to the Appalachian Trail
Sarah Jones Decker, a volunteer at Carolina Mountain Club, discusses the joys of being outside with like-minded hikers.
Why I volunteer: Keeping trails in shape
Stefan Israel is a volunteer with Rock Crushers, which maintains hiking trails, particularly in the Gerton-Lake Lure area.
Exploring the great outdoors, 3,600 feet at a time
Our reporter and his musician friend see what Navitat Canopy Adventures is all about.
WNC is ground zero for wilderness skills education
In February, Mountain BizWorks’ MADE X MTNS partnership, which seeks to expand WNC’s outdoor industry, released a study that noted outdoor activities such as backpacking, day hiking and vehicle camping generated an economic output of $4.9 billion per year for the region and resulted in 48,000 full-time jobs.
Local purveyors find new ways to introduce medical mushrooms to customers
Asheville’s wellness culture is touted nationwide for its outdoor lifestyle and fresh mountain air. But less well known are the mycological wellness opportunities — that is, medicinal mushrooms — in our refrigerators and cupboards.
The story behind Asheville’s reputation as a bonsai destination
“The way [my bonsai] are constructed, it’s not based on what I was taught or what the books tell you to do,” says Arthur Joura, bonsai curator at The N.C. Arboretum. “It’s based on what I’ve seen in my own experience and run through the filter of my knowledge of art.
Whatever it takes: Raising awareness about pollution
“When I started this job, almost 20 years ago, very few people used the French Broad River for recreation, and therefore no one really cared when it was polluted,” says Hartwell Carson, French Broad Riverkeeper with MountainTrue. “Now lots of people use the river everyday and there is a strong desire that we do better and protect the river,
Green Roundup: Community leader releases book about developing sustainable cultures
Hood Huggers International founder and CEO DeWayne Barton, released his new book, “The CAP Playbook: Phase One,” on Aug. 14. The book’s Community Accountability Plan lays out a vision of creating a sustainable, inclusive and economically empowered culture in historically marginalized communities. Barton notes that the book is set up similarly to a football playbook, but instead of scoring touchdowns, the “plays” help achieve community goals.
One resident’s unique bond with area waterfowl
James Hewitt, a local Black Mountain resident, is known by many as Duck Whisper. But he says he’s had several other bird-related nicknames over the years, on account of his friendship with the ducks and geese at Lake Tomahawk.
The city’s new urban forester has big plans for Asheville’s tree canopy
“People just don’t know what they can or cannot do,” says Keith Aitken, the city’s new urban forester. “We want to create a document or education program for people who move into steep slopes because I want people to come to me when they have a tree removal rather than doing it under the radar.”
From CPP: The battle for wild and scenic status, part 2
Getting a river “wild and scenic” status is a balancing act between conservation and various group interests. Many oppose this designation, fearing government overreach. Some believe that lands within the national forest are already sufficiently protected, while others feel the designation may restrict landowners who rely on water access for farming or ranching.
From CPP: The battle for wild and scenic status, part 1
Despite the challenges of achieving wild and scenic river status, a portion of the French Broad has made the cut of eligible rivers. That’s just the first step, though, in the lengthy process to protect it.
Disabled athletes push for more accessible trails
Riding a bike in Western North Carolina is an immersive experience of flying on miles of single-track trails, cruising over creeks and under the tree canopy. Yet full access to nature is challenging for mountain bikers living with disabilities.
Green Roundup: Conservation groups prepare for lawsuit over Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan
The Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of MountainTrue, the Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society, Defenders of Wildlife and the Center for Biological Diversity, sent a 60-day Notice of Intent to Sue to the U.S. Forest Service in relation to their Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan.
A father and son’s soaked journey through the 2023 Firefly Gathering
Firefly Gathering is the largest earth-skills gathering in the country. Held at Deerfields, the 940-acre retreat center in the Pisgah National Forest near Mills River, the annual event transforms a quiet mountain hollow into a self-sufficient village.
PBS North Carolina docuseries recounts teens’ coast-to-coast bike trip
Although “Shadow of Wheel” is partly autobiographical, filmmaker Paul Bonesteel sought to make the story larger than his own. He tracked down as many riders as he could and interviewed nearly all of those still living.
WNC goatscaping services offer sustainable land management
Grazing goats are an increasingly popular means of eliminating invasive plants.
4 unique trips for the hiker who’s tried everything
Consider one of these trips led by local guides for your next adventure in WNC (and eastern Tennessee).