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.
Of the 20 North Carolina sites in the new report, six are in Western North Carolina — including the nonprofit’s No. 1 site, Interstate 40’s path through the Pigeon River Gorge.
Six years in the making, a 300 kilowatt-hour solar array at Asheville’s Isaac Dickson Elementary School was officially dedicated Sept. 24. The $428,000 project is expected to save the school over $1.3 million in utilities costs over its 30-year operational lifespan.
“It feels like a migration of birds,” says Eli Mills, seasonal employee at the North Carolina Outward Bound School. “Every year we come up on the mountain in the very early spring, and slowly, people start trickling in from whatever adventure or work they’ve had over the last few months.”
Organizers say Mountain Sports Festival is a come-one-come-all event and that attitude is echoed in the multitude of nonsports attractions — in addition to extensive athletic programming — for participants and spectators of all backgrounds.
This weekend brings local music, free workshops, outdoor festivals and a host of other budget-friendly events to keep you entertained without breaking the bank. As always, share more low-cost happenings in the comments section.
