Parks are cut, but thankfully they are still open

The Raleigh News & Observer/Charlotte Observer (they're essentially the same now, after all) has a nice piece on the impact of the state budget on the state parks. It is significant. Thankfully, the parks are still open and essentially free to visit, though some fees (camping, for example) went up.

"As states struggle with deficits, the nation's parks are under siege. California will close 70 of its 278 parks. Washington state withdrew all its state support. Ohio plans to allow oil and gas drilling in its parks," says the article.

No North Carolina parks or recreation areas are expected to close. But visitors will pay more to camp, swim or picnic, because of fee increases. They'll find fewer rangers and more peeling paint.

"You can only nail, hammer and paint so much," said Shederick Mole, superintendent of Jordan Lake State Recreation Area in Chatham County. ...

As the state park budget is reduced over the next few years, less money will be available for parks to renovate and remodel existing buildings. ...

Legislators diverted $8.4 million from the trust, which gets income from real estate excise taxes, to help balance the state budget. They also took an additional $6 million for park operations. ...

A recent study from N.C. State University found that the cost of installing and staffing fee stations would offset the revenue from a fee. The study also predicted that visits would fall, hurting the parks' $400 million annual contribution to local economies.

Click here for the rest of the article.

Top 10 N.C. Natural Wonders announced

Land for Tomorrow has counted all the votes, and the first-ever top 10 North Carolina Natural Wonders have been announced.

They are:
-Blue Ridge Parkway
-Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout
-Grandfather Mountain
-Great Smoky Mountains
-Lake Mattamuskeet
-Lumber River
-Merchants Millpond State Park
-Mountains to Sea Trail
-New River
-Ocracoke Island

About 1,300 nominations yielded 200 unique potential “Natural Wonders,” which were narrowed to a field of 25 semifinalists by a panel of prominent North Carolinians, said Land for Tomorrow. From those 25, “North Carolina’s Ten Natural Wonders” were determined by popular vote. Over 3,000 individual votes were submitted.

What are N.C.'s top 10 natural wonders?

You've probably read about it by now, but Land for Tomorrow is hoping that people will vote on just what are the top 10 natural wonders in our great state. There are just a couple more days to vote.

North Carolina is a "state is full of natural wonders." However, "settling on a list of its most beautiful places is not so easy."

“We were trying to think of a fun way to get people involved in highlighting how important conservation is to them,” said Debbie Crane, of Land for Tomorrow, a statewide coalition working to preserve the state's natural resources and urging legislators to fund conservation. “People need to understand that the places they love, they don't just get saved on their own.”

Residents have until Thursday to nominate any landscape, natural feature, wildlife or plant life unique to North Carolina for consideration in the contest. More than 600 nominations have already been submitted.

There are some obvious front-runners: Grandfather Mountain; Jockeys Ridge; Linville Gorge; Pilot Mountain; the Blue Ridge Parkway; etc. But if "unique" plants and animals are options, that could allow for voting for things such as the Venus Fly Trap or the famous white squirrels of Brevard. The results are expected to be released May 18. Go here to vote.

Happy voting!

Quick hits: Highland Games, what's up with Perquimans, and WNC gets a medical school

Games bring Scotland to Western N.C.
"For more than half a century, Grandfather Mountain has hosted the Highland Games, a celebration of Scottish heritage through athleticism, music and dance," says the Citizen-Times.

"But the event, beginning Thursday at MacRae Meadows, may draw particular interest this year, according to Catherine Morton, marketing director with Grandfather Mountain.

" 'In the world of travel and tourism in 2009, everybody is looking for a way to have recreation and unique experiences, and they also don't want to spend a lot of money doing it,' Morton said.

" 'This is a far-away place that isn't far away,' she said. 'You can sleep in your bed but feel like you've spent the day in Europe.' ..."


What's in a name?
"The mayor of Hertford, N.C., has been known to quiz newcomers about his home county of Perquimans," says the Virginian-Pilot.

"His most often asked question is about the meaning of the name. Always a good tour guide, Sid Eley has his answer ready and a theory about its genesis.

" 'It's an Indian word that means land of beautiful women,' he said.

" 'I've heard one story - but I don't have any proof of this - that the men would go to the Outer Banks on fishing expeditions and this is where they left their women. And none of them had ugly wives.' ..."

WNC takes first steps toward medical school

"Like their classmates around the state, four UNC School of Medicine students spent the first day of their third year of medical school taking a tour of the hospital they'll be working in and getting their identification badges.

"But unlike their classmates, the four women who sat practicing suturing on pig's feet Monday afternoon are the first to receive their training at the medical school's newest branch in Western North Carolina and among the first in the country to participate in a new way of educating medical students," says the Citizen-Times.

"The pilot program that started this week establishes a branch of UNC School of Medicine in WNC for the first time, bringing the four third-year medical school students to the mountains for two years to learn clinical skills.

"The program is a collaboration among the UNC School of Medicine, UNC Health Care System, Mission Hospital, the Mountain Area Health Education Center, the Western North Carolina Health Network and local physicians. ..."

Grandfather 'officially' a state park

"Gov. Bev Perdue has signed legislation that allows Grandfather Mountain to become North Carolina's newest state park," says the Citizen-Times.

"Perdue's signature on Tuesday finalized an agreement to create Grandfather Mountain State Park and protect its nearly 2,500 undeveloped acres. The state will purchase the land from the family of Hugh Morton this spring for $12 million from a pair of state trust funds.

"Morton's heirs will continue operating the Grandfather Mountain tourist attraction, including its nature center and 'mile-high' swinging bridge near Boone. The state also will gain a conservation easement on 749 acres of the property where the attraction is located. ..."

This is fantastic news. Grandfather is a North Carolina treasure.

Quick hits: New state park and an old mine is still a gold mine

House approves state park at Grandfather Mountain
"The newest addition to North Carolina's state parks system will be backcountry parts of Grandfather Mountain," says the Asheville Citizen-Times.

"The state is in the process of buying land around the 6,000-foot peak from the family of the property's owner, philanthropist and photographer Hugh Morton, for $12 million. The state House gave final approval Thursday to making the Avery County site a state park once the deal is complete.

"The state park will cover about 2,400 acres of undeveloped land. The Morton family will operate the nature center, wildlife habitats and swinging bridge on 600 acres near the top. But a conservation easement on that land will halt efforts to build housing subdivisions, condominiums, ski slopes and other types of commercial development."

Mine-ful of the past

"The mine is dank, musty and cool, with green fuzz growing on the rocky walls and a stand of mushrooms thriving on the gravel floor. Heavy wooden timbers brace the walls and ceiling.

"Darkened tunnels branch off to the left, right, or even straight up, barred by wooden slats and braced with timbers wedged in at crazy angles," says the Winston-Salem Journal.

"The Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site, on 880 acres near Midland, quietly awaits the next rush of visitors.

"Hard times attract visitors happy to pay $2 to pan through one pile of dirt hoping for gold.

"Site manager Sharon Robinson can tell you right away what gold is bringing on any given day -- it was $925 an ounce recently -- and higher prices attract an increase in visitors to her out-of-the-way historic site. ..."

Autumn colors are on the way

Want to get a head start on seeing the most spectacular fall colors? Then head up the mountains, says the Asheville Citizen-Times' Dale Neal.

"Go high for the best bet at seeing spectacular fall colors over the next week or so," he says.

"With recent rains and a cooling trend, the highest peaks around Western North Carolina could see colorful fall foliage starting this week, said Gary Walker, a biology professor at Appalachian State University.

"Temperature, rainfall, the length of the nights and elevation all factor into the formula of where to expect the best color. ...

"Grandfather Mountain may be nearing its peak color this weekend, with about half the trees above 5,000 feet already turned, park naturalist Jesse Pope said. 'All the maples are in full color and many of the oaks have changed. I think this weekend will be really nice, but we should have good color next weekend and two weeks out.' ..."

Quick hits: State to buy another WNC landmark and Asheville is 'easy'

State to buy Grandfather Mountain

"The state government plans to buy Grandfather Mountain and preserve the private park and popular tourist attraction against development," said various news outlets.

"North Carolina will gain ownership of the nearly 6,000-foot mountain and its surrounding 2,600 surrounding acres in Avery, Watauga and Caldwell counties, said Jack Morton, a board member of Grandfather Mount Inc. The deal, to be announced Monday, will cost about $12 million.

"The state will also acquire an easement around the mountain to enhance its preservation efforts, Morton said.

"Grandfather Mountain is known for its Mile High Swinging Bridge, challenging hiking trails and wildlife habitats, including a home for black bears. The park is home to dozens of endangered species and is recognized by the United Nations as an International Biosphere Reserve. ..."

Asheville an 'easy' fall weekend getaway

"Imagine a place where the local paper advertises an 'organic mechanic,' the streets teem with bandana-wearing banjo players, and tempeh is common on menus, and you have the crunchy Southern mountain retreat of Asheville," writes MSN Travel.

"Encircled by the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains, and a five-minute drive from the bucolic Blue Ridge Parkway, the North Carolina town has been drawing travelers in search of a holistic holiday since the late 19th century. ... While downtown Asheville has plenty to offer, access to the outdoors is the real draw. The surrounding mountains seem to peek out from behind buildings in every corner of town. George Vanderbilt felt the call of these mountains in 1895, when he constructed the grand estate Biltmore (1 Approach Rd.; 877/245-8667; biltmore.com; tickets $47) and the 75 acres of gardens, which are bursting with hundreds of chrysanthemums through the end of this month. And along the Parkway, the foliage is at its peak from mid- to late October. Asheville’s tourism Web site (fallinthemountains.com) makes weekly recommendations of the best drives for taking in the kaleidoscope of colors. ..."

The majestic N.C. mountains

OK, so these are a few weeks later than I originally noted, but here are some photos from the Boone/Blowing Rock area taken in mid July.

The first is, obviously, Grandfather Mountain. Even at 32 years young, I was quite nervous about crossing it. (I don't remember being so nervous the first time I did it -- some 20 years ago.)

Next are more Grandfather photos, including the attention-seeking bears, the freedom-seeking Bald Eagle and a water-seeking panther/cougar.

Next are some photos from a couple of hikes we took while along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I'm embarrassed to say that I do not remember what they are all called, but suffice to say they weren't too far from the Linn Cove Viaduct or the Parkway itself. So there. Now go find them with those kinds of hints. (Warning: I went a little Ansel Adams/B&W crazy here.)

D.G. Martin on our mountain 'lighthouses'

One of North Carolina's greatest ambassadors, D.G. Martin, has penned a wonderful column on North Carolina's mountain "lighthouses."

"Our mountains, beautiful as their rolling, forested peaks are, provide few landmarks as dramatic as Grandfather," he writes. "Even Mount Mitchell is masked by other nearby high peaks in the Black Mountain range.

"However, a few other North Carolina mountains or outcroppings stand out from their surroundings in ways that leave their viewers in awe.

"Stone Mountain (near North Wilkesboro), Pilot Mountain (near Winston Salem), Crowders Mountain (near Gastonia), and Chimney Rock (near Asheville), along with Grandfather, are among my favorites. Like the lighthouses that are symbols of our coast, these outcroppings are my mountain icons. ...

"Like our lighthouses, each of these mountain icons has its special story. 'Exploring the Geology of the Carolinas: A Field Guide to Favorite Places from Chimney Rock to Charleston,' by UNC-Chapel Hill professor Kevin G. Stewart and Mary-Russell Roberson, persuades its readers that the geological story of the creation of each of these landmarks is almost as compelling asits visual impression. ..."

Hugh Morton's photo of the Charlotte skyline from Grandfather Mountain courtesy of Blue Ridge blog.

Highland Games slideshow

I was in the Grandfather Mountain area couple of weeks ago, but I arrived right after the Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain were completed. I really hope to make it there some day. (By the way, Johnstone Clan rules!)

Anyway, WRAL.com has a pretty good slideshow from the Highland Games, which you can view here.

(I hope to have some N.C. mountain photos up in the coming days.)