FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway - August 2005
FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway
linda_kassar at friendsbrp.org
Thu Aug 4 16:42:40 EDT 2005
The Parkway Sentinel - Newsletter for FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway
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to adopt a trail The Parkway Sentinel E-news 8/05
Greetings!
The Sentinel is sponsored by FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway to provide information to our members, Adopt-A-Trail groups, Parkway Volunteers and individuals that love the Blue Ridge Parkway. Find opportunities to become involved, learn what others are doing, purchase Parkway merchandise, and learn more about places and events along the Parkway corridor.
In this issue of the Sentinel:
What's New on the Blue Ridge Parkway? | Volunteer Spotlight | Our Featured Item
AAT Volunteers' Experiences | More Blue Ridge Parkway Information
Announcements - Breaking News
What's New on the Blue Ridge Parkway?
Parkway Superintendent Retiring
Superintendent Daniel W. Brown will retire August 1, ending a 36-year government career, the last five of which were spent as the top manager for the Blue Ridge Parkway, the most visited area in the National Park system. (more)
Volunteer Spotlight
Katherine Groff
My experience in Appalachia gave me an entirely new perspective of the area.
Before the trip, thoughts of Appalachia had always included images of coal mining and related issues... (more)
(top)
Adopt-a-Trail Volunteers' Experiences
FRIENDS Chapter honored at Music Center Opening
The FRIENDS Fisher's Peak Chapter was honored at the Music Center opening by the Park Service with an award for their outstanding service on construction of the Fishers Peak Trail. In addition, FRIENDS recognized the following: Doug Robinson for his outstanding leadership as Chapter Chairman, Dottie and Pete Bramley were presented with the "Over & Above Award" for endless service to the chapter, Aubrey Arrington for the most volunteer hours, and Susie Shenk , Stu Shenk and Lewis Shropshire for their dedication and commitment. *Click pics for larger images. (top)
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(from Piet Bodenhorst) *Click pics for larger images.
"Hi Susan,
Attached are a couple of pictures we took during the construction of the Re-lo of the MST near the entrance of Rt.25. We had to build about 1\4 miles of new trail and the bridge because the Biltmore Farms Corp. exercised their rights to use the right a way as access road for a new subdivision. The BRP and the Contractor supplied the materials and the Friday Crew of the CMC did the rest. A 31 ft Span was the largest built by any of our crews to date. The Old men did a great job.
Regards, Piet
PS- Without your generous gift of a portable Drill the job would have been impossible."
also- Over 20 people came out to work along the Blue Ridge Parkway to help build the MST from NC-18 to NC-16. People as far away as New Bern made to journey to dig a new section of the MST. As one volunteer stated after working two days - " I have a new respect for all trails that I hike on...this is hard but rewarding work." (top)
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AARP Chapter Helped Clean the Blue Ridge Parkway
On Thursday May 12th, several members of the Watauga AARP Chapter, hosted by Ralph Nilles - FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway Adopt - A - Trail Team Captain, participated in the National Volunteer Day by picking up litter and maintaining the National Park Service trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The WYNNERS after school program, sponsored by Angela Brown of the Watauga Youth Network, also participated in this effort. These young people helped pick up litter and cut back vegetation along with the AARP members on selected Blue Ridge Parkway trails near the Moses Cone Manor MP294. *Click pics for larger images. (top)
"Over 20 people came out to work along the Blue Ridge Parkway to help build the MST from NC-18 to NC-16. People as far away as New Bern made to journey to dig a new section of the MST. As one volunteer stated after working two days - " I have a new respect for all trails that I hike on...this is hard but rewarding work."
Our Featured Item from our gift shop
Guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway
"Flowing among the beautiful mountains and valleys of Virginia and North Carolina, the 469-mile-long Blue Ridge Parkway is a true American jewel. Built to expose motorists to nature as well as to preserve its beauty, the Parkway still delivers unrivaled beauty today." read more (top)
More Blue Ridge Parkway Information
UPDATE ON HURRICANE REPAIRS Here is another News Release received from Phil Noblitt at the Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters: Last September, the remnants of two hurricanes inflicted more than $8 million in damage "In retrospect..."click here for more...
More news: Blue Ridge Parkway Offers Guided Hikes into Basin Cove (top)
Lessons Learned: Attention all Adopt-A-Trail volunteers!
It is most valuable for all to read in the Sentinel - "Lessons Learned" about trail work, including simple advice from Adopt-A-Trail volunteers. In addition, please submit any of the following to share in our eNewsletter: photos, stories about your group, adventures along the trail, work dates for your A-A-T group and contact information to sign up, special places to hike for our next eNewsletter Email me or submit work to: FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, attention: Linda Kassar, P.O. Box 20986, Roanoke, VA 24018. (top)
Adopt-a-Trail Groups' Trail Dates
FRIENDS' Fisher's Peak Chapter trail work dates:
(from Dottie Bramley)"Our workdays will begin at 8:00 AM at the trailhead parking lot on Foothills Road on August 6 and 20. On the 20th we expect a group from the Blue Ridge Parkway Association to be working with us. We will plan to work until 1:00 PM on both days.
Remember to bring work gloves and a sack lunch. Mary Guynn will bring snacks and drinks for us. I would appreciate a response so that I can give Mary an approximate headcount. Hope to see you on one, or both, of these days."
Volunteers sign up in advance by contacting:Dottie Bramley Email:pdbramley at valink.com Telephone: (276) 236-7658
Mountains-to-Sea Trail work dates:
Reserve the date -- August 21, 2005 Join us in building the MST extension from Balsam Gap to Soho Gap. Meeting Place: Moose Cafe, next to the Farmers Market at 9:00 AM or BRP Maint. Office BRP and Rt. 74/23 South of Waynesville at 9:30 AM or Woodfin/Cascades O/L on the BRP. @ 9:30 AM
Tools.- Bring loppers, rakes, digging tools. If you do not have any, some will be available. Car pools will be formed. Volunteers must sign up in advance by contacting:
Jeff Brewer Email:jdbrewer at bellsouth.net Telephone: (919) 868-6274
Announcements - Breaking News
Virginia Congressman Rick Boucher cut the ribbon opening the Blue Ridge Music Interpretive Center, located on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Galax, Virginia. Speakers at the dedication ceremony included, from left, musician and nationally-known stringed instrument maker Wayne Henderson; Dr. Susan Mills and Mary Guynn, executive director and founding board member, respectively, of the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway; Superintendent Dan Brown; Congressman Boucher; Galax Mayor C.M. Mitchel;, Joe Wilson, chairman, National Council for the Traditional Arts; Pat Hooks, SER Regional Director; and Virginia Delegate Bill Carico. The City of Galax donated more than 1,000-acres of land for the music center, while NCTA will provide programming for the center, including producing the summer concert series in the adjacent outdoor amphitheater.
The entire article may be read as included in the August edition of the National Park Service Southeast Region newsletter. (Adobe Document - download here)
(top)
Thank You!
To our current Adopt-A-Trail team captains and their team members: John and Isolina Anderson of the Humpback Rocks and Mountain Trail, Margie Belcher and Family of the Black Ridge Trail, McCabe Coolidge and Karen Day of parts of the Black Ridge Trail and the Rocky Knob Picnic Loop Trail, Dottie and Pete Bramley and the Fishers Peak group, The Foothills Group Sierra Club of Gully Creek Trail, Aubrey Arrington of the Cumberland Knob Trail and the Fox Hunters Paradise Trail, Randall Parks of Bluff Mountain Trail, Ralph Nilles Group of the Tanawha Trail, Bob and Sylvia Burkett of the Flat Rock Trail, Dean and Patricia Franklin of the Duggers Creek Trail, Courtney and Bo Mauzy of the Craggy Pinnacle Trail, the Pisgah Group Sierra Club and the Carolina Mountain Club who help maintain the Mountains to Sea Trail, Houck and Kathy Medford of Devil's Courthouse Trail, Jon Barbour of the Richland Balsam Trail, and Scott Philyaw of the Waterrock Knob Trail.
And a special thanks to all of our Blue Ridge Parkway National Park Service personnel! (top)
Copyright © 2000-2005 FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. All rights reserved.
A Special
Thank You...
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