Group Hikes
Please bring warm clothes, hiking shoes, rain gear, water bottle, backpack lunch and camera. All hikes begin at 10:00 a.m. unless announced otherwise. Meeting location and directions will be sent upon RSVP. Please ask permission before bringing your dog.
Hikes are FREE to SAHC Members; $10.00 Non-members, unless otherwise noted. (Hikes on public lands are free for all participants; see individual hike descriptions.) Registration is required. To join a hike, contact Rich Preyer, PR & Outreach Americorps Member, at rich@appalachian.org.
Wild Edibles Hike with Chip Hultquist
Property adjacent to the Great Smokies National Park at Cove Creek Gap, Haywood County
Date: Saturday, May 26th
Start Time: 9:00 a.m.
Leaders: Landowner Chip Hultquist
Difficulty: 5 - not a long hike but steep at certain points (see hike key note below)
What To Bring: Water, rain jacket, bag or backpack to collect wild edibles, trowel, clothes you can get dirty in, and gloves (if you need them for digging). Cost: $25 for SAHC members and $35 for non-SAHC members includes materials for post-hike lunch.
Come join Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) for a day of discovery and delicious food. Led by landowner, Chip Hultquist, we will be hiking a trail that runs to the top of the ridge for a wonderful panoramic view, down to the old Asbury Trail, past the rocky remains of an old settlers cabin, and back to the Hultquist cabin. The hike is only about two miles, but with an elevation difference of almost 1,000 feet, it is just challenging enough of a hike for the average person. We will spend the morning hiking and foraging for wild edibles. Once we’ve found enough ingredients, we will return back to the cabin and ‘cook up a storm’ from our spoils and enjoy a scrumptious lunch while basking in the beauty of Haywood County.
Baa-Tany Goat Project Volunteer Hike
Carver's Gap, in the Highlands of Roan
Date: Wednesday, June 20th
Start Time: 8:00 a.m.
Leaders: Jamey Donaldson, Project Leader, and Rich Preyer, SAHC’s PR and Outreach AmeriCorps Member
Difficulty: 4.8 (see hike key note below)
What To Bring: Bring hiking shoes, lunch, water, jacket/rain gear, camera, and warm clothes.
The Baa-tany Goat Project is a stewardship initiative to manage and restore grassy balds in the western Highlands of Roan. Kick off the first day of summer by helping SAHC and resident goat-herder Jamey Donaldson move 34 goats from one grazing area to another on the Roan. We will be herding goats from Carvers Gap to Jane Bald. Volunteers make the Baa-tany Goat Project a success every year. Come out and join us!
June Jamboree 2012
Adventures in the Roan on Saturday, June 23
Join SAHC for adventures in the stunning Highlands of Roan. Roan Mountain State Park will be our headquarters this year. Click HERE to register online for the June Jamboree!
Schedule:
8:00 a.m. - Participants have the opportunity to meet for coffee at the Pavilion of Roan Mountain State Park before hikes begin.
7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Hikes in the Highlands of Roan (see individual descriptions below)
4:00 to 6:00 p.m. - Social & presentation at the State Park Conference Center following the conclusion of hikes, with light snacks and beverages.
Hike #1: Carvers Gap to Grassy Ridge
Leader: David Smith, former SAHC board member and Seasonal Ecologist
Start Time: 9:00 a.m. Saturday, June 23
Difficulty: 7.5 (see hike key note below)
Departure Location: Carvers Gap Parking Lot
This classic hike is an adventure through the highest elevation Roan balds, which are considered among the most spectacular scenery along the entire Appalachian Trail. Grassy Ridge, elevation 6,189 feet, is the highest point near the AT with a natural unobstructed 360 degree view and offers so much more with rhododendron, flame azalea, patches of spruce fir forest, and rare plants such as Gray’s lily and Roan Mountain bluets. Those wishing an easier hike can enjoy the flowers and expansive views from Round Bald or Jane Bald instead of going all the way to Grassy Ridge.
Hike #2: Carvers Gap to Hampton Creek Cove
Leader: Tom Gatti, SAHC's first Seasonal Ecologist
Start Time: 7:45 a.m. Saturday, June 23
Difficulty: 9 (see hike key note below)
Departure Location: Visitors Center/Museum with waterwheel — Town of Roan Mountain
Like hike #1, hikers will trek to Grassy Ridge but have the opportunity to continue further onto beautiful Hampton Creek Cove. After making it to Grassy Ridge, hikers will descend several thousand feet to make it to Hampton Creek Cove. Tom Gatti, SAHC’s first Seasonal Ecologist will lead the way on this strenuous yet worthwhile adventure.
Half of the group will need to drop cars off at the Town of Roan Mountain Visitor center so that when the hike finishes everyone will have a ride back to Carvers Gap parking lot where the hike begins.
Hike #3: Big Hump Hike ("Stand Up That Mountain")
Leader: Jay Leutze, SAHC Board Member and author of "Stand Up That Mountain"
Start Time: 9:00 a.m. Saturday, June 23
Difficulty: 7 (see hike key note below)
Departure Location: Minneapolis Baptist Church in downtown Minneapolis, NC
Hike Limit
: 10
Join author, Jay Leutze, and experience the landscape that inspired his new book. This hike is a steep pull, but the footing will be good. Hikers will travel up along Little Horse Creek, then climb a ridge to a pasture with spectacular views -- and possibly a herd of Watusi cattle. Hikers will then climb to the summit of Hump Mountain (Big Hump), a grassy bald with 360 degree views. This is the least-visited of the grassy balds in the Roan and this hike affords a unique opportunity to travel a little-known route. Hike time 4-5 hours round-trip.
Hike #4: Birding at Hampton Creek Cove
Leader: Chris Coxen, SAHC's Seasonal Ecologist
Start Time: 9:00 a.m. Saturday, June 23
Difficulty: 5 (see hike key note below)
Departure Location: Hampton Creek Cove Parking Lot
Grab your binoculars for this four-mile roundtrip hike in Hampton Creek Cove. Birders will have the opportunity to experience some of the most exquisite birds in the area. Expect to hear the early morning songs of the Willow flycatcher, the Alder flycatcher, and the Golden-winged warbler.
The old field/forest succession at the lower mountain elevation provides excellent nesting habitat for golden- winged warblers, a declining neo-tropical migrant species. Because the area is so important to this warbler, the National Audubon Society designated it an “Important Bird Area” in 2005. So come out and enjoy this beautiful bird sanctuary.
Hike #5: Yoga on the Mountain
Leader: Candice Carr Kelman, Lighten Up Yoga and Michelle Pugliese, SAHC’s Land Protection Director
Start Time: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 23
Difficulty: 4 (see hike key note below)
Departure Location: Beck Property Entrance
Lay your yoga mat in the open that is tucked within the stunning landscape of the Highlands of Roan. Prepare to move into your exalted warrior or tree pose while feeling the sun warm your skin and the high elevation breezes simultaneously cool you. Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese will lead you on an easy to moderate hike through our protected National 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 Yellow Mountain and overlooks one of SAHC’s most cherished conservation focus areas. After the yoga practice we will walk the short gravel road that is the route of the Overmountain Victory Trail back to our cars. We also have the option of visiting nearby Elk Hollow Creek waterfall after the Yoga session. Namaste.
Hike #6: Kids' Day in the Creek
Leader: Rich Preyer, SAHC's PR and Outreach Associate
Start Time: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 23
Difficulty: 3 (see hike key note below)
Departure Location: Beck Property Entrance
Bring your kids to come play in the creek on SAHC’s beautiful Beck Tract. This shorter hike is designed to get kids to explore some of the beautiful water protected by SAHC. Kids will learn about basic stream ecology, look for crayfish and salamanders, and potentially see some native brook trout. Kids are welcome to bring fishnets, buckets, or other toys to play with in the creek. This hike is for kids 7 and older. Parents are welcome to participate as well. Don’t forget to bring water shoes, a towel, and bathing suit.
Mushroom Hike
South Toe River area, near Mt. Mitchell in Yancey County, NC
Date: Sunday, July 22nd
Start Time: 10:00 a.m.
Leaders: Charlotte Caplan, local mushroom expert, and Rich Preyer, SAHC’s PR and Outreach AmeriCorps Member
Difficulty: 4.6 (see hike key note below)
What To Bring: Bring hiking shoes, lunch, water, jacket/rain gear, camera, and warm clothes.
Join SAHC and Charlotte Caplan, mushroom expert, for a day of scavenging mushrooms on an SAHC-protected track in the area of the South Toe River headwaters. This will be an easy to moderate hike as we explore the lush environs for mushrooms. Pisgah Forest is adjacent to the property on the south, east, and west portions. There will be nice views of Mt. Mitchell along the way.
*Direct any questions to Rich Preyer, rich@appalachian.org or 828-253-0095 ex. 205
Hike Key Note: We are introducing a new hike key to better explain the difficulty of hikes. Hikes will be rated 1-10 (greater than 10 for extremely difficult hikes). A rating of 5 is considered moderate, 10 difficult, and 1 extremely easy. We come up with this number by plugging in the hike elevation change and mileage to this formula: (0.002 x elevation gain (ft.)) + Round trip distance (miles) = Difficulty rating (1-10).
