Winter hiking… Nothing feels better than waking up to a blanket of snow caressing the mountain tops. Your face pressing up against the cold glass of your window, just yearning to jump into it. The serene silence that winter and snow bring to the woods. “I’ve never actually been hiking in the winter! Let’s get […]
Do you need a little inspiration to get moving after the holiday season? Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is starting off 2021 with a challenge to get folks out and about – hiking or walking to enjoy the great outdoors! The SAHC Virtual Hiking Challenge sets a goal of 60 miles in 60 days, to be […]
Looking back as we head into the final stretch of 2020, we all know that this year has been far from ordinary. On a positive note, it has been a record-breaking year for local conservation efforts! Since the beginning of January, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has closed on the protection of more than 2,600 acres […]
In November, we purchased 54 acres in the Beaverdam community of Haywood County, protecting land adjoining the Town of Canton’s Rough Creek Watershed and other SAHC-protected properties in the Beaverdam and Newfound Mountains area. “Permanent protection of this tract will help preserve scenic views from public trails in the adjoining Rough Creek watershed, as well […]
In a picturesque landscape just south of the Roan Massif, farms with rolling fields, pastures, and forests contain a rich repository of stories and memories, along with agriculturally important prime soils and stream sources. Sam and Ronda Silver, the seventh generation of a local farming family, wanted to make sure that their beautiful Century Farm […]
Imagine a verdant forest with lush ferns growing underneath full, mature canopies. The slushing rush of stream waters echoes all around, lulling you into a state of calm relaxation. Nearby, wildflowers in meadow openings flush with sunlight set the stage for busy activity from pollinators (and their predators), hinting at the array of wildlife which […]
As Roan Naturalist, I am thankful to have become so intimate with this unique habitat. The Roan Highlands have been a special place for me to visit throughout my years as a student at East TN State University, and as I passed through the area during my AT thru-hike last year. I am proud to […]
SAHC Trustees provide guidance and leadership for the organization. We are grateful to the following individuals who join the SAHC Board this year and are willing to donate their time and experience to serve with the organization. Larry Pender, Horse Shoe, NC Pender (as he prefers) retired from NYU, where he served as an administrator. […]
SAHC recently purchased 110 acres in Macon County to protect a headwater source of the nationally significant Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River. The property is just north of the North Carolina/Georgia border, surrounded by the Nantahala and Chattahoochee National Forests, and will be added to the Nantahala National Forest for the public to enjoy. […]
Working with trusted conservation partners, we recently protected 109 acres at Tanasee Ridge, adjoining Nantahala National Forest. The property could potentially provide an alternate gateway to popular outdoor recreation areas in Panthertown Valley. Thank you for helping to make this project possible! “This tract has long been a priority for conservation,” says Conservation Director Hanni […]
