BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy - ECPv6.18.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://appalachian.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Halifax BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0300 TZNAME:ADT DTSTART:20250309T060000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0300 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:AST DTSTART:20251102T050000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0300 TZNAME:ADT DTSTART:20260308T060000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0300 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:AST DTSTART:20261101T050000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0300 TZNAME:ADT DTSTART:20270314T060000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0300 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:AST DTSTART:20271107T050000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Halifax BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0300 TZNAME:ADT DTSTART:20250309T060000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0300 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:AST DTSTART:20251102T050000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0300 TZNAME:ADT DTSTART:20260308T060000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0300 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:AST DTSTART:20261101T050000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0300 TZNAME:ADT DTSTART:20270314T060000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0300 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:AST DTSTART:20271107T050000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260101T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260301T000000 DTSTAMP:20260918T083716Z CREATED:20260910T160654Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260918T083716Z UID:103146-1767225600-1772323200@appalachian.org SUMMARY:2026 SAHC Winter Hiking Challenge DESCRIPTION:Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is proud to announce our 6th Annual Winter Hiking Challenge!\nThe Winter Hiking Challenge sets a goal of 60 miles in 60 days\, to be completed in your own time and at your own speed. Those can be miles you’ve walked\, ran or hiked – in your neighborhood or through the woods – just make it 60 miles within the 60-day challenge time period (January 1st to March 1st\, 2026). No matter your background or ability this event is designed to get folks outside in the cold winter months! Registration opens December 1st and ends on February 25th and the registration fee is $25 per person. Your registration fee directly supports conservation work in the Southern Appalachians. If you cannot afford the registration fee at this time\, please use the coupon code: SAHC2026. \nAll participants will receive informative emails throughout the challenge with suggestions for some of our favorite places to hike across the mountains of NC and TN\, including some new properties SAHC has recently protected. You may enter miles at any date during the 60 days\, as long as they are all entered before March 1. \nThose who complete the Winter Hiking Challenge will receive a commemorative SAHC patch\, designed by Solstice Handmade\, and all participants will be invited to an in-person celebration in March at the Wicked Weed Funkatorium. The top 5 finishers by mileage will receive $50 gift cards to Second Gear! \n\n\n\n  \nTHANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS\n  URL:https://appalachian.org/event/2026-sahc-winter-hiking-challenge/ CATEGORIES:Hikes and Outings,Upcoming ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://appalachian.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20231231-011-TravisBordley-4000px.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260221T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260221T150000 DTSTAMP:20260910T160657Z CREATED:20260910T160657Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260910T160657Z UID:103157-1771678800-1771686000@appalachian.org SUMMARY:Mitchell County Landscape Recovery and Preparedness Open House DESCRIPTION:When: Saturday\, Feb. 21 from 1 to 3 pm (DROP IN)\nFirewise Prevention Presentation at 1:30 pm \nWhere: Bowman Middle School\, 410 S. Mitchell Ave.\, Bakersville\, NC 28705\nCome learn from agencies\, non-profits\, and businesses about what resources are available to landowners\, as well as recovery updates. \nDrop-In Topics Include:\n\nWildfire Mitigation\nDebris Removal and Forest Mulching\nForest Restoration\nNon-native Invasive Species Control\nStream Restoration\nLandslide Seeding\n\nHost and presenters include:\n \n  URL:https://appalachian.org/event/mitchell-county-landscape-recovery-and-preparedness-open-house/ LOCATION:Bowman Middle School CATEGORIES:Special Event,Upcoming,Workshop END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260222T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260222T123000 DTSTAMP:20261020T161325Z CREATED:20260910T160657Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T161325Z UID:103156-1771756200-1771763400@appalachian.org SUMMARY:2026 February Hiking with Kids at Bull Creek Preserve DESCRIPTION:Date: Sunday\, February 22nd\, 2026\nTime: 10:30 am\nWhere: SAHC’s Bull Creek Preserve at Warren Wilson College\nDifficulty: (3/10)\nCost: FREE for members\, $10 for non-members\n(Kids hike for free!)\n  \nJoin SAHC on a family friendly guided hike at SAHC’s Bull Creek Preserve! This hike is specifically designed for folks to hike with children and to encourage families to get outside during the chilly winter times. The trails at SAHC’s Bull Creek Preserve meander through the 191 acre tract and are gently graded\, making them perfect to bring the whole family with children of any age. This hike will be about 2 miles in length. \nThis newly protected preserve consists of a beautiful cove and mixed forest\, an open 17-acre pasture with stunning views of the Black Mountains\, and lovely sections of Bull Creek with rocky streambanks and wading pools. A tributary of the Swannanoa River\, Bull Creek originates in the Black Mountains just south of Rattlesnake Lodge and the Blue Ridge Parkway\, draining an area of more than 10 square miles. Approximately 3 miles of single track hiking and biking trails traverse the property in an existing trail system. \nSAHC owns this land for the long-term and remains in deep partnership with Warren Wilson College\, who continues to use the property for education and land management training. \nIf you have any questions about this hike\, please email Erin Goodpaster at erin@appalachian.org \nAfter registering\, you’ll receive directions\, meeting instructions\, and other important details a couple days prior to the event date. It’s crucial to note that a significant portion of the hike may not be disability accessible. \nPlease Register Below\nOops! We could not locate your form. URL:https://appalachian.org/event/2026-february-hiking-with-kids-at-bull-creek-preserve/ LOCATION:SAHC’s Bull Creek Preserve at Warren Wilson College CATEGORIES:Hikes and Outings,Upcoming ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://appalachian.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/dam-pasture.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260228T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260228T150000 DTSTAMP:20261020T161324Z CREATED:20260910T160657Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T161324Z UID:103155-1772276400-1772290800@appalachian.org SUMMARY:Winter Hiking Challenge Strawberry Gap Hike DESCRIPTION:Date: Saturday\, February 28th\nTime: 11:00 am\nWhere: Strawberry Gap to Blue Ridge Pastures\nDistance: 6 miles\nDifficulty: Moderately strenuous (7/10)\nCost: FREE for all participants (Pre-Registration is Required!)\n  \nFinish the Winter Hiking Challenge strong and in community by joining Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy for a guided hike to Blue Ridge Pastures via the Strawberry Gap Trail! \nThis hike is only for participants registered for the 2026 Winter Hiking Challenge. \nWe will hike a moderately strenuous 6 mile out-and-back through a beautiful forest while taking in sweeping views of Fairview\, NC before arriving at the remote Blue Ridge Pastures. \nStrawberry Gap is in the stunning Upper Hickory Nut Gorge trail network and climbs upward for three miles through beautiful\, boulder-strewn forests. About halfway up\, a rock outcrop offers sweeping views over a picturesque valley and range upon range of distant\, blue mountains. The climax of this trail is Blue Ridge Pastures\, where the forests give way to a ridgeline pasture\, revealing dramatic views of the Hickory Nut Gorge\, Bearwallow Mountain\, Little Pisgah Mountain\, and in the distance the highest mountains in the eastern United States.  \nThis trail is made possible through a partnership between two local land trusts–Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) and Conserving Carolina. SAHC owns Strawberry Gap Preserve and worked with multiple private landowners to protect this beautiful mountain land with conservation easements. Conserving Carolina then built the trail\, which connects to Trombatore Trail at Blue Ridge Pastures. This brings us to more than 16 miles of connected trails in the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge. \n*Please note that Strawberry Gap passes through privately owned land and dogs are not allowed on this trail.  \nRegister Below!\n\n\n \n Contact InfoYour Name(Required)\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Your Email Address(Required)\n \n Email Address\n \n \n \n Confirm Email Address\n \n \n \n Your Phone(Required)Property InformationProperty Acreage(Required)What is the total acreage for the property you are interested in protecting?Property Location(Required)Please provide the COUNTY where the property is located. SAHC works in Western NC and East TN.PINs(Required)Please list the Property Identification Number(s) for the tract.Comments or Questions(Required)\n Submit \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Δ URL:https://appalachian.org/event/winter-hiking-challenge-strawberry-gap-hike/ LOCATION:Strawberry Gap to Blue Ridge Pastures ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://appalachian.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Strawberry-Gap-overlook-by-Gordon-Tutor-768x511-1.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR