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Ray Hearne

February 10, 2021/by sahcadmin

Ray Hearne

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https://appalachian.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/LogoUpdate_SingleHiker_bluecreek_RGB-283x300.png 0 0 sahcadmin https://appalachian.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/LogoUpdate_SingleHiker_bluecreek_RGB-283x300.png sahcadmin2021-02-10 00:14:302021-02-10 00:22:14Ray Hearne

appalachian_org
SAHC’s Winter Hiking Challenge starts TOMORROW! SAHC’s Winter Hiking Challenge starts TOMORROW! Meet the challenge to walk 60 miles in 60 days. This is a great way to stay motivated and enjoying the great outdoors in the colder months ahead. Registrants will receive hiking tips and off-the-beaten-path hiking suggestions to complete challenge here in our own back yard of the Southern Appalachians. Those who compete the challenge will receive a commemorative hiking patch! It’s $25 to sign-up and all money goes towards conservation efforts in Western NC and Eastern TN. Ultimately this is a challenge with yourself and you should set your goals wherever feels comfortable with your ability. We hope to see you outside in 2023! 🎉 Link in bio to register! #sahc60in60
We've come to the end of our 10-day gratitude coun We've come to the end of our 10-day gratitude countdown, and the end of 2022. As we look toward the future and the beginning of the new year, we are grateful for all of the young people engaged and interested in conservation. Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy partners with afterschool and summer camp programs to provide on-site and field trip experiences, hosts educational programs and volunteer experiences for high school and college groups, provides career-building experience for AmeriCorps service members, and leads family-friendly outings, including experiences on the SAHC Community Farm. We are very grateful to ALL the donors and partners who have helped support and expand education programs -- ensuring that land and water protection efforts will continue to be carried forward by future generations of conservationists. Thank you for inspiring hope!
Day 9 - Today we are sharing gratitude for a place Day 9 - Today we are sharing gratitude for a place that so many of you know and love - the Highlands of Roan. Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy was born here almost 50 years ago, and since then we have worked tirelessly to protect the globally important habitat, stunning beauty, and rare plants and animals found here. Thank you to all of our supporters and partners throughout the decades who have joined in these efforts! Shout out to our partners at Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club, Cherokee National Forest, Pisgah National Forest, regional colleges and researchers, TN and NC state parks and recreation, and many more who partner in conserving and managing the Roan Highlands. We will have exciting news about NEW land protection in the Roan to share with you soon! And shout-out to our Roan Stewardship team for leading on-the-ground habitat management efforts, and to Travis Bordley for capturing and sharing the beauty of the Roan with his photography. #conservation #wildlifephotography #wildlifehabitat #rareplants #appalachiantrail
Volunteerism has always formed an essential part o Volunteerism has always formed an essential part of SAHC. For Day 7, we express deep gratitude to all the volunteers who have generously given their time and energy to assist with removing invasive species, improving trails, installing signage, preventing erosion, monitoring rare species, educating hikers, managing grassy balds habitat, planting trees, helping out at the SAHC Community Farm, and much more! And we want to give another huge shout out to Judy Murray, who was recognized with the 2022 Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award, part of the annual Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards administered by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). https://appalachian.org/judy-murray-honored-with-lifetime-achievement-award/ And congratulations to SAHC’s 2022 Stanley A. Murray Volunteer of the Year Award recipient, Diane Edwards. Thank you to ALL our volunteers!
We're on Day 7 of our countdown and want to give a We're on Day 7 of our countdown and want to give a huge shout-out to folks who have fully DONATED land and conservation easements - this year and in past years! New conservation projects this year included the donation of a 50-acre farm in the heart of Sandy Mush, 67 acres adjoining Cherokee National Forest in Carter County, and a conservation easement on 63 acres at Ballard Cove near Weaverville, NC. Thank you for making a positive impact in our world! #conservation https://appalachian.org/ballard-cove-63-acres/ https://appalachian.org/50-acre-farm-donation-in-sandy-mush/ https://appalachian.org/dry-creek-67-acre-donation-in-carter-county/
Day 6 of our gratitude countdown - we are deeply g Day 6 of our gratitude countdown - we are deeply grateful for the teamwork and sense of community that bring people together and lead to conservation action. From generous contributions that make it possible to purchase land and conservation easements, to our network of corporate partners, to knowledgeable teams of land management volunteers -- conservation is a team effort. Some of the exciting new land protection projects that happened because of funding collaborations this year included: the Scott's Ridge purchase near Enka Lake, Reems Creek Bowl near Weaverville, and Dutch Cove in Haywood County. Thank you to all of the generous donors who came together to make these projects possible!
We are halfway through our 10-day gratitude countd We are halfway through our 10-day gratitude countdown to the new year. For Day 5, we are grateful for all the public lands available for us to enjoy in the southern Appalachian mountains - and to all of you who help Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy work with partners to add to public lands! Have you enjoyed hiking or camping an property that SAHC conserved? You may have done so, and not even realized it! In the past year, we have worked with partners across the region to: open Chestnut Mountain Nature Park in Canton, open the new Strawberry Gap Trail with Conserving Carolina near Fairview, add 150 acres to Roan Mountain State Park, protect tracts to be added to NC game lands and the future Pisgah View State Park, improve trails and infrastructure at Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area in TN, transfer land to Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests, and more. Thank you to all our supporters and partners who help make public trails and parks possible! If you missed some of these stories, check them out at Appalachian.org. #outdoorrecreation #hiking #publiclands #nationalparks #nationalforests #hikingtrails
Day #4 - We are very grateful to all the farmers w Day #4 - We are very grateful to all the farmers who toil throughout the seasons to provide food for our communities. Thank you for committing to this hard work and growing healthy local food! #farmlandconservation #localfarmslocalfood
Day #3 - we are grateful for the scope of natural Day #3 - we are grateful for the scope of natural beauty which surrounds and revitalizes us. The mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee are simply gorgeous. Thank you for helping to #conserve this remarkable place!
Water is a powerful force - it can be threatening Water is a powerful force - it can be threatening and destructive, but we cannot live without it. Life on Earth depends on water - and for Day #2 in our gratitude countdown, we are grateful for clean drinking water and aquatic habitat in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. Thank you for helping to protect clean water sources - from the 229-acre preserve that Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchased this year at the headwaters of Reems Creek - to the stunning flowing waters of Big Horse Creek in the Highlands of Roan - to the many streams protected in the Sandy Mush community, Haywood County NC, Carter County TN and more! We are also grateful that the North Carolina Land and Water Fund provides grants to protect water sources in the mountains. Read more at https://appalachian.org/reems-creek-bowl/
We're starting our 10-day gratitude countdown to t We're starting our 10-day gratitude countdown to the New Year! We are so grateful for ALL of YOU generous supporters of conservation. Without you, this work would not be possible. Here is a visual snapshot of just a small portion of what you have helped accomplish in 2022. Thank you! #conservation
Happy Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere! Happy Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere! From here on out the nights grow shorter and days longer - with more time to enjoy views of the beautiful Southern Appalachian mountains. We wish you bright days and happy tidings ahead! #conservation #snowymountains #wintersolstice #appalachia #myappalachia #mountainviews pic by @travis_bordley_photography
WINTER HIKING CHALLENGE IS BACK! Do you need a lit WINTER HIKING CHALLENGE IS BACK! Do you need a little inspiration to get moving after the holiday season? The SAHC Winter Hiking Challenge sets a goal of 60 miles in 60 days, to be completed in your own time and at your own speed. The challenge runs from January 1st to March 1st, 2023. Sign up early to have more time to complete the Challenge. Registration ends on February 1. See link in bio for registration. All participants will receive informative emails with suggestions for some of our favorite places to hike across the mountains of NC and TN. This special email series will include recommendations to enjoy places that SAHC has protected as well other favorite trails and excursions. We will try to share tidbits about some of the lesser-known trails and places to enjoy the great outdoors, so you can help alleviate stress on fragile trail ecosystems. All participants who complete the challenge will receive a commemorative SAHC Hiking Challenge patch after the end of the challenge. Are you a little unsure about hiking in winter? We will share helpful Winter Hiking Tips, for those who haven’t hiked during the winter months. Take the Challenge by yourself, or with friends and family. Please just be safe while doing so! 📸 @travis_bordley_photography #hiking #challenge #nye #resolutions #optoutside #winter
Thank you to all the wonderful folks who have supp Thank you to all the wonderful folks who have supported Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy via the Mountain Xpress Give Local: WNC's fun way to give! So far, you have raised over $4,400 to protect mountains, forests, rivers, and farms in the Southern Appalachians. And huge thanks to our generous partners at Wicked Weed Brewing, who have pledged to match up to $10,000 in donations this year. Double your impact when you donate today! #conservation #ilovemountains #828isgreat #wnc #wncmountains #appalachia #beersthatbuild Find us at: https://givelocalguide.org/nonprofits/southern-appalachian-highlands-conservancy/
Producer @caleb_owolabi_ will be at @blazepizza i Producer @caleb_owolabi_ will be at @blazepizza in East Asheville on Saturday from noon to 1 pm if you have any questions about film production or just want to grab a pizza and hang out! We are having a casual preview of his new documentary with @appalachian_org - Stewards of Sky Island. PLUS, if you mention Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy when you order, a portion of sales from the weekend will be donated to SAHC! Nov. 11-13 from 11 am - 9 pm at Blaze Pizza in East Asheville For phone or online orders, include CODE 1351A. #conservation
Come see us! "Enjoy Don't Destroy" - Nov. 11-13 fr Come see us! "Enjoy Don't Destroy" - Nov. 11-13 from 11 am - 9 pm at Blaze Pizza in East Asheville Come out to enjoy a public screening of the documentary "Stewards of Sky Island" with producer Caleb Owolabi! Caleb and his crew spent time with SAHC’s Roan Stewardship team to learn about biodiversity, habitat restoration efforts, and recreational use impacts. This 45-minute documentary will show on repeat throughout the weekend. PLUS, a portion of proceeds from the weekend sales will be donated to Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. For your purchase to count towards the fundraiser, be sure to mention SAHC and show this poster from Blaze Pizza when you order. For phone or online orders, include CODE 1351A. #conservation #habitatrestoration #leavenotrace #planttrees #habitatmanagement #cleanwater #wncmountains #cherokeenationalforest @caleb_owolabi_ @drewglickmanfilms @ted.kendrick @realjoystamp @legarehay @iamkortni @wanakomeclothing See a preview at https://youtu.be/myIOFwE_Ado
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Johnson Cit Thank you to everyone who joined us in Johnson City last week to celebrate and share memories with Judy Murray and Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. This year, Judy was honored with the 2022 Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award, part of the TN Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards. We enjoyed a beautiful night with friends and family! Judy is a conservation champion who led Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy's land management in the Highlands of Roan, as the Roan Stewardship Director from 1974 to 2014. https://appalachian.org/judy-murray-honored-with-lifetime-achievement-award/ #conservation #roanhighlands #tnenvironmentalist
Shout out to the dedicated team at @wickedweedbrew Shout out to the dedicated team at @wickedweedbrewing for volunteering on the @sahccommunityfarm this fall! They helped out with garlic planting at the farm - breaking down cured cloves harvested on the property and planting them for next spring. Getting your hands dirty and boots on the ground is a great way to engage with conservation, and see what Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy's work is all about. We appreciate all of the support that our Corporate Partners provide - THANK YOU, Wicked Weed Brewing, for being a partner at the Mt. Mitchell level! #conservation #farmland #localfarmslocalfood #MyAppalachia #Beers ThatBuild #828isgreat #wncmountains
When: November 11-13, Friday through Sunday from 1 When: November 11-13, Friday through Sunday from 11 am to 9 pm Where: Blaze Pizza in East Asheville, 15 Peaks Center Pkwy Ste. 40 - Across from the Asheville Mall Stop by to enjoy a meal and watch the premiere screening of the documentary "Stewards of Sky Island" with producer Caleb Owolabi! A portion of proceeds from the weekend sales will be donated to Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. In order for your purchase to count towards the fundraiser, you must show a copy of the poster from Blaze Pizza. For phone or online orders, be sure to INCLUDE CODE 1351A. Earlier this year, Caleb and his crew joined SAHC's Roan Stewardship team in the Highlands of Roan to learn about biodiversity in these globally important ecosystems, and how overuse in some areas is jeopardizing this special place. Education can help reduce recreational use impacts in fragile ecosystems. Explore the world of these unique 'sky islands' and be part of the effort to "Enjoy Don't Destroy." This 45-minute documentary will show on repeat throughout the weekend fundraiser, with members of the production team visiting intermittently and additional info about SAHC available. More info at https://appalachian.org/event/enjoy-dont-destroy-documentary-screening-and-fundraiser/
We enjoyed a perfect fall day for our SAHC Communi We enjoyed a perfect fall day for our SAHC Community Farm hike this past Sunday, fortunately avoiding the rain. Our Roan Ecologist, Travis Bordley, got in the Halloween spirit by dressing up as a high school graduate. Throughout our 2 mile hike, we explored the farm and saw the shortleaf pine reforestation project, education center, and Highland cattle. We were able to see the remaining fall colors scattered throughout the Farm. Thank you to everyone who joined us! The hike provided a great opportunity to introduce new and returning members to the farm - a wonderful way to end the weekend. We will be hosting monthly hikes on the SAHC Community Farm, so you can see it in all seasons and watch projects change throughout the year! If you're new to the organization or haven't been out to visit the farm in a while, we invite you to come take a walk with us. You can register for our next hike at the Farm by using the link below. https://appalachian.org/event/2022-community-farm-hike-2 #conservation #appalachia #wncmountains
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Our Mission

The mission of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is to conserve the unique plant and animal habitat, clean water, farmland, scenic beauty, and places for all people to enjoy outdoor recreation in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, enduring for future generations. We achieve this through long-term conservation relationships with private landowners and public agencies and owning and managing land. We are committed to creating and supporting equitable, healthy and thriving communities for everyone in our region.

Get in Touch

Email: sahc@appalachian.org

Phone: 828-253-0095
372 Merrimon Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801

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