Mountains-to-Sea Trail
Showing posts with label Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Show all posts

Smokies Offers Mountains-to-Sea Trail Hike and Presentation

Friday, April 26, 2013

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park is offering an opportunity for visitors to learn about the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) on Saturday, May 4th. Danny Bernstein, Great Smoky Mountains Association Board Member and author, will lead a 2-hour hike on a section of the MST and later give a talk about her adventures hiking the entire length of the MST from Clingmans Dome to the Outer Banks.

The guided 2-hour hike along Mingus Creek Trail begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 4th at the Mingus Mill parking area which is located on US 441 (Newfound Gap Road) about 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC and 0.5 miles north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The 4.4 mile round-trip hike is rated easy to moderate but does have some steep uphill sections and an elevation gain of 800 feet. The trail follows the route of an old wagon road and passes through areas that were farmed in the days before the creation of the park. The hike also includes a visit to the Mingus Creek Cemetery.

At 1 p.m. Bernstein will give a talk on the porch of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center sharing her adventures hiking the entire 1,000 miles along the MST. She will discuss the highlights and challenges of hiking the MST as well as share pictures, maps, and stories that will captivate the audience including the unexpected and unusual sights she encountered along the journey.

Hiking participants should wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots and bring drinking water. Because weather in the Smoky Mountains can be unpredictable a rain jacket is also recommended.

For more information, call the Oconaluftee Visitor Center at (828) 497-1904.

For more information on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains, please click here.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
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Mountains-to-Sea Trail license plate approved

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

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Late last month almost 1200 people voted in two surveys conducted by Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail to decide the best design for the new Mountains-to-Sea Trail license plate. The voting process resulted in the design as seen above.

The next goal is to sell 300 plates. The North Carolina General Assembly has given FMST only a short time to sell the first 300 plates before the authorization for the plate expires. To help encourage the purchase of the new plates, FMST will enter everyone who sends them a completed plate application and check, by December 31st, into a drawing for one of three $100 gift cards (from Great Outdoor Provision Co, Mast General Store or REI).

For more information on the plates and an application form, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Vote for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail license plate design

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

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The NC Legislature has authorized a special license plate for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and the Friends of the MST want your opinion about what that design should look like.

The Friends of the MST have come up with five potential designs for the plate, and are asking citizens of NC to vote for their favorite. The Friends group will choose the most popular plate as the one to "put on the road."

The plate will help to raise funds and awareness for the trail. Each plate will cost an additional $30 above the cost of a standard plate, with $20 being donated to the Friends of the MST to help build, protect and promote the trail.

The deadline for voting is Monday, October 31st. You can click here for more information, to see the plate designs, and to take the survey.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Final BRP "Hike of the Week" for 2010

Thursday, October 14, 2010

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Tomorrow is the final Hike of the Week in the Pisgah District of the Blue Ridge Parkway for 2010.

Join Parkway rangers tomorrow at 10:00 AM for a walk in the woods and hunt for the color red along an easy one mile section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail at the Mills River Valley Overlook near Milepost 404.5. Rangers ask that you bring a sketchpad, journal, camera, or binoculars to connect with nature.

For more information please call BRP headquarters at 828-271-4779.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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BRP Ranger Hike: Mountains-to-Sea Trail

Thursday, October 7, 2010

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Join Blue Ridge Parkway rangers tomorrow at 10:00 AM for an easy, three mile round trip hike along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

The hike will start from the Rough Butt Bald Overlook (Milepost 425) and will take hikers through a spruce/fir forest. Wear good hiking shoes, bring water, and be prepared for changeable fall weather.

The guided hike is free. For more information, call 298-5330, ext. 304


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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MST to dedicate 25 new miles

Monday, September 27, 2010

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The Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail will be dedicating 25 brand new miles this Saturday, October 2nd.

The 25-mile section, located in Ashe, Watauga, and Wilkes counties, will be officially dedicated at a ceremony at E.B. Jeffress Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway (near Deep Gap, NC at milepost 272).

After the ceremony there will be a lunch, followed by hikes to explore the new section of trail.

Once completed, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail will stretch 1,000 miles from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks.

For more information on the event, and to RSVP, please click here. For more information on the MST, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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'30 Hikes' brochure

Saturday, April 17, 2010

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The Asheville Chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway announced this week the publication of a revised, updated edition of its popular brochure, “30 Hikes.” The brochure describes 30 day-hikes along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in the Asheville vicinity, each with parking and access from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The new edition was funded by a grant from REI Asheville.

The brochure rates the difficulty and describes the special features of each hike. The latest edition also includes a map and tips on having a safe and enjoyable hike.

The brochure is free and available at the Visitor Center near Parkway Headquarters, the Folk Art Center, and the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, as well as at REI Asheville in Biltmore Park and Diamond Brand Outdoors in Arden.

You can also download an online PDF File copy by clicking here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.
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MST Trail Building Day

Thursday, March 18, 2010

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The Carolina Mountain Club is extending an invitation to anyone interested in helping to extend the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) this Saturday, March 20th.

The club hopes to have a large group to help complete another section of the MST heading south to the Soco Gap Overlook.

Volunteers can meet at the Moose Cafe at 9:00 AM for car pooling. Or you can meet at the Soco Gap Overlook of the Blue Ridge Parkway at 9:30 A.M. (intersection of Blue Ridge Parkway and Rt. 19 near Maggie Valley).

Tools will be available but if you have digging tools of your own, please bring them.

No prior experience is required. For more information, please contact Piet Bodenhorst.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
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CMC takes position on future route of MST in Smokies

Friday, January 15, 2010

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In the latest addition of the Carolina Mountain Club E-newsletter, the hiking club announced it's position on building and maintaining the Mountains-to-Sea Trail through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Here's the statement from the club newsletter:

CMC remains committed to building and maintaining the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) from Heintooga Ridge Road at Wolf Laurel Gap (MP 458.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway) to Black Mountain Campground east of Mount Mitchell.

The MST is complete in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Clingmans Dome to Mingus Mill.

Three routes are under discussion for connecting the two pieces of the MST.

1) Across the Qualla Boundary to the Oconaluftee River Trail to Mingus Mill.

2) On Blue Ridge Parkway land to the Oconaluftee River Trail to Mingus Mill.

3) From the current MST on Newton Bald Trail, along a series of existing trails in GSMNP to Polls Gap and on Heintooga Ridge Road.

CMC supports Option 3, using existing trails in GSMNP to complete the MST, as it offers the quickest and easiest way to complete the MST in our area. CMC will not commit to further trail building on the MST, should either Option 1 or Option 2 be chosen.

Below is a map of the route the CMC supports:

The proposed route drops down to the Smokemont Campground from the Newton Bald Trail. From the campground, the trail follows the Bradley Fork Trail, Chasteen Creek, Hughes Ridge, Enloe Creek, Hyatt Ridge, Beech Gap, Balsam Mountain, Mt. Sterling Ridge, Pretty Hollow, down the Cataloochee Road to the Rough Fork Trail and on to Polls Gap.

When fully completed, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail will stretch roughly 1000 miles from Clingmans Dome in the Smokies to Jockey’s Ridge on the NC Outer Banks.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.
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Local bloggers tackle the Mountains-to-Sea Trail

Thursday, November 12, 2009

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A couple of bloggers long-time readers of this blog will probably be familiar with have decided to tackle the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Beginning in late October, Sharon (a.k.a., Smoky Scout), and author, Danny Bernstein began section hiking the entire MST. The two plan to complete trail, which crosses the state of North Carolina, over the course of the next two years.

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail stretches 1,000 miles from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks.


You can follow along as they make their journey across the state. Both Danny and Smoky Scout will be blogging about their triumphs, trials and tribulations over the next two years.

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Don't forget to enter your chance to win a Yellowstone Photo Expedition. You must enter before November 15. Click here for more details.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.
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MST Trail Building Day - Saturday August 22

Monday, August 3, 2009

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The Carolina Mountain Club is extending an invitation to anyone interested in helping to extend the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) on Saturday August 22.

The club hopes to have a large group to help complete another piece of the MST going south to the Soco Gap Overlook, South of Balsam Gap - Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 456.

Volunteers will meet at the Moose Cafe; at 9:00 AM for car pooling. The second meeting place is at the intersection of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Rt. 19, South of Maggie Valley. Tools will be available but if you have digging tools of your own, please bring them.

No prior experience is required. For more information, please contact Piet Bodenhorst.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Smoky Mountain Day Hikers Store - Find gear and books related to the Smoky Mountains region
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National Trails Day with the Carolina Mountain Club

Friday, May 29, 2009

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The Carolina Mountain Club will be celebrating National Trails Day, Saturday, June 6, by working on a section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) stretches 1,000 miles from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks. At this point, roughly half the trail is complete, however, temporary connectors on back roads and state bike routes now allow people to hike across the state of North Carolina.

To help celebrate National Trails Day this year, the Carolina Mountain Club is inviting anyone interested in helping to extend the trail in the Soco Gap Overlook area (near Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 456).

Club members and volunteers will meet at the Moose Café in Asheville at 9:00 AM on June 6 (rain date - June 13 ) for car pooling. The second meeting place is at the intersection of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Rt. 19, south of Maggie Valley. Tools will be available but if you have digging tools of your own, please bring them.

The CMC is asking that you call all of your friends and acquaintances to invite them as well. The bigger the group, the more the fun! No prior experience is required. Please contact Piet Bodenhorst for more information.

In related news, on Saturday May 2, Frank Potter and Jim Walters of Charlotte became the 14th and 15th hikers to complete the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. You can read about their adventures in their trail journal.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Smoky Mountain Day Hikers Store Quality gear and apparel from some of the best outdoor brands.
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