Raise a Toast for the Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner Program

Raise a Toast for the Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner Program

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

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The next edition of Nantahala Brewing Company's Trail Magic Ale will debut at a release party this Friday, with proceeds of bottle sales to benefit the Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner Program.

This Friday the Nantahala Brewing Company will be tapping the first keg of the 6th installment of their Trail Magic Ale series. Tapping will commence at 6 p.m. exclusively at their Tap Room in Bryson City. Also, for the first time ever, NBC will begin selling bottles on Friday night at 7 p.m.

This Trail Magic Ale release is a rich, red Rye Wine. Along with the liberal use of Rye malt, locally malted Pale Malt, provided by Riverbend Malt House, was used to give this 10.2% ABV monster of a brew some local roots and the colorful spirit of a Great Smoky Mountain Fall.

A portion of proceeds of the bottle sales will be donated to the Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner Program via the Friends of the Smokies organization. Each year the Park recruits a series of individuals who provide a presence on the Appalachian Trail from March through October. They provide visitor information, do trail maintenance, pack out litter, keep up composting privies, report on the condition of the trail and the shelters, report emergencies and advise hikers on food storage and other regulations, and relay real-time information regarding possible problem bears. Their presence on the AT for over 15 years has made a huge difference in the Park’s ability to manage the AT.

For more information, please click here.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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Friends of the Smokies Announces Details on "Fontana Lake Experience"

Friends of the Smokies Announces Details on "Fontana Lake Experience"

Thursday, April 11, 2013

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This year is the 20th Anniversary of the Friends of the Smokies, an organization that assists the National Park Service in its mission to preserve and protect the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by raising funds and public awareness, and providing volunteers for needed projects.

To help celebrate this milestone, Friends of the Smokies will be offering guided hikes each month as part of their Classic Hikes of the Smokies series. Each hike will honor an achievement or cause that the Friends organization has supported in the park since its establishment in 1993.

This June the Friends group is offering a special overnight experience, which will honor support for the Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner Program. The "Fontana Lake Experience" will be held on June 18th and 19th.

Here's the itinerary for the two-day event:

Tuesday: 
- 11:00 a.m. Meet at Fontana Marina
- Boat ride to Hazel Creek with History Walk lead by local historian Lance Holland (author of Fontana: A Pocket History of Appalachia)
- Reception with Smokies Superintendent Dale Ditmanson at Fontana Village
- Gather for dinner
- Overnight accommodations at Fontana Village

Wednesday - Guided Hikes:
- Option 1: Shuckstack Firetower with Danny Bernstein, celebrated outdoor author, blogger, and hiking expert (Honoring support for the Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner Program)

 - Option 2: Lakeshore Trail with Keith Hoffman, AmeriCorps Outreach Associate, M.S. Biology (Celebrating pollination in the Park for National Pollinator Week)

* The Friends’ early rate: $130 for current members $165 for non-members / After May 15: $160/$195
* Double occupancy rates: $160/$195 / After May 15: $195/$230. Rooms with 2 queen beds at The Lodge in Fontana Village. Price includes room, round-trip boat shuttle to Hazel Creek, guided excursions, and reception. Meals are not included.
* Non-members also receive a complimentary one-year Friends membership.

Space is limited!

You can pre-register for this event through Friends of the Smokies at 1-828-452-0720 or outreach.nc@friendsofthesmokies.org.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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Raise a Toast for the Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner Program

Raise a Toast for the Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner Program

Thursday, February 16, 2012

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The Nantahala Brewing Company will be hosting a release party for the first in a series of three limited bottle releases of Trail Magic Ale at their Tap Room in Bryson City on March 10th.

The event will begin at noon with the tapping of the first keg of Trail Magic at 4 p.m. A limited number of 750 ml bottles will be available for purchase beginning at 6 p.m. via a lottery system.

And to sweeten the pot, a portion of the proceeds of the bottle sales will be donated to the Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner Program through the Friends of the Smokies.

Appalachian Trail Ridgerunners provide visitor information, trail maintenance, pack out litter, maintain composting privies, report on trail and shelter conditions, report emergencies, advise hikers on food storage and other regulations, and relay real-time information regarding possible problem bears along the A.T. in the Great Smoky Mountains.

According to the NBC website, the "first Trail Magic Ale release is an Oak barrel aged Russian Imperial Stout brewed with some special ingredients native to the Great Smoky Mountains. The final ABV is yet to be determined however, we can tell you that it’s currently north of 10% and uniquely tasty."

For more information on the event, please click here.






Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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