The Roany Boyz

by Carol Coffey

L to R: David Goforth, Carol Coffey, and Jamie Burnham were on hand to accept the 2013 Stan Murray Volunteer of the Year award. (with Jeanette Blazier & Carl Silverstein)

The Roany Boyz began as a group of friends who liked to hike and camp together.  One, Carol Coffey, was also involved with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) and joined other volunteers on the annual Grassy Ridge Mow-off.   On the Grassy Ridge Mow-off, volunteers spent the third weekend of July cutting blackberry bushes and other invasive plants that were destroying the quality of the Grassy Ridge Bald.  At times, over 30 people showed up to work and camp on the bald.

Roany Boyz table, at Appalachian Spring event, 2013

The Appalachian Trail provides access to Grassy Ridge and crosses Round Bald, Engine Gap, Jane Bald, and then a shoulder of Grassy Ridge before the side trail to the ridge begins.  Hiking out to Grassy Ridge, Carol noticed that Engine Gap and the Southwest side of Jane Bald were rapidly being overgrown with blackberries.   Judy Murray, SAHC’s head of Stewardship for the Roan Highlands, agreed to provide tools, primarily weed eaters, if Carol could form a group to work at Engine Gap.

In 2001 the Roany Boyz began working in Engine Gap.  The original Roany Boyz were David Goforth (Lenoir City), Mike Fisher, Jaime Burnham (Oak Ridge), Bill Ryan (Birmingham, AL), and Carol Coffey (Knoxville).  Alan Trently, the paid SAHC Seasonal Ecologist, also joined them.  The first year they worked at Engine Gap was 2001.  Rather than camp out, for the first three years they stayed in cabins at the Roan Mountain State Park or a private cabin in Burbank.  The Boyz paid all expenses except for gas for their weed eaters, which SAHC furnished.

David and Jaime are excellent cooks and provided the Boyz with delicious meals.  After breakfast, the Boyz would drive to Carver’s Gap and hike to the designated work area at Engine Gap, carrying their equipment and a daypack with lunch, water, and raingear.  The first year, there was a fog and misty rain that obscured the mountain all day Saturday.  Visibilty was limited to 20 or 30 yards most of the day.  They had to come back the next day to see what they had accomplished.

And they have returned, year after year, for the last 12 years.

Roany Boyz, 2008

Jaime Burnham is credited with the name of the group, which reflects the serendipitous attitude of the Boyz.  In later years, when females joined the group, they were asked if they would like the name changed to the Roany Boyz and Girlz.  The women preferred to be considered just as Boyz, and so the original name stayed.

2004 was the first year that the Roany Boyz camped at Engine Gap.  They enjoy the Zen of the mountains  so much that they have continued to camp every year since.  Other volunteers have joined them through the years.  The SAHC Seasonal Ecologist always accompanies the Boyz and helps supervise the work.  Joy in 2004, Nora Schubert (2006 -2012), Chris Coxen (2009-2012).  Nora continued to work with the Roany Boyz even after she was no longer employed as the Seasonal Ecologist.  She was selected the ‘Sweetheart of the Roany Boyz,’ based on her friendliness, beauty and grace; the most delicious blackberry cobbler any of us had ever eaten; and the fact that she can outwork any one of the Roanys, including Mike Fisher (and that is saying something).

Through the years volunteers have come and gone.  Bruce Byers (Rutherfordton, NC) joined the group in 2006 and has attended every year since.  Bruce was especially welcomed as he provides entertainment in the evenings with recitations of Robert Service poems.

Roany Boyz, 2012

A person only has to attend one Roany Boyz weekend to become a Roany Boyz member for life.  The following is a list of those people who have contributed to the restoration of Engine Gap and Jane Bald:  Jerry Thornton, Chris Edkins, Andrew Coffey (Knoxville), Lewis and Karen Carson and their daughter, Claire, Orlando Barcacel (Lansing, MI), Lisa Tyler, Mahalia (Nora Schubert’s daughter, Johnson City), Mark Hall (Knoxville), Daniel Ryan (Birmingham, AL), Dan Simmons (friend of Mike Fisher from Oak Ridge, TN), and Clyde Mackaman (Chattanooga, TN).

Roany Boyz have no officially designated leader.  Each of the Boyz looks for what needs to be done, and does it, whether it is mowing blackberries, the primary purpose, sharpening weeder blades, setting up the cook tarp, going to the spring for water, cooking, cleaning up and washing dishes, picking blueberries, or whatever needs to be done for the benefit and enjoyment of the group.  No one has to mow if they don’t feel like it.  There are other things to do.

Camp is set up on the side of Round Bald overlooking Engine Gap.  Here and there are flat spots that provide a place to setup a tent.  Legend says there were made by lightning strikes in past years.  Dave and Carol usually come out on Wednesday and pick up mowers from SAHC.  The grass is usually knee high and damp.  The first chore is to clear the camping area, and the cook tarp area.  They set up their tents, and clear paths between the various other tent sites along the slope and the cook area.  Then Dave clears a path to the spring, cleans out the spring, and sets up a pipe to fill water bags.  When Dave brings water up from the spring, Carol sets up a drip filter for drinking water for the crew.  Extra water bags are brought up periodically during the weekend to be certain there is always plenty of fresh water for hydration. Thursday is spent mowing the entire space around the camp and cooking area.

Usually, the rest of the Boyz arrive sometime Friday.  Some have time to mow after setting up their tents on Friday.  The amount of mowing is measured in gas tanks consumed.  It takes about 45 minutes to use up a tank of gas on a mower.  Mike Fisher is the champion mower, with seven tanks mowed in one day.

Dinner on the mountain

Saturday evening is usually the feast night with David and Jaime combining their skills to create a dinner fit for kings.  The Boyz have carried in enough beer to relax muscles after a hard day’s work.  Meals are vegetarian, though tuna can be added for those who must get their protein from animal sources.  After dinner, everyone pitches in to clean the plates and pans, and then everyone settles back to listen to Bruce Byers recitation of “The Ballad of Sam McGee” or another of the Robert Service poems he has memorized.  On occasion, the Boyz have adjourned to the top of Round Bald to watch a sunset, or a distant thunder storm.

Sunday, there may be some mowing done on the way back to the gap on the side of the Appalachian Trail.  After four nights camping, Carol and David always stop at the State Park for a shower.  If they make it in time, supper is at the Farmer’s Daughter in Chuckey, an excellent reward for a long weekend’s work.

The point of the Roany Boyz is not only to restore the unique beauty of balds, but to have fun doing it.  Most all would agree that their formula works.

Appalachian Spring

Here’s a simple video to give you a taste of our 2013 membership event in Kingsport, TN – Just in case you missed it, or want to refresh memories with good friends!

Appalachian Spring.

Appalachian Spring 2013 – Coming Home to Kingsport, TN

Trae McMaken and Will MacMorran

Thanks to everyone who made our event a success! Around a hundred guests, volunteers, and staff enjoyed beautiful weather for the afternoon at the Barn at Allandale Mansion.

We were overjoyed to see so many friends and family – those new to SAHC as well as long-time supporters and founding members. A huge thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy delicious food, fellowship, and music provided by Trae McMaken & Will MacMorran for this event.

Our volunteers and planning committee for this event went above and beyond to land a solid success. Thank you all for your sincere and dedicated efforts. We raised $1,000, and gained new friends and members!

Congratulations to our 2013 Stan Murray Volunteer of the Year recipients:

Carol Coffey, David Goforth, Mike Fisher, Jamie Burnham, Bill Ryan and Bruce Byers for leadership of the Roany Boyz.

L to R: David Goforth, Carol Coffey, and Jamie Burnham were on hand to accept the 2013 Stan Murray Volunteer of the Year award. (with Jeanette Blazier & Carl Silverstein)

The Boyz are a dedicated group of on-the-ground stewardship volunteers whose tireless efforts have dramatically advanced the restoration of the open grassy habitat at Engine Gap in the Highlands of Roan. On average, they maintain about 4 acres of grassy balds each year.

Every July, the Roany Boyz travel at their own expense to Carver’s Gap, hike over Round Bald and camp in Engine Gap. Then they work for 2-5 days. This will be the 12th year that the Roany Boyz have worked at Engine Gap. They joyfully provide their own food, tarps, tents, and sleeping bags, in order to enjoy the comradeship with their friends and the mountains, and hard work. They take great pride in what they have accomplished in restoring the area between Round and Jane Balds, and get pleasure from doing it.

We also want to give a shout of thanks to all the others who have worked alongside Carol, David, Mike, Jamie, Bill, and Bruce over the years. A huge THANK YOU to all the Roany Boyz!

Recognition of Retiring Trustees:

Richard Coker

Richard has focused on advancing SAHC’s relationships with landowners, donors, and community leaders in Haywood County. He has been an extraordinarily gracious and generous host at the Cataloochee Ranch for SAHC’s annual board retreat. Richard has also facilitated exciting partnership opportunities between SAHC and The American Chestnut Foundation.

Lindsay Hearn

Lindsay has been very active in the Communications Committee and Membership Committee, and she chairs the recently created Governance Committee. Lindsay has also been a great resource for funding opportunities, new trustee candidates, and event planning.

Bill Maxwell

Bill has been an indispensable leader with the Planning and Finance Committees, and as Treasurer for SAHC. Bill also brought outstanding leadership and experienced guidance in managing and growing our investments and endowments.

David Ramsey receives our thanks for his service as a trustee.

David Ramsey

David was instrumental in protecting the 10,000-acre Rocky Fork wilderness and continues to lead guided interpretive hikes here for SAHC. David has also been active in helping with SAHC events.

Election of New & Returning Trustees:

We congratulate and welcome the following trustees who were elected to a first consecutive term.

Jim Houser, Charlotte, NC

Jim is a commercial real estate developer who has been a member of SAHC since 2007. Jim is enthusiastic about helping SAHC manage our real estate assets such as cabins we own, explore options for the organization’s office space, and continue ramping up our land protection and farm sustainability programs.

Jay Leutze, Minneapolis, NC

Jay serves on SAHC’s Land Protection Committee, and previously served as an SAHC Trustee and Secretary of the Board. Avid conservationist and trout fisherman and author of the bestselling book Stand Up that Mountain, Jay is a nationally recognized advocate on behalf of public funding to help conserve special places in the Southern Appalachians. He also serves on the NC Mountain Resources Commission.

Anne Kilgore, Kingsport, TN

Anne Kilgore (middle), newly elected SAHC trustee.

Anne is director of Global Sustainability for Eastman Chemical Company. She is a 2002 graduate of Leadership Kingsport, a former chapter president of APICS -The Association for Operations Management, and a Woman of Excellence honoree from Altrusa, the international volunteer service organization.

Mary Bruce Woody, Asheville, NC

Mary Bruce is a committed long-term supporter of SAHC and conservation in the region. She and her husband Steve are longtime members of the Blue Ridge Society giving circle. Mary Bruce has served as a leader of the NC Arboretum, the French Broad River Garden Club, Trinity Episcopal Church, Lake Logan Center and Friends of the Smokies. Mary Bruce is an avid hiker who has explored every corner of SAHC’s service area.

We also congratulate and thank the following trustees who were elected to a continue serving a second 3-year consecutive term.

Milton “Buddy” Tignor, Waynesville, NC

Buddy serves as Vice-President of the Board and Chair of the SAHC Land Management and Stewardship Committee. Buddy is Chair of the Natural Resources Management Department at Haywood Community College. He has diverse interests relating to land conservation, including stewardship of properties, economics of preserving farms, and public education opportunities. He holds a PhD, an MS, and a BS in Horticultural Science.

Nancy Edgerton, Asheville, NC

Nancy Edgerton, elected to serve a second 3-year term.

Nancy serves as Secretary of the Board and Chair of the SAHC Membership Committee. She is a dedicated participant in SAHC’s hikes, outings and special events, and a leader in the Blue Ridge Society. Nancy is a talented photographer and cellist, and she also serves on the Asheville Symphony board. Nancy attended Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and holds and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

We sincerely thank and appreciate our sponsors for this event:

Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant

Dinner provided by Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant.

Guests enjoyed dinner outdoor at picnic tables.

Mahoney’s Outfitters
Shoji Spa & Lodge
Highland Brewing Company
One Stop Wine & Liquors
Blue Heron Whitewater
Mauk’s of Jonesborough
Evergreen Home & Garden Showplace
David A. Ramsey Photography
Carolyn Novak
Corridor Properties, LLC
Wilson Worley Moore Gamble and Stout, PC, of Kingsport
Bear N Friends Toy Shoppe
Natural Pet Supply
Sensibilities Day Spa
Screen Door
Alpine Ski Center
Julie Calhoun-Roepnack, Potter
ETSU Center for Appalachian & Community Service
Biltmore Estate
Roy Andrade
Campbell’s Morrell Music
Carolina Native Nursery
Ten Thousand Villages
Jonesborough Farmers’ Market
Café Lola Bistro
Red Chili Korean Restaurant
Pisgah Map Company
Flour Fancies Bakery
Alley Kat Sandwich Shop

Allandale Mansion

A fine gathering with fair weather at the Barn.

Trae McMaken & Will MacMorran entertained guests with music at the gazebo.

Lisa Fancher, at check-in

SAHC Associate Director Kristy Urquhart with Jeanette Blazier, SAHC Board of Trustees President

Allison Kiehl, serving the crowd at the door.

We had a lovely turnout, with friends old and new.

The Raffle Team

The raffle tables were busy

Raffle table disply

Carol Coffey

Joe DeLoach and Carolyn Novak

Witt Langstaff and Witt Langstaff, Jr.

Founding member Darrol Nickels

Limited Giclee prints of the Highlands of Roan by Coralie Tweed, available for pre-order.

Powell and Sharon Foster

Dinner provided by Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant.

Jamie Burnham, one of the Roany Boyz

SAHC Trustees Patty Woolf and Jeanette Blazier

Founding member Darrol Nickels with SAHC President Jeanette Blazier

William Hamilton, SAHC Farmland Program Director

Betty and Gary Bailey with Linda Good

David Goforth (right) of the Roany Boyz converses with Judy Murray, Roan Stewardship Director

Rick Phelps, SAHC Legacy Society member

Bruce Cunningham (right), SAHC Trustee

Nancy Edgerton, elected to serve a second 3-year term.

Trae McMaken and Will MacMorran

Carl gave a brief presentation about our conservation successes.

L to R: David Goforth, Carol Coffey, and Jamie Burnham were on hand to accept the 2013 Stan Murray Volunteer of the Year award. (with Jeanette Blazier & Carl Silverstein)

Retiring Trustee David Ramsey was on hand to receive our thanks for his service.

David Ramsey receives our thanks for his service as a trustee.

Anne Kilgore (middle), newly elected SAHC trustee.

Our event volunteers really made Appalachian Spring a success. Big thanks to Tom Gatti & all our other volunteers!

Swimming in a Sea of Wildflowers

Photo taken by Ted Haddock

The forecast showed rain for Saturday’s wildflower hike on April 27, but even with the incoming deluge, ten rain-impervious souls showed up to enjoy a few of Spring’s fleeting treasures. The big rains were coming at two so we put on our water repelling soul-suits and set-off on our adventure.

Heading into the Haddock’s property

Off we went into the light drizzle, pausing only to take a group photograph as evidence that we were in fact outside and not identifying flowers from laptops in warm, cozy beds. Ted Haddock and his family generously offered their beautiful property as a place to search for spring ephemerals. Glancing up the mountain, the whole group knew we were in for a real treat! The climb was steep but Josh Kelly, Western North Carolina Alliance’s Public Lands Biologist, always had the knack to point out another cool flower or the call of a bird mocking us from far above when the group began to lose its breath.

Firepink

Just on the logging road alone, on the way up to the rich cove forest, (diverse mixutre of moisture-loving trees and lush species-rich herbacious layer) we saw too many flowers to count. There were Firepinks, a trillion trilliums, Bishop Caps, Acolyte Avens (just kidding about that one), Gallium,violets, and plenty of the not-so-great, proliferating garlic mustard. We tasted the delicious seed pods of Solomons Seal. We met a Jack in the Pulpit. We met a Jill in the Pulpit and we learned that this androgynous plant changes its sex depending on the living conditions leading up to the plants sprouting. If there is enough rain, and the soil is full of plentiful nutrients, the plant sprouts as a female, Jill in the Pulpit, and is able propagate. If conditions are not as accommodating, the plant sprouts as a Jack in the Pulpit, the male version of the plant.

Jill in the pulpit

Max Patch in the distance

Towards the end of the climb, the group was rewarded with a nice view of Max Patch in the distance and still, the great rains had not moved in…yet.

But oh did they come! We took a wildflower break to eat some lunch. After no more than three bites of my savory Subway sandwich, the skies opened  up, causing us to scarf down our grub and head to the wildflower Promised Land. The rich cove that Josh led us to was truly spectacular. The flowers we saw on the logging road were only a small sample size compared to the smörgåsbord that littered the cove. By the time we made it back to road, even the best rain gear was taking in water. Back at the Trust General Store were piping mugs of hot chocolate waiting for us. Whaddaday!

A big thanks to the Haddock Family for letting us explore their beautiful property and to Josh Kelly for sharing his vast knowledge of wildflowers and plants with the group. And lastly, thanks to everyone that came out to frolic in the rain with SAHC. It was a special day!

NC Land and Water Conservation Lobby Day

Legislative Building in Raleigh

What is “Lobby Day”? An opportunity for us to show our elected officials how important land and water conservation are to our state.

Land for Tomorrow, a partnership of concerned citizens, businesses, interest groups and local governments, organized the statewide lobbying efforts. This past Wednesday, March 27, SAHC staff members Pauline Moleski and Michelle Pugliese, and  former trustee Jay Leutze joined other representatives from North Carolina land trusts for NC Land and Water Conservation Lobby Day in Raleigh. Our elected officials heard from us on the importance of state conservation funding and why we need their support to increase funding to our four conservation trust funds.

Gov. Pat McCrory unveiled his proposed budget last week, which made significant cuts to land and water conservation. The proposed budget cuts the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) to $6.75 million from $10.75 million last year (down from typical annual appropriation level of $100 million since its founding has been slashed 94% since the beginning of the economic crisis) and including funding only in eh first year of the biennium. The budget also reduces the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) to $15.5 million, down from $27.5 million, a 44% cut. And, it reduces the Natural Heritage Trust Fund (NHTF) to $4.23 million from $9.9 million, a 58% cut. While these cuts are difficult, the most concerning part is that it removes the dedicated source of funding for PARTF and NHTF. Presently these two funds come from a percentage of the real estate deed stamp tax and personalized license plates; however the proposed budget would direct that money to the state’s general fund and return only a percentage back to PARTF and NHTF.  Given the long-term nature of land acquisitions, this leaves no reliable funding to plan for long-term land acquisition projects.  The budget maintains the current funding level of the $1.7 million per year for the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.

Why are we so concerned? North Carolina’s four conservation trust funds are at serious risk. These funds have successfully invested in preserving our state’s unique natural areas, and have boosted economic development throughout North Carolina – including our scenic Western North Carolina area, where droves of visitors to our parks, forests and rivers bolster local economies each year. As decisions are made about continued investments in conservation funding, critical projects are at stake. If adequate funding is not provided, North Carolina will lose these valuable resources. Land and water conservation supports all of our major economic drivers – the military, tourism, hunting/fishing/recreation and agriculture. It also lessens the local tax burden by reducing expenditures.

Without sufficient conservation funding, critical projects will be lost.

The positive news is that the Governor’s proposed budget will be revised by the Senate and then the House before it is approved. We spoke with representatives from our local counties and asked that they work with their leadership to help us continue the state’s economic recovery by:

• Funding the Clean Water Management Trust Fund at $20 million recurring in each year of the biennium.
• Maintaining a dedicated source of funding for the Parks and Recreation and Natural Heritage trust funds.

Please consider contacting your local representative and also requesting these simple funding requests. Conservation isn’t about pretty views or rare plants; it is about people and the economy. We know that for every dollar spent from the state’s conservation trust funds, North Carolinians receive $4 in natural goods and services – things such as flood control, productive farmland, clean water and clean air.

Furthermore, protecting high quality water resources through conservation is four times more cost effective that treated contaminated water.  Saving land saves water and money.

Moody Knob – Quiet Cove with Devoted Stewards

Jack in the pulpit.

This lovely 63-acre cove is located in Madison County, on the ridgeline that is the border with Buncombe County. It lies near other properties that we have protected in a relatively unfragmented corridor between the Black Mountains and the Tennessee line.

The tract is a north-facing rich cove with large hardwood trees, a diverse herbaceous layer, and multiple seeps and springs. Headwaters originating on the property flow into Terry Fork, a tributary of Ivy Creek that meets the French Broad River just south of Marshall.  An botanist’s inventory conducted noted 158 plant species, and the property is one ridge over from the Black and Craggy Audubon Important Bird Area.

White-spotted slimy salamander at Moody Knob.

Owning a special property heightens your personal connection with the land. This intense connection led landowners Hershella Smith and Jay Gleason to donate a conservation easement on their beloved Moody Knob property. With a true sense of commitment to stewardship, the landowners generously donated the entire value of this conservation easement and all transaction costs to make this project possible.

Moody Knob: A Landowner Perspective

by Hershella Smith

“For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to purchase a great piece of land and build a house. By the time I found the right tract of land in 1996 and arranged financing to purchase it, I had grown to believe that being a good steward of the land was as important as being a land owner. So my commitment when I purchased the Moody Knob property was to ensure that it would never be developed or logged.

Hershella Smith shows SAHC Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese around Moody Knob.

I wanted to wait until I had paid off the loan to place the conservation easement. Meanwhile, I got to know the land that I had initially fallen in love with – where I would find the biggest trillium in the spring, what color the hickory leaves turned in the fall, which patches of ground kept snow the longest. I learned a lot — not the least of which was how challenging it sometimes was to keep the interests of the land above my own.

Now, with the loan paid and married to a man who shares my love for the land, I am intensely pleased that we are able to put the land into conservation. I feel a huge sense of gratitude toward SAHC, a sense of accomplishment in finally honoring a commitment made many years ago, and a sense of relief and joy in knowing that our land isn’t just  ‘our’ land any longer. It belongs to itself.”

Grassy Ridge – Success 40 years in the making!

Aerial photo of the Grassy Ridge tract, showing publicly accessible points in the landscape. Flight provided by Southwings.

At the end of 2012, we succeeded in purchasing an incredible property that had topped our conservation priority ‘wish list’ for the past four decades — the 601-acre Grassy Ridge tract, crown jewel of the Roan Highlands. Thanks to tenacious landowner outreach, good timing, extraordinary support from private philanthropists, and critical conservation partnerships, we were able to ring in the New Year with a triumph truly worth celebrating.

The Grassy Ridge tract forms a breathtaking corridor that connects public lands along one of the highest elevation ridges in the Southern Appalachians.

“Since SAHC’s beginning, the protection of the Grassy Ridge Tract has been a top priority.  There is still much more to be done, but we can all rejoice that this important tract is now protected forever,” said Carol Coffey, former president of the Board of Trustees. “The purchase of the Grassy Ridge tract is a milestone in SAHC’s efforts to protect the Southern Appalachian Highlands.”

The Grassy Ridge tract forms an important corridor between National Forest lands to the north & NC state-owned protected land to the south.

The tract has been considered a top priority for SAHC and other conservation partners in the region for decades because of its size and location within a large network of high elevation protected lands.

“The Grassy Ridge Tract is one of the few parcels of private land in the Eastern United States that rises above 6000’ elevation, and it is the only such tract near the Appalachian National Scenic Trail,” said Joe DeLoach of the Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club and former SAHC president. “With the ridge lines visible from the AT, and with it forming the eastern boundary of Grassy Gap which is highly visible from the AT on Round and Jane Balds and which serves as a key connector between the main crest of the Roan Highlands and the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area, purchase of this tract will protect the experience and enjoyment of an undeveloped landscape for the many hikers who consider the Roan Highlands as one of the most scenic areas along the entire Appalachian Trail.”

At its northern boundary, it takes in the crest of Grassy Ridge where it joins Pisgah National Forest, and at the southern end the property joins tracts owned by the State of NC in the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area. It lies in the view shed of the Appalachian Trail, visible from the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail and other locations in the Highlands of Roan.

High elevation meadows on the tract form a large swath of prime bird habitat.

The property consists of a large, forested bowl within three ridges: Grassy Ridge, Big Roan Ridge, and Martin Ridge. One of the largest concentrations of rare species and communities in the state are found on Grassy Ridge and the adjoining habitats of Roan.

“Nearby Grassy Ridge bald is the best remaining and most pristine grassy bald in the Southern Appalachians,” said Judy Murray, SAHC Roan Stewardship Director.  “This bald and its adjacent rock outcrops have the highest concentration of rare plant species and the fewest non-native species of any site in the Highlands of Roan.  SAHC has been a lead partner in restoring and maintaining Roan’s grassy balds for over 20 years, and the purchase of this tract is a major achievement in protecting this globally endangered ecological community.”

The Roan Mountain Important Bird Area and the Roan Massif Significant Natural Heritage Area cover the property, and hundreds of acres of high elevation old fields on the tract form a large swath of prime bird habitat.

Protection of the Grassy Ridge property secures pristine headwater streams that feed into the North Toe River watershed.

This purchase permanently protects pristine water quality as well as globally significant plant & animal habitat. Headwater tributaries of Roaring Creek, a beautiful wild trout stream, originate on the property and flow into the North Toe River watershed.

We seized a small window of opportunity to successfully complete this project at the end of the year, made possible through extraordinary support from private philanthropists and critical loan funds obtained from the Open Space Institute.

“The Open Space Institute is pleased to once again support conservation in the Greater Roan Highlands Landscape,” said Peter Howell, OSI’s executive vice president. “The protection of the Grassy Ridge tract preserves a highly significant wildlife corridor between Little Yellow Mountain and the highest summits of the Roan Massif. We salute SAHC for its persistence and personal interaction with so many of the people involved in this project. It was SAHC’s perseverance that made this deal happen.”

Over the past six years, OSI has assisted SAHC and other partner agencies in the protection of 1,500 contiguous acres that are part of an important wildlife corridor between the two spines of the Southern Blue Ridge ecoregion.

Funds that secure the OSI loan are held in the Long View Endowment at the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, a regional nonprofit serving 18 counties.

“We are proud of our work with SAHC and with donors who care about conservation,” said Sheryl Aikman, the Foundation’s vice president for development. “The Long View Endowment was created by a donor, now deceased, who understood SAHC’s work
and mission and structured her legacy for just this type of opportunity.”

SAHC will offer guided hikes on the Grassy Ridge tract and other protected land in the Highlands of Roan throughout the year. The organization will celebrate this recent accomplishment along with other land protection successes at our Appalachian Spring event on Thursday, May 16^tth at the Barn at Allandale Mansion in Kingsport, TN.

“Our family takes great pride in having worked with SAHC from the beginning of this organization,” said Jeanette Blazier, former Kingsport mayor and current president of the SAHC Board of Trustees.  “The recent purchase of this key property on Grassy Ridge is another example of our commitment to preserving the beautiful mountains of our region.  It is especially significant since the founding members of SAHC had as their primary focus the preservation of the Highlands of Roan.”

Trail Building on SAHC’s Community Farm

Trail work begins at the SAHC Community Farm in Alexander, NC.

The crew received instructions prior to work.

Volunteers assemble  – Go Team!

On a chilly mid-March day, SAHC’s Anderson Farm was host for an AmeriCorps service day. Fourteen AmeriCorps Project Conserve members, currently serving at host sites throughout Western North Carolina, came together on SAHC’s Community Farm to lend their hands in building a trail on the 100 acre property.

The SAHC Community Farm property lies just 15 minutes to the north and west of Asheville within the Newfound Creek watershed, an impaired waterway as identified by NC Division of Water Quality. Years of timbering and intensive cattle grazing have impacted the pastures, forests, and waterways of this property. Since acquiring the farm, SAHC has begun the process of revitalizing the agricultural and conservation assets on the property.

Americorps Project Conserve volunteers Margot Wallston, Laura Brookshire, and Serena Shah.

We are currently reforesting a clear-cut section of the farm with shortleaf pine, a declining species in NC, which will be used as a demonstration stand. We are also working to improve the agricultural management of the land and will eventually establish the property as a model farm for educational purposes.  A large stream restoration project will begin in the spring of this year and will result in significant wildlife habitat and water quality improvements. To utilize the property as an educational asset, we have designed a trail that will highlight the many improvements being made to the farm, so that this special property may be shared with the public.

It was a nippy day, but skies were clear  for trail work.

SAHC’s Americorps Land Protection Associate Jamie Ervin on the farm.

AmeriCorps Project Conserve members, along with SAHC staff, broke ground on the first section of trail to be built on the farm. This section of trail runs from the trail head, through the shortleaf pine restoration area, and down to the stream restoration area. Along the way, the trail traverses through heavy brush and tree re-growth, so the trail work involved cutting back blackberry and grasses to the ground with loppers and small hand saws, breaking ground with pulaskis (tools with a head shaped with an ax blade on one side and an adze on the other) to form the foot path, and grading the trail to create a finished surface for walking.

A great start for our interpretive trail.

Using pulaskis to break ground.

Several AmeriCorps members present at the workday are experienced sawyers, and SAHC was fortunate to have use of their skills for the removal of Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) . Removing the Virginia Pine will allow the Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata) that is already on the Anderson Farm to flourish and will make the restoration of this declining plant community possible. While Shortleaf pine is common to the Southeast’s piedmont and mountain regions, it is in decline in North Carolina.

Huge thanks to all the team members who volunteered!

It was wonderful to have had so many talented and hardworking AmeriCorps Project Conserve members give the gift of their time and energy to SAHC and the Anderson Farm. While the trail work was slower going than anticipated, the work day was a great success. We accomplished a substantial part of the trail building and removed competition trees from about 2 acres of the property. The interpretive trail will be a key educational tool in allowing SAHC to share the efforts being made to restore the Anderson farm – as we make strides to improve the conservation and agricultural values back to the land. We plan to schedule additional volunteer work days on the farm throughout the Spring and Summer. Contact Allison Kiehl at 828.253.0095 ext. 203 for more details.

Devil’s Britches and Bark, Buds, Nuts – A pint, a party, a presentation and hike for Tree ID.

SAHC staff & volunteer manned our merchandise table at the Tasting Room. It was a good place to meet friends – new & old!

Music from the Log Cabin Band – put us all in the mood to learn more about our mountains.

The end of February was a great time to practice winter tree identification, and to enjoy a new Highland Brewing Company seasonal pint with friends. As part of our “For Love of Beer & Mountains” partnership with Highlands Brewing Company and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, we hosted an informative & engaging presentation at the Tasting Room on Thursday, February 21, followed that weekend by an on-the-ground field opportunity with SAHC Field Ecologist Chris Coxen.

The Tasting Room was packed

We enjoyed an incredible crowd at the Tasting Room; it was packed with people who came to learn more about winter tree identification, and to celebrate local music. Listening to the Log Cabin Band play before & after our tree ID tips presentation, we were reminded how deeply our rich Appalachian history and culture are tied to the trees and mountains surrounding us. It was an excellent place to learn – a lively setting, and a fun time!

The presentation was short & sweet – an informative beginner’s guide to success in knowing more about the trees you may see in our area, given in six steps.

Step #1 – Have a good field guide – and two or more is better than one!

Step 1: Have a “good” field guide with you such as the National Audubon Society or Peterson Field guide.

Step 2: Try to identify your forest community type by narrowing down the possibilities of which trees grow where. For example, learning which trees grow at a particular elevation, observing whether the slope is north or south facing, or notice what the trees are near such as water, a hollow, or cove. The location of the tree relative to its surroundings is good way to determine which type of tree might grow there.

Step 3: Observe the form of the tree–are the branches opposite or alternating? Is the tree super straight like a tulip poplar? Is it bent like a sourwood?

SAHC Field Ecologist Chris Coxen makes winter tree ID accessible, and fun.

Step 4: Hark, the bark! Is the bark cobbled like sourwood or black gum? Are there grooves that look like ski trails (might be a red oak)?

Step 5: Checkout the leaves and fruit around the tree. Chris pointed out that this technique can back your initial inclination but is not always reliable because the leaves/fruit could fall far from the tree and because some leaves persist better than others.

Step 6: Examine the twig. When this technique is combined with step 2 and 4, the observer has the best chance of identifying the given tree.

The following Sunday, a full group headed out on a guided hike at Cataloochee Ranch, to try out newly learned techniques.

Heading to the Devils Britches with Hemphill Bald in the Background

Woooooo-weeee! SAHC Field Ecologist, Chris Coxen, was on fire, “ID-ing” trees left and right on the Devils Britches Trail at Cataloochee Ranch. It was a clear & beautiful day, filled with learning, mountains, and the tasty Devils Britches Red IPA from Highland Brewing Company.

The hike started with a discussion about how conservation easements work and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s long history with Cataloochee Ranch. This talk was especially fitting, since we placed our first ever conservation easement here at the Ranch –  on Hemphill Bald in 1993.

Once reaching the edge of the forest, our schooling started by looking at forest community types.

SAHC Field Ecologist, Chris Coxen, chatting about trees at the beginning of the hike

“One of the best ways to identify trees without their leaves is to look for common forest communities,” said Chris.

“Ski trails on the Northern Red Oak”

For example, dominant canopy species in Northern Hardwood Forest might include yellow birch, sugar maple, American beech, red maple, sweet birch, and yellow buckeye. Another common forest community type in western North Carolina is the Chestnut Oak Forest which includes trees like the northern red oak, chestnut oak, and scarlet oak. The question is how do you discern a chestnut oak from an American beech when the trees have no leaves?

Cobbled bark on a Sourwood tree

Chris reviewed his Six Step tips for success with Tree ID, and for the next two hours, hikers had the opportunity to try out all six of the steps. The group quickly discovered that identifying the naked tree in the middle of winter can be a difficult task. After a pop-quiz from the Field Ecologist at the end of the hike, it was clear that the group had improved a lot. By lunchtime the weather had warmed up nicely and everyone enjoyed a refreshing Devils Britches Red IPA courtesy of Highland Brewing Company.

Thanks to everyone that came out, and we’ll look forward to seeing folks for the next partnership hike to Little Hump on Saturday, May 18th.

About our “For Love of Beer & Mountains” Partnership:

Hikers enjoy a Devils Britches Red IPA over lunch

Highland Brewing Company has partnered with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to help raise awareness of the beauty and uniqueness of these high peaks and bring attention to efforts to protect them. These events are presented as part of this partnership, and each is free and open to the public.

Chris had field guides & twig samples available for guests to look through at the presentation.

Hiking in the Rough Creek Watershed: A respite from winter’s cabin fever.

Margot Wallston, SAHC Americorps Stewardship Associate, gives a sumac smile on the trail in the Rough Creek Watershed

“After several weeks of desk time at the office, followed by several days experiencing the worst that this year’s flu season had to offer, cabin fever prompted this SAHC AmeriCorps steward to take advantage of a free Sunday to pay a visit to one of our protected properties in Haywood County, only 30 minutes west of Asheville: the Rough Creek Watershed.

Rough Creek Watershed is an 870-acre conservation easement held by the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, co-managed with  the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, and owned by the Town of Canton. SAHC was instrumental in the protection of this Smoky Mountain jewel. The watershed, which drains into Beaverdam Creek, and then into the Pigeon River, used to serve as the primary water source for Canton, but now it primarily functions as a nature preserve and public pie slice of undisturbed open space.  One of the cool things about this particular conservation easement is that it is accessible to the public. The watershed contains approximately 10 miles of well-maintained trails open for conservation-conscious hikers and bikers to explore.

On the day I visited Rough Creek, the temperature was supposed to get no higher than 33 degrees, the wind had to be at least 30 miles per hour, and I had barely moved my body since getting trounced by the flu. However, I was determined to make the climb up to the ridge on the western boundary of the property, where I knew I would be rewarded with panoramic views of the Newfound Mountains. I was hoping this hike would serve as a warm-up for our ambitious spring monitoring season, which includes visiting 63 conservation easements in about three months.

Winter is a fun time to go hiking. It may seem like a cold and dead time of year, but signs of life are everywhere.  I think you can observe more because there is less green growth to obscure everything.  I can see landforms better and distinguish between tree species by looking at bark and twigs.  Animal tracks persist in the snow and remnants of last year’s herbaceous plants linger like forensic evidence at the scene of a crime.

Margot mimics a stately old oak on the trail.

After hiking steadily upwards for approximately 2 miles, I did reach the ridgeline; and I was almost blown away and blinded by the piercing wind, the bright sun reflecting off a thin layer of snow at my feet, and the stunning views before me!  After pausing a moment to mimic a big lone oak tree, I continued along the ridgeline and was delighted to spy yet another sign of seasons past: brilliant red clusters of sumac berries.

Wild sumac (Rhus typhina or Rhus glabra, not to be confused with poison sumac, Toxicodendron vernix) is always a fun plant to encounter when hiking not only because its appearance is so striking, but also because it’s like stumbling into an outdoor pharmacy with a soda fountain and a candy section!

Enjoying a wild sumac lollipop.

Sumac on the ridge, with spectacular views and a thin blanket of snow.

If the berries aren’t too old and it hasn’t rained recently, you can lick the red cluster cone like a lollipop.  The berries are covered with a sweet and tangy fuzzy coating reminiscent of a SweeTART.  The taste is due to a concentration of malic and ascorbic acids (Vitamin C).  Sumac was used by the Cherokee and continues to be used by herbal medicine aficionados for treating everything from cold sores to diarrhea to diabetes, fever, and arrow wounds.  My favorite thing to do with sumac is to soak the berries in a glass of cold water, which quickly transforms into a refreshing tea similar to pink lemonade. The berries are normally best after they ripen in late summer, but the ones I encountered on the ridge persisted through February and still held their flavor.

A refreshing sumac beverage.

My hike continued for another 5.5 miles through a quiet forest laden with hidden richness and treasures.  Days later, I am so delighted that places like the Rough Creek Watershed exist close to my home; I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to come to know them and appreciate them; and I am so thankful that organizations like SAHC work with passionate  community members to protect these place for everyone to benefit from.”