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.

Caught in a Webb (Property)

The last post in this sizzling-hot blog was a saga of swashbuckling adventure, a daring tale of trials and tribulations overcome, AND a story about a bunch of hikers just living the dream in western North Carolina. The hike at the Webb’s property was quite different–it still included a lot of dream living but much less of those pesky yellow jackets.

If you like hiking, beautiful landscapes, and a little southern hospitality, then you probably should have joined Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) for an adventure to the Webb property a few Saturdays ago. Laura Webb and family generously opened the doors to their property and hosted an incredible hike and picnic for SAHC and members.

A view from the Webb’s porch

The Webb property is nestled deep in Jackson County, where it boasts a lake for fishing, untouched views from Laura’s Rock, and a secluded feel that gives visitors the thrilling sensation that they are truly “in the wild.” Originally (and still) used as a fishing cabin for family and friends of the Webbs, the 615-acre property protects a pristine lake and creeks that flow into the nearby Tuckaseegee River. Parts of the property sky to almost 4,500 feet high and afford hikers with breathtaking views of the valley below.

Part of the group enjoying a view from Laura’s Rock

Hikers were greeted at the fishing cabin with a crackling fire and warm beverages to drink. After learning about the rigors of successfully completing a conservation easement from Laura, the group pushed on from the warmth of the cabin and began the journey to hike the property’s extensive network of trails. After a 30 minute warm up over flat acidic cove forest, the hike quickly ramped up in difficulty as participants began the arduous ascent up to the Webb’s house near the top of the mountain. There, everyone was rewarded with a view from the porch and stories about the Webb’s land. Laura’s Rock lay ahead, so the group kept moving.

With a gentle saunter up to Laura’s Rock, the group took photos of the flaming Fall foliage and caught some rejuvenating rays of sunlight. You could hear everyone’s stomach rumbling from a mile away; so, not wanting anyone to perish from hunger, we decided to head towards the lush spread of food at the base of the lake. The picnic baskets were full, the company was DELIGHTFUL, and the weather outside was certainly not frightful. It was a great day playing in the web of the Webb property. Thanks to everyone that came out and a special thanks to the Webb family for graciously sharing their land.

Folks enjoying the picnic

Foraging for Mushrooms

Charlotte Caplan identifies the mushroom as participants listen.

It was the perfect storm for finding mushrooms last weekend in gorgeous Yancey County. In recent days, thunderstorms had soaked the ground, paving the way for an explosion of boletes, chanterelles, little brown mushrooms, and many others.

On July 22nd, SAHC & guests were led on an intriguing excursion by Asheville myco-hunter and expert, Charlotte Caplan. Everyone learned some tricks of the trade when identifying these mysterious fungi. The common question was, “How do you know if a mushroom is edible or not?”

“There is only one way to know if its edible or not – and that is to eat it,” joked Caplan. We all leaned in closer to hear more. From her basket, Charlotte pulled out a small white and harmless-looking mushroom with gills — A destroying angel. The name says it all; just one small bite is deadly enough to shut down a person’s liver and kidneys. What a comforting lesson to start the hike!

We dispersed along the edge of the forest to forage for some ‘shrooms, and within minutes everyone was filling baskets with russulas, boletes, puffballs, and morels galore. Caplan explained that identifying mushrooms is a challenging task, and even the most experienced mycologist cannot identify every mushroom.

Caplan holds a Jack O’Lantern Mushroom, which glows faintly in the dark

Smell is one of the primary methods in the identification process for some mushrooms. Many have a signature fragrance. Some smell sweet when they are young, and as they mature the odor becomes fishy. Others have that fresh, dirt-like smell.

Our adventurous scavengers found the bioluminescant Jack o’lantern mushroom, chanterelles, umbrella mushrooms, and many more. For lunch, everyone took their spoils to the top of the property and enjoyed beautiful views of Mt. Mitchell, Cattail Peak, Winter Star, and Celo Knob. Storms looked eminent in the distance, juxtaposed beautifully next to the sunlit mountains to the west of the property. Caplan searched each basket to ensure that there were not any deadly mushrooms, and then folks hopped into cars to escape in the incoming storms.

The mushroom hike was such a fruitful experience that Caplan offered to lead another expedition sometime in the near future. If you missed this hike, please check out www.appalachian.org to find other SAHC hikes and events, and we’ll see you next time!

Little Hump Partnership Hike

Sunday, May 20th, was a beautiful day for a hike in the Highlands of Roan. Thirty six ambitious hikers joined Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC), Highland Brewing Company, and US Fish and Wildlife Service for a full day of hiking.

Heading up the Trail

Hikers started their journey along Roaring Creek down in the valley below Little Hump by hoping onto the Overmountain Victory Trail. This was a good warm-up for everyone as we gradually ascended to connect with  the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail traverses 17 miles in the Highlands of Roan and provides some of the most spectacular views in the Southern Appalachians. The grade of the trail became immensely more difficult as the group set their sights on summiting Little Hump Mountain. A little ways up, hikers took a break to look back down into the valley and admire the iconic Overmountain Shelter.

Almost 1,500 feet later, the crew made it to the top where everyone enjoyed breathtaking views and good company. The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and Highland Brewing Company became partners in 2010 to raise awareness of the importance of land protection in our region. To do that, Highland Brewing Company names their seasonal ales after protected peaks in the region. Little Hump Mountain was the inspiration for their spring seasonal.

Group Shot on Little Hump

Climbing on the rocks on Little Hump

On top of Little Hump, the Ridge and Valley Province lies to your west in Tennessee and the renowned peaks of Grandfather Mountain, Table Rock, and Linville Gorge rise to the east in North Carolina. Depending on the season, you could have  bluets at your feet and flame azaleas in your line of vision as you look out across the mountains. Much of the panoramic viewshed from around Little Hump is untouched by houses or developments and perhaps the best part is that you can enjoy these views for free anytime of the year.

Jammin’ at the Gott Farm

Gott Farm with White Rocks and Camp Creek Bald in the distant background

Last Thursday, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) staff members enjoyed another sensational day at Peter and Polly Gott’s idyllic farm. Tucked away deep in Madison County, the 218-acre Gott Farm is surrounded by Pisgah National Forest on two sides, there are abundant springs, wet coves full of wild edibles, viable soil for farming, and breathtaking views. Their farm is truly an ecological gem.

Peter and Polly Gott with dog Katie

Our visit started out with a tour of the Gott’s log cabin, which Peter meticulously made using hand tools and historic methods. The precision and perfection of Peter’s craftsmanship was exhibited in every other building on their property as well. Peter’s tools were impeccably organized and the woodsheds were stacked so systematically, you would think the logs were books in a library. After a tour of Polly’s old art studio (which Peter also made) and their sauna by the river, the staff headed to the top of their property to enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking White Rocks and iconic Camp Creek Bald.

The real fun began after lunch when the instruments were pulled out for some old-fashioned music making. Peter led the charge on his banjo, while SAHC’s Emily Bidgood and Margot Wallston piped in on the fiddle, Jamie Ervin played the guitar, and Hanni Muerdter strummed on the mandolin. Peter’s daughter and grandsons brought it altogether with a rendition of “Bury me Beneath the Willow.” The celebration culminated with SAHC staff dancing their socks off. Peter called each dance and his daughter Susie played on the fiddle. It was a grand ol’ time.

Peter and SAHC crew playing some tunes

Visiting the Gott Farm has become a tradition that all the staff look forward to every year. When the trees start blooming and the flowers are out, everyone knows it is time to visit the property again. “Peter and Polly are two of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. Their generosity towards others and love for their land is pervasive in everything that they do.” Said SAHC Membership Director, Cheryl Fowler.

“It was also nice for our staff to see and experience the fruits of our labor firsthand. Because we do much of our work sitting in front of desks everyday, it’s easy to sometimes lose track of the bigger picture and forget why we protect these pieces of land.”  Said SAHC executive director, Carl Silverstein. “After a trip like today, it reaffirms for SAHC staff on a personal level, why we continue to protect land that has so much conservation and sentimental value.”

192 Acres Protected in Yancey County

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) established another conservation easement in Yancey County, NC. The 192 acres rise to an elevation of 5,163 feet at the summit of High Knob.  The property holds spectacular northerly views over the Black Mountains and sits close to several other prominent conservation easements, including the Big Tom Wilson Preserve, public tracts of land such as Pisgah National Forest, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Mount Mitchell State Park. The property is also within several miles of another SAHC easement.

“The Elk Fork property epitomizes what land conservation trusts try to do on a daily basis–protect pieces of land that hold aesthetic, practical, and intrinsic value.” States SAHC Executive Director, Carl Silverstein. “It is pivotal that we continue to protect properties that are highly visible to the public eye.” Elk Fork is definitely that. On clear days, Elk Fork can be seen from Mt. Mitchell and along the Cane River.

The size of the property, complemented by its close proximity to several other protected properties, makes Elk Fork biologically significant.  Elk Fork is made up of primarily Oak and Cove hardwoods that range from 20-60 years old and potentially older trees at higher elevations. NC wildlife biologists have found Allegheny Woodrats (State Special Concern Species) and Least Weasels (State Significantly Rare Species) in the rock habitats on the property. 

“Our family has long shared a dream of protecting natural areas for the future. This easement ensures that our property will continue to support a small part of the incomparable biological diversity of the Appalachian Mountains,” said Russ Oates, landowner of the Elk Fork tract.

Tributaries to Elk Fork Creek

The conservation easement costs were made possible by a complete donation by the landowners and from the generous assistance of Fred Stanback. “It is reassuring to know that remarkable pieces of land can still be protected today thanks to the ecological awareness and economic generosity of others.” Says, SAHC’s Land Protection Director, Michelle Pugliese.

 Elk Fork is within the French Broad River Watershed and includes tributary streams of Elk Fork Creek which flow into the Cane River.

“Conservation of the property helps protect tributary streams of the French Broad Watershed from sources of sedimentation and other types of pollution,” says SAHC Stewardship Director, Hanni Muerdter.

It’s our treat to be with you on this journey!

Members, landowners, and staff on SAHC-protected properties

In the past few weeks, we have enjoyed splendid views of the magnificent autumn colors from our outing hikes and volunteer work days in the highlands of North Carolina and Tennessee. We are sincerely grateful for the support and commitment of our volunteers, donors, and members. YOU have helped us achieve the amazing conservation projects which give all of us these stunning views, as well as clean water to drink and local food produced on permanently protected, local farms.

As you enjoy your autumn views & adventures, please help us meet our Annual Giving goal of $125,000 so we can continue to save the places you love in this region.

This yearly fundraising campaign is crucial in giving us the capacity to continue the phenomenal land protection work you expect from SAHC. PLUS, if we meet our goal by the end of the year, we will receive an additional $35,000 in matching grant money from the Merck Family Fund!

Please visit our secure online donation page https://co.clickandpledge.com/default.aspx?wid=46727 today to make your contribution.

Thank you for all you do to help us preserve the Southern Highlands!

Long Branch Environmental Education Center – Non-Profit education center protects 864 acres in perpetuity

Long Branch Environmental Education Center (Long Branch) is an educational

Newly protected Long Branch property in the Sandy Mush Valley.

non-profit organization located eighteen miles northwest of Asheville on the Buncombe and Haywood county line.  It was founded in 1974 as an ecological sanctuary. Since then, it has evolved into an educational center with the purpose of teaching strategies of sustainability and self-reliance.   This week, 864 of their acres in Sandy Mush and Beaverdam were protected for future generations. Paul Gallimore, Executive Director of the Long Branch Environmental Education Center, is excited about being able to conserve land while pursuing his goals for the non-profit.

“To be able to include provisions for renewable energy such as wind and solar into conservation easements marks a new watershed in protecting terrestrial ecosystems as well as the atmosphere surrounding these ecosystems that would otherwise be threatened by acid deposition, particulates, and ground-level ozone stemming from combustion of fossil fuels,” he said.

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy began to preserve land owned by Long Branch in 1995, when the two non-profits worked together to protect six hundred acres on Sandy Mush Bald through a conservation easement.  This June, Long Branch donated two more conservation easements, totaling 864 acres, to SAHC for permanent protection. Brad and Shelli Stanback awarded a grant to SAHC to cover the transaction costs, helping to make the project possible.

The new Long Branch conservation easements permanently limit the development and subdivision of the parcels.  Located within SAHC’s French Broad River Valley focus area, the properties boast headwater streams and a variety of scenic forest types.  The new easements add to a vast network of important lands already voluntarily preserved by SAHC throughout the Sandy Mush farming community.

Conservation of the Long Branch properties is critical for the protection of water quality in the area. With parcels in both Buncombe County and Haywood County, they feed both the French Broad River Watershed and the Pigeon River Watershed.   These conservation easements protect tributary streams of Willow Creek, South Turkey Creek, Beaverdam Creek, and the headwater streams of Long Branch. Over 49,000 feet of stream corridor exist on the properties. Conserving these lands protect important water sources from the risk of pollution through sedimentation.

“Sedimentation from road construction and development on steep slopes is one of the leading sources of water contamination in our mountain streams,” says Michelle Pugliese, Land Protection Director.  “Preserving native vegetation around streams protects water quality because it filters pollutants from the soil and prevents erosion of the stream banks.” Pugliese continues, “In addition to protecting water quality, the sheer size of these parcels and their connectivity to a large network of protected land also preserves the scenic character of this rural farming community.”

The new Long Branch conservation easements adjoin SAHC’s 637-acre Winterberry Farm conservation easement and are very near other conservation easements or preserves held by SAHC that total over 4,600 acres. The vast connectivity of forested land in the general vicinity of the conservation easements is very important for plant and animal diversity. This is due to the large range that some species require, the importance of contiguous corridors between large forest communities, and the viability of entire ecosystems. The dominant forest types on the property include chestnut and oak forests as well as rich coves, a priority habitat for protection.

Protection of land within the area helps ensure the rural scenic quality for visitors and local residents. The properties’ ridgelines and forested slopes are visible from Willow Creek Road, Big Sandy Mush Road, Newfound Road, and other prominent locations in the Sandy Mush Valley. “SAHC is so grateful to Long Branch for donating these easements for protection,” said Carl Silverstein, Executive Director. “Thanks to generous landowners like them, we continue to be able to protect important lands in this area for the future.”

Cataloochee Ranch: A Success Story in Haywood County

In the 1990′s, 67-year-old Maggie Valley resident Tom Alexander realized that he would have to do something to be able to hand down his beloved land, 1,000 mostly undeveloped acres adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, intact to his children. The land had been in his family for 60 years, but development in Haywood County had greatly increased over the past few decades and the value of his land was doubling in value about every three to four years. When it was valued at $10 million, Alexander saw little chance his children would ever be able to receive the land intact because his estate would have to pay about $4 million in taxes, which would be impossible without selling portions of it. When development seemed inevitable, he called the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy for help. SAHC was able to put a conservation easement on Hemphill Bald, 222-acres of his property, which blocked future development from ever being able to take place and reduced the land value by 78%.

“We have a strong sentimental attachment to the land, and we didn’t want to see it sold off or go into the hands of developers,” Alexander said in a July 1998 article in the Wildlife in North Carolina magazine.

After the initial Hemphill Bald easement, Alexander and the other owners, Judy Coker and Alice Aumen, went on to put five more sections of their property into conservation easements with SAHC. Because of the easements, Alexander was able to will his land to his children just the way it was a century before.

Cataloochee Ranch Property: Hikers, Views, and Seasons

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