Holiday Greetings

By Gregory Brown

Greetings from the North Carolina end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I hope this holiday season finds you and your families in good health and cheerful spirits. Among the many blessings this past year have been the FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Board members, staff and members have made this a very good year.

One of the highlights of the year was the dedication of the first FRIENDS' donation box at the Folk Art Center near Asheville. One of FRIENDS' members, Rob Kleber, donated his time and materials for the construction of this box. This is just one example of the many ways in which FRIENDS' members have donated to FRIENDS.

FRIENDS also has applied for a substantial grant from an Asheville-based Foundation. If we are successful, we will be adding a full-time staff member in Asheville. This person will be able to coordinate volunteer projects and other FRIENDS' activities in the Asheville area, as well as develop a fund-raising program.

This coming year, FRIENDS will be establishing a chapter in the Asheville area. We already have people expressing an interest in serving as officers and helping to build this chapter.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a meeting of "Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere" (SAMAB) in Gatlinburg, TN representing our FRIENDS group. SAMAB is composed of many members from North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Georgia. The members of this group all cherish the mountains in which we live; their history, culture and natural beauty. Our FRIENDS group hopes to become increasingly collaborative with SAMAB. They see the Blue Ridge Parkway as a gem of the Appalachian region.

As you are aware, federal budgets for the Blue Ridge Parkway have been declining. This means that financial gifts, gifts of time, and gifts of service are becoming more and more important to sustaining this wonderful natural heritage, the BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY. With the Holiday Season upon us, you might consider giving family members and friends a gift of membership in FRIENDS, something from the FRIENDS' Online Store, or outright gifts (any amount) to FRIENDS in their names.

HAVE A WONDERFUL AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!

Winter Trails Day 2007 Mark Your Calendar for January 6

Winter Trails® Day is now entering its 12th year and will take place on January 6, 2007 at more than 100 locations across the U.S. and Canada and on February 17, 2007 at Estes Park, Colorado. Experience snowshoeing and cross country skiing for FREE, and discover the great fitness and social benefits associated with these easy-to-learn winter sports. http://www.americanhiking.org/index.html

YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

Parkway Seeks Input on Plans for Moses H. Cone Memorial Park

The Blue Ridge Parkway is requesting public comments on the preliminary alternatives for the Moses H. Cone Developed Area Management Plan. Superintendent Phil Francis said "Our preliminary alternatives look at broad approaches, and we need the public to help us choose the best path to pursue and to determine how these preliminary concepts should be developed in greater detail."

To learn about the preliminary alternatives and comment online, please visit http://parkplanning.nps.gov Select Blue Ridge Parkway, "Plans/Documents Open for Comment" then click on the document link. To go directly to the document, visit http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkId=355&projectId=10347. This website also provides information on the plan process, notices of meetings and updates. Even though using this website is recommended, written comments may also be submitted to Blue Ridge Parkway, ATTN: Suzette Molling, 199 Hemphill Knob Road, Asheville, NC 28803. Comments must be postmarked or made via the Internet by December 31.

The 3500-acre Cone Memorial Park, originally known as Flat Top Manor, was one of North Carolina's premier country estates. Built in the late 1890s and early 1900s by textile industrialist Moses and wife Bertha Cone, the estate boasted some 25-miles of carriage roads, two man-made lakes, and extensive orchards that were used to showcase the scientific cultivation of apples. The 23-room manor house today is home to the Parkway Craft Center, operated by the Southern Highland Craft Guild, and a bookstore and information desk operated cooperatively by the National Park Service and partner Eastern National.

I would like to donate to help preserve the Blue Ridge Parkway.

New Interagency Pass Program Will Help Public Enjoy Enhanced Recreation Sites on Public Lands

WASHINGTON-- Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett and Under Secretary of Agriculture Mark Rey December 5th announced a new interagency recreation pass that will benefit visitors to national public lands.
Interagency Pass Announcement (PDF File)
General Pass Information (PDF File)
Frequently Asked Questions (PDF File)

New Technology Keeps Tabs on Bats

Field Notes, the quarterly newsletter of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's North Carolina Ecological Services Offices

Biologists are testing infrared imagery for its ability to help in monitoring rare bat populations. Service biologist Robert Currie, along with an engineer and computer programmer from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and biologists from the states of Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky are testing a device that records the heat image given off by a bat as it leaves a cave. A computer program developed by the Corps then takes that film and counts the number of bats that come out of a cave or mine, distinguishing them from anything else in the vicinity of the cave mouth, and even discounting for bats that make multiple trips in front of the camera lens. The technology has been tested at numerous caves in Tennessee, Missouri, and Kentucky and offers biologists an easy way to track numbers of cave-and mine-dwelling bats.

Blue Ridge Parkway Road Closures

The repair of the Sims Creek Bridge is expected be completed in the week of December 11, 2006, eliminating the detour near Blowing Rock. The only other construction closure is between Milepost 344-355 (NC 80 to Mt. Mitchell State Park), which will remain in effect over the winter.

The motor road is open with the exception of:

Virginia -

• Mile 71-76 Petite’s Gap to Apple Orchard Mountain.

North Carolina – The motor road is open with the exception of:

• Mile 294.6 at Sandy Flat to Mile 296.3 immediately north of the Price Park Picnic area. (Sims Creek Bridge repair, Price Park Campground, Picnic Area and trails are accessible from the south.)
• Mile 344- 355. NC 80 to Mt. Mitchell. Tunnel repair. (Mt. Mitchell State Park is open and accessible via the Parkway from Asheville.)
• Mile 423 – 443. NC 215 to US 23/74 at Balsam Gap. One lane traffic at Goshen Creek Bridge, Mile 286.3. Repair/patching in progress. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail trailhead and visitor parking area adjacent to Headquarters are closed while construction of the BRP Destination Center is in progress. The Mt. Mitchell observation tower and tower trail will be closed due to construction until further notice. There will also be trail detours on the Old Mitchell Trail, Mountains-to-Sea trail and Balsam Nature trail.

The Parkway, Naturally

Newsletter of Natural Resource Management on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Winter Hummingbirds

Until recently people who set out hummingbird feeders during the summer were encouraged to take them down before winter arrived so the birds would not stick around too long before heading south. That's all changing now.

Increasingly hummingbirds are turning up at feeders in Virginia and North Carolina during the winter months. But these aren't ruby-throated hummingbirds, the only species that we have along the Parkway in the summer and the only one that breeds in the east. These winter birds are western and northern hummingbirds that have migrated to the east coast. Nine different species have been observed in North Carolina during the winter over the last few years.

Keeping a feeder up in the winter is a little trickier than during the summer. For more information about hummingbirds and maintaining a feeder in the winter see the following link: http://www.rubythroat.org/

I would like to donate to help save Parkway views.

FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway Donation Box Unveiled at Folk Art Center

(Asheville, NC) Thanks to the support of the FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the first of several new donation boxes that will be placed along the Blue Ridge Parkway was unveiled this morning at the Folk Art Center near Asheville.

Dr. Greg Brown, FRIENDS board member, said he expects the boxes to generate thousands of dollars annually that will help the Parkway with a broad range of activities, including trail construction, viewshed restoration, and volunteer support.

Brown said that Parkway budgets have "eroded significantly" and that the new boxes will "give visitors a chance to put their money where their hearts are."

Superintendent Phil Francis said that unlike many National Park areas, the Blue Ridge Parkway has no entrance fee and that private support and philanthropy are increasingly important for preserving the Parkway and providing the services that help people enjoy the park.

Francis said that Parkway visitors tend to be very loyal and return year-after-year. Many are also aware that the cost of operating the Parkway has increased much faster than funding, and they want to show their support. "This creates a ready opportunity for them to do that."

The Superintendent noted that donation boxes in other parks have generated returns of well over $100,000 annually. He said boxes will be placed at additional Parkway locations in North Carolina and Virginia next year.

The wooden cabinet for the box unveiled today was built and donated by Robert Kleber of Dream's Edge Interiors, Fletcher, N.C. The FRIENDS group will manage collections and return revenues to the Parkway for a variety of projects and services.

For information about the FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway call (800) 228-PARK (7275) or visit www.blueridgefriends.org on the Internet.

-- Courtesy National Park Service

The American Chestnut

Contributing Author: Peter Givens,
Interpretive Specialist, Blue Ridge Parkway

Even the most casual observer understands that our mountains are constantly changing. These changes can be caused by variations in weather, altitude, or human intervention. At times, the changes we observe are subtle – at other times, they are abrupt and radical. Nothing more dramatic has ever occurred in the recorded natural history of the Appalachian Mountains than the loss of Castenea Dentata, the American Chestnut. A blight was introduced in New York in 1904, and within a few decades it virtually wiped out the most dominant species of tree in the Appalachian forest. As the blight moved down the Blue Ridge, an important part of America’s heritage was lost. The Chestnut was uniquely tied to the natural and cultural history of these mountains, and life would never again be the same for those residents who saw it in its glory. Known for its massive trunk and broad, rounded crown, the Chestnut announced the arrival of Spring in the mountains each year with large, cream-colored blossoms. It rose tall and straight, one of the fastest growing of all of the hardwoods. Farmers could harvest a grove of Chestnuts as fence posts or utility poles in less than twenty years. Chestnuts sometimes grew to one hundred feet in height, having an almost even diameter for half that distance. One mountain resident recalled cutting three or four sixteen-foot logs out of one tree before finding any knots. Stories abound regarding the massive size of Chestnuts. A long-time forester in the Great Smokies reportedly found one specimen measuring four feet in diameter sixty-five feet above its base.

Others reported stumps that were more than ten feet in diameter.

The natural range of the Chestnut was from Maine to Alabama, but it was here in the Blue Ridge that it stood as the dominant species. It sometimes grew in great, pure groves and composed almost half of the trees in the Appalachian forest. With its passing came a radical change. The composition and look of the Blue Ridge have never been the same for any generation since. In a multitude of ways, the Chestnut provided the needs of generations of mountain residents. Those who saw this native tree attached almost every superlative to it.

In the Springtime, bees worked Chestnut blooms with a passion, turning the nectar into a unique-tasting honey that was prized by mountain residents. The bark supplied the major source of tannin for drying or tanning hides and could also be used for roofing houses. Chestnut tea seemed to ease the symptoms of whooping cough. Leaves, twigs, and bark had an astringent quality that helped heal cuts and sores. Chestnut wood was commonly used for fences, poles, and for making furniture. Carpenters and woodworkers recognized the high quality of Chestnut because of minimum shrinking and warping. The wood was practically rot-proof, and prior to the arrival of the blight, the Chestnut seemed to be immune from almost any type of disease. It even had the reputation of making excellent stove wood, burning hotter and splitting more easily than any of the hardwoods. Regardless of the need, this magnificent tree seemed to provide an answer for mountain residents.

As if these qualities weren't enough, the primary benefit of this tree to the Appalachian residents was its bountiful fall nut crop. Parkway visitors today associate autumn with outstanding leaf color, but residents of a generation ago looked forward to the season because of the cash crop provided by Chestnuts. Generations of children in the Blue Ridge had little difficulty with this schoolbook riddle:

Round as a ball
Sharp as an owl
Lives all summer
But dies in the fall

Appalachian families flocked to the woods each fall to pick up sharp Chestnut burs with the sweet nuts inside. In many areas, it wasn't uncommon to gather a bushel an hour. Country merchants would come through communities and buy everyone's supply, sometimes paying as much as $6.00 for a bushel of the sweet nuts. Appalachian Chestnuts were then sold and traded on the streets of Atlanta or Charleston. It was this tradition that often brought cash into Appalachian mountain homes, providing shoes, new winter coats, or an especially nice Christmas. Wildlife thrived on the nut crop as well, with generations of squirrels, wild turkey, deer, and bears feasting on the annual fall nut crop.

The blight (Endothia Parasitica) that brought an end to the Chestnut came from Asia to the New York City Botanical Gardens around 1900. Chestnuts began to die in the northeast within a few years. By 1918 trees were dying at the Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Rocky Knob Chestnuts were dying by the thousands around 1925, and within five years, 80-90% of the trees in western North Carolina were infected. A radical change came to the Appalachians with the death of the Chestnut tree. A major source of food for wild and domesticated animals was entirely eliminated with the passing of the species. Great barren patches appeared everywhere – gaps of gray skeletons now occupied the ridge tops and hollows along the Blue Ridge. Dead Chestnuts crashing to the ground during severe thunderstorms became a common sound. The Appalachian forests would never be the same.

Throughout the southern mountains today, Chestnuts sprout from the old stumps and roots, occasionally reaching nut-bearing size before falling victim to the blight. Only if a cure is found will the species ever return to its past grandeur. Resource managers in the Blue Ridge have observed first-hand the dynamics of forest regeneration since the passing of the Chestnut. The former Oak-Chestnut forest was composed of almost half Chestnuts with the remaining species being a mix of various Oaks, Maple, and Poplar. The current "replacement" forest is typically composed of various Oaks, Hickory, and heaths like Mountain Laurel and Rhododendron.

When Longfellow penned the words "Under a spreading chestnut tree the village smithy stands," little did he realize that he was describing a common sight that would one day vanish from the American countryside. A part of our national heritage was lost with the introduction of the Chestnut blight at the turn of the century. This magnificent tree was an integral part of the natural and cultural world of the Appalachians, and its passing is a reminder to us today of the constant changes that are a part of these mountains.

Blue Ridge Parkway Legacy Program

As the Year comes to an end consider how you can make a difference for the future of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Consider FRIENDS' Blue Ridge Parkway Legacy Program.

Frequently Asked Blue Ridge Parkway Questions

How do I know if there is threatening weather or road closures along sections of the Parkway? The park information line, (828) 298-0398, is the most up-to-date source for road closures by section and access to Parkway weather reports. Check your favorite weather-related web site before coming to visit. Have a few emergency supplies handy just in case the weather catches you by surprise.

When do facilities open and close for the season? The Folk Art Center in Asheville, the Museum of North Carolina Minerals at Spruce Pine, and the Peaks of Otter Lodge and Restaurant north of Roanoke are open year round. Other facilities, including visitor centers, campgrounds, and picnic areas, open around the first of May and stay open through the fall leaf color.

Is hunting allowed along the Parkway? No hunting is allowed on Parkway lands, but with a special permit, access to hunting on U.S. Forest Service lands is allowed from designated places along the Parkway. Check at ranger stations for a Hunter Parking Permit.

Why is the Blue Ridge "blue"? According to "A Naturalist's Blue Ridge Parkway" by David Catlin, "it can be legitimately claimed that trees put the "blue" in Blue Ridge, for hydrocarbons released into the atmosphere by the forest contribute to the characteristic haze on these mountains and to their distinctive color." The entire Appalachian Chain is extraordinarily diverse and rich in its vegetation, so there is perhaps more "blue" to the Blue Ridge and more "smoky" to the Great Smoky Mountains.

FRIENDS Recognizes Blue Ridge Parkway Volunteers

(Asheville, NC) In volunteer recognition ceremonies today at the Folk Art Center, Tom Bachmann was named the Blue Ridge Parkway's 2006 Volunteer of the Year for his more than 20 years of service, most recently at the Blue Ridge Music Center near Galax, Va.

In presenting the award, Superintendent Phil Francis noted that Bachmann was one of hundreds of Parkway Volunteers in the Park (VIPs) who contributed some 62,000 hours of service, an increase of nearly 20 percent increase over last year.

"We've always needed and appreciated volunteers, but with budgets like they are, never more than now." He described the record number of hours as a "great accomplishment," and added, "What is most rewarding for me personally is that so many people care deeply about the Parkway and are eager to lend a hand."

Francis lauded the FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway for their assistance and leadership in recruiting new volunteers and promoting the VIP program. This includes posting volunteer jobs on their web page, organizing FRIENDS chapters to promote volunteer assistance, and planning and carrying out tree plantings to help restore views impacted by new subdivisions and commercial development.

Bachmann, a Fancy Gap resident, was praised as an exemplary volunteer and cited for his two-decades of assistance and, in particular, for helping with such varied tasks as directing parking for concerts, assisting at the information desk, appearing in a Parkway employee training video, providing technical expertise on computers and telephones, and assembling furniture for the music center.

District Volunteers of the Year, also acknowledged and thanked at today's event, were Jim Woodall, for his help with special events at the Humpback Rocks farm near Waynesboro, Va.; Allison M. Carlyle, for leading hikes and campfire programs, giving cultural demonstrations, and helping with school groups visiting Doughton Park near Sparta, N.C.; Marian Horne, librarian who manages the park library at Vinton and frequently encourages others to volunteer, and 16-year-old Sarah Jane Hall, who, demonstrating maturity beyond her years, helped plan and carry out both the 2005 and 2006 historical Overmountain Victory special event near Spruce Pine, N.C.

Francis also acknowledged a number of other volunteers, including photographer Mike Booher, who recently donated more than 1,000 Parkway slides and other images taken during the last 15 years. Booher's images of the Parkway and other southeastern parks have been used in a number of National Park Service publications, exhibits, and illustrated talks.

The annual luncheon, now a Parkway tradition, was begun to recognize the work of the Carolina Mountain Club in building and maintaining hiking trails along the southern section of the Parkway. A number of club members participated in today's event. Noting their long-time contribution, Francis commented, "There are lots of worthy causes and it's an honor that you and all our volunteers have decided to help the Blue Ridge Parkway." Francis said partners and volunteers are helping preserve a system of national parks that represents "the heart and soul of America."

Greg Brown, board member for FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, joined Francis in recognizing volunteers at the ceremony. The Carolina Mountain Club also presented special hats to its members who have contributed benchmark service of 10, 20 and 30 years.

For information about Parkway volunteer opportunities, call (800) 228-PARK or visit www.blueridgefriends.org on the Internet.

-- Courtesy National Park Service

Visit our Online Store

Blue Ridge Parkway - Postcard History Series
Author: Karen J. Hall
Published by Arcadia Publishing

Karen J. Hall and the FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway present this visual tribute to celebrate the Blue Ridge Parkway's 70th anniversary in 2005.

Click here to order.

FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway Peanuts

Enjoy these delicious premium salted peanuts while also helping to protect the Blue Ridge Parkway for future generations. Available by can or in cases of 12.

Click here to order.

The Silent Season

By Charles Lassiter

When you plan a trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway the chances are it's not during the winter months. Yes, it's true that the lush greens and plentiful blossoms of spring and summer are long gone. Not to mention the fall colors. But, for those daring enough to brave the cold and visit in the "off season," there are still treasures to behold.

Most believe that all the forest is asleep. This is not quite true. Many animals move about and are rather content in the winter. I often think of how comfortable chickadees and juncos appear in the dead of winter. Some of the more elusive animals such as the coyote, bobcat, and fox are active throughout the winter. I've seen far more coyotes in the winter than any other season. As game becomes scare the predators become more daring. This increases our chances to catch a glimpse of them. And without foliage on the trees it's easier to see movement in the forest. Animals leave excellent tracks in the snow. Snow is one of the easiest surfaces on which to identify and follow tracks. Even the novice tracker is capable of following animal tracks in the snow. Just be careful and make sure the animal you're tracking is no danger to you.

One great thing about winter is that there is less movement. There is less movement on the roads and in the forest. This translates to a lot less noise. I have been fortunate enough to live on the parkway through three winters. I can tell you folks that on a calm winter day up here it seems as if the whole world were silent. There is something peaceful about standing amongst tall fir trees in a heavy snow. It seems as if you can hear each individual flake making contact with the trees and the forest floor. The chorus of tiny crunches is only periodically interrupted by the call of a winter bird. In the film adaptation of Forrest Carter's The Education of Little Tree the narrator speaks of a "secret place." Winter on the parkway may be one of those "secret places." Why not come and see for yourself if nature will reveal her secrets to you in the winter winds or under the quiet of a snow covered forest canopy?

I want to encourage you to visit the parkway during all seasons. Just remember, if you do make plans for a winter visit, make sure to check for road closings. Due to inclement weather and occasional hazardous conditions some sections of the parkway periodically close in winter.

I would like to donate to the Trails Forever Program.

Volunteer Spotlight

Pauline O'Dell

Pauline has been a FRIENDS volunteer for four years. When she decided to make the change in career from schoolteacher to chiropractor, she found she had some "down time" while establishing her practice. She chose to use this time constructively to give something back and has continued ever since.

Pauline has a deep love for the Parkway itself and believes that while we are on the earth we should look after it. "The Indian proverb says it best: 'We don't own the earth, we are caretakers for our children.' Volunteering is a good way to take care." As a firm believer in us all doing our part, Pauline is also one of those good souls who collects trash from the highway. As far as FRIENDS is concerned, she began by addressing tens of thousands of envelopes and has since moved on to creating scrapbooks of magazine and newspaper articles for FRIENDS. The rather immense tome that she has already collated and lovingly arranged is truly a work of art. It would seem that Volume II is not far off now. It is a type of work that suits her and her timetable as it is flexible and she can take it home.

Donate or HELP Support FRIENDS

Help Us Preserve the Legacy

FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway offers young and old, together, the opportunity to connect with friends and family to save the Blue Ridge Parkway for their continuing enjoyment - and for future generations.

The Blue Ridge Parkway connects the Shenandoah National Park with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is America's most scenic drive encompassing 469 miles traversing 29 counties in Virginia and North Carolina. Over 20 million people touch its borders annually - making it America's most frequented park treasure!

By joining Preserving the Legacy you will be supporting projects that will protect this extraordinary Parkway and adjacent land and views for yourselves and for future generations. FRIENDS is an official National Park Service partner. Please join us by choosing one of our deserving Programs today!

If you wish to make bequests in your will to FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, please send us this: FRIENDS Blue Ridge Parkway Legacy (PDF file).

Please forward this e-newsletter to anyone you feel would be interested! If this message was forwarded to you by a friend, you can receive your own subscription by visiting our web site.

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