Dear Friends,
It’s been an exciting and busy few months along the Blue Ridge Parkway! New maintenance projects have been implemented. Workshops are being conducted. Donation boxes are in place. A new FRIENDS chapter was started and another is expected to get off the ground by summer’s end. Read on to learn how FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway has been working to enhance visitors’ pleasure and experiences on the Parkway.

Several new maintenance projects have been implemented to help preserve the Parkway’s integrity and beauty for years to come. Split rail fence training was conducted in May and teams of volunteers will soon be out along the Parkway repairing and replacing sections of fencing. The FRIENDS Rocky Knob Chapter initiated the cleaning and painting of miles of milepost markers so that visitors can easily see exactly where they are along their drive. A litter control project has been implemented in the Parkway’s Asheville area to deal with unsightly trash due to commuter traffic. Student Conservation Association crews are also busy conducting trail maintenance and other activities from the Peaks of Otter to Linville Falls.

Various workshops from story telling to weaving and spinning are being offered at Mabry Mill and Brinegar Cabin. FRIENDS members receive a discount.

The first Iron Ranger donation box is in place at Mabry Mill. Outdoor boxes are scheduled to be installed at Moses Cone and Linville Falls. Indoor donation boxes are also planned for the Peaks of Otter Lodge and Humpback Falls later this summer.

Just formed in May, the FRIENDS Rocky Knob Chapter held its first membership meeting on July 17th. There was a meeting July 25th in Asheville for those interested in serving on the FRIENDS Asheville Chapter steering committee. If you are interested in forming a FRIENDS chapter in your area, please give me a call.

Whether it's restoring split rail fences, painting mile post markers, or maintaining trails, or any of the FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s many other efforts, future generations will be glad that there were FRIENDS members and supporters who cared to make a difference.
If you're not yet a member, please join us in preserving America's most scenic drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Susan Mills
Executive Director

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Craft and Story Telling Workshops Offered on the Parkway

Have you every wanted to spin wool into yarn? Spin memories into stories? Make an egg basket? Weave a cane bottom chair? Skilled park rangers and master cultural volunteers will be leading hands-on workshops this summer at Mabry Mill, milepost 176.1, and the Brinegar Cabin, milepost 238.5. Come learn a new skill and help keep these traditions alive!

Co-sponsored by FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the workshop fee covers the cost of materials and is payable the day of the workshop in cash or check made out to FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. FRIENDS members in good standing receive a discount. Advance reservations are requested. To reserve a space, call the Rocky Knob Visitor Center at 540-745-9662.

July 28 - Storytelling Workshop, Mabry Mill, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Master Storyteller Linda Hollingsworth will present activities and exercises that teach techniques that will help participants become good story tellers. Fee: $10 FRIENDS members and $15 for non-members. Please bring a story you are working on. Participants limited to 25.

August 11 - Weaving and Spinning Workshop, Doughton Park area at Brinegar Cabin, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Participants will use a drop spindle to spin wool into yarn, and learn how to warp and weave a tabby weave using a small frame loom. Fee: $30 for FRIENDS members and $35 for non-members. Participants limited to 16.

September 8 - Weaving and Spinning Workshop, Mabry Mill, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Participants will use a drop spindle to spin wool into yarn, and learn how to warp and weave a tabby weave using a small frame loom. Fee: $30 for FRIENDS members and $35 for non-members. Participants limited to 16.

September 22 – Chair Bottoming Workshop, Mabry Mill, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Learn how to weave a split bottom seat for a wooden chair. Participants are to bring their own wooden chair (without a seat) to finish in class. Fee: $10 for FRIENDS members and $15 for non-members. Fee includes the materials needed to complete the chair bottom. Participants limited to 20.

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Donation Box Unveiled at Mabry Mill

FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway joined its Rocky Knob Chapter on Wednesday, June 27th, to unveil the first outdoor Iron Ranger donation box on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The donation box is just beside the walkway entrance to the gift shop/restaurant at Mabry Mill, milepost 176.2.

FRIENDS volunteers from the Rocky Knob Chapter will collect the monies and 100% will go back to the Parkway. Unlike many national park areas, the Blue Ridge Parkway charges no entrance fee, so on-site donations boxes are a convenient way for park visitors to express their support.

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Ann Childress new Chief of Interpretation and Education for Blue Ridge Parkway

(Asheville, NC) The Blue Ridge Parkway announces that its new Chief of Interpretation and Education, Ann Childress, came on board in early June and has “hit the ground running”.

National Park Service Interpretive Rangers greet visitors and provide park information, lead guided visitor activities, plan events, manage school groups, and protect resources. They also teach children and adults about everything from reptiles to campfire safety to mountain music.

The Blue Ridge Parkway has a small staff of full time Interpretive Rangers, including Tina White who stepped in last December as “Acting Chief of Interpretation”, adding several duties to her own. When a boy scout went missing in the Linville Falls area, Tina found herself in front of cameras and on national television, representing the Park and the serious nature of that search extremely well.

Ann Childress is a native of Tallahassee, FL and holds degrees from Florida State University and the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. Her NPS career started in 1972 at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as a seasonal park interpreter. She continued there until 1979 when she moved to the Mabry Mill area of the Blue Ridge Parkway to serve as a seasonal interpretive supervisor. In 1980 she gained permanent status on the Parkway and eventually worked in almost all of the Parkway’s many “districts”.

In 1988 she transferred to Cape Hatteras Group and three years later, she became the Chief of Interpretation and Resources Management at Fort Sumter National Monument. She returned to North Carolina in 1998 to become Superintendent of Moores Creek National Battlefield, located in eastern North Carolina.

Ann is married to Philip Childress, and they have two grown children. Ann stated, “I am fortunate to be able to return to the Blue Ridge Parkway and excited about the quantity and quality of programs we offer to the Parkway’s many visitors. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a special place preserving enduring values for all Americans.” Superintendent Phil Francis stated that Ann will fit right in with the talented, energetic and dedicated staff of the Parkway.

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Asheville Area Litter Control Project Takes Off

In April 2007, Mike Ryan, District Facility Manager of the Pisgah District, brought to FRIENDS’ attention a litter problem the Blue Ridge Parkway is having in the Asheville area due to commuter traffic on the Parkway. He asked if FRIENDS could help recruit volunteers to pick up trash at specific overlooks and intersections. FRIENDS sent out a press release, placed the information on its website, and also sent out a special mailing to its members and volunteers in the Asheville area. FRIENDS efforts generated a great response. FRIENDS Board Member, Greg Brown, was instrumental in coordinating the first litter pick up which took place on Friday, June 29th. As a result, most areas were adopted by individuals and groups. The project has generated quite a bit of media interest as well. Several Asheville area newspapers ran articles on the project and several radio stations conducted interviews. As a result, the project is continuing to generate interest.

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Rocky Knob Chapter Paints Milepost Markers

Gloria and Kerry Hilton of the FRIENDS Rocky Knob Chapter noticed that milepost markers in their area were faded and difficult to read. They asked Lester Wood of the NPS if it would be okay for volunteers to paint them. Lester gladly provided the Parkway’s official milepost paint and chapter members got to work. In no time, volunteers painted 325 miles of milepost markers.

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Go Blue Ridge Card Available

As you make plans for summer traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway, remember FRIENDS by purchasing a Go Blue Ridge Card. The Go Blue Ridge Card is a multiple-day attraction pass that includes admission to more than 25 of western North Carolina’s most popular attractions at one low price. Travelers can purchase their Go Blue Ridge Card in advance.

The Go Blue Ridge Card comes with a pocket-sized; full-color guidebook filled with attraction locations, hours, descriptions, directions, maps and points of interest and can be purchased in 2, 3 and 5 calendar day increments. Adults are $79, $109, and $159 for 2, 3 or 5-day passes, respectively, and for kids (ages 3-12) at $49, $79, and $119.

JULY SPECIAL: SAVE 5% on any minimum $100 order of non-sale priced items (1 coupon/order). Enter Coupon Code “JulySave5” when checking out. Please note that on the checkout page, visitors must enter the 'Shipping Method' before any coupon code can be applied to an order. Expires 7/31/07.

FRIENDS receives a commission on every Card sold from our website or printed literature. To purchase a card or see a complete list of participating attractions visit www.goblueridgecard.com/friends. A link to Go Blue Ridge Cards can also be found at the FRIENDS website, www.BlueRidgeFRIENDS.org.

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Second Annual Photo Contest Accepts Entries

FRIENDS continues to accept online photo entries from now to September 30, 2007. Categories are flora (including landscapes), fauna, friends, and family. The competition is open to amateurs, including a youth category (ages 6-15). All photographs must be taken within the boundaries of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and each photographer may submit no more than three photos for consideration. To register your photo for the contest please click on Entry Form.

For complete details, visit our website at www.BlueRidgeFRIENDS.org.

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Trail Accessibility Guidelines Open for Public Comment

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) has released for public comment new accessibility guidelines for Federal parks and recreation areas. As proposed, the guidelines address access to new or altered trails, beaches, and picnic and camping areas on sites managed by the Federal government. In developing these guidelines, the Board seeks to clarify how, and to what extent, accessibility criteria can be applied to outdoor developed areas.

Specifications for trails address firmness and stability, running and cross slopes, width, and other characteristics. They would apply to new trails or to altered portions of existing ones. Application would be limited to trails that already connect to designated trailheads or to existing accessible trails so that compliance results in a continuous accessible network. Exceptions and conditions permit departures where compliance would be difficult due to factors such as topography or would conflict with prevailing construction practices. For example, at sites where only natural surface materials are allowed, certain departures from criteria for firmness and stability may be allowed, or a portion of a trail could be exempt from minimum width requirements where rock outcroppings or similar natural features restrict the trail width.

The guidelines would apply to sites developed or altered by Federal land management agencies, including the Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Army Corps of Engineers, among others. The Board intends to develop guidelines for outdoor developed areas controlled by non-Federal entities at a future date.

The guidelines are available for comment until October 18, 2007. In addition, the Board will hold public hearings on the guidelines in Denver on July 24 and in Washington, DC on September 6. American Hiking Society and partners are currently reviewing the guidelines and will submit comments at a later date.

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Trail Maintenance Dates for FRIENDS Fishers Peak Chapter

Maintenance on trails at Fisher's Peak continues. Scheduled maintenance on trails for the summer are:

August 4
August 18

Meet at the trail head parking lot on Foothills Road at 8:00 a.m.
Tools are provided, but be sure to bring work gloves. Work will end at 1:00 PM each day, but any time you can work would be greatly appreciated.

Volunteers must sign up in advance by contacting: Dottie Bramley, pdbramley@valink.com, Telephone: (276) 236-7658. Volunteers bring a sack lunch, if you would like to eat together after the trail work.

I would like to donate to the Trails Forever Program.

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Mountains-To-Sea Trail Work Dates

"Big Dig" - July 27-29, 2007
August 11, 2007
September 8, 2007

October 13, 2007
November 10, 2007

Construction continues on the MST section between NC 16 and US 421 along the Blue Ridge Parkway on the second Saturday of each month. Meet at 8:30 AM near milepost 262 just south of the NC 16 junction with the parkway (about 3 miles south of Glendale Springs). Look for orange “MST WORK” sign and vehicles parked on shoulder of the parkway. Some tools are provided but you may bring loppers, rakes and hand bow saws if you have them. Bring plenty of water, sturdy work boots, gloves, suitable clothing and raingear.  Lunch, energy snacks and a light day pack with first aid kit may also be helpful.  The worksite is near the parkway so access to your vehicle should be easy and nearby.  For questions contact Jim Hallsey (336) 877-8831 or jhallsey@skybest.com.  Future workdays are scheduled for the second Saturday of each month through November with the third Saturday as a rain date.

Visit our Online Store

For a complete listing of merchandise, visit our online store.

IMAGES OF THE Blue Ridge Parkway
Photography by George Humphries, Edited by Mary Best
$49.95

FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway Cap - (one size fits all)

Shade your eyes while you show your support for the Blue Ridge Parkway. The FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway logo is embroidered on this beautiful hat. Adjustable - one size fits all.

FRIENDS Cap

Price: $16.99

Click here to order.

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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!

Donation Page

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