Friends of Panthertown works in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to conserve this outstanding natural resource while improving the quality and experience of recreational opportunities in Panthertown Valley. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible. Our volunteers and members protect and care for this treasured backcountry area in western North Carolina’s Nantahala National Forest.
Next trail work day is Saturday, May 25, 2013.
Posted in Friends of Panthertown, Panthertown Valley
Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are invited to join us on Saturday, May 25.
Volunteers are needed in Panthertown Valley over Memorial Day weekend, on Saturday, May 25, to help us complete a new section of the Wilderness Falls Trail. REI Asheville is providing some cool giveaways for those who show up, plus each volunteer gets entered into a drawing to win some awesome camping gear!
Sign-up to volunteer on Saturday, May 25
You may RSVP for our May 25 Trail Work Day at our Facebook event page.
All ages and skill levels are welcome. Volunteers will meet at 9:30AM at the western entrance to Panthertown Valley at the Salt Rock Gap trailhead (located at the end of Breedlove Road in Cashiers, North Carolina). We’ll be working on re-routing the popular Wilderness Falls Trail to make for safer and easier access to the waterfall below. Trail tools will be provided and volunteers are asked to pack a lunch, bring plenty of water, wear good shoes, and bring a pair of work gloves and pruners if you have them (we’ll also have some to loan out). We expect to hike less than 5 miles on easy to moderate trails and be finished by 2:30 p.m. We hope you will join us!
Our volunteers come from throughout the region to enjoy a day in the backcountry working with other hikers, mountain bikers, rock climbers, scouts, equestrians, and nature lovers. We always welcome new volunteers. Tools are provided and our trail days are a great way to give back to Panthertown.
Visit our Calendar of Events for up to date information about special events and volunteer opportunities in Panthertown Valley. Learn more about giving back to Panthertown by becoming a member or by volunteering at one of our trail work days. Visit the Friends of Panthertown volunteer information page for more information about what to expect, what to bring and how you can help.
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We would also like to invite you to join us on June 1 for the annual National Trails Day in Panthertown Valley. American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® is the country’s largest celebration of trails. Mark your calendar for Saturday, June 1 to make sure you don’t miss out on this fun exploration of Panthertown Valley led by Friends of Panthertown volunteers. Group size is limited. Call (828) 269-HIKE (4453) for more info or to RSVP.
Join us to help protect and maintain Panthertown Valley. Click here for info.
Join us this weekend at the Southeastern Fly Fishing Festival May 17 & 18, 2013 at Western Carolina University’s Ramsey Center in Cullowhee. The festival will feature speakers, expert instruction, free fishing programs, a fly fishing film tour, exhibitors including equipment companies, fly fishing guide services, and environmental organizations, fly-tying demonstrations, a BBQ dinner, and much more. Friends of Panthertown will have a booth at the festival as Panthertown Valley protects the headwaters of the Tuckaseigee River and is part of the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail. Please stop by and say hello, join us or renew your membership, and learn more about fishing in Panthertown.
Southeastern Fly Fishing Festival Comes to Jackson County: May 17-18, 2013
The Southeastern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers has selected Jackson County to host its 2013 Southeastern Fly Fishing Festival.
The two-day event, May 17-18, takes place in the Ramsey Center arena at Western Carolina University. The Ramsey Center is centrally located in Jackson County, a popular destination for fly fishing enthusiasts and home to the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail.
The festival is designed to attract both experienced and beginning anglers. There’s an extensive lineup of guest speakers, fly-tying experts and industry exhibitors, as well as a strong educational component for novices who wish to learn more about the sport.
“If you’ve ever been to fly fishing shows, they’re more commercialized and do not have nearly as much instruction,” says Marvin Cash, president of the FFF’s Southeastern Council. “Conserving resources and teaching people to fish is really what we’re all about.”
Headlining presenters at the festival include: expert guides Ian and Charity Rutter from Townsend, Tenn.; Bryson City native Jim Casada, a noted author and outdoorsman; and two-handed fly rod guru Al Buhr of Welches, Ore.
There’s also a Friday barbecue dinner, in conjunction with Trout Unlimited, to support brook trout restoration in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The evening includes a screening of this year’s Fly Fishing Film Tour, a contest for short films about fly fishing.
Team Trout Slayer hosts a mini competition on the Tuckasegee River on Friday, and there will be opportunities to fish the WNC Fly Fishing Trail all weekend long.
“We intentionally scheduled the show on a Friday and Saturday to let people have the opportunity to fish on Sunday. That’s a big draw, particularly for fishing clubs,” Cash says. “The great thing about being in Jackson County at that time of year is the fishing will be good.”
The festival moves to Cullowhee this year after taking place in Helen, Ga., last year.
Festival hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Daily admission price is $5 for individuals and $10 for families. Admission price includes free presentations and programs, along with the opportunity to sign up for paid instruction in casting and fly-tying.
Complete details and registration info are available online at SoutheastFFF.org.
Lodging info is available at: MountainLovers.com, or by calling (800) 962-1911.
Posted in Friends of Panthertown, Special Events
There are still a few spots left tonight at REI Asheville for our presentation of Hiking and Camping in Panthertown Valley.
Join us tonight at REI Asheville for a free Friends of Panthertown presentation at 7PM. Hiking and camping in Panthertown Valley are two of the most popular activities our visitors enjoy. Find out why and so much more. Door prizes are available tonight for everyone who shows up!
Jason Kimenker, director of Friends of Panthertown, will give a detailed presentation on hiking and camping in Panthertown Valley, this popular backcountry recreation area in Nantahala National Forest. As many have already discovered, Panthertown Valley is one of the most spectacular areas in the southeast with cascading waterfalls, trout streams, panoramic views, sheer granite cliffs, the headwaters of the Tuckaseegee River, and biologically diverse habitats for wildlife and rare plant species. Because of its outstanding geologic formations, forests, streams and native plant life, Panthertown is designated as a Blue Ridge National Heritage Area natural heritage site and by The Wilderness Society as one of North Carolina’s Mountain Treasures. Thirty miles of backcountry trails in Panthertown Valley are open to hikers. Many of those trails also allow mountain biking and equestrian activities. Jason will cover topics such as the history of Panthertown Valley, suggested day hikes and swimming spots in Panthertown, popular waterfalls and overlooks, backcountry camping, and an overview of Friends of Panthertown. He will also touch on upcoming projects, volunteer opportunities, and the most recent U.S. Forest Service news related to Panthertown.
Find out more and register here.
REI Asheville is located at 31 Schenck Parkway (in Biltmore Park Town Square) Asheville. Phone:(828) 687-0918 Web: http://www.rei.com/stores/asheville.html
Practice Bear Safety in Panthertown
The U.S. Forest Service Nantahala Ranger District has notified Friends of Panthertown that campers have recently reported more black bear encounters in Panthertown Valley . The bears are looking for easy meals and have been known to cause damage to backpacks and tents in their search for food. No injuries have been reported.
The U.S. Forest Service recommends using bear proof or water proof bags to keep the smell down and hanging the bags at least 150 feet from the camping area or the cooking area. It is also very important to keep your camp clean and not have any food inside tents or left in the campsite.
Help prevent bear encounters by practicing the following safety tips:
* Do not store food in tents.
* Properly store food by hanging it in a tree or in another secure container.
* Clean up food or garbage around fire rings, grills or other areas of your campsite.
* Do not leave food unattended.
They also suggest campers take special precautions due to the recent bear activity by securely placing food and garbage in scent proof metal bear cans or boxes.
Related: Bear Alert in Panthertown Valley (published October 29, 2012)
Related: Practice Bear Safety (published May 23, 2012)
An important reminder from the U.S. Forest Service
Panthertown Valley is a black bear sanctuary. Be bear aware!
Bears love messy campsites and the smell of food attracts them.
Bears love food. Be bear aware, especially when camping.
Friends of Panthertown volunteers are needed this coming Tuesday, April 9 to help us build a new section of trail at Wilderness Falls. We hope you will join us to help!
Re-routing a .25 mile section of the Wilderness Falls Trail will provide for safer access to this very popular waterfall.
Volunteers should meet at the Salt Rock Gap trailhead at the end of Breedlove Road in Cashiers, NC at 9:30AM. We will be working on re-routing the middle section of the popular Wilderness Falls Trail to make for easier and safer access to the waterfall below. Trail tools and instructions will be provided and new volunteers are always welcome. There will be spring wildflowers beginning bloom and a great opportunity to enjoy Panthertown with other friends! We expect to hike less than 3 miles on easy to moderate trails and be done by 3PM. Trail volunteers are asked to pack a lunch, bring plenty of water, wear good shoes, and bring a pair of work gloves and pruners if you have them (we’ll also have some to loan out).
For more information call (828) 269-4453 or visit www.panthertown.org.
You may also RSVP or send any questions to friends@panthertown.org.
Sign-up to volunteer on Tuesday, April 9
You may RSVP for our April 9 Trail Work Day at our Facebook event page.
Volunteers are needed to help reroute this section of Wilderness Falls Trail.
Volunteers will build a new, safer quarter mile section of trail on flatter ground.
This very steep and dangerous section will be eliminated from Wilderness Falls Trail.
Sign-up to volunteer on Tuesday, April 9
You may RSVP for our April 9 Trail Work Day at our Facebook event page.
Visit our Calendar of Events for up to date information about special events and volunteer opportunities in Panthertown Valley. Learn more about giving back to Panthertown by becoming a member or by volunteering at one of our trail work days. Visit the Friends of Panthertown volunteer information page for more information about what to expect, what to bring and how you can help.
Related Posts:
Wilderness Falls Trail Work Day Rescheduled for Tuesday 4/9, Saturday 4/27 (posted March 22, 2013)
Wilderness Falls Trail Reroute Work Day (posted March 12, 2013)
Panthertown Trails Project Comments Requested by USFS (posted July 11, 2012)
Weather Update: Due to expected heavy rains in Panthertown this weekend, the trail work day originally scheduled for Saturday, March 23 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 9 with a follow-up work day on Saturday, April 27.
We hope you can join us at one or both of these rescheduled trail work days.
Volunteers are needed to help reroute this section of Wilderness Falls Trail.
Volunteers will build a new, safer quarter mile section of trail on flatter ground.
This very steep and dangerous section will be eliminated from Wilderness Falls Trail.
For more information call (828) 269-4453 or visit www.panthertown.org.
You may also RSVP or send any questions to friends@panthertown.org.
Sign-up to volunteer on Tuesday, April 9
You may RSVP for our April 9 Trail Work Day at our Facebook event page.
Visit our Calendar of Events for up to date information about special events and volunteer opportunities in Panthertown Valley. Learn more about giving back to Panthertown by becoming a member or by volunteering at one of our trail work days. Visit the Friends of Panthertown volunteer information page for more information about what to expect, what to bring and how you can help.
Related Posts:
Wilderness Falls Trail Reroute Work Day (posted March 12, 2012)
Panthertown Trails Project Comments Requested by USFS (posted July 11, 2012)
Weather Update: Due to expected heavy rains, the trail work day has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 9 with a follow-up work day on Saturday, April 27.
Volunteers will help reroute Wilderness Falls Trail
Friends of Panthertown volunteers will be working on re-routing the middle section of the popular Wilderness Falls Trail to make for easier and safer access to the waterfall below. We are happy to report that staff from the U.S. Forest Service Nanthala National Forest district are expected to be on hand to help us with the new trail construction, to answer questions about Panthertown Valley, and to share their extensive knowledge on trail building techniques. Our trail crew leaders always enjoy working side-by-side with our forest stewardship partners!
Re-routing a .25 mile section of the Wilderness Falls Trail will provide for safer access to this very popular waterfall.
Volunteers should meet at the Salt Rock Gap trailhead at the end of Breedlove Road in Cashiers, NC at 9:30AM. Trail tools and instructions will be provided and new volunteers are always welcome. There will be spring wildflowers starting to bloom and a great opportunity to enjoy Panthertown with other friends! We expect to hike less than 3 miles on easy to moderate trails and be done by 3PM. Trail volunteers are asked to pack a lunch, bring plenty of water, wear good shoes, and bring a pair of work gloves and pruners if you have them (we’ll also have some to loan out).
REI Asheville is a sponsor of the ongoing Panthertown Valley Stewardship Project. All volunteers will receive goodies from REI and everyone in attendance will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win some great REI hiking and camping gear.
http://www.rei.com/event/49654/session/67990
For more information call (828) 269-4453 or visit www.panthertown.org.
You may also RSVP or send any questions to friends@panthertown.org.
Sign-up to volunteer on Tuesday, April 9
You may RSVP for our April 9 Trail Work Day at our Facebook event page.
Visit our Calendar of Events for up to date information about special events and volunteer opportunities in Panthertown Valley. Learn more about giving back to Panthertown by becoming a member or by volunteering at one of our trail work days. Visit the Friends of Panthertown volunteer information page for more information about what to expect, what to bring and how you can help.
Related Post:
Panthertown Trails Project Comments Requested by USFS (July 11, 2012)
Snowy Schoolhouse Falls – February 2013 (Photo by Charles Hardin)
Snowy Winter in Panthertown Valley
Snow in Panthertown Valley is always so beautiful. We have seen an exceptional amount of rain and snow in the valley this winter that has led to some road closings, fallen trees, and muddy trails. That’s why our volunteers are crucial in helping to keep the trails clear and safe for all to enjoy. We hope you will RSVP to join us at our next public trail work day on Saturday, March 23.
The U.S. Forest Service has recently given us the green light to begin work on several important trail projects in Panthertown. Many volunteers will be needed to help us reroute the popular Wilderness Falls Trail to allow for safer access to view the waterfall. We will also be working with our volunteers to open up Carlton’s Way, a popular trail created by and named in honor of the late Carlton McNeill. For a more info about Carlton and the essential contributions he made, check out this great article from Forest Magazine: Ghosts of Panthertown (Winter 2010).
Panthertown Visitors Share Their Adventures
Photographer Charles Hardin shared with us this magnificent photo (above) of Schoolhouse Falls from his recent trip to Panthertown. Visit his website for more beautiful examples of his photography. Thanks, Charles!
Watch these short video clips from a two-day camping/hiking trip earlier in February. The valley ended up getting about four inches of snow between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Thanks to James Smith for sharing these video clips of his adventures.
Would you like to share your photos and videos with us? Send us an e-mail or post a link on our Facebook page.
Friends participated in Great Backyard Bird Count
Looking for more great photos and videos of Panthertown? Join us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for the latest updates, photographs, and videos of our work in Panthertown Valley, and for the shared adventures of our members and other friends. We love to interact with our visitors, especially if you’re interested in helping us protect this incredibly special place. Thanks for supporting Friends of Panthertown!
It may be raining in Panthertown but that hasn’t stopped volunteers from helping out!
We received this forest service alert from the U.S. Forest Service today and wanted to pass it along to users of Panthertown Valley. The U.S. Forest Service is encouraging drivers to stay off all Forest Service roads in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests until the storm passes. The entrances to Panthertown Valley at Salt Rock Gap, Cold Mountain Gap, and Flat Creek are all along Forest Service roads.
Please be particularly careful when hiking in Panthertown during and after heavy rain events, especially around the river, creeks, and waterfalls. Be safe!
National Forests in North Carolina
U.S. Forest Service
160A Zillicoa St.
Asheville, N.C. 28801
Online: http://www.fs.usda.gov/nfsncFOREST SERVICE ALERT
Jan. 17, 2013
Warning: Travel on Forest Service Roads Discouraged
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The U.S. Forest Service National Forests in North Carolina is encouraging drivers to stay off all Forest Service roads in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests until the storm passes.
Heavy rain has produced mudslides in the two national forests. Travel conditions are also dangerous because of the potential for washed out roads and flooding, downed trees and other hazards.
Road closures thus far include: Fires Creek, Tuni Gap and Tatham Gap roads on the Tusquitee Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest. Additional roads closures may be forthcoming today or tomorrow across the two national forests.
In the Appalachian Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest: Twelve Mile Road in Haywood County is mostly blocked because of a mudslide; and Forest Service Road 288 is flooded. The two roads are not officially closed, but travel is discouraged.
The safety of national forest visitors and employees is the top priority of the Forest Service.
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