Friends of Panthertown

Posted by: panthertown | July 13, 2011

Friends of Panthertown E-newsletter – July 2011

Friends of Panthertown E-newsletter – July 2011

In Memory

David M. Bates
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I share with you the recent death of David M. Bates, our friend, one of the founders of Friends of Panthertown, President of the Friends of Panthertown board of directors, and former Executive Director of the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance.

David was a great friend to the environment and to our community. He will be greatly missed.
David’s wife Brenda has set up a memorial in honor of David for those who wish to share a gift in his memory.

Memorial funds will be used in support of conservation projects in Panthertown Valley. One of David’s favorite places to visit in Panthertown Valley was the Sand Bar Pool along the Panthertown Valley Trail. In honor of David, Friends of Panthertown will build a set of stairs down to this popular resting spot for all to access and enjoy the pristine white sandy beach and ice-cold tannin-stained waters. We hope you will help us protect this magnificent place in David’s memory.

- Jason Kimenker, Executive Director

Friends of Panthertown, Inc.
Attn: David M. Bates Memorial
P.O. Box 51
Cashiers, NC 28717

http://panthertown.wordpress.com/membership/

A virtual memorial has also been set-up on Facebook should you choose to join or contribute. The address for the memorial is: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Memorial-for-David-M-Bates/126462644104844

Special Events

Mountain Wildlife Days – Friday, July 15 and Saturday, July 16 in Sapphire Valley
Friends of Panthertown volunteer board member Mike Kettles will be leading a hike to Granny Burrell Falls on Friday, July 15 and on Saturday, July 16 our intern Kat will be signing up new members and providing information about Friends and Panthertown Valley at Mountain Wildlife Days’ popular main event. Kat is a student at Western Carolina University and is enrolled in the Parks & Recreation program. Ask her about her internship with our organization and how you can help us protect and maintain Panthertown Valley.

The above listed hike has already filled-up but there are plenty of other activities going on that are worth investigating. Please click on the schedule for more information about this 8th annual outdoors event.

Pints For Panthertown – Saturday, July 23 at Soul Infusion in Sylva

A fun-raiser with a twist:
Our friends at Tuckaseegee Brewing Cooperative are bubbling up a fresh batch of Panthertown Pale Ale and Bonus Defeat I.P.A. for you to have an opportunity to sample. This small Cullowhee, NC brewers’ cooperative has a unique way of serving up the frothy beverage. They use a customized KAYAK to keep their ice cold beer flowing smoothly into your glass. The boat still floats and the festivities don’t end there.

There will be live local music and probably some dancing, a fine selection of delicious local food and some of the finest hand-crafted beer this side of the mountains. Show up early and you even get to keep the collectible pint glass.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, July 23 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Bring the family as all ages are welcome. 21+ with ID to sample beer.

Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro
628 E. Main Street in Sylva
Located on N.C. 107 a mile south of downtown Sylva, three miles from W.C.U.
(828) 586-1717
www.soulinfusion.com

Tickets are $10 in advance (available at Soul Infusion and at Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Travel & Tourism Authority), $15 on day of the event. Raffle tickets will also be available.
For more information call (828) 269-HIKE (4453) or send an e-mail to friends@panthertown.org

Meet Our Intern

Friends of Panthertown Volunteers

Kat (on the right) is a student at Western Carolina University and is currently enrolled in the Parks & Recreation program. She has been working with us this summer and plans to spend next semester in Ireland. Her research and the volunteer work she does will be used to help support our grant funding.

And speaking of grants…

REI Gives $5,000

We are pleased to announce that REI Gives has granted Friends of Panthertown $5,000 for the Panthertown Valley Stewardship Project. More information about this project will be following soon.

This project began on June 25 at our monthly Trail Work Day as an effort to increase volunteerism on public lands and improve the Panthertown Valley trail system.

Nominated and voted on by the Asheville REI location, congratulations to REI Asheville’s 2011 grant recipients: Asheville GreenWorks ($4,000), Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park ($10,000), Friends of Panthertown Valley ($5,000) and Western North Carolina Alliance ($5,000)!

Blackrock Trail is Complete

We are excited to report that the long-awaited Black Rock Trail is finally complete. No longer will horses and mountain bikers need to trespass on private land to reach the ridge-top trail. Now, easy access is assured from the Salt Rock parking area.

And speaking of parking areas…

Parking Areas

We’re working with the U.S. Forest Service to build proper parking areas at the Cold Mountain and Salt Rock entrances to Panthertown Valley. Eventually even Turkey Knob on Rock Ridge Road will also have improved parking spots. At the request of USFS, solid-packed gravel parking areas will be built on Forest Service land to provide better access and accommodate vehicles without causing further soil degradation and ecological damage to these popular trailhead areas. Limited parking is currently available, however some of this falls onto private land and requires relocation. It’s been a long process but now that all of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) requirements have been met and low-impact gravel construction has been approved, construction may begin at any time. However, since the USFS has no money budgeted now or in the likely future, costs of construction will need to be applied from other sources. Friends of Panthertown will continue to work on these important projects and seek funding sources that may be applied to improve parking. We are currently seeking grant funds to support these projects and we will need to match this funding with private donations and membership contributions from each and every Friend of Panthertown. Every little bit counts, if you visit Panthertown, you are enjoying some of the work we have already done. Please help us make this a reality.

Hot Off The Press: Brand New Brochure

If you haven’t already seen it, we have a new brochure. It’s a great information piece that describes our organization and the work that we do to maintain the trails and improve the recreational opportunities in Panthertown Valley.

After several years with the same brochure and our old organizational information, we just got in a fresh batch of newly designed info cards printed up to reflect our non-profit status and continued mission to protect Panthertown. We recently sent out a mailing sharing the new brochure with our friends and contacts, asking each of you to pledge your support for our efforts protecting Panthertown Valley.

In case you haven’t received one yet, we will be happy to send you a brochure with additional information about joining Friends of Panthertown at your request. We can send it via post office or through e-mail, whichever way you prefer. Contact us for more details. Call (828) 269-HIKE (4453) with your name and address or send us an e-mail.

Our Next Trail Work Day

We’ll be coming in from the Cold Mountain side on Monday, July 18 at 9 a.m. and be heading out to the Riding Ford Trail trimming and pruning to maintain this popular multi-use trail. Equestrians and horse lovers from the Bald Rock community will be volunteering to get this trail cleared. We appreciate all the work each of our volunteers contribute each year. Last year we had over 1,000 volunteer hours logged and almost 30 miles of trails maintained. Whew! That’s a lot of work.

Saturday, August 20 is our next regularly scheduled Trail Work Day. Check our website our for details about where we’ll be headed on that day.

If you’d like to help, just pick up the phone and let us know or see the website for more info.

The Grill at Jimmy Mac’s Fundraiser a Success

Jimmy Mac's present check to Friends of Panthertown

On June 1, in honor of National Trails Day in Panthertown Valley, The Grill at Jimmy Mac’s in Cashiers donated a portion of their restaurant’s sales that day to Friends of Panthertown. Next time you’re dining at The Grill, please thank Jimmy and his staff for their generosity!

Thank You!

It’s important for you to know just how much we appreciate your interest in protecting Panthertown Valley. Your support and consideration is so important now more than ever. With Forest Service budgets shrinking to nothing, and limited USFS staff, Friends of Panthertown provides funding and volunteers for conservation projects in the valley. If you enjoy visiting Panthertown we hope that you will share that love by becoming a member or volunteer, today!

Join Today

If you’re not already a member, or haven’t yet renewed your membership, we hope that you will join Friends of Panthertown and become a member today! Thank you.

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Posted by: panthertown | May 31, 2011

National Trails Day in Panthertown on Saturday, June 4, 2011

On Saturday, June 4, 2011, our friends over at the American Hiking Society will host National Trails Day®, bringing together outdoor enthusiasts across the country for the 19th annual celebration of America’s magnificent trail system and its countless supporters and volunteers. Sign up to participate in one of the 2,000 events that will take place around the country including trail maintenance, hiking, paddling, biking, horseback riding, bird watching, running, trail celebrations and more!

This Saturday, in honor of the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day, the Friends of Panthertown will be hosting a guided interpretive hike and trail dedication in Panthertown Valley, a 6,300-acre backcountry area of the Nantahala National Forest.

Interpretive hike will be led by Mike Kettles and Dr. Dan Pittillo. Pre-registration is recommended.

Bring your own lunch, plenty of water, good shoes, rain gear (just in case) and your family and friends. For more information or to pre-register, please call (828) 269-HIKE (4453) or send an e-mail to friends@panthertown.org

National Trails Day is a time to get outside and celebrate our wonderful natural treasures, like rivers, mountains, lakes, deserts and plains. It’s also an opportunity to get outside and connect with local outdoor clubs, businesses, community groups, and parks and recreation departments as well as federal land managing agencies to experience, appreciate and celebrate the natural places where we can find a spread of scenery, a plateful of peace, and a heap of happiness and health.

“Dedicated volunteers, outdoor enthusiasts, trail lovers, and those new to the outdoors are truly the key ingredients to National Trails Day. Naturally, it’s a time to give back to trails and pay it forward by introducing someone new to the outdoors,” said Gregory Miller, American Hiking Society president.

Since 1993, National Trails Day has inspired thousands of individuals and community groups to take part in activities that promote healthy living and mental well being, protect green space, educate youth and adults on the importance of trails, and instill excitement for the outdoors.

Founded in 1976, American Hiking Society is the only national, recreation-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s hiking trails, their surrounding natural areas and the hiking experience. To learn more about American Hiking Society and its mission and programs, visit AmericanHiking.org or call (301) 565-6704.

Directions to Salt Rock (west entrance) to Panthertown Valley: Approximately 1.5 miles east of Cashiers on US 64, turn north (left coming from Cashiers, right coming from Sapphire/Lake Toxaway) on Cedar Creek Road (SR 1120). Continue on Cedar Creek Road for 2.2 miles and bear right or northeast on Breedlove Road (SR 1121). Drive 3.3 miles until the pavement turns to gravel. Parking is limited along the gravel road, so visitors are advised to park their cars here. Continue ¼ mile on the gravel road that leads to the Salt Rock trail-head parking area. PLEASE NOTE: As of May 2, 2011, the road sign for Cedar Creek Road is currently down. Look for the stop sign with the state road number 1120 affixed below it.

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Posted in Friends of Panthertown, Panthertown Hike, Panthertown Valley, Recommendations, Special Events

Posted by: panthertown | May 31, 2011

Panthertown Day at The Grill at Jimmy Mac’s

Our friends at The Grill at Jimmy Mac’s in Cashiers will be hosting a Friends of Panthertown Valley Day on Wednesday, June 1, 2011.

Jimmy has graciously offered to donate 10% of all restaurant sales on Wednesday (11am – 9pm) to Friends of Panthertown.

We hope you’ll choose to dine at Jimmy Mac’s today to support Panthertown Valley.

For more information, call The Grill (828) 743-1180.

More info or to RSVP

For more information about Panthertown Valley or to learn about volunteer opportunities, conservation projects, and to learn how you can help protect this precious resource, please contact Friends of Panthertown at (828) 269-HIKE (4453), e-mail friends@panthertown.org or visit www.panthertown.org.

Click here to find out how you can join us and become a supporting member of Friends of Panthertown or you can also click here to make a tax-deductible donation and help protect this incredible place for future generations to enjoy.

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Posted in Friends of Panthertown, Panthertown Valley, Special Events

Posted by: panthertown | April 20, 2011

April 2011 Panthertown e-Newsletter

Friends of Panthertown volunteers taking a break to enjoy the view of Panthertown Valley.

IT’S OFFICIAL!

Friends of Panthertown, Inc. is now fully recognized as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Since 2007 the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance has sponsored our group while we grew our organization. Last fall we submitted our application for non-profit organizational status and waited patiently while we were reviewed. We are proud to report that In February the IRS sent us our final approval for non-profit status. We are now officially recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. We appreciate and wish to thank the J-MCA for all of their hard-work and dedication to Panthertown Valley and Friends of Panthertown. We would not be where we are today without them. David Bates, the former Executive Director of Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance, is now President of Friends of Panthertown, Inc. We look forward to growing our organization and building our membership base in 2011.

Volunteers work on Blackrock Trail connector

Volunteers building new Blackrock Trail connector (April 15, 2011)

THIS MONTH’S TRAIL WORK DAY

We ♥ our volunteers!

Join us next Saturday, April 30, 2011 to help us finish building the new Blackrock Trail connector.

This important multiple-use trail will connect hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians to the Blackrock Trail from the Salt Rock trail head. We’ve been working with the U.S. Forest Service for the last three years to make this happen, so come out and be a part of this long-awaited accomplishment. We’ll meet at the Salt Rock parking area at 9:30am on Saturday, April 30.
R.S.V.P. here.

A newly built trail in Panthertown, the Blackrock Trail connector.

On Friday, April 15 we completed work on 75% of the Blackrock Trail connector re-route leading from the Salt Rock parking area up to the Blackrock Trail. Thanks to Kyle from the Cashiers-Highland Land Trust and Amy from AmeriCorps for gathering up such a great a group of hard-working volunteers who came out and helped us build this new trail section. We greatly appreciate our volunteers and their dedication to Panthertown Valley. To learn more about volunteer opportunities in Panthertown Valley, please visit our website.

JOIN FRIENDS OF PANTHERTOWN, TODAY!
Now is the time to join or renew your membership with Friends of Panthertown. We are the only organization dedicated to protecting and maintaining Panthertown Valley. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations and membership contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law.

Please click here for more information on becoming a Friend.

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
We hope you will Join us on Saturday, April 23 at Greening Up The Mountains, downtown Sylva’s Earth Day celebration and Mountain Heritage festival. Friends of Panthertown will have a booth and table at the event. Come stop by our booth to say hi and enter our raffle for some great Panthertown prizes!

All newly joining members and renewing members will receive a complimentary Friends of Panthertown decal to show off your pride in supporting conservation efforts in Panthtertown Valley.

PANTHERTOWN TRAIL WORK DAYS

Our next Panthertown Valley trail work days are Saturday, April 30, Saturday, May 28 and Saturday, June 25. All are welcome to join us, and new volunteers are encouraged to come try out trail work — it’s fun and rewarding. Tools and instructions are provided, just give us a call or send us an e-mail if you have any questions. (828) 269-HIKE (4453). More information about volunteering can also be found on our website.

You can also R.S.V.P. for our upcoming April 30 Trail Work Day here to let us know you plan to join us. We appreciate all the help we can get on the trails and by joining or renewing your membership for 2011.

NEED NEW SHOES?

Highland Hiker has selected Friends of Panthertown as part of Patagonia Footwear’s advocacy weeks, supporting local conservation efforts. From 4/16 – 5/1, we will receive a $10 donation for every purchase of Patagonia shoes at either of their stores in Cashiers or Highlands. For more info, call the Highland Hiker at (828) 743-1732. We are very excited to participate in this program!

Mention Friends of Panthertown at Highland Hiker and we will receive a $10 donation for every pair of Patagonia shoes purchased. (Offer expires May 1, 2011)

Get ready to go get some new shoes from the Highland Hiker. Please mention Friends of Panthertown when you make your purchase. Promotion ends May 1st. Please help us spread the word. Every purchase counts towards a $10 donation to support conservation projects in Panthertown.

Join today!

Contact Information:
Friends of Panthertown
P.O. Box 51
Cashiers, NC 28717
Phone: 828-269-HIKE (4453)
Email: friends@panthertown.org
Website: www.panthertown.org

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Posted in Friends of Panthertown, Panthertown Hike, Panthertown Maps, Panthertown Valley, Recommendations, Special Events, Trail Work Days

Posted by: panthertown | March 16, 2011

March 26 Trail Work Day

PLEASE NOTE:
IN THE EVENT OF RAIN, SATURDAY’S WORK DAY WILL BE POSTPONED UNTIL FRIDAY, APRIL 15.

WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER WORK DAY SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 30.

Do you love exploring Panthertown Valley? Spring has arrived, the weather is warmer and the trails in Panthertown Valley are ready for your help! Haven’t you always wanted to give a little something back by volunteering to protect and maintain this special place? We sure could use your help at one of our upcoming trail work days.

Panthertown Valley volunteers from Elon University (October 2010)

Volunteering at one of our trail work days is fun and a great way to explore and learn about Panthertown Valley with your friends!

The Friends of Panthertown volunteers will meet at the Salt Rock parking area at the end of Breedlove Road in Cashiers, NC on Saturday, March 26th at 9:30am for our first official Trail Work Day of the season. As always, tools will be provided and no experience is necessary. We love meeting new volunteers!

Directions can be found on our website.

If you’ve not yet visited Panthertown Valley, now is a a really great time to join the Friends of Panthertown and discover this spectacular wilderness. Volunteering is a great way to learn about this special place. Working with other volunteers to maintain and clear trails is fun and a great way to meet other Friends of Panthertown!

We expect to hike less than 5 miles and we plan to be finished before 3pm. We would love to have your help, won’t you join us? We hope you’ll bring some friends with you and join us on the trails.

Please visit our volunteer information page for more information including on how to prepare and what to bring with you when you volunteer. Find out more about the Friends of Panthertown!

You can also sign up at to receive our e-newsletter and get on our mailing list by updating your e-mail subscription in the menu box on the right side column of our website.

Spring 2011 Trail Work Days:

Saturday, March 26
Friday, April 15
Saturday, April 30
Saturday, May 28

For a complete schedule, please visit our website at http://www.panthertown.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Care to join us? Find out about our upcoming hikes, volunteer work days, conservation projects, and other opportunities to get involved. Sign up to be on our mailing list to make sure you stay in the loop.

To learn how you can help us protect this precious natural resource, or for more information about volunteer opportunities and conservation projects in Panthertown Valley, please contact Jason Kimenker, Coordinator for the Friends of Panthertown at (828) 269-HIKE (4453), e-mail friends@panthertown.org or visit www.panthertown.org.

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Thanks for being a friend of Panthertown Valley, and for helping to protect and maintain this magnificent and precious treasure in the mountains.

Please click here to find out how you can join us by becoming a supporting member of Friends of Panthertown. Learn how your tax-deductible donation will go a long way towards helping us to protect this very special mountain treasure.

Friends of Panthertown, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

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Posted in Friends of Panthertown, Panthertown Valley, Trail Work Days

Posted by: panthertown | February 15, 2011

Panthertown Hike To Celebrate Weeks Act Centennial

It’s a great time of the year to go hiking in Panthertown Valley and the Friends of Panthertown would like to invite you to join us on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 for a fun group hike into the valley.

Join us for an informal group hike on March 1, 2011.

This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Weeks Act, the historic establishment of our eastern National Forests and the land restoration progress made over the past century.

Join the Friends of Panthertown Valley on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 11 am for a fun, informal hike into Panthertown Valley leaving from the Salt Rock parking area.

The long-range views are less obstructed without leaves on the trees, and the weather is just starting to warm up enough to enjoy hiking without the necessity of a winter jacket. Wear good shoes and bring plenty of water, rain protection (just in case), lunch, snacks and anything else you think you might need. Leave no trace: pack it in, pack it out.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Weeks Act, each month we plan to host an informal group hike into Panthertown Valley.

PLEASE: NO DOGS for this group hike. We love pets, but this hike is for people, only. Thank you.

For more information about Panthertown Valley or to learn about volunteer opportunities, conservation projects, and to learn how you can help protect this precious resource, please contact Jason Kimenker, Coordinator for the Friends of Panthertown at (828) 269-HIKE (4453), e-mail friends@panthertown.org or visit www.panthertown.org.

Click here to find out how you can join us and become a supporting member of Friends of Panthertown or you can also click here to learn how to make a tax-deductible donation and help protect this incredible place for future generations to enjoy.

Explanation of the legislative history of the Weeks Act, passed in 1911. The Weeks Act enabled the creation of the eastern national forests. The clip is a DVD extra from “The Greatest Good,” a documentary on the history of the U.S. Forest Service.

www.panthertown.org

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Posted in Friends of Panthertown, Panthertown Hike, Panthertown Valley, Special Events | Tags: hike, hiking, weeks act

Posted by: panthertown | December 1, 2010

Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance 10th Anniversary

J-MCA marks 10 years with December 9 celebration

The Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance is celebrating its 10th anniversary and holding its annual meeting from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 9, 2010 at the Episcopal Church in Highlands.

The celebration will include food, wine/beer and music performed by Thea and the Green Man. No long speeches or Power Point programs at this meeting, just a celebration of the work done in the Highlands-Cashiers area since the organization’s inception in 2001.

It will also be a chance for members of the public to meet new executive director Michelle Price.

For more info contact J-MCA at 828.526.0890, ext. 320, or visit www.j-mca.org

The Friends of Panthertown greatly appreciates the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance and give thanks for all of their support and encouragement in the creation and development of our organization. We have applied for our own Federal tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status and plan to be an independent organization beginning in 2011.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Our next Trail Work Day will not be until the late winter or early spring 2011. Check back here (or sign up for our e-mail updates) for details as to where and when!

For more information about Panthertown Valley or to learn about volunteer opportunities, conservation projects, and to learn how you can help protect this precious resource, please contact Jason Kimenker, Coordinator for the Friends of Panthertown at (828) 269-HIKE (4453), e-mail friends@panthertown.org or visit www.panthertown.org.

Click here to find out how you can join us and become a supporting member of Friends of Panthertown or you can also click here to make a secure online donation and help protect this incredible place for future generations to enjoy.

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Posted in Friends of Panthertown, Special Events

Posted by: panthertown | November 5, 2010

Article: Yosemite of the East surprises and dazzles

The following article about Panthertown Valley by Bob Downing originally appeared last month in the Sunday, October 3, 2010 edition of the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal. The article was picked up by the Associated Press (AP) and later re-published by several affiliate newspapers and online services nationwide.

Yosemite of the East surprises and dazzles

North Carolina’s Panthertown Valley is vast outdoor playground with gorges, dramatic cliffs

By Bob Downing, Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Sunday, Oct 03, 2010

Photo by Bob Downing / Akron Beacon Journal

Panthertown Valley is known for its cliffs, domes, waterfalls, trout streams, rare high-altitude bogs, trails and biological diversity. (Photo by Bob Downing)

CASHIERS, N.C. – The Panthertown Valley really does look like Yosemite.

The granite domes and sheer cliffs offer an Eastern reminder of California’s iconic Yosemite National Park.

The cliffs in Panthertown Valley are not as tall or as dramatic, at only 200 to 300 feet high. But they create a Yosemite-like valley that is heavily forested and wild country.

The similarity is striking and even more surprising. It’s a dramatic landscape that dazzles visitors to the southern Appalachians. Yet most people have never heard of Panthertown Valley, a mountainous backcountry pocket of 6,300 acres in western
North Carolina.

With the addition of the Bonas Defeat Gorge to the north and Big Pisgah Mountain to the east, the backcountry has grown to 12,000 acres.

The Panthertown Valley is part of Nantahala National Forest, once home to the Cherokees and located not far from where North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia come together. It is 10 hours from Akron.

The valley has been designated a Blue Ridge Natural Heritage Site and Mountain Treasure Area. It has survived as wild country in an area dominated by mountain vacation homes and resorts.

Today the valley in both Jackson and Transylvania counties is a popular outdoor playground frequented by backpackers, equestrians, mountain bikers, rock climbers, anglers, bird watchers and nature lovers. Wilderness camping is permitted.

They travel via a befuddling maze of official and unofficial trails, some of which are signed and many of which are not. The main trails are old logging roads. Maps and compasses are essential.

According to oral history, the valley was once so wild it was said to be the home of ”a town of painters” or panthers. There are no large cats there today.

Spectacular views

The granite domes, uncommon in the southern Appalachians, offer spectacular long-range vistas. They are plutons, mountain-sized nuggets of buried rocks that were later exposed as the overlying Appalachian Mountains eroded away.

The main rocks on the floor of the valley — a banded gneiss — date back 750 million years.

The valley at 3,600 feet in elevation is also known for its waterfalls, its trout streams, its rare high-altitude bogs and its biological diversity.

There are eight major waterfalls in the valley and numerous smaller falls, plus holes for a summer swim.

The rugged gorges within the valley contain old-growth forest, mostly eastern hemlock now under attack by the wooly adelgid, and the yellow birches.

The headwaters of the East Fork of the Little Tennessee River and the Tuckasegee River and 20 miles of native brook trout streams including Panthertown, Greenland and Flat creeks are found within Panthertown Valley. The streams are stained brown with tannic acid from leaves that fall into the water.

Off the beaten path

The flat main valley is home to 11 unique plant communities, including the rare southern Appalachian bog and the swamp forest-bog.

Visitors are asked to stay on trails to minimize ecological damage. Rare ferns, mosses and liverworts thrive in the wet microclimates around waterfalls and are easily disturbed. The waterfalls support the highest concentration of rare plants in the valley.

The trail system in the Panthertown Valley is unique. None are blazed and few are signed. Not all the trails show up on maps.

The Forest Service has established an official trail system marked with carsonite markers. But Panthertown is filled with numerous unofficial trails, many lovingly built in the early 1990s by the late volunteer Carlton McNeill. It is very easy to get lost on the myriad trails.

Enter local outfitter Burt Kornegay, who has combined the official and unofficial trails onto one map: A Guide’s Guide to Panthertown ($12 from www.slickrockexpeditions.com). Using Kornegay’s map and a compass, I didn’t get lost on a day hike, but I did lose two trails and was forced to backtrack.

The main trail in the valley is the 3.25-mile east-west Panthertown Valley Trail that connects two trailheads.

Schoolhouse Falls on Greenland Creek is the best-known waterfall. The west entrance to the valley is closest to Granny Burrell and Frolictown Creek falls and offers great vistas from Blackrock and Big Green mountains.

Rhododendron and mountain laurel thickets are everywhere, along with berry patches.

Since the 1890s, the valley had several owners, eventually becoming part of the Nantahala National Forest in the late 20th century. The main valley lies between Sassafras Mountain to the north, Toxaway and Hogback mountains to the south, Cold Mountain to the east and Laurel Knob to the west. It runs up to 51/2 miles east-to-west and up to 71/2 north-south, although its dimensions are generally smaller.

The U.S. Forest Service in 1981 acquired an additional 3,600-acre Bonas Defeat tract to the north along the headwaters of the Tuckasegee River.

The Bonas Defeat Gorge takes its unusual name from a pioneer dog, Bonas, that was reputedly trained to chase wildlife over a cliff for its owners. One day, Bonas failed to stop at the cliff. It was Bonas’ Defeat.

The story could be whimsical but the gorge is serious stuff. Some consider it a world-class day hike for the very dedicated. It’s been called the wildest trail in the East.

Please click here to read the entire article.

Please click here to see the accompanying photographs.

For more information about Panthertown Valley or to learn about volunteer opportunities, conservation projects, and to learn how you can help protect this precious resource, please contact Jason Kimenker, Coordinator for the Friends of Panthertown at (828) 269-HIKE (4453), e-mail friends@panthertown.org or visit www.panthertown.org.

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Posted in Friends of Panthertown, Panthertown Valley, Recommendations

Posted by: panthertown | October 20, 2010

Fall Color Hike

Check out this great article from the latest issue of the Tuckasegee Reader. Writer Giles Morris shares his Fall Color Hike explorations and photographs of Panthertown Valley with readers of his publication, the Tuckasegee Reader. His hiking recommendations take the reader from the Salt Rock entrance through the valley and back, covering magnificent views of Little Green and Big Green Mountains, Blackrock Overlook and the Great Wall of Panthertown, Granny Burrell Falls and Panthertown Creek. He also agrees with our recommendation to get yourself a copy of Burt Kornegay’s fabulous trail map, A Guide’s Guide To Panthertown Valley, before venturing into the valley. We concur. This is the most important printed guide to have with you on your trail adventures.

View from Overlook Trail in Panthertown Valley (October 2010)

Because Panthertown Valley is a high bowl perched on the slope of the Eastern Continental Divide, the views are fine any time of day. The sun moves across the sky and illuminates the valley in sections. During fall color season, the view from Salt Rock back across the valley is spectacular in the late afternoon.

For a quick-hitter fall color experience, drive to the Breedlove Rd. entrance. It’s a half-mile downhill walk to the Salt Rock overlook, and you’ll get a breathtaking view of Little and Big Green Mountains across the valley. If you’re a photo fiend, this is a can’t miss. Grab a tripod and a snack and watch the shadows extinguish the flaming reds and yellows of the high elevation forest.

For a really titanic fall color hike, you’ll have to block out three or four hours and strap on your hiking shoes for a Figure 8 that includes the views from the Blackrock Overlook and the Great Wall of Panthertown.

Article continues here.

For suggestions on an overnight adventure with waterfalls, check out his equally informative article and video, 24 Hours in Panthertown.

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Posted in Friends of Panthertown, Panthertown Valley, Recommendations

Posted by: panthertown | October 15, 2010

October 23 Trail Work Day

Haven’t you always wanted to give back by volunteering and helping maintain trails in Panthertown Valley? We sure could use your help at one of our Trail Work Days.

The Friends of Panthertown will meet at the Salt Rock parking area on Saturday, October 23rd at 9:30am for our monthly Trail Work Day. As always, tools will be provided and no experience is necessary. We love meeting new volunteers!

Autumn is here, the weather is getting brisker and the colorful leaves in Panthertown Valley are simply majestic this time of year. This is one of the most popular months for visitors to explore Panthertown, and it’s a really great time to join the Friends of Panthertown to maintain the heavily used trails in the Valley.

Friends of Panthertown Volunteers at September 2010 Trail Work Day in Panthertown Valley

Working with other volunteers to maintain and clear trails is fun and a great way to meet other Friends of Panthertown! It’s also a great way to see the fall colors in the Valley. We hope you’ll bring some friends with you and join us on the trails.

We expect to hike less than 5 miles and we plan to be finished before 3pm. We would love to have your help, won’t you join us?

Please visit our volunteer information page for more information including what to bring, how to prepare and what to expect.

You can also sign up to receive our e-newsletter and get on our mailing list by updating your e-mail subscription in the menu box on the right side column of our website.

Thanks for being a friend of Panthertown Valley, helping to protect, maintain and conserve this magnificent, precious and special place.

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Posted in Friends of Panthertown, Panthertown Valley, Trail Work Days

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