Nina's Update

Thank you to everyone who helped make Pisgah Project Day a success!

 

From the 350+ volunteers (a PPD record!) who helped us complete 23 different improvement projects around the Pisgah Ranger District in a single day, to the 36 generous sponsors who made the event possible, to the partner groups who helped to lead projects and recruit volunteers - we could not have done it without you!

 

Read Jeff’s Trails Corner below to see everything we accomplished at PPD 2022. We look forward to seeing everyone out there again next spring!

 

Sincerely,

 

Nina Ardle

Director of Development

nina@pisgahconservancy.org

Corporate Partner Spotlight

Thank you to Earth Mountain Bicycle for choosing TPC as their nonprofit partner for their grand opening event this past Saturday! Visit them on Main Street in Brevard for your bike shopping, rental, or service needs and enjoy a coffee or beer while you’re there.

Asheville Art Auction Benefitting TPC and Other Local Non-Profits

Join Preserving a Picturesque America (PAPA) for a groundbreaking art auction on Thursday, June 16th at Brunk Auctions in Asheville from 5:30-9 p.m.

 

Featuring exquisite works of art by celebrated local artists. A portion of the proceeds will support TPC and several other nonprofits in our community. Tickets include beverages, hors d'oeuvres, and a bidding card, and can be purchased online at https://preservationthroughart.org.

Jeff's Trails Corner

Pisgah Project Day 2022 was a huge success!   A real testament to the dedication of our local community, this event offered us all a great opportunity to give back to the Pisgah and resulted in valuable resource improvements across the Forest.  From Bent Creek to South Mills River, from Sycamore Flats to Frying Pan tower, the hard work of everyone involved allowed for the completion of many great projects.  Thanks to all 350+ volunteers as well as the participating partners and sponsors that made this year’s event a reality!

Here is a list of highlights and achievements:

• Built a new 30-foot long bridge over Grogan Creek with turnpiked approach on Cat Gap Loop trail
• Performed heavy trail maintenance on Ledford Branch and Wolf Branch trails including rock armoring, grade dip construction, drainage improvement, turnpike construction, streambank reinforcement, seeding, and naturalizing edges of the trail corridor
• Rebuilt first 300 feet of South Mills River trail in conjunction with professional trail builders from Trail Dynamics utilizing heavy machinery to repair severely entrenched trail through heavy rock armoring and grade dip construction
• Completed heavy trail work including tread maintenance, drainage improvement, step installation, rock work, and staircase construction on a section of the MST at Skinny Dip Falls
• Installed 80 feet of split rail fencing at Sycamore Flats to protect the riverbanks of the Davidson River
• Utilized mini-excavator and ground crew to construct new and improve existing grade dips on Pink Beds Loop trail
• Removed and treated non-native invasive plant species at 3 distinct locations across the Forest—Sycamore Flats, Pisgah Ranger Station, and Hard Times trailhead at Bent Creek
• Built more than 200 feet of turnpike with hardened, elevated trail tread in low-lying, boggy areas on the Exercise and Andy Cove trails
• Removed trash from a 5 mile stretch of Davidson River Road
• Built and installed 2 bat boxes to provide habitat by the Pisgah Ranger Station and near Davidson River campground
• Completed traditional trail maintenance with heavy drainage work on both sides of Coontree Loop trail
• Cleared downed trees and performed trail maintenance on South Mills River, Cantrell Creek, and Horse Cove trails
• Completed multiple brushing projects at the Cradle of Forestry including brushing the Forest Discovery trail and thinning undergrowth at mature pine forest demonstration plot
• Completed trail maintenance including tread work, drainage improvement, and step construction on the Sunwall trail leading to rock climbing areas on Looking Glass Rock
• Began construction of a locust staircase on Andy Cove trail
• Removed graffiti from and repainted Frying Pan Tower and adjacent utility buildings
• Mulched, weeded, and watered extensive native plant garden beds at the Pisgah Ranger Station
• Painted gate and placed boulders to prevent illegal access and dumping on Forest Service Road 5021 (Walnut Cove) off of Highway 281

Additionally, a crew from Singletrack Trails performed trail maintenance on middle Black Mountain trail with an emphasis on drainage improvement and rock and locust armoring.

 

Thanks again to all those who made this great event possible!  Truly a team effort, these accomplishments show what we can do when we all come together in service and dedication to our beloved Pisgah.  Thank you for your continued support of the Pisgah Conservancy and Pisgah National Forest!   

Every year, Amazon allows its customers the opportunity to give back to their local community simply through shopping. If you follow Pisgah Conservancy's custom link to the Amazon site, .5% of the price of eligible purchases will be donated back to us at no extra cost to you!

 

Click here to learn more!

Thank you to our incredible Pisgah Project Day 2022 sponsors who’ve helped us raise more than $49,000! 

 

Lead Sponsor:

Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority

 

Mount Pisgah Sponsors:

Hunter Hometown Foundation

Hunter Subaru

 

Black Balsam Sponsors:

D.D. Bullwinkel's Outdoors

Mast General Store

Oskar Blues Brewery

Pilot Cove

Range Urgent Care

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Vulcan Materials Company

 

Looking Glass Sponsors:

Asheville Print Shop

Bartlett Tree Experts

Comporium

Ecusta Brewing

Gaia Herbs 

GRAYL

Looking Glass Realty

Murphy's Naturals

O.P. Taylor's

Piney Mountain Bike Lounge

Pisgah Coffee Roasters

Pisgah Map Co.

REI

SylvanSport

Trail Dynamics

 

John Rock Sponsors:

3oak HandCrafted

Adventure Treks

ELEVATE Physical Therapy

First Citizens Bank

McNeely's Store and Rental

PLATT

Samsel Architects

Water Oak Dental

LBM Industries

Jennings Builders Supply

Thank you to our Pisgah Project Day 2022 partners:

U.S. Forest Service

Back Country Horsemen of Pisgah

Carolina Climbers Coalition

Carolina Mountain Club

Pisgah Area SORBA

Pisgah Cowboys

Pisgah Chapter of Trout Unlimited

FIND Outdoors

NC Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council

Hemlock Restoration Initiative

Transylvania County Master Gardeners.

PISGAH FACT:

There are three fish hatcheries within Pisgah raising more than a half million brown, brook, and rainbow trout.

TPC License Plate Success

 

We love seeing so many TPC license plates on the road. When you purchase or renew your TPC plate online or at your local license plate agency for just $30, $20 comes right back to Pisgah!