Valuable CMC Papers Added to Archives
By Stuart English
At the end of 2017, Jim Stokely contacted me about some papers he found among the files of his mother, Wilma Dykeman. She had inherited the papers from her half brother Jerome Dykeman, an early secretary of our CMC. These are early newsletters of the club from 1931 to 1938. Jim presented me with the very fragile originals contained in old notebooks, which have been placed in the Ramsey Library at UNCA. They are fascinating.
Early newsletters contain hike schedules, meeting places, and hike leaders. Horace Kephart, an early member and author of Our Southern Highlanders, was an early proponent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Horace died in an automobile accident in 1931. A picture of his grave near Bryson City, North Carolina, appears in one of the early newsletters. His friend George Masa, a Japanese photographer, was on the hiking committee in these early years. Masa also advocated for the GSMNP. The CMC logo first appears in 1932 which is the logo we use to this day. The Federal Building in downtown Asheville was an early meeting place. The drives to hikes were often an adventure due to the road conditions of the 1930s. Hikers were advised to bring tire chains in case they were one of the drivers.
We all need to realize that we are a part of this history and it's worth a visit to the Special Collections Room at the UNCA Library.
For a link to the material that can be found in the Special Collections Room on the second floor of the Ramsey Library: click here
"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Quarterly Trail Maintenance Crew Dates Set for 2018
By Ann Hendrickson & Les Love
The CMC offers 4 Saturday trail work days a year. These Quarterly outings provide an opportunity for Club and Community members to come out and "give back" to the WNC
 trails we have all learned to love. We strongly encourage ALL CMC members to come out at least once a year. The club is fortunate to have many very active Section Maintainers and Maintenance Crew members. We need more! Currently the CMC maintains about 450 miles of trails. Every day these trails receive heavy use by club members, community members, as well as a high volume of tourists and visitors. We all want a great experience while hiking on the trails. It takes a significant amount of work to keep our trails in tip top shape for our current and future enjoyment. We have jobs for everyone! Our seasoned crew members are available to provide "on the job" training. No previous skills or experience necessary. Pack a lunch, wear old clothes, wear boots, and bring gloves, a hat and a sense of adventure. We will provide the tools and we guarantee a fun and personally satisfying day on the trail.
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Spring Camporee
Register now for the spring Mountain Treasures Camporee to be held Friday, April 27, to Sunday, April 29, at Kuykendall Campground located between Brevard and Rosman, NC. A variety of hikes will be offered Saturday and Sunday. Dinner will be shared Saturday night for a minimal charge. Bring a side dish, dessert or appetizer. The cost for a campsite is $10 per person for two nights. To reserve a space, send $10 for each person in your group to Kathleen Hannigan, 307 River Ridge Drive, Asheville, NC 28803. Include your name and email address.
The CMC camporees are held to recognize the importance of North Carolina's Mountain Treasures. The North Carolina's Mountain Treasures are 41 areas within our Nantahala and Pisgah National forests that stand out with special conservation, recreation, scenic, and cultural values. The United States Forest Service is now revising the management plan for our public forests in Western North Carolina.The current evaluation of Potential Wilderness Areas (PWAs) offers us an opportunity to gain better protection for these valuable places.
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Appalachian Trail Conservancy Seeks Board Members
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is calling for nominations for individuals interested in being considered for membership to its Board of Directors. Nominations will be accepted through March 15th for interested parties available to serve beginning August 12th, 2018.
Under the ATC's bylaws, membership meetings are now held each year, rather than every other year, and the elected leadership serves staggered terms, with one-third of the positions coming open each year. This year's membership meeting will be held on August 12th at the National Conservation Training Center near Shepherdstown, WV.
A diverse range of skills and experiences suitable for national nonprofit governance is being sought among nominees, and the ATC's members are encouraged to engage in the process. Desirable qualifications include a passion for the A.T. and commitment to its partnership network, as well as various skills.
The board, representing all of the ATC's members, focuses on directions for the ATC, financial stability, and operations in a strategic sense. All nominations should include both the nominee's and the nominator's name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address, with a description of the person's relevant experience, skills, and attributes. Additional materials, such as a résumé, are welcome. The committee's slate will be announced in an ATC publication between June 14 and July 23.
Nominations should be sent not later than March 15, 2018, to: [email protected] or by mail to Betsy Thompson, Chair, Nominating Committee, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425. For more information, visit:
www.appalachiantrail.org/Leadership.
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SAVE THE DATE: SPRING SOCIAL APRIL 21ST
The 13th annual
Spring Social will be held
Saturday, April 21 at the Arboretum. At press time there are no details because Les and Catherine Love, the organizers, are hiking in Patagonia. However, expect "the usual" - two mid-afternoon hikes, a social hour with a cash bar and a photo sharing, good food, and a program.
Details of the day's events will be in the April eNews. Stay tuned!
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Spring Social Photo Sharing
It's time for another Photo Sharing!
The Spring Social, April 21 at the Arboretum, is the venue for your next chance to share
your photos.
Theme - Seasons: Winter and Spring
We've survived a real winter when you likely took cool photos of snow and ice, or maybe
you took a winter vacation somewhere exotic.
All are fair game!
The sample photo was
taken by Susan Canale during a February 2018 whale watching (and petting!) trip to Baja
California.
To counter all that snow and cold, pull out some photos of spring flowers, budding trees
or anything that says, "Spring has sprung!"
Follow the guidelines and submit your 5 favorite winter and spring photos. Your name
on your photos is your reward for participating.
Thanks in advance for being part of the
entertainment during the social hour.
Deadline for submissions is Monday, April 16.
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Speaking of Travel
Club President Randy Fluharty, along with club members Elaine Tennen and Carroll Koepplinger, recently had the opportunity to promote the club on the radio show Speaking of Travel. The show aired on two local radio stations, 880 The Revolution and WWNC, and is now available in a podcast.
Click here for a link to the podcast.
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Education and Outreach needs your ideas!
by Jan Onan
As the new Education and Outreach Chair, my first task is to assemble a committee of CMC members who wish to share their talents and ideas to help me plan, organize and recruit others to hold workshops, theme hikes, outreach and other educational activities. One example of outreach activity is the Youth Partner Challenge, which was developed to introduce youth to the joys of hiking and discovering the outdoors.
Please contact me if you are interested in contributing in this way to our club. After our initial meeting, we can decide how often we need to meet, which may be just quarterly.
Contact me at the email below. I look forward to meeting and working with you!
Thank you,
Jan Onan
CMC Education and Outreach Chair
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