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November 11th Second Saturday Workday

Please join us for a great day of volunteering on the Bartram Trail for our Second Saturday Workday on November 11th, 2023.

This coming Saturday, November 11th, we’ll be working the Bartram Trail from the Beechertown / Duke Energy trailhead. We’ll meet there at 9am and shuttle up to the surge tank to same some hiking.

Please bring work gloves, good boots, plenty of water, lunch, any meds you might need and esprit de corps.

If you’re new to trail maintenance or just want to learn more, you can find more information here on our site.

Trail Maintenance Basics

Don’t be shy, we’ll provide everything you need to enjoy your day while making a huge impact for future enjoyment of the Bartram Trail. The hard work of our volunteers is what keeps the 110 miles of trails open and usable all year long.

Please RSVP so we can plan the work and tool requirements.

Thank you for your volunteerism!

November 28th Trailhead Tuesday Volunteer Workday

We’ll plan to meet at First United Methodist Church in Franklin at 1pm before heading out to clean up at Bartram Trail trailheads.

This is a program for those looking to get involved with limited time. We will meet in the early afternoon to divide and conquer some minor clean up and trail head maintenance. We’re looking for folks to visit a set of selected trail heads to re-stock Bartram Trail information cards, complete a trail head condition report, pick up any trash in the area, and chat with hikers as they start their day hike.

We’ll supply everything you need for the day. Although we suggest you bring your own gloves, a hat, sunscreen, and a positive attitude.

We’ll meet at 1pm in the parking area at church across from Lazy Hiker Brewing. We’ll regroup between 3-4 and head across the street for a cold beverage on us.

Please RSVP to help with planning for this event:

September 29, 2023: Walking with Bartram from Lake Nantahala to Appletree Campground

We had a great hike, great weather, plenty of wildflowers and mushrooms along the trail, and a fantastic group to share this adventure with.

Brent Martin started the morning with a reading of Bartram poetry and with some new hikers joining the group for this section, we did a quick round of introductions, recalling a fun memory from our childhood!

This section starts with a short 1/4-mile roadwalk on the shoulder, which is not ideal, but there’s not much in the way of alternate routes. This is one road walk that we just embrace. A few more signs of civilization and the past are taken in before we hike into the woods.

Walking With Bartram from Lake Nantahala to Appletree Campground

As we drop off the road and into the forest, the experience shifts to a more tranquil pace as we begin to notice the wildflowers, mushroom, and other flora along the path. Pinesap, blue fungus fruiting, jack in the pulpits going to seed, and the iconic rhododendron tunnels are some of the welcomed sights.

This is a unique section, traversing Lake Nantahala’s dam and old riverbed. Signs of the efforts by Duke Energy to warn hikers of the dangers of the valley during water releases join the wildflowers. Pools of still water and trickles of the remaining flow of the Nantahala River reflect our surroundings. Most of the river is now diverted through the series of pipelines that generate energy as well as regulate flow for the commercial rafting and kayaking operations.

If anyone knows the story behind the quarry/swimming hole just above the Highwater Trail crossing, we’d love to learn more about it. Send us an email at info@blueridgebartram.org or comment below.

We’ll continue our journey, section by section, until we reach Cheoah Bald. It looks like we’ll get this round of section hikes completed by the end of November.

If you would like to join us on these final sections, check out our E vents page for details on all our currently scheduled hikes, volunteer activities, and other outings.

Hike Participants

Starlett Henderson
Michelle Stephens
Sharon Mandel
Karen Lawrence
Jill Osborne
Angela Faye Martin
Jana Plemmons
Patrick McLaughlin
Susie McNeely
Tom Claiborne
Ruth Claiborne
Karen Wallace
Noryce Burgey
Chris Tranchina
Brent Martin

October 27th Walking With Bartram: Appletree Campground to Beechertown

We’re getting close to tying a bow on this second round of section hiking the Bartram Trail and I do believe we’re gonna do it in record time! With weather being favorable and our hiking groups fleet-footed and fearless, we’re going to skip the Piercy Creek side trail this time through and make the haul from Appletree Campground to Beechertown.

We’ll plan on meeting at the Beechertown trailhead at 9am and figure out shuttling to Appletree to start off the day. This is a moderately strenuous hike, at least the climb up onto the ridgeline, before we drop back down. We can do it!

Newcomers are welcome to join us. Please plan to bring plenty of water, lunch, clothing appropriate for this season, and your sense of humor and wonder.

We have had great interest in these hikes and are working to create new hiking opportunities. If you are interested in leading a hike, let us know!

Please RSVP below to help us with planning:

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