This year marks the Centennial Anniversary of Pisgah National Forest. Celebrate with the WCNA on Saturday December 1st by joining us for a hike to the first piece of National Forest Land in the East.
The hike will take place on Curtis Creek in McDowell County and will be led by WNCA biologist Josh Kelly.
In 1911 Senator John Weeks introduced a bill for the preservation of forest lands. The passage of the Weeks Act was a monumental task and followed a decade of debate about the lack of constitutional authority for the federal purchase of wilderness. Adoption of the law signaled a new way of thinking about wild areas.
On August 29, 1912 tracts of land near McDowell County were among the first purchases made by the Forest Service under the Weeks Act, and laid the formation for Pisgah National Forest. Today Pisgah National Forest is comprised of 512,758 acres of mountainous terrain and home to three wilderness areas, a wealth of biodiversity, and extensive recreational opportunities for its visitors.
Curtis Creek in Pisgah National Forest 2012
The December 1st hike will give us an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of this area and to learn about its natural history. The hike will also provide an opportunity to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the Weeks Act, and all conservationists who have fought to conserve and protect our national forests, ensuring that future generations would be able to enjoy them in a state of beauty that they could only imagine.
RSVP by emailing Rachel@wnca.org or by calling 828-258-8737.
Ride Share We will carpool from Earth Fare @ the Westgate Shopping Center over to Curtis Creek for more information contact Rachel@wnca.org