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March 2021
Island Park Invasive Plant Volunteer Work Session
MountainTrue has joined forces with the Tuckasegee River Alliance to help eradicate nonnative invasive plants at Island Park in Bryson City. Island Park - which is currently closed to the public pending storm damage repairs - is an island in the Tuckasegee River that hosts a beautiful riparian forest with some very large trees. However, infestations of non-native invasive plant species threaten native diversity, especially in terms of wildflowers and forest understory, creating the need for restoration work to bring the island back to its full splendor.
Volunteer work sessions are being scheduled to start the work of eradicating these non-native invasive pest plants. Advance registration is required. The workday is planned for Wednesday, March 3rd, from 11 am to 2 pm. The work session is limited to 15 participants. Although you will be asked to "purchase a ticket," there is no charge for this opportunity!
Find out more »Live Staking Workday
Love our rivers? Come join the Watauga Riverkeeper and MountainTrue as we combat sediment erosion in our local waterways. Sediment is a major polluter in our river basin, clogging fish and aquatic habitats, increasing water temperatures, and transporting toxic substances. We are helping to reduce the amount of sediment that flows into our rivers by planting live-stakes along eroding riverbanks. As these stakes grow into trees, they stabilize the sides of the rivers and creeks where we plant them and reduce the overall amount of sediment getting into the river. Come plant with us!
Find out more »Winter Tree ID Workshop Hike
Join MountainTrue's very own Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly for our Winter Tree ID Workshop Hike at Big Laurel Creek Trail. During this hike, we will discuss the different ways that you can identify trees in your area. This hike is open to all skill levels of aspiring tree identifiers so we hope to see you there!
Find out more »MountainTrue University: A history of environmental extraction and activism in Appalachia
Join us on March 11th from 12 pm- 1 pm to hear from our AmeriCorps Water Quality Administrator, Grace Fuchs, about the history of environmental extraction and activism in Appalachia. We will begin by defining the cultural and geographic boundaries of Appalachia, from there we will take a closer look at the environmental impacts of the timber, coal, and fracking industry in the region. We will then move to a historical analysis of Appalachian activists who have fought long and hard to protect their communities in the face of cultural and ecological destruction.
Find out more »Winter Bird Watch on Lake Chatuge
MountainTrue will host the 15th annual Winter Bird Watch outing on Lake Chatuge, Saturday, March 13th, starting at 7:30 AM. This year we will meet at Chatuge Dam and caravan to various sites around the lake shoreline to view a wide variety of birds. Typically, 18-25 different species are observed on the outing, ranging from small songbirds to larger birds of prey and wintering waterfowl typically associated with more northern climes.
Find out more »Live Staking Workday
Love our rivers? Come join the Watauga Riverkeeper and MountainTrue as we combat sediment erosion in our local waterways. Sediment is a major polluter in our river basin, clogging fish and aquatic habitats, increasing water temperatures, and transporting toxic substances. We are helping to reduce the amount of sediment that flows into our rivers by planting live-stakes along eroding riverbanks. As these stakes grow into trees, they stabilize the sides of the rivers and creeks where we plant them and reduce the overall amount of sediment getting into the river. Come plant with us!
Find out more »Signs of Spring Hike
This is a great late winter hike that follows the Green River offering continuous views of its quiet stretches to its most intense rapids. We'll look for early wildflowers and migrating warblers. Because it lies at lower elevations than more northerly mountain counties, temperatures should be mild and spring vegetation will be farther along.
Find out more »April 2021
Spring Headwaters & Wildflower Hike
Join our MountainTrue Ecologist and Public Lands Director, Bob Gale, and Broad Riverkeeper, David Caldwell, as we explore two trails in the North Pacolet sub-basin, a tributary of the Broad River. David will discuss the value and concerns associated with headwater streams, while Bob informs us all about the flowers, plants, and animals we find there.
Find out more »Huckleberry Knob Wildflower Amble
The Huckleberry Knob Trail is an easy 2.2-mile (round-trip) out and back trail located near Robbinsville, North Carolina that features beautiful wildflowers. With only a 344-foot elevation gain and following an old roadbed, this hike is good for all skill levels. At 5,580 feet, Huckleberry Knob is the highest peak in the remote Unicoi Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee.
Find out more »May 2021
Lower Green River Inflatable Kayak Trip
Join our Green Riverkeeper for a trip down the Lower Green River! This section is perfect for anyone looking for a casual Class I-II whitewater rapid experience. We'll equip each paddler with safety gear and your own inflatable kayak. The trip covers approximately 5 miles over 4 hours. Must be 12 yrs of Age or older to participate. Minors must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
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