In the wake of Hurricane Helene, MountainTrue is dedicated to addressing the urgent needs of our community.
Join MountainTrue's Western Regional director on the first day of the New Year for a moderate 6-mile loop hike in the Brasstown Wilderness. The trail climbs at a consistent rate of 500 ft/mile for almost three miles, skirting around Rocky Knob where we'll take a short spur trail out to some rock outcrops for lunch and amazing views of both Hiawassee and Young Harris.
Get Outside WNC is an organization dedicated to the exposure of, education of, and conservation of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Through memorable group hikes that get us in nature, Get Outside WNC raises money for local outdoor programs. This Winter the beneficiary of hikes is MountainTrue.
Do you want to improve your ability to identify trees in all seasons? Winter is the time to do that! On this hike up we will be treated to an afternoon in an ancient oak forest and views from a granitic outcrop. Along the way, participants will learn both basic and advanced techniques for tree identification. We will also discuss forest ecology, wildlife habitat, and more.
Enjoy a guided hike with MountainTure Biologist Josh Kelly at one of the earliest blooming wildflower sites in Western North Carolina. The moderate, four-mile hike will include information on wildflower identification, tree identification, and forest ecology. This has been a popular outing in years past.
Can't join us for the Green River Cove Wildflower Walk near Saluda on March 17th but want to gather with your fellow MountainTrue supporters and staff? Join us for a casual hangout at The Green River Brew Depot from 5:30-6:30 pm.
Join members of the Carolina Mountain Club (CMC) and MountainTrue Biologist Josh Kelly for a wildflower hike in beautiful Big Creek. A comfortable roadbed meanders along rushing rapids, Mouse Creek Falls, huge boulders, and deep swimming holes. A beautiful forest and early wildflower environment make for a special experience - so bring your camera to this moderate in-and-out hike. Josh will discuss plants and trees along the way. Expect a slower hike because of the many wildflowers we will see. For this reason, we may not hike all the way to Big Creek.
Join our MountainTrue Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly, and Broad Riverkeeper, David Caldwell, as we explore the downstream trail at our Broad River Greenway. David will discuss the value and concerns associated with the Broad River, while Josh informs us all about the flowers, plants and animals we find there.
Help eradicate garlic mustard and enjoy spring wildflowers at the same time! The Appalachian Trail south of Max Patch has an outstanding display of native wildflowers that is being threatened by garlic mustard, which is known to exude chemicals from its roots that harm native plants.
Join MountainTrue Biologist Josh Kelly on a scenic and meaningful workday and celebrate our native flora and fauna along the way. This outing includes a strenuous 4 mile hike and the ability to pull garlic mustard.
Join MountainTrue Biologist, Josh Kelly for an invasive plant removal workday. This workday will include a scenic and strenuous 3-mile hike to Double Head Knob, an excellent example of a montane grassland growing over a sloping rock outcrop. The site is being threatened by several species of invasive plants, which participants will help control mechanically and with herbicide.
SAVE THE DATE! Each year, MountainTrue hosts a BioBlitz to record all the species we can find in a given area. We identify and catalog organisms using the online app iNaturalist. The BioBiltz this year will be on June 1st in Erwin, TN.
