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March 2020
Winter Bird Watch
MountainTrue's Western Regional Office will host its 14th annual Winter Bird Watch. Retired Young Harris College professor and former board member, Brenda Hull will share her bird expertise with us as we observe birds around Lake Chatuge. In past years, we've seen over 20 different species of birds, ranging from small songbirds to larger birds of prey and wintering waterfowl typically associated with more northern climes.
Find out more »HCO Paddle-n-Plant Workday
The Watauga Riverkeeper and MountainTrue are combating 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. So, come hop in a boat and help us reduce erosion along our local rivers!
Find out more »Signs of Spring Hike
Celebrate the arrival of spring with this moderate 6.8 mile out-and-back hike into the Green River Gorge. Guided by expert ecologist and MountainTrue Public Lands Director Bob Gale, we will search out the season's first ephemeral wildflowers such as trillium, bloodroot, and toothwort. Because the Game Lands lie at a lower elevation, they have milder temperatures, giving us the chance to be among the first to see early spring vegetation and wildflowers. Our path will follow the Green River and offer continuous views of its quiet stretches and splendid rapids, finishing at a rock outcrop and enjoy a view of kayakers as they tackle the legendary rapids of the Narrows below.
Find out more »Hiwassee Volunteer Monitoring Team Training
MountainTrue West's Hiwassee volunteer monitoring program provides the opportunity for citizens that value clean water to get involved in a hands-on way. All volunteers must be certified using the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream program methods to ensure data is consistently and accurately collected.
Find out more »April 2020
Joyce Kilmer Hike
Join us for a hike through Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. This section of trail travels through an old growth forest and contains many species unique to the Appalachian region. Registration for this event is not yet open, but if you sign up below, we will contact you when it does.
Find out more »May 2020
Wildflower Day Hike
Join us for a lovely 5.5-mile hike along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail at Rattlesnake Lodge. Our Public Lands Ecologist, Bob Gale will lead this hike and share with us his extensive knowledge of the flora and fauna of the region. This trail boasts more than thirty varieties of flowers, including dwarf larkspur, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and blue cohosh and this time of year is prime for spotting these wildflowers. If we're lucky, we will also see, or hear, a number of warblers, vireos, and other birds that have returned from their winter in Central and South America. The hike is moderate, and we will take frequent stops to investigate any birds, wildflowers or other items of interest that we find along the way!
Find out more »June 2020
Valley River Paddle
This 8-mile stretch will take us from Andrews to Murphy as we wind down the lesser-paddled Valley River. Although there is a highway paralleling the Valley River, the edges of the river are largely farm and forested land, making for a surprisingly cool and quiet trip. We will pass through a couple of river reaches restored by the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition where we'll eddy out to talk about the habitat improvements made along the river.
Find out more »French Broad Float 2020
Our annual French Broad Float is back! Every year, MountainTrue and our French Broad Riverkeeper guide participants on an incredible trip down a stretch of the French Broad River, creating powerful memories of camping under the stars on the French Broad River Paddle Trail and exploring what can feel like uncharted territory right in our own backyards. Leave the hustle behind, and experience the joys of river travel while having your meals provided, your campfire built and your gear transported for you to your next campsite.
Find out more »July 2020
Moonlight Paddle on the Broad
Have you ever paddled by the light of the moon? Join our Broad Riverkeeper for a Moonlight paddle on the Broad River. As we go, our Broad Riverkeeper will talk about the history of the Broad River and the work that he does to protect it. This section is flat water, so should be easy going. We'll meet at Lake Houser at 8:00pm to run a shuttle and plan on putting in at 8:45pm, right around sunset. From there we'll paddle about 4.5 miles of river, ending up at the Boiling Springs Greenway to take out around 11:30pm. We have some boats, paddles, and pfds that you can reserve in advance, but you're also welcome to bring your own gear! Children and dogs are allowed, but must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
Find out more »Apalachia Lake Paddle
What better way to spend a hot Sunday afternoon than paddling on a beautiful mountain lake? For this 2-hour lake canoe outing, we will paddle Apalachia Lake which has very little private shoreline development and no commercial recreation facilities, making it very peaceful and perfect for paddling. Fishing and swimming are both options along the way, so bring your line if you'd like.
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