FUN FACT:

What do autumn leaves and ripening bananas have in common?

The green color in unripe bananas comes from chlorophyll, the same pigment that gives green leaves their color. As bananas ripen, the chlorophyll breaks down and disappears, revealing the yellow color which has been there all along. The yellows and oranges of autumn leaves are also revealed as their chlorophyll breaks down. Of course, other changes also occur as bananas ripen: the starches change to sugar and the flesh softens as pectin (a carbohydrate) breaks down.

WNC Climbers Weekend at Looking Glass Rock

Saturday-Sunday, September 25th – 26th, 2010

This year we are expanding the classic Looking Glass Rock ‘Adopt-A-Crag’ trail day into a weekend long event for climbers from across the Southeast region to get together and to raise funds and awareness for the Access Fund,Carolina Climbers Coalition and Southeastern Climbers Coalition.

The event will have three main components, Saturday 9am-1pm is the Access Fund Adopt A Crag trail day at Looking Glass Rock, with time to climb through the afternoon at the Glass. Saturday evening will be the Carolina Climbers Coalition Event of a catered BBQ, slide show and multimedia presentations from local climbers with a huge silent auction and fundraiser for the CCC. On Sunday Fox Mountain Guides and Climbing School will be offering two Climbers Self Rescue courses with 100% of the proceeds going to the Southeastern Climbers Coalition.

Event Goals

• Bringing the local climbing community together.
• Promoting public awareness and appreciation of our diverse climbing resources.
• Encouraging cooperative efforts and build partnerships between climbers, local businesses, and land managers.
• Providing a venue for individuals to give back to their local climbing areas through conservation.
• Showcasing local climbing talent.
• Create a venue to share technical skills and teach risk management and rescue skills.
• Getting out on the rock and having fun!

Why mountain hiking in particular? Looking out fifty miles over the landscape comes to mind, but it’s more than that. If you’re like myself, you feel drawn to photographs of mountains – and to the real thing. Don’t you want to be out there hiking and exploring?

There is nothing wrong with hiking in the woods of Michigan, or the deserts of Arizona, or anywhere else, but some of us feel the necessity of mountains in our lives.

Connestee Falls has some of the best hiking trails for a Planned Unit Development. Click on the picture below to learn more about Connestee Falls and their Hiking Trails.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The counties most commonly associated with Western North Carolina.

Western North Carolina (often abbreviated as WNC) is the region of North Carolina which includes the Appalachian Mountains, thus it is often known geographically as the state’s Mountain Region. It is sometimes included with upstate South Carolina as the “Western Carolinas”, which is also counted as a single media market. The region covers an area of about 11,000 square miles, and is roughly the size of the state of Massachusetts. The population of the region, as measured by the 2000 U.S. Census, is 1,015,268.

The term Land of the Sky (or Land-of-Sky) is a common nickname for this mountainous region and has been more recently adopted to refer to the Asheville area. (Areas in the northwest portion of the region, including Boone and Blowing Rock, commonly use the nickname “The High Country“, rather than “Land of the Sky”) The term is derived from the title of the book, Land of the Sky, written by Mrs. Frances Tiernan, under the pseudonym Christian Reid. The book often mentions the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains, the two main ranges that are found in Western North Carolina. The Asheville area regional government body, the Land-of-Sky Regional Council, utilizes the nickname.

Located east of the Tennessee state line and west of the Piedmont, Western North Carolina contains very few major urban centers. Asheville, North Carolina, located in the region’s center, is the area’s largest city and most prominent commercial hub. The Foothills region of the state is loosely defined as the area along Western North Carolina’s eastern boundary; this region consists of a transitional terrain of hills between the Appalachians and the Piedmont Plateau of central North Carolina. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have a reservation situated in the Western North Carolina region, adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Transylvania County, North Carolina
Location in the state of North Carolina
North Carolina’s location in the U.S.

History

The county was formed in 1861 from parts of Henderson County and Jackson County. Its name is derived from the Transylvania Company and has Latin origins: trans (“across”) and silva or sylva (“woods”).

Law and government

Transylvania County is a member of the Land-of-Sky Regional Council of governments.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 381 square miles (986 km²), of which, 378 square miles (980 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (6 km²) of it (0.57%) is water. There are over 250 waterfalls in the county, partially due to the fact that Transylvania County is the wettest county in the state. This is contrasted with Buncombe County, which is thirty miles northeast of Transylvania County receiving the lowest precipitation. The Blue Ridge Parkway traverses through parts of the county, affording spectacular views of the Appalachian Mountains, which reach over 6,000 feet elevation in the county. The highest point, Chestnut Knob (6,025 ft.), lies northwest of the county seat Brevard.

Looking glass falls

Townships

The county is divided into nine townships: Brevard, Catheys Creek, Dunns Rock, Cedar Mountain, Lake Toxaway, Balsam Grove, Pisgah Forest, Rosman ,and Little River.

Adjacent counties

• Henderson County, North Carolina – east
• Greenville County, South Carolina – southeast
• Pickens County, South Carolina – south
• Oconee County, South Carolina – southwest
• Jackson County, North Carolina – west
• Haywood County, North Carolina – northwest

National protected areas

• Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
• Nantahala National Forest (part)
• Pisgah National Forest (part)

N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s state parks will pay tribute to its winged residents and visitors in 2010 by celebrating the “Year of the Birds,” according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.

Throughout the year, birds and bird-watching will be the focus of special education programs and activities in the state parks, many of them in partnership with Audubon North Carolina, which works with the state parks system on research and management projects involving bird habitats. The state parks system is also making available a special bandana of some of the signature birds found in the parks.

Whether they are wild turkeys in the mountains, bald eagles in the Piedmont or piping plovers on the coast, birds greatly contribute to the nature experience in state parks. They’re also “indicator species,” reflecting the health of the natural resources and ecosystems on North Carolina’s publicly-held lands.

“Putting this special emphasis on birds in 2010 can give added depth and clarity to our interpretive programs and education efforts,” said Lewis Ledford, state parks director. “They’re a beloved part of the natural resource mosaic in our state parks.”

State parks are regularly involved in annual bird counts, and the parks are among Audubon’s Important Bird Areas, sites for research about the health of bird populations and habitats. Audubon North Carolina, the state parks and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission were also among partners that are establishing three distinct birding trails in North Carolina in an effort to combine eco-tourism and natural resource protection (http://www.ncbirdingtrail.org/).

“Birds and state parks share some of the most important habitats in our state,” said Chris Canfield, executive director of Audubon North Carolina. “They also share the distinction of providing a pathway for people to connect with nature. I’m excited by this focus for 2010 and hope all North Carolinians take advantage of it.”

In addition to preparing interpretive programs, state park rangers and natural resource biologists are actively involved in projects to protect and restore habitats for some of our rare and threatened birds, such as the red-cockaded woodpecker and colonial nesting shorebirds. Park rangers and biologists also participate in multi-year bird tagging projects.

State park educational programs hope to appeal to North Carolina’s bird enthusiasts, as well as inspire new bird-watching families. A 2009 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report estimated one of every five Americans is a “bird-watcher,” defined as someone who took a trip of at least one mile for the primary purpose of observing birds, or someone who closely observed and tried to identify birds around their home. These enthusiasts contributed $36 billion to the national economy in 2006, according to the report.

In this age of instant information -

instant gratification -

data overload -

we at times forget the humanity behind the written word.

So I would like to say a simple THANK YOU for following my Blogs.

It’s nice to know what interests me also interests some of you.

I enjoy connecting with great folks all around this great country

and the world we all share.

Envision:

1. Hiking a mountain trail with a running stream alongside.
2. Hiking in one of our county park areas with fabulous waterfalls to enjoy.

Transylvania County has over 150 waterfalls.  A box lunch break in this natural atmosphere is an exhilarating experience.

The cost in money to enjoy this physical fitness experience is ZERO.  Just your time.  Time well worth it for your personal health.

Post Writen by: Dave Scott (Broker) – Connestee Falls Realty

• 4 days 130 Miles 31,000+ feet of elevation gain

• Over half of the miles are technical Single Track!

• A six mile time trial followed by three Big Days in Pisgah National Forest.

• It all takes place between 2000’ and 5000’ on some of the most talked about trails on the east coast located here in Transylvania County.
  • Over $15,000 in cash…no telling how many prizes we will come up with…still working that part out!
  • Cash to top 5 in every category with podium finish (also 6-10th for all categories except Pro/Elite fields)

Pisgah Mountain Bike Kids Race

TODAY: Thursday October 15, 2009

5:30 pm @ Brevard College

FREE for kids 14 and Under – Sponsored by O.P. Taylors. Two Race Categories – 10 & Under and 11-1. Prizes awarded to all participants. All riders must wear a helmet. Register for the event onsite race day from 2:30-5pm. Meet the Pros immediately following.