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Friends of Panthertown The Panther’s Roar Panthertown Valley WNC

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Printed on Recycled PaperPage !1Summer 2017

NOTEWORTHY

Saturday, June 3 Join us on National Trails Day for a big celebration a n d r i b b o n c u t t i n g ceremony in Panthertown at the Salt Rock trailhead. !

Saturday, June 24 Volunteer Trail Work Day !

Tuesday, July 18 Fr iends of Panthertown Annual Member Meeting in Cashiers with Panthertown presentation by Bill Jacobs. !

Thursday, August 3 Volunteer Trail Work Day !

Monday, August 21 The All-American Total Solar Eclipse, a once in a lifetime astronomical event, will cast its shadow over Jackson County at more than 1,000 miles per hour. Panthertown and this area just happen to be in the path of totality. Visit NCEclipse.com for info.

THE PANTHER’S ROAR PO BOX 51 CASHIERS, NC 28717 | WWW.PANTHERTOWN.ORG | (828) 269-HIKE

Summer 2017 Friends of Panthertown News

Photo by Christopher D Smith (Smitty) of Southeastern Backcountry Adventures# !

Recreational access enhanced at Salt Rock Gap!We did it! Together with our project partner, Mainspring Conservation Trust, we were able to successfully raise the funds necessary to purchase and conserve the 16-acre property located adjacent to the Salt Rock Gap trailhead entrance to Panthertown. !We are grateful for the outpouring of generosity and community support we received. We would like to thank everyone who contributed, and welcome our new members who joined Friends of Panthertown by donating to this important project. We are especially appreciative of the Jackson County Commissioners and Jackson County Tourism Development Authority for working with us to achieve this important land acquisition. Thank you for helping us protect Panthertown. Now the work begins …!

In May, we got started on improving parking and access at the west entrance to Panthertown and will continue our work throughout the summer. See page 6 for photos and more info.!According to U.S. Forest Service Nantahala District Ranger Mike Wilkins, visitation to Panthertown exceeded 20,000 hikers last year.

More boots on the trails are expected this summer in Panthertown, and more work will need to be done throughout the rest of the year. Friends of Panthertown will continue to maintain the 30 mile trail system for all to enjoy and explore. Big thanks to our members and volunteers!

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

- Alber t Einstein

Celebrating our 12th year of Panthertown Conservation


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I n A p p e c i a t i o n

Thanks to the hard working volunteers from S h o r e c r e s t P r e p a r t o r y School who spent a cold week in service during March over their s p r i n g b r e a k c a m p i n g i n

Panthertown and working on different trails with Friends of Panthertown each day. They rocked! To Adopt-A-Trail in Panthertown, or to volunteer, visit our website for more info, call (828) 269-4453, or e-mail [email protected]

Big thanks to Zoller Hardware for donating a Yeti Hopper 40 cooler

for our July 18th raffle. The retail value is $399! Get your tickets now for $5 each

(5 for $20) at Zoller Hardware, at the Ca s h i e r s A re a C h a m b e r o f Commerce & Visitor’s Center, at one of our events, or on our website.

We are grateful to Melanie Jones and Carrie Coen for their assistance with our membership mailings, and to our volunteer Trustees and committee members for their outstanding work on planning our community events, guided hikes, and trail work activities. And, we appreciate these 2017 business community members w h o h a v e r e n e w e d t h e i r commitments to help us protect and maintain Panthertown Valley: • Flickinamazing • The Orchard Restaurant • The Laurel Falls Community

Ja c k s o n C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n e r s Ap p r o v e Donation Towards Salt Rock Land Purchase!Fr i e n d s o f Pa n t h e r to w n wo r ke d i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h Mainspring Conservation Trust to purchase and protect the 16-acre Salt Rock Gap trailhead property, located adjacent to the we s te r n e n t r a n ce to Pa n t h e r to w n . In Ma r c h , co u n t y commissioners approved a grant request from Mainspring and Friends for $32,000 to go towards land acquisition. We will continue to work together with Mainspring, under U.S. Forest Service guidance, to enhance parking, camping, and recreational access at the trailhead. The conserved property will eventually be transferred to U.S. Forest Service to be contained within National Forest boundaries and protected for future public use.

News & Happenings#We hope you enjoy our Summer 2017 edition of The Panther’s Roar, hot off the press. !

All spring long, the wildflowers have been blooming and a diversity of wildlife has been active throughout Panthertown Valley. Thousands of visitors, veteran explorers and new folks alike, are expected to arrive this summer f rom al l around the world to experience this treasured backcountry recreation area. This is YOUR public land.!

Our organization is tasked to maintain and protect this special place. We work in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, and with the generous support of our members and incredibly hard-working volunteers, to maintain more than 30 miles of public trails in Panther town, and to impro ve the recreational experiences here for all to enjoy. !

Cover photo contributed thanks to Friends of Panthertown member Christopher D Smith (S m i t t y ) o f S o u t h e a s t e r n B a c k c o u n t r y Adventures. Thanks also to Thomas “Badger” Mabry , Wynette Wiles, Sharon Taylor, and Virginia Willard for contributing photos.

!B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s

Margaret Carton President !

Mike Purdy V.P. Trail Boss!

Virginia Willard V.P. Development!

Paul Johnson Treasurer!

Tony Austin Mike English Mike Kettles

J. Dan Pittillo Margo Purdy

Tom West Jason Kimenker!

Executive Director! !

Friends of Panthertown is a 501(c)(3) non-profit

organization. All donations and memberships are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law.!

Total Solar Eclipse This Summer#At 2:35pm, on Monday, August 21, 2017, Cashiers will be in the path of totality for a remarkable total solar eclipse with totality lasting 2 minutes & 23 seconds. Visit NCEclipse.com for info.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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Salt Rock Property Tour & Waterfall Hike!Earlier this year, hike leaders Mike Kettles and Tony Austin, with assistance from Sue Kettles, Mike Purdy, and Margo Purdy, led members on the trails in Panthertown. With about 40 hikers participating, including a 1 year old and a 5 year old, we split off into three groups to explore and learn about Panthertown. We toured the Salt Rock trailhead property, hiked Panthertown Valley Trail, ate lunch at the shelter off Mac’s Gap Trail, visited The Great Wall of Panthertown, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of Granny Burrel l ’s Fal ls , Frolictown Fal ls , and Wilderness Fal ls .

Annual Member Event Join us on Tuesday, July 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm for our annual meeting with a presentation by Bill Jacobs on the unique geology of Panthertown Valley and the Cashiers plateau. Refreshments wi l l be served. Cashiers Community Library. FREE.

Photos submitted by member Wynette Wiles


DONORS

Herbert & Rose Mary Achey John Akridge Paulette Alden* in honor of David & Brenda Bates Carol Arnold Thomas Atherton Tony Austin Linda Beard Robert Blackwell Dave Borden* Jack Bornemann Laura Bowers Chris & Anne Bulleit* in honor of Addison Reece Harvey, III and Donald V. Bulleit Barbara Carlin Tim Carstens Margaret & Bob Carton Justin Castleberry Cedar Creek Racquet Club* William Clark Amy Colburn Michael Comer Michael Cook in honor of Mike Atkinson Dale & Teresa Cooney Deborah Cooney Jarrett & Jane Davis Bill Dickason Sylva & Alice Dyer Charles Dunn Margot Ellis Gabrielle Gillies

Kathryn Ginanni Dan Goldberg* John & Carol Green Richard & Debbie Griffiths Junius Grimes* Jim & Beth Hamilton Kendra Hamm Ocie & Jo Ella Harris Johnathan Hoveland Bill Jacobs & Sue Posey Jody Jacobs Ennis & Dru James Jann & Russell Jones Howard & Marilyn Kaston William & Elizabeth Keikes Mike & Susan Kettles Jason & Karin Kimenker Kinsell Family* Harrison Laird Greg Lambert Ali Laird Large* in honor of Raymond Large and Troop 914 Gary & Linda Leedham Suzanne & Michael Magalis* Tangie & Richard Mather Judy & Mac McCleary* Becky & Will McKee H.A. & Kay Moore* Carter & Hampton Morris Pat Morse Harold W. Mullis & Anne S. Mullis Ellen & George Nemhauser Mark O’Neal Mary Palmer & Hugh Dargan

Stephanie Pierce Janice & Donald Pole Mike & Margo Purdy Marge & Gene Ragland Susan Reeder Carl Riden Luke Riley Tom & Sheila Rodgers Frank Ryan Drew Scott Pamela & Robert Shaw Marcia & Steve Shawler* Brian Smith Karen Smith Robert & Susan Smith Alys Spillman Anne Sprague in memory of Frances K. Patterson Aleen Steinberg Kristopher Swayze Barbara & Bill Thomason Beth Townsend James Trimble Trout Unlimited Tuckaseegee Chapter Debra Volpe William Webb Cary & Herron Weems* Virginia Willard & Jack Olson George & Laura Youmans Pam Weekes Nancy & Tom West* Wynette Wiles Jeff Zander & Zander Family*


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S a l t Ro c k P r o p e r t y S u c c e s s f u l l y P r o t e c t e d#Jason Kimenker, Executive Director of Friends of Panthertown, joins Sharon Taylor, Executive Director of Mainspring Conservation Trust, with attorney Ken Fromknecht at the April 21 closing of the 16-acre Salt Rock property. With paperwork signed and recorded, and a Memorandum of Understanding in place between our two organization, Mainspring will now hold the land for public use until it is ultimately transferred over to the U.S. Forest Service to be contained as part of Panthertown protected borders. We are incredibly humbled by the outpouring of generosity and support. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our fundraising.

We would like to thank these outstanding members of Friends of Panthertown, plus the many generous donors of our project partner, Mainspring Conservation Trust, who helped support the Salt Rock property acquisition. Together, we were successfully able to raise the funds necessary to purchase and protect this important conser vat ion land. We a re f o re v e r g ra te f u l !

* Special thanks to our Leadership Giving Donors


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Annual membership event July 18# Friends of Panthertown co-founder and former Trustee Bill Jacobs will give a free presentation at Cashiers Community Library on Tuesday July, 18th from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Learn about the unique geology of Panthertown Valley and the surrounding Cashiers area, find out more about the work our organization does, and meet others who also love Panthertown. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and share information. There will be door prizes plus a raffle to win a YETI cooler. Refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome.

Enter Our YETI Cooler Raffle#Thanks to Zoller Hardware for donating a Yet i Hopper 40 coo le r fo r our r a f f l e ! Tickets a re $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00. Purchase online at www.panthertown.org

Glenn Ubertino, owner of Zoller H a r d w a r e , g e n e r o u s l y donated this Yeti Ho p p e r c o o l e r, w i t h a r e t a i l value of $399.#

Friends was represented at two Sylva festivals this s p r i n g. We r e c r u i t e d volunteers, shared info, a n d ga i n e d new members at these great community events.#

The winn ing t icket wi l l be drawn on July 18th in Cashiers at our annual meeting.

Photo courtesy of Jackson County Chamber of Commerce

Photo byVirginia Willard

http://www.panthertown.org

http://www.panthertown.org


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Salt Rock trailhead property cleared for parking; Volunteers cleanup brush#Friends of Panthertown selectively removed some white pines and dead-standing trees from a small portion of the newly acquired property located adjacent to the Salt Rock trailhead entrance. On May 22nd, volunteers chipped a big brush pile remaining at the site. Fill-dirt and gravel were then added to create a primitive parking area. Mainspring will hold the land for public use until it can be transferred to the U.S. Forest Service.

Salt Rock donation to honor Boy Scout Troop 914#Ali Laird Large hands Jason Kimenker, Executive Director of Friends of Panthertown, a $12,000 donation in memory of her

husband Raymond Large, and in honor of Boy Scout Troop 914. The check went towards the 16-acre Salt Rock trailhead property acquisition and was matched by an anonymous donor.

Photos byVirginia Willard

Western Carolina University wins Top Adventure College for 4th year in a row#Once a ga in , nearby We s t e r n C a ro l i n a University has deservedly won highest honors in the Blue Ridge Outdoors Top Adventure College contest. Congratulations to WCU for be ing voted top adventure co l l ege in the Southeast four years in a row (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017). Visit WCU.edu for more info about this outstanding learning institution that is practically in our backyard. We say, “Way to go Catamounts!”

Total Solar Eclipse arriving this summer; Panthertown in path of totality#At 2:35pm, on Monday, August 21, 2017, Cashiers, Sapphire, and Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, including all of Panthertown Valley, will be in the path of totality for a remarkable total solar eclipse. Totality will last 2 minutes 23 seconds. It was 1979 when this last occurred in North America, and 1506 when western North Carolina experienced one. The next occurrence in this area won’t be until 2153. Make sure to visit NCEclipse.com for more info.

Our volunteers maintain and improve the trail system in Panthertown Valley #In April, a hard-working group 0f volunteers from Highland Hiker and Friends of Panthertown maintained water diversions and pruned along the heavily used Panthertown Valley Trail. !

We also hosted several productive work days in May, including a big brush cleanup at the Salt Rock trailhead (see page 6), and a day with Lake Toxaway community volunteers where they visited Greenland Creek Falls and helped us maintain Greenland Creek Trail.!

Thanks to all who have volunteered at our trail work days, and to those who have helped us achieve our work by being a supporting member of Friends of Panthertown. We could not do the work without you.

Highland Hiker work day photos submitted by Wynette Wiles

Greenland Creek Trail work day photos by Thomas “Badger” Mabry


Summer 2017 Page !7 Printed on Recycled Paper

Friends of Panthertown PO Box 51 Cashiers, NC 28717

Friends of Panthertown Trail Boss & Board Member Mike Purdy led a group of hikers from Mainspring Conservation Trust into Panthertown Valley on May 18th. They visited the newly acquired 16-acre Salt Rock trailhead property and explored the valley. Photos courtesy of Sharon Taylor.


Summer 2017 Page !8 Printed on Recycled Paper

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