NCBartramTrail.org

The BTS was fortunate to be able to host ten Warren Wilson College students and one staff member over their week-long alternative fall semester break in October, 2008. The students are pictured above on one of the board walks they constructed near Wallace Branch on Section 4 of the Bartram Trail. The Nantahala Outdoor Center (www.noc.com) kindly provided lodging for the students for the week. Another BT project for the week was trail construction on the Western Extension of the NCBT in what we hope can become a spur trail in memory of their beloved WWC chaplain, Rev. Andy Summers.

Pictured Left to right: Wendy Thoreson, Kelsey Brown, Jourdi Bosley, Ian Higgins, Carroll Anderson, Will Fortembaugh, John Wright, Sarah Larsen, Ali Yee, Natasha Shipman of WWC Biology Dept., Misha Louden Lebell and Mr. Keith Day. Photo by Tim Warren.

During rainy days during the Warren Wilson College alternative fall break in October, 2008, the students worked on two indoor projects. One project was folding hundreds of newly printed BTS promotional brochures that will be distributed to Ranger Stations and Visitor Centers. Another project was removing milkweed seeds from the pods, separating the fluff from the seeds, for use in the new program called “Bartram Butterfly Gardens.” The seeds will be distributed to interested area schools in the springtime for creating “Monarch Waystations” in the school yards.

Pictured left to right in the Community Room at NOC, holding pods of Asclepias syriaca and A. incarnata and/or brochures are: Sarah Larsen, John Wright, Misha Louden Lebell, Ali Yee, Wendy Thoreson, Kelsey Brown, Jourdi Bosley and Ian Higgins. Sitting: Will Fortembaugh and Carroll Anderson. Also participating in the project but not in photo was Natasha Shipman, staff leader. Photo by Ina Warren, NCBTS.

Piedmont College of Demorest, Georgia, has been an active annual partner of the NCBTS for years. Staffer Cindy Peterson has been bringing a group of Outdoor Club students to work on various projects each fall. The November 8, 2008 workhike project involved building a 24 foot bridge (with stringers and decking and 6 locust posts to support the guard rail) on Section 1 on Scaly Mountain. Staff from Piedmont College on this workhike are: Cindy Peterson, Deb Dooley and Tim Menzel, Assistant Professor of Ecology. Students are: Matt Burgess, Louis Cassamajor, Zack Thomaswick, Amanda Poland and Allyson Whittaker. BTS helpers for the work hike were: Dave Reid, John Stowers, Keith Day, Debbie Ryals and Tim Warren. Photos were taken by Debbie Ryals who also provided everyone with a tasty, hot, home-made chili dinner after the cold November day workhike.

BTS President Tim Warren directs the Piedmont College students while hauling locust logs cut onsite for the bridge hand rails. 

Here is a photo mid-way in the project of the bridge decking. This project was funded by our Adopt A Trail grant through the NC State Trails office. It is in Phase Two of the BTS’ overall plan to bridge the spans of creeks to reduce stream erosion and preserve the water quality of these important watershed streams.  

A new skill for the students:  learning to use an old-timey draw knife to remove the bark from the locust logs. That is going to look great on their resumes!

Amanda Poland and Allyson Whittaker help the guys position the locust logs for the bridge.  

Long time Bartram Trail maintainer, Mr. Keith Day, has been on hundreds of workhikes, and still going strong!  Dave Reid is getting things “decked out” by screwing the 2×8 decking material to the bridge stringers.

Faculty advisor Cindy Peterson pauses for a photo on the workhike in a rhododendron thicket.  

Assistant Ecology professor Tim Menzel pauses for lunch at the Bartram Trail workhike. 

BT Trail builder Dave Reid on the bridge as it being built and was also present on Dec. 13 when the guard rails were installed. 

Here is one of the tangible results of our monthly workhikes. Among other benefits are enjoyment of the outdoors, teamwork, community improvement… and most importantly, the feeling of accomplishment on every level. Pictured are Keith Day and Dave Reid. Photo by Bruce Johnson 

Click on the thumbnail photos below to see larger images from the Warren Wilson College workhike that took place August 30-31. The NCBTS would like to thank WWC and all of the volunteers who joined us for this productive workhike!

Last weekend (August 30, 2008) a group of NCBTS Workhikers started building a bridge on Ledbetter Creek. We have published some photos from the work hike below. If you’re intersted in joining the NCBTS on a workhike, check out our Help The Trail page.  NHC’s Don O’Neil and Gail Lehman at lunch break at Ledbetter Creek Bridge Keith Day and Charlie Edwards at lunch L to R: Keith, Tim, Charlie, Don, Gail. Photo by Dave Reid  Dave Reid at Ledbetter Bridge site prep L: First Bridge User – exercise runner on Sat. Aug 30; R: Charlie Edwards  Tim drilling holes for threaded tie rods, as Keith Day looks on; photo by Dave Reid   L to R: Charlie Edwards, Keith Day, Gail Lehman (NHC) and Don O’Neil (NHC) BTS Trail crew member Dave Reid drills holes for threaded tie rods to strengthen bridge Upstream view of BTS Bridge over Ledbetter Creek on Sunday, Aug 31, 2008; L to R: Keith Day, Dave Reid; Photo by Tim Warren  First Sunday hikers across bridge with handrails  Sunday Bridge crew: Dave Reid, Keith Day and Tim Warren. Photo by passing hiker  Ledbetter Creek Bridge on the NCBT Section 7 nearing completion; photo by Tim Warren