Epic trek

Starting February 3rd, a group of wilderness enthusiasts are embarking on an epic adventure across the eastern seaboard of North America. The scope of the adventure may even blow away the revered Appalachian Trail. The conservation non-profit group, Wildlands Network is launching writer and explorer John Davis on a 4,500 mile journey from the southern tip of Florida to the Gaspe Peninsula in Canada.

Read the full article here: http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/42270

Franklin Trail Days

Franklin, NC has just been designated as an official Appalachian Trail Community by the Appalachian Trail Conservatory. We were able to celebrate this designation all week as we attended the 2nd annual Franklin Trail Days. The townspeople gathered to welcome the thru-hikers as they begin their journey north to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The Trail Days event was full of fun, music, a hot dog eating contest, stories, and education.

In addition to the festival, we provided two awareness workshops at the public library and visited 5 fifth grade classrooms throughout the town. We had a wonderful time while in Franklin. It is a beautiful mountain town that is a must see if you are in western North Carolina. A special thanks to Bill Van Horn for all his efforts in setting up the events, as well as Ron Haven for putting on a great Hiker Bash!

Happy adventuring...Kate and Tracy