The Little River Watermark - DuPont State Forest · The Little River Watermark If you would like to write an article, ... Blue ghost fireflies aren’t the only spirits alive in DuPont

The Little River

Watermark

If you would like to write an article, suggest an article topic, or submit a photo for this newsletter, please contact Newsletter Editor, Nancy Kay at [email protected] or 707-477-6683.

Look for the new 2015 FODF Calendar inside

this issue

Download the New DuPont Forest Map By Jeff Jennings & Carmen Durham

This issue

Advisory Committee 2

I Spy with my Naked Eye 2

Iron Rangers 2

Cemeteries Provides Clues 3

Weather Station Plays

Important Role 4 & 5

Tour de Falls Wrap Up 6

2015 Calendar of Events

Insert 7

Muddy Sneakers 9

Treated to Lecture 9

President’s Report 10

Volunteer Appreciation 10

Forest Supervisor’s Report 11

Workin’ the Visitors Center 12

New Business Memberships 13

Membership Form 14

Instructions on downloading and using the new DuPont State Forest Map app!

Check Out the Amazing New DuPont Forest Map App!

Do you have a smartphone or tablet? Do you play in DuPont State Recreational Forest and carry your smartphone? If so, check out the new digital map from Friends of DuPont Forest that allows you to track your hikes and rides inside the Forest without using a cell phone signal! The map costs only $4.99 and uses the free Avenza PDF Maps App.

Avenza PDF Maps allows you to view the FODF map at a very high resolution and utilize your phone’s GPS. PDF Maps will show your location on the map, record GPS tracks of your activity in the Forest, record place marks and photos, and export your tracks to a .gpx or .kml file. You can also easily email your tracks to others from the App. Best of all, proceeds from sales of this Map app will fund projects to support the Forest.

Those who have been using this new app have given it rave reviews for it’s clarity, multifunctionality, and ease of use. To download the app to your device, follow the instructions in the accompanying graphic. For technical issues regarding the map application, contact technical support at Avenza Maps. For general comments or map corrections, please send an email to http://www.dupontforest.com/mapdigital/.

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.dupontforest.com/mapdigital/

Page 2

Advisory Committee Plays Vital Role By Aleen Steinberg, Photo by Bev Parlier

The DuPont State Recreational Forest Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee plays several vital roles for DuPont State Recre-ational Forest. It works to foster good will and support for Forest resources and programs. The Advisory Committee also provides a forum for intro-ducing innovative ideas regarding programs and policies and serves as a liaison between Forest users and administration by interpreting the needs and concerns of the public.

Members are appointed by the Director of the North Carolina Forest Ser-vice, and are uniquely qualified to promote the development, manage-ment, and protection of forest resources. They include members of both the Transylvania and Henderson Board of County Commissioners, a member of the Cedar Mountain community, a professional forester, a rep-resentative of the forest industry, a landowner, a sportsman, a conserva-tionist, a hiker, a biker, an equestrian, and a representative of the DuPont Corporation. The president of Friends of DuPont Forest was appointed as an Advisory Committee member in 2014. Meetings are held quarterly un-der the direction of the Forest Supervisor.

While the Advisory Committee has no authority or responsibility for policy making, it has played an active role in securing a master plan for the For-est, and is committed to using well designed studies for the future stew-ardship of the Forest’s precious resources.

Fall in the Forest

I Spy With My Naked Eye

Do you know where this tree is located within the Forest? It ap-pears that someone nailed a metal pipe to it long ago, and, as the tree has grown, it has done its best to adapt. The answer providing the location of this tree can be found on page 10.

I Spy With My Naked Eye Photos & Trivia By Nancy Kay

Please Feed Us!

And who are we, asking to be fed? We are the Friends of DuPont Forest (FODF) donation tubes aka, the “Iron Rangers”. We are located in every parking lot within the Forest. We love to be fed coins, but have a special fondness for bills of any denomination. What we don’t like are rocks, candy wrappers, and dirt. Really small people like to feed these things to us!

We Iron Rangers like to compete with each other to see who gets fed the most. Hooker Falls is always the big winner! Second is High Falls, followed by Fawn Lake. There are many visitors to the Corn Mill Shoals lot, but not many feed the Iron Ranger there. Maybe it could be moved closer to the trails, and more people would notice it. At least the Corn Mill Shoals Iron Ranger gets fed more than those at Guion Farm and Lake Imaging. Unfortu-nately, these two Iron Rangers go hungry.

FODF treasurer, Jerry Clouse gives us a cleaning every so often. But it is funny to watch–he has to practically stand on his head to do it! People do make odd comments when witnessing this, but Jerry does a good cleaning job. In a year’s time he collects about $2,000.00 from us. And, guess what, all that money goes to support DuPont State Recreational Forest.

So help spread the word- we are hungry! Please feed us!

Please Feed Us! Article, Drawing & Photos by Bev Parlier

How do you want your Friends of DuPont newsletter delivered?

The Little River Watermark is published quarterly. We send out an electronic copy of the newsletter to all mem-

bers with a valid e-mail address. You can also read the current issues and archived issues on the dupontfor-

est.com website. Click on Newsletters on the left of the screen. For members who do not have an e-mail address

or who have not requested e-mail delivery, we send a printed copy by first class mail. We are happy to supply The

Little River Watermark in the form you like best. If you wish to receive an e-mail copy instead of the printed version

or if you are currently not receiving a printed version and wish to request that form of delivery, let us know at mem-

[email protected]. We will update your profile so you get the news just the way you like it!

Page 3

What began as a health crisis for the Heath family in late 1861 progressed to a political one over the following few years. West-ern North Carolina was divided between North and South, neighbor against neighbor, and when the lines of demar-cation broke down bush-whackers terrorized the residents.

One victim of the moun-tain version of the Civil War was Micajah Thom-as, whose story is told at hendersonheritage.com, a useful source for local historians.

Born in 1808, Thomas lived and farmed in the DuPont Forest area on land that had been deeded to his family in 1799. In 1831, he built the Buck Forest Hotel on “an early road,” though the ex-act location of that structure is still in question. He was the postmaster of Cedar Mountain, but that is apparently not where the current spot is.

He married Ann Caroline Hightower and they had 12 children. Accord-ing to family legend, Micajah Thomas was blinded during the Civil War when Union sympathizers or Union recruiters in the area beat him over the head with the butts of their guns. The story states further that the same Northern partisans burned the hotel and his home. According to the family account, the Union sympathizers burned the inn and home-stead.

One grave indicates active military service on the Northern side. The division of loyalties is dramatically illustrated in the Moore Cemetery. A lone marker bears the name J.D. Sentell, but the middle initial may be wrong or eroded by climate. No dates are listed but the stone says Sen-tell was a member of the “2nd regiment, Company F, NC m’t’d inf,” a combination cavalry/infantry unit.

According the regimental historian, this is probably the grave of Jesse B. Sentell, of Buncombe County, who enlisted in 1863, when he was 36 years old. How and when he died remains a mystery.

The one document in the archives for Sentell also notes that he had light complexion, gray eyes and red hair. And he was 5’7” tall, a perfect size for battle at a time when cavalry units (and their horses) preferred smaller riders.

Other stories are certain to emerge as new research into the cemeteries is conducted and existing research comes to light. For the moment, passers-by can observe a sign in the Thomas Cemetery that summariz-es the strife that marked that era.

The sign, at the western border of the Thomas Cemetery, repeats the epitaph on the grave shared by A.W. and Harriet Thomas. It reads, “No pain, no grief, no anxious fears can reach our loved ones sleeping here.”

This sign overlooks Thomas Cemetery. Photo courtesy of Nancy Kay

Forester, Denver Beddingfield, inspects grave-

stone in Moore Cemetery. Photo courtesy of Jerry

Brown

Cemeteries Provide Clues to Forest’s Past

Blue ghost fireflies aren’t the only spirits alive in DuPont State Recrea-tional Forest.

Travelers on the trails may see two cemeteries with marked graves, but they’ll likely miss others discovered by rangers and signified only with head and footstones.

The two most prominent graveyards tell of heartbreaking hardships and a hardy sense of survival, in the years between the departure of the Cherokees and the demise of the chestnuts. The cemeteries are a trove for necrogeographers- mainly genealogists and regional historians- who find cemeteries prime resources.

One such resource, on a knoll just above Hooker Falls, is the Moore Cemetery, also known as the Hooker Falls Cemetery, or the Laurel Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Another, off Conservation Road, near the center of the forest, is the Thomas Cemetery.

Documents in the Transylvania County Library reveal much about these burial places and reflect the ongoing work of many researchers. A while back, small granite markers were placed to guide the curious to these and other cemeteries. Within the Thomas Cemetery is a marker en-graved with the number 3; in the Moore, it’s numbered 4. The numbers correspond to maps and to files in the Transylvania County Library’s local history room.

Many of the names in the cemeteries are common enough to suggest that descendants are around who can tell more complete stories of the pioneers and the trials they endured.

One of the saddest from the Moore Cemetery tells of what happened to the family of Isaac and Jane Shipman Heath. According to a 1982 letter in the library files from Billie A. Taylor, four of their children died of an epidemic between November 30 and December 17, 1861.

Isaac went alone to bury his children because he was afraid others might catch the disease if they remained with the bodies. He requested that he be buried next to them, and he was, on May 31,1895. His wife died in April l904 and is buried in Rocky Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.

Cemeteries Provide Clues to Forest’s Past By Jerry Brown

http://dupontforest.com/

http://dupontforest.com/



Figure 1—Solar panel supplies power

Page 4

Guion Farm Weather Station Plays an Important Role in Forest Fire

Control

The Guion Farm weather station is rarely noticed by visitors who park in

the Guion Farm Access Area off Sky Valley Road in DuPont State Rec-

reational Forest. This, in spite of the fact that it is located in an open

field within a few feet of Hickory Mountain Road. Many assume that it is

just a tower for communications between the Lake Julia office and the

training center at Guion Farm. In spite of its relative obscurity, this sta-

tion is an important component of a network of thousands of weather

stations in the United States. Understanding the significance of the

Guion Farm weather station requires a rather detailed description of

several interconnected networks that collect, analyze, archive, and

distribute climatological data within the United States.

Interconnected weather data collections

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration operates

an extensive network of satellites, buoys, and land-based weather sta-

tions that collect and transmit weather data on a daily basis. Data from

land-based weather systems are transmitted to a GOES Satellite and,

from there sent to one of six Regional Climate Centers, such as the

Western Regional Climate Center in Reno, Nevada and the Southeast

Regional Climate Center at UNC-Chapel Hill. The data collected, which

include more than 150 million paper records and 17 billion megabytes

(17 petabytes) of digitized information, are archived and analyzed by

the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville. This huge collection of

data was stored in the Grove Arcade from 1951 until 1995, when, due

to concerns that the increasing mass of data might crush the Grove

Arcade, the facility was moved to its current location at 151 Patton Ave-

nue.

Many of the original land-based weather stations were built at airports.

The Federal Aviation Administration, National Weather Service, and

Department of Defense now maintain an extensive series of weather

stations referred to as the ASOS (Automated Surface Observing Sys-

tem) program. Airports tend to be located near major metropolitan are-

as, so the ASOS network is an excellent source of weather data for

highly populated areas.

Remote Automatic Weather Stations (RAWS)

Because the ASOS network does not provide adequate coverage for

millions of acres of grasslands, prairies, and forests that are at risk for

wild land fires, the RAWS network was established in 1985. There are

nearly 2,200 RAWS units strategically located throughout the United

States. These stations are owned by a local wild land fire agency, such

as the NC Forest Service, and are placed in locations at risk for environ-

mental fires. RAWS units provide weather data that help land manage-

ment agencies monitor fuel conditions and rate fire danger. RAWS units

send data via satellite to a computer system at the National Interagency

Fire Center in Boise, Idaho and to the Western Regional Climate Cen-

ter. Lastly, RAWS units provide accurate environmental data for wild

land fire preparedness and suppression operations and contribute to

fire fighter safety and the protection of life and property.

Although established independently, the ASOS and RAWS networks

are interconnected at various levels. For example, the State Climate

Office of North Carolina, which is affiliated with North Carolina State

University, combines data from ASOS and RAWS units into the Fire

Weather Intelligence Portal. Based on a 2003 survey that found many

NC counties with inadequate coverage by ASOS and RAWS units, the

State Climate Office proposed creation of NC ECOnet.

Figure 2—Anemometer measures wind speed and direction

Figure —Shaded instruments measure humidity and temperature

Weather Station Plays an Important Role Article & Photos by Kent Wilcox

The NC ECOnet, managed by the NC Department of Agriculture, is de-

signed to provide enhanced climatological data for farmers. When com-

pleted, the network will consist of at least one state-of-the-art weather

and environmental observing station in each county. In some cases,

existing stations will be upgraded. There are currently no ECOnet or

ASOS units and only one RAWS unit (Davidson River) in Transylvania

County. In Henderson County, there are two ECOnet stations (Mills River

and Bearwallow Mountain) and one RAWS unit. Which brings us back to

the Guion Farm weather station. (Continued on page 5)

Page 5

Figure 4—Wooden rod measures fuel moisture

Figure 5—Tipping bucket measures rain

Figure 6—Mechanics of a tipping bucket rain gauge. Diagram courtesy of David Conner at the Weather Shack

Guion Farm’s RAWS unit

The Guion Farm weather station is the only RAWS unit located in Hen-

derson County. The original station was built by the NC Forest Service

and became operational on October 22, 1999. A new tower with updat-

ed instruments was installed in 2003. The Guion Farm RAWS unit is

owned, operated, and serviced by the NC Forest Service. Responsibili-

ties for routine maintenance will soon be transferred from the District 1

Office in Asheville to a ranger at DuPont State Recreational Forest.

Data are sent from the Guion Farm RAWS unit via GEOS to the West-

ern Regional Climate Center and then to the National Climate Data

Center in Asheville. The data are readily accessible on web sites main-

tained by NOAA, the NC Forest Service, and FODF

(http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/rawMAIN.pl?laNGUI).

How the Guion system works

A solar panel (Figure 1) on the Guion Farm RAWS unit recharges bat-

teries and provides power for data transmission and instruments that

measure solar radiation, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direc-

tion (Figure 2), relative humidity and air temperature (Figure 3), fuel

moisture (Figure 4), and precipitation (Figure 5). Precipitation is meas-

ured by a tipping bucket rain gauge that uses two small "buckets"

mounted on a pivoting platform (Figure 6). The tipping bucket platform is

located below a funnel that collects precipitation. When a bucket con-

tains a precise amount of water, typically equal to .01 inch precipitation,

it becomes overbalanced and tips down, thus pivoting the other bucket

into place. Each tipping event triggers a switch that counts the number

of tips.

Personal weather stations

A professional RAWS unit costs approximately $16,000. Personal

weather stations that transmit data to a home computer can be pur-

chased for less than $1,000. Weathershack.com is one of several in-

formative sites that offer home and professional weather stations.

Weather Underground (www.wunderground.com) maintains a network

that collects and displays weather data from more than 37,000 locations

in the United States, including the Guion Farm station and more than

two dozen other stations in Transylvania and Henderson Counties. If

you want to know the current weather in or around DuPont State Recre-

ational Forest, there are plenty of sites you can visit. But be forewarned,

rain storms are notoriously local in DuPont Forest; the sun may be shin-

ing on Guion Farm while torrential rain is falling on Fawn Lake.

I wish to thank the following members of the NC Forest Service for

providing detailed information for this article: Caleb Jones (Assistant

District Forester, District 1), Bruce MacDonald (Assistant Forest Super-

visor, DSRF), and David Brown (Forest Supervisor-Retired, DSRF).

David Conner at the Weather Shack kindly gave permission to use the

diagram in Figure 6. Photographs for Figures 1 to 5 were taken by the

author.

FODF Newsletter Committee: Nancy Kay - Newsletter Edi-

tor, Nancy Black - Copy Editor, Kent Wilcox, Aleen Stein-

berg, Jerry Brown & Helen Lee.

Newsletter Contributors: Rella Allred, Nancy Black, Lyle

Burgmnn, Jerry Brown, Calendar of Events Committee,

Carmen Durham, Devin Gentry, Anita Goldschmidt, Jeff

Jennings, Jason Guidry, Alan Kay, Nancy Kay, Shae Kre-

merer, Muddy Sneakers, Ryan Olson, Bev Parlier, Aleen

Steinberg & Kent Wilcox

Weather Station Plays an Important Role (Continued from page 4)

Page 6

Tour de Falls Wrap Up

Tour de Falls is held twice a year in DuPont State Recrea-

tional Forest, and involves a guided bus tour of Triple Falls,

High Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Lake Julia. This event gives

everyone, and especially those with small children or limited

hiking ability, the chance to see and learn about some of

the most beautiful sites in the Forest. Tour de Falls is also

the biggest fundraising event for the Friends of DuPont

Forest (FODF).

The Tour de Falls event on October 18th and 19th saw beautiful weather and excellent attendance (more than 1100 guests). On this page you will see some of the guests at the October Tour thanks to photographer Anita Gold-schmidt.

Here are some comments from the guests about their favor-

ite part of the October 2014 Tour:

Short hikes. Kind volunteers. Beautiful waterfalls.

The views of the waterfalls were amazing.

Bus availability- could never have experienced this

otherwise! Thank you, thank you, thank you for this

opportunity!

Everything!

It was all very well organized. The guides were

great.

All the tour was fabulous, like the cider at the end.

Volunteers were extra special. It was an honor to meet the lady that made all this possible. And of course the falls are beautiful. The colored leaves and the waterfalls. The tour guides on the buses were full of interesting infor-mation and facts.

More than 80 volunteers from FODF, Pisgah Trail Blazers,

and Americorp made the October Tour possible. If you want

to enjoy time in the Forest while helping others enjoy the

Forest please contact Lyle Burgmann ([email protected]

or 864-399-3071) to volunteer for the next Tour de Falls

event.

2015 Tour de Falls Dates

May 2 and 3

September 26 and 27

Please mark these dates on your calendar and join us at the Tour as a guest and/or volunteer. Also, please tell your friends, family, and members of local organizations about this fabulous event.

Tour de Falls Wrap Up By Lyle Burgmann, Photos by Anita Goldschmidt

Travelers from India experience the view of

Triple Falls

Technology at work at the High Falls overlook

At High Falls overlook, visitor reads about the

history of Buck Forest Lodge

Gentleman takes a refreshment break at Bridal

Veil Falls

A flute adds to the music of Bridal Veil Falls

Horsing around at the Bridal Veil Falls pickup

spot Visitor enjoys the serenity and beauty of Lake

Julia

A family, originally from Vietnam, have lunch at

Bridal Veil Falls 90-year-old Black Mountain, NC man enjoys

Tour de Falls


Monthly Trail Work Days Rella Allred 864-663-4111 None

Volunteers' work days are scheduled the second Saturday of each Month to maintain trails at DuPont

1/31/15 Litter Pick-up Dan Bresnahan 884-6806 None

Join the Litter-Haters! Meet at Lake Imaging parking lot at 9 AM

2/8/15 Winter Tree ID Hike Fred Roane 595-4181 15

Winter walk with Michael Sweat, DuPont Forester. Meet at High Falls Parking Lot at 10:00.

3/21/15 Geology Hike Aleen Steinberg 885-2477 20

Jim Reynolds, Brevard College will lead this Saturday outing. Aleen Steinberg Center classroom, 1:00.

3/24/15 Friends of DuPont Forest Board Meeting Devin Gentry 553-5021

Meet at 6:30 at Aleen Steinberg Center

4/11/15 The Cherokee of DuPont -- what evidence do we have of the natives in our area? Aleen Steinberg 885-2477 20

Led by Dr. Keith Parker Steinberg Ctr classroom, followed by walk up Cedar Rock.


Join the Litter-Haters! Meet at Lake Imaging parking lot at 9:00 AM

4/21/15 Annual Friends of DuPont Membership Meeting Devin Gentry 553-5021

Henderson County Library, Hendersonville (unless otherwise published), 6:30 - 8:30

4/25/15 What's Popping Up? Wildflower Walk at Holmes Educational State Forest Fred Roane 595-4181 20

Bring your wildflower I.D. books and magnifying glasses. Meet at Holmes Educational Forest at 10:30 AM

May 2 & 3 Tour de Falls (Check DuPontForest.org for updates.) Many Volunteers needed. Lyle Burgmann Dan Bresnahan

864-399-3071 884-6806 None





May 29 & 30 Blue Ghost Firefly Walk Aleen Steinberg 885-2477 25

Learn about and see these enchanting blue-light resident insects. High Falls parking lot at 9:00 PM

6/18/15 Endangered Speciies in DuPont Allen Cameron 692-0518 20

Classroom presentation on critters that need our help to survive. Steinberg Center classroom, 1:00-3:00 Members

7/18/15 Mountain Medicine Devin Gentry 553-5021 20

What herbs, roots and bark might soothe your aches, or soul? Steinberg Center classroom, 10:00.



7/30/15 Presentation on Endangered Green Salamander Allen Cameron 692-0518 20

Learn where they live -- and -- look but don't touch :-)

8/22/15 Mushroom Hike with Ham and Renee Hamilton Fred Roane 595-4181 20

Don't eat them until you know they're safe. Holmes Educational Forest -- 10:00 (Watch for updates.)



9/12/15 Fall Botanical Walk at Guion Farm -- ADYC Helen Lee 884-8524 25

Come out to identify and enjoy wild plants of DuPont -- "Another Darned Yellow Composite". Meet at Guion Farm at 10:00

9/17/15 Mammals in DuPont Allen Cameron 692-0518 20

Classroom presentation on small and large critters in our forest. Steinberg Center classroom, 1:00-3:00 Members



Sep 26 & 27 Tour de Falls (Check DuPontForest.org for updates.) Many Volunteers needed. Lyle Burgmann Dan Bresnahan

864-399-3071 884-6806

10/11/15 FODF Canoe Day -- Sunday Dick Childs 883-4409 Members

Canoes and snacks provided for/by FODF members at Lake Julia. Meet at Fawn Lake parking lot between 10-3:00 Only

10/31/15 Moonshine Still Hike ---- BYOJ Fred Roane 595-4181 15

It used to be common practice in these mountains. Carpool from Guion Farm lot -- 10:00. Dress for thick undergrowth, rough terrain.





12/12/15 History/Cemetery Hike -- Moore Cemetery Fred Roane 595-4181 20

What do we know about our early settlers? Hooker Falls parking lot at 10:00.

1/9/2016 FODF Board Retreat Devin Gentry 553-5021 Board

Location to be determined

This is a schedule of planned events for 2015. More details will be available later for each event in the newsletter and/or by member email.

Reservations are taken one month before the event where there is a limit of participants. All events are open to the public unless noted "Members".

Contact the FODF member listed for your reservation. We are always looking for new ideas, so please volunteer your suggestions and exper-tise.

Date Event Contact Phone (828) Limit

Holiday Gifts That Benefit the Forest By Nancy Kay

(Continued on page 13))

Muddy Sneakers Students Connect to Nature via DuPont Forest

For the 7th year, Friends of DuPont Forest (FODF) is partnering with

fellow non-profit Muddy Sneakers to make the lands they steward an

outdoor classroom and extend environmental exploration and educa-

tion well beyond the summer months. For 2014, FODF awarded Mud-

dy Sneakers a programming grant of $7,500, ensuring that fifth grad-

ers from six local elementary schools will continue to have the oppor-

tunity to experience the waterfalls and woodlands of DuPont State

Recreational Forest through multiple “learning expeditions” spread

across the school year.

Muddy Sneakers provides field-based, experiential science education

to fifth grade students at public schools across western North Carolina.

The organization’s mission is to awaken in children a deeply felt con-

nection with the natural world, one that inspires curiosity, stimulates

learning, and brings new life to classroom performance – goals that

are echoed in the educational component of FODF’s vision. Students

visiting DuPont State Recreational Forest on a Muddy Sneakers learn-

ing expedition might measure the biodiversity of Tom Creek by classi-

fying aquatic insects; observe heat moving through conduction, con-

vection, and radiation as they make hot tea out of native mint leaves;

or compare the curl of rhododendron leaves to hourly temperature

observations recorded while studying weather. In short, the Forest

provides students with an incredible living laboratory through which to

learn their science curriculum.

Friends of DuPont Forest has long been in the vanguard among a

growing network of community groups, conservation organizations,

and businesses rallying to bring community sponsorship to Muddy

Sneakers in support of its educational mission. The 2014-15 school

year marks the continuation of a storied history between the two or-

ganizations as DuPont State Recreational Forest provided the very

first protected lands Muddy Sneakers students ever visited in the

spring of 2008.

FODF also played a key role in Muddy Sneakers’ founding serving as

the fiscal agent for the then-fledgling organization allowing it the time

necessary to acquire its 501(c)3 non-profit status. In 2014 those few

initial footprints spread into unmistakable tracks all across DuPont’s

FODF Members Treated to Lecture By Cherokee Expert

Dr. Keith Parker provided expert instruction during a class held in November at the Aleen Steinberg Visitor Center. A hike with Dr. Parker to an area off of Big Rock Trail to view petro-glyphs followed the classroom lecture.

Dr. Parker, a native of Transylvania County, is also a Jungian analyst, pastoral counselor, and author. His personal experience involves his own 200-year-old family history in our an-cient mountains. He serves as vice president of the Transylvania County Historical Society Board of Directors, and is frequently asked to lecture at colleges, churches, and community events on local and Cherokee history. Dr. Parker spoke to FODF members about the evi-dence of earlier cultures left by the Cherokee and more ancient peoples in this area.

Dr. Parker explained that petroglyphs are pictures dug or scratched into rock. Petroglyphs are present in several places over a large area in what was historically Cherokee country. He showed images of Judaculla Rock in Jackson County, which is a large boulder completely covered in etchings. He explained that these drawings were probably done over a long period of time between 3000 and 1000 B.C. Judaculla, the one-eyed giant, was a strong figure in Cherokee mythology. Judaculla sat in judgment over those who hunted game on what has come to be known as the Devil’s Courthouse.

Transylvania County holds major mythological sites for the ancient sacred Cherokee stories which were documented in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, before the Cherokee were forced to move farther west. Looking Glass Falls and Looking Glass Rock in Pisgah Forest were also tied to the Judaculla myth. The town of Cullowhee derives its name from Judaculla.

Dr. Keith Parker (center) points out round petroglyph to

FODF members

FODF Members Treated to Lecture Rella Allred, Photo by Alan Kay

Page 9

trails leaving a lasting impact on thousands of children, many of whom

were unfamiliar with the Forest prior to their Muddy Sneaker experience.

In 2013-14, over 1,000 students visited the Forest over the course of 19

school days, representing six different local elementary schools from

Transylvania and Henderson Counties.

The power of DuPont State Recreational Forest as an outdoor classroom

and playground is unparalleled even in western North Carolina. From the

high granite dome of Cedar Rock Mountain to the thundering gorge of

Triple Falls, the forest provides a wealth of awe-inspiring moments for

local students. Muddy Sneakers Field Instructor Ben Nelson shares, “After

many expeditions in DuPont, an instructor will return at the end of the day

with a story about a student who had the chance to see a waterfall for the

first time. The moment of that first glimpse has a joy in it that teaches

something beyond words. We’re all very grateful to have access to such

an awe-inspiring landscape for our students.”

To learn more about Muddy Sneakers, visit www.muddysneakers.org.

Fifth graders from Pisgah Elementary School enjoy their Forest classroom. Photo

courtesy of Muddy Sneakers

Muddy Sneakers Connect to Nature By Ryan Olson

http://www.muddysneakers.org

Page 10

So many talented and generous people volunteer their time to benefit the Forest. No one fits this description more than longtime FODF supporter, Nancy Black. Here is how she responded to my questions.

What are your volunteer activities, past and present?

I joined FODF and served on its Board of Directors from 2002-2009. During my tenure on the board, I initiated the membership/renewal program and took on the new role of Mem-bership Coordinator. I created and designed event flyers such as the first Tour de Falls flyer and rack card, Volunteers Wanted flyers, member appreciation day invitation cards, sat on many Board committees, and designed membership tee shirts. I was The Little River Watermark Newsletter Editor for the past 10 years and recently became the News-letter Copy Editor.

What fuels your desire to volunteer in the Forest?

Working full time with my family business doesn’t leave me as much time as I would like to volunteer during summer daylight hours. My strength really is in providing support behind the scenes for those who do volunteer.

What is your favorite way to recreate in the Forest?

My favorite is hiking to the waterfalls and talking to Forest visitors.

Do you have a favorite trail? If so, which one and why is it your favorite?

All trails I have hiked are beautiful. I don’t have one in particular as a favorite. Someday, my goal is to hike every trail in the Forest.

If you could be granted one wish for the Forest, what would it be?

My wish is to see the Forest preserved for future generations, so that people and groups can continue to respect and enjoy the waterfalls, wildlife, and trails for many years to come.

Nancy Black

President’s Report

January is a great time of year to reflect on previous successes and challeng-

es, and to develop a plan for the coming year. That is exactly what members of

the FODF Board of Directors were doing at our annual all-day Board Retreat on

January 17th.

This year had many highlights including the launch of our new website and

Mobile App, well attended special events, funding of trail improvement projects,

and thousands of donated volunteer service hours. There are, however, obvi-

ous challenges lying ahead and areas in which the Friends of DuPont Forest

could use your help in 2015.

One of the easiest and most helpful things you can do is to make sure to renew

your annual membership, and if your financial situation allows, please consider

joining at a higher level. Also, if you have friends that you know frequent the

Forest, or know of local businesses that benefit from the Forest, encourage

them to join FODF. (We just launched a new Business Membership Program

that comes with great benefits such as advertising on our new website!)

Another way you can get involved is by volunteering your time at one of our

events such as Tour de Falls or Canoe Day. Volunteer workdays are scheduled for the second Saturday of each month to maintain the trails within the

Forest. These workdays are a lot fun and are a great way to keep our trails open and protect our local watersheds. If you are interested in volunteering

on a trail project, contact Rella Allred at 828-749-5626.

There are also opportunities to get involved behind the scenes with map design, and on the front line by providing visitor information in our parking lots,

at the Aleen Steinberg Center, and at the FODF booth at a local festival. If you have any questions or would like to get further involved with the Friends

of DuPont Forest, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].

See you on the trails,

Devin Gentry

Friends of DuPont Forest President

Devin Gentry takes a snow day with his dog Mecca

FODF Appreciates Volunteers By Nancy Kay

This very adaptive tree is locat-ed on Thomas Cemetery Road in close proximity to where it joins Buck Forest Road

President’s Report By Devin Gentry


Forest, which resulted in the collabo-

rative completion of a new pedestrian

bridge across Little River and the

Aleen Steinberg Center in 2013,

continues with this year’s finalization

of the DSRF Master Plan. This Mas-

ter Plan will be the road map forward

for the Forest’s infrastructure and

capital improvements, and stands as

an indicator of the Commissioner’s

recognition of DuPont’s needs going

forward.

As the Forest develops, both as a

facility and natural area, the Friends

of DuPont Forest will be a key partner

with the NC Forest Service planning initiatives. Partnerships such as those

with FODF are invaluable to bolster our efforts with infusions of funding, vol-

unteer labor, and a local talent pool of individuals who want to help the Forest

on multiple fronts. FODF is not merely appreciated, but I view the organization

to be a critical resource going forward.

The FODF volunteer labor continues to provide significant enhancement to

the Forest. Unique products such as Tour de Falls and the latest FODF map

are the result of your hard work and expertise. Highway litter pickup and a

yearlong schedule of guided tours are examples of important work the FODF

provides that otherwise would be difficult for the Ranger staff alone to provide.

Parking lot hosts and Visitor Center volunteers (whom I think of as our com-

rades-in-arms) create a high level of customer service that our Rangers find

essential on a daily basis.

The FODF support for the trail system has, by far, provided the biggest pro-

gram impact. The trail system would not be the world-class venue that it is

regarded as today without FODF contributions. For this coming year, we will

be performing maintenance on several popular and important system trails

such as Ridgeline, Jim Branch, Locust, and Hooker Creek.

All of this to say, please keep doing what you are doing, but more. We’re

facing the challenge to manage growth pains together, not as separate enti-

ties. Let’s challenge ourselves as partners to see the Forest for its many as-

pects, to view the Forest as holistic managers, to accept that a new era of

challenges and opportunities can be met with imagination, a tolerance for

change, and an enduring passion for this special place.

I look forward to working with each and every one of you.

Regards,

Jason Guidry

Forest Supervisor

Page 11

Dear Friends,

2014 was another record year for people enjoying and exploring DuPont

State Recreational Forest. We estimate that approximately 443,000

people visited the Forest, a figure that is ~85,000 people higher than the

previous high experienced with 2012’s 358,000 visitors. The majority of

the increase occurred over the summer months of 2014, which indicates

a new level of recognition among seasonal tourists visiting Western

North Carolina. A quick visual survey of vehicle license plates in the

Hooker Falls and High Falls access areas during a busy day only rein-

forces the notion that our Forest visitors are coming from far and wide.

It is very difficult to point to one factor that has contributed to the Forest’s

popularity. I get a lot of questions as to whether the filming of the first

Hunger Games brought attention to the Forest? The Figure 1 shows that

visitation was on the up-tick prior to the release of the film in May of 2012.

The year 2011 showed a significant bump from the previous years. My

guess is that the Hunger Games simply added to the momentum of popu-

larity.

The Figure 2 is a composite of social media interest in the term, “DuPont

State Recreational Forest” over time, provided by a well-known Internet

search engine. Not surprisingly, the trends of interest mirror those of our

visitation and show the disappearance of the drop during the “off-season”

between summer and fall of a given year. I’ve added some markers to

consider as points of interest.

My best guess is that word-of-mouth networks are driving the sharp rise

on national and international scales. I’ve mentioned before in this newslet-

ter that social media networks can be partly to thank (or blame?) for such

word-of-mouth. In 2010, smart-phones emerged as a convenient way for

Internet searching and media-sharing to leave the confines of the PC.

What we now consider to a ubiquitous tool in our society, was just gaining

a foothold around the time our visitation started to change. Now, one per-

son’s description of great experience at DSRF along with an on-line post-

ing of a photo of a spectacular waterfall can be shared instantly with a

thousand people, who in turn can share again with another thousand, and

again, and again…all over the world.

And who can blame them? From easy hikes to waterfalls, mountain lakes,

granite balds, excellent trails, Blue Ghost fireflies, neighbors such as Pis-

gah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway, and proximity to urban

centers, the Forest has it all. From what I’ve read about such social phe-

nomena, the positive quality of an experience is an important driver when

someone decides to share or spread via word-of-mouth. It is safe to say

that the Forest is providing that experience.

So if 2014 perhaps marks the point in time when DSRF became a desti-

nation all unto itself, what does 2015 hold? The NC Forest Service and

the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are commit-

ted to providing a safe and clean environment for visitors, and to protect

our natural elements. Commissioner Steve Troxler’s commitment to the

Figure 1: Annual Visitation to DSRF

Figure 2: Internet/Social Media Interest in DSRF

DuPont State Recreational Forest Supervisor’s Report By Jason I. Guidry

Workin’ the Visitor Center Counter

Volunteers working at the Aleen Steinberg Visitor Center answer many questions, most of which have something to do with how to get to the waterfalls. Here are some other questions that have been asked of the ASC volunteers:

Are there animals in the woods? Are there waterfalls here? Will I see a bear? Why is it called DuPont? Do planes land on that airstrip? Where is the tree Katniss (from The Hunger Games) sat in? Are there bike trails here?

The Aleen Steinberg Center (ASC) opened on July 1, 2013. Since open-ing, 105,295 people have visited the ASC. Approximately 25% of DuPont’s 427,000 annual visitors come to the ASC.

In addition to answering questions, ASC volunteers sell FODF maps, accept donations for bottled water, and try to identify leaves and other natural things visitors bring in. There is a set of Peterson’s Field Guides behind the counter to help! Volunteers also call a ranger in case of an emergency, and help connect people with lost items. The Forest’s official lost and found box is in the visitor center.

“Giving back to the forest” is a big reason people like to volunteer in the ASC. Also, meeting folks from all over the USA (more people are coming to DSRF as a vacation destination) and even foreign countries is exciting. Helping a Muslim woman wearing a burka and hiking shoes and trying to explain multi-use trails to a German-speaking man make for an exciting day!

Volunteers cherish feedback from visitors–such as the two 80-year-olds who came back to say thanks after their hike, or the mountain biker who found the recommended trails and stopped by after his ride to say thanks.

Workin’ the Visitor Center By Bev Parlier

Early this past December, ASC Directors Bob Twomey and Denver Bed-dingfield organized a Christmas tree trimming get-together for all the ASC volunteers. There was lots of food, an ASC “pretzel cabin” created by Kristina Beddingfield on display, and much merriment as the tree was decorated. Bob recognized the top ASC volunteers (those who have logged the most hours), and each received a mug decorated with a photo of the ASC.

The ASC winter hours are weekends only until March 15. After that, open every day! New volunteers are needed and welcome. If you would like to help, contact Bob Twomey at [email protected].

And yes, there are waterfalls at DuPont......

This ASC replica looks very edible. Photo courtesy of Bev Parlier

Well-balanced youngster helps trim the tree. Photo Courtesy of Bev Parlier

Beauty adorns the Visitor Center celebration. Photo courtesy of Shae Kemerer

Volunteers With the Most Hours in 2014

Chris McDonnell 235.5 hours

Nancy Rosenthal 200 hours

Jack Soyak 188.5 hours

Tom Daniel 187.5 hours

Ruth Daniel 180 hours

Michael Rosenthal 176 hours

Judy Vangelis 154 hours

Shae Kermerer 140.5 hours

Gail Bolton 127.5 hours

Marty Spencer 118.5 hours

Page 12

mailto:[email protected].

Page 13 Official Launch of FODF Business Membership by Valerie Naylor

Official Launch of the FODF Business Membership Program

DuPont State Recreational Forest contributes a great deal to our local economy, drawing many thousands of visitors to the area and encouraging them to stay, eat, shop, and spend at our local businesses. Until recently, there hasn’t been a program in place to welcome members of the business community into the FODF family. We now have an FODF Business Membership Program that allows business owners to contribute to the success of the Forest which, in turn, brings so many customers to their doors.

The new FODF Business Membership Program offers benefits such as exposure on the newly revamped FODF website and within the FODF newsletter. Businesses also receive a window decal as a display of their support. Perhaps the greatest benefit of all, though, is the knowledge that businesses are being responsible members of the local community and supporting a valu-able local resource.

Please check out the recently revised FODF website (www.dupontforest.com), particularly the Local Goods and Services page, for a list of the local businesses that are supporting FODF and the Forest.

If you are a business owner and would like to become a business member of Friends of DuPont Forest, use the Local Goods and Services webpage to link to the membership applica-tion. Also, feel free to contact Business Membership Chair, Valerie Naylor at [email protected] or 828-775-7334 for more information.

Black Bear Business Member

Blue Ghost Business Members

Deer Ridge Property Management Shoal Creek LLC

Valley View Cabins

North Carolina scientific archeological research was done in Transylvania County in 1934 and 1935 by a Brevard College student, Joffre Coe, at the site of the Connestee settlement in Dunn’s Rock Township. Dr. Parker credits the US Forest Service with locating and recording much evidence of ancient peoples in this area. During his presentation, Dr. Parker quoted Forest Service Archeologist, Scott Ashcroft, as saying that, “There are more sites of ancient peoples uncovered by archeological excavations in Transylvania County than any other place in the state.”

Based on archeological finds, Dr. Parker stated, “Prehistoric people are divided into multiple levels, … the much older Archaic Period spans from 3,000 B.C. to as long ago as 8,500 B.C.” He added, “And Transylvania County is revealing evidence of those peoples as well as from the Paleo-Indian Period going way back to 12,000 B.C. if not earlier.” He further states that, “Discovery of such antiquity in Transylvania County shows …our early predecessors as among the oldest in the New World.”

Asked specifically about what is known regarding the circle petroglyphs in DSRF, Parker said, “We just don’t know.” He explained that the circle is a common universal symbol for many things with social and mythical meanings. It can mean motion, perfection, no end, no beginning, sun, moon, pro-tection, inclusion, exclusion, celestial cycles, animal cycles, night, day, and movement of time. Other possible representations could be the feminine gender and a magical boundary not to be crossed. In Jungian theory the circle is the archetypical symbol of our totality, what we are.

If you wished you’d had the chance to attend this educational event, plan to attend the repeat performance to be held on April 11th (see Events Calen-dar for details). Dr. Parker has published two books both of which are available in local books stores. The titles are Sons of Mercy and Justice: A Tran-sylvania Story and Seven Cherokee Myths.

Newest Business Members

FODF Members Treated to Lecture (Continued from page 9)

Page 13



Friends of DuPont Forest

PO Box 2107

Brevard, NC 28712

Membership Get Involved

Friend (1 Year) $25 I would like to volunteer

Family (1 Year) $35 Trail Building & Work Crew

Partner (1 Year) $50 Adopt-a-Hwy Litter Pick-Up

Supporter (1 Year) $100 Special Events (Tour de Falls, Canoe Day, etc)

Hooker Falls Contributor (1 Year) $ 250 Special Forest Interest/Educational Programs

Triple Falls Contributor (1 Year) $ 500 Membership Services

High Falls Contributor (1 Year) $1000 Grant Writing

Forest Angel (1 Year) $1001+ DuPont State Forest History Program

Additional Donation $___________________ Fundraising Efforts

Save the stamps. E-mail my newsletter to the address listed below Other ___________________________________________

Name ______________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________

(Please print clearly)

City ________________________________________________ State___________ ZIP_______________________________________

Phone (_______)_____________________________________ E-mail ____________________________________________________

Mail this form to: Friends of DuPont Forest ~ P.O. Box 2107 ~ Brevard, NC 28712

Devin Gentry, President

Helen Lee, Vice President

Jerry Clouse, Treasurer

Rella Allred, Secretary

Bev Parlier, Past President

Dan Breshnahan

Jerry E. Brown

Lyle Burgmann

Dick Childs

Carmen Durham

Donna Hakala

Nancy Kay

Valerie Naylor

Chuck Ramsey

Kathy Reiff

Brian Spotts

Aleen Steinberg

Fred Weed

FODF Board of Directors

EC Friends of DuPont Forest (FODF) is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to enhancing the public’s enjoyment of the forest while protecting its natural and historic resources.