The Little River

Watermark

If you would like to write an article about the Forest or would like to provide pictures of the Forest, please submit your suggestions, ideas, and articles to the Newsletter Editor, Nancy Kay at vetmama@sonic.net or telephone (707) 477-6683.

This is the second article in a new series describing wild-

life found in the DuPont State Recreational Forest. The

accompanying pictures are taken by hand-held cameras

or by game cameras placed in the Forest and baited to

bring in various animals. If you have a favorite wild crit-

ter, inform newsletter editor, Nancy Kay and I might be

able to depict it.

Beaver

Beavers (Castor canadensis) occur in at least three areas of the DSRF. These are beaver-created bogs on the edge of Buck Forest Road near Lake Imaging Road, in Grassy Creek not far from Tarkiln Branch Road, and along the southern edge of Lake Julia.

Beavers are among the largest of rodents. They are her-bivores and prefer to eat leaves, bark, twigs, roots, and aquatic plants. They move with an ungainly waddle on land but are graceful in the water, where they use their large, webbed rear feet like swimming fins and their pad-dle-shaped tails like rudders.

Most of the beavers in the DSRF do not build lodges but instead live in burrows that have entrances below the water line. They are active all winter, swimming and foraging in their ponds even when a layer of ice covers the surface.

Wild Turkey

The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is now quite com-mon in the DuPont. This species was once almost wiped out due to unregulated and heavy market hunting, rapid deforestation and habitat destruction that began in colo-nial days, and ran right into the 1960’s. Thanks to a rest-

(Continued on page 10)

Castor Canadensis

The dam of a beaver bog near Buck Forest Road

A Walk on the Wild Side Article & Photos by Alan Cameron

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.

A tree on the shore of Lake Julia: possible training class for young beavers or a chew-

ing contest between adults

Page 2

Figure 1: Figure one: Aerial view showing white “X” markings on closed runway. Photo courtesy of Dallam Oliver-Lee, of www.airfields-freeman.com

This is the second in a two part series describing the Summit Airstrip located in DuPont State Recreational Forest. Part one, describing the earlier history of the airstrip appeared within the April 2015 FODF Newsletter.

Summit Airstrip, Part Two By Kent Wilcox

The DuPont Corporation owned the airstrip from 1991 to 1996. During this period, DuPont executives who flew in from Wil-mington, Delaware for meetings and recreation used the airstrip. (Trout fishing in well-stocked Lake Imaging was popular). DuPont Employees Recreation Association (DERA) also used the airstrip for picnics and parties.

the X’s remain (Figure 1).

SDI merged with the Agfa Corporation in 1999. At that time Agfa retained approximately 440 acres including the manufac-turing facility. SDI sold 2,223 acres, including the land around Lake Julia and the airstrip, to a real estate development compa-ny called Waterfall Investment Group LLC. The developer im-mediately began construction of roads for a gated residential community to be called The Cliffs at Brevard. It is conceivable that the developer intended to reactivate the airstrip for use by members of the community, but the development came to a halt in 2000 when the property was acquired by the State of North Carolina. The acquisition, which included High Falls and Triple Falls, and is now the most frequently visited portion of DuPont State Recreational Forest.

(Continued on page 4)

Figure 3. NC HART Blackhawk helicopter on airstrip. Photo courtesy of Bruce MacDonald

In 1996, the DuPont Corporation transferred ownership of 2,472 acres (including the Summit Airstrip) and the manufac-turing plant in Cedar Mountain to Sterling Diagnostic Imaging SDI). The President of Sterling flew his plane from Houston, Texas to the airstrip several times in 1996.

Unfortunately, in that same year, an inebriated driver raced a car down the runway and plunged off the end. He survived the

crash, but the presence of illegal drugs in the car raised suspicion that drug traffickers were using the airstrip. In addition, officials at Sterling were concerned because its manufactur-ing facility was located approximately 40 sec-onds flying time from the north end of the air-strip. Consequently, in 1997 Sterling requested that the FAA remove the airstrip from its ap-proved list. Chet Mein-zer, property manager for Sterling Diagnostic Imaging, painted large white X’s at each end and near the middle of the airstrip. He also dumped piles of soil on the asphalt to discourage its use. The soil was removed a year later, but

This issue

A Walk on the Wild Side 1 & 10

Summit Airstrip Part Two 2& 4

Unprecedented Turnout 3

I Spy with my Naked Eye 3

Prescribed Burning in the Forest 5

Hemlock Regeneration 6

FADF Elect New Board & Officers 6

May Tour: A Smashing Success 7

DuPont Forest Van Tour—2001 8 & 9

Kids Fishing Day at Lake Imaging 9

Volunteer Appreciation 11

Calendar of Events 11

President’s Report 12

Forest Supervisor’s Report 13-15

Business Memberships 15

Membership Form 16

Figure 2: Russian Mi-17 helicopters landing on airstrip. Photo courtesy of Bruce MacDonald

Page 3

I Spy With My Naked Eye

I recently came upon this magnificent cairn while riding in the Forest. What a work of art! I wonder who constructed it. Have you happened to spot it? If so, which trail were you on? The location of this cairn can be found on Page 15

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

Unprecedented Turnout for Blue Ghosts By Aleen Steinberg

Right on schedule, the Blue Ghosts of DuPont emerged in mid-May to delight an estimated 6,000 visitors who answered the call of social media, flocked to the High Falls parking area, and crowded onto the trails, hoping to catch a glance of the Phaustis reticulata phenomenon.

Many thanks to the 26 FODF members and 10 Ameri-corp members who responded to Kent Wilcox’s call for volun-teers to help manage the crowds. These hardy souls donned orange vests affixed with a Blue Ghost Volunteer patch while serving as Blue Ghost Hosts between May 22 and June 7.

The duties of these volunteers varied. They worked in the parking lot, directed traffic, put up barricades when the park-ing spaces filled, and at closing time, helped the 100+ cars ease out in an order-ly manner.

At the information table located near the trailhead, volunteers handed out red cello-phane filters for flashlights, answered questions, and guided the crowd to the route along the white limestone path. To make it easier, Forest Service staff mem-

bers posted directional signs for a walking loop beginning at the High Falls parking lot, progressing along the High Falls Trail to Buck Forest Road, then returning to the parking lot. Those com-pleting that loop were treated to displays of some Synchronous Fireflies in a meadow along the way, with flashbulb bright flashes in the trees, understory, and field.

Stationed on the path and at the bridge, intrepid volunteers worked hard to establish and maintain order among adults and children, dogs, wheelchairs, strollers, lawn chairs, folks on blan-

kets, bright flash cameras and those who strayed off the path into the deep leaf litter. Within that leaf litter, the female beetle lies nestled in, glowing softly, awaiting the fly-by-light of a one-nighter.

What began ten years ago as an event that attracted several dozen people has grown into an enormous attraction, drawing folks from throughout the Southeast and across the nation. If this level of interest contin-ues, we may have to require reservations and set attendance limits to protect the Blue Ghosts and preserve the volunteers.

Adorable patch identifies Blue Ghost Hosts

Page 4

Although no longer on FAA maps, since 2000 the airstrip has been used for numerous training exercises. As examples, US Air Force pilots learned to fly Russian Mi-17 helicopters before deliv-ery to the Afghan Air Force (Figure 2), pilots with the NC Heli-copter and Aquatic Rescue Team obtained experience with Si-korsy UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters (Figure 3), and NC Forest Service pilots practiced their firefighting skills (Figure 4).

Hospitals in Spartanburg, Greenville, and Asheville use the air-strip to transport patients by medevac helicopters (Figure 5). In the summer of 2011, the airstrip was used to film a segment for The Hunger Games in which Katniss and Peeta are traveling by train from District 12 to the Capitol. A low-flying helicopter with a wide-angle camera on one side (Figure 6) was flown along the airstrip while images of the forest on each side were captured. These images were used to create the views from the windows of the train as it sped through the forests of District 12.

Summit Airstrip, Part Two (Continued from page 2)

Figure 4. NC Forest Service with firefighting equipment. Photo courtesy of Bruce MacDonald

Figure 5. Mountain Area Medical Airlift (MAMA) helicopter from Mission Hospital. Photo courtesy of Bruce MacDonald

Figure 8. Monarch Way Station at south end of airstrip. Photo courtesy of Kent Wilcox

Figure 6. Helicopter used in production of The Hunger Games. Photo courtesy of Bruce MacDonald

Figure 7. Cornfield at north end of airstrip. Photo courtesy of Kent Wilcox

Recently the airstrip has also become an important component of the local ecology. A cornfield (Figure 7) near the north end provides food for deer, birds, squirrels, and other fauna. A Monarch Way Station (Figure 8) provides nectar sources for migrating butterflies at the south end of the airstrip. And of course, the airstrip is a scenic portion of the mile long Airstrip Trail, a favorite of mountain bikers and hikers.

I wish to thank Ben Cart Sr., Ron Hubbard, Kit Garren, and Chet Meinzer for sharing their memories of the Summit Air-strip

Page 5

Prescribed Burning in the Forest Article & Photo by Jason Guidry, DSRF Supervisor

In any given spring or fall, fire may be intentionally set upon the

forest floors of DuPont. The initial action involves a Forest

Ranger lighting an area of leaves the size of a car-hood. This fire

eventually grows to 50 acres or more.

All of this is preceded by a rigorous planning process, various

levels of State government approval and check-off’s, review of

detailed weather forecasts, and ultimately the professional judg-

ment and instincts of the “Burn Boss” who, as the title describes,

makes the decision to start and then be responsible for the con-

trolled burn. A thin line exists between having fire move across

the land as a slow-moving fire and a runaway conflagration.

The common lore of prescribed burns is that they have allowed

humans to alter and shape their surrounding landscapes. Accord-

ing to some academic references, the practice dates back to pre-

agricultural periods in our history. Any number of professional

papers speculate that fire was used by native civilizations on all

continents to replenish prairies, signal warfare, herd and hunt

large game animals, clear lines of sight, manage pest populations,

drive out predators, roast acorns and chestnuts, and reduce the

potential for life-threatening wildfires.

The current-day benefits of controlled burns are well known

among forest landowners and practitioners. Using fire to reduce

the buildup of forest fuels (dead herbaceous and woody material)

decreases the intensity of potential wildfires. Fires can reduce the

extent of woody plant species that take advantage of a lack of

wildfires (namely the local white pine and mountain laurel). Fire

can also help promote various oak species, which in turn grow

into wildlife-supporting mast trees (acorns and nuts). Fire can be

a critical component of maintaining unique plant communities

such as high-elevation grassy balds, granite balds, table mountain

pine outcroppings, and mountain bogs.

The objective to identify and implement 300 acres of prescribed

burning annually is found on page 37 in the DSRF Land and Re-

source Management Plan. We currently have approximately

2,000 acres of forest under prescribed burn plans; however, the

implementation can be difficult for several reasons. The equip-

ment and personnel resources are tailored for each prescribed

burn plan and are roughly proportionate to the size of the tract to

be burned. A 50-acre burn may require six personnel, a bulldoz-

er, a fire engine, and an all-terrain utility vehicle. While many of

these resources can be filled by the DSRF work-unit, there is

often a need for other NC Forest Service resources fill those

roles.

One of the issues with resource ordering is that, in western North

Carolina, prescribed burning seasons happen to share the same

weather conditions with wildfire season (aka periods of “High

Fire Danger”). Chances are that, as DSRF is preparing to ignite a

prescribed burn on a day in early April, there are active wildfires

occurring elsewhere. Of course, the Forest Service’s mission to

protect forest resources takes precedence in these overlapping

circumstances. The point is that it can be difficult to get the

right equipment and people at just the right time. The best re-

cent example occurred this spring when the DSRF staff (among

others) were burning along Thomas Cemetery Road and Buck

Forest Road just as the Weed Lane Fire in Buncombe County

ignited. That fire burned approximately 750 acres, destroyed a

home, and caused significant resource damage.

This conundrum of intentionally burning when the forest fuels

are in such a flammable condition explains why the NC Forest

Service requires years of training and experience for the “Burn

Boss” position. The edge is constantly being pushed to get good

burns. What are good burns? Well, that depends on the goals of

burn. Here are some examples: reduce at least 60% of the leaf

litter; induce mortality for understory white pine and mountain

laurel; consume all fuels less than ¼ inch in diameter; minimize

damage to existing overstory trees; redheavy fuels (1”-3” in

diameter) by 40%. Most of these goals require the smaller forest

fuels (leaves, small twigs, plant stems) to burn completely. Us-

ing prescribed burn lingo, a “dirty burn’” refers to a controlled

burn that may have fallen short of it’s objectives. That is, the

fuels were not as dried out as predicted.

All in all, prescribed burning is a practice worth pursuing at

DSRF for several reasons. It’s a relatively cheap land manage-

ment tool that yields larger scale benefits. Our trail system acts

as firebreaks and is a luxury few WNC landowners have. Pre-

scribed burning keeps the DSRF firefighters’ skills sharp be-

tween wildfire assignments. It’s a spectacle for our visitors,

especially during and after burning operations, creating multiple

opportunities to provide educational contacts. Despite the chal-

lenges and risks of prescribed fire, this is a natural process in

forested ecosystems that has been excluded for most of the last

century via national land management policies and public

awareness campaigns (e.g., Smokey Bear). During the last 20

years, the acceptance of prescribed burning as a sustainable

management tool has grown. The DSRF is proud to play a role

in promoting controlled burns in the region.

Prescribed burn off of Joanna Road

Page 6

Hemlock Regeneration in the Forest By Eric Folk, Photo by Anita Goldschmidt

Last summer DuPont State Recreational Forest staff estab-

lished a small hemlock regeneration treatment plot near Lake

Dense. The purpose of this chemical treatment area is to en-

sure that some of the smaller hemlock trees, those that are 1-4

feet tall, survive.

This mature forest of white pine and tulip poplar has small

openings that may allow the hemlock to thrive. DSRF staff

will manage this area for hemlock regeneration by removing

some of the white pine. This will allow more sunlight to reach

the forest floor. A research study is being implemented in

portions of this management area in coordination with the

United States Forest Service to determine site conditions that

favor hemlock regeneration survival.

DSRF staff members are determined to maintain a component

of hemlock at DuPont State Recreational Forest. This small

regeneration area is one step forward for hemlock recovery.

Dick has consistently worked on major FODF projects and currently volunteers in the Visitors Center. He is active with Guardian ad Litem, is Treasurer of Brevard Little Theatre, and is regularly active with other community groups.

Secretary: Rella Allred has been a member of FODF for 14 years and a member of the Board for 12 years. She current-ly serves as Board Secretary, Membership Chairperson, Co-chairperson of the Trails Committee, member of the Map Committee, Board Development Committee and By-laws Committee. Rella is also a member of the DuPont Trail Patrol. Over the years she has ridden her horse on all of the trails in the Forest except the few that are for "hikers only" (she has hiked these trails). Rella states, “I love this unique, magical place.”

Elections for officers and new board members took place at the FODF annual meeting held in April. We welcome new board members Terri Wallace, Eddie Leach, Dick Thompson, and Jim Plick. They are four highly capable individuals who are enthusi-astic about the future of the Forest!

The new slate of officers includes:

President: Bev Parlier has been a member of FODF for 12 years. She has biked/hiked all the trails in DuPont. Bev serves on the map committee, trails committee, and events committee. She also participates in trail workdays, volunteers at the Visitor Cen-ter, and is a member of the DuPont Trail Patrol. Bev is a retired elementary art teacher. Currently she teaches in a homeschool program near Asheville and in a kid's summer science camp at Furman University, in Greenville, South Carolina. She lives with her husband Tom, in Rosman. Bev states, “I feel that DSRF is a special place, and we need to strive to keep it that way. The multi-use trails are unique, and something to be proud of.”

Vice President: Helen Lee has been a suppor ter for Fr iends of the Falls and Friends of DuPont Forest since it all began. She and her husband had planned to retire here in order to enjoy the Forest. After her husband passed away Helen moved here to her home in Cedar Mountain.

This is Helen’s second term on the board. She has worked on many committees and events, is a Visitor Center host, and has been the past membership chairman and vice president.

Treasurer: Dick Thompson has been a member of FODF actually since before there was a FODF. He was one of the founding members, and was Treasurer of Friends of the Falls in early 2000. He later served as Treasurer and President of FODF.

FODF Elects New Board Members and Officers By Nancy Kay, Photo by Chuck Ramsey

Newly elected officers: from left to right, Bev Parlier, Helen Lee, Dick Thompson, Rella Allred

To ALL friends of DuPont Forest and all who were involved:

My friend, Al Timmerman, and I were fortunate enough to be on your Tour de Falls on May 3rd! It was a WONDERFUL experience. In fact, we both feel it was one of the best nature tours we have ever been on. Of course, your forest and the falls are gorgeous and sooo impressive; however, we were JUST as impressed with ALL of the folks involved...all the work it took to make this happen...all the friendly and knowl-edgeable friends...how WELL organized everything was...how smoothly it went and how comfortable we felt...not to mention having the opportunity to visit Lake Julia and the beautiful facility there, plus nice homemade treats! Wow!

We are so grateful you provide this wonderful opportunity for those of us otherwise unable to hike into the beautiful falls! A very BIG Thank You to EVERYONE who made this possible! We have told many about this and plan to return in Septem-ber!

Regards,

Carol Norment

May Tour de Falls: A Smashing Success By Lyle Burgmann, Photos by Bev Parlier

Guests ready to be transported to the next waterfall

The next Tour de Falls will be on September 26th and 27th. It’s not too early to volunteer for your favorite spot. Please con-tact Lyle Burgmann (LLBMWB@GMAIL.COM or 864-399-3071) if you have any questions or would like to volunteer for this fabulous event.

Volunteers get set up for the big event

The May Tour de Falls event was blessed with beautiful weather. Seventy-three volunteers hosted a total of 586 guests. After ex-penses, a total of $4920 was raised for the Forest through guest donations for tickets, sales of food and water, and grant money. A good time was had by all as evidenced by this unsolicited letter from one of the guests.

Visitors enjoy the falls

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 members with a

valid e-mail address. You can also read the current issues and archived issues on the dupontforest.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 deliv-

ery, 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 membership@dupontforest.com. We will update your profile so you get

the news that is the best way for you!

Page 7

In December 2000, after DuPont Forest first opened its gates to the 2,400 acre waterfall acquisition, an enthusiastic public took notice and headed to those grounds. Hikers, bikers and equestrians put their boots, tires and hooves on the miles of trails, and declared the experience a grand one. Thousands got the word and they came and enjoyed.

Early on, it became apparent that a segment of the population was left wanting- the elderly and the disabled who were unable to make their way through the treasure of the Forest without assistance. They too deserved the opportunity to view the falls and delight in the tree canopies of DuPont, but how?

An effort to meet those needs happened in early 2000 when Friends of the Falls secured a grant from the Sierra Club to build a parking area, a wheelchair accessible asphalt trail, and a viewing platform at Hooker Falls. But with no permanent Forest staff in place, it was difficult to schedule access and egress for those with special needs. FODF board members sought to change this. During formative meetings in 2001, they began serious deliberations for a way to make it happen, finally deciding on providing van tours. At first glance the project seemed a daunting one, but hadn’t we led the fight for the falls and won? Most anything was possible!

Our list of tasks grew. We realized that we’d have to establish a base of operations and rent vans and portable toilets. We’d have to

obtain an insurance policy, establish a route for the volunteer drivers, compose information brochures, and provide refreshments.

A decision was made to use the unfinished log building as the opera-tion center, acknowledging that it required serious repairs and addi-tions to insure the public’s safety before we could enter it. The fact that our treasury had little in the way of funding to buy materials didn’t deter us. A couple of ingenious Board members set out to scavenge what lumber they could on the Forest’s property. There was no electricity at the site, but no problem. One person brought his generator to supply the power needed for the tools.

The salvage crew found the girl’s dining hall at the Camp Summit property to be a treasure trove of supplies. They dismantled all of the lumber needed for the project, spent about ten days building a wall to partition the large cavernous room inside the soon-to-be Tour de Falls headquarters, and constructed a deck by the side opening.

A committee was formed to organize the Tour idea, deciding to call it “Raisin the Roof”, hoping to make enough money to put a roof on what is now the Visitor Center. The following press release was sent out to area newspapers:

Friends of the DuPont State Forest will sponsor an open house to raise funds to install a roof for the visitor center at the Buck Forest entrance. The visitor center is located near the Agfa plant’s main entrance off Staton Road just inside the stone gates built by The Cliffs.

On Oct. 28 and 29, the public is invited for a guided van tour of the forest’s waterfalls and Lake Julia. Hot cider and refreshments will be available in the unfin-ished visitor’s center.

Shuttles will travel from Buck Forest and Hooker Falls parking areas to Bridal Veil Falls, Triple Falls, High Falls and Lake Julia. The tour lasts ap-proximately 30 minutes. A $10 donation ($5 for chil-dren 12 and under) is requested for the shuttle rides. The open house will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friends of the DuPont State Forest is a non profit organization working to enhance public use and enjoyment of the DuPont State Forest while work-ing to protect the natural resources. More infor-mation may be found at www.dupontforest.com

Page 8

DuPont Forest Van Tour - 2001 By Aleen Steinberg

The day of the tour dawned a crisp 45° under sunny October skies. We drove to Hendersonville, rented three vans, filled them with gas, and declared we were in business. More members volunteered to act as drivers and tour guides, and were put to work as crowds poured into the parking lot. Not only the disabled and elderly arrived, but families with small children and some who wanted to experience the Forest but didn’t care to walk the distance. Several FODF members put visitors in their own cars and drove the tour route when the lines grew too long.

(Continued on page 9)

A visitor’s center in the raw, welcomes tour guests

Page 9

DuPont Forest Van Tour 2001 (Continued from page 8) By Aleen Steinberg

May 29th was a fantastic day at Lake Imaging as 27 third grade

students from Bruce Drysdale School in Hendersonville caught 34

nice brook trout. Most of the students had never fished before, yet

every student caught a trout. A few students caught as many as

eight fish. This kept our 14 volunteers active landing fish and as-

sisting the students.

At noon students and volunteers were treated to a hotdog lunch

with chili, coleslaw, chips, cookies, drinks, pimento cheese, and

chicken salad. The trout were all cleaned and packaged trout so

each student got one or two to take home. Additionally, every

student took home a new Zebco slingshot spin cast rod and reel

combo (courtesy of the Pisgah Chapter of Trout Unlimited) along

with a package of information from the Pisgah Wildlife Education

Center. Lessons based on this information were then taught in the

classroom. Third grade teacher, Rene Gastelo, will be supporting

the “Trout in the Classroom Program” as part of the science curric-

ulum. The students will monitor the water chemistry and growth of

the trout.

Thanks to Lee Sherrill, Program Coordinator at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, for arranging the stocking of 400 good-

sized brook trout in Lake Imaging and for gathering the infor-

mation packets for the students. Thanks also to the DuPont State Recreational Forest staff for opening their gates for us.

Volunteers set up tables inside the makeshift-room, and arranged maps and membership brochures to offer to what they hoped would be an enthusiastic crowd. One member brought in a gas burner to be used for heating big stainless steel pots of cider for the guests. They wrapped home-baked cookies and cakes, ar-ranged them on wooden trays, and hoped visitors would drop some coins in the glass donation jar as they helped themselves. Committee members brought lawn chairs for the guests, and arranged them near the entrance.

Volunteers and vans were kept busy for those two clear and very cold days. The fundraiser was deemed a success. Minutes of the November Board meeting show that “Raisin’ the Roof” cleared $3,100, and brought in 15 new memberships. More importantly, perhaps, it offered several hundred people who couldn’t make it on their own, a chance to travel the trails and thrill to the waterfalls of DuPont. And, if their happy smiles and sincere thanks could’ve been measured in dollars, we’d have made a million!

Kids Fishing Day at Lake Imaging By Chris Ellis, Photo by Ed Schearin

Hoping for a bite

Happy third graders after a day of fishing

Jim Plick offers information on the Tour and FODF Memberships

Full donation jar brings smiles to members’ faces. Bill Stricker, Tom Sav-

age, Gwen Hill, Tom Lamorte and Jim Plick.

In flight, these birds use thermal updrafts to move through the air, flapping their wings infrequently. They roost in large com-munity groups but hunt independently. They nest in caves, hollow trees, or thickets. Each year most turkey vultures raise two chicks which remain with the parents until fall. Life ex-pectancy in the wild ranges upward of 16 years, with a possi-ble captive life span of over 30 years. They are protected by law under the Migratory Bird Act of 1918. The Turkey Vulture in the first picture is “mantling” over the food. Various birds of prey do this to hide the food from com-petitors.

The vulture in the second picture is wearing a pair of wing tags (also known as Patagial tags). The top tag is intended to be visible when the bird is at rest and the underside tag can be seen when the bird is flying. This bird was tagged in Key West, Florida in 2013 as part of a study to determine if turkey vultures are a danger to aircraft taking off and landing at Homestead Air Force Base. This bird was first photographed in the DSRF on March 16, 2015 and has been a regular visitor to the baited camera site ever since. Perhaps it likes our moun-tain air better than Florida's sauna, or maybe it just likes my North Carolina cooking.

Turkey vulture “mantles” over food

oration program implemented by the North Carolina Wildlife

Resources Commission, the turkeys are now abundant. The

Wildlife Commission continues to support them by annually

planting corn in several wildlife food plots scattered around the

DuPont.

The average life span of a wild turkey is three years but some-times they can survive into their teens. The largest male “tom” ever taken weighed 37.1 lbs. Female “hens” are usually consid-erably smaller than the males. Despite their weight, wild turkeys are agile fliers. In their ideal habitat of open woodland or wood-ed grasslands they may fly beneath the canopy top and find perches. They usually fly close to the ground for no more than a quarter mile or so.

Wild turkeys are omnivorous, foraging on the ground or climb-ing shrubs and small trees to feed. A young turkey “polt” needs 90% of its diet to be insects. Adults prefer eating hard foods such as acorns and other nuts, berries, roots and insects. They will also occasionally eat frogs, lizards, salamanders and snakes.

Turkey Vulture Of the seven species of new-world vultures that range from southern Canada to the tip of South America, the Turkey Vul-ture (Cathartes aura) is the most abundant. They can have a wingspan of 72 inches and a weight of over five pounds. Turkey vultures are scavengers and find their food by using their keen eyesight and highly sensitive sense of smell. They play an important role in the ecosystem by disposing of carrion which would otherwise be a breeding ground for disease.

A visitor from Florida

A rafter of wild turkeys explore DSRF

A Walk on the Wild Side (Continued from page 1)

Page 10

1. What are your volunteer activities, past and present?

In 1995, when I was an engineer for DuPont, I made calls and worked to get the Conservation Fund, DuPont and the State of North Carolina to work together to form the original 7600 acre Forest. I did some other volunteer work with the Forest and had an amazing experience blazing the Big Rock Trail and putting the trail description on the web site. In 2000, I was very active with the Friends of the Falls campaign and went to Raleigh to witness Governor Hunt vow to purchase the major waterfalls. I served as the first president of FODF in 2001 and stayed on the board for about six years.

Today I serve on the State Advisory Committee, and have since its inception around 2002. I still serve as Webmaster for FODF's dupontforest.com, and have done so for all but about three years since 2000.

2. How long have you been donating your time to these projects?

I've been involved in one way or another since the very beginning.

3. What fuels your desire to volunteer in the Forest?

I get a lot of satisfaction seeing all the families and individuals enjoying the Forest and knowing that I had a part to play in its protection. I stay involved to make sure that the values of those of us who fought so hard 15 years ago con-tinue to be reflected on the property today.

4. What is your favorite way to recreate in the Forest?

I used to be exclusively a hiker, but these days I mostly use a mountain bike to traverse the trails. I am not as serious as most bikers, but enjoy the challenge and the opportunity to share this with my two kids.

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

Reasonover Creek and the new Turkey Knob Extension are awesome because they really take you away from the crowds and into another world. One of my favorite places is Wintergreen Falls because it is my children's favorite place to relax and swim, and be-cause I was able to suggest the name of that falls to the Regional Forester back around 1998. I chose that name because of the blooming groundcover by that name found on the trail.

Page 11

FODF Appreciates Volunteer Jeff Jennings By Nancy Kay

Jeff Jennings at Cedar Rock

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

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.

7/28/15 Friends of DuPont Forest Board Meeting Bev Parlier 883-9278

Meet at 6:30 at Aleen Steinberg Center

7/30/15 Presentation on Endangered Green Salamander Alan 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.)

8/29/15 Litter Pick-up Dan Bresnahan 884-6806 None

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

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

9/22/15 Friends of DuPont Forest Board Meeting Bev Parlier 883-9278

Meet at 6:30 at Aleen Steinberg Center

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

Lyle Burgmann Dan

Bresnahan

864-399-3071

884-6806

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

Page 12

National Geographic is asking for "suggested routes" for the back (a first for National Geograph-ic). The FODF logo and a statement about our organ-ization will appear on the map. Almost finished is a Suggested Routes Book-let. This is an eighteen-page piece featuring short, moderate, and long routes. It includes elevation pro-files, and DSRF "fun facts". Funds generated from the sale of these products will go towards Forest improvements.

There are a number of exciting FODF member events coming

up including talks, hikes, Canoe Day, litter pick-up, and trail

workdays. Be sure to check the Events Calendar in this issue.

President’s Report By Bev Parlier

More than 2055 visited DSRF over Memorial Day weekend. This is a sure sign that summer is here! Now, how do we get those visitors to join FODF? We embarked on a membership drive last year. We currently have approximately 300 household memberships. To increase this number, the membership applica-tion has been re-formatted and we now offer a business mem-bership (see the January 2015 newsletter).

In addition to this new application, look for the FODF table at local street festivals. At the White Squirrel Festival several new memberships were received. We will have a table at the Fourth of July Festival, Mountain Song Fest in September, and Hallow-eenfest (all of these are in Brevard). If you would like to volun-teer at a festival table and help spread the word about FODF, please contact me at 828-883-9278 or rokclmbr1@gmail.com. Music, food, exhibits- it's a lot of fun!

The FODF Map Committee has been busy with several projects, all to raise money for the Forest! There have been now over 500 downloads of our Avenza App (see the January 2015 newslet-ter). A new and improved Major Waterfalls of DuPont Map is now available at the Visitor Center.

The National Geographic Trails Illustrated DuPont map is slat-ed to be published this fall.

Creations by the hard working Map Committee Enthusiastic FODF volunteers, Dick and Suzanne Childs at the White Squirrel

Festival

See you on the trails ~

Bev Parlier Friends of DuPont Forest President

Page 13

Vegetation and Wildlife: Blue Ghost Fireflies

On all fronts, the popularity and desire of the public to view

Blue Ghost Fireflies at DSRF seemed to reach a new high this

year. The number of phone calls, emails, and visitors almost

reached an overwhelming level for DSRF staff from early May

through early June. Similar to DSRF’s general popularity, the

Blue Ghost’s seem to have hit social media networks in a signif-

icant way. Informal polling during the weekend visitors pointed

towards Facebook as the most common source of information

tying DSRF to the Blue Ghosts.

In my opinion, the visitation for nighttime visitors increased

three-fold from last year’s Blue Ghost season. The High Falls

parking lot was routinely filled with overflow parking along

Staton Road at 9:30 pm.

The support of the FODF continued from last year’s organized

efforts to inform the public about the Blue Ghosts. Dr. Kent

Wilcox led the charge to have FODF and AmeriCorps volun-

teers attend the High Falls parking lot for 13 nights. This

amount of help was incredibly beneficial for DSRF staff by

enhancing the educational experience and providing extra eyes

and ears on the crowds. Kent estimated that approximately

6,000 people were on the Forest and the white gravel trail on

weekends alone (from mid-May to June 7th). On one night in

particular, 430 visitors were crowded onto the first 0.3 miles of

the white gravel trail leading away from the Visitor Center.

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

The FODF volunteers handed

out red-light filters, suggested

to visitors to keep bright lights

and loud noises to a minimum,

and to stay on designated

trails. Without help from

FODF, I believe the Blue

Ghost population near the

Visitor Center would have

been severely damaged.

Next year’s strategy for the

Blue Ghost visitors is in the

works, as many lessons con-

tinue to be learned. A key component will be a consistent public

message that the Blue Ghost’s are not just found on DSRF. They

occur throughout Transylvania and Henderson Counties, preferring

deep woods and relatively moist locations. I would kindly ask that

FODF members help spread the word in a positive way to take the

crowd pressure off of these insects, volunteers, and the Forest

staff.

(Continued on page 14)

Page 14

Recreation Resources: Visitation

May of 2015 was estimated to be the single highest month of

visitation in the history of DSRF (June statistics not available at

the time of this writing). We estimate that close to 80,000 visi-

tors were on the Forest during that time. The previous record

holding month was July of 2014, with approximately 72,000

visitors (see Figure 1 below). March and April of 2015 showed

this year trending higher than the record year of 2014, however,

May’s high levels were far above expectations. Perhaps the Blue

Ghost attraction was a significant factor in more vehicles than

ever tripping our car-counters. Only time will tell where this

trend is headed but the data is only pointed “up” at this point.

In response to the rising number of visitors, the DSRF staff is

scheduling more Forest Rangers for weekends and holidays,

shifting employees’ duties towards maintaining our restroom

facilities and parking areas, and improving on other service con-

tracts such as portable toilets and trash services.

The longer-term strategy for meeting public demand will likely

involve adding facilities such as restrooms, improving parking

areas, and improving trash/refuse management.

Recreation Resources: Trails

The DSRF currently has a trail contractor working on approxi-

mately 23,000 feet of trail maintenance and trail rerouting. The

contractor is scheduled to begin the work in mid-June and finish

by the second week in July. We expect some minor disruption of

trail use during this time frame, so please keep updated on trail

closures on the DSRF webpage, at the Visitor Center, and in the

Forest kiosks. This trail maintenance funding is provided by the

FODF, and the hope is that it will be the first of three such initia-

tives throughout 2015 and early 2016.

Forest Protection: Commercial Use on DSRF

We often get asked, what do the Forest Rangers do about large

vehicles full of people, bikes, or canoes when they visit the For-

est. In general, those types of groups are often commercial users

of the Forest. Since 2012, the DSRF’s commercial use policy has

been in place to address this user group’s compliance with Forest

Rule 02 NCAC 60B .1021 Commercial Enterprises which reads

as follows:

No person shall, while in or on an Educational State Forest or

State Forest, sell or offer for sale, hire or lease, any object or

merchandise, property, privilege, service or any other thing, or

engage in any business except under permit and at such places

and for such periods as may be designated. Sales from which

proceeds are used in support of the forest or sales conducted or

contracted by the Department are exempt from this Rule.

DuPont State Recreational Forest Supervisor’s Report (Continued from page 13)

Over the past year, DSRF Rangers have increased their vigi-

lance through correspondence with permit holders and on-the-

ground permit checks for any commercial entities. The results

have been encouraging. The number of permitted businesses has

risen, compliance with permit conditions appears to have im-

proved, and the increased revenue collected from the application

fees and user fees have been folded back into the Forest’s oper-

ating budget to maintain facilities and services.

The fee structure for commercial users is shown in Figure 2.

Basically, the fee per user is higher for larger groups than small-

er groups, and fees for hiking are less than for activities involv-

ing vehicles. The intent is to make the fee commensurate with

the use. Overall, the program is becoming a success and will be

modified as needed to protect forest resources. If you know a

business that has been using DSRF, please let them know to

contact a DSRF Ranger or stop by the Visitor Center for more

information.

Partnerships: New Board Members

I want to welcome the FODF’s new Board Members: Dick

Thompson, Jim Plick, Eddie Leach, and Terri Wallace. I know

all of them to be active Forest users and contributors, especially

as volunteers at the Aleen Steinberg Visitor Center. One of them

recently told me that they have very little expertise on matters

concerning the Forest. I responded that there are no prerequisites

for serving in a capacity that supports the FODF and DSRF.

(Continued on page 15)

FODF Business Memberships

FODF Newsletter Committee: Nancy Kay - Newslet-

ter Editor, Nancy Black - Copy Editor, Kent Wilcox,

Aleen Steinberg, Jerry Brown & Helen Lee.

Newsletter Contributors: Alan Cameron, Jason

Guidry, Jeff Jennings, Nancy Kay, Bev Parlier, Aleen

Steinberg, Kent Wilcox, Eric Folk, Anita Goldschmidt,

Chuck Ramsey,, Bruce McDonald, Lyle Burgmann,

Chris Ellis, Ed Schearin

Deer Ridge Property Management Black Forest Family Camping Resort

McCrary Cabins

Shoal Creek LLC

Valley View Cabins

Billy Harris Real Estate

Looking Glass Realty LLC

Page 15

Whatever reasons prompt you to spend your valuable time

and energy in protecting and promoting the Forest’s re-

sources, I welcome it all. The FODF has a tremendous sense

of history, technical expertise, and grasp of public land man-

agement that make you a unique organization. I’ll venture to

guess though that the FODF’s future will require a fusion of

the past and new contributors who may not yet be part of the

FODF legacy. So, I hope that relative newcomers do not hes-

itate to engage the

Board and the NC Forest Service. I also look forward to re-

suming work with Bev Parlier, the newest FODF President.

Ms. Parlier was President when I started as Forest Supervisor

in 2013 and I enjoyed our relationship and partnership. Few

folks have Bev’s enthusiasm for “all things DuPont Forest”,

which is manifested in her regular enjoyment of and volun-

teer work for the Forest. I look forward to working through

this exciting time with FODF leadership and other members.

Thank you, as always, for the sacrifices that result in your

sustained support for DSRF.

Thank you for your continued support,

Jason I. Guidry

Forest Supervisor

This creatively constructed cairn was spotted on Hickory Mountain Loop.

DuPont State Recreational Forest Supervisor’s Report (Continued from page 14)

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) $1500 DuPont State Forest History Program

Additional Donation $___________________ (Donations are tax deductible)

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

Bev Parlier, President

Helen Lee, Vice President

Rella Allred, Secretary

Dick Thompson, Treasurer

Dan Bresnahan

Jerry Brown

Lyle Burgmann

Dick Childs

Nancy Kay

Eddie Leach

Valerie Naylor

Jim Plick

Chuck Ramsey

Cathy Reiff

Brian Spotts

Aleen Steinberg

Terri Wallace

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.