Anne Mitchell Whisnant, author of “Super-Scenic Motorway: A Blue Ridge Parkway History“, will be speaking at Appalachian State University on Thursday July 8th, 2010. She will be discussing her book as well as addressing the impact of the Parkway, both regionally and nationally. She will also be sharing many facts about the construction of this national treasure.
Anne’s appearance is part of the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway and is sponsored by ASU’s Belk Library and Information Commons. It is also part of the library’s Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Lecture Series. Parking for this event is available on campus in the parking deck on College Street. For more information please contact Lynn Patterson at 828-262-2087. Read more »
When stories are told of the building and development of the Blue Ridge Parkway the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) is often cited for their contributions. Another group who also had a part in the construction and development of recreation areas throughout the park was Conscientious Objectors (also known as CO’s) during World War II. The draft laws of World War II allowed for “those by reason of religious training and belief” opposed the war to be exempt from military service.
During the war 25,000 CO’s served in non-combat roles in all branches of the military. Some worked in understaffed mental institutions. Another 20,000 fought forest fires and worked on conservation projects in rural areas through the Civilian Projects Service. This later group was placed in camps which had been previously used by the Civilian Conservation Corps that was disbanded in 1942 as most of the 18 to 24 year old men in that program were taken into the military.
The CCC participants were unskilled labor recruited from areas with low employment due to The Depression. The Conscientious Objectors were made up of men who were from a variety of backgrounds including successful farmers, craftsmen, and intellectuals. CO’s came with a variety of skills that were put to work on many rural improvement and park projects.
One CO Camp was located at Sherando Lake in Virginia. This was a former CCC Camp on US Forest Service property. Out of this camp men worked on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the area of Humpback Rocks on trails and construction of stone walls such as those found at the Humpback Rocks Parking Area (MP 6) and Reeds Gap (MP 13). The military started to accumulate prisoners of war from mainly naval engagements. They needed facilities to accommodate these growing populations and consequently the Sherando Camp was transferred to the military and the CO’s moved to Camp #121 in Bedford, Virginia. There the men began work in the Peaks of Otter area of the Parkway. Once again they constructed trails placing stone steps and what were called fire lanes to help contain forest fires. Stone work was also done on walls and around buildings. Today if you visit the Peaks of Otter Nature Center you will walk on a stone patio that goes across the front of the building, through the breezeway, and to the rear of the building where you will find picnic tables. At the front of the building there is a flat stone with the letters “CO” carved. This is one of the few signs left by this group of men who served their country in an alternative way during World War II.
Thanks to Dave Benavitch, USFS Ret. who first told me the story of the CO’ of WWII
Photos taken from Wikipedia
The National Safety Council reported in 2003 that there were 530,000 car collisions involving animals. A major portion of these are wildlife and the largest part of those involved deer. Deer are a common factor in many motor vehicle collisions in National Parks. Most areas administered by the National Park Service provide habitat for white tail and in the west mule deer. A favorite food of deer is the tender new growth of grass along road shoulder after it is mowed. This brings these popular yet hazardous representatives of nature in close proximity of fast moving vehicles.
Here are a few tips that will help you understand the dynamics of deer movement and how to avoid collisions that can cause serious property damage and at times personal injuries.
- Deer are most active at dawn and dusk. This is when they like to feed so you are most likely to see deer on road shoulders.
- Remember that deer can also be encountered any other time of day.
- Drive the speed limit or below when in areas frequented by deer. This applies to most park areas.
- Be alert scanning tree lines and road shoulders for deer including the reflection from their eyes at night.
- Once you see deer or the reflection of eyes, slow down, and stay alert for movement.
- If you see deer running across the road in front of your vehicle, do not follow where they are going with your eyes. Instead look to where the deer came from. Deer do not travel alone and more deer may come from the same direction.
- At times deer will run down the road in front of your vehicle in a zig-zag pattern. Drivers are often confused by this behavior. Their natural instincts are kicking in and this is how they attempt to escape a predator. If you stop your vehicle, they will finally run off the road.
- Should a deer jump into the road in front of you, hit your brakes and stay in your lane. More extensive damage and more serious injuries can result from swerving to avoid the deer and striking a tree, rock, or oncoming vehicle.
- You will see devices sold that you can place on your vehicle that make whistling sounds to scare deer away. It was my experience that these do not guarantee safety and I saw many vehicles with this equipment in place still have collisions with deer.
Twelve thousand years ago when Native Americans inhabited the mountain gaps and valleys and later as European settlers moved into the area; the American chestnut was the dominant tree of the Southern Appalachians. It provided shelter, food, and trade for all these peoples. Between 1900 and 1908 a fungus known as chestnut blight was introduced through imported chestnut lumber or potted trees from Asia. The final result was the eventual near extinction of this species of giant of the Blue Ridge.
Today we are facing similar threats to native species of vegetation in the Southern Appalachians. The new peril is coming in the form of funguses, insects, and exotic plants.
Hemlock Wooly Adelgid was first found on the east coast in 1951 near Richmond, Virginia. Scientists believe that these microscopic insects originated in Southern Japan. The adelgids are first noted as a foamy looking substance on the bottom of needles and branches. The appearance is that they eventually suck the life from the trees to the point that entire stands on mountain sides quickly die. Along The Blue Ridge Parkway the impact can be seen in the canopies of dead trees in the area of mile post 35 at Yankee Horse Gap and the Peaks of Otter Picnic area where the National Park Service has had to cut down some of these once majestic trees to maintain public safety on trails and roadways.
Dogwood trees provide a beautiful spring displays and provide food sources for birds and animals in the mountains of the East. These native trees are being eradicated by a fungus known as the Dogwood Anthracnose first identified in the mid 1970s. Vistas along The Blue Ridge Parkway that were once carpeted with dogwoods are now completely devoid of these trees. The good news is that individual specimen trees do appear to be resistant to the fungus. Scientists are studying these individual trees attempting to find an answer to this mystery.
Unfortunately there is no easy fix for either of these important species of trees. The treatment in the open forest environment does not appear feasible at this time. One scientist explained to me that the only way to save any single tree is to treat it with as much care as you would give a prized rose bush. Research continues including experimenting with natural enemies for the adelgids and breeding of fungus resistant dogwood species. Scientists will continue to work on these challenges as they are still striving to reintroduce the chestnut to the Southern Appalachian mountain slopes.
For more information you can refer to:
http://na.fs.fed.us/fhp/hwa/
http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/dogwoodanthracnose/dogwood%20anthracnose.htm
National Park Rangers throughout the country spend thousands of hours every year rendering aid to and searching for lost or injured hikers. Even the simplest hike can quickly become complicated by changes in weather, unexpected terrain, minor injuries, inappropriate clothing and gear, or group members becoming separated.
Here are some simple tips to help prevent you or a family member from becoming a statistic in a report and ruining a wonderful Blue Ridge Parkway experience.
- Plan ahead for your hike. Review a map of the area or check for a map posted at the trail head. Having a vision of the trail route and where it goes will be helpful should you become confused by unofficial social trails.
- After reviewing a map and if available a description of the trail, do not take on a hike that is more physically difficult than all the members of your group can handle.
- Check the weather report for the area before your hike. Dress and carry appropriate gear to remain comfortable and safe during your time outdoors. Remember that in mountainous terrain temperatures drop sharply at night, so be prepared to prevent hypothermia should you be late getting to your destination or vehicle.
- Proper foot wear is essential not only for comfort but to prevent injuries. If hiking in rocky terrain, be sure to wear stout hiking boots with good tread. Most of the injuries treated by park rangers involve slips and falls on trails by people wearing inappropriate foot wear.
- Stay on the designated trails. The vast majority of the searches for lost hikers I worked during my career involved people getting off the trail, getting confused, and then trying to cut cross country to get to their destination.
- Keep your group within sight of each other. Never let some members, especially children, run ahead of the group. This is a recipe for disaster when members of your hiking group take a different trail and become separated. The result is generally people overreacting and contributing to the complexity of the situation. This reaction is amplified when the missing hikers are children. Well intended emotions then kick in and decision making becomes more difficult for members of the group. One tip is to have the slowest member of your group walk in the front and everyone has to stay behind them.
- Carry water even on short hikes. You may be amazed how quickly you can dehydrate while hiking outdoors. Dehydration and hypothermia both result in confusion and a loss of decision making skills.
Following these simple practices will help you to enjoy your next visit to any park.
