Outdoor News

(AP) Landscape architects are finding themselves on the front lines of the climate change crisis, having to come up with creative ways to adapt and help mitigate problems like rising oceans and extreme weather as they design projects across the country.

Mount Jefferson State Natural Area
Rising abruptly to more than 1,600 feet above the surrounding landscape, Mount Jefferson is often first viewed at a distance from the Blue Ridge Parkway and is a national natural landmark with a rich history.  

Check out Tube World website: The 2019-20 tubing season will be here before you know it.  Online reservations will begin soon.  Prior to December 21, tubing, if available, will be on a first come, first served basis.  We look forward to seeing you in December or sooner!  

Duke University Chronicle -- By Cameron Oglesby October 30, 2019 | 12:00am EDT

WNC -- Contrary to what you may think, winter hiking is popular in Western North Carolina. Many of the popular trails are open, and the hike is a whole new experience in this season. A really cool experience is the state parks’ 1st day hikes.  These are free, park ranger guided hikes on January 1, 2018 in most of the state parks in North Carolina. See the list below for 1st day hikes close to Avalon Mountain Community:

Oct 2019 -- (AP) Fall is the best time of year to get new trees, shrubs and perennials into the ground before cold weather sets in, and it’s often the best time to buy them, too. Garden centers traditionally mark down their off-season inventories rather than muscle them indoors for overwintering protection.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A federal judge has rejected the Trump administration’s bid to dismiss lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of a 2017 decision to downsize two sprawling national monuments in Utah.

Western North Carolina is a special place to visit no matter the season, but the Autumn brings with it the incredible burst of seasonal color. Travelers from all over the country travel to our mountains to experience the beauty of Leaf Season. Read on for an introduction to some of our favorite ways to spend Fall days!

Western North Carolina Fall Forecast 2019!               photo credit: Marjorie Farrington 

RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Transportation needs volunteers to help clean up trash along roads during the Adopt-A-Highway Fall Litter Sweep from Sept. 14-28.

ATLANTA (AP) — Most of the South — from Texas to parts of South Carolina — was under heat advisories and warnings as temperatures would feel as high as 117 degrees (47 Celsius), forecasters said.

Lake Julian Park offers fishing, picnic areas, disc golf, outdoor games, a playground, paddleboats, special event venue rentals, and water access along a picturesque 300-acre public lake. Public lake and park located in Arden, North Carolina

Begin your exploration of the park at a visitor center. Here you can pick up a park map or newspaper, have your questions answered by a ranger, and purchase books and guides to the park.

CDC -- Keep Cool in Hot Weather! 

 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announced yesterday that three national parks will receive $123,572,000 in grants as part of the Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP) Program.