It’s Sept. 2024 in the Great Trails State. This month, we’ve been celebrating trails. All sorts of trails: Hike, Run, Paddle, Bike, Horse. Trails we blaze and trails we maintain…. Together.
Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle reminded us this week at the Great Trails State Conference:Trails shift our experience with place…. [Trails] shift our mindset from being stagnant and fixed to a mindset of trails as vibrant ecosystems that reflect the values, traditions and foundations of the communities of where they are found. The web of place.
Perspectives from the Trail
Whether your trail is a 1200+ mile trail like the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) or a 2 mile section of a local greenway, trails knit together the community past, present and future. One trail we found ourselves on was the Buffalo Creek Greenway in Smithfield, NC on a hike led by MST Volunteer and author Jerry Barker. Jerry’s recent book highlights features of the MST like this 3 miles segment which is now a key section of the MST. This humble strip of blacktop plays a critical role in moving our State Trail off the highway and on to safe, walkable landscape where all can enjoy the benefits of being outdoors. Eventually, the entire 66 mile section of MST Segment 11, from Raleigh through Smithfield, will be traveled via Greenway or other safe, walkable paths thanks to both public and private initiatives.
Additionally, we covered ground along MST Segment 5, the High Country section that intersects with the Blue Ridge Parkway at numerous points. Across the state of North Carolina the MST is a wonderful connector trail. This connection is not only a main artery of NC’s nervous system, but provides thousands of small access points from which a traveler can discover cultural features. For example, Linn Cove Visitor Center or Moses Cone Manor House…the “vibrant ecosystems that reflect the values, traditions, and foundations” of our communities. These views bring gratitude for those who came before and made such open space available for all of us to enjoy and maintain for future generations.
Perspectives from the Convention Halls
Lastly, we capped off the celebratory week by attending The Great Trails State Conference in Winston-Salem, which brings together trail planners, designers and builders, recreational professionals, community and elected leaders, tourism partners, and others to learn and share best practices to advance trail and greenway development throughout North Carolina.
Reid Wilson, Secretary of DNCR, inspired the gathering by sharing the accomplishments of the GTS community’s collective action as we continue to take care of the places that we all love in our state. For instance, funding such as Executive order 305, which goes to permanently conserve 1,000,000 new acres of North Carolina’s natural lands.
Above all, what has become clear from our explorations on both trails and in the convention halls, is that North Carolina is a leader among the United States in protecting, restoring and enhancing natural and working lands. Ultimately, this leadership is possible because of the dedication of our citizens across the state who come together over a common goal. This short clip: Back Country Horsemen of Pisgah, is a great and inspiring demonstration of the difficult work of backcountry trail maintenance, made possible when we all collaboratively work together.