August 2025 Trail Days, June & July Photos

 

August Trail Days

Hurricane recovery continues despite summer heat:

• Unaka Mountain Wilderness projects are mostly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• Linville Gorge & Harper Creek projects are mostly on Saturdays.

Give us a shout when you can make it out, and we’ll keep you posted on that day’s details.

 

June & July Photos

LINVILLE GORGE TRAIL –  The LGT section between Babel Tower and Cabin is now cleared and officially re-opened!

 

ELK RIVER FALLS – Wild South community volunteers joined friends at Linville Central Rescue Squad, Waterfall Keepers NC, and USFS Appalachian Ranger District to clean up and re-open the popular Elk River Falls.  The haul included a 350-lb propane tank, lumber from homes lost upstream, and a million pieces of styrofoam.  Avery County Sheriffs provided an underwater drone to search for hidden debris in this popular but dangerous swimming hole.

 

HARPER CREEK – During the hurricane, the Harper Creek Trail (Mountains-to-Sea Trail) was cut by landslide just above Harper Creek Falls.  Hiker safety was severely compromised.  The fix is an arduous reroute of the trail up and over the landslide.  Wild South community volunteers are working together with Outward Bound, MST Section 4 Task Force, SAWS, and USFS Grandfather Ranger District to try to complete this important project before the end of the summer.

 

JONAS RIDGE TRAIL – We’ve also started work on another dangerous section of trail near Sitting Bear Rock.  It’ll be a challenging project involving big rocks and steep terrain.  But the temps are cooler at the higher elevation, and access is relatively easy.

 

FOREST ROAD 99 – The paved road up to Table Rock was severely damaged during Hurricane Helene.  Wild South has been coordinating youth teams from Outward Bound and Camp Lutherock — focused on clearing hurricane debris out of the culverts and ditches.  It’s a big project, but this road is critical for community access and important to the local economy.

 

Shout out to Jason Fleming for these great axe sheaths.  Jason makes exquisite custom gun holsters.  He’s now turned his talent to keeping his fellow trail volunteers safe with these sturdy covers for seriously sharp tools.