Alarka Expeditions

01/16/2026

Good people of poetry!
The magical Loss Glazier of the Little Tennessee River valley is presenting his new book, Ten Thousand Trees at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, tomorrow at 3PM!
https://citylightsnc.com/event/2026-01-17/loss-pequeno-glazier-poetry-brent-martin

11/02/2025

The Little Tennessee river will be directly affected by decisions made by the town of Franklin, NC. Because of that, we are endorsing candidates we can trust to protect it.
On Nov. 4, vote:
Guffey for mayor 🛶
And for town council we endorse:
Kelton Bailey
Rita Salain
Jeff Berry

Guffey for Franklin It’s Franklin’s Time. Guffey for Franklin It’s Franklin’s Time. Keeping Franklin Moving Forward “My roots in Franklin run deep, and my years of service have taught me what it takes to lead a town like ours. Now I’m asking for your help to keep Franklin moving forward....

10/04/2025

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that there wouldn't be an Alarka Expeditions without Dr. Jane Goodall and the giant oaks in our lives. Those whose shoulders we (in ecotours) all stand on. The very premise of "Alarka" is built on her work and all those mighty human oaks that teach us about personhood for all beings.

Another human oak, Madison Traviss (more than 20 years my junior), has written a crystalline tribute to Dr. Jane Goodall and we want to share it, here. You might remember Madison (founder of Refhygge and former Cowee School staffer), she lead a forest bathing workshop with us this year.

Here's to all those who lead us into the wild!

“don’t meet your heroes, they’ll disappoint you.”

09/15/2025

Your Septemb-alarka is here!

The sun is setting on the valley like a suitcase let down by the left hand. Your river-heart flows through the door as you arrive. Where do we flow next? Water travel by kayak affords a change in perspective. River’ing always transcends road travel - the highway aligns us with civilization.

09/04/2025

Just a big shout out to our treasured ReVeRe series participants, Outdoor 76 & the Highlands Biological Station for making recent trips on the Little T so wonderfully memorable! 🚣‍♀️

Here's an infographic to share with your neighbors.🐦

08/07/2025

7th Heaven on the Little Tennessee! The ReVeRe is on it's 7th outing of the season this month and we want more otters, more herons, more scour-dependent florals on our river boulders, more soaring fish hawks, more dorsal fin listing redhorse, more stonecrop at bases of our ancient sycamore trees, more black velvet and chartreuse catalpa worms, more clubtail dragonflies, more tree swallows, more, more, more, more, more!

08/05/2025

Please click on the link and stand for the Beidler Forest. It won't take but a few minutes. 🐦🐛🌳

I am submitting the following comment regarding Docket #2025-177-E:

Dear SC Public Service Commission,

As an outfitter, ecotour-guide, writer and naturalist, I'm posing an objection to the proposed taking of forests by Santee Cooper. Extraction of our southeastern forests is at a fever-pitch among the Carolinas, where I work, in wild nature.

The felling of our ancient forests is a shameful prospect and must denied at ALL COSTS. Industry should not be allowed to take these ecosystems. BIRDS cannot simply move to an adjacent landscape. They have SITE FIDELITY, which causes birds to make a go of life where their ancestors lived and bred since time immemorial. Have you ever wondered why a bird would choose to land in a Walgreens parking lot? Because it was ONCE it's family's home and it's ability to live is STEEPLY diminished by clearing it's native habitat. The Prothonotary warbler requires deep-dark old forests with the OG trees. Migrating songbirds rely almost completely on larvae and bugs that exist because of these trees.

We cannot continue to allow corporate interests take what remains of our original growth forests -- what's happening to our region is a death by a thousand (small) cuts. This action will not only degrade habitat for the creatures but it will daylight and destroy the adjacent habitat by heating up the ambient temps and freshwater.

Please, stand up for what is good for the ecosystem we rely on and deny this proposal.

Sincerest thanks,

Angela-Faye Martin
Owner, Alarka Expeditions, LLC
Macon County, North Carolina

Join Audubon in asking our elected officials to protect birds and the places they need.

07/18/2025

ReVeRe VI 🖐🦉🐸🐢🦦🦫💦