Linville Gorge Information Cabin

05/11/2021

05/07/2021

05/04/2021

A big shout out to the the Tent Lab for making a great trowel! Pictured is THE DEUCE #3

Leave No Trace # 3

Dispose of Waste Properly

Undoubtedly the most commonly known part of leave no trace is "Pack it in, Pack it out!" Most public land users that I ask about leave no trace principles mention this one. And they are right, but it is only part of the message.

We as users of public lands and more specifically, wilderness areas, need to manage our waste as we enter or leave these areas. Wilderness areas by design are generally undeveloped, and the opportunities for trash cans and bathrooms are limited to a few high use areas outside of the wilderness.

Largest recurring waste issues in the Linville Gorge Wilderness

Litter and trash left behind, including in campfire rings.

Improper disposal of human waste and toilet paper.

Both issues can be solved by the first leave no trace principle: Be prepared and plan ahead!

If we all take a second and make sure to take care not to leave trash behind and pick up any we see on our adventures, this will solve itself. I always carry a plastic style grocery bag just for litter. Cheap, easy, and light......going in!

Needing to go to the bathroom in the woods can sneak up on you. Part of my daypack contents include a small roll of toilet paper and a trowel. I make sure to always have them with me.

Link to the trowl and how to p**p in a hole!

http://www.thetentlab.com/Deuce/DeuceofSpadespage.html

https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/dispose-of-waste-properly/

04/21/2021

UPDATE- 4/23/2021

Hawksbill is open again.

A big thank you to the USFS for the quick response to this fire.

ALERT!

HIGH FIRE DANGER!.

Yesterday there was a human caused fire on Hawksbill trail. Hawksbill is closed untill further notice. Please respect any posting in that area.

Remember if you have a fire it needs to be put out 100% when you leave, and should never be left unattended untill it's out cold!

04/21/2021

Dixie of Homemade Wanderlust sums it up!

Have a great week, and

FYI we're in high FIRE DANGER!

00:00 Hey y’all00:29 Plan Ahead and Prepare00:52 Selecting a Campsite 03:08 Camping and Food05:04 Campfires06:30 Dealing With Waste (Using the Restroom/Packi...

04/20/2021

***Babel Tower Search and Recovery***

On Saturday, April 17 at approximately 12:32 pm BCRS SAR responded to a report of a long fall in the area of Babel Tower. Burke County EMS, Burke County Emergency Management and US Forest Service Law Enforcement also responded and established command at the Babel Tower trailhead. Technical rescue crews hiked over a mile in to the incident location but unfortunately the victim was deceased upon arrival. NCHART (Helo Aquatic Rescue Team) assisted in the victim's recovery. This incident is under investigation by the USFS at this time and we will not be releasing any additional information until their investigation is complete. Our deepest condolences go to the family of the victim. Thank you to all of the departments who assisted on this call from Burke, Avery and McDowell counties, the NCHART Team and NC Emergency Management.

04/19/2021

The leaves are quickly marching north, and the wilderness is still beautiful.
This is the second of a seven part series discussing Leave No Trace and how it relates to the Linville Gorge Wilderness. Leave No Trace consists of seven principles.
Leave No Trace is extremely important to apply as we use and enjoy our public lands. It helps guide us through our adventures in a way that leaves the resource the same or better than when we enjoyed it. As we get more and more users on public lands, it will be increasingly important that we personally make the commitment to utilizing Leave No Trace.
I would also encourage people that have an understanding of Leave No Trace to lead by example and to kindly educate others you may encounter that may not know about it.

Principle 2: Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces

https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/travel-camp-on-durable-surfaces/

Linville Gorge Wilderness Trails -

Whether you are new to visiting the Linville Gorge, or are a seasoned hiker here, a good map is essential to traveling and navigating in the gorge. The steep rugged terrain and many unofficial social trails can be intimidating to hikers. It is important to plan your route before you enter the wilderness and to have a paper map with you during your adventure. Please DO NOT rely only on your phone or GPS for navigation in the gorge.
Although there are many electronic resources that make navigating in the wilderness easier, the problem that arises when they are your only navigational aid is that if your phone or GPS battery dies or you lose your device, you may be left in a bad situation.
A dangerous trend I have been seeing is that some people are following another user’s track that they have downloaded on their phone. The risk is greater when they do not research the route beforehand and essentially follow a blind track. Many of these tracks are taking people unknowingly onto unofficial, unmaintained social trails.

Social trails are trails that are defined by multiple people traveling the same path and breaking down vegetation and soil. This concentration of foot traffic off of designated trails damages forest vegetation and rare plants and, due to a lack of planning, often leads to erosion, making them unsustainable.

Use of social trails is not encouraged and can be dangerous, especially if you are not prepared for a wilderness experience. Many of the search and rescue efforts take place along unofficial trails.

Camping -

Please do not establish new campsites.
When camping in the gorge, try to utilize an existing campsite. We have a very high volume of campers in the wilderness area. By using an established campsite, we limit impacts such as vegetation trampling and soil compaction.

If you decide to camp in a new spot you must utilize the Leave No Trace principles. Remember that cutting live vegetation is prohibited. Also, please naturalize your campsite when you leave so other users can not tell anyone was there.

I would also encourage people that have an understanding of Leave No Trace to lead by example and to kindly educate others you may encounter that may not know about it.

04/08/2021

The USFS has made clearer signage, maps and information now posted for closure for the nesting peregrine falcons in the Linville Gorge Wilderness. If you're recreating in the NC Wall or Shortoff Mountain areas, please respect the signs and closures so we can continue to have successful nest sites.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD875558

04/02/2021

04/01/2021

These are great opportunities!

Now Hiring! We are accepting applications for Field Crew Members. Want to join a positive, fun, inclusive and welcoming team of stewards? Crew members work on a small team to complete trail and resource management projects in the wild public spaces in the Southern Appalachians. Apply at the link below!
https://www.wildernessstewards.org/jobs

03/30/2021

This is real and happens to people that think "it will never happen to me"!

Please make your safety your first priority.

***SAR*** Last night at approximately 5:08pm BCSAR responded to a report of overdue hikers possibly in distress in the area of Table Rock in the Linville Gorge. The reporting party had very little information on the missing group's location. They did not leave behind a plan of their hike or inform anyone when they left or would return. We were also unable to aquire a GPS location from any of the party's phones. This left search crews with very little information on where to begin searching for the hikers. A NC Wildlife Law Enforcement officer in the area located one of the missing person's vehicle at the the locked gate to the summit of Table Rock.

US Forest Service Law Enforcement, Burke County Emergency Management and BCRS SAR responded to the area and began a hasty search of all surrounding trails in the vicinity of the vehicle. After being unable to locate the missing party a request was made for Burke EMS Special Operations and Linville Central Rescue Squad to begin hasty searches of trails on the western side of the gorge. At approximately 10:50pm the party made phone contact with Emergency Management and were able to provide coordinates of their location. A hasty team was able to hike in to the group. All were uninjured but extremely tired and cold from the quickly dropping temperatures and 40+ MPH wind gusts. After the missing party was out of the woods and returned to their vehicle the final crew members exited the woods at approximately 1:00 am.

We cannot stress the importance of proper planning for hikes in the area. Be sure to know your route, inform someone where you are going and when you will return and always carry the 10 essentials even on a short hike. This call makes the fourteenth SAR call-out for our volunteers this March alone. Thank you to the multiple personnel and agencies involved in this search.

03/19/2021

As spring marches on, the weather in the Linville Gorge Wilderness continues to be more enjoyable. A reminder that camping permits are required on Friday and Saturday nights and holidays, beginning on May 1st.



This will be the first of a seven part series discussing Leave No Trace and how it relates to the Linville Gorge Wilderness. Leave No Trace consists of seven principles; we will address one each week.



Leave No Trace is extremely important to apply as we use and enjoy our public lands. It helps guide us through our adventures in a way that leaves the resource the same or better than when we enjoyed it. As we get more and more users on public lands, it will be increasingly important that we personally make the commitment to utilizing Leave No Trace.



I would also encourage people that have an understanding of Leave No Trace to lead by example and to kindly educate others you may encounter that may not know about it.

Principal #1 – Plan Ahead and Prepare

https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/plan-ahead-and-prepare/

7 things to plan for while visiting the Linville Gorge Wilderness

1. Have a map. There is very little signage in the Linville Gorge Wilderness as well as an extremely high rate of search and rescue due to lost or injured hikers. There are several resources available to help you find maps of the area. In the growing culture of using our phones as navigation tools, I would suggest looking into the All Trails or Avenza applications. It would also be good to have a paper map and compass to go with your electronic map, in case your cell phone battery dies.

2. Know your personal limitations. The Gorge is a rugged place, and what is easy for one person may not be the same for another. It is difficult enough to get into and around under normal circumstances. It gets extremely difficult to get yourself out if you are not feeling your best or the weather changes.

3. Check and plan for weather conditions. Depending on the day, it can be snowing, raining, or hot and humid with no wind. The weather in the Gorge may be quite different than where you are traveling from, so planning for your day will go a long way towards having an enjoyable adventure. Choose appropriate clothing for physical activity, and take your footwear into consideration as well. The trails are narrow, rocky, wet, and muddy in areas.

4. Put together a day pack. Almost everybody you see in the Gorge will have some type of pack on their back. My pack not only carries the things I need to enjoy my day but also allows me to easily carry out any trash I may have brought in or that I may find along the way. A few items in my pack that are always with me are a first aid kit, map, trowel and toilet paper, raincoat, camera (cell phone), trash bag, and all the food and water I'll need for my day. Everybody carries slightly different items, and you'll quickly figure out the things you need for your adventures.

5. Plan your route, and let somebody know where you are going. It is always good practice to have a plan in mind and share it with somebody who is not going to be with you. Cell phones work really well around the Gorge, they do not work while you're down in the Gorge! The Gorge can be tricky to navigate, so doing your homework before you arrive at the trailhead will also go a long way in getting you to where you want to be. There are many social trails that are not on the map. These trails are rough, unmaintained, and generally poorly planned routes that can result in resource damage. I would not encourage people to use social trails. The electronic maps are great because they allow you to see where you are at all times.

6. Know and understand the local rules and regulations for the Wilderness. Not all wilderness areas have the same regulations. Always go to the U.S. Forest Service website for the specific wilderness area that you are visiting. The site will tell you everything you need to know about spending time in a particular wilderness area.

Linville Gorge Wilderness regulations:

Limit of 10 people in a group.

Maximum stay is 2 nights and 3 days.

Camping permits are required May 1 – October 31 on Friday, Saturday, and holidays

No mechanical transport of any kind is allowed. This includes bicycles, aircraft, drones, and any other form of transportation other than hiking.

No removal of plants, stone, or moss is allowed for personal or commercial use.

7. Plan for the worst, and hope for the best. No one can predict when they will have an injury or encounter a situation beyond their control. Being prepared for your day in the Wilderness will not only help take care of the resource, it can also help ensure the safety of you and your friends.

https://www.wildernessstewards.org/