Celebrate the success of the Round Up for the Greenway, drop off your check, walk on the existing greenway, and get your picture taken for the press. Group photo at 5 pm. 

We want to get a GRAND TOTAL of what our community has raised for the Greenway! These funds will go directly toward leveraging state grants to get the next mile of greenway trail on-the-ground!!! Thank YOU for making this "dream project" become a reality!

Hike 1 – Pond Mountain Challenge

Distance –5 mile loop

Difficulty – Very Strenuous with a 1,000 foot elevation gain

 

Hike 2 – Pond Mountain Ridge Walk

Distance – 2.5 miles

Difficulty Level – Moderate

Named by Thomas Jefferson’s father while surveying the Virginia-North Carolina border, Pond Mountain received its name from the unusual natural ponds that dotted its high ridge. BRC led the way in protecting this ecologically and culturally significant area perched at an elevation of 5,000 feet. Currently under Christmas tree cultivation, the project offers major environmental benefits by presenting an opportunity to restore a high mountain habitat to a thriving natural area. Pond Mountain also connects with the Cherokee National Forest which adds to a large contiguous area important for wildlife habitat. Finally, the property contains the headwaters for Big Laurel Creek, Big Horse Creek and Little Horse Creek, enhancing and protecting local and regional water quality. Beyond ecological benefits, the area will offer passive recreational opportunities such as horseback riding and hiking.

A post-hike pizza picnic will be hosted by Virginia and Michael Tate at Ripshin Farm!

Sign up for the hike at https://blueridgeconservancy.org/guided-hikes/ 

“Music on the Lawn” at The Inn at Ragged Gardens has become Blowing Rock’s favorite outdoor concert series. Held each Friday from May through October (weather permitting), the event draws locals and visitors alike. A different band is featured every week and performances are from 5:30 until 8:30. 

The Middle Fork Greenway will have an information table at the event! Stop by and see us to chat and learn more about the greenway!

Charleston Forge will be unveiling the first custom, hand forged bench for the Middle Fork Greenway on July 12th at their grand reopening! Please join us! We are so grateful for their generosity and it will certainly make the Greenway user experience so awesome having benches along the way! Thank you, Charleston Forge for being stewards of the High Country community!

The purpose of this endeavor is to bring together the High Country community while fundraising for a few local charities. Proceeds from this event will benefit High Country Pathways, Blue Ridge Conservancy, as well as the folks at the High Country chapter of Purple Heart Homes, and the VFW. We will feature area food and drink vendors, games such as volleyball, cornhole, disc golf, and have live music from The Heartless Gentlemen! There will also be an auction with items such as an Amazon Kindle Fire, Zero Gravity lawn chairs, and much more! Cost of admission is $20.00. Come join us for some family friendly summer fun!

You and your child are invited to join BRC on the Middle Fork Greenway for a morning of exploration and adventure. We will explore what is living in our rivers, so plan on getting wet! 

We will meet at Sterling Creek Park across Hwy 321 from Mystery Hill. Plan to park at Mystery Hill or Tweesie Railroad, hop on the greenway, and walk under Hwy 321 to arrive at Sterling Creek Park.

Sign up for this event here: https://blueridgeconservancy.org/guided-hikes/

“Music on the Lawn” at The Inn at Ragged Gardens has become Blowing Rock’s favorite outdoor concert series. Held each Friday from May through October (weather permitting), the event draws locals and visitors alike. A different band is featured every week and performances are from 5:30 until 8:30. 

The Middle Fork Greenway will have an information table at the event! Stop by and see us to chat and learn more about the greenway!

We are thrilled to have so many local businesses participating in the Round Up for the Middle Fork Greenway! We will have a variety of materials available to pick up. Materials include:

• 1/4 page fliers to put at the register
• Full Page posters to put on door or on cash register
• Hotel room cards
• Donation boxes and jars

We are thrilled to have so many local businesses participating in the Round Up for the Middle Fork Greenway! We will have a variety of materials available to pick up. Materials include:

• 1/4 page fliers to put at the register
• Full Page posters to put on door or on cash register
• Hotel room cards
• Donation boxes and jars

Footsloggers is hosting a Hopscotch Tournament & Fundraiser to benefit the Middle Fork Greenway! Look for a Middle Fork Greenway representative at the event to learn more about the greenway project. 

There will be an obstacle course, refreshments, and fun prizes! This is fun for all ages!

The event will be held in the Footsloggers courtyard.

BRC will host its 18th annual fundraiser on Wednesday, June 6 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Blowing Rock American Legion located at 333 Wallingford Road in downtown Blowing Rock.

In keeping with an 18-year tradition, owners Ken and Wendy Gordon of The Gamekeeper will prepare delicious, creative, and original Southern food.

A silent and live auction will feature local goods and services donated from our community sponsors. Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on art, pottery, vacation packages, and many other items.

Beer and wine samples are included with your ticket. All proceeds from the event will benefit BRC and its mission to permanently protect land and water resources with agricultural, ecological, cultural, recreational and scenic value in northwest North Carolina.

Individual tickets are $30 each or $50 for two. 

Tickets can be purchased online or at the door on Wednesday, June 6th. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted.

By shopping at Mast General Store on June 2nd, your patronage is helping conserve the High Country’s special places and natural resources. Mast General Store is donating 20% of the day’s sales to Blue Ridge Conservancy.

Look for a BRC representative at all the Mast General Store locations in the High Country: the Original and Annex stores in Valle Crucis, and the downtown Boone location.

Land Trust Day is a partnership between North Carolina business and our state’s two dozen land trusts. On the first Saturday in June, participating businesses display information about local land trusts and agree to donate a percentage of their sales to assist land trusts in protecting open space, scenic views, farmland, water quality, hiking trails and other recreational resources. 

A “PANTcakes” breakfast is available June 2nd at the Boone store location from 9:30-11:30am. Representatives from the retail brand Kuhl will be serving pancakes for a $5 donation. A ceramic mug with Hatchett Coffee is included with the meal. All donations made from the pancakes will be donated back to the land trusts.

Come out and support the MFG at the Watauga County Commissioners Meeting at 5pm at the Watauga County Administrative Building.  We need to present the upcoming grant applications and need to show community support.  

Monthly task force meetings are open to the public. The meetings are held at the Blue Ridge Conservancy office at 166 Furman Road in Boone. The meeting begins at   5:00pm and ends at 6:30pm.  These meetings are typically held on the 3rd Monday of the month.  

11:30 am - 2pm at Blowing Rock Elementary School Gym.  MFG will be partnering with Coyote Kitchen!!!!  Blowing Rock Rotary Club is putting this event on and this year they are having restaurants and non-profits partner up.  Visitors to the cook-off will go around tasting all the different chili's and put $ in the jar for their favorites.  Money is your vote for the best chili.  You can put as many dollars as you want in the jar.  All the money at the end goes to the non-profit and the non-profit/restaurant team that has the most $ at the end wins the cook-off.  

Monthly task force meetings are open to the public. The meetings are held at the Blue Ridge Conservancy office at 166 Furman Road in Boone. The meeting begins at   5:00pm and ends at 6:30pm.  These meetings are typically held on the 3rd Monday of the month, we are changing January's meeting to the 4th Monday, because the 3rd Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 

Monthly task force meetings are open to the public. The meetings are held at the Blue Ridge Conservancy office at 166 Furman Road in Boone. The meeting begins at 5:00pm and ends at 6:30pm.

On December 9th, you can Purchase with a Purpose! Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery and Village Jewelers, Ltd. will be donating 10% of their sales toward the Middle Fork Greenway.

Monthly task force meetings are open to the public. The meetings are held at the Blue Ridge Conservancy office at 166 Furman Road in Boone. The meeting begins at 5:00pm and ends at 6:30pm.  We are a week early to stay out of the Thanksgiving holiday week. 

Monthly task force meetings are open to the public. The meetings are held at the Blue Ridge Conservancy office at 166 Furman Road in Boone. The meeting begins at 5:00pm and ends at 6:30pm.

To sign up for a hike please visit www.blueridgeconservancy.org or call BRC at 828-264-2511. Each Saturday hike is considered strenuous, ranging from 3-6 miles. We meet at 9am, with each hike lasting a few hours, depending on the group’s pace. Directions and hiking logistics will be emailed to those signed up the week prior to the hike.  All hikes are guided by a naturalist and BRC’s staff, and are free to BRC members. Non-members are encouraged to sign up for a membership prior to the hike.  

BRC 2017 HIKE SCHEDULE:

• Saturday, April 15 Hike: Camp Lutherock

• Wednesday June 21 Kids in Nature Hike: Boone United Trail (10:30am)

• Saturday July 15 Hike: Old Orchard Creek Blueberry Farm

• Saturday, August 19 Hike: Pond Mountain Traditional & Challenge Route

• Saturday, October 7 Hike: Blue Ridge Parkway Waterfall Hike

http://www.highgravityadventures.com/mountainninjawarrior/

September 30th, 2017: Mark your calendars for the 18th Annual Stick Boy Bread Company Mayview Madness 5K Run and Kids 1-Mile Fun Run. Held on some of the most beautiful roads in the High Country, you will be sure to enjoy the breathtaking views through the town of Blowing Rock. After the race, hang out at Bistro Roca Restaurant to refuel with snacks and attend the awards ceremony. Blue Ridge Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine will once again be sponsoring the 1 Mile Kids Fun Run held right before the 5k race.

ZAP Fitness Running Center offers 3 weeks of free training runs / clinics in preparation for the Stick Boy Mayview Madness 5k. This year the clinics will also offer a training session for children who are planning on participating in the Blue Ridge Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine 1 Mile Kids Fun Run. The adult training runs are open to all ages and abilities and will range in distance from 2-7 miles.

Runners will meet each week at 5:45 p.m. at the dirt parking lot on rt. 221 adjacent to the entrance to Moses Cone Park.

Runners who have pre-registered can pick up a race packet Thursday the 28th or Friday the 29th at the Stick Boy Bakery located at 345 Hardin Street in Boone. The bakery is open from 7:00am-6:30pm Monday-Friday and Saturday from 7:00am-5:30pm.

Race packets and race day registration will also be available the morning of the 30th at 7:00am at the Parks and Recreation building in downtown Blowing Rock. The Fun Run begins at 8:00am and the 5K begins at 8:30am.

Monthly task force meetings are open to the public. The meetings are held at the Blue Ridge Conservancy office at 166 Furman Road in Boone. The meeting begins at 5:00pm and ends at 6:30pm.

Middle Fork Greenway will be setting up a display/info booth this evening - come out and see us!!!  “Music on the Lawn” at The Inn at Ragged Gardens has become Blowing Rock’s favorite outdoor concert series. Held each Friday from May through October (weather permitting), the event draws locals and visitors alike. The event has grown in popularity over the years and attendance in the hundreds can be expected. A different band is featured every week and performances are from 5:30 until 8:30. A cash bar and lawn menu are available. There is no charge for the concerts and we encourage guests to bring a lawn chair and arrive early to secure a spot on the lawn. As much as we love them, please no pets, coolers or outside food and beverage. Each week a private non-profit organization is featured to educate and inform the public about their cause. We encourage you to come and enjoy music, food and drink on the beautifully landscaped grounds at The Inn at Ragged Gardens. See you on Fridays!  For a line up of musicians visit this website http://www.ragged-gardens.com/music-on-the-lawn

Join us at Bistro Roca for food, beverages, and updates on the Middle Fork Greenway.  More details coming soon!

Monthly task force meetings are open to the public. The meetings are held at the Blue Ridge Conservancy office at 166 Furman Road in Boone. The meeting begins at 5:00pm and ends at 6:30pm.

CowBelle Classic is a women’s only cycling event hosted by the Boone Area Cyclists Club. Women of all ages and abilities are invited to ride in a non-competitive, social environment. By providing mentoring for new riders, we are expanding the community of women cyclists in our region. Fully supported ride – water/aid stations, mechanic available, sweeper car at the end, no rider left behind. http://booneareacyclists.org/?event=cowbelle-classic

For more information about the ride, training rides, or questions about bikes, etc:cowbelleclassic@gmail.com

To sign up for a hike please visit www.blueridgeconservancy.org or call BRC at 828-264-2511. Each Saturday hike is considered strenuous, ranging from 3-6 miles. We meet at 9am, with each hike lasting a few hours, depending on the group’s pace. Directions and hiking logistics will be emailed to those signed up the week prior to the hike.  All hikes are guided by a naturalist and BRC’s staff, and are free to BRC members. Non-members are encouraged to sign up for a membership prior to the hike.  

BRC 2017 HIKE SCHEDULE:

• Saturday, April 15 Hike: Camp Lutherock

• Wednesday June 21 Kids in Nature Hike: Boone United Trail (10:30am)

• Saturday July 15 Hike: Old Orchard Creek Blueberry Farm

• Saturday, August 19 Hike: Pond Mountain Traditional & Challenge Route

• Saturday, October 7 Hike: Blue Ridge Parkway Waterfall Hike