Click here to download the complete schedule in PDF format.
GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN NATURALIST WEEKEND MAY 18-20
The
2007 Grandfather Mountain Naturalist Weekend planned for Friday evening,
May 18 through Sunday, May 20 is bringing together many of the top names
in North Carolina’s outdoor community. From TV personality Tom
Earnhardt and hiking guru Randy
Johnson to hummingbird expert Dwayne Martin and meteorologist Grant
Goodge, Grandfather’s naturalists have planned a fascinating collection
of programs and guided walks offered to help guests discover "nature
on a whole different level."
The naturalist weekend evolved from Grandfather’s “Spring on the Mountain” programs. For the past decade, the attraction has hosted wildflower, bird and geology activities on three consecutive Saturdays in May, but last year all activities were rolled up into one weekend to allow participants to truly immerse themselves in the excitement of spring on Grandfather Mountain.
The
adventure begins Friday night, May 18 with an owl prowl led by Grandfather
Naturalist Jesse Pope from 8 to 10 p.m. Contact Jesse at 828-733-4326
for reservations and details on where to meet.
On Saturday, May 19, Pope will start the day with an early morning nature hike to explore the high-elevation habitat near the Swinging Bridge. Participants should bring binoculars because this outing is a great opportunity to see bird species that can not be found in the deciduous forests common to lower elevations.
As
the day continues, Grandfather Habitats Manager Tanya Cline will lead
a workshop on the black bear that will include a trip down to the bear
habitat to observe bear behavior first hand.
Lori Williams of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission will enlighten visitors on the habits and habitat of salamanders in a program that will include a trek into the woods to see what lives beneath the rocks and rotting logs found along the way.
Those
who have ever hiked Grandfather Mountain’s carefully maintained
network of backcountry trails will enjoy the opportunity to hear author
Randy Johnson
discuss the new edition of his popular trail guide, Hiking North
Carolina. Johnson was the person who first conceived the idea of
charging user fees to support the development and upkeep of Grandfather’s
amazing network of alpine trails, and as the Mountain’s first
Backcountry manager spent the decade of the 1980s building the attraction’s
reputation for delivering a quality hiking experience.
The keynote speaker for the weekend is Tom Earnhardt, host of the popular Exploring North Carolina program an UNC Public TV. Earnhardt, an environmental lawyer who now works with the NC Museum of Natural Science, brings with him a statewide perspective about what is happening on the natural side of North Carolina.
Saturday’s activities end with a nocturnal excursion into the forest with Lori Williams to turn over rocks in search of salamanders from 8 to 10 p.m. If the weather is too dry for salamanders, the evening excursion will turn into an owl prowl.
On Sunday, May 20, Audubon biologist Curtis Smalling will lead a bird walk on a trail that will take guests through some of the most densely populated bird habitat in North Carolina.
Nina Fisschessor of the Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute at Lees-McRae College will do a presentation on birds of prey that includes bringing out live birds so guests can get a closer look.
Rounding out the bird programs, Catawba County Interpretive Ranger Dwayne Martin, one of only four people in North Carolina licensed to capture and band hummingbirds, will lead a hummingbird-banding workshop and enlighten guests on the fascinating world of hummers.
In
the afternoon Dr. Loren
Raymond of Appalachian State University will give a slide presentation
on the geology of the Blue Ridge and also lead a hike into the backcountry
to look for geological formations that give clues to how Grandfather
Mountain was formed.
Grant Goodge, consultant for the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville will give a presentation on the weather of Grandfather Mountain.
Capping off Sunday’s programs will be Megan McCloud from Grandfather’s Wildlife Habitat staff hosting a slide program on the elusive and majestic cougar.
“I am really proud of the schedule we have put together this year,” said Grandfather Naturalist Jesse Pope. “Our presenters are really knowledgeable and I hope that the wide variety of subjects will interest a wide variety of guests.”
In addition to all the wonderful interpretive programs that will be offered during Grandfather’s Naturalist Weekend, the most exciting reason to visit Grandfather in mid-May is that the colors of spring will just be arriving on the high peaks of Grandfather.
Not only does May bring leaves back to the trees on Grandfather Mountain, it also brings the porcelain pink blossoms of the rare and endangered Azalea vaseyi to its slopes. Native to only three counties in Northwest North Carolina, the world’s largest natural population of the exquisite pink-shelled azalea covers Grandfather in clouds of pink blossoms during the middle two weeks of the month.
All programs and guided walks offered as part of the Naturalist's Weekend are included in the regular price of admission. Those who attend for more than one day should keep to their receipt from their first visit and present that for discount admission the following day.
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