Kevin Lynch Found This Afternoon Near the Cataloochee Divide Trail

After spending four nights lost in the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Kevin Mark Lynch was found by searchers. At approximately 4:25 p.m. searchers discovered Lynch, alert and responsive, in the southeast area of the park near the Cataloochee Divide Trail.

Earlier this afternoon, grid search team members discovered the first significant leads in the search for Lynch when his hat and pair of sunglasses were discovered approximately 1,600 feet south east of the Cataloochee Divide trail. Shortly after, a second grid search team, found what appeared to be fresh footprints leading toward the Ferguson Cabin. At these discoveries, search efforts were consolidated and redirected to the areas adjacent to where the clues were discovered in a focused search effort. Within a few hours, Lynch was discovered after he responded to searcher’s yells. Lynch was only ¾ of a mile from the point last seen.

Lynch was transported by Haywood County EMS to Haywood Regional Medical Center for assessment where he will be reunited with his family, whom has gathered near the command center daily since his disappearance.

“From the moment we learned of Lynch’s disappearance, Haywood County Emergency Management and National Park Service staff worked quickly to take an aggressive and proactive approach with search tactics due to the dire circumstances surrounding Lynch’s health condition,” said Park Chief Ranger Lisa Hendy. The successful utilization of a joint command structure was definitely a contributing factor to the success of this operation. We cannot thank all of the agencies who supported this effort enough for their dedicated commitment to bringing Mr. Lynch home safely to his family.”



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

More Than 200 Searchers Continue Efforts to Locate Kevin Lynch on North Carolina Side of the Smokies

Over the course of the last four days, grid searchers, trackers, and numerous dog teams have searched a five mile radius intensely looking for any clues as to Lynch’s direction of travel. Searchers have hiked all trails in the area looking for Lynch, posting informational flyers at trailheads, and interviewing hikers.

On Sunday, July 28, North Carolina Highway Patrol utilized a helicopter with FLIR technology, forward looking infrared (FLIR), in an effort to locate sources of heat in the search area. Since Sunday, drones have been utilized daily to get a bird’s eye view of the area. Law enforcement officials and fire departments have gone door to door notifying home owners adjacent to the park boundary to be on the lookout for Lynch. Over 400 residences have been contacted thus far and their associated outbuildings and barns searched.

Yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, July 30, a contract helicopter was deployed to scan the terrain for specific geologic features, such as rock outcrops and grassy balds, to help identify areas that may be utilized by Lynch. Today, trackers and search dog teams will examine any points of interest. Grid teams will expand their search corridor from 100 ft. to 300 ft. off trails and streams. All-terrain vehicles will be utilized to search several old logging roads and manways located on private land in the search area.

A total of 209 searchers, trackers, and incident command personnel associated with 32 agencies are being utilized in the search effort today, with approximately 60 agencies assisting over the course of the entire operation.

“We are very fortunate to have had such an outpouring of support from local emergency services agencies” said Incident Commander Mike Scheid. “We have the best of the best out in the field searching for Mr. Lynch and we are doing everything we can to bring him home safely”. “We continue to be very optimistic that the outcome of this search operation will be a positive one”.

Lynch is a white male approximately 5’5” feet tall, weighs 150 pounds, has brown (salt/pepper) hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing brown cotton shorts, a brown shirt with a white tail deer on it, and a camouflage baseball cap. He was last seen at approximately 3:20 p.m. walking along the park boundary at the Swag resort in Haywood County, North Carolina. Lynch, from Woodbridge New Jersey, suffers from dementia and may be confused as to his location. If anyone has seen Lynch since Saturday afternoon please call or text the Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at (888) 653-0009 or go to www.nps.gov/ISB and click “submit a tip.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

New Mexico man charged after his dog kills fawn

A New Mexico man who allowed his dog to kill a fawn in southern Colorado has been charged with several wildlife crimes.

Michael Garcia, 36, of Las Cruces, N.M., has been charged with illegal possession of wildlife, allowing his dog to harass wildlife and unlawful manner of take of wildlife. He was issued a citation by a Colorado Parks & Wildlife wildlife officer on July 23. The fines for the offenses are $1,372.50 and an assessment of 20 license-suspension points.

Garcia may elect to pay the fines or appear in court, explained Rick Basagoitia, area wildlife manager for CPW in the San Luis Valley. If he does not pay the fine, he will be required to appear in court on Sept. 16.

“This is a disturbing case; we’ve heard from many members of the public wanting CPW to investigate,” Basagoitia said. “Information that they’ve provided has been greatly helpful to CPW efforts.”

According to the officer’s report, the man was in an area near the Conejos River when his dog chased the fawn and killed it. Garcia posted photos of the dog and the dead fawn on social media. Someone saw the post, reported it to Operation Game Thief and CPW began to investigate.

Garcia was working as a fishing guide on the Conejos River. District Wildlife Officer Rod Ruybalid located him, conducted an interview and issued the citation.

In addition to the fines, Garcia will also be issued 20 license-suspension points, which means he must appear before a CPW suspension-hearing officer. This is a separate process that could result in the suspension of license privileges from one to five years. Only the Parks and Wildlife Commission has the authority to impose suspensions.

Wildlife crimes can be reported anonymously to Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648. Those who report are eligible for a cash reward if the tip results in the issuance of a ticket or a conviction.

Chasing and killing wildlife is one of the reasons cited on most national park websites as to why they don't allow dogs on backcountry trails.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Search Operations Amplify for Missing New Jersey Man in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers continue to search for 58 year-old Kevin Mark Lynch who went missing on Saturday, July 27. Lynch was reportedly last seen walking along the boundary of the park at the Swag resort in Haywood County, NC near the Cataloochee Divide Trail.

Lynch is a white male approximately 5’5” feet tall, weighs between 150 pounds and has brown (salt/pepper) hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing brown cotton shorts, a brown shirt with a white tail deer on it, and a camouflage baseball cap. Mr. Lynch, from Woodbridge NJ, suffers from dementia and may be confused as to his location. If anyone has seen Mr. Lynch after Saturday afternoon please contact Great Smoky Mountains National Park dispatch at (865) 436-1230.

Yesterday, thirteen search teams composed of a variety of different agencies are conducting on and off-trail operations searching for Lynch. Teams are navigating through dense vegetation and difficult terrain in the remote southeast area of the park looking for any evidence of human travel. Park officials requested the assistance of six canine search teams through Haywood County Emergency Management. In total, 180 searchers, investigators, and incident command personnel are being utilized in the search effort.

At this time, search operations remain limited to a select number of trained searchers to enable a systematic, thorough search of the area. By limiting the number of searchers in the area, rangers have the best chance to find Lynch quickly. Dog teams and trackers can be hampered by additional people in the area when searchers are looking for signs of hiker travel.

Over thirty agencies are assisting with the search effort and include Appalachian Mountain Rescue Team, Buncombe County Rescue Squad, North Carolina Public Safety Prison Division, South Carolina Search and Rescue K9 Unit, Sevier County Search and Rescue, Sevier County Volunteer Rescue Squad, Backcountry Unit Search and Rescue team (BUSAR), Canton Police Department, Centerview Rescue Squad, Cosby Volunteer Rescue Squad, Chattanooga Rescue Squad, Haywood County Search and Rescue, Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, Civil Air Patrol, Haywood County Rescue Squad, Cataloochee Ranch Wranglers, Connestee Fire Rescue, Haywood County Transit, Haywood County Emergency Management, Haywood County Communications, Randall’s Adventure and Training Search and Rescue Team(RAT-SAR), Transylvania Rescue Squad, Brevard Fire Department, Asheville Fire Department, Henderson County Rescue Squad and Great Smoky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Senate Committee Introduces Bill to Increase Funding for National Park Roadways

Today, the United States Senate introduced a bill that includes a 21 percent increase in funding for national parks. America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act, a surface transportation bill, would be used to repair and update roads, bridges, and transportation systems in national parks across the country. National park provisions are an important, but small portion of this nearly 500-page surface transportation bill.

“This legislation comes at a critical time for the country and our national parks,” said Emily Douce Director of Operations and Park Funding for the National Parks Conservation Association. “There are crumbling roads along the Blue Ridge Parkway, aging bridges in Great Smoky Mountains and outdated shuttle buses in Zion. Our national parks are scraping by on shoestring budgets, while facing billions of dollars in needed repairs and updates to their aging infrastructure and transportation systems. In fact, more than half of the Park Service’s $11.9 billion maintenance backlog is comprised of transportation needs. This bill is a big step in the right direction. If enacted, this would provide critical funding to repair important roads, bridges and park transit systems to ensure millions of visitors can continue to experience and enjoy national parks now and for years to come.”

The National Park System is second only to the Department of Defense in the amount of federal infrastructure it manages, including 10,000 miles of publicly accessible roads and 1,440 bridges. The America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act would authorize federal highway programs that provide $287 billion over five years.

Key park provisions included in the bill:

• Guarantees an increase in annual funding to the Park Service – an additional $310 million over the span of the five-year bill – through the Federal Lands Transportation Program, which provides funds to improve roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure in parks.

• Dedicates $50 million a year and authorizes $100 million a year for the Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Program designed to address exceptionally large repair projects in our parks, such as the reconstruction of the Tamiami Trail in the Everglades and a portion of the Grand Loop Road in Yellowstone.

• Provides measures to improve the resiliency of roads and bridges to natural disasters and extreme weather events.

• Encourages innovative solutions to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, establishing a program that would support projects that protect motorist and wildlife through improved transportation infrastructure.

“Our park infrastructure is in bad shape, and the problem will only get worse if the chronic underfunding continues. We commend Chairman Barrasso (R-WY), Ranking Member Carper (D-DE) and the rest of the Environment and Public Works Committee for leading the effort to address the costly backlog of transportation projects throughout our country. Now, the other Senate committees and the House of Representatives must finish the work and pass final legislation to fix our country’s infrastructure, including our parks, and doing so without compromising public input and protections for our nation’s air, water and wildlife,” said Douce.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

OPINION : La mort, source de vie !

 Salut à tous,

 Du site leQuotidien : « C’est beau la mort, c’est plein de vie dedans », chantait Félix Leclerc. Il ne croyait pas si bien dire, mais cette idée n’en est pas moins difficile à appréhender – et surtout à accepter – pour la plupart d’entre nous. Le fait est que parler de la mort n’est pas chose aisée. C’est un sujet tabou, en quelque sorte. Cela s’explique par le fait que, pour nous, la mort est le plus souvent associée à la souffrance et au chagrin. Mais pourtant, la mort fait partie de la vie, comme on dit. Elle est même notre seule certitude, dit-on parfois. Alors, pourquoi la mort nous fait-elle si peur ? 

¨ De manière générale, je dirais que si nous redoutons autant la mort, c’est qu’elle est entourée de mystère et que nous n’y sommes pas bien préparés. Ainsi, si « philosopher, c’est apprendre à mourir », comme disait Montaigne, force est de constater que nous manquons cruellement de philosophie. Cela dit, je pense que le problème de la mort est avant tout une affaire de perspective. J’entends par là que si la mort nous apparaît aussi redoutable, c’est que nous n’arrivons pas à comprendre et à apprécier son rôle dans la nature. Et pourtant, nous verrons que la mort est non seulement un passage obligé, mais aussi un bienfait – d’un certain point de vue, du moins.¨

   Un bienfait, mais pour qui ? Évidemment, si nous nous bornons à appréhender les choses sur la seule base de notre individualité, cette idée n’a aucun sens. En effet, pour la plupart d’entre nous, la mort apparaît comme un mal, car elle nous prive de nos proches, et éventuellement de la jouissance de notre propre vie. En ce sens, la mort peut donc être perçue comme une force destructrice qui annihile tout sur son passage. Or, si nous nous efforçons de changer le regard que nous portons sur les choses, nous constatons que la mort n’est pas seulement une force destructrice, mais aussi, et surtout, une force créatrice. À toutes les échelles du vivant, en effet, la mort fait oeuvre utile. Car c’est de la mort qu’émerge la nouvelle vie.
   

   Les Anciens avaient l’habitude de concevoir la nature comme un « grand vivant », c’est-à-dire que tous les êtres qui la constituent forment un tout indissociable. Marc Aurèle, philosophe stoïcien du 2e siècle, disait d’ailleurs ceci au sujet de l’être et de la mort : « Tous ces êtres que tu vois, la Nature qui gouverne le tout instantanément les transforme. De leur substance, elle produira d’autres êtres, puis de la substance de ceux-ci, d’autres encore, afin que le monde demeure toujours jeune. ». Ce qu’il faut en comprendre, c’est que c’est grâce à la mort que le cosmos évolue et se renouvelle sans cesse. Sans la mort, notre monde se « fossiliserait », en quelque sorte. Et nous-mêmes, ne sommes-nous pas des poussières d’étoiles, comme l’a si bien dit l’astrophysicien Hubert Reeves ?

   Cette formule, en plus d’être jolie, est rigoureusement vraie. En effet, le processus d’apparition de la vie est intimement lié à la mort de certaines étoiles qui, en s’effondrant sur elles-mêmes, ont disséminé un peu partout dans l’univers les ingrédients de la vie. La leçon à en tirer, c’est qu’en délaissant le point de vue microscopique (l’échelle humaine) au profit du point de vue macroscopique (l’échelle cosmique), nous pouvons pleinement apprécier le caractère créatif de la mort. C’est effectivement grâce à elle que la vie est apparue dans l’univers, mais aussi à travers elle que la vie continue de prospérer.

La mort est donc non seulement inéluctable, mais elle est aussi indispensable. Cela est vrai à l’échelle cosmique, mais aussi à l’échelle humaine, car bien que nous n’ayons absolument rien à gagner dans le fait de devoir mourir, nous savons qu’il est nécessaire que nous mourrions un jour afin de laisser notre place à d’autres. La mort nous impose ainsi une leçon d’humilité, et ce n’est qu’en l’acceptant que nous pourrons trouver la sérénité.

   Cela dit, il est normal de ressentir de la peine lors du décès d’un proche, ou encore d’avoir certaines appréhensions face à sa propre mort. Seulement, c’est une erreur de concevoir la mort comme un mal ou une aberration. Qui plus est, sans la mort, quelle valeur et quel sens la vie pourrait-elle bien avoir ?
* Texte de Sébastien Lévesque

Pégé 

Windows 7  / Windows 10 / Ubuntu 18.04 LTS / Linux Mint 19.

( SI TU NE SAIS PAS, DEMANDE... SI TU SAIS, PARTAGE ! )

Consider These 2 Things Before Choosing A Pair of Hiking Socks

The following is a guest post by Ralph Scheterle of Ventury Sports. Ralph has spent the last year developing a unique hiking sock that could be a game changer for hikers of all kinds. He’s now launching that sock on the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo. In the process of developing his hiking sock he spent numerous hours surveying, interviewing, and hiking with other hikers to understand exactly what pain points to address when creating the best sock for hikers. The result of all that research is the knowledge he shares in this guest post:


There are a few things as important as your feet when hiking.

Some might say they are the number one asset to hikers on the trail.

As a hiker you probably know this to be intuitively true.

Think about it…

If you’re feet don’t work, they’re full of painful blisters, aching muscles, sprained bones, etc…

Then you can’t really hike.

Nearly ALL the hikers I talked to understood that foot health was our top priority if we are going to enjoy our excursions in nature.

But the question was how do we take care of our feet?

To answer this question I identified two areas that should be focused on.

How are you using your feet? (read: walking technique)

AND

What are you putting on your feet?

Walking technique is a completely separate topic that deserves a post of its own.

But for this post I’m going to focus on what are you putting your feet?

Specifically, socks… (shoes also deserve a post of their own).

Time and time again I came across hikers who were overthinking the socks they were using. Or how socks fit into their hiking total package.

In reality I was able to identify two simple areas of focus when considering the right socks foot protection and hiking bliss.

Let’s get right into the first one…


1. Blister Prevention

We had the chance to survey more than 400 hikers. When asked what is the #1 challenge or difficulty on the trail more than 85% of the hikers responded with moist feet. Why? Why is this such a big problem for hikers? Well as a hiker yourself you probably already know. Regardless of being extremely uncomfortable to hike in wet feet, it’s also THE leading cause of blisters. Painful sores that can immediately cut an enjoyable hiking trip short. So when we assess the first thing to consider when choosing a pair of hiking socks it should be a sock that helps to fight against blister development. Which means starting with a sock that is able to control the moisture on and around your foot.

Moisture Control

Imagine you’re hiking deep within a humid, heavily forested area. Naturally your feet are going to get a little warm (if not down-right hot). At this point your feet will begin sweating and your socks get soaked. Like a sponge around water, the socks that you’re wearing begin to soak up the sweat. There are two factors at play here that lead to constantly moist feet, temperature regulation and the actual removal of the moisture.

Temperature regulation

Imagine again with me for a moment that in the scenario above you constantly had a heavy duty fan blowing on your feet at all times (don’t mind the logistics of how this will happen - we’re imagining). If there was a constant flow of air on your feet, even in the hot humid environs your feet would stay cool, which would prevent them from sweating, which keeps them dry. Breathability prevents sweating - so that’s the first thing you’re looking for in a sock.

Air flow.

Most synthetic materials (and especially cotton) are not breathable fabrics. Another way to read that - there is no air flow. But with a fabric that provides air flow you can help to keep your feet cool. Merino wool is a naturally breathable material. Actually scientists are quite baffled by this fluffy New Zealand sheep that is able to keep cool during the summers with all that fur but at the same time keep warm during the winters. But it’s that amazing accomplishment of nature that can also keep the temperature around your feet well regulated. Beyond the types of fabrics in your sock you’ll also want to look for socks that use cooling zones or special areas that provide for breathability in known hotspots. Especially around the midsection of the foot, toes, and above the heel. These special breathing areas have larger than usual holes (almost like a mesh pattern) to allow more air to access your foot.

Moisture removal (rapid dry)

BUT, as any hiker worth their weight in socks knows, temperature regulation is not enough.

Why?

Sometimes it’s just too hot, but most likely the reason is that it rains, or you step in a stream, puddle, lake, pond, or some other body water. Now you have wet feet. The goal at this point is to get the water away from your feet as quickly as possible. Moisture wicking materials - lucky for you and all of your hiking companions there are special materials that literally pull water away from your foot. Remember those amazing fluffy sheep from New Zealand? The Merinos? (Sounds like the family of a distant cousin.) Well nature has figured out a way, again, to keep the Merino sheep dry even when their fur gets wet. The wool of the Merino sheep has what is called Moisture wicking qualities. It acts as a straw sucking the moisture away from the skin. When woven and used within a sock the same effect happens to your feet too. Not only does the Merino wool pull the moisture away from the skin, but it also dries incredibly fast.

Fast drying - which is the next thing you want to look for when considering moisture removal.

Because after the moisture is pulled away from your foot it’s sitting in the fabrics of the sock but now it needs to get out of the fabric. This is where a fast drying material comes in. Merino wool is traditionally very fast drying. Nylon is also fast drying, but it’s not moisture wicking or temperature regulating. So there are some trade-offs there.

Two asides to consider:

Bacteria elimination - one trade off you should not compromise on is bacteria. These pesky little microbes are the cause of a whole host of problems including inflaming blisters to be worse (more painful) than they already are. Needless to say you don’t want bacteria anywhere near your feet. There are not many options to prevent bacteria growth. Keeping your feet dry goes a long way but it’s not a 100% solution. One solution that is not mainstream yet but is a proven fighter against bacteria is silver. Yes, like the silver in jewelry and tableware. Silver ions actively destroy bacteria. And modern tech has invented a Silver infused thread that actively fights against bacteria. There is nothing else on the market that will proactively attack bacteria. But if you can get a pair of hiking socks with Silver in them they are definitely worth more than their weight in silver. ;)
       ◾Bacteria can cause wounds to fester
       ◾Increase moisture retention
       ◾Causes foot rot
Minimize rub - last but definitely not least might be the most obvious cause of blisters. Rubbing. That’s why when it comes to socks you’ll want to choose a sock that does not move too much (if at all) on your foot or within your hiking shoe. To do this many hikers have resorted to using very thin materials (think stockings) in order to form fit their feet and prevent the slippage that leads to blister causing rub. Short of getting a pair of socks tailored to your feet the next best option is going to be finding a sock with a slight compression that can keep its place on your foot without squeezing your foot too tight and causing more hot spots.


2. Comfort

Which leads us to comfort. If you’ve hiked more than 1 mile then you’ll know that if your feet aren’t comfortable on the trail then nothing is comfortable. Ultimately that’s what you’re looking for in a hiking sock, long lasting comfort. To get that it’s best to consider a few core areas of your feet. Toes, front pad, heel pad, arch, and ankles. (basically the entire foot).

Padded areas

A sock that has extra cushioning in the toes and heel areas is great in theory. For the most part it’s great in practice too. However, a word of caution is to avoid socks with too much padding. With too much padding you can fill up your hiking shoe and cause more pain than comfort as crowding can lead to foot disfigurement and eventually blisters. My best recommendation is that you take your hiking shoes with you to try on socks. If the sock brand does not let you try on socks or does not have a favourable return policy then they’re not a brand worth dealing with anyways. But that little bit of extra padding goes a long way in protecting your feet from miles of constant beatings.

Compression

Also, depending on your personal tolerances find a sock with slight compression. I say your “personal tolerances” because everyone has different levels of sensitivity to compression.

As an aside, if you have plantar fasciitis I recommend getting a sock with a good amount of compression it will make your hike much more enjoyable.

That being said, in general you want a sock that will keep the sock molded to the form of your foot - preventing slippage. But also an extra bit of compression in the arch to support your arch lift as well.

Materials

At the risk of sounding redundant, I'm going to beat the drum one more time and say the last thing you want in the comfort category is a quality material. When it comes to comfortable materials Merino wool is the gold standard. If you can’t tell I’m a huge fanboy of Merino wool, but for good reason. It has an incredible technical capability mixed with silky smooth comfort.

And that’s that…

That’s everything you should consider when buying a pair of hiking socks.

Fairly simple right?

Sometimes the most beneficial solution is a simplified analysis.

Lastly, as mentioned at the top of the post, we are crowdfunding the hiking sock we created after 1 year of analysis and research. if you want the perfect pair of hiking socks (in my opinion) I recommend you check out the hiking socks I recently created. The new Ventury Silverlight sock is made of a dual layer system that uses both Merino wool and nylon/spandex to get the best of all worlds. They are also infused with silver threads throughout to make them entirely anti-microbial. The entire sock was constructed to fight blisters and provide ultimate comfort on the trail. And they’re available now on Indiegogo if you’d like to check them out.

Thanks for reading and if you have any questions about what you’ve read here please don’t hesitate to send me an email at contact@venturysports.com



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Governor Cooper Signs Bills Authorizing New State Park and Trails

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed bills into law this month authorizing a new state park and three new state trails. The new laws (S.L. 2019-74, S.L. 2019-20, S535) allow the addition of Pisgah View State Park in Buncombe and Haywood counties; Northern Peaks State Trail in Watauga and Ashe counties, the Wilderness Gateway State Trail in the South Mountains range in McDowell, Rutherford, Burke and Catawba counties; and the Overmountain Victory State Trail reaching across Avery, Mitchell, McDowell, Burke, Rutherford, Polk, Caldwell, Wilkes and Surry counties.

Governor Cooper expects the new state properties to have widespread positive impacts for health, quality of life, and the economy. “These new parks and trails will conserve important wildlife habitats and support North Carolina’s flourishing outdoor recreation industry,” the Governor said.

The new state park, Pisgah View, will be in highly scenic southwest Buncombe and Haywood counties. The area is full of trails, unique habitats, cliffs, coves and upland forests that are home to several rare plant and animal species.

The Division of Parks and Recreation will also conduct a feasibility study that will further refine a corridor for the new Wilderness Gateway State Trail that would connect Chimney Rock State Park to South Mountains State Park, the Town of Valdese, the City of Hickory, the newly authorized Overmountain Victory State Trail and other natural areas located in Burke and Catawba counties. The division is to report back to the General Assembly by Dec. 1.

A state trail is comprised of multiple connected sections, each sponsored by a state or federal agency, local government or private landowner working in partnership to fund, build, and maintain the trail.

The opportunity to enhance visitor opportunities, unique experiences and education for all ages speaks to Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Susi H. Hamilton. “People love parks and trails, so I’m pleased that we’ll be able to provide new opportunities for our residents and visitors to experience some of the most spectacular places in our state,” she said.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Point de vue : États-Unis : un coup d’État sans coup de feu !

 Salut à tous,

 Du site Le Soleil : Ce qui se produit aux États-Unis est fort préoccupant. Non pas en raison des multiples démonstrations du locataire de la Maison-Blanche de son sexisme, racisme et refus de suivre les moindres règles de bienséance et encore moins des principes démocratiques, mais bien par l’apparent échec du système de «check and balance».

¨  Selon ce principe, chacune des branches du gouvernement, l’Exécutif représenté par la Maison-Blanche, le législatif représenté par les deux chambres, soit le Congrès et le Sénat, et le judiciaire représentés par la Cour suprême, limite le pouvoir des autres branches, chacune de celle-ci surveillant les deux autres. Le système ne fonctionne que dans la mesure où aucune des branches n’abdique son pouvoir.

   Or, force est de constater que la branche législative, ou à tout le moins le Sénat, a abdiqué ses pouvoirs en se refusant toute critique du président américain, peu importe les comportements ou propos. Et ce, malgré l’évidente contradiction entre le discours d’un parti qui se targue d’avoir des valeurs «pro-familles» et les agissements du locataire de la Maison-Blanche.
    
   Trump bénéficie ainsi d’un mouvement entamé sous la présidence de Barack Obama par le puissant leader du Sénat, le républicain Mitch McConnell. Celui-ci a politisé à outrance le Sénat refusant par exemple de convoquer quelque candidat que ce soit aux auditions nécessaires pour une nomination à la Cour suprême, préférant attendre l’élection de Donald Trump. Le but, réussi, était de politiser la Cour suprême afin qu’elle juge en fonction des lignes de parti.

   Ce faisant, les deux branches n’exercent plus, ou de moins en moins, leur rôle constitutionnel dont l’objectif était d’éviter qu’une seule personne puisse exercer trop de pouvoirs. Les pères fondateurs avaient érigé ce système croyant qu’ainsi la démocratie pourrait être préservée.
   
   Trump hérite donc des politiques de Mitch McConnell et bénéficie d’un pouvoir dont aucun de ses prédécesseurs, y compris Richard Nixon, n’a eu. Il peut faire et dire ce qu’il veut sans crainte d’une rétribution par l’une des deux branches, le Sénat se refusant à la moindre critique du Président et favorisant sans la moindre vergogne la nomination de juges républicains purs et durs à la Cour Suprême et dans les cours fédérales. Cela s’est traduit récemment par des commentaires racistes envers des élus de couleur qui ne sont pas de son opinion, le Président les enjoignant de «retourner chez eux» sous les chants de ses supporters.

   Nous ne sommes plus loin du début du nationalisme-socialisme en 1933. Encore un peu et nous assisterons impuissant à des affrontements physiques entre les tenants du trumpisme et les immigrants, légaux ou non, qui seraient la source de toute la déchéance de cette Amérique qui cherche à être grande de nouveau (Make América Great Again). Un discours qui n’est pas sans rappeler celui qui nous a donné, entre autres, la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Dans ce contexte, Trump n’est qu’un symptôme d’un système où un parti a pris le contrôle et renonce à exercer ses pouvoirs. À cela s’ajoutent les découpages électoraux qui font en sorte que le parti au pouvoir au Sénat y soit maintenu, ce qui a été avalisé dans une récente décision de la Cour suprême.

   En d’autres mots, nous assistons à un coup d’État sans coup de feu où peu à peu, pas à pas, le parti Républicain s’assure de conserver le pouvoir, envers et contre tous. Au risque de la stabilité mondiale et de la démocratie. Le parti républicain est devenu amoral et ne compte plus que l’exercice du pouvoir, pour le pouvoir¨.

https://www.lesoleil.com/opinions/etats-unis--un-coup-detat-sans-coup-de-feu-69db24fec73ca23b2f6c610926a7f92f 

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