Was I ever wrong.  The parking area was so crammed with cars we couldn’t find a spot.  Solitude was on our agenda, and we didn’t turn around and drive away – we fled. 

We were heading back down Hale Ridge Road when the car skidded to a stop in front of the Bartram Trail.  Here was a section of trail we’d never been on with no cars or people in sight. Sold.

When I was a kid growing up in the woods, I was confined to playing within sight or earshot of our house, so I got to know my home patch of the planet well.  My inner child still wants to do that some days – spend a lot of time exploring a small area, looking under rocks, searching for treasures under leaves, crouching near a stream, waiting patiently to see what darts through the water.

We didn’t hike very far, maybe a mile in, and took a long time to do it, but we made friends with a new patch of the planet.  I hugged a tree next to a singing creek. We spotted a tiny orange mushroom amongst the lush moss so thoroughly covering a rock that no gray showed through. On the way out, we said a brief “hello” to a garter snake basking on the sunlit trail.  We ventured off-trail to follow a small stream up toward the top of the ridge until the terrain became too steep to continue.  I paused for a moment at the spot where I turned around, sitting, breathing in the joy of a warm sunny day, gazing at the mountains in the distance that will be obscured by leaves shortly after this article is published. 

Despite obviously being a trail-less-traveled, this stretch is well-maintained thanks to dedicated volunteers of the Bartram Trail Society.  Along the way are exposed trunks of trees that have been cut away after falling across the trail, and I found myself in constant genuflection before these fallen trees, in awe of the abundant life growing on these supposedly dead beings. 

Lately, I haven’t been drawn to the big views or the spectacular waterfalls – maybe I’ve grown tired of the crowds around them, or perhaps I’m a little weary of the overwhelming emotions associated with being witness to grandeur.  I’m compelled to get to know the ordinary patches of planet that I look at every day but rarely take the time to see.  Wonder abounds.

Hale Ridge Road is in Scaly Mountain, a little over seven miles from Highlands down NC-106 East on the left.  The Bartram Trail is a few miles down on the left after the road turns to dirt.

The post Heaven’s Backyard on the Bartram appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

But first, change.  Karen Hawk, a mainstay at Hudson’s circulation desk for a decade, is turning over a new leaf in her own life this Spring with her retirement – her last day as a working woman is April 12.  She’s looking forward to retirement, as she’s been working since she was 14, although she’ll miss being at the front desk and talking to everyone – and that goes both ways.

“It’s really been fascinating when you stop and listen, what you learn about people,” she says.

Karen is one of the most creative people I know, and her creativity paired with her community-mindedness has brightened every aspect of Hudson Library, from her continuous “Every Day is Earth Day” book display to the monthly Community Coffee, which sprang from a conversation with the then newly-elected Mayor, Patrick Taylor.  She has also overseen the best library display case in Western North Carolina since she started working at the library in 2009.  No doubt, if you’ve ever walked in the doors of the Hudson, you’ve stopped in front of the large case facing the circulation desk to admire its changing contents, from baskets to old tools to seasonal book displays. 

When asked where she gets her ideas for displays, she can’t really say, although she does get a lot of them while she’s running or talking with people at the front desk.  Some of her favorite displays in recent years have been when she’s featured community members in “favorite people and their things” exhibits – one gentleman even brought his toaster as his “Favorite Household Item.” 

“It’s a way to really get to know people in the community,” Karen says, and it’s that sort of attitude that makes Hudson Library a gem of a community center in Highlands, not just a receptacle for books.

The Hudson will certainly feel different without Karen, but not to worry – it’s still her library, she’ll just be on the other side of the desk now.  She’s going to remain active in the Highlands Community so chances are we’ll see her around, and if we’re really lucky, she may still give out book recommendations. 

The usual programs are happening at Hudson this month, along with a lunchtime talk by Jim Costa, the Director of Highlands Biological Station, on April 24 at 12:30 P.M.  The talk will be on “Charles Darwin’s ‘Fool’s Experiments’ – Lessons from an Inveterate Experimentiser.”  He’ll have paperback and hardback copies of his latest book, “Darwin’s Backyard,” available for purchase at this free event. 

For more information, call the Hudson at (828) 526-3031.  The library is located at 554 Main Street in Highlands and is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 A.M. – 5:30 P.M., and Saturdays from 10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.

The post Changing Seasons at the Hudson appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

I used to live in Whiteside Cove and on winter mornings would sit with a cup of coffee and watch the sunrise’s reflection slink down the bare side of the mountain until it was all lit up bright pink, loud and joyful. How lucky I was to later be able to hike to the top and try to find the house I lived in, tucked in snugly among the trees.

The Whiteside Mountain Trail, at around two miles round trip, is probably the most popular trail around, which is why I recommend giving it a go during the “off-season” (or at a weird time, like in the middle of the night). As a matter of fact, I thought I might write an article about it last summer, but the parking lot was so crowded that my sweetie and I couldn’t even pull into it, much less find an unoccupied space. 

This may not sound like much of an endorsement so far, but as these things go, there’s a reason why Whiteside is so popular. It’s a relatively easy loop trail, for one thing. From the parking area, the trail starts out wide, with built-in wooden steps. In a few minutes walk, you’ll have the option of continuing on the wide trail or taking a narrower trail up to the right. I recommend the trail to the right – it’s steeper going up, but that makes the path back down that much sweeter.

There are views, of course. Standing atop Whiteside, you’ll be standing on the very edge of the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment. (Well, almost – there’s railing to keep people from going over.) Beyond the immediately close mountains, the landscape instead gets dramatically flatter and dotted with lakes. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a peregrine falcon riding the breeze at eye level. Whiteside is a nesting spot for the birds of prey, and some of the overlooks are closed during nesting season, which shouldn’t deter you from the hike. 

My favorite part about this trail is all the water. Water seeps out of the ground, across the trail, down the mountain in so many tiny unexpected places here – even during the drought a couple years ago, water could be found on this trail. Subfreezing temperatures turn this hike into a stroll through Mother Nature’s abstract sculpture gallery, fitting right in with the Plateau’s artistic sensibility. 

The trailhead is mid-way between Highlands and Cashiers on U.S. Highway 64. From the Cashiers Crossroads, take 64-W for five miles to a left turn onto Whiteside Mountain Road. From downtown Highlands, take 64-East for six miles to a right turn onto Whiteside Mountain Road. Drive another mile to the trailhead parking lot on the left, and bring cash with you – it’s $2 per car to park, and well worth it.

The post Trust Old Whiteside appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

One of my favorite things to do is, starting from the street, follow the sidewalk around the library sign and up under the trellis – I feel like I’m entering a secret garden, especially in early spring when the natural world is starting to wake up again.

And where the sidewalk ends: the magical world of books and book-lovers!

Share the magic of books (and secret gardens) with the little ones in your life by bringing them to the Hudson’s public storytime on Thursdays at 10:40 A.M.  A lively mix of books, storytelling, and music will charm little kids and big kids alike.  Stay afterwards to hang out and tell your own stories in the Childrens’ Room, or peruse the diverse collection of kids’ DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks. 

School-aged kids will find fun and learning at Kids Zone on Thursdays at 3:30 P.M.  The Hudson and the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust are now partnering on a Kids in Nature program on the second Thursday.  Kids Zone with The Bascom continues on the first Thursday of each month, LEGO Club is held on the fourth Thursday, and STEM programs are held on the third and fifth Thursdays.

Grown-up kids shouldn’t feel left out of the fun.  Come grab a free bag of popcorn and watch a recently-released movie at 2:00 P.M. on the third Wednesday of the month or check out a few DVDs from the Hudson’s ever-growing collection to take home with you.    

Be an active community member and attend Community Coffee with Mayor Pat Taylor on the last Friday of the month at 11:00 A.M. – grab some free coffee and refreshments while you’re there.  Or just hang out by the fireplace in the reading room all afternoon.  Even though we’re heading toward spring, we’re sure to have some chilly days yet that will be perfect for spending in the warm, cozy library.

Hudson Library is located at 554 Main Street in Highlands and can be reached via telephone at (828) 526-3031.  The Hudson is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 A.M. – 5:30 P.M., and Saturdays (even warm, sunny ones) from 10:00 A.M.– 4:00 P.M.

The post The Magical World of Books appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

High Falls on the West Fork of the Tuckaseegee River is a place I’ve heard about for years but only visited for the first time recently.  I fell in love and have already returned to it.

It was a bright, chilly afternoon at the trailhead, but as we descended, the light thinned out and the air grew colder.  The sun strains to peek over the mountains this time of year.  I felt like I was entering a liminal space that was both familiar and completely unknown.  How often have I admired the wildness of the Tuck in fleeting glances from behind the wheel of my car on Highway 107?  I’ve never seen it from this angle though, nor have I really stopped to listen to it.  A change of perspective can open up entire new worlds.

The Irish writer John O’Donohue says of winter, “[It] is the oldest season; it has some quality of the absolute.” That rings especially true to me hiking in the mountains.  The long shadows, the quietude, the exposure of the mountains without their blanket of greenery – all make me feel part of something much bigger and older than myself that will continue to go on long after I’m gone.

 Several people and a few pups were at the falls when we reached them.  Downstream of the falls is a large expanse of rocks and boulders, and we were all scattered over them, turned to face the waterfall, watching as though we were at the movies.  Of course, it was better than the movies – something about moving water allows me to sit still without the restlessness that sneaks up on me indoors.  It felt a little holy to be among kindred souls I didn’t know, all of us paying attention and wonder to the same thing at the

same time.

To reach the trail head to High Falls (sometimes called Cullowhee Falls), take Highway 107 North 6.4 miles from the Cashiers Crossroads.  Turn left onto Pine Creek Road, and the parking area is two miles on the right, just past the dam.

The post High Falls Trail appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

so anymore!

As part of a Makerspace Grant received by Fontana Regional Library, the Hudson has been able to purchase some useful new gadgets.  A lot of these are educational tools for the kiddos, including building kits, robots, and 3D pens, that are used during Kids Zone programs on Thursdays at 3:30 P.M.

Luckily, there are plenty of Makertools for adults to get creative with, too.  Hudson’s collection includes serger and embroidery kits, a 3D printer, a Dremel kit and a green screen kit.  They also have a variety of audio-visual converters that will allow patrons to convert their old-school media, like slides, photo negatives, and VHS tapes, to digital formats.

(Here I must take a brief aside to reminisce.  When I was a kid my dad would drag out the old Kodak slide projector once or twice a year, and we’d spend an evening looking at the way things used to be.  The slide projector is long gone, but he’s converted the slides to digital, and now I get to look at them on Facebook!  It’s not quite the same as seeing them projected onto a sheet tacked up on the living room wall, but now the younger generations of my family get to enjoy them, too.)

Some of these Makertools, such as the sewing machines and Dremel kit, will be available for check-out, while others are for in-house use only.  In January Hudson will host a Demonstration Day where patrons can drop by and see the offerings, followed by individual programs in February to teach people how to use the various tools.  Dates are to-be-determined at the time of this printing, so check the library’s website for more updated info: fontanalib.org/highlands.

The Hudson is also excited to collaborate with the Highlands Biological Station to present “A Sense of Place: Public Readings of Creative Writings about Highlands” on January 11.  For the second year in a row, University of Virginia engineering students will give readings of creative work they’ve been inspired to write while exploring the Highlands Plateau.  This program was a hit last year, and how could it not be?  We all know it’s hard to spend time here without falling in love with the place and feeling inspired.

After a brief winter interlude, the next Community Coffee will be February 23 at 11:00 A.M.. Come join Highlands Mayor Pat Taylor for coffee, refreshments, and lively discussion about happenings around Highlands.

The Hudson will be closed on New Year’s Day, so be sure to stock up on reading and watching material beforehand!  Fear not if you forget – visit the website to learn more about e-books and video streaming, which are available anytime.

Hudson Library is located at 554 Main Street and open Tuesday – Friday from 10:00 A.M. tp 5:30 P.M. and Saturday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.  They can be reached via telephone at (828) 526-3031.

The post Hudson Heats Up Winter appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

Our first stop was Granite City, where we rock-hopped and climbed up between steep cracks in the huge boulders, hearts aflutter.  We ate sandwiches on top of Satulah Mountain, where I spent an obnoxious amount of time complaining about the unseasonably warm temperatures and the obstinately bright sun.  The last place we went to is sort of a secret spot.  It has evergreens galore, deep, deep carpets of moss and lichen, and fields of grasses and flowers reminiscent of the ones that blanket high mountain balds.  We spent a long time at this secret place, walking and talking and falling in love.

I finally admitted to myself how much I liked this guy when I was planning the trip because, although I write about these places, I don’t normally like to share them with anyone.

Matt has accompanied me on most of my Laurel excursions since then. Today we chased each other through the woods on the Yellow Mountain Trail, beginning at Cole Mountain Gap on Buck Creek Road.  It was a bright day but appropriately chilly, so there wasn’t much complaining from me.  We didn’t go all the way to the terminus of the trail at Yellow Mountain Fire Tower—it’s a difficult 12-mile round-trip hike, which I did a couple years ago with a few girlfriends.  I fell in love with this trail then.  I’ve never hiked it in the summer but when the leaves are mostly gone there’s a spaciousness between the trees that’s like an emotional security blanket for me, allowing me to breathe.  It sort of reminds me of my early days of nature-loving, roaming the woods of Alabama as a kid. There’s nostalgia, distracting me again.  It seems to happen around this time every year.

Today we just wanted to get outside and get a little exercise, so that’s what we did.  We either speed-hiked or slow-ran for about four miles, depending on one’s perspective.  Another couple passed us shortly after we started and asked how far we were going.

“’Till we feel like it,” we answered in unison.  And we turned around when we felt like it.

I do recommend hiking this trail all the way to the fire tower at least once—set a whole day aside for it.  But it’s good for till-you-feel-like-it jaunts, too.

The Cole Mountain Gap trailhead can be found about two miles down Buck Creek Road from Highway 64, which is about two miles from downtown Highlands on the way to Cashiers.  Parking is on the left, and the trail is on the right.

The post A walk in the Woods appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

On the first Thursday of the month, The Hudson partners with The Bascom to offer a visual arts program.  Each month they use a different book or illustrator as a jumping-off point for artistic exploration.  The resulting artwork can often be found adding color and character to the walls of the meeting room for the remainder of the month.

Programs involving creative-thinking skills and such diverse technology as robots and building kits take place on the second, third, and occasional fifth Thursdays.  An Old English Sheepdog named Paisley also visits Kids Zone on the third Thursdays—she’s fluffy, sweet, and loves to be read to!  Children can take a break from the regular program to read one-on-one with Paisley, who has a charming and disarming effect on struggling and anxious readers.  Paisley enjoys listening to a good story and doesn’t judge or get impatient when kids read a little slowly or struggle to pronounce a word.

LEGO Club continues to be a huge hit on the fourth Thursday of each month.  The library provides the LEGO pieces and the kids supply imagination and collaboration to come up with creations that grace the top of a bookcase until they are repurposed for the next month’s club.  Just step into the library on any fourth Thursday and you can hear joy and laughter permeating the air from the direction of the Meeting Room, contradicting the old image of the staid, stern library that some still hang on to.

Hudson Library is at 554 Main Street in Highlands and open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. and Saturday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. (though it will be closed December 25–26 and January 1 for the holidays).  Call the library at (828) 526-3031 or visit them online at www.fontanalib.org/highlands.

The post Have a Book Snuggle appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

Rainbow Falls on the Horsepasture River in Pisgah National Forest is one of the latter.

This roaring cataract seems to make it into the news most years not because of its righteous thundering splendor, but because someone thinks it’s a good idea to wade in the river above the falls and is then swept over the falls to their death. Let’s go ahead and lay this ground rule: Don’t wade in the river above huge, powerful waterfalls. The currents are stronger than you might think.

Okay? Okay.

The hike to Rainbow Falls is a moderate three-mile out-and-back that starts at Gorges State Park in Transylvania County. Follow the park sign toward the Rainbow Falls Trailhead, and then take the orange-blazed trail into the woods. The path starts out as wide gravel but gets narrower and dirtier when you leave the park boundary in almost a mile.

Don’t be fooled by the quietude of the forest as you enter – the clamorous music of the river gets louder the closer we get to our destination. Most of the trail going in is a relatively steady downhill, but the last half-mile or so is uphill that can be steep at times. Luckily, we have steps built into the trail to help us lift ourselves up.

Rainbow Falls is right where it needs to be. You start to wonder how much more uphill this allegedly moderate hike has, stumble up over a rise, and there it is in its awesome glory. This is, of course, the spot to take a rest, take a selfie, take a snack break, take it all in.

I didn’t linger long at the overlook, preferring to turn back around and take one of the side trails to the river further downstream. The day was just the right amount of overcast to park myself on a boulder in the middle of the river and hang out for a while. A small tree appeared to be growing out of rocks in the middle of the river just down from me, which may have been an optical illusion, but lent itself as an ideal object of contemplation regardless. Life will find expression one way or another.

Gorges State Park is a popular one, and it’s inevitable that you’ll meet many other people on the trail, so just accept that and move on. I leapfrogged with a family made up of a mom, a dad, a little girl who seemed to be using trekking poles for the first time, a baby hitching a ride on dad’s back, and a bunny (who must have been a cousin of the velveteen rabbit) hanging floppy-eared out of the back of mom’s daypack. That endearing sight was just as “worth it” as seeing Rainbow Falls.

To reach Gorges State Park, follow U.S. 64 East from the Cashiers Crossroads for almost 10 miles. Turn right onto NC 281-South (there’s signage), and in almost a mile take a left into the park. Plan some time to poke around the visitor’s center while you’re there – there are interactive and informative displays inside that are fun for all ages.

The post A Trip to Rainbow Falls appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

Luckily for us, there’s a year-round bright spot over on Frank Allen Road. Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library is always full of warm, friendly faces, no matter what the season.  Stop in on your way to anywhere, warm up, grab a book, and check out what’s happening this month at the library.

Dolly Parton Storytime will take place in the children’s room on Saturday, November 10, at 11:00 A.M.  This is a partnership between the library and the Literacy Council of Cashiers to promote Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that mails free books once a month to children from birth until the time they start school, regardless of family income.

The storytime is geared toward kids from birth to pre-kindergarten and includes stories, games, crafts, songs, light snacks, face-painting, and the appearance of a legendary cardboard cutout of Dolly Parton herself.  Please come join the fun, and check out a book while you’re at it!

More programs for youngsters abound through the rest of the month, too.  Pre-school and toddler storytime is held on Wednesdays at 10:00 A.M., featuring stories, songs, games, and crafts aimed at enhancing pre-literacy skills (as well as having fun in the library).  On Tuesday, November 6, at 3:45 P.M., elementary-aged storytime will focus on voting rights, and will include an actual election that participants can vote in.  LEGO Builders on Tuesday, November 13, and Crafternoon on Tuesday, November 27, allow school-aged children the opportunity to develop and expand their STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) skills while having fun and hanging out with their peers.

The Geeky Gangsters Book Club (for young adults) meets on Wednesdays from 4:00 until 5:00 P.M.  Space is limited and pre-registration is required, so please call the library for more information.

Please note: there will be no STEAM explorers on November 20, and no Preschool Storytime or Geeky Gangsters Book Club on November 21 due to Thanksgiving.

Adults (or grown-ups) needn’t feel left out of the fun.  MahJong games are held on Thursdays at 1:00 P.M., and Thursday afternoon movies continue at 3:45 P.M., complete with free popcorn and water. The Bibliophiles Book Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 P.M.—call the library to find out what book they’re reading.

Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library is located at 249 Frank Allen Road—across from the Post Office and a short hop from the Village Green.  Open hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M., Thursday from 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M., and Saturday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., and they can be reached via telephone during those hours at (828) 743-0215.  The library will be closed for Thanksgiving November 22-23, but its large collection of e-books, e-audiobooks, and e-videos can be accessed any time!  Visit fontanalib.org to find out more.

The post We’re on the Same Page appeared first on Laurel Magazine.