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An Appalachian Mountain Bog
Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: 2020/08 – August
Join Friends of Panthertown on Thursday, August 13, at 7:30 P.M. for an exciting webinar presentation given by Emmy Award-winning PBS television host and naturalist Dr. Patrick McMillan, host of Expeditions with Patrick McMillan.
Dr. McMillan is the Hilliard Professor of Environmental Sustainability at Clemson University, and is the director of the South Carolina Botanical Garden. His popular PBS television show is a public service program of Clemson University Cooperative Extension, produced in partnership with South Carolina Educational Television. Panthertown Valley is a 6,311-acre backcountry recreation area with 30 miles of public trails located on Nantahala National Forest near Cashiers.
Panthertown Valley features a rare high-elevation Southern Appalachian mountain bog, one of the rarest wetland types in the Southeastern United States, in an unmatched setting of granitic domes, cascading waterfalls, and remarkable mountain views.
The bog in Panthertown lies along the headwaters of the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River, where fallen leaves steep tannins into the water for days before it finally trickles into the streams, staining the otherwise crystal-clear pools like tea. Rare plants grow both in the bog and on top of the granite domes, creating an environmentally diverse and interesting landscape. The bog supports several state-listed rare and endangered species including Timber Rattlesnake and Baltimore Checkerspot Butterflies.
Friends of Panthertown is the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which works in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to protect and maintain this special place. Panthertown Valley offers some of the areas’ most scenic public trails, accessible to hikers, mountain bikers, anglers, and equestrians. Dedicated volunteers keep the trail system in great shape, and they offer group trail work days on the third Saturday of each month.
The online presentation will be followed by a Q&A session with Dr. McMillan. Limited tickets are available. Donations are encouraged. For more information on any of their activities, to learn more about the bog in Panthertown, or to reserve tickets to the webinar, please visit panthertown.org/webinar or send an e-mail to [email protected].
