Grandfather Mountain Winter Weather Contest

Below is a fun contest from the folks at Grandfather Mountain regarding predicting the weather, good luck!. For more information on our trail write-ups at Grandfather Mountain click Here.

The Woolly Worm has made its prediction and all the weather experts are completing their forecasts for the coming winter, now it’s your turn. This year marks the 7th Annual Winter Weather Contest for E-Club members. Enter to win by November 14. 

“Winter” for this contest is November 15 through April 15. Those interested are asked to fill out the questionnaire with their winter predictions. 

Please note that the snowfall measurement used for this winter’s contest will be taken from data gathered at the Entrance Gate. High winds at the top of the Mountain have affected precipitation data in previous years and the amount recorded at that location is generally less than what the Mountain actually experiences. Temperature and wind readings will continue to come from the top of the Mountain. 

Grandfather’s previous winter weather data has been included under some questions to provide reference. Since the location for the snow measurements has been changed for the contest, no past reference information is given on questions pertaining to precipitation.
A Winter Weather Winner will be named at the end of April and will receive a day pass for six to the Mountain with lunch included at Mildred’s Grill. 

All Grandfather Mountain Winter Weather forecasts are due Wednesday, November 14 by midnight. Click HERE for contest.

Peak Beauty of Fall Foliage at Grandfather Mountain

Below is an informative press release from Grandfather Mountain regarding their peak fall foliage  For more information on our trail write-ups at Grandfather Mountain click Here.

Grandfather Mountain is considered one of the best fall color destinations in the Southern Appalachians because of Grandfather’s amazing diversity of plant life. As autumn approaches and the chlorophyll begins to fade from the leaves, the yellow and red pigments that lay beneath the green chlorophyll begin to show through. And because each different species of plant revels a little bit different hue and shade, the abundant variety of plant species at Grandfather reveal an abundant variety of autumn colors. 

Contributing most to the seasonal spectacular is the fact that Grandfather is blessed with a wide diversity of hardwood trees. Bright yellow cottonwoods, golden poplars, pumpkin-colored beech trees, orange sugar maples, blood-red sourwoods, rusty red oaks, crimson-colored huckleberries, wine-colored sweetgums and purple dogwoods all contrast against the gray boulders and evergreen firs for a kaleidoscope of color. 

Elevation also contributes to the diversity of plant species and diversity of color. Because Grandfather Mountain rises abruptly from the valley floor, 4,000 feet in elevation above the Catawba River Valley to the east and 2,000 feet in elevation above Linville Gap to the west, different ecosystems exist at different levels. There are sixteen distinct ecological communities in these various zones, which is one reason why the United Nations made Grandfather the first privately owned unit in its international network of biosphere reserves. 

Glaciers are another reason for the diversity of plant species and diversity of color. In the North, the slowly shifting glacial ice of the last Ice Age ground away the top soil, destroying all plant life as it moved. Plants and trees that were common in those areas only survived south of the glaciers’ range. As the temperatures rose, those northern plants found havens in the high elevations of the Appalachians. 

Similarly, many Southern plant species find the northernmost terminus of their range in the Grandfather Mountain area. That produces a unique blend of plants that co-exist nowhere else on earth, and they in turn produce a unique blend of showy autumn hues that can be found nowhere else in the South. 

The changing of the fall colors is always a miracle, and anywhere you travel in the North Carolina mountains to look at leaves will be a treat. But if a friend tells you that the Blue Ridge Parkway between Blowing Rock and Grandfather Mountain is the best fall color destination in the South, don’t dismiss it as hype. Because diversity of plant life means diversity of colors, and Grandfather Mountain is the most biologically diverse mountain in the East.

October Brings Family Fun to the Grandfather Mountain Animal Habitats

This looks like a fun event at Grandfather Mountain's Animal Habitats. For more information on our Animal Habitats Write-Up click Here. 

This October, Grandfather Mountain will feature two events that center around the Animal Habitats. "Creatures of the Night and Bonfire Delight" and "Beary Scary Halloween" are two great ways to celebrate the Autumn season, experience the wonder of Grandfather Mountain and have fun with the family. 

"Creatures of the Night and Bonfire Delight" is a special program on October 6 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. that allows guests to sign up for different tours, all of which explore a different aspect of the mountain after dark. Reservations required: 828-733-8715. Participants must be at least eight years old to attend. Cost is $12 for children ages 8 to 12 years old and $18 for adults.

Join in the second annual “Beary Scary Halloween” festivities and help the Mountain raise funds for renovations on Grandfather's eagle habitat. Celebrate Halloween at Grandfather with crafts, nature programs, trick or treating, and a costume contest. Included with park admission. Children in costume get in for half price. Halloween activities take place on October 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are included with regular admission. Click Here for a list of the Halloween events.

Outdoor Recreation Provides Boost to Economy

Here is an interesting press release that might be worth a read with regards to the impact on the economy that outdoor recreation has: Enjoy!

Backwoods CEO Shares Key Findings from 2012 Outdoor Industry Association Report

 $646 Billion Spent on Outdoor Recreation Last Year, Supporting 6.1 Million Jobs 

AUSTIN, Texas (August 13, 2012)—Backwoods’ CEO, Jennifer Mull, a member of the Outdoor Industry Association board today shared key findings from the 2012 Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) report that was released earlier this summer. The report aims to illustrate how outdoor recreation is a larger and more critical sector of the American economy than most people realize. Within the report are facts about the 140 million Americans who spent $646 billion on outdoor recreation last year, supporting 6.1 million jobs for Americans and creating $39.9 billion in federal tax revenue and $39.7 billion in state and local tax revenue. The report outlines the overall impact on the nation, and OIA is now analyzing the data further to create a new report that will be available in early 2013 with valuable statistics on the impact of outdoor recreation broken down by each of the 50 states. Commissioned by the OIA, this report is a follow-up and expansion of the previously distributed document and data from 2006. 

“The findings here show just how important this is [outdoor recreation] to our local and national economy and proves that the outdoor recreation industry can continue to be a growing generator of jobs and serve to strengthen the economy if we make the effort to invest in America’s parks, waters and trails. The research provides valuable insight on why investing in the outdoors benefits the entire community, from the jobs that are created and sustained, to the activities people participate in,” Mull, said. “Not only is the outdoor industry an economic driver and jobs generator, it’s the key supporter of local activities that help fund projects that keep our parks and trails open in the first place.”

Outdoor enthusiasts, as the report states, are not confined to traditional demographics or activity segments, they seek “meaningful” outdoor experiences in their own backyards and in different places across the country. Outdoor recreation includes people of all genders, ages, shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and income levels throughout America. The report points out that garages filled with bicycles, dirt bikes, backpacks, boats, skis, tents, hunting rifles and fishing gear show a continued affinity with the outdoors, even in the midst of The Great Recession the country experienced since the last report from 2006. In fact, an analysis of comparable activities demonstrates that the outdoor recreation economy grew approximately 5 percent annually between 2005 and 2011, when many other industries contracted.

The report takes a conservative approach in tracking direct annual spending by Americans in pursuit of outdoor recreation across 10 activity categories (bicycling, camping, fishing, hunting, motorcycling, off-roading, snow sports, trail sports, water sports and wildlife viewing) and it is not inclusive of every activity that could be recognized as outdoor recreation.

Additional findings from the report are listed below: 

-The $646 billion is divided into two categories, $120.7 billion spent on apparel, footwear, equipment, vehicles, accessories and services, and $524.8 billion spent on food/drink, transportation, entertainment, activities, lodging and souvenirs/gifts.

-More than 725 million annual visits to state parks provided a collective $20 billion to communities surrounding state parks nationwide.

-Nearly 35 million people visit national wildlife refuges, supporting almost 27,000 private sector jobs and producing about $543 million in employment income.

-The National Park Service estimates $32 million would be lost per day if budget cuts shut down the parks.

-Americans spend nearly as much on snow sports ($53 billion) as they do on Internet access ($54 billion).

-Americans spend more on bicycling gear and trips ($81 billion) than they do on airplane tickets and fees ($51 billion).

-Annual consumer spending on outdoor recreation is only third to “financial services and insurance” and “healthcare,” ahead of gasoline, pharmaceuticals and household utilities. 

-More American jobs depend on trail sports (768,000) than there are lawyers (728, 200) in the U.S. 

America is globally recognized as the leader in outdoor recreation. Advancements in technical apparel, footwear and equipment for outdoor activities are driving innovation and entrepreneurism, while creating a demand for highly skilled workers in areas like technology product design, manufacturing, sustainability and global commerce. These advancements have lead to diverse career opportunities that exist beyond product-related jobs. When Americans spend time in the outdoors, their spending directly supports professions like guides and outfitters, lodging operators, park managers and rangers, concessionaires, small business owners and many more.

“Our focus at Backwoods has always been getting individuals and families more involved in opportunities to explore the natural resources in their own backyards and across the globe,” Mull, said. “By choosing to spend more time outdoors, you’re not only creating memories that will last a lifetime, your financial support helps generate economic security and sustainability for generations to come.”

The report reminds readers that outdoor recreation is a growing and diverse economic sector that is a vital cornerstone of successful communities that should not be ignored and that the economic, social and health benefits of outdoor recreation are undeniable.