While you are snuggled up by the fire (again), waiting out another snow storm, here is something to get you thinking of warmer days and getting on top of a mountain.
Here is a short video with Jamey Donaldson of the Baa-tany Goat Project.
Start early. Open studio hours are only 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Centrally located in the heart of the western North Carolina mountains, Yancey and Mitchell Counties have some of the best kept secrets in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Notice: some studios are "artisticially" located. Good walking shoes are a good idea. A navigator with an open mind for roads less travelled is good too.
This is the second year of the Baa-tany Goat Project to restore the grassy balds on the Roan Highlands. This is along the Appalachian Trail from Carver’s Gap, at the North Carolina – Tennessee state line to the slope of Grassy Ridge to the east.
Why? Because I see what will be lost in a few short years if nothing is done. Jamey Donaldson is the research biologist in charge of the Baa-tany Goat Project. He presented a pictorial record at one of the Naturalists’ Rallies. You could see and compare the pictures for yourself. Or, if you have hiked the grassy balds over any length of time, you have seen for yourself the ever invasive blackberries growing where there used to be open grassy areas. If you get a chance to see Jamey’s presentation, you will be stunned by how rapid the invasion really is.
So that is why I am interested in helping with the Baa-tany Goat Project. By goat-sitting for a weekend, Jamey got to go off the mountain for a while. I got to camp in the gap between Grassy Bald and Jane Bald. And do a little bit to help restore and preserve these wonders.
The other day as I was enjoying the ride from home to the Post Office, I noticed new surveyor’s stakes in a field around an old wooden barn. Another farm is being turned into a subdivision.
Then I started counting how many wooden barns are left for me to enjoy seeing on my way from home to the Post Office.
The Barn Score was invented.
It is really simple and fun to find your Barn Score. Simply count how many wooden barns you go by between where you live and the nearest traffic light.
If you go by five old wooden barns before you get to the nearest traffic light, your Barn Score would be "5".
Now the rules have not been ratified by the international committee yet, so they are left up to each individual. It is up to the integrity of each individual player to interpret these rules.
•What qualifies as an old wooden barn?
•When you say “go by” do they have to be on the road or just visible from the road?
•What about an old wooden barn that is part metal?
•If the old wooden barn is half fallen down does that count as a half point?
The nearest traffic light rule keeps you from driving out of the way to avoid the traffic light and pad your score.
For those who live in a barn-deficient area, the scoring is similar but in reverse. How many traffic lights are between your home and the nearest wooden barn? This of course is a negative Barn Score. If you pass eight traffic lights before you get to the nearest wooden barn, your score is “minus 8”.
Why is it important? Because, they are putting up more traffic lights and they are taking down old wooden barns. It is important to know your Barn Score now. That way you will know the rate of “progress” by how fast your score drops.
Our church has an annual Lord’s Acre Craft Sale every October. The most popular craft items are things made from "old barn wood". We found our about a small barn that was going to be torn down to make room for a school bus turn-around.
We jumped at the chance to get another supply of "old barn wood". The 25 foot tall oak timbers, although sawmill cut, were pegged together! Our best guess at the age of the barn is between 1870 and 1920 vintage. If only we had more time, manpower and equipment. But I guess that is why it is easier and cheaper to tear them down.
If this starts you noticing more old wooden barns and appreciating them, then you have won. No matter what your score.
The next time you are leaving home, see if you can discover your Barn Score
Damascus Virginia once again hosted a three day festival of Appalachian Trail experiences.
This is the place to check out the latest in ultra-lite hiking tents and hammocks. All these were displayed along the Appalachian Trail that runs through the park in Damascus.
And there were evening slideshows, thru-hiker talks, music, dancing and sharing AT experiences in general.
Here is Ed Speer of Speer Hammocks discussing hammock camping with some AT hikers. Interested hikers were checking out the many subtle variations of hammock design and accessories.
In addition to hiking equipment vendors, there were hordes of food vendors and craft tents.
Deep fried Oreo cookies anyone?
You need to get your energy boosted for the inter-active parade at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.
I don’t know who started it or when, but there is tradition of water balloons and squirt guns from both paraders and parade watchers.
It has usually been hikers in the parade versus the hikers not in the parade in the water-balloon and squirt gun battles.
But the excitement is contagious and cannot be contained. Everyone, fire trucks, beauty queens and classic cars got at least sprinkled while parading through town.
The big battle was the hikers. I mean we are talking about massive roof top ambushes and pint-sized assaults from knee level. I’m glad it was a warm and sunny day on Saturday.
Why take a puny squirt gun for a parade all the way through town. You will empty it in the first block. Then you are just a target like everyone else. Why not take five gallons in a pressurized long-range squirting banjo?
It has been too long since I went cross-country skiing on top of Roan Mountain.
