MountainTips

Fire-on-the-Mountain 2012

Ken — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:13:54 +0000

A great day in the mountains!

Downtown Spruce Pine was alive with working forges and ringing anvils at Saturday’s Fire-on-the-Mountain blacksmith festival.

Of course my favorite was the Penland School and the Arthur Morgan School hands-on tents. I really get a kick out of seeing young smiths.

How could you do to top this day? Deep-fried Oreos! Thanks to the Spruce Pine Volunteer Fire Department for desert.

Don’t miss your chance on the anvil. Mark your calendar: Last Saturday in April, 2013.

‘see you on the mountain.

Art Studio Tour – Toe River Arts Council has Christmas Ideas

Ken — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:19:35 +0000

This weekend December 3 and 4 is a great time to get some Christmas shopping finished!
The Toe River Arts Council’s Studio Tour is a wonderful event. It combines natural beauty of driving through the heart of the Southern Appalachian mountains and meeting artists in their natural habitat (their studio).
Watch out for trucks loaded with Christmas and lots of traffic at the choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms.

Toe River Arts Council

Toe River Arts Council: http://www.toeriverarts.org/studiotour.shtml

Artist Studio Tour Map: http://toeriverarts.org/docs/12.11_studiotourmaps.pdf

Baa-tany Goat Project on Roan Mountain – Summer 2011 Wrap-up

Ken — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:49:20 +0000

Hear Jamey Donaldson, the goatherd, talk about the last day for the 2011 season of the Baa-tany Goat Project.

More information at The Friends of Roan Mtn .org and the Baa-tany Goat Project Blog.

Summer of FUN

Ken — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:31:04 +0000

Great times at the Second Annual Kids Naturalist’s Rally, or as we like to call it Xtreme Roan Adventures!

Mountain Art – Studio Tour

Ken — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:13:54 +0000

It’s that time again. Time for the Toe River Arts Council Studio Tour.

Nestled in the heart of the Southern Appalachian Mountains are Yancey and Mitchell Counties. There be artists there!

Two plus days of meeting artists and seeing their work in their native habitat. Not restricted be gallery rules and limitations. This is wher you can see where they are at their creative best.

Here is a link to the huge 30-page Studio Guide The maps are on pages 25 – 29.

CLICK HERE > TRAC Studio Tour June 2010 Guide.

Start early.
Take a friend/navigator.
Bring snacks.
Have fun.

’see you on the mountain!

Ken

Mountain Art – Blacksmithing Festival

Ken — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 02:51:35 +0000

“Fire on the Mountain” this Saturday! This is one of my favorite town festivals.

Small town in the mountains of North Carolina = Spruce Pine
Manly Arts = blacksmithing. (Not horseshoeing! That is a farrier. Blacksmithing uses real imagination.)
Family Encouraged = Kid friendly, hands on blacksmithing! How cool!

This Saturday, April 24, is the Spruce Pine, NC, “Fire on the Mountain” blacksmith festival. Plenty of time to see everything: 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Tip 1: When you get there, sign the kids up for the Penland School’s hands-on forging. Since this is a favorite, the line gets long in the afternoon even with four anvils ringing.

Tip 2: Check the demonstration schedule and record when your favorite demon

stration is scheduled at the main tent. There are hourly demonstrations throughout the day. Fascinating. This is the How-To. Learn how the artists make their metal sculptures. Check out the vendors and load up on the blacksmith hammers and anvils and forges so you can make your own art when you get home.

Tip 3: Explore the lunch offerings from the street vendors or the downtown restaurants or picnic right on the street while you watch the demonstrations.

Tip 4: Broad brim hat. If it still gets too hot for you, check out the art galleries on the upper street. This is where the best of the art is displayed.

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Tip 5: Be sure to check out the great video on their web-site: To e River Arts Council – Fire on the Mountain

‘ see you on the mountain.

Ken

Goat vs machine – Grays Lily

Ken — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:54:13 +0000

Here is a quick 4 minute video with Jamey Donaldson, Research Biologists and Manager of the Baa-tany Goat Project.

You will learn one advantage the goats have over the machine in restoring the grassy balds of Roan Mountain.

Learn how the goats create an advantage for the rare Grays Lily.

If you would like to be a part of this restoration project, download the Goad Adoption Form.

You can adopt a goat for the 2010 season. You get to name the goat and receive a certificate of adoption and a lock of your goats hair. Pretty cool.

But there are a limited number of goats for adoption. Adopt yours today.

Check it out here: Baa-tany Goat Project Adoption Form.pdf

And I hope to see you on the mountain.

Ken

ken@MountainTips.com

Baa-tany Goat Project and Jamey Donaldson

Ken — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:39:13 +0000

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.

[youtube width="425" height="344"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0XHl2Huwlk[/youtube]

Go here for the Baa-tany Goat Project

Go here for the Friends of Roan Mountain

If you have questions email me: ken@MountainTips.com

What a great winter it is!

Ken — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:04:12 +0000

How about this. Another "weekend" snow storm! Great timing.

Instead of calling in to work to say the raods are too bad, we can go skiing!

Last weekend’s snow storm was another good time.

It has been too long since I went cross-country skiing on top of Roan Mountain.

The antique 1980′s cross-country skis that I still use, were noticed and commented on.

And don’t forget next weekend’s Winter Naturalist’s Rally, Saturday at Roan Mountain. Great Outdoor Education: brochure, registration

Registrater by Feburary 9.

Outdoor Adventure and Learning at the Winter Naturalists ‘ Rally

Ken — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:31:21 +0000

The days are getting longer.
The sun seems to shine brighter.

Let’s go outside and do something!

If you have blown your recreation budget on lift tickets already, then I have a deal for you!

Saturday, February 13, The Friends of Roan Mountain Annual Winter Naturalists’ Rally

Jam packed into one day are: three speakers (INDOORS) and choice of two hikes (OUTDOORS)

Go here: Winter Rally Brochure

Go here: Registration

Kid friendly, and always a learning experience!

I hope to see you ON THE MOUNTAIN!