I happened upon this snail hiking the Tanawha Trail above Cold Pond Overlook, mp 299, Blue Ridge Parkway.  As I mention on the calendar, snails always make me think of my younger daughter, Lily.  We often took hikes together when we lived in ranger housing.  Being an adult, I wanted to get in a good vigorous hike.  Lily always wanted to stop and ’smell the flowers’ — investigate everything, especially small things.  It was always good for me when her interests brought me back to the here and now, to the wonders of our forest environment.  One year she wanted to be a slug for Halloween.  I thought, ‘oh this will be an easy costume.  A brown tube.’  She said, ‘No, mother. Slugs have breathing holes’ and went on to enumerate their other features.  The costume was accordingly designed.  So, now, when I see the small things of nature, I feel close to her, even though she is half a country distant.

This chart documents the declining sales over the past 3 years.  It also shows that we did not see a significant drop in sales until Spring 2008.  Please let me know if you would like to discuss this further.  Helen Phillips 828 264 1434  Coe Realty.

A number of people have asked me about hiking fees on the trails on Grandfather Mtn that has been/is being sold to the state as a state park.  I didn’t know the answer but this article appeared on Feb 9 and seems to clarify.  In short, we continue to pay to hike [and can purchase permits only at the Grandfather Mtn gate] until the property has completely passed into the state’s hands:

Grandfather Mountain Announces New Hiking Permit Policy     

Written by James Jestes

Friday, February 06 2009 

Yearly permits will no longer be required after Grandfather Mountain completes its deal with the State of North Carolina to purchase the backcountry this spring. Until then, permits will only be sold for one day hikes.

For the time being, hikers who wish to access the trails from off-mountain trailheads including, the Profile Trail on NC 105 and the Boone Fork Trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway, will need to obtain a hiking permit from the Grandfather ticket gate.

After the sale to the state closes, no permits will be required to access the property from the off-mountain trailheads.

“Since there will be no hiking fee once the state purchases the backcountry, this is the simplest solution for a seamless transition,” explained Grandfather President Crae Morton. “We anticipate minimal inconvenience, as we have much less hiking in the months of February and March.”

Grandfather Mountain hiking permits will no longer be available from off-site outlets such as Footsloggers and Mast General Store. Beginning February 1, permits for day hikes can only be purchased at the Grandfather Mountain ticket gate.

Access to Grandfather’s network of backcountry trails from trailheads along the toll roll to the Mile High Swinging Bridge is included in the attraction’s $14 general admission price and is not affected by this decision. Visitors to the tourist attraction will continue to be able to hike the backcountry as always.

For 2009 the trails will be maintained and monitored by both Grandfather Mountain trails staff and state rangers.

For more information on Grandfather Mountain visit http://www.grandfather.com  or call 800-468-7325.

http://www.goblueridge.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5676&Itemid=1