May 17 th

Rim Hike #5: Pinnacle of Blue Ridge 

This will be a rewarding hike with some of the best views on the rim. However, it will be long and difficult. The hike will be a loop hike of 6 miles and includes two strenuous ascents, two steep descents, some rock scrambling on three rocky summits, and some moderate off-trail hiking. The return will be back to the Parkway via the Mt. Mitchell Toll Road. Hikers will carpool from Black Mountain to the Parkway. So, plan on an all-day hike and please bring raingear, sturdy shoes, plenty of water, a hearty lunch, and hiking sticks if you have them!

**Note: The route of this hike as shown is dependent on the reopening of the BRP up to Mount Mitchell State Park prior to the date of the hike. If the BRP remains closed as of the date of the hike, an alternate hike will be substituted. Registered hikes will be notified if the route has been changed as soon as possible prior to the hike.**

Difficulty: Strenuous, 6.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,660 feet

Join The Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center Haunted History walking tours in downtown Black Mountain’s historic district. Traveling some of Black Mountain’s most storied streets, visitors will learn about the humorous, haunting and harrowing history of the Swannanoa Valley while being visited by some of its most famous spirits. This event, which is a fundraiser for the museum, will highlight local tragedies and triumphs- and the many ghosts, friendly and frustrated, born from these events.

All We Have Loved offers an intimate glimpse into a woman’s life spent in Western North Carolina. Expressing a reverence for family, place, and friendship, the personal essays in All We Have Loved are a testament to the importance of preserving memories. Spanning from a mother’s memories of the Great Depression in a WNC cotton mill village to the author’s own 1960s upbringing and current life in rural WNC, this book will enlighten and entertain the reader.

Julia Nunnally Duncan is a native of Western North Carolina with family connections in East Tennessee. Her 1960s childhood, her family, and her hometown, Marion, NC, have inspired her writing and fill the pages of All We Have Loved—a slice of small town Southern life. Julia is an award-winning freelance writer and author of eleven books of nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. She lives with her husband, Steve, a mountain woodcarver, in WNC. They enjoy their rural home and spending time with their daughter, Annie.

Book can be purchased at Sassafras on Sutton for a 20% discount, or online.

June 10th

Fort San Juan and Joara Archeological Site
Take a step back in time and explore the fascinating history of Fort San Juan and Joara, the site of the earliest known European settlement in the interior United States. Join us for a guided tour with Mike Carpenter of Exploring Jora through this remarkable archaeological site, stories of early encounters between Native American communities and Spanish explorers. Discover recent archaeological findings, walk the grounds where history was made, and gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural heritage of this region. Whether you’re a history buff, student, or simply curious, this is a unique opportunity to experience the past in a truly immersive way. Don’t miss this chance to connect with North Carolina’s deep and layered past!