You Can Help Pick Up Pisgah
FIND Outdoors, a North Carolina-based nonprofit organization focusing on outdoor conservation, is hosting a volunteer day this weekend to help clean up the Coontree Picnic Area in Pisgah National Forest, following damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Pickin’ Up Pisgah is set for Saturday, November 23 from 1-5 p.m.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to give back to our beloved outdoor spaces,” FIND Outdoors posted on their website. “Volunteers will assist with debris removal and general clean-up efforts to ensure this area remains a safe and inviting spot for everyone to enjoy.”
The area sits along the Pisgah Highway and is nestled between the intersection of Coontree Creek and the Davidson River. According to the Adventure Collective and the U.S. Forest Service, the Coontree Picnic Area is great for swimming holes, tubing, picnicking, hiking, and fishing in Pisgah National Forest. Its easy access to the river and the nearby Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education has made it a popular family-friendly destination.
FIND will provide volunteers with water, light snacks, appropriate tools, and personal protective equipment. Those interested can sign up here https://gofindoutdoors.org/events/pickin-up-pisgah/
Sugar Mountain Resort Hosts Ski Clinic with Olympian
Next month, North Carolina’s Sugar Mountain Ski Resort is hosting a preseason ski clinic with two-time Olympian alpine skier Krista Schmidinger. The clinic, taking place December 13-15, is open to all intermediate to expert skiers above the age of 12 and includes a three-day lift ticket, coaching, video analysis, and a dinner on Saturday night.
Schmidinger competed in the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. She also skied for six years on the World Cup circuit and bagged four top ten placements in downhill skiing divisions. She later moved to Banner Elk, North Carolina to continue skiing and promote Sugar Mountain Ski Resort with her twin sister, Kim Schmidinger, who is married to the owner.
Those interested can register online here https://skisugar.com/events/preseason-ski-clinic/
Cover photo: Art Loeb Trail on Black Balsam in the Pisgah National Forest, NC courtesy of Getty Images.