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What is Two Feet Wide and Almost 1,000 Miles Long?

What is Two Feet Wide and Almost 1,000 Miles Long?. Presented by: Jeff Brewer, President Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail. Outline. Location of the trail History of the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) MST East Plan FMST Information. Location of the Trail. Fast Facts.

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What is Two Feet Wide and Almost 1,000 Miles Long?

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  1. What is Two Feet Wide andAlmost 1,000 Miles Long? Presented by: Jeff Brewer, President Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail

  2. Outline • Location of the trail • History of the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) • MST East Plan • FMST Information

  3. Location of the Trail

  4. Fast Facts • Miles approved and dedicated by the Division of Parks and Recreation: 375 • Miles of other connecting trails completed: 65.3 • Miles of state bicycle routes for potential usage: 477.9 • Miles measured by Allen de Hart and Alan Householder: 934.5 • MST blaze: White circle 3-inch in diameter

  5. Fast Facts • Western terminus is Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park • Eastern terminus Jockey’s Ridge State Park near the Atlantic Ocean

  6. The MST Passes Through… • 3 National Parks • 3 National Forests • 7 State Parks • 2 National Wildlife Refuges • 2 Wilderness Areas • 36 North Carolina counties

  7. Basic Location of Trail

  8. History of the Trail

  9. The Mood Around the State – 1975 - 1985 • At this time other state trails were developing across the US • Charlotte now had its “green necklace” • NCTC thought MST could serve as flagship trail to connect many trails across the state (1974) • 4th National Trails Symposium at Lake Junaluska in September of 1977

  10. Influential People in the Creation of the MST • Louise Chatfield of Greensboro • Jim Hallsey of Raleigh • Arch Nicholos, then leader of Carolina Mountain Club (CMC) • Doris B. Hammett of Waynesville • NC Senator Howard Lee • Allen de Hart of Louisburg

  11. MST East Plan

  12. A New Vision for the MST • Phil McKenlly of NCTC envisions MST as a “linear” state park • On July 12, 2000 bill passes the NC Legislature, and Howard Lee was the prime sponsor • MST is now part of the State Park System under the Division of Parks and Recreation • MST started in Gov. Jim Hunt’s 1st term, and became a linear state park in his 4th term

  13. MST East Plan • MST Route from Raleigh (Falls Lake Dam) to Cedar Island (past New Bern) • 250-mile corridor • Follows the Neuse River • Plan came together after Hurricane Floyd in September 15, 1999 • MST East Plan Document • Counties – Wake, Johnston, Wayne, Lenoir, Craven, and Carteret

  14. MST East Routes • Wake County – Capital Area Greenway System • Johnston County – Neuse River Greenway • Johnston County (Smithfield to Goldsboro) – along the Little River • Wayne County (Goldsboro) – Stoney Creek trails near • Lenoir County – possible mill pond connection for 15 miles

  15. MST East Routes • Craven County (Croatan Forest) – connection to the Neusiok Trail • Carteret County (Croatan Forest) – to Cedar Island, some roadwalk on Highway 70 • Connection counties – blue blazes

  16. MST East Plan • Local communities’ involvement • Natural surface walk-able trail • TEA Bill – $1.6 million to Johnston County section • NC Parks and Rec – master plan for Johnston County, $50,000 • Economic benefits – hikers spend money! • www.ncmst.org

  17. What is the FMST

  18. Allen de Hart — Another Influential Person • Alan de Hart creates the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail (FMST) in 1997 • FMST Board was formed – a non-profit 501-C-3 • Alan Householder and Allen de Hart walked across the state in 1997 to raises awareness and puts the spotlight back on the MST • MST Guidebook by Allen de Hart

  19. FMST By-Laws Design, construction, and maintenance Assist task forces Assist in the designation of additional sections

  20. Statewide Work Days

  21. Communications • Web site – www.ncmst.org • E-mail updates to group lists • Newsletter – 1,000 on FMST mailing list • Written letters to state leaders, task forces, media contacts • Patron memberships • FMST merchandise • FMST incentive program

  22. Books About the MST • Hiking North Carolina’s Mountains to Sea Trail by Allen de Hart • The Mountains to Sea Trail by Donald Dossey and John Hillyer • Trail Profiles by Walt Webber of the Carolina Mountain Club

  23. FMST Partners With • Great Smoky Mountains • Blue Ridge Parkway • U.S. Forest Service • State Parks and Recreation • City and County Parks and Recreation • North Carolina Wildlife • Army Corp of Engineers

  24. What the Future Holds • MST East Plan from Falls Lake to New Bern • ATC is a model organization for the FMST • Maps – everybody wants one, and they want details • Shelters • Trail shuttles • More task forces!!

  25. Recent MST Thru Hiker • Alan Householder and Allen de Hart finished in June 1997 • Jason Pass finished the MST on October 20, 2002 • Nadja and Katie finished on June 27, 2003 • Katie Nelson – age 79 on December 4, 2003 (section hiker) • Others currently hiking at Trail Journals

  26. Questions and Answer Thank you for your attendance at this important meeting! We look forward to more great work on the MST.

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