The French Broad Paddle Trail

French Broad Paddle Trail - MountainTrue/Robb Leahy
MADE BY MOUNTAINS STORY

french broad paddle trail

“The thing I love about rivers is that they will come back. Rivers will heal themselves if we do the right thing and don’t continue to add pollution. “

The French Broad River State Trail was established in 1987 on the French Broad River, one of the oldest in the world. The paddle trail begins at the confluence of its North and West Forks in Transylvania County, and travels through Henderson, Buncombe, and Madison counties, all the way into Cocke County, Tennessee. A vital partnership exists to protect and promote it for outdoor recreation.

Written by MountainTrue

The French Broad Paddle Trail

The French Broad Paddle Trail is a 140-mile recreational watercraft trail between Rosman, NC and Newport, TN. The French Broad River was designated a Tennessee State Scenic River in 1968, a North Carolina State Trail in 1987, and officially launched as the French Broad Paddle Trail by MountainTrue and RiverLink in 2012. MountainTrue is North Carolina State Parks’ Partner Organization for the French Broad River State Trail and leads watershed-wide Paddle Trail efforts through its French Broad Riverkeeper program based in Asheville.

The French Broad Paddle Trail - Robb Leahy

on the trail

The French Broad Paddle Trail hosts over 40 public access points and 20 riverside campsites managed by federal, state, and local governments, non-profits, businesses, and volunteers. The Paddle Trail has its own website with information on access points, campsites, and other on-river amenities, details on existing blockages and other obstructions, recommended gear, suggested trips, outfitters and retailers, flow information, and water quality readings.

a partnership of stewards

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The French Broad Paddle Trail - Robb Leahy

A vital partnership of non-profit organizations, government agencies, local businesses, and individual volunteers exists to work together to monitor and enforce water quality and pollution regulations, encourage agricultural best practices, restore neighboring streams and floodplains, improve habitat for native fish, remove garbage from the river corridor, create passage through obstructions, and improve and expand public access, camping, signage, and information.

Headtwaters Outfitters - Robb Leahy

The Outdoor recreation economy

From swimming to fishing to kayaking, rafting, and camping, the French Broad Paddle Trail is a hub of outdoor recreation activity that supports many guides and outfitters along the way. The river has given rise to companies like Headwaters Outfitters, Lazy Otter Outfitters, French Broad Outfitters, Zen Tubing, French Broad Adventures, Nantahala Outdoor Center, Blue Heron Whitewater, and many more. These businesses play a vital role in keeping the river and the surrounding communities healthy and help maintain a thriving outdoor recreation economy.

Helene impacts

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Damage Along the French Broad Corridor in Asheville - Robb Leahy

On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene brought unprecedented amounts of rain to Western North Carolina, causing devastating flooding along the French Broad River and throughout the southern Appalachian Mountains. The aftermath of the flood left several local waterways, including the French Broad, choked with tons of unsightly garbage and debris. By early 2025, contractors hired by county governments and the Army Corps of Engineers have begun their efforts to remove large debris that threaten public infrastructure. When paired with MountainTrue’s post-Helene volunteer and staff-based efforts, which to date total more than 40 clean-ups, 600 volunteers, and 150,000 pounds of garbage, the recovery is already beginning to take shape.

These efforts are only the beginning. More funding, resources, and volunteer hours are needed to tackle the monumental task of cleaning up the French Broad, and other river corridors, for the sake of restoring ecological integrity and recreational sustainability.

How to support

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Volunteer Clean Up Day along the French Broad in Asheville - Robb Leahy

Whether you’re a long-time local, a first-time visitor, or somewhere in-between, your presence, interest, and support for a healthy and accessible French Broad River is most welcome. Visit MountainTrue’s website and the French Broad Paddle Trail’s website to learn about opportunities to celebrate the river, advocate on its behalf, and volunteer for stewardship endeavors.

If you have further questions, feel free to reach out to Jack Henderson, MountainTrue’s French Broad Paddle Trail Manager, at jack[at]mountaintrue[dot]org.

Food For Adventures

Bringing WNC to PCT Trail Days - Image by Food For Adventures
MADE BY MOUNTAINS STORY

Food for Adventures

It all started with a passion for sharing the love of Western North Carolina with the rest of the United States, leading to a wonderful road trip filled with new friendships, collaborations, and delightful recipes.

Outdoor culinary and educational company, Food For Adventures, embarked on a “Cooking, Camping, & Conversations” nationwide tour, from the Appalachian Mountains to the Cascades, and back North to wild and scenic Maine.

Written by Lee “Natty” Trebotich

cooking up conversations

It all started with a passion for sharing the love of Western North Carolina with the rest of the United States, leading to a wonderful road trip filled with new friendships, collaborations, and delightful recipes. We kicked off our 2024 “Cooking, Camping, & Conversations” tour from Asheville, NC, traveling across the U.S. while camping and cooking in various states, including AR, KS, CO, UT, OR, MT, ID, and more! Our adventure took us from the Appalachian Mountains to the breathtaking Cascades in WA, and then back across the country to explore the Northeast and the uncharted territory of Maine.

Image by Food For Adventures

TRAVERSING THE NATION with wnc gear

From the East Coast to the Pacific Northwest, back to the North East, we were lucky enough to take a variety of outdoor companies and organizations with us on our tour. Those companies included: “Made By Mountains, ENO, The Appalachian Adventure Company, Pirani, The Uproar Concept, SylvanSport, Hellbender Paddleboards, Stringbean Bags, NERO Coffee, Second Gear, NEMO Equipment, The Outdoor Business Alliance of WNC and more! From paddling demos, to cooking classes for the masses; we had a blast showing off the amazing gear from back home in the WNC Mountains! As an outdoor cooking and education company, our mission is to highlight the beauty of nature through food, education, and late-night campfires.

During our journey, we participated in several events, including feeding hundreds of hungry hikers at Pacific Crest Trail Days & Appalachian Trail Days; plus outdoor education classes at multiple Overland EXPOs. We visited numerous outdoor outfitters, such as Walkabout in Richmond, VA, where we showcased local gear. Our aim was to educate the public not only about the incredible outdoor gear from Western North Carolina, but also about outdoor cooking and nutrition. We had a great time showcasing locally crafted bags from Stringbean Bags and inviting people to try out the world’s best hammock from ENO. We also highlighted the new “GOAT” (GO-All Terrain) trailer from SylvanSport, giving people an up-close and personal look at the comfort and reliability of this ultimate overland camper and off road trailer! From brewing locally roasted Asheville coffee and serving it in sustainable, reusable cups from Pirani, we certainly demonstrated how we embrace the outdoors in our daily life in North Carolina.

into the parks

Image by Food For Adventures

Our travels took us to set up camp and explore a range of State and National Parks, including Yellowstone, Craters of the Moon, Dinosaur National Monument, Wilson Lake, and more. While in the Parks, we interacted with a variety of outdoor enthusiasts including park rangers, local guides, adventure junkies, and daytrippers. One of the most exciting experiences during our travels was showcasing Hellbender Paddleboards on diverse water surfaces. From the Green River flowing through Dinosaur National Monument to Idaho’s Great Snake River, we demonstrated the high quality of the gear and the passion invested in crafting equipment that can withstand any adventure! The craftsmanship and passion invested in each product truly showcases the love, dedication, and time required to create a world-class WNC gear to last a lifetime. We felt genuinely privileged to represent and highlight the gear made in our community, and to showcase the exceptional quality of food and service that our company, Food For Adventures offers to every outdoor enthusiast.

Heading Home to wnc

We returned home from our cooking tour a day before Hurricane Helene struck the WNC area. Thankfully, we were not delayed, as this storm caused devastating damage to our home, our region, and our neighboring towns and states. Now in the New Year, the aftermath of Helene remains horrific. While rebuilding and recovering our communities, our businesses and our trails is getting started, the timeline for our region’s recovery is still uncertain. In light of the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, it’s more important than ever to shine a light on the beauty, history, culture, and spirit of Western North Carolina.

Our hometown and surrounding areas face unimaginable challenges and will need all the support available to recover and rebuild. Prioritize supporting local businesses, enabling us to move ahead and get ready for the upcoming year. Stand together with our communities, families, and businesses, so we can all recover forward. Together, we can make a meaningful impact by choosing to shop local, attend community events, and volunteer our time to support those affected.

"...it's more important than ever to shine a light on the beauty, history, culture, and spirit of Western North Carolina"
Lee "Natty" Trebotich

looking forward to 2025

Fire Mountain Disc Golf Sanctuary - Image by Robb Leahy

As Food For Adventures prepares for our 2025 tour, we are committed to incorporating initiatives that directly benefit the rebuilding efforts in our beloved WNC. We plan to host fundraising events, workshops, and cooking classes that bring people together and raise awareness and support for the ongoing recovery. Our journey has taught us the strength of community and the importance of resilience. With your help, we can continue to celebrate the uniqueness of Western North Carolina, showcasing the talent and spirit that make it a special place. We are grateful for the friendships and partnerships we’ve formed along the way and look forward to expanding our network of outdoor enthusiasts and food lovers.

As we move forward, we strive to make 2025 a year of healing, growth, and adventure. Whether you’re joining us around a campfire, sharing a meal, or exploring the great outdoors, know that you are part of a community that values connection, creativity, and the beauty of nature. Together, let’s embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead, and keep the vibrant spirit of WNC alive and thriving. We eagerly anticipate the partnerships that 2025 will bring with upcoming collaborations focused on recipes, modeling, and educational initiatives! We look forward to representing our WNC community once again across the country, and stoked to share the “Mountain Fever” of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Made by Mountains, Loved By Locals

Annette Saunooke Clappsaddle - Image by Authentic Asheville
MADE BY MOUNTAINS STORY

Made by mountains, loved by locals

“Fortunately, there are so many great companies in Western North Carolina that I don’t have to go far to find the gear that I’m looking for to have a great ride.”

Author, Eastern Band of the Cherokee citizen, and avid cyclist Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle shares her thoughts with local filmmakers, Erin McGrady and Caroline Perdue at Authentic Asheville, about finding the best local outdoor gear to get outside in Western North Carolina.

find gear from wnc

Did you know that Western North Carolina has the highest concentration of outdoor gear brands East of the Rockies? We do! And we want you to know that there’s a good chance that the outdoor brands you love most make their home in these mountains too. With that pride of place in mind, we worked with local filmmakers, Erin and Caroline of Authentic Asheville, to bring outdoor companies together to celebrate our home – the Outdoor Hub of the East.

Annette Saunooke Clappsaddle at Gravelo Workshop - Image by Authentic Asheville

Comfort, local, responsible

In this short film, author, Eastern Band of the Cherokee citizen, and avid cyclist Annette Saunooke Clappsaddle visits a local bike shop to find the WNC gear to tune up and kit up for a fun day outdoors. She describes her shopping priorities – comfort, locally-made or acquired, and keeping in mind the responsibility to steward the trails and care for the land that we have the privilege to enjoy.

community ties and the spirit of stewardship

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Annette and Friends at Wrong Way River Lodge and Cabins - Image by Authentic Asheville

Western North Carolina’s outdoor brands are made with strong community bonds and the spirit of stewardship and adventure in these beautiful mountains we call home. We’re proud to collaborate with fellow Western North Carolina outdoor companies and the Outdoor Business Alliance to celebrate the local gear makers and retailers that embody our outdoor industry.

Find local gear from WNC, and support our local gear shops. Our outdoor industry is made by mountains and loved by locals!

Great State of Wilkes Outdoor Economy

Stone Mountain State Park - Wilkes TDA
MADE BY MOUNTAINS STORY

great state of wilkes

“It’s about where we live, work, play, pray and learn. When you live in the Great State of Wilkes and you have this bountiful, beautiful outdoor landscape, it is our greatest asset from which to build.”

Wilkes County has a deep commitment to outdoor recreation, its outdoor economy, and furthering initiatives to create healthy communities for visitors and residents. Through valuable partnerships that bring everyone to the table, “The Great State of Wilkes Action Plan”, was forged to create deliberate strategies to better the community and keep outdoor recreation at the forefront of its future.

Written by Thomas Salley – Director, Wilkes TDA

refuge, rejuvenation and adventure

Wilkes County has the charm of a small town with local shops, craft restaurants, wineries and true southern hospitality. Though the people and sights are delightful, the scenes surrounding can be a place of refuge, rejuvenation and adventure.

There are many outdoor activities that are made to be enjoyable and accessible to all. For those looking for a thrilling adventure or place of solitude, Wilkes County is home to Stone Mountain State Park. The 600-foot granite dome, that is a designated National Natural Landmark, is a beauty. Also, the historic Hutchinson Homestead, a restored mid-19th-century farm situated at the base of the mountain is accessible by vehicle for viewing. The park offers nearly all types of outdoor activities to experience a high-country landscape adorned with beautiful waterfalls, winding creeks, and bountiful trout streams. A portion of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail runs through the park near the backcountry campsites.

For a different set of recreational opportunities, W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir offers biking, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, picnicking, swimming, disc golfing, and archery. There is also an Environmental Education Center that offers exhibits on energy conservation, habitat conservation, wildlife, aquatic and forestry resources, environmental education classroom and native tree trail.

Great State of Wilkes Action Plan - Wilkes TDA

The Great State of Wilkes Action Plan

Though Wilkes County has actively worked to maintain the beautiful resources and activities available. There is a recognized need for more development as we believe continue to grow and expand. Growth is essential to the well-being of locals as well as visitors. A work group came together to forge “The Great State of Wilkes Action Plan” to create deliberate strategies to better the community. 

connecting the boros

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Proposed Rover District - Great State of Wilkes Action Plan

As a part of the plan, Wilkes County Tourism received a grant to connect Wilkesboro an North Wilkesboro via a pedestrian bridge as the Greenway is currently separated by the Yadkin River. Whereas an existing pedestrian bridge connects downtown Wilkesboro to the greenway system, the proposed Cub Creek Bridge will connect four vital parks (Smoot and Memorial Parks in North Wilkesboro to Cub Creek Park and Rolling Pines Disc Golf Course in Wilkesboro) that are currently divided due to the river. It is known greenways provide alternative, eco-friendly transportation options for communities, and this bridge will serve as an important connector for those living in North Wilkesboro to access the Disc Golf Course, which is currently only accessible via automobile.

The proposed Cub Creek Bridge is located near the heart of the planned River District as identified in the Action Plan. The River District will further link
two historic downtowns through economic development, recreation, and well-planned urban design. The Cub Creek Bridge and the River District are intertwined: the bridge will give the district more recreational opportunity, and the district will be the catalyst to activate more recreational and development opportunities near the bridge. Having a walkable and easily-accessible connection between the Boros is the crux of the mutual outdoor economy. One project is weaker without the other, but both projects (like the Boros) are stronger in tandem.

Chestnut Mountain

Chestnut Mountain

Chestnut Mountain is a unique nature-based park where you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, and other family outdoor activities. Nick Scheuer was one of the driving forces that made this outdoor recreation infrastructure idea into a reality with record breaking speed and efficiency.
 
Discover how embracing outdoor recreation is propelling Canton into a prosperous future. Plus, get a sneak peek into the visionary redevelopment plans for Canton’s iconic mill site. Tune in to witness Canton’s remarkable journey from past to present and glimpse its promising future!

Sav Sankaran

Sav Sankaran

From his humble beginnings with a weekend job at Orvis, Sav has gone on to join the corporate landscape at Orvis in his current pivotal role as Inclusion and Engagement Business Partner. His experiences navigating the outdoor industry as a person of color have informed his unique approach to fostering belonging.
 
In this episode, walk through Sav’s personal journey in the outdoors, and he reflects on how his passion for fly fishing helped unlock his identity, and helped give him a sense of community as a young boy growing up in Pennsylvania’s Central Appalachia.
 
Sav discusses the importance of fostering a sense of belonging for the underrepresented in the outdoors, and he draws on his personal journey to help contextualize an equitable and inclusive workplace. Sav and Mike talk about a shared belief in treating people like human beings with dignity and kindness, and he urges us to not get caught up in the trappings of misunderstanding and over politicization. Based on decades of first hand experiences, the outdoors creates spaces where people from all walks of life, beliefs and backgrounds can come together to experience nature’s beauty together.

Brent Nelson

Brent Nelson

When Brent Nelson swapped his corporate badge for the wild call of entrepreneurship, little did he know that his family RV trip would spark the creation of Tentrax, a beacon for adventurers seeking the ultimate in compact, customizable camping trailers. His story, infused with the warmth of a community brought together by a love for the outdoors, unfolds the journey from structured office life to the helm of a company that’s not just selling trailers, but facilitating memories and friendships in the great outdoors.
 
Navigating the intricate engineering behind Tentrax’s versatile campers, designed for vehicles of all sizes and the needs of diverse adventurers, Brent pulls back the curtain on the customization process, revealing how each trailer becomes a unique companion on the road, tailored to the clients’ whims—from matching wheels and tires to outfitting for off-grid living. 
 
Circling a campfire of stories—gold prospectors, backyard campers, and annual events that transform strangers into a band of outdoor aficionados—we’re all reminded that Tentrax is more than a trailer company; it’s a cornerstone of a community that thrives on shared adventures. 

Laura Blythe

laura blythe

Laura Blythe shares her transformative experience through mountain biking and delves into the 7Moons Mountain Biking program, where she intertwines her vibrant Cherokee heritage into every pedal stroke on the Fire Mountain Trails system and throughout the Qualla Boundary. Discover how this program transcends fitness, serving as a bridge between past and present, while nurturing a community that rides together and grows together.

Laura paints a vivid picture of the 7Moons program, where participants pedal through rides rich with Cherokee language, myths, and history, fostering a deeper connection to their roots and promoting physical and mental well-being. Through her narrative, uncover the program’s broader ambitions for youth outreach and cultural preservation, aiming to cultivate a new generation of bikers who carry the torch for their heritage with pride.

WNC Fly Fishing – The Future is Downstream

Woody Platt fishes the East Fork of the French Broad River - Photo by Joanna Brown
MADE BY MOUNTAINS STORY

WNC FLY FISHING "THE FUTURE IS DOWNSTREAM"

The breadth and variety of fishing opportunities present in WNC make it one of the best places to learn to fish. There’s a lot of water and it’s really accessible. We also have a huge number of fly shops and guides, a concentration of industry that doesn’t exist in the rest of the country.

Western North Carolina celebrates a unique and tight knit fly fishing community with an immense impact as an outdoor recreational economic driver. As the popularity of recreational fishing in these waterways grows, more guide and gear companies are born in the region, and generations of families and more diverse communities become involved, we must work together in conservation efforts to ensure clean headwaters and healthy fish populations, particularly our native Brook Trout species, which are an indicator for all other river life. Written story by Graham Averill. Video Directed and Edited by Robb Leahy.

on the river

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Jessica Whitmire at Headwaters Outfitters - Photo by Joanna Brown

Jessica Whitmire can’t imagine life without the French Broad River. The WNC native grew up on its banks, in the heart of Transylvania County. She learned to cast for trout into its eddies, paddled its rapids, took her first driving lessons on the backroads along those banks. Today, Whitmire is the Director of Operations for Headwaters Outfitters, a fly fishing guide service and shop that her parents co-founded when she was just 7 years old, largely out of their love for the French Broad.

“My mom was the person that made you pick up trash while on an adventure,” Whitmire says. “There isn’t a paddling trip I can remember where she didn’t end up with a big bag of trash she collected.”

The French Broad, and the endless miles of feeder streams that tumble off the mountains surrounding it, have been the canvas for Whitmire’s life, both as a child and as an adult. And, Whitmire is not an outlier in this respect. The mountains of Western North Carolina are pieced together by thousands of miles of streams and rivers just like the French Broad River, that serve as the connective tissues between individuals, cultures and communities.

Sav Sankaran Fishes the East Fork of the French Broad
Photo by Joanna Brown

finding identity

The trout that thrive in those streams haven’t just fed our bodies, they’ve helped craft our identities. from time immemorial when the Cherokee fished Brook Trout before Europeans arrived, all the way to today. Just consider Sav Sankaran, a first-generation American and son of immigrant parents, who found his sense of place in part through fishing the waters of Western North Carolina.

“Issues of identity and sense of place are central to my story,” Sankaran says. “I found my American identity in the pursuit of trout. My sense of ‘home’ was forged knee deep in Appalachia’s trout streams.”

Sankaran guided and advised local fly fishing trips for years out of Orvis’ Asheville shop, and now his role has grown to a national and global stage, serving as the Inclusion and Engagement Business Partner at The Orvis Company. He works tirelessly to introduce more people to the joys of casting for the very fish that helped him find his place in the world.

“I have a tattoo of a brook trout on my arm as a way to claim my identity,” Sankaran says. “I was made by the wildness of this place. And trout have always been at the center of Southern Appalachian culture.”

A $1.38 Billion STATE ECONOMY

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Appalachian Brook Trout - Photo by Pete Yeomans

Today, those trout aren’t just central to local culture, they’re central to our local economy. According to a newly published economic impact report by the NC Wildlife Commission, the trout fishing industry contributes $1.38 billion to the state’s economy. That money comes from anglers buying licenses and gear, visitors eating at local restaurants, hiring guides and staying in hotel rooms…the list goes on.

Locals like Sankaran and Whitmire are working hard to make sure people of all genders and races feel comfortable casting a line in our streams. Through Pisgah Area Women’s Fly Fishing, Whitmire works to create safe spaces for women to be introduced to fly fishing. Through Orvis’ outreach and education initiatives and as a Board Member of the Minority Outdoor Alliance, Sankaran actively encourages more people of color to try their first roll cast. And he thinks Western North Carolina is the ideal place to introduce new people of all backgrounds to the joys of fly fishing.

“The breadth and variety of fishing opportunities present in WNC make it one of the best places to learn to fish. There’s a lot of water and it’s really accessible. We also have a huge number of fly shops and guides, a concentration of industry that doesn’t exist in the rest of the country. And in WNC, the sport sits squarely at the intersection of accessibility and affordability. We have a wealth of cold-water resources, ample public access, and it can be done with minimal investment on the part of the angler.”
SAV SANKARAN
inclusion and Engagement Business Partner - The Orvis Company
Catching a Native Brook Trout
Photo Courtesy of Jay Hawthorne; Land o' Sky Trout Unlimited

WNC'S WATERS

On WNC’s waters, you can hike five miles into the backcountry to fish without seeing another person all day, or you can stop at a roadside hole and cast a line for 20 minutes with your buddies on the way home from work. The quality of the streams in this area are unmatched. Take Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which sits within a day’s drive of some of the largest cities in America, but still offers pristine mountain fishing.

“There are few places in the world that you can still catch native trout, in their native habitat that is relatively unimpaired,” says Matt Kulp, Fishery biologist for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Kulp is talking specifically about Southern Appalachian Brook Trout, the only trout species native to Western North Carolina. They’re small, feisty, and prone to cold water at high elevations. Unlike the lumbering rainbow trout, “Brookies” are hard to catch and even harder to protect. The threats are numerous, from acid rain to invasive species to steep-slope development, but keeping this native fish alive and well is more important now than ever, because the health of brook trout is connected to the health of the human population.

Conservation flows downstream

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Jessica Whitmire teaches her son, Waylon, how to cast a line outside of Headwaters Outfitters on the East Fork of the French Broad - Photo by Joanna Brown

“Trout conservation flows downstream,” says Jake Rash, the Coldwater Research Coordinator for the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. “If we’ve helped conserve native Brook Trout, we’ve helped the top of the watershed be in a better place, which means that water starts flowing downstream to the animals, people, and communities that depend on it in much better condition than it would be otherwise.”

Brook Trout conservation is a collaborative effort. Everyone has to buy in, from the legislators passing the laws to non-profits, like Trout Unlimited, that work to implement conservation strategies on the ground, to the kids learning about the fish on their school field trip. Just ask Woody Platt. The professional bluegrass musician worked to restore the small trout stream on his family farm in Transylvania County, and knew he would need a lot of help.

“Everyone piled on,” Platt says of his conservation project. “It was wonderful to see all these agencies work together and focus on doing one job collectively.”

community in these mountains

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Woody Platt fishes the East Fork of the French Broad River - Photo by Joanna Brown

Trout Unlimited spearheads a lot of the conservation efforts that impact our rivers, but they know they can’t do it alone.  “We have an ambitious conservation mission,” says Beverly Smith, VP for volunteer operations for TU, “and we know if we thought we were just gonna do this by ourselves, we would be ineffective and we wouldn’t get it done.”

Local anglers know we need to see more of that sort of collaboration moving forward, which is one of the reasons efforts to diversify the sport are so important. Yes, everyone should know what it feels like to catch that first trout on a fly, and everyone should feel at home in the streams of Western North Carolina. But a more diverse angling population means a larger pool of conservations protecting those trout and their streams.

“When someone falls in love with water and trout, they’re more likely gonna fall in love with protecting that,” Platt says.

Sankaran agrees, and thinks that urge to protect is inevitable. “There’s an allure to Appalachia. It’s rooted in the mountains’ inherent ancientness. The settings you find yourself in when chasing trout in the mountains allow you to connect to that feeling. These mountains have gravitas.”

A MADE X MTNS production by videographer, Robb Leahy. Additional Footage by John Dupre and Joel Sandovos. Additional media provided by Trout Unlimited, Matt Kulp, David Wise, Rigged and Ready, Storyblocks, and Ian & Charity Rutter. Interviewers are Amy Allison and Joanna Brown.

Special thanks to: Trout Unlimited – Land O’ Sky, Trout Unlimited – Pisgah, Orvis, Fish Cherokee, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Headwaters Outfitters, Rigged and Ready, Outdoor Business Alliance of WNC, Brown Folks Fishing, Minority Outdoor Alliance.

Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians

Fire Mountain Trails - Image by Robb Leahy
MADE BY MOUNTAINS STORY

EASTERN BAND OF THE CHEROKEE INDIANS

These outdoor venues establish a dual-purpose economy that not only invites people into our community, they invite our community back into the heart of itself.

Award-winning author and EBCI Tribal Citizen, Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle tells the story of how and why the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians have prioritized outdoor recreation to increase access and connection to their land, and drive an outdoor economy that increases quality of life and furthers a sense of community for all tribal citizens and visitors alike.

OF THIS LAND

When a people can trace their history, their culture, and their connection to a specific piece of land dating back to the beginning of time, they recognize that this is not only a gift, but a responsibility to ensure that future generations will always be able to do the same. As Cherokee people, we are recipients and stewards of such a gift.

We are of a place that provides four seasons of cultivation, growth, harvest, and regeneration—an environment that reminds us of our own need for these seasons as human beings. And so, in this way, we take our instructions from the mountains, valleys, and waterways. In order to find our internal balance, we seek the lessons of this landscape.

Fishing on Raven Fork River - Image by Joanna Brown

GROWING UP

I grew up exploring the mountain ranges behind my house and swimming in the waters of the Oconaluftee River behind my parents’ souvenir shop—the business that provided food on our table and a college education for my brother and I. I grew up watching this business feed stories of our culture to seasonal tourists in a manner that both celebrated and commodified our culture based on consumer demand. In general, my lived experience as a Cherokee person was vastly different from what was shared with the general public. Historically, tourists found their experiences in stores or at performances in Cherokee. What they likely didn’t know twenty years ago, is that the true foundation of our culture was waiting outside those shop doors and backstage of entertainment venues.

NATURAL RHYTHMS

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Fire Mountain Trails – Image by Robb Leahy

As I grew up, I found myself separated from the outdoor spaces that had shaped my identity. More and more I was in classrooms or offices. 2017 changed all that. This was the year that the Fire Mountain Trail system opened and pulled me back to my childhood roots of earnestly living in my environment instead of driving through it. As a woman approaching middle age who was trying desperately to find balance in a life composed of family obligations, career aspirations, and community commitment, it was the opportunity to re-engage with the outdoors that healed me.

Physically, I lost sixty pounds. Professionally, my writing became grounded in the narratives of landscape. Personally, I met and built friendships with people who restored my faith in human connection. I became a cyclist, something I had never been. And I believe wholeheartedly that I became a cyclist because it brought me back to the mountains which had made me. I returned to the natural rhythms of this place.

This year, I have expanded personal goals to include an “Every day on a trail” objective. North Carolina has recognized 2023 as the Year of the Trail. I decided to honor that by spending some time each day during the year on some form of a trail. I travel quite a bit, so I have been on trails all over the southeast—land and water. Manmade and natural. These experiences have informed both my personal well-being and my writing life.

"I became a cyclist because it brought me back to the mountains which had made me. I returned to the natural rhythms of this place."
Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle

THE WEALTH OF NATURAL LANDSCAPE

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Fire Mountain Disc Golf Sanctuary - Image by Robb Leahy

During a recent writing residency, my host took me on a boat ride to show me the important historical and natural sites along a river. As we took in the vista, she lamented that every time her grown children come to visit her, they have work projects that pull them away from being present and joining her on the river, or as she put it “really being there.” What I gathered from this conversation is that her children did not see this unique landscape for everything it offered. It held less currency than the paycheck they were earning through Zoom meetings and email memos. Their sense of a visit home had become detached from the landscape of their home and, consequently, they had become detached from family. In this way, the drive for participating in an economy separates far more than it connects.

Any economy includes the wealth and resources of a community. And the wealth of our region is our natural landscape. When we consider the outdoor economy, oftentimes we think of ways to monetize the natural gifts we have been afforded. But a responsible outdoor economy is far greater than that. It incorporates the values systems of a given place.

Fishing on the Raven Fork River - Image by Robb Leahy

SUSTAINABLE ACCESS

Just as we cannot only spend out of a personal bank account without ensuring that consistent deposits are also made, we cannot extract from our natural environment and assume it will always produce. Focusing our efforts toward developing an outdoor economy requires that we take the time and effort to understand how we sustain this wealth. How we expend and replenish it. How we provide equitable access.

An outdoor economy moves us from a model of consumer and producer to a model of stewardship. And when done right, it moves cultural tourism from a model of cultural voyeurism to a model of cultural engagement. By inviting visitors to appreciate our natural landscape in a responsible way, we finally communicate who we really are as Cherokee people. We are sharing a core value, the value of “Strong connection with the land and commitment to stewardship of the homelands of the Cherokee.” It becomes less of an extractive economy and more of a shared community that revitalizes us as Cherokee people.

ON BEING MADE BY MOUNTAINS

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Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle - Image by Robb Leahy

For every trail that introduces visitors to Smoky Mountain vistas, there is an opportunity for a Cherokee person to use that same trail as a means of teaching traditional plant knowledge to their children. For every ADA compliant fishing pier built along the Oconaluftee, a Cherokee elder can continue to access and consume foods of a traditional diet. These outdoor venues establish a dual-purpose economy that not only invites people into our community, they invite our community back into the heart of itself. We are healthier physically, mentally, and spiritually because of it. We can take pride in what we are sharing with the rest of the world—an authentic understanding of how these mountains made us and how we will continue to sustain each other.

"These outdoor venues establish a dual-purpose economy that not only invites people into our community, they invite our community back into the heart of itself. We are healthier physically, mentally, and spiritually because of it. We can take pride in what we are sharing with the rest of the world—an authentic understanding of how these mountains made us and how we will continue to sustain each other."
Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle

    These mountains make us industry leaders, thinkers, builders, growers, dreamers, makers, athletes and caretakers. How will these mountains make you?

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