HRI is celebrating another day of the green by hosting a 2-mile hike in the Green River Game Land (or GRGL) on St. Patrick’s Day, Friday, March 17. We like to call it the Green River, Green Love, and Good Luck hike! (It’s become an annual tradition of HRI, and everyone who attends is assured good luck for the remainder of the year.)
Since 2017, HRI has helped keep the Green River green by treating over 9,000 hemlock trees in the 14,331-acre game land managed by the NC Wildlife Resource Commission. On this hike, we will pass through areas that the HRI crew re-treated this past fall.
Along the way, we will discuss the importance of hemlocks and how we can all help save them from the hemlock woolly adelgid. We will also stop to admire new signs of spring and enjoy little waterfalls. No previous knowledge of hemlocks or ecology is necessary.
We will meet at the Bishop Branch Trailhead at 10:30 am, and we encourage you to bring a picnic lunch to eat next to the creek. We plan to return by 2 pm, although allow a little time on either end of that estimate.
See the map below for route details. We are rating the hike as moderate due to a creek crossing (click the link to see a picture). Options to cross the creek are to balance on some river rocks, or it will (hopefully) be warm enough to take your shoes off and enjoy the cool waters of an Appalachian stream on your feet. Bringing hiking poles can also be helpful.
RSVP is required. Spaces are still available, but please register ASAP by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/hScXPH9dYTi3xbuK9. You can also email education@savehemlocksnc.org or call 828-252-4783. Be sure to bring water, a lunch, and any snacks you may want. A sturdy pair of hiking shoes or boots is recommended. More details will be provided upon registration.
The Hemlock Restoration Initiative is grateful to be able to offer public events in this difficult time. Despite the lifting of restrictions, we acknowledge the risk that COVID-19 continues to pose to members of our community. To maintain the safety of our event participants and staff, we are requiring that all participants follow HRI’s COVID-19 safety guidelines. Anyone not following the guidelines on the day of the event will be asked to leave. Despite taking precautions, we cannot eliminate all risk of exposure and participants will be accepting some level of risk by choosing to attend. Please review the COVID-19 safety guidelines on our website to ensure that you are comfortable following these guidelines. Note: these guidelines may adjust depending on changing guidance from health authorities.