Friends of the Smokies hosts hike to Newton Bald for wildflower viewing

Press Release

From Friends of the Smokies

WAYNESVILLE, NC – Hike to Newton Bald on April’s Classic Hike of the Smokies and reward yourself for the climb with spring’s early wildflowers. Join Friends of the Smokies and renowned outdoor author and hiking expert, Danny Bernstein on Tuesday, April 8th for the next Classic Hike of the Smokies, sponsored by Mast General Store.

Participants will enjoy a 10.5 mile hike to Newton Bald in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). This is a strenuous hike with a total elevation gain of 2,800 feet.

Each 2014 Classic Hike will highlight a park program that Friends of the Smokies has supported. In April, participants will learn how donations made to Friends of the Smokies benefit efforts to protect the park’s rich cultural heritage. After descending along Mingus Creek, hikers will visit historic Mingus Mill and learn about preserving the way of life of the area’s 19th century inhabitants.

April’s Classic Hike of the Smokies to Newton Bald is proudly sponsored by Mast General Store. Friends of the Smokies members who shop at Mast General Store receive a $10 Mast Store Gift Card with $50 purchase or $20 Mast Store Gift with $100 purchase with valid membership card.

This Classic Hike is $10 for current Friends of the Smokies members and $35 for non-members, who will receive a complimentary membership. Members who bring a friend hike for free. All registration donations benefit the Smokies Trails Forever program.

Meeting locations for the hike will be in Asheville, Maggie Valley, and Cherokee. To register for this Classic Hike of the Smokies, contact outreach.nc@friendsofthesmokies.org or 828-452-0720. Information about support for trail improvements in GSMNP may be found at smokiestrailsforever.org.

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For more than 20 years, Friends of the Smokies raised over $41 million to help maintain Great Smoky Mountains National Park as a crown jewel of the national park system, including the establishment of the $4 million Trails Forever endowment to improve Smoky Mountain hiking trails in perpetuity.

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About Hayley Benton
Current freelance journalist and artist. Former culture/entertainment reporter at the Asheville Citizen-Times and former news reporter at Mountain Xpress. Also a coffee drinker, bad photographer, teller of stupid jokes and maker-upper of words. I can be reached at hayleyebenton [at] gmail.com. Follow me @HayleyTweeet

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