Happy May!
Be sure to get out on a trail, a river, or anywhere you love in this fine forest as summer comes on and the green of Pisgah gains ascendancy.
Your donations and license plate purchases help all of us at The Pisgah Conservancy continue our work to meet the greatest needs of the forest.
Keep reading to see the impact you’ve helped make, what’s coming up, and how you can get involved.
Highlights in this month’s newsletter:
- Construction starts this week on the new Upper Falls Connector Trail (learn more here)
- We just added four upcoming volunteer dates to our website (see upcoming volunteer opportunities here)
- Trail tread repair and completion of a short new forest entrance trail
- Public snorkel programs, nature journaling workshops, educational programs, Pisgah Moth Party, and more with the Pisgah River Rangers (see upcoming Pisgah River Rangers events here)
- Completion of initial invasive plant treatments at Davidson River Campground (read more about the project here)
- Re-establishment of a healthy native understory at previous invasive plant treatment sites
- Community partnerships and an upcoming meet-and-greet with our eastern hellbender mascot, Millie
- Reminder: Hit the trails to complete the Pisgah Bridge Adventure Challenge (see the full challenge details here)
- Celebrating our dedicated staff members (see the full TPC team here, including several new field staff members!)
Trails we’ve worked on in the past month:
- Grassy Road Trail
- New pedestrian bridge connector trail
- Estatoe Trail
- Buckhorn Gap Trail
Construction begins on the new Upper Falls Connector Trail
Construction on the new Upper Falls Connector Trail, which will originate near John Rock Overlook (off the Blue Ridge Parkway) and descend into Graveyard Fields, will begin in the coming days.
Starting this week, our contracted trail builders from Global Action Sports Solutions are mobilizing at the construction site and preparing to break ground.
After years of work with the Forest Service planning, completing archaeological and environmental analyses, and preparing for implementation, this is a momentous time and a huge step towards future restoration work at Graveyard Fields.
Construction of the Upper Falls Connector Trail is in many ways the crux of the Graveyard Fields project at large. When construction is completed this fall, this new trail will allow us to proceed methodically in the restoration of trails, streambanks, and red spruce habitat in the Graveyard Fields area in the years to come.
We look forward to keeping you all updated as work takes shape on the ground in the coming months, and many thanks to all of those who have supported this longstanding, major TPC project.
For more information about the new trail and for a list of this project’s funders and partners, please visit the Upper Falls Connector Trail page on our website.
Trail Crew highlights
This month, our Trail Crew completed their construction of a new trail at the Forest entrance connecting the new NCDOT pedestrian bridge over the Davidson River to a future sidewalk to be constructed by the NCDOT as part of their roundabout project.
Although a short trail, it was built big, as the crew utilized equipment to install large paver stones to create a herringbone-patterned 10.5-foot-wide stone pathway down the slope, transitioning to a stone-bordered path to the bridge. This project was completed in partnership with the City of Brevard.
As part of this project, our Trail Crew also:
- Constructed a small retaining wall to prevent vegetation from creeping onto the trail
- Installed a huge, 2.8-ton sitting boulder by the bridge that can fit a whole family for a moment of riverside relaxation
In the past month, our Trail Crew also completed an overhaul of Grassy Road Trail, restoring reverse grade dips and mitigating mudholes on the entirety of this approximately 1-mile-long trail.
With these projects complete, the crew will be moving on to North Mills River Trail in the coming month, where they will relocate a section of the trail that was washed out during Hurricane Helene, as well as perform drainage work and other improvements.
Ecological Restoration Crew highlights
After months of focused work, our Ecological Restoration Crew is approaching completion of an initial non-native invasive plant treatment at Davidson River Campground, a large-scale project with many areas of severe infestation that started in November 2025.
Last week, we brought in a chipper to remove the massive amount of autumn olive and other woody-stemmed invasive plant material that had accrued from continued treatment of the area.
The crew will complete their initial treatment at Davidson River Campground in the coming weeks.
Pictured: Large invasive honeysuckle vines at Davidson River Campground.
Their focus will then shift to foliar treatments in the Catheys Creek, North Mills River, and Avery Creek areas. This work will consist of follow-up treatments in areas they treated previously, as well as some initial treatments in new sections of Avery Creek.
While the crew has been finishing their initial treatment at Davidson River Campground this month, they have also had the chance to begin some follow-up treatments and monitoring at Kuykendall Group Camp and Catheys Creek. Both of these sites were first treated by the crew in 2024.
The results at Kuykendall Group Camp (see project details here) in particular are striking. Now in our third year of work at this 22+ acre site, we are really seeing signs of regeneration and transformation.
Trout lily, mayapple, and trillium are emerging where impenetrable stands of mature autumn olive and multiflora rose had once been, and an open and healthy understory is being re-established.
Celebrating Our Staff
As a result of the multi-year Helene Recovery grant TPC was recently awarded by the National Forest Foundation, we have hired several new field crew members this spring.
In addition to bringing on new employees, a number of key TPC staff members have taken on new roles within our organization. This is a testament to their skill, ability, and dedication to the cause. They will all play crucial roles as we expand our field staff to deliver more Helene recovery work on the ground.
Trails Staff Updates
Michael Bagwell, Trails Program Manager
Michael joined TPC as our Trail Crew Leader in May 2023. He has now stepped into the role of Trails Program Manager, and his responsibilities include overseeing and driving day-to-day operations, logistics, and planning for our Trails program, which welcomed two new staff members this spring, in addition to assisting in the development and management of key trail projects.
Wyatt Jeffcoat, Trail Crew Leader
Wyatt joined TPC as our Assistant Trail Crew Leader in November 2024, and he has now stepped into the role of Trail Crew Leader. Throughout his time with TPC, Wyatt has developed and honed his technical trail construction and leadership skills. He will continue to work on the ground, leading our Trail Crew as they implement trail projects.
Simon Farr, Trails and Recreation Technician
Simon joined TPC in September 2022. In that time, he has been crucial in expanding our volunteer opportunity offerings, showing great skill and facility in engaging the public in the work we do on the Forest. His expanded role as a volunteer coordinator has already resulted in increased volunteer opportunities and partnerships, and will continue to provide space for the public to give back and get engaged with stewardship work on the Pisgah.
Speaking of community volunteer opportunities Simon is leading, we just added four upcoming volunteer dates to our website – check them out and register here.
Ecological Restoration Staff Updates
Sam Byars and Will Coffee both joined TPC in March 2024.
Following the recent hiring of four new Ecological Restoration staff members and TPC’s expanded role in Helene recovery, Sam and Will have also taken on new roles and responsibilities.
While continuing to co-lead our Ecological Restoration Crew, their specific skill sets and abilities have allowed them to provide unique and complementary value to our mission.
Sam brings expertise to and a focus on project development, management, and logistics, GIS mapping, and data collection and management.
Will, our resident botanist and a passionate, knowledgeable communicator, will serve as our resource specialist and outreach lead for all things ecological restoration.
We are truly grateful to have such dedicated, experienced, and complementary professionals leading our Ecological Restoration program.
Pisgah River Rangers highlights
After a great first year as TPC’s Lead River Ranger in 2025, Hailey Dansby (middle) has returned for a second season.
In addition to welcoming Hailey back this season, we’d like to welcome Emma, Pen, Tori, and Logan to the TPC team this summer!
The team is currently completing onboarding, training, certifications, and more.
They are eager to get out to engage and educate the community on the importance of our mountain watersheds and waterways, and how we all can participate as stewards of our rivers and streams.
After a two-week training and orientation period, they will be at full operations, assisting in putting on Kids Fish Day at Lake Powhatan on May 30th before beginning regular programming for the public, including weekly river snorkelling programs, nature journalling, riverside education, tabling and Visitor Center support, the 2nd Annual Pisgah Moth Party, and more.
See a full list of the events the Pisgah River Rangers are hosting this summer here.
Learn more about the Pisgah River Rangers program here.
Shop for Pisgah at Second Gear
Second Gear (located at 52 Westgate Parkway, Asheville, NC 28806) is donating 1% of all sales in May and June 2026 to TPC through their Nonprofit Give Back program!
Don’t miss your chance to get your outdoor apparel and gear and support the forest while you’re at it.
TPC staff will be tabling at Second Gear on Saturday, June 13th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Stop by to learn about our work and to meet our beloved mascot, Millie the eastern hellbender!
Thank you to Second Gear for supporting TPC, and to everyone who shops with them in May and June!
Thank you to Pisgah Coffee Roasters!
For the month of April, Pisgah Coffee Roasters brought back their limited-edition Ranger Roast blend.
50% of all the sales proceeds were donated to TPC, for a total of $1,571 raised to support our year-round work in the forest!
Thank you to Pisgah Coffee Roasters for their partnership, and to everyone who purchased a bag of Ranger Roast coffee!
Take on the Pisgah Bridge Adventure Challenge
Last month, we announced the Pisgah Bridge Adventure Challenge.
The challenge offers a self-guided tour of some of the bridges built or repaired by our Trail Crew. The Pisgah Bridge Adventure Challenge runs through August 15th, so there is still plenty of time!
For more details about the challenge, including which bridges are part of the challenge and how to submit your challenge completion log, please visit: https://pisgahconservancy.org/pbac-2026/
Ways to Support highlight – Planned Giving
Through a planned gift to TPC, you can provide long-term and meaningful care for the forest that gives us so much.
Common planned giving options include:
- Gifts through a donor-advised fund
- Gifts through an IRA Distribution
- Designating TPC as a beneficiary
- Including TPC in your will or living trust
Visit the Planned Giving page on our website to learn more.