| Upcoming Events
Feb 3
Voting opens for the 9th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition
Feb 18 - 1:00 PM
TRACK trail opening at
W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir in
Wilkesboro, NC
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Did you know?
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photo by Vicki Dameron
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The Parkway contains 369 miles of trails -
2% of all of the trails in the National Park System. |
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Save the Journey®
Donate today
and your tax deductible contribution will help preserve this magnificent National Park area for future generations.
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"January brings the snow, makes our feet
and fingers glow."
- Sara Coleridge
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Calling all photographers!
We are always looking for beautiful photos of the Blue Ridge Parkway to use in our e-news and other publications.
If you have photos that you would be willing to let us use, please get in touch with our communications staff at
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Did you know?
The Parkway has 170 agricultural lease permit holders who maintain 400 agricultural lease permits comprising approximately 4,000 acres.
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Protect the Parkway
For each new or renewed specialty plate, $20 is given to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.
The entire specialty plate fee of $30 is tax deductible.
If you are a North Carolina resident, Click Here to
Find out how you can help protect the Blue Ridge Parkway's historic, cultural and scenic resources today and into the future.
Already own a
NC Blue Ridge Parkway Specialty Plate?
Enter to Win a 2 Night Stay at Mast Farm Inn, a Porsche rental, and a $100 gift certificate to Mast General Store!
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photo by J. Scott Graham
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"When there's snow on the ground, I like to pretend I'm walking on clouds."
- unknown
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Your Stewardship in Action |
Thank You! 
Thanks to everyone who contributed to our 469 campaign in November and December. With 458 donations received between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, we far surpassed last year's total of 347 in the same amount of time. We predict that with stewards like you, we will far exceed this goal when we launch the campaign again in November 2012.
Thanks to all of you who participated in this campaign, as well as those who donate throughout the rest of the year. You are making a difference on the Parkway every day!
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North Carolina Blue Ridge Parkway
Specialty Plate in Jeopardy!
The North Carolina legislature has passed HB289 which contains a clause that states that all full-color specialty plates will be replaced with a plate in standardized format on or after July 1, 2015. The standardized format has not been finalized but will look similar to the First in Flight plates with the small organization logo on the left. Based on the results of a survey done in 2010, we know that many of you purchase the specialty plate to support the Blue Ridge Parkway and will continue to do so, but there are also many who purchase it because of its distinctive design. The Foundation and the Parkway rely on the proceeds from sales of the specialty plate to provide over $500,000 each year for Parkway projects and programs. We are working with state legislators to get the bill amended, and will be looking for your support and help over the next few months to retain this important source of funds for the Parkway. You can stay updated through our e-news, Facebook and Twitter.
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Did you forget to order your
2012 Blue Ridge Parkway Calendar?
 The 2012 Blue Ridge Parkway Calendar presented by Ray's Weather is now on sale for half price! Filled with beautiful photographs of the Blue Ridge Parkway, it will make a great addition to your home or office. Order yours today, and the proceeds will benefit the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and the Parkway.
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The Digital Blue Ridge Parkway
 A newly released collection, "Driving Through Time: The Digital Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina" presents photographs, maps, news articles, oral histories and essays documenting the development and construction of the parkway's North Carolina segment. The site invites users to explore parkway history chronologically, geographically or by dozens of topics from access roads and automobiles to wildlife and workmen. An interactive map feature layers historical maps atop current road maps and satellite images. The comparisons provide insight into the parkway's development and its impact on pre-parkway towns, farms, roads and topography.
Driving Through Time was created through a collaborative project based at the library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation board member, Anne Mitchell Whisnant, was instrumental in its implementation.
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Congratulations To
Our 2011 Luxury Weekend Winner!
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Christy Bell, Director of Development, presents Stephen with his gift certificate
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Congratulation to Stephen Mezardijan of Charlotte, NC, the winner of our 2011 Valle Crucis Luxury Weekend. He received a gift certificate for a 2-night stay at the Mast Farm Inn, the use of a Porsche during his stay, and a $100 gift certificate to the Mast General Store.
Remember, you can enter our Luxury Weekend drawing once every year, so don't forget to enter the contest for 2012.
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What a Ride!
Having lived in South Carolina and ridden portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway twenty years ago, I had always wanted to bicycle the entire Parkway. Last year the oportunity presented itself when our family decided to spend July 4th in Washington DC.
On July 5th the journey started when my wife and kids dropped me off at the northern end of the Parkway. The first night I met them at The Peaks of Otter Lodge. What a great place! The food and accommodations were wonderful. The next day I rode from The Peaks of Otter Lodge to the Rocky Knob Cabins. A very hot day of riding ending at a gem of a location. Day three started out with pancakes at Mabry Mill and a brutally hot day of riding that took me to Boone, NC where I again caught up with my family for the evening. Day four took me to Asheville, NC and a great lunch along the way at the Switzerland Cafe in Little Switzerland. Day five took me from Asheville to the end, stopping for lunch at Pisgah Inn. It was a cloudy day with some relief from the extreme temperatures of the week. After crossing the highest point on the Parkway, I was caught off guard by the length of the final climb before the finish. I reached MM 469 with a smile on my face and was picked up by my family just before the rain hit.
What a great experience! - Wally from Houston, TX One of the special attributes of the Parkway is that everyone has their own special connection and personal memories. If you have a special memory you would like to share or would like to read other Parkway stories, please visit our website.
If you've traveled the Parkway from one end to the other, submit your story and request your rewards package at EndtoEnder.org
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Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation invited to speak at the America's Summit on National Parks
 The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation was invited to participate in the America's Summit on National Parks: Taking Action for a New Century in Washington, D.C. on January 24-26. This was a great honor to be asked to speak at this invitation only Summit that focused and built upon A Call to Action, a call to all National Park Service employees and partners to commit to actions that advance the Service toward a shared vision for 2016 and the second century of our National Park System.
Carolyn Ward, our CEO, participated as a panelist in the "Healthy Foods and Green Management" session with elected leaders, senior corporate executives, foundation directors, park professionals, tourism officials, educators, and health professionals. Her participation focused on the Foundation's Kids in Parks program and its role in promoting the health and wellness of youth in our National Parks.
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Kids in Parks to open its 10th TRACK trail
in the Blue Ridge Mountains
On Saturday, February 18th at 1:00 PM, the Foundation's Kids in Parks program will celebrate the grand opening of their 10th TRACK Trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains at W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir in Wilkesboro, NC.
W. Kerr Scott's TRACK Trail was implemented on the reservoir's Fish Dam Creek Trail. Besides being designated as a TRACK Trail, the Fish Dam Creek Trail is also designated as a NC Birding Trail and sections of the trail contain portions of the Overmountain Victory Trail and Yadkin River Greenway Trail.
"The trail at W. Kerr Scott is a great addition to our network of TRACK Trails. Not only does this trail allow us to partner with another major land management agency, but it is in close proximity to several other TRACK Trail locations, including Mount Airy and New River State Park and other trails that are currently in the works." said Jason Urroz, Director of Kids in Parks.
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Welcome and a huge thank you to our newest Parkway Plus partner!
Are you planning travels on or near the Parkway? Please make sure to stay or dine with our outstanding Parkway Plus Partners. For a full list, check www.parkwayplus.org.
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Voting for the 9th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition will open on Friday, Feb 3rd. at 5:00 PM and will end on Friday, March 30th, 2012 at 5:00 PM. Mark your calendars and remember to vote for your favorites!
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 Linda Combs is the Vice-Chair of our board of directors. She is the former Controller of the United States Office of Management and Budget and has held five Senate confirmed positions, including CFO and COO positions at the US Departments of Transportation, Treasury, Education, and EPA. Linda has also held several positions with state and local government and in the private sector. Linda was born in Caldwell County, NC, and has bachelors and masters degrees from Appalachian State University, and a doctorate from Virginia Tech. She is currently a writer, speaker, certified executive leadership coach, and a corporate and non-profit board director.
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Parkway Place Challenge
Do you know the location of this photo? Submit your answer on our website by midnight, February 27th. Five winners will be drawn at random from those who submit the correct answer, and each winner will receive their choice of an array of prizes.
Last month's correct answer was The Lump Overlook curve looking back east toward Stone Mountain and Roaring Gap (MP 264.4). If you submitted a correct answer, the 5 random winners will be drawn this week, and you will be notified if you are one of the winners.
Thanks to Harald Schmidl who submitted this month's Challenge photo. Do you have a photo that you think would be a great puzzler? Submit it here!
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