Elkin Valley Trails Association News

VOLUNTEER WITH YADKIN VALLEY TOUR DE VINO!
Work a water station, sign folks in...easy.

We need about 8 volunteers for helping put on the Yadkin Valley Tour de Vino bicycle ride on May 21st. If you are interested in finding out details of the events, like manning a water station, etc. please email volunteer coordinator, Rob Libbert.

For more info on the Yadkin Valley Tour de Vino and to register, visit:
Yadkin Valley Tour de Vino

Registration fees benefit EVTA and our cycling and mountain bike projects!

VINEYARD STOMP 5K.
Volunteers & Runners Wanted!

Spend an evening at Grassy Creek Vineyard on May 7...
whether you run the Vineyard Stomp 5k or just sit back and enjoy the music, food and wine!

Details:
Saturday, May 7
To register and for more info:
Grassy Creek Vineyard & Winery

5K is at 6:00pm, Kids 1K to follow.

Event is from 6-9:00pm.

Live music following the race and Herrera Vineyards Food Truck on site for dinner purchase.

The Vineyard Stomp needs approximately 10 volunteers for a short time from 5-6:30pm. A few folks are needed with race registration, and are needed on the trail to point the way.

Please call the Grassy Creek tasting room (336-835-2458) to leave a message that you plan to assist on the 7th, or if you have any questions about the event.

EVTA will be the recipient of a portion of the funds from this Grassy Creek Vineyard event!


	The Jewel Tones at the very first Trails Boogie at Harry's Place...were you there?

GET READY TO BOOGIE!
June 16 at the Liberty...Trails Boogie Celebration

Please join EVTA at our biggest celebration and fundraiser of the year!
This awesome band has been with us at every Trails Boogie and we are happy to welcome back
Doug Deming with Dennis Gruenling & The Jewel Tones!

This year you can enjoy...
free! admission
a silent auction
trails information
dinner buffet for purchase
cold beverages of your choice
dancing and the best jump blues/swing music on the planet
all your best friends having a great time celebrating our local trails success!

Thank You to our Trails Boogie sponsors who make this celebration possible:
Gold Sponsor: SUEZ
Silver Sponsor: Basin Creek Realty
Bronze Sponsor: The Liberty

Details:
Thursday evening, June 16
At The Liberty 222 East Main Street Elkin NC
Social Hour Begins: 5:30pm Band Starts: 7pm
Casual dress - Everyone Invited!

Admission is FREE - Donations to further trail progress are gratefully accepted!

PADDLE BEFORE THE ELKIN ROOTS FESTIVAL.
MAY 14 - Rise & Shine on the River!

Spend the morning on the Yadkin River with folks headed downriver to the

Elkin Roots Festival. The paddle will be from Ronda to Elkin.

Three area river outfitters are available for shuttles and for canoe and kayak rentals:
Yadkin River Adventures
Roaring River Canoe & Kayak

Rocky Forest River Run

Participants can use their own kayaks and canoes or can rent from an outfitter and also arrange a shuttle if needed. Fees will apply from the outfitters and arrangements should be made via the outfitter of your choice.

To paddle with the group, the plan is to meet your shuttle at Crater Park on Standard Street by the river in Elkin at 8:00am. The in-water time in Ronda at the Yadkin River put-in is 10:00am.

People with their own kayak or canoe could drop their boats at Ronda, drive to Elkin, and be shuttled by van back to Ronda, while someone from ETVA would be with the boats at the launch site in Ronda. People who do not want to drop their boats at Ronda could get them shuttled from Elkin to Ronda.

Please contact one of the outfitters with any questions about paddling the Ronda to Elkin section of the Yadkin and to arrange shuttles and rentals if needed.

Anyone Love Stone Mountain?!?

Interested in a Friends of
Stone Mountain
State Park Organization?

Stone Mountain State Park is so important to our region and is the destination that EVTA is aiming for with our MST trail development. Eventually, our Surry and Wilkes county hiking/equestrian trail will link with the trails at Stone Mountain. So hey...we're just throwing it out there. So many people love Stone Mountain State Park around these parts that EVTA thought there might be interest in developing a "Friends" group... a nonprofit citizen organization supporting, promoting, and advocating for the Park.

Many of North Carolina's State Parks have a Friends organization, for example:
Friends Groups/NC Parks

If you have an interest and some energy, please reply to our newsletter editor, Denise Lyon who will gather interested parties together and see what happens.

On a related note...
Here is an Elkin Tribune article that shows the great work getting done via a partnership between EVTA, Yadkin Valley Riders Club, the NC Horse Council and the new Stone Mountain State Park Superintendent, Bill Meyer:

From The Tribune

Save the Dates!
2016 Tour de Yadkin Comes Through Elkin...

Paddle & Jam in Elkin - Friday August 19

Paddle & Jam in Elkin - Saturday August 20

Join Us at the April 23
Mountain Bike Trail Workday

The next mountain bike trail workday will be held on Saturday, April 23. We're really making progress! Come out and see what's happening and take a look at just how close we are to opening this awesome single track bike/hike/walk trail in Elkin. Bring loppers, gloves, shovel, rakes or hoes if you have them, but if not we'll have tools.

No experience is necessary, and you will learn trail building techniques. Our goal is to build ~ 6.5 miles of in-town mostly natural surface trail...all in the woods.

We plan to rendezvous Saturday at 8:30am on the fenced flat area that is about 1/4 mile west of North Bridge Street/Sheetz intersection on Hwy 268 Bypass. You will see cars/trucks and signs at the entrance on the left heading west. We'll walk from the rendezvous site to the work areas.

For questions, please contact mountain bike trail development coordinator, Rob Libbert.

TOGETHER.
THIS IS HOW WE DO IT!

Wow! Take a look at pictures from the last workday connecting trail from Grassy Creek Vineyard & Winery to Brookfall Dairy Road in Elkin. Better yet, start at the trailhead at the winery and treat yourself to a wonderful walk crossing Grassy Creek and meandering through a beautiful section of forest to the current endpoint (about a 30-45 minute walk out and back). You'll see where the trail is headed next...to downtown Elkin and a connection with out current in-town trail. Progress is being made on connecting several local wineries on what we affectionately call "the Camino de Vino".

Here are several pictures taken of our volunteers on the workday. Our volunteers and landowners are at the heart of what makes our trail projects possible. Folks, we are creating a truly remarkable network of trails for our community and for our visitors. Thanks for joining the adventure!

Huge HUGS and doggie treats to all our volunteers!