The North Carolina Coastal Federation has acquired 787 acres along the North River in Carteret County, expanding the North River Wetlands Preserve to close to 7,000 acres.

The property, purchased for just shy of $1.9 million, is expected to further the nonprofit organization’s mission to protect water quality, while supporting military operations. The new land is also going to provide a new official portion of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the environmental group said Monday.

The North River Wetlands Preserve was once mostly ditched and drained farm land but has been restored over the past two decades into one of the largest rehabilitated wetland systems in state.

The new property was purchased through a partnership of state, federal and nonprofit funding, including $590,000 from the U.S. Department of Defense, $449,000 from the Complete the Trails Program for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and $964,691 from the N.C. Land and Water Fund for acquisition and transaction costs. 

With the property acquisition April 2, the preserve includes the headwaters of the North River, Wards Creek, and Jarrett Bay, “forming a connected natural system that filters runoff, improves water quality, and sustains productive fisheries downstream,” according to the organization.

“The newly protected tract includes forested wetlands, upland areas, and approximately 6,900 linear feet of tributaries flowing into the North River—a designated Primary Nursery Area and contributor to the Outstanding Resource Waters of Core and Back Sounds,” the organization added.

The Coastal Federation said it plans to begin restoring the site’s natural hydrology by reconnecting wetlands, improving drainage patterns, and enhancing long-term resilience to sea level rise. 

Coastal Federation Executive Director Braxton Davis explained in a release that the acquisition reflects the kind of forward-looking investment North Carolina needs.

“One that protects water quality, strengthens coastal ecosystems, supports military readiness, and creates meaningful public access. Expanding the North River Wetlands Preserve to nearly 7,000 acres ensures this landscape will provide lasting benefits for communities, fisheries, and future generations,” he said.

The land will be a new official section of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail, which is a 1,400-mile route connecting the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks, and is managed by North Carolina State Parks. 

“The acquisition of this property represents a transformational moment for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in this area,” Brent Laurenz, executive director of Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, said in a release. “We’re so appreciative of the partnership with the Federation to acquire this property for both the significant addition it will make to the MST and for its long-term conservation value.” 

The Department of Navy used funding from the Defense Department’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration, or REPI, Program, to secure a permanent restrictive use easement over the property where low-altitude helicopter training routes associated with Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point operations are held.

“This project represents years of work bringing together the right partners and funding to protect a truly special place,” Todd Miller, senior adviser to the Coastal Federation and project manager for the acquisition, said in a statement.

“By securing this property, we are safeguarding the headwaters of the North River, expanding one of the most important coastal preserves in the state, and creating a permanent route for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. It’s a powerful example of how conservation can deliver clean water, public access, and support for our military at the same time,” he added.

This project is part of the organization’s “Lands for a Healthy Coast” initiative, which focuses on conserving strategic coastal landscapes that protect water quality, sustain fisheries, and build resilience to climate change. The Coastal Federation publishes Coastal Review.

Additional partners on the project include the North Carolina General Assembly, and Morehead City attorney John Harris.

Celebrate National Trails Day Saturday by taking a hike in one of the many publicly accessible lands in North Carolina.

Related: Jockey’s Ridge State Park celebrates 50 years

“Aptly named the ‘Great Trails State,'” the national event observed the first Saturday in June “highlights the tremendous benefits that our state, federal and local trails provide, from recreational opportunities to fostering a deeper connection with nature,” according to the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Officials are encouraging the public to mark the day by attending a trail event, going on a hike at one of the many parks and wildlife refuges in the state, or volunteering to help with upkeep.

To find a hiking trail or outdoor activity near you, visit websites for The Great Trails State, the North Carolina State Parks, the National Park Service, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

There’s almost something deceptive about walking through the newest addition to Holly Shelter Game Land.

Trees rising from sandy ground largely blanketed by a thick cover of pine needles and wind-rippling wiregrass deafen any sense you’re just a short way from U.S. Highway 17.

Ben Jones summed up the experience during a recent hike through a small slice of the tract referred to as the Sleepy Creek property, a 1,616-acre parcel where baby longleaf pine trees sprout in savannas, carnivorous plants thrive and dense brush coats the surface of pocosin wetlands.

“It feels like we are miles from civilization,” he said.

That’s the idea behind rerouting a stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail from the side of U.S. 17 in Pender County near Surf City and tucking it on land safely away from the four-lane blacktop.

Jones is the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail’s Coastal Crescent project manager and architect of the future section of trail, one that will link with nearly 20 miles of existing North Carolina trail snaking through the vast game land.

On a blustery cold day last week, Jones, Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail Associate Director Betsy Brown and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission officials offered a tour of the portion of game land where the new trail is anticipated.

This is a particularly unique project, one where the plan is to steer hikers away from the gravel roadways that cut through the game land and onto natural surface defined by upland sand ridges, longleaf habitat and pocosin wetlands.

“We want to keep it wild,” Jones said.

The exception will be a boardwalk structure planned through a little more than a mile of pocosin. The walkway will be constructed of some type of fireproof material, perhaps precast concrete that can withstand fire from prescribed burns state wildlife officials will administer to manage the land.

The modern method for maintain longleaf pine forests is through controlled burns, which reduce hardwood growth and manage grasses and forbs in the understory. Fires are essential to longleaf habitats for a number of reasons, one being that longleaf pine seeds germinate on bare ground.

This habitat is essential to a variety of plants and animals, including federally threatened red-cockaded woodpeckers.

The Nature Conservancy acquired the Sleepy Creek property about two years ago, permanently conserving land that would have most likely been developed. The Nature Conservancy transferred ownership to the state Wildlife Resources Commission.

Growth along the U.S. 17 corridor between Wilmington and Jacksonville has exploded in the last couple of decades as demand for property along the coast has skyrocketed.

The roughly 64,000-acre game land sits almost half way between the two cities – 25 minutes from Wilmington and 30 minutes from Jacksonville.

While Holly Shelter is a draw for hunters of game ranging from whitetail deer to rabbit to turkey, it’s also a formidable hiking spot.

The new, natural trail will extend a little more than 3.5 miles through the game land addition, which will also be made available for public hunting.

Negotiations are underway to purchase an additional 45-acre tract surrounded by the game land. If plans go accordingly, that property will be the site of a primitive camp ground.

Brown said kiosks and signage explaining trail and hunting etiquette to help educate those groups on how to coexist will be installed at the trail head.

Hikers are urged to plan ahead, make sure they have sufficient supplies, including water, and check for hunting seasons before heading into the game land. Wildlife officials ask hikers to wear something blaze orange, whether it be a hat, vest or other attire, if traversing Holly Shelter during a hunting season.

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail stretches more than 1,100 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks.

The Coastal Crescent Trail gives its guests the opportunity to experience a portion of the Cape Fear Arch, an area tapped as having the greatest biological diversity on the East Coast north of Florida.

The Arch spans between Cape Lookout National Seashore, a barrier island system in Carteret County, and Cape Romain in South Carolina, and inland beyond Fayetteville to the Carolina Sandhills.

The Coastal Crescent Trail runs through Johnston, Sampson, Cumberland, Bladen, Pender and Onslow counties.

The segment (there are 18 total) of Mountains-to-Sea Trail included in Holly Shelter Game Land spans a little more than 90 miles. It includes 3.5 miles of trail, just over 9 miles of beach, about 5.5 miles of multi-use path, 19 miles of forest roads and a little more than 53 miles of paved road.

Jones said he did not have an exact timeframe on when the new rerouted trail will be open for hiking, though it is expected to be complete in fewer than five years.

The Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is looking for input on plans to extend the trail by more than 4 miles in Holly Shelter Game Land in Pender County.

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail stretches 1,175 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks, with stops along the way.

The friends group is working with land managers and partners to develop a master plan to connect existing sections of the trail in Holly Shelter Game Land, which uses Holly Shelter Game Land unpaved roads, where highways U.S. 17 and N.C. 210 intersect.

To share thoughts with organizers, they’ve asked the public to answer a short survey. The draft master plan report will be available early next year for public comment.

The new section of trail will be separated from the game land’s road network, access the game land’s newly acquired tracts, and have a designated trailhead parking facility, unlike the current Mountains-to-Sea Trail in Holly Shelter.

The goals of this project are to increase hiker safety, increase access to Holly Shelter, provide new recreational opportunities for the community, and increase awareness of Holly Shelter’s incredible natural resources.

For more information and to contact the project team, visit the project website.

The Carteret County Wildlife Club and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Neusiok Trail Sept. 30 with hikes, guest speakers and lunch.

In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, the Carteret County Wildlife Club built and helps maintain the Neusiok Trail, a more than 20-mile trail from the sandy beach on the Neuse River to a salt marsh on the Newport River. The Neusiok Trail, which is through the Croatan National Forest, is part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The 1,175-mile trail connects the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks.

Beginning the celebration is a Walk on the Neusiok Trail with Wildlife and Conservation Biologist Manley Fuller to learn about the different forest habitats. Register online for this 2.5 mile walk that begins at 7:45 a.m.

Walk on the Neusiok Trail with Wildlife Conservation Biologist Deanna Noble to learn about the different forest habitats. Register online for this 2.5-mile walk that begins at 8:15 a.m.

Walk on the Neusiok Trail with Coastal Ecologist John Altman to explore the environmental impact on the trail. Register online for this 1.5 mile walk that begins at 9:15 a.m.

For the luncheon, guest speakers will begin at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch around 12:15 p.m. Registration for lunch closes Sept. 10. Donations to the club will be accepted onsite.

Guided hikes, dinner and a reception and other activities are planned for the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail annual meeting and Gathering of Friends, April 28-30.

This year the nonprofit is hosting its annual meeting in the Triangle with planned opportunities to explore what Durham, Orange and Wake counties have to offer.

Registration is open.

The event kicks off with a full day of guided hikes for everyone and kiosk building for Task Force Leaders, followed by excursions, meetings and celebrations through the weekend. The group is partnering with the Department of Recreation and Wellness at North Carolina Central University in hosting this year’s meeting.

Hikes, excursions and trail workdays are planned across Durham, Orange and Wake counties.

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a footpath stretching almost 1,200 miles across North Carolina from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks.

The annual meeting is where the Friends membership gathers together to learn about the trail, spend time with each other and celebrate the trail community. While this is a membership-based event, all with an interest in the trail are welcome to join and attend.

For more information and to register, visit the Friends’ website.

This month marks the 45^th birthday of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Now a 1,175-mile trail from Clingmans Dome, or Kuwohi, in the Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks, the idea for the trail was introduced in Sept. 9, 1977.

Howard Lee, then secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, proposed, “establishing a state trail between the mountains and the seashore in North Carolina,” according to the Friends of the Mountains-to-the-Sea Trail, or MST, a nonprofit organization that supports and advocates for the trail.

In celebration of the trail’s 45 years, the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail has planned an online celebration 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, with special guests Lee, state Division of State Parks and Recreation Director Dwayne Patterson, volunteers Julie “Jester” Gayheart and Austin DuFresne who wrote and produced a five-part video and podcast mini-series called “I Am the MST,” and other names from the trail’s history.  The Zoom is free and open to the public.

“We’re excited to be celebrating 45 years of the MST this year and to look back on how far the trail has come since it was first proposed in 1977,” Brent Laurenz, executive director with the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, told Coastal Review. “While the route has shifted and changed over time, the overall goal of connecting the mountains and the sea with a simple footpath has never changed.”

There are several short-distance group hikes planned around the state from Thursday to Saturday as part of the birthday weekend, including a few on the coast. 

A Croatan Forest hike and cookout with Roger Mays is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday, leaving from the North Carolina Coastal Federation office, 3609 NC 24, in Newport. The hike will be along forest service roads and a visit to Patsy Pond. After the hike, there will be a cookout at the federation office. To make sure there is enough food, RSVP to rmays52@yahoo.com or call at 252 723-1612.

In Pender County, there will be a Surf City Bridge Hike at 9 a.m. Thursday, starting at Soundside Park. The hike along Osgood Canal Greenway is to start at 9 a.m. Friday at Hankins Park, 310 North Walker St., in Burgaw. Also at 9 a.m. Saturday, there will be an informative and historic hike around Moores Creek National Battlefield leaving from the visitor center in Currie. Reserve a spot online for these hikes, call 910-259-1536 or email Tammy Proctor with Pender County at tproctor@pendercountync.gov.

Related: Pender to celebrate Mountains-to-Sea Trail’s 45th birthday

The birthday Zoom celebration Friday should be fun, Laurenz said, and the Friends group is encouraging folks to simply get out for a hike on the trail Saturday or anytime during the month.

He also extended a thank you “to the hard work and vision of some amazing volunteers a video series titled ‘I Am the MST’ will be rolled out during the birthday month” on the MST website.

The Friends group issued a 45-mile challenge during the birthday month. Anyone who completes 45 or more miles by foot anywhere on the trail in September and logs it on the website will be entered to win prizes from Ripstop by the Roll, REI and other supporters. The participant with the highest total mileage at the end of September receives an MST flag.

Laurenz explained that after Lee proposed establishing the state trail in a 1977 speech, volunteer efforts were launched to start building the trail, but that work began to languish in the early 1990s. 

“In an effort to revitalize MST efforts, Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail was formed in 1997. Soon after, the trail was officially incorporated into the North Carolina State Park System in 2000,” Laurenz continued. “In the 25 years since its formation, Friends of the MST has helped the trail grow from a disjointed hodgepodge of trail sections totaling about 325 miles with ill-defined road connections to its current status as a complete, well-defined route across the state with over 700 miles of off-road trail.”

In 2017, the Mountains-to-the-Sea Trail took a step forward when the Coastal Crescent Trail was officially made part of the trail. The Coastal Crescent Trail winds through the southeastern counties of Johnston, Sampson, Cumberland, Bladen, Pender and Onslow counties.

“This route, an alternate to the originally proposed corridor along the Neuse River, was conceived and promoted by Friends of the MST. It strings together several areas of public lands, giving people opportunities to get off the roads for several significant stretches while work is underway to create a more complete off-road route,” he said.

The importance of outdoor spaces like the Mountains-to-Sea Trail was made evident during the height of the pandemic, when people across the state turned to the outdoors for safe recreational activities, Laurenz said.

“Whether they were discovering the joy of being in nature for the first time or rekindling an old passion, North Carolinians showed up at state parks, national parks and trails in every corner of the state to find safe ways to gather together or enjoy time alone outdoors,” he said. “We haven’t seen that interest level wane either, so trails like the MST are so important to provide opportunities for residents and visitors to get outside and enjoy the beauty of North Carolina.”

As for the bigger picture, for those that wish to tackle the entire Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the trail provides an opportunity to see firsthand both the beauty of our state’s natural places and to connect with communities and people along the way, he said.

Laurenz said 2023 is poised to be a big year for new additions and changes to the MST. 

“With a significant investment in state trails included in the 2021 budget, we’ll be able to build new sections of trail, open new bridges and so much more that will have a major impact on the trail,” he explained. “That will be especially true for the southeastern and coastal parts of the state where there is currently less off-road MST and fewer outdoor recreation opportunities in general compared to other parts of the state.”

Also, 2023 will be the Year of the Trail across North Carolina. Laurenz said all trails, from the community park to the urban greenway to the MST, are to come together to celebrate all that trails have to offer and hopefully inspire North Carolinians to get outside and explore our unique trails across the state.

“While the route has shifted and changed over the past 45 years, we’re still inspired by that original vision from Howard Lee to create a trail from the mountains to the sea that is not only a wilderness trail, but also tries to capture the diversity of North Carolina and give walkers “a real feel for the sights, sounds, and people of the state,” Laurenz said.

Those who support the trail with a financial donation of $45 or more during September are to receive MST buttons. Those who raise $450 or more through peer-to-peer fundraising get a personalized pottery mug.

Supporters can also lend a hand during a volunteer workday. Locations and dates are listed on the event calendar.

Pender County is celebrating the 45th birthday of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail this September with three family-friendly hikes.

The 1,175-mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail runs from Clingman’s Dome to Jockey’s Ridge. The trail was proposed in September 1977 by Howard Lee, then secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development.

“The trail travels the length of Pender County, through two trail towns, Burgaw and Surf City, as well as Moores Creek National Battlefield,” said Tammy Proctor, Pender County tourism director.

To celebrate the birthday of this trail, Burgaw Parks and Recreation, Surf City Parks and Recreation, Moores Creek National Battlefield and Pender County Tourism are hosting 1- to 2-mile hikes.

“All hikes are free to participate,” Proctor added. “We just ask that all hikers register with the tourism office so we can plan appropriately.” To register, call 910-259-1278.

Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail Outreach Manager Betsy Brown said the communities along the MST are what make it so special.

“In celebration of the 45th birthday of the trail, we’re thrilled that MST towns and special places are hosting events to welcome folks who may not yet know about the trail. And of course we welcome back those who already spend time walking the MST miles in Pender County. Bring a friend,” Brown added.

Brown said the Friends group has several plans in the works to celebrate the 45^th anniversary of the trail. To learn more and for updates, visit the trail’s website.

The MST Birthday Hikes kick off in Pender County with the Surf City Bridge Hike.

Hikers will meet in Soundside Park at 9 a.m. Sept. 8 to cross the Surf City Bridge. The hike will be led by a volunteer with the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The hike will feature a photo opportunity of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean at the peak of the bridge. Herrings Outdoor Sports has donated an Ice Mule Cooler, valued at $80, to be raffled off.

Burgaw is to host a birthday hike along the Osgood Canal Greenway Sept. 9. Meet at Hankins Park for a 9 a.m. step-off. Cupcakes to be provided by Pender County Tourism staff.

Moores Creek National Battlefield will host a 1.5 mile walk-and-talk that will be dog-friendly starting at 9 a.m. Sept. 10. This will include a walk of the History Trail, Tar Heel Trail, Woodpecker Trail and Black River Road, all in the park. This is not a guided tour but rather an informal walk with a park ranger. Hikers should meet at the park’s visitor center. The walk is expected to take an hour. Visitors can walk the loop as many times as they would like.

Reprinted from the Outer Banks Voice

A little over two years ago, “Trail” Marshall was drinking a 12-pack of beer a day, watching TV and not liking life all that much.

“I’d been watching TV and, everybody hated everybody. Everything was just so bad,” he told a gathering who welcomed him as he completed the 1,175-mile North Carolina Mountains-to-Sea Trail May 6 at Jockey’s Ridge State Park

So he decided to go for a walk … well, hike, beginning with the Appalachian Trail in June 2020. That was a 406-day adventure. With that behind him, his next goal was the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, bringing him to the eastern end of the trail at Jockey’s Ridge State Park.

He spent an extra day exploring the Outer Banks, stopping by Kitty Hawk on Saturday to hike along the Kitty Hawk Woods Birch Lane Trail for about a mile, remarking: “I don’t like swamp trails, but that was really pretty.”

Marshall officially began his Mountains-to-Sea Trail trek at Clingmans Dome, 6,643 feet above sea level in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, just after the New Year. Five months to walk from the mountains to the sea through the heart of North Carolina is a good pace — particularly in the winter when snow changes everything.

“In the snow in the mountains, you’re kind of in a haze where you’re not thinking anything. You’re going like that for hours. Once you finally get to where you’re going, you look back,” he said. “I saw some amazing ice formations in the trees … sunsets over mountains. And it’s just so quiet out there and so peaceful.”

As he hiked, Marshall found a very different reality than the one he had been watching every day — people were kinder and far more generous than what he had been witnessing on TV or the news.

“Along the way, there were so many good people, selfless people, people who had no reason to help. No reason to stop and give me a bottle of water, to stop and say, ‘Hi, you inspire me,’” he told the people gathered to greet him at Jockey’s Ridge.

Marshall began to chronicle his journey, writing eloquently about what he was seeing and experiencing. On his last full day, he wrote that, “I made the most of it with a beautiful 25-miles hike up the beach and around the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge and then over the terrifying, electrifying, stupefying, high-flying excitement of walking over the Marc Basnight Bridge. A three-miles-long masterpiece of art and function that traverses over the Oregon Inlet. Sheer terror for the first mile and then the terror subsided, and awe set in. What a lovely view! For miles … But can I expect anything less from the Outer Banks? The last 70 miles has been nothing short of spectacular!”

Kitty Hawk Town Manager Andy Stewart began following Marshall’s journey, providing updates on his approach to the Outer Banks. Stewart mentioned that the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau had made a small donation to help Marshall along.

There was a small ceremony at Jockey’s Ridge, when Nags Head Public Information Officer Roberta Thuman presented him with a Proclamation Honoring “Trail Marshall.” And at a gathering on Saturday, Kitty Hawk Mayor Craig Garriss gave Marshall a Kitty Hawk baseball cap and a license plate, telling him he’d been following him for some time on Facebook.

It was Marshall’s writing on his Facebook page that attracted attention from many people, more than 11,000 followers. And at Kitty Hawk Park, he became very emotional describing how he came to understand what his journey could mean to others.

“I get messages from people who are sick or dying,” he said. “They just need an encouraging word from me to tell them to keep fighting. A guy sent me a message last night. He’s having major surgery tomorrow. They’re taking out his pancreas and a few other things. I’ve been telling him to keep fighting. I got a message last night, ‘Congratulations on finishing your hike. I’m going to beat this just like you. I’m going to keep fighting.’”

“Everybody’s got a story,” he added. “If you take the time to just talk to them, they’re more than happy to tell you what it is. Whether it’s good or bad … sometimes the folks … just need something to believe in.”

He discussed the why of his hikes and writing about his time on the trail at Jockey’s Ridge and Kitty Hawk Park, and walking along the Birch Lane Trail, the subject came up again.

“People ask me why,” he said. “The real question is, why not? It’s a lifetime of reasons.”

This story is provided courtesy of the Outer Banks Voice, a digital newspaper covering the Outer Banks. Coastal Review is partnering with the Voice to provide readers with more environmental and lifestyle stories of interest about our coast.

Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail are welcoming Brent Laurenz as the nonprofit organization’s new executive director.

Laurenz succeeds Kate Dixon, who announced plans to retire in early 2022. The two plan to work together briefly during the transition.

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail stretches 1,175 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks, stopping at many state and national parks, refuges and historic sites.

Laurenz has more than 15 years of nonprofit leadership in North Carolina and nationally, most recently as deputy director of Common Cause in North Carolina. Prior to that, he served as executive director of the North Carolina Center for Voter Education. At the American Battlefield Trust, based in Washington, D.C., he was a government relations associate focused primarily on Virginia and Tennessee.

“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of thousands of volunteers, along with local and state leaders, North Carolina is at the forefront of trails and parks programs in this country. I look forward to working with such committed partners and others to build on those successes,” Laurenz said in a statement. “North Carolinians, including my family, have rediscovered in these challenging times how important trails and parks can be to our well-being.”

Laurenz and his family reside in Raleigh and enjoy the outdoors, camping in the woods, paddling on the water and hiking trails. Other than hiking, they explore North Carolina’s small towns, state parks and historic sites, and have made it a mission to visit all 100 county courthouses in North Carolina, with only 28 left to go. Laurenz received a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in political management from George Washington University.

“The board is thrilled to welcome Brent as the Friends’ new Executive Director,” said Marcia Bromberg, Friends’ incoming president and chair of the search committee, in a statement. “He brings considerable nonprofit experience, a successful track record of working with volunteers and, most importantly, a love of the MST. We are looking forward to a long partnership with the newest member of our trail family!”

Laurenz joins the organization as North Carolina’s 12 official state trails are set to receive $29.25 million in new trail funding in the recently approved state budget.

The new state funding is to be used to acquire land, build new trails and improve trailheads and signs all along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and other state trails. The group said the funding is the first significant investment targeted specifically at the state trails. The funding can be transformational, particularly if the state continues this level of investment for a number of years, officials said.

The group is hosting its annual Gathering of Friends April 7-10 at Lake Junaluska to welcome Laurenz and recognize Kate Dixon, the only executive director in Friends’ history as she hikes off to enjoy her retirement.

Laurenz can be reached at brent.mst@gmail.com.

For the first time since the event’s inception, the nonprofit Friends of the Mountain-to-Sea Trail is welcoming the public to its annual meeting, which will be held online later this month.

Register online for the meeting organizers are calling an “unGathering of Friends” set for March 26-27. Early bird pricing, $30, ends at midnight Monday.  Fee will be $35 after Monday to attend the annual meeting and workshops. Those who register will receive a special MST pint glass.

“Until it’s safe for our community to come together in person, we invite you to gather safely around your small screen to salute the trail that unites us – the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Even though we’re ‘unGathered,’ this is still a very united and active group, and we are eager to see you,” organizers said in a release.

The unGathering kicks off March 26 with a members-only celebration and happy hour, free to members, when volunteers will be recognized, attendees will hear from recent trail completers and from 40-Hike Challenge completer Nashua Hussein. There will also be a short concert by musician and MST section-hiker Shay Martin Lovette.  If you are not a member and would like to attend, register at a special price of $60, membership donation is included.

The March 27 meeting, which is open to the public, begins with a State of the Trail update from Kate Dixon, the Friends’ executive director, and other leaders. They’ll share details on work to build new trail, develop programs and improve the hiker experience on the MST. Dwayne Patterson, the director of North Carolina State Parks, will also speak.

Keynote speaker for the meeting is Jeremy Markovich, who produced a series of podcasts for Our State’s Away Message that told a story of the hikers, trail volunteers, founders and dreamers that make up the MST community. He’ll share behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the podcast.

There will be a panel discussion on the experiences of people of color on the MST, featuring MST 2020 completer Cedric Kopa and others. This roundtable, moderated by Patterson, will explore how to ensure MST feels inclusive to all trail users.

The full descriptions for the following workshops planned for the afternoon of March 27 are on the MST website:

• Planning your MST hike is half the adventure: Here’s how our resources can help.
• Off the beaten trail: Exploring MST communities in Ashe, Bladen, Guilford and McDowell counties.
• Day hiking and backpacking with kids (of all ages) on the MST: A “Fireside Chat” with the El-Genk and Wilson families.
• For those who like to go FAST: Fastest Known Times on the MST.
• Sustainable Trails as habitats: Leave No Trace and ecological repair along the MST.
• For those who like to go SLOW: Natural history and ecosystems on the MST.
• Want to hike the whole thing?: Learn from MST Completers from the classes of 2019 and 2020.

OTWAY — Nature enthusiasts are encouraged to join the North Carolina Coastal Federation at 10 a.m. Sept. 9 for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the 10-mile segment of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail through the North River Wetlands Preserve.

After the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to hike, run or bike all or part of the new trail as part of the “MST in a Day” event. MST in a Day is a statewide event to celebrate and hike parts of the Mountains-To-Sea Trail throughout the state.

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a state trail that runs from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head. The NC Trails Program, which is part of the North Carolina Division of Parks & Recreation, is partnering with the federation to route the state trail through the 6,000-acre preserve.

“The North Carolina Coastal Federation is excited to serve as a host to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Hikers will have the opportunity to explore more of the great diversity of our coast,” said Sam Bland, coastal specialist for the federation.

Since 1999, the federation and its multiple partners, members and community volunteers have been working to preserve and restore North River Wetlands Preserve from farmland back to forested, freshwater and tidal wetlands. This wetland restoration project is one of the largest in North Carolina and among the largest of its kind in the nation, the press release stated.

The restored wetlands provide habitat for a variety of wildlife, and more than 240 bird species have been recorded at the site. The preserve is ideal for birding, wildlife spotting, biking and walking. Visitors will often see deer, turtles and snakes and the occasional glimpse of bobcats, turkeys, quail, coyotes and river otters.

Participants should meet at the entrance gate to the preserve on N River Farms Road in Otway by 9:45 a.m. to check in. Participants should wear weather-appropriate clothing, comfortable shoes for hiking, running or biking, and bring bug spray, sunscreen and water. Water and snacks will also be provided at the event. The 10-mile segment that routes through the preserve will not be open to hikers until the Sept. 9 event.

Registration is required. Contact Sam Bland at 252-393-8185 or samb@nccoast.org with any questions.

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