October is Mountains to Sea Trail Month

NC Governor Bev Perdue has once again declared October Mountains-to-Sea Trail Month. Join the celebration by taking a hike on the Trail AND volunteering for a Trail workday (s)

Month-Long Activities

• Submit a photograph into our 1st Annual MST Photo Contest sponsored by Great Outdoor Provision Co. Deadline: October 31st.
• Check out the photos that have already been entered on our Photo Contest Flickr site.
• Buy a raffle ticket to support the MST and gain a chance to win 18 great prizes of gift cards and gear donated by Great Outdoor Provision Co., Jesse Brown's Outdoors, and Mast General Stores. Tickets cost $5 or $20 for five. E-mail Kate Dixon, FMST Executive Director, at kdixon@ncmst.org to place an order.
• Test your knowledge of the MST in the Trivia Contest sponsored by Great Outdoor Provision Co. Each day, from October 1 to November 7, they'll post a new question about the MST. The first person to answer the question correctly that day will win a raffle ticket. Anyone who answers all 38 questions correctly will win five raffle tickets and fame as an "MST Trivia Whiz - 2011!" Thanks to Danny Bernstein, the 21st person to complete the MST, for writing the questions.
• Take the Backpacking NC Challenge and win great prizes by completing at least two of the trips in Joe Miller's recent book Backpacking North Carolina. Deadline: October 31.
  
  
  Special Events
• Tuesday, October 4 - World class ultrarunner Diane Van Deren will present an exciting program in downtown Raleigh. Proceeds from VIP ticket sales will be donated to FMST. Sponsored by The North Face and Great Outdoor Provision Co.
• Friday-Sunday, October 7-9 - Campout! Carolina. Pitch a tent over the weekend to show your support for North Carolina's environment. Campout! Carolina is hosted each year by Earth Share, a partnership of environmental groups including FMST that participate in workplace giving. Last year, more than 8400 people camped out during Campout! Carolina. Register to let Earth Share know you plan to participate this year.
• Sunday, October 9 - Clues on the Neuse. Join us for a family-friendly scavenger hunt along the MST in dowtown Smithfield.
• Thursday, October 13 - Trail Grand Opening in Raleigh of the first eight miles of the Neuse River Greenway/MST. 10:00 am at the Falls Lake Dam canoe launch, 12098 Falls of the Neuse Road.
• Saturday, November 5 - Benefit dinner and concert for the MST at Galileo's in Boone.
• Tuesday, November 8 - MST Month Closing Celebration when we'll announce the winners of the Backpacking Challenge, the Raffle, and the MST Trivia Whizes. Join us @ 6 pm at the Cameron Village Great Outdoor Provision Co. store, 2017 Cameron Street, Raleigh for fun, fellowship and refreshments.
  
  
  

  Trail Workdays

  
  

  • Saturday, October 1 - Sauratown Trail (north of Winston-Salem)
  • Thursday, October 6 - Blue Ridge Parkway (near Boone)
  • Saturday, October 8
    • Blue Ridge Parkway (near Boone)
    • Eno State Park (north of Durham). Join this workday to help FMST qualify for a $1000 grant from Prudential YSU Realty.
  • Saturday, October 15
    • Blue Ridge Parkway (near Boone)
    • Sauratown Trail (north of Winston-Salem)
  • Saturday, October 22
  • Blue Ridge Parkway (near Asheville)
  • Falls Lake (north of Raleigh and Durham). After this workday, the Army Corps of Engineers will thank the volunteers by hosting a cookout!