Special Edition HighVista newsletter

SPRING 2016

High Vistas Journal

A special edition newsletter for members of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway

SAVING THE PARKWAY’S VANISHING VIEWS One Overlook, One Vista At A Time

Dr. Chris Ulrey, Plant Ecologist for the Blue Ridge Parkway, reflected on one of the projects funded by FRIENDS stating: The vista restoration work continues to be a huge success, in my opinion.

We are able to selectively target trees that are blocking the views and remove or prune them in a way that minimizes impacts to natural resources. I did not appreciate the spectacular scenery that the Blue Ridge Parkway has to offer until I got involved in this effort. Many, many

thanks to the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway for supporting this work!!

After!

Managing this scenic beauty is a complex and important task cited in the enabling legislation of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Parkway was created to “conserve the scenery and preserve the natural and cultural resources of the park’s designed and natural areas.” You come for the Blue Ridge Parkway views. However, as a Parkway visitor, you have been disappointed, as reflected by Blue Ridge Parkway survey responses.

We take your concerns very seriously and we are already addressing the issues and producing results. Partnering with our park, FRIENDS launched its first project in the fall of 2014. The National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway brought in a national arborist team and park employees to clear more than 1,000 trees in 10 days. In the spring of 2015, the work continued near Grandfather Mountain

Before

in North Carolina. The third project started this past March. During this three-week period, 36 vistas and overlooks were restored to their original state.

From March 12th through the 17th, a six member crew in North Carolina worked north from Milepost 289.5 to Milepost 277.3 restoring seven vistas. A ten member crew moved northward to Virginia where, on March 27 through April 9, they restored 29 Virginia vistas from Milepost 100.9 to Milepost 93.1, plus clearing the overlook near the Parkway entrance at the Milepost 13.1!

Photo by Art Sellers of the Exposure Roanoke Camera Club

O

ur Parkway was designed to maximize scenic views and give visitors the impression that they are in a park with boundaries to the horizon. The Parkway has some 500,000 acres of view-area scenery within the two-mile wide, 469 mile-long corridor.

ENCOUNTERING INCREDIBLE & FAR REACHING VIEWS Letter from a FRIENDS Member, Chapter Volunteer & Overlook Vista Supporter

F

RIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway initiated a program called “Overlook & Vista Restoration” in 2014 to address years of overgrowth at the overlooks and vistas. Parkway surveys have clearly indicated that the principal attraction for park visitors are the views – especially the broad and expansive views that generally span east and west of this narrow park. This ongoing program, which we ardently support, consists of a professional team of Arborists and Parkway staff.

Late Sunday afternoon on a beautiful blue-sky day, I jumped onto the Parkway at its northern terminus. Based on the prior notification, the crew should have been staged somewhere nearby, but there was no sight of them yet. Nevertheless, I stopped at Milepost 3 to take photographs of the

It’s wonderful to be able to work with a group of talented professionals to accomplish work so important to our visitors and the mission of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the restoration of our Roadside, Canopy, and Overlook Vistas. Our vistas were identified by the Landscape Architects and Engineers who designed the Blue Ridge Parkway decades ago. At that time little or no mature forests existed and forests were replanted as the Parkway was being constructed.

The designers identified over 900 vistas to be maintained that would offer visitors a cinematic driving experience with views to the horizon. These views now referred to as the parks ‘borrowed landscape’ are enjoyed by thousands each year. Without

partner support, like FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, our staff would not be able to continue our restoration efforts and a large percentage of our views would be lost.

- David Anderson Resident Landscape Architect, National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway

FRIENDS’ volunteers have collectively done a great deal to further promote and protect this valuable park for future generations.

Thank you FRIENDS, J.R. Elliott

Shenandoah Valley Overlook and was astounded by the complete absence of the view as compared to this 1951 BRP Archives photograph.

Continuing my drive, the scope of the vista restoration effort to regain what was lost to time and neglect seemed daunting. After a rewarding hike from Milepost 9 over to the Appalachian Trail, it was getting late and time to get home.

Nearing Milepost 13, something was amiss, I hit the brakes hard and pulled into the Three Ridges Overlook. There, an unexpectedly incredible and far reaching view emerged. I could not recall a view from this overlook before, and often noted how its signage seemed so out of place against the dense overgrowth.

Exploring further, it was obvious that the Arborists team had been there earlier in the day. They managed to clear everything far down the steep slope for several hundred feet. This effort revealed a beautiful view of the summit of Three Ridges, which the Appalachian Trail also traverses, from 3 miles away.

Other parts of the vista extended to the horizon. After taking photographs to capture this newly reclaimed vista, I noted how accurate the overlook sign seems now.

With the Overlook & Vista Restoration initiative, it is clearly a huge effort that deserves ongoing support from individuals, foundations and corporate sponsors.

The Arborists, the Parkway staff, and the

Thank YOU

Beirne Carter Foundation!

FRIENDS is taking Vista Restoration to a NEW LEVEL! FRIENDS supporters, members and Virginia license plate funding -- work together to restore the Blue Ridge Parkway VIEWS! We are very excited that the Park Service has asked FRIENDS to develop a Specialized Vista Maintenance Team as a new approach to maintaining views. Local volunteer teams will provide expert maintenance to vistas that have been cleared along the Parkway. Providing this level of maintenance on an routine basis is imperative to prevent the recently cleared vistas from becoming overgrown again.

The Beirne Carter Foundation is funding this much needed project. Continue YOUR support of our work to preserve and protect the Blue Ridge Parkway for future generations by volunteering or with a donation!

FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway P.O. Box 20986 Roanoke, Virginia 24018 540.772.2992 | 800.228.PARK (7275) www.FriendsBRP.org | Staff@FriendsBRP.org