NOC's AT Founder's Bridge Festival
April 4-6, 2013

Music, Movies and Magic Along the Appalachian Trail

The 2,181+ mile-long Appalachian Trail is perhaps America’s most beloved footpath. The AT crosses the Nantahala River along NOC's Founder's Bridge, right here at our Wesser Campus, mile 134 along the AT, before the steep climb into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. NOC Wesser is a friendly, comfortable spot for hikers to rest up, fill their bellies and warm their bones before embarking along the challenging section of the trail to the north.

At NOC's 2013 AT Founder's Bridge Festival, you can expect outdoor adventure-themed film screenings, a vendor village staffed by industry representatives, gear repair, a trail maintenance trip and phenology training session with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, as well as great product giveaways, door prizes and live music.

Free Movies & Popcorn!

Come on down to River's End Restaurant at 8 pm to enjoy a free movie, drink and popcorn.

Thursday, April 4: Deliverance
Friday, April 5: Grizzly Man

Presented by:

Trail Maintenance with Nantahala Hiking Club

Volunteers from the Nantahala Hiking Club lead a trail maintenance session along the Appalachian Trail on Saturday, April 6 at 10am. Learn basic trail maintenance skills and how to use professional-grade maintenance tools as you help give back to the trail! Volunteers will meet at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy tent in front of the NOC Outfitter's Store. The work hike will take a couple of hours, so remember to bring water!

Phenology Monitoring with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Phenology is the study of recurring plant and animal life cycle stages (phenophases), such as leafing, flowering, fruiting and migration. It also examines their timing and relationships with weather and climate. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) has established several phenology monitoring sites along the Appalachian Trail between Georgia and Maine to examine the seasonal changes of species found Trailwide.

This year, NOC is excited to partner with ATC and citizen scientists to establish a monitoring site near the intersection of the Appalachian Trail and the Nantahala River This site will contain cloned dogwood trees that are genetically identical to trees at hundreds of phenology monitoring sites nationwide.

ATC staff will host a workshop at NOC's AT Founder's Bridge Festival to discuss the importance of phenology monitoring and the process of registering and training citizen scientists to collect data at the NOC site and along the trail. Phenology monitoring is an exciting opportunity to take the pulse of the planet and is an activity for people of all ages and skill levels. For more information about phenology monitoring on the Appalachian Trail, contact ATC's southern regional office (828) 254-3708 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Phenology Training at NOC is brought to you in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy This event is part of the NC Science Festival

34,000 Miles on the Appalachian Trail with Warren Doyle

Don't miss legendary hiker, activist and educator Warren Doyle from 4-5:30 as he shares his experiences over the course of sixteen completed thru hikes along the Appalachian Trail. Doyle's stories will not only entertain, they will inform and inspire your journey along the trail.

Gear Repair & ATC Fundraiser

Got a pesky broken buckle? Seam tape leaking? Get your gear fixed at NOC's AT Founder's Bridge Festival gear repair station and leave a donation to help support the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's mission: "to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail – ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come."

Join us in supporting this worthy organization - doing the most good over 2,181+ miles and 14 states!

The 2013 Gear Repair area is brought to you by:

Osprey, Gear Aid, Big Agnes, Granite Gear, AntiGravityGear

Hiker Feast

Thru-hikers! NOC and Osprey team up for some trail magic with the 2013 Hiker's Feast. All thru-hikers on campus on Saturday are invited to a FREE  supper, followed by live music at Slow Joe's Café.

2013 Hiker Feast presented by: Custom fit backpacks are Osprey's legacy. With 40 years of expertise in designing backpacks, we create packs that fit every shape, size and gender. Osprey is thrilled to be part of the NOC's AT Founder's Bridge Festival. They will be on hand with a full staff of repair specialists.  Hikers can bring any brand of pack that needs a little TLC before heading back on the trail.  See you there!

Live Music, Dancing & Bonfires

12 pm - Blue Smith: folk/bluegrass
7 pm - Rye Holler Boys: bluegrass

Hang out at The Pourover Pub Saturday evening as we kick off this season's live music series. Warm up dancin' on the porch, or around fire-master Ron Mitchke's famous bonfire.

2013 Event Schedule

Outfitter's Store Hours April 3-7

Vendors

Get the down and dirty on new gear, figure out what will work for you with free product demos, and register for raffle prizes with over a dozen gear reps:

Ahnu Footwear * Anti-Gravity Gear * AquaMira * Big Agnes * Crazy Creek * Deuter * Eagles Nest Outfitters * Etowah Gear * Gear Aid * Granite Gear * Leki * McNett * Oboz * Osprey * Superfeet * FITS * Astral

On-Site Camping & Accommodations

We're excited to offer free on-site camping for this event! For those hikers looking to warm up and clean up, lodging is also available at NOC's Base Camp, offering 2-8 person hostel-style rooms with heaters, as well as communal shower and kitchen facilities.

Camping details: Port-a-potties are available at the campsites. Indoor toilet facilities and pay-by-use showers are located a short walk away, at the bathroom building near the railroad crossing. Spots are limited, so advance registration is recommended. Please write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to book your spot. (Even though AT Founder's Bridge Festival camping is free in 2013, all campers must register with NOC and sign a waiver.) Please be respectful of the camping area so that we may continue to offer camping at future NOC events!

Visit our Lodging page for information on NOC's Cabins and the Nantahala Inn.

Other local campsite rentals, cabins, hotels and bed-and-breakfasts are available just a short drive (or walk) from NOC's Wesser Campus. A few local options include:

• AT Shelters: Rufus Morgan Shelter (0.8 mile South of NOC), Sassafras Gap Shelter ( 6.9 miles North of NOC)
• Camping: Lost Mine Campground (0.5 mile road walk from NOC), Nantahala Wesser Campground, Tsali Recreation Area
• Hotels: Bryson City Microtel, Bryson City Sleep Inn
• Cabin Rentals: Watershed Cabins

Please visit our Area Accommodations page for a full listing of local lodging and camping options.

Contact

Please write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for answers to your event-related questions.

Other Local Trail Festivals in 2013

Can't get enough of the Appalachian Trail? Check out these other Trail-related events in 2013, compiled by the organizers of the Dahlonega Trail Festival, which marks the spring solstice at the Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail.