Mark and Jean Raymond Walkabout Program

Partial Transcript: The program opens with music. Jean explains what brought her and Mark to the mountains in 1962. Jean thanks all the people who helped to put the program together. Jean mentions Brenda Sloane who encouraged Jean and Mark to put the program together. Sarah Hudson, and Rachel Von Beck, helped with the tech issues. Jean mentions her first great-grandchild. Jean’s daughter, Catherine, put together the old photos along with her husband. Brit was behind the cameras. She goes on the thank David Weintraub for loaning camera equipment and lastly, all the people who came to attend the program. Mark shows an article written by Harrison Metzger for the Times-News about Jean and Mark back in 1990.

Keywords: Brenda Sloane; Brit; David Weintraub; Harrison Metzger; Rachel VonBeck; Sarah Hudson; Times-News; Mountains in 1962

Subjects: Jean introduces the program

Partial Transcript: Mark talks about the inspiration for the trip which came from a book Mark read called Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins. Mark talks about the start of Peter’s journey across America with his dog and a borrowed camera from National Geographic. Mark mentions Bruce Jacklin and the rite of passage for male Australian Aborigines and that this also influenced his plan for their walkabout. Mark explains that the Aborigines would go out into the woods as adolescents and think about family connections and the walks their ancestors took. The Journey Mark and Jean took was to discover the wonders outside their back door in Dana.

Keywords: Bruce Jacklin; National Geographic; Peter Jenkins; ancestors.; rite of passage for male Australian Aborigines; Walk Across America

Subjects: The inspiration for Jean and Marks journey

Partial Transcript: Jean discusses flâneur, french for one who strolls around and observes, and dolce far niente, Italian for the sweetness of doing nothing. These expressions came from the book The Last Great Walk by Wayne Curtis about Edward Payson who in 1909 walked from New York to San Francisco at the age of 70. Long walks were common in Europe and the United States. It became a form of competition.

Keywords: Edward Payson; New York to San Francisco.; The Last Great Walk; Wayne Curtis; dolce far niente; Flâneur

Subjects: The history of long walks

Partial Transcript: Mark shares the overview of the walk that he and Jean took. They started in Dana, to Hendersonville where they spent their first night with the Skeeles. It was a 13-mile trip on the first day. They hadn’t thought about the heat and their first stop was at John and Carol Wright’s home in Flat Rock. They rested after the first day but on the next day, they started their journey taking back roads to Brevard past Lake Toxaway, on Franklin and the Appalachian Trail. The whole trip was 327 miles. They did accept a ride occasionally.

Keywords: Brevard, Lake Toxaway; Flat Rock; Franklin, Appalachian Trail.; Hendersonville; John and Carol Wright; Skeeles; back roads; Dana

Subjects: Overview of the trip

Partial Transcript: Jean talks about leaving Skip and Michelle’s and heading down Kanuga Road. They Stopped at Holmes State Forest and got permission to camp for the night. Jean talks about the campsite and the first night out of doors. The next day they headed down Kanuga onto Crab Creek, left on Everett Farm Road, to old Highway 64. They came to a lovely house where they were able to get water and found a place for the night. Jean describes the land around the home. The couple were very nice Jean called the gentleman their trail angel.

Keywords: Crab Creek; Everett Farm Road; Holmes State Forest; camp; old highway 64; trail angel; Kanuga Road

Subjects: First full day away from home and family

Partial Transcript: Mark talks about the next day on the road. Mark has a slide that shows the sludge that comes out of the Ecusta Plant and into the Davidson River. Mark points out that a lot of the rivers have been cleaned up but this place is still nasty. But just past that there is a field of Buttercups, a peaceful place, a field of dreams. The idea of being able to get out to some place that is tranquil and at peace and harmony is what keeps them backpacking.

Keywords: Davidson River,; Ecusta Plant,

Subjects: The beauty they found along the way

Partial Transcript: The Journey continues through the Pisgah neighborhood to Brevard. Jean talks about walking into Brevard and having lunch at Kelly’s. They went on through Brevard and continued west on Highway 64. Jean points out 2 old hats they wore during the trip. As the day got longer they came to Cathey’s Creek Community Center. They decided to camp there for the evening.

Keywords: Cathey’s Creek Community Center.; highway 64; Kelly’s restaurant

Subjects: Walking from Pisgah to Brevard

Partial Transcript: The next day they continued on. They were picked up by their friend Joe. They had spoken to Joe prior to leaving and planned to meet up between Brevard and Lake Toxaway. They stopped at Harmony Korner for coffee then rode with Joe to Panthertown Valley. Jean describes the valley and that part of their journey.

Keywords: Panthertown Valley; Harmony Korner

Subjects: The journey from Brevard to Panthertown Valley.

Partial Transcript: Mark talks about the next part of the walkabout. They went from the east end through the Canaan Land gate working their way to the west gate. Mark describes the trail and its history. One stop was School House Falls which gets its name from the school house and meeting place that was built on Greenland Creek. Schoolhouse falls are falls you can walk behind. There are rare ferns that grow behind the falls. This is called a spray cliff community when plants grow behind the falls. Jean talks about the valley and all the rare fauna that can be found there some plants that are found nowhere else in the world. Jean talks a little more about the beauty of School House Falls.

Keywords: Greenland Creek; School House Falls; bogs; rare ferns; spray cliff community; Canaan Land gate

Subjects: Panthertown Valley

Partial Transcript: Jean goes on to discuss the history of the area. In the 1920s part of the valley was heavily logged. Jean describes the trees that were taken out. Massive trees were taken out for Ford to build his lodge. In the 1950s Liberty Life Insurance bought the property. They used part of it to make a Christmas tree forest for their employees. In 1987 Duke Power bought a right-of-way for a power line. In 1989 Nature Conservancy bought the Panthertown Valley, catalogued the rare plants, and eventually turned it over to the Nantahala National Forest. Jean talks about meeting people from Nature Conservancy who were getting ready to turn the Valley over to Nantahala National Forest and the feelings at the time. Panthertown Valley has been referred to as the Yosemite of the East.

Keywords: Christmas tree farm; Duke Power; Ford builds a lodge; Liberty Life insurance; Nantahala National forest; Nature Conservancy; Oak trees; Yosemite of the east.; rare plants; Chestnut trees

Subjects: The many owners and changes of Panthertown Valley

Partial Transcript: They spent the night by Panthertown Creek. Mark talks some more about Panthertown and describes different areas. Mark talks about the various packs they carried and what they carried. They kept it pretty simple. Jean shows the audience the utensils they carried. Most of their food was dry and simple. They woke up the next day and it was 38° and frost on the tent even in May. They were there a day and a half taking a day to rest. They found a shelter in the woods used my camp Merrywood. They set their tent up inside the shelter.

Keywords: Panthertown Creek

Subjects: What Jean and Mark carried on the journey.

Partial Transcript: Mark talks about finding a shelter in the woods and setting up a tent there. The shelter in the woods was used by camp Merrywood. They met 2 gentlemen working to catalogue the rare plants in the valley. One was Dan Pittillo who was a botanist and the other was the president of the Bartram Trail Society. Jean and Mark spoke to these gentlemen and they were invited to hike with them. The gentlemen prepared dinner and breakfast for Jean and Mark. Mark explains how to make camp coffee. Mark shares a picture of the climbing wall and describes the equipment and how to scale the wall.

Keywords: Bartram Trail Society; Dan Pittillo; Merrywood

Subjects: 2 gentlemen from the Bartram Trail Society

Partial Transcript: Jean goes on the talk about Granny Burrell Falls and the area around it. Jean and Mark have returned here many times and have shared it with friends.

Keywords: Granny Burrell Falls

Subjects: Granny Burrell Falls

Partial Transcript: Jean shows the audience a picture of Carlton, 70 years old, feeding the guard geese. They are at Henry Ford’s retreat which at the time was called Canaan Land. Carlton was the caretaker. It was empty when Jean and Mark came to the site. People in the audience talk about what the area is like currently. Mark shows the audience the map he has of the valley and invites people to come up and see it. They set their tent up in the pasture. Carlton invited them into his cabin because a storm was headed their way. Carlton cooked dinner and breakfast for Jean and Mark. Carlton was one of many trail angels they met. Carlton took them on a trip to High Bethel on Cold Mountain before they left. Jean read from the plaque that appears there.

Keywords: Canaan Land; Cold Mountain.; Henry Ford; High Bethel; Carlton

Subjects: Spending time with Carlton

Partial Transcript: Mark talks about Toxaway Falls. He describes the area. This is the western end of the trip. Mark points out various spots on the map. They were on the Appalachian Trail for a while and then came down back onto the Bartram Trail. Mark talks about William Bartram and his travels. Most of Bartram’s travels were in Florida and South Carolina. He was a botanist who traveled all over the Southeast collecting information which was published in the 1700s.

Keywords: Appalachian Trail; Bartram Trail; Botanist; William Bartram; Toxaway Falls

Subjects: Traveling the Toxaway Falls, Appalachian Trail, and William Bartram.

Partial Transcript: The next picture is of the Cashier River and Turtle Falls both popular sites. Mark describes more pictures to the audience. Mark mentions the Horsepasture River and Rainbow Falls. People used to slide down the falls. It was referred to as Bust Yer Butt Falls. The trail is steep so they decide to turn around and that is when they meet the group of photographers from Dade Community College, Florida. Jean talks about meeting the group and that they offered them a ride into Highlands where they connected with Father John from the Catholic Church in Highlands. They put their tent up on the church property.

Keywords: Bust Yer Butt falls; Rainbow Falls; Turtle Falls; Cashier Falls

Subjects: A day at different falls

Partial Transcript: Mark tells the audience about attending the Bartram Trail meeting that they had been invited to. After lunch, they went on a hike on Scaly Mountain on the Bartram Trail. Mark shares some pictures of the hike. Jean and Mark parted from the group and continued to hike onto the Fishhawk Mountains. Mark shares pictures of the cabin they found along the way. They passed the cabin and came to a gravel road. They stopped at the first cabin where they were offered a night in the RV alongside the cabin. After breakfast, they headed out.

Keywords: Fishhawk Mountains; Scaly Mountain; Bartram Trail

Subjects: A night in an RV

Partial Transcript: Jean moves on to the next picture which is White Rock Mountain with a Catawba Rhododendron in the foreground. There are also pictures of Lady Slippers and an Oak tree with new leaves which are pink. On the trail, there is a wild pink Azalea, a Flame Azalea, and a clump of yellow Lady Slippers. They met a couple called the Guests and they had a lunch of peanut butter and crackers. They shopped in Franklin and then on to the Ranger station.

Keywords: Catawba Rhododendron; Flame Azalea; Lady Slippers; Oak tree; pink Azalea; yellow Lady Slippers; White Rock Mountain

Subjects: Plants along the trail

Partial Transcript: From Franklin, they went on to the Ranger station. He took them to the clear-cut area at the beginning of the Bartram Trail. Mark explains clear-cut. As they traveled in the beautiful area Jean wrote a piece which she shared with the audience.

Keywords: Ranger station,

Subjects: a piece she has written

Partial Transcript: Jean and Mark are on the Appalachian Trail. They are at Wayah Bald Tower which looks out over the town of Franklin. They came down Burningtown Gap where they met Ms. Roper and her friend. Ms. Roper gave them permission to camp in her pasture. Mark describes the area and one of the residents who is blind. Jean shares the picture of Dry Falls on the Cullasaja River Gorge. They walked up along the River Gorge which was 1,000 foot elevation from Franklin to Highlands. They encountered a German gentleman hiking to the Mississippi River from Florida. They made camp in an open area that afternoon.

Keywords: Burningtown; Cullasaja River Gorge; Dry Falls; Franklin; Ms. Roper; Wayah Bald Tower; Appalachian Trail

Subjects: Hiking from Franklin to Highlands.

Partial Transcript: The next morning they hiked the rest of the way into Highlands where they met Mr. and Mrs. Day who they had met at the Bartram Trail meeting. Mr. Day told them they needed to see Ellicott Rock where SC, NC, and Georgia all come together. It is a wilderness area where you can hike; it is a pretty remote area. They came out to Bull Pen Road where they saw a man who had trout-raising ponds. He told them if you feed trout crustaceans their flesh will turn pink.

Keywords: Ellicott Rock; Bartram Trail

Subjects: Coming into Highlands and Ellicott Rock

Partial Transcript: Mark talks about heading back to Panthertown Valley. They called their children to come and join them at the east gate. They had a chocolate Lab stay with them for 2 days. They took him to the west gate where he was returned to his owner. Jean shares a picture of Blackrock Mountain and Little Green Mountain. They moved on to Devil’s Elbow and the Tuckasegee River where they wandered around for a couple of days. The kids join them and Jean shares pictures of the time they spent there. Brit found a red newt. They rode out the next day with the Skeeles to Jean’s mother’s house. They spent the night with Jean’s mother and the next day they hiked to the Dana school to vote. Rusty Jones of the Times-News took their picture as they neared home.

Keywords: Devi’s Elbow; Little Green Mountain; Tuckasegee River; red newt; Blackrock mountain

Subjects: The end of the journey

Partial Transcript: Jean closes by talking about all the wonderful people they met along the way, Trail Angels. They enjoyed everything but the people they met along the way were the most important part. Jean reads a piece she had written.

Keywords: Trail Angels

Subjects: Jean’s closing thoughts