A hiking guide and photography book on North Carolinas lookout towers.
A hiking guide and photography book on North Carolinas lookout towers.
In the 1920s and 1930s, forestry organizations built dozens of lookout structures in Western North Carolina as the backbone of a firefighting system. Many of these lookouts survive in North Carolina today they represent some of the best destinations for hikers who want to see the incredible vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Part hiking guide and part photography collection, this book contains wonderful stories about the history and folklore of the lookouts and their fire lookout inhabitants, a detailed guide of hikes to each, and details about the views at the topall provided by a local, long-term land preservationist and lookout fanatic, Peter J. Barr. Barrs text is augmented by the amazing full-color photographs of well-known nature photographer Kevin Adams (North Carolina Waterfalls).
Daugiau informacijos
Extensive author events in Blue Ridge Mountain areas In-person and virtual events with forestry and hiking organizations Outreach to nature/hiking magazines and online media Outreach to regional tourism organizations and media Outreach to national and regional park systems
| Preface |
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ix | |
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Chapter One History of Lookout Towers in Western North Carolina |
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1 | (8) |
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Early Fire Detection Efforts |
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2 | (1) |
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The Fire Tower Era in Western North Carolina |
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2 | (4) |
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6 | (1) |
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Forest Fire Lookout Association and National Historic Lookout Register |
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6 | (3) |
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Chapter Two Lookout Towers in Peril |
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9 | (4) |
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Chapter Three How to Use This Guide |
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13 | (10) |
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13 | (3) |
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The Tower, the Mountain, and the Views |
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16 | (2) |
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18 | (1) |
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A Note from Photographer Kevin Adams |
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19 | (4) |
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Chapter Four Nantahala National Forest |
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23 | (72) |
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23 | (11) |
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34 | (13) |
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47 | (11) |
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58 | (6) |
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64 | (7) |
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71 | (9) |
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80 | (7) |
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87 | (8) |
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Chapter Five Great Smoky Mountains |
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95 | (60) |
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95 | (18) |
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113 | (10) |
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123 | (14) |
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137 | (4) |
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141 | (14) |
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Chapter Six Bald and Newfound Mountains |
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155 | (30) |
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155 | (8) |
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163 | (7) |
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170 | (8) |
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178 | (7) |
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Chapter Seven Blue Ridge and Black Mountains |
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185 | (72) |
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185 | (10) |
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195 | (15) |
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210 | (9) |
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219 | (5) |
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224 | (15) |
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239 | (7) |
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246 | (11) |
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Chapter Eight Northwestern High Country and Piedmont |
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257 | (30) |
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257 | (7) |
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264 | (6) |
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270 | (8) |
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278 | (9) |
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Chapter Nine Former Lookout Tower Sites with Spectacular Views |
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287 | (58) |
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287 | (9) |
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296 | (9) |
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305 | (7) |
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312 | (8) |
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320 | (6) |
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326 | (6) |
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332 | (7) |
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339 | (6) |
| Appendix I Take the Lookout Tower Challenge! |
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345 | (2) |
| Appendix II Historical Lookout Towers: Gone or Forgotten |
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347 | (12) |
| Appendix III Western North Carolina Restricted Lookout Towers |
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359 | (2) |
| Bibliography |
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361 | (6) |
| About the Author and the Photographer |
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367 | (2) |
| Acknowledgments |
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369 | (3) |
| Index |
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372 | |
Peter J. Barr is the author of Hiking North Carolinas Lookout Towers and subsequently initiated the North Carolina chapter of the Forest Fire Lookout Association, an organization working to restore and preserve historic fire lookout towers in western NC. His efforts, in partnership with numerous agencies and funders, have since facilitated the restoration of 10 lookout towers across the region and developed an increased public awareness for the heritage of these historic structures.
Peter served a decade as Conserving Carolinas Trails Director, where he pursued implementation of a recreation trail network on conserved lands in the dramatic Hickory Nut Gorge, designing and constructing more than 20 miles of new sustainable trails. He also authored the Stories of the Land column for Conserving Carolina in the Hendersonville Times-News for six years, chronicling the human connection to protected lands. He is a two-time nationally award-winning trail designer and has led trail development of multiple North Carolina trails.
Kevin Adams is a naturalist, writer, teacher, and photographer who has had a lifelong love affair with nature and the outdoors. A photographer for nearly 35 years, he is the author of nine books, including the bestselling North Carolina Waterfalls. An accomplished photography instructor, Kevin leads photo tours in the Southeast and abroad and teaches numerous workshops and seminars throughout the year. Often called the MacGyver of Photography, he designs and produces several unique products for photographers. Besides lookout towers, his favorite photo subjects are waterfalls and anything under the night sky. When he can get out of the office, Kevin enjoys hiking, traveling, and exploring the outdoor world. Kevin is founder and executive director of Waterfall Keepers of North Carolina, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the betterment of waterfalls and waterfall lovers. He lives in Waynesville, NC, with his wife, Patricia; their two cats, Lucy and Titan; nine chickens; and a troublesome groundhog that lives under the house and eats Patricias plants. For more about Kevin, visit his website at kadamsphoto.com.
