Happy Fall from the Hooper Bald!

Last Friday, our seventh graders and teachers took a trip to the Hooper Bald. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Hooper Bald-it is a grassy bald mountain located in the Nantahala National Forest. The summit is 5,429 feet! After parking in an area with picnic tables, garbage cans and port-a-johns (yea they were closed-thanks government!), there is a trail that is 0.5 miles to reach the top of the summit.

Even though this beautiful scenic and historical sight is located within our county, each year we find students who have never been to the Bald. We have taken it upon ourselves as educators to let our students experience the Bald each year in the fall.

A brief history lesson: In the early 1900’s, the Whiting Manufacturing Company of England purchased the large tract of property. George Moore, an advisor for Whiting established a game reserve. Around 1911 a 500 acre lot was enclosed by a split rail fence to enclose European wild hogs. They were transported to the Hooper Bald by an ox-drawn wagon.

This is a beautiful spot in Graham County especially this time of year!