Dear reader,

Thank you for joining the Trailhead! 

Together, we will follow the path of information that is crucial to understanding what makes up the map of our region - the valleys, rivers and mountains - both literal and metaphorical. The trail includes discussions of current issues of state policies, investigations into your community questions and features of favorite places like the best waterfalls. 

I was recently hiking with my dog Goose in Jackson County and thinking about what it is that makes Western North Carolina special. As we were crunching through the cold winter leaves, I realized that no matter what your political beliefs, if you live in the mountains, you would probably rather be outside right now than clicking through your inbox. 

Goose's face says, "It is cold out here!" 

The great outdoors of this region connect us. It is our greatest economic asset,  one of the greatest source of mysteries and for me, and one of the greatest sources of calm. 

Some of you might know me as a long-time Western North Carolina regional reporter with Blue Ridge Public Radio. During the many interviews I’ve done across the region, one common thread emerged: a deep love and connection with the land here. That’s part of why our new newsletter is called The Trailhead. 

Have ideas for things we should cover? Email me.

I look forward to bringing you more in the new year. Make sure you mark this as a safe email so I don’t get caught in your spam filter in 2026.

Feature article

How do voting locations get set?

Jackson County Board of Elections building. (Photo: Lilly Knoepp/NC Local)

As of Monday, 79 county boards had submitted their early voting plans. Of those plans, only six of the submitted plans did not have the unanimous consent of the local boards, pushing the decisions to the State Board.  Jackson County is expected to submit a non-unanimous plan on Friday, the deadline for all submissions.  

Read more...

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What we're reading around WNC 

• Can students have cell phones in North Carolina public schools? (NC Local)

• A North Carolina Hospital Was Slated To Open in 2025. Mired in Bureaucracy, It’s Still a Dirt Field. (KFF Health News)

• How a species of bamboo could help protect the South from future floods (Grist)

• It took just five years for the State Health Plan’s billion-dollar surplus to become a deficit. What happened?(NC Health News)

• Pisgah Legal’s bind: IOLTA funding freeze leaves nonprofit’s leader uncertain (Smoky Mountain News)

My favorite trail

Wayah Bald was chilly on Dec. 13. 

Welcome to a regular feature of The Trailhead: My Favorite Trail. Each installment will feature a WNC trail. This week, I'm sharing one of my favorite spots. Want to share your favorite trail for a future newsletter? Email me! 

The Trail

Wayah Bald sits at 5,342 ft overlooking Franklin. There is an 8.3 mile trail up the Appalachian Trail to the bald, or if you choose to drive up the mountain, you’ll find an overlook less than a mile from the parking lot. 

The History

Most people recognize the spot by the former fire tower, retired in 1945.  The tower was originally built in 1929 as a wooden vantage point to watch for fires across the Appalachian Mountains, and six years later the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the 53-ft stone tower. In 2016, a fire started by arson burned up the mountain and ravaged the area, miraculously destroying just one structure. The tower roof was replaced in 2018 through a community effort, and the stone of the tower was preserved by the JobCorps earlier this year. 

Many of the mountain laurel bushes and trees of Wayah Bald are still burned from the fire. 

Why it is my favorite

The tower is a place where I have made many memories over the years from childhood camping trips, my twin sister’s wedding (which happened just a few weeks before the fire) and a dear friend’s surprise engagement just a few years ago.  

For me, these bare mountain laurels next to the new vibrant green undergrowth and moss have become symbols of hope and resilience. I even keep an image of the bald as my phone background to inspire me to appreciate the beauty in everyday life in WNC.