Miles of Pisgah National Forest trails near Old Fort in McDowell County, a cornerstone of its fledgling outdoor economy, remain inaccessible due to damage from torrential rain, high winds and landslides during Tropical Storm Helene.
The storm damage, combined with changes in federal policy and the pending expiration of an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, appeared to risk the loss of momentum on the major trails project that has been underway there, but Carolina Public Press learned on June 27 that a new deal to keep the project going is close to being finalized.
In the months following the storm, volunteers and U.S. Forest Service crews removed downed trees, repaired washed-out trails and cleared damaged roads to reopen 8 miles of trails. But even with those efforts, major portions of the Old Fort Trails Project within the Pisgah National Forest have remained closed, contributing to a steep drop in tourism, which is straining local businesses that rely on visitation to public lands…