Mt. Mitchell State Park will be closing Wednesday Evening (9/25) until at least Sunday due to expected heavy rains and high winds from Helene.

2025 NCHP Board of Director Candidates

The 2025 Nominating Committee would like to formally present the following slate of candidates for
Board review. We request the following four candidates be included in the elections to
be held during the NCHP Annual Meeting, which has been indefinitely postponed from October 5, 2024  

Nominating Committee: Buzz Kaas – Chair, Jayne Carbone, John Evans

Jimmie Bowen

It has been an honor and privilege for me to serve on the NCHPTA Board of Directors. Over the last two years I have learned much about what it takes to keep the miles of trails in the Black Mountains
accessible for hikers to enjoy. Attending board meetings has provided me with insight into the financing
and logistics of the process. My active participation in the “Monday Crew” has given me hands-on
experience and understanding of the finer points of trail maintenance.

I have also taken an active role in planning and leading a year-round schedule of hikes in the Yancey County area for the members of NCHPTA as well as the general public.

I would be excited to be given the opportunity to serve a second term on the leadership team of the NCHPTA. 

Nancy Fitzgibbon

Hello, I’m Nancy Fitzgibbon, current Board member and Secretary to NC High Peaks Trail Association. My husband and I bought 4.3 acres of land in Cattail Creek in 2010 and had our home built there at the
3,900-foot elevation.

I am honored to be a part of this organization which helps maintain and improve the Black Mountains. We also provide education to the public on how to be good stewards of our mountains as well as lead
hikes that allow others to enjoy the beauty of our surroundings. In addition, we are involved in fund raising to help maintain the trails for future generations to enjoy.

Dennis Smith

I have been hiking the Black Mountains for more than 50 years – my family bought a vacation cabin in
the Cattail community in the 1960s. I love these mountains and fully support High Peak’s efforts to
promote and conserve them.

I have served two terms previously on the High Peaks Board and one term as President. I have been the club’s most active hike leader since High Peaks was founded, and would be honored to serve another term on the Board.

John Whitehouse

John and Sandy moved to Yancey County in 2005 and completed building their home in the Pensacola area. In 2006 he joined a CMC weekly trail maintenance crew after becoming a USFS certified sawyer.

In 2010 he joined Jake Blood and Alan Orovitz to found NC High Peaks Trail Association and served as its first secretary. At about the same time he was asked to lead the CMC Monday Trail Crew and
he combined it with trail volunteers from High Peaks to form the present day Monday Crew. He has contributed almost 7000 volunteer hours on our local trails. He has served on the Board in the
past and as president.

John was born in Washington DC (where else would someone named Whitehouse be from?). He attended Georgia Tech where he met Sandy and they were married in 1969. They have lived in Atlanta, Sydney Australia, Colebrook, Connecticut, Edgefield SC and finally here in the Pensacola area of Yancey County.