The public is invited to attend the NC High Peaks Trail Association Annual Meeting on Oct. 15 and to hear a talk about Lost Cove by the author of a book on the legendary Yancey County settlement.

Christy Smith, who teaches Appalachian Studies courses part-time at King University in Bristol, TN, will keynote the meeting at 10 a.m. at the Burnsville Town Center. Admission is free and open to anyone, although because of the continued risk of Covid infections, attendees are asked to wear masks.

Smith will discuss the history of the unique Yancey community, an isolated village located above the Nolichucky River that was once described as a place where “moonshiners frolic unmolested.”

Smith, who grew up in nearby Erwin, TN and developed an interest in history by listening to stories told by her grandparents, will discuss her book, “Lost Cove, North Carolina: Portrait of a Vanished Appalachian Community, 1864-1957.” She will present
numerous photographs of the settlement, and will have copies of her book for sale after the talk.

The public may also follow the meeting and Ms. Smith’s lecture live over the Internet via the on-line meeting service, Zoom. For a digital invitation, please send your email address and a request to trails@nchighpeaks.org.

Following Smith’s talk, Mt. Mitchell State Park Superintendent Rob McGraw will give an update on activities over the past and upcoming years at the park. High Peaks is the official “Friends of Mt. Mitchell State Park” organization.

The annual meeting will follow, with officers going over our financial status, the past year’s accomplishments and plans for the upcoming year.

Founded in 2010, High Peaks is a Yancey-based non-profit dedicated to the preservation of the Black Mountains and the promotion of hiking and other outdoor recreation. The group is responsible for maintaining most of our local hiking trails and its
volunteers donate thousands of hours of hard work each year on this task.