Last Sunday, October 10, 200 people came out to Steel String Brewery’s Pluck Farm  (a future trail head on the MST) to raise money for new trail through Orange County. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail through Orange County is envisioned as a 35-mile continuous footpath stretching from the Alamance County line near Saxapahaw and then heading northeast along the Cane Creek Reservoir to Hillsborough where it follows the Riverwalk along the Eno River. From there, the trail is to continue east through the Eno River State Park to the Durham County line. To date, 7.2 miles of this route are open, and work is underway to construct an additional 14 new miles. We’ve now raised $23,986 to build new MST in Orange County! What a joyous time for the MST. Orange County and Friends of the MST are working with private landowners to gain permission to build trail, designing and building trail, and providing hiking guide books, maps, kiosks, and other materials to help people use the trail.

The event was filled with food trucks (who sold out of all their delicious food!), live music, great beer, and wonderful conversation.

Fair to Middlin’(The guitar player, Jim Suiter, is a long-time MST volunteer leader from Carrboro) and Love and Valor entertained the crowd.

Former Chapel Hill Mayor Howard Lee who gave the 1977 speech that recommended creation of the MST tells the crowd how delighted he is to see the progress in his own county. He closed his remarks with a beautiful version of song Happy Trails to You!

Hillsborough Mayor Jenn Weaver tells the crowd how much the trail has meant to her town.

Friends of MST Executive Kate Dixon announces that we started the event with more than $20,000 raised.Now we’re at $23,986. If you’d like to help us top $25,000, please make a gift today!

A few Blaze Orange t-shirts are still available for sale on our website. Thanks to Great Outdoor Provision Co. for being the t-shirt sponsor.

Thanks again to everyone who made Blaze Orange so joyous and successful! And if you’d like to help us top $25,000 for the new trail in Orange County, please make your gift today.

Thanks to Mary Swann Parry and Gene Erb for sharing photos that capture the spirit of the day.