Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail & Partners Celebrate Historic Moment

On a beautiful April morning, Friends of the MST, with Friends of the Smokies, the National Park Service and other partners unveiled a new terminus marker at the western end of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail atop Kuwohi. Much like its sister marker at the MST’s eastern terminus at Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks, this marker will be a site of celebration for veteran hikers starting or finishing a statewide journey or a source of inspiration for someone who encounters the MST for the first time standing atop Kuwohi.

“It’s amazing to think that from this very spot, a trail begins that stretches all the way across North Carolina, directly linking these ancient mountains to the sea,” shared Dana Soehn, President of Friends of the Smokies, who provided the funding for the marker. “And, along the way, it connects forests and rivers… parks and towns… and people from all over who disconnect from their daily walk of life to reconnect along a walk of a lifetime.”

Tennessee metal-artist Preston Farabow created the marker from local stone and was on hand to unveil his work. His belief that art serves not as an exclusive language for the elite but, rather, as a universal language that encourages further dialogue, falls perfectly in line with the intention of the marker.

Friends of the MST’s executive director Brent Laurenz praised all the partners and long-time MST hiker and volunteer Danny Bernstein, who shepherded the project from conception to completion. “We wouldn’t be here today, and the trail wouldn’t exist at all, without the support of dedicated partners like the National Park Service, Friends of the Smokies, State Parks and the thousands of volunteers that give their time every year to the MST and our trail community. And I especially want to recognize Danny Bernstein for her tireless efforts to make this day happen.” Danny worked with retired rangers, Friends groups, and active Smokies employees until a way was forged to install the marker.

Immediately after the unveiling, visitors began lining up to have their photos snapped with the new marker, an early prediction of the success of the piece. Friends of the MST is thankful to all who had a hand in the terminus marker and invites everyone to hike up to the top of Kuwohi soon to see it for themselves.

Visit Friends of the Smokies website for a full video of the unveiling ceremony.