Governor Cooper Proclaims September 9 Mountains-to-Sea Trail Day!

In honor of the 40th anniversary of Howard Lee’s speech proposing the MST, the many benefits it brings to the state, and our collective efforts to ensure the entire trail is hiked and paddled in one day, Governor Cooper has proclaimed September 9 Mountains-to-Sea Trail Day. Thank you, Governor Cooper!

MOUNTAINS-TO-SEA TRAIL DAY

2017

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, protecting North Carolina’s natural beauty is critical to our citizens’ quality of life, health, and economic wellbeing; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina and others are joining together to create a hiking trail from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks that will benefit this and future generations; and

WHEREAS, the Mountains-to-Sea trail is a unit of the North Carolina State Parks system; and

WHEREAS, thousands of North Carolinians have volunteered to build and maintain more than 1,000 miles of the trail, often in rugged terrain and weather conditions; and

WHEREAS, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail has helped inspire the construction of additional trails throughout our state; and

WHEREAS, each year, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail provides tens of thousands of visitors with a variety of outdoor experiences, adventure, and challenges benefitting physical and mental health; and

WHEREAS, the trail serves everyone – individuals and families of all ages and backgrounds; and

WHEREAS, on September 9, 1977 a speech by then North Carolina Secretary of Natural Resources and Community Development Howard N. Lee to a National Trails Symposium in Waynesville served as a catalyst to build a “state trail from the mountains to the coast, a trail leading through communities as well as natural areas”; and

WHEREAS, on September 9, 2017, hundreds of North Carolinians will unite for MST in a Day to celebrate progress toward completion of this epic legacy by each hiking or paddling a section of the trail so that through their collective efforts the entire 1,175-mile route is completed in one day.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim September 9, 2017, as “MOUNTAINS-TO-SEA TRAIL DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.