Below are the details for the upcoming field trip to western Madison County in North Carolina. This event is limited to current members of CBS in good standing (with membership dues paid for 2023). As stated below, this trip is limited to 15 participants (on a first-come, first-served basis) so you are encouraged to reserve your spot early. If you are interested in attending but are unsure of your membership standing, please send an email to Dave Kastner (at the address below) and he will let you know your status. If you are not currently an up-to-date member, you can renew your membership and will be placed on the participant list after dues are received.

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This trip is limited to 15 participants. A wait list will be kept in case of cancellations.

Target Species:

• Probable – Silvery Blue, Olympia Marble, Elfins (Eastern Pine, Brown, Henry’s), West Virginia White, Common Roadside Skipper, Hairstreaks, Duskywings, Zebra Swallowtail.
• Possible – Northern Crescent, Early Hairstreak, Gulf Fritillary.
• Unlikely – Cobweb Skipper (current early record April 9).

The exact locations of the Olympia Marble populations are NOT TO BE DISCLOSED. You must agree in order to join this trip.

The entire trip will be in western Madison County. Pete Dixon will be your leader. Those wishing to attend, please email Dave Kastner ([email protected]), who will verify your CBS membership and forward your email to Pete. Pete will send participants the directions to his farm, where the trip will start both days.

The first day (Tuesday) trip will start at 1:00 by carpooling in 4 cars from Pete’s farm. Expect to be back to the farm by 5:00. The second day, Wednesday, will start at a morning time that Pete will set on Tuesday, based on predicted temperatures and amount of sun. The trip will end at about 4:00 for everyone. Carpooling will be based on the different times people need to leave for their drive back home.

For those who plan to arrive early on Tuesday, Pete can send you the website/directions for a trail that is on your way to his farm where Olympia Marbles have recently been discovered. The trail is about a mile round trip.

For places to stay overnight, there are several rental cabins and B&Bs in the county. Pete has 2 rental cabins on his farm, and there are several others nearby. Mars Hill has a Comfort Inn, and there is a Fairfield Inn in Weaverville (Buncombe County). For something unusual, the old jail in Marshall is now a boutique hotel. Hot Springs has many short-term rental properties. Mars Hill, Marshall, Hot Springs, and Weaverville each have a variety of restaurants and brewery taprooms. Weaverville is 40 min. to Pete’s farm; Marshall is 25 min; Mars Hill is 35 min. Hot Springs is 15 min. Obviously, there are many hotels and restaurants in Asheville, which would be another 10 to 30 min., depending on what area of Asheville you are in.

The planner for this field trip is Gail Lankford, who regrets she will not be able to attend. Feel free to contact her before March 20 at [email protected] for more information.

The proposed rain date for this trip is April 4 and 5.

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