When: November 15, 2026 @ 1:00 pm
Stroll with the Naturalist!
Join Mainspring on a Naturalist walk along the the shores of lake Chatuge as we walk the Jackrabbit woodland trail to Rex island! We will talk about the different habitats this trail passes through and the trees and lichens we see, as well as how our native insects, birds, and other creatures use it throughout the year. Come with questions and ready to chat! We can answer any nature questions you might have as well as guide you to the best resources. We can also talk about Mainspring and the work we’ve done recently to help conserve the region’s farms and forests.
We will meet at the far end (left once you enter the lot) of the Jackrabbit boat launch parking area just before 1pm on Sunday November 15th. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to park and get settled. Our walk will be less than 1.5 miles out and back. The trail is generally wide, with flat hard dirt with many roots root and gentle to medium sloping.
Bring hiking poles if that’s what you’re used to! We recommend dressing for the weather and an easy walk. Bring extra layers for the island if it’s windy. We will never be more than 25 minutes from the trail head. We also suggest bringing water and a snack along with any magnifying glasses or binoculars you might have. We have binoculars to borrow.
Meet your Guide
As Mainspring’s Conservation Outreach Associate, Alina Martin lives in Murphy and spends most of her free time birding and lichenizing around Cherokee and Clay counties. She is grateful to be able to use her excitement and passion about every living thing to encourage the protection and appreciation of habitable land for ourselves as well as all things great and small that share our home here in the Southern Blue Ridge. Her wildlife management classes in addition heavy experience birding (her first love) near and far gained her strong foundational knowledge in birds, reptiles, amphibians, lichens, and plants. She dabbles in mushrooms and fish, and she knows some moss people. Don’t ask her about geology or astronomy. Armed with her identification knowledge in an incredibly biodiverse eco-region, Alina leads a variety of educational programs here at Mainspring, and finds something curious and new each time. She is a life-long bird nerd, all-around naturalist, and avid user of eBird and iNaturalist.
