Dear Friends,
It feels as though I have officially entered my fourth season as the new guy at ERA. I started at the Association in early February in the depths of winter. I quickly adopted a routine common to ERA staff of walking the Eagle Trail to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and back to the office. I found during the pandemic that I often do some of my best thinking while walking, so while I enjoy the fresh air and mental health benefits of a quick hike, the drawback is that I often return to the office with a longer “to do” list.
“I was having so much fun, it almost felt like cheating, like this couldn’t really be work!”
Those first few weeks in February were quiet and cold out on the trail with few signs of life. As winter morphed into spring, it was awe-inspiring to see nature take full bloom. The forest exploded with greenery and as the weather continued to warm, I began to see creatures native to the Eno on almost every hike. These spring hikes were highlighted by the sighting of a pair of wood ducks just around the corner from the ERA office, and by a wildflower hike with all-star volunteers Milo Pyne and Dane Schuckman along with ERA staff member Hillary Harrison, where we found the yellow ladyslipper orchid in bloom. I was having so much fun, it almost felt like cheating, like this couldn’t really be work!
As the moderate temperatures of spring gave way to the extremities of summer, I found myself more reluctant to hit the trail. The impending reality of the Festival began to consume the entire staff, and I found myself completely focused on supporting the myriad needs related to hosting an event for 20,000 of your closest friends and neighbors. While Chantal’s timing was fortuitous for the Festival, the impact has been devastating for the Eno River Basin and those living close to the river. The last three months have been a bit of a blur, but it is exciting to see West Point on the Eno and parts of the State Park now reopening.
“While Chantal’s timing was fortuitous for the Festival, the impact has been devastating for the Eno River Basin and those living close to the river.”
I have lived in North Carolina long enough to know “false fall” when I see it, but I welcome its arrival every year. I was able to hike the Two Forks and Big Meadow Loop trails at the Confluence on the Sunday morning of Labor Day weekend and there was a definite chill in the air that was downright invigorating. I hope that many of you are getting out on the trail at our preserves and in the reopened sections of the Parks to enjoy the cooler weather.
As you start to plan your social commitments for the season, I want to personally invite you, our voting members, to join us for the ERA Annual Meeting at the Confluence on Saturday, October 25 from 2-4pm. We’ll make time to mingle, share updates on our work over the last year, and vote on an outstanding slate of Board nominees, current members nominated for new terms, and on Board leadership for 2026. I hope that you can join us. Thank you for all of the ways that you support the Eno River Association and our work. We couldn’t do it without you.
In Gratitude,
Ryan J. Fehrman
