Fall Lady Slipper Award
Jason Austin has been a volunteer with Conserving Carolina for 3 years. After doing some habitat restoration work, he was connected with our Trails Crew and has been a dedicated member since. He first got involved while searching for employment after re-locating to Western North Carolina, but despite now working full-time, Jason continues to find the time to get out from under the florescent lights of his job and get out on the trail.
The passion for maintaining trails started while hiking through the Smokies and coming across a crew member from the Appalachian Trails Conservancy where he struck up a conversation that made him truly realize the work that goes into creating the trails through these areas.
Jason’s most rewarding volunteer experience was being given the chance to work on the Weed Patch Mountain Trail and seeing it from in-the-works to being completed. After the trail was completed he had the opportunity to hike it all the way through, just adding to the nearly 1000 miles Jason has hiked throughout Western North Carolina. He hopes that Conserving Carolina will continue to work to connect the beautiful protected places throughout the Hickory Nut Gorge to create a network of places to explore. During his free time, Jason is doing exactly what you might expect, hiking and backpacking in this area that continues to make him “feel alive.”
Thank you Jason for all that you do for Conserving Carolina!