Latest news with #AveryCounty
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Popular waterfall in Pisgah National Forest reopens: What to know before you go
The United States Forest Service is reopening the Elk River Falls Area within the Pisgah National Forest on July 11 after several months spent clearing Tropical Storm Helene debris, according to an announcement from the agency. Home to a 65-foot waterfall known locally as Big Falls, the area in Avery County experienced significant flooding during the storm that left the river clogged with debris and the trails blocked by downed trees, the Forest Service said. Visitors are advised to exercise caution near the waterfall area. 'Elk River Falls is a popular summer destination, and our community neighbors have been patient while we worked to restore access to the trails and clear the river so we could safely reopen,' District Ranger Jen Barnhart said in the release. More than 30 volunteers from Wild South, Waterfall Keepers of North Carolina and the Linville-Central Rescue Squad helped Forest Service crews remove trash and debris, including a 250-pound propane tank left after floodwaters receded. To ensure public safety, the Forest Service monitored the falls for any new hazards and loose debris that could pose a risk. The parking area and entry road leading to Elk River Falls have been repaired and resurfaced for better access, according to the release. 'The reopening of Elk River Falls is not only a win for public access, but also a symbol of the resilience of the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. It's a powerful reminder of what's possible when communities come together to care for one another and our shared public lands,' Halley Burleson, Operations Coordinator for Wild South, said in the release. Elk River Falls is particularly dangerous after a heavy rain, when strong currents create turbine conditions in the pool below the falls, which is more than 70 feet deep in places, according to forest rangers. Even before Helene, however, Elk River Falls has been called one of the deadliest waterfalls in Western North Carolina by emergency services officials, with more than 20 over the past couple of decades. Deaths and serious injuries including paralysis have occurred due to people jumping off the top of the falls and drowning or hitting their heads on slippery rocks, and even drowning while swimming in the pool below the falls and becoming entangled in fishing line, according to past Citizen Times reporting. In May 2022, a 53-year-old man from Kingsport, Tennessee, drowned while swimming in the Elk River Falls pool. Witnesses on scene said that Williams "waded out into the water and started to swim. He was seen by a witness go under the water and not resurface," according to an Avery County Sheriff's Office news statement. 'He did not jump. He was just swimming in the pool there at the bottom,' former Avery County Sheriff Danny Phillips said at the time. Elk River Falls is particularly dangerous after a heavy rain, when strong currents create turbine conditions in the pool below the falls, which is more than 70 feet deep in places, according to forest rangers. Swimming near, climbing or jumping from waterfalls is incredibly dangerous and can even be fatal, the Forest Service warned. Rangers instructed visitors to follow all posted signage, stay out of the water and not climb rocks around the waterfall. Entering the water immediately above or below Elk River Falls can be extremely dangerous because of an incredibly strong undercurrent and the height of the waterfall, the release said. In the latest waterfall-related death in WNC, a man died July 6 while rappelling at Steele Creek Falls in the Burke County area of Pisgah National Forest. More: Man drowns after rappelling accident in Pisgah National Forest: officials urge caution More: Man dies at Elk River Falls in Pisgah National Forest, second death here in 6 weeks WNC's waterfalls are beautiful, but dangerous without proper care taken to stay safe. Follow these guidelines when visiting a waterfall: Observe all posted signs leading to waterfall areas. Do not swim or wade upstream near a waterfall. Watch for slick rocks around waterfalls. Do not jump off waterfalls or dive into pools. Do not climb on rocks above waist height. Watch your children and pets at all times. Stay on marked trails and observation areas. More: Waterfalls Park in Newland protected from development by Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy More: Best waterfalls in Western NC: See the tallest, falls with short hikes, swimming holes Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@ and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Popular waterfall in Pisgah National Forest reopens: See where
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-snake-warning-sign-HIKESNAKEBITE0625-f8d9e14b84fd48b6a545019fbb5e1ab3.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
25-06-2025
- Health
- Travel + Leisure
This Teen 'Felt a Prick' On a Fishing Trip Only to Discover a Rattlesnake Bite
A teenager in North Carolina found out the hard way what to do when you're bitten by a rattlesnake. Zain Shah was bitten by a rattlesnake on the banks of Lost Cove Creek during a high-school fishing trip in the mountains of western North Carolina. The North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) announced in a press release that responders in Avery County successfully rescued the hiker, who was transferred to the hospital to receive medical treatment. The group was about to head back for the day and 17-year-old Zain had just stepped over a log when he felt a prick on his heel. When he looked, he saw a timber rattlesnake sitting nearby. He is currently recovering. 'I'm beyond grateful for the incredible NCHART and Linville-Central Rescue teams, who got to them in the middle of nowhere and saved his life! He was air-lifted to and treated at Johnson City Medical Center, TN, and is now recovering at home,' his father, Imran Shah, said in a Facebook post. If you are bitten by a snake, it's important to call 911 and go to the closest emergency department to make sure that the snake isn't venomous. 'If someone in your party can take a photo while staying a good distance away, that could be helpful in identifying the snake," Maggie Peikon, manager of communications at the American Hiking Society, told Travel + Leisure . Try your best to stay calm and minimize activity if possible,' added Peikon. It's important to keep the bite below the level of the heart, and avoid drinking alcohol and pain relievers, which can thin your blood. Also, if you are bitten, you should not try to suck the venom out with your mouth or any kind of suction device, as it can lead to an infection. 'If you are bitten on the arm or hand, remove any constricting clothing, rings, bracelets, etc. in case your arm swells. Do not apply a constriction band or tourniquet with a belt or rope. Do not apply either hot or cold packs,' Peikon said. 'If you have a pen or marker on you, circle the area where you were bitten and take note of the time of the bite—this will help monitor swelling and rate of changes.'
Fox News
11-06-2025
- General
- Fox News
Rattlesnake bites teen on southern state fishing trip
Officials executed a dramatic rescue last week after a teenager on a fishing trip was bitten by a rattlesnake "deep in the woods" of the western North Carolina mountains. The State Emergency Operations Center dispatched a North Carolina National Guard Black Hawk helicopter to the scene in Avery County with rescue technicians from the Charlotte Fire Department. "The hiker was successfully rescued and was receiving medical treatment at the hospital," North Carolina Emergency Management said in a June 5 Facebook post. The snake bite victim, Zain Shah, thanked first responders in the comments section. "Thank you all for rescuing me! I recognize the man in yellow on the far right from when he took me up on the cable to the helicopter. I cannot express my gratitude enough!" he wrote. Shah's father, Inman Shah, also explained in the comments section that "[w]hat started as a fun end-of-high-school fishing trip" for his son, Zain, "and his buddy in the WNC mountains turned deadly when he was bitten by a timber rattlesnake deep in the woods." "I'm beyond grateful for the incredible NCHART and Linville-Central Rescue teams, who got to them in the middle of nowhere and saved his life!" Inman Shah wrote. "He was air-lifted to and treated at Johnson City Medical Center, TN, and is now recovering at home. We are forever in your debt." The timber rattlesnake is a pit viper that is gray in color, sometimes with a pinkish hue, with black and brown diamond-like shapes across its back. It also has a stripe that runs down its back, which can be orange, yellow or pinkish in color, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo. A timber rattlesnake will prop itself upright and make a rattling noise with its tail when threatened – a warning that it is about to strike. They range in size from about 2.5 to 5 feet on average. The pit vipers can be found across the eastern United States, with sightings ranging from Texas to Iowa to the Carolinas and north to Pennsylvania and New England, according to the National Zoo.
