Article on Rittle Knob in High Country Echoes

Courtesy of High Country Echoes, the Official Newsletter of High Country Conservancy (now the Blue Ridge Conservancy), Summer 2007 Issue

Climb to the summit of Elk Knob State Natural Area, take a deep breath and look around. Your view to the east is dominated by High Country Conservancy’s (HCC) most recent land protection project, Rittle Knob. Rising above other mountains that surround it, Rittle Knob stands out at 4,820 feet in elevation. Visitors to Elk Knob will look out to see this mountain in its natural state, undeveloped and pristine, the way it has been since the beginning of time.

Landowners, Bob Sweiter and Ginny Stahl recently sold the 65 acres along the peak of Rittle Knob to HCC. Sweiter and Stahl originally purchased it in a land auction in the mid ’90s because it was adjacent to their property. Stahl said, “We loved having it, never wanted to do anything with it and then decided to build a road to the top of it to see if it had any potential.”

After much debate about what to do with the land and meetings with real estate agents, they decided they would try to sell it. Stahl contacted Craig and Beth Weaver of Sundance Mountain Lands to look at the property. Executive Director (at the time), Teresa Buckwalter, explains, “After visiting with Ginny and seeing the land, Craig and Beth came to High Country Conservancy and said this was such a special place that it would be wonderful to find a way to purchase it for conservation. They were right and we were elated that the landowners and NC State Parks both seemed interested in this scenario.”

Rittle Knob is a jewel with its significant rock outcroppings, diverse plant communities, abundant springs and scenic views. “From the top you can see the whole crest of the Blue Ridge,” says Keith Sweiter, son of the sellers. Eric Heigl, HCC’s Land Protection Director (now BRC’s Co-Director in Boone) explains, “This mountain top is included in the Amphibolite Mountain range. Amphibolite rock is metamorphic rock that creates a nutrient rich or ’sweet’ soil type favorable to rare plant species and natural communities.”

In order to secure this highly significant property, HCC received a bridge loan from The Conservation Fund and a substantial donation from Fred and Alice Stanback. “This donation will help significantly off-set the cost to the state and ultimately to taxpayers,” said Buckwalter.

This summer, the State of NC will purchase the land to add to Elk Knob State Natural area. “We are so happy about this whole thing, the thought of High Country Conservancy having it and transferring it to the State just makes everybody happy,” Stahl said.

High Country Conservancy (BRC) is a not-for-profit land trust working with landowners on a voluntary basis in Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties.