The Cashiers area is an amazing place for many reasons, not the least of which is the incredible array of outdoor sporting opportunities. 

Many people come here first for the fantastic mountain golf. With 11 different area courses totaling over 45 miles of fairway, the Highlands-Cashiers-Toxaway plateau can satisfy anyone's taste for world-class mountain golf. Golf is just the beginning of what there is to offer. Cashiers is on a national or even interna­tional scale when it comes to recreational oppor­tunities in the great outdoors.

Just look at what is within an hour's drive of Cashiers:

• Nantahala National Forest (116,442 acres)

• Pisgah National Forest (155,881 acres)

• Sumter National Forest (79,000 acres -Mountain Region)

• Great Smoky National Park (521,490 acres)

• Gorges State Park (10,000 acres)

• DuPont State Forest (10,000 acres)

In all, in this area there arc over 800,000 acres of accessible public mountain lands.

From a river standpoint, within a short drive at the Chattooga, Tuckasegee, Horse Pasture, Whitewater, French Broad, Nantahala, Little Tennessee and Thompson River systems, which include two National Wild and Scenic River cor­ridors.

Within all of this, there arc hundreds of water­falls, thousands of miles of hiking trails, some of the finest white water in the country, nationally known rock and ice climbing plus outstanding fly and lake fishing. The area is also a destination for rock hounding, birding, water sports of all kinds, plus mountain and road cycling.

The only challenge with all of these wonder­ful natural amenities is finding reliable informa­tion on each pursuit. Locating the right guide services, equipment and transportation can be difficult, especially for the adventurer who wants to experience these activities on a lighter level. Conversely, there arc those in the area who arc serious enthusiasts who need the same informa­tion, just on a different scale.

Today we kick off our new weekly article intended to be your missing link to the great out­doors. Each week, we will feature a guest colum­nist, a local specialist in a spot or adventure activi­ty. Hopefully from there, your interest will be ignited and you will get outdoors and try some­thing new. You might just be surprised at what you arc capable of doing and how much you enjoy it. You will never know if you don't try!

Upcoming articles will feature some of the area's most noted outdoorsmen and women, spe­cialists in all sorts of activities. Articles will be written from many different perspectives, includ­ing introductions to the pursuit or personal takes on interesting outings.

The column will also periodically feature an occasional account of an epic "road trip" out of the area - perhaps climbing some remote moun­tain or polishing off a thousand-mile bike ride, for example.

Another slant we hope to include is the occa­sional interview with representatives with the Park Service and Forest Service giving us updates on their latest plans in our area.

If you have an interest in being a guest colum­nist for Cashiers Outside, we would love to hear from you. Just give me a call or stop by the newspaper office at any time to pick up a guest editorial packet.

Happy trails.