You have run the race, walked the woods, and enjoyed the lunch, but do you know how the Pacolet Area Conservancy’s (PAC’s) PACWalk and PACRun annual event got started? It’s a good story.

Larry Poe remembers, “When I was a resident of Tryon I learned about the Pacolet Area Conservancy. Walking is my principal exercise so I joined the PACWalk event when they had the walk at Harmon Field. We had to walk the streets, of course. We would start at the textile mill and go down Howard Gap Road to Harmon Field.”

Fast forward 12 years to now and Mr. Poe is still involved with PACWalk/PACRun.  He continues, “After I came to Tryon Estates I saw what a great natural area we have here. There are 215 acres in Tryon Estates plus 200 acres or so that are adjacent.  Together there are five or six miles of trails in the woods. That made for an excellent location for PACWalk.”

Mr. Poe worked with Bob Dockendorf and the late Sam White on the PACWalk and later with Tryon Lindabury in setting up the 5K PACRun route at Tryon Estates. Mr. Lindabury conducted the 5K PACRun, and Mr. Poe and his wife, Alex, were sponsors of the first PACRun. This year marks the fourth year that the PACWalk and PACRun events were held at Tryon Estates.

Many folks at Tryon Estates work to make PACWalk and PACRun happen. Tryon Estates volunteers during the 2016 events include Tryon Lindabury, Bob and Nancy Andrews, John and Johanna Lawler, Don Schlegel, Vince Shimkus, and Larry and Alex Poe.

Not only does Tryon Estates enthusiastically support the PAC events with its location, but it provides a lovely lunch to all participants and volunteers and allows its employees to help.

The PACWalk and PACRun events could not have happened without the help of Tryon Estates employees Caroline Eller, Kent Holden, and others.

Mr. Holden elaborates, “We are a vibrant participant in community activities. We are so much more than a retirement community. I invite folks to come out to Tryon Estates and see what we have here.”

Mr. Poe adds, “We have been very pleased to have the PACWalk and PACRun here on our terrific property and trails. An added benefit of having the event here is that it gives the community an opportunity to come out and learn about Tryon Estates.”

For more information about the projects and programs of the Pacolet Area Conservancy visit pacolet.org. For more information about what Tryon Estates offers visit actstryon.org.

 

-Submitted by Pam Torlina and Carrie Knox