BOONE, N.C. — Bill Moore loves to hike. The retired ER nurse, who is now an adjunct professor at Appalachian State University, says it was a perfect fit to volunteer as a trail rover. 

What You Need To Know

  • Blue Ridge Parkway staff are recruiting trail rovers

  • The program was started three year ago to protect the trails

  • Trail Rovers are volunteers

"It frees my soul, and it frees my mind. I just am in awe of the magnificence of the area," Moore said.

He's been on the Rough Ridge Trail in uniform for three years, volunteering and educating those who come for a visit.

"Our mission is to protect and to educate the visitors about the area and particularly about the delicate biome in the area. We have a number of endangered species that live here," Moore said.

More than 70 endangered species need to be protected. He goes on the trail once a week, answering any questions people have and explains why it's important to stay off social trails. Those are paths created by people that go off the main hike, which can hurt wildlife.

"They stomp down the plant life. There are some very, very endangered species up here, and they have not bloomed yet," Moore said.

Moore says they need more rovers to help protect the trails and what's around them.