Snakeroot Ecotours is founded on the premise articulated by Rachel Carson: The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.
Snakeroot is based in Celo, NC in the shadow of Mount Mitchell and the Black Mountains, the tallest peaks in eastern North America. Here in the heart of the Southern Appalachians, our forests are among the most diverse temperate forests in the world. The hills are carpeted with over 1500 native flowering plant species. The pristine mountain creeks and forests are home to more species of salamanders than any location on Earth, an astonishing array of mushrooms, and some of the world's most remarkable fireflies. Join us for a five-star guided tour of life in the Appalachian woods.
Tal Galton
Owner, Naturalist, Lead Guide
A committed naturalist since early childhood, Tal has been introducing people to wild places for 30 years. He spent much of the past two decades teaching in the experimental and experiential environments of Arthur Morgan School and The Arete Project, and he lives with his family in a timber-frame home that he and his wife designed and built out of local trees. Tal writes a column on Appalachian ecology for Asheville's Mountain Xpress and is the owner and lead guide of Snakeroot Ecotours. Tal maintains certifications in WFA and CPR.
Micah Galton
Guide
Micah is a Psychology major at Stanford University and is coordinating summer 2020 Red Eft Hiking Camps. He has previous experience at Stanford's Sierra Camp. He is certified in Adult/Child CPR, WFA, and as a Lifeguard.
Isaac Galton
Guide
When's he's not working on political campaigns or hauling brush for an arborist, Isaac guides hikes and serves as a counselor for Red Eft Hiking Camp. Isaac is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and has been WFA certified.
The world is full of magic things patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.
This quote, often attributed to WB Yeats, is a slight rephrasing of a sentence written by the British naturalist, Eden Phillpotts. It summarizes what Snakeroot Ecotours is all about: we help you see the magical world we live in.