Aaron Bailey and Jesse Morgan

Aaron Bailey and Jesse Morgan, both graduates of Brevard College’s Outdoor Leadership program, are imaginative and creative in their approach to solving unique woodland construction problems at the Southern Highlands Reserve. Their challenge has been to provide access to fragile environments without destroying what we are traveling to see.

When building the two bridges that cross the Vaseyi Creek above the pond, Jesse and Aaron were challenged with crossing a pristine creek under one of the largest natural stands of Vaseyi azaleas in existence... all the while, doing so with a structure that complements the natural surroundings.

In the waterfall and cliff areas, the problem was providing access to precarious areas that had previously required quite a bit of dicey scrambling up and down rock faces. The issue here, in addition to safety, was to provide a more comfortable access for hikers that were not expert outdoorsmen.

Aaron answered this challenge with iron steps and handrails drilled and cemented into the rock faces. What had once been a hike highlighted by scooting along by the seat of one’s pants, can now be enjoyed in a much more comfortable position.

A particularly troublesome and complicated 90 degree descent problem was solved with an ingenious wooden spiral staircase.

Aaron’s piece de resistance is the Via Ferrata — a 600 foot length of steel cable that provides access to a trail (Aaron calls it a  trail; it is more like a two-inch seam in a sheer rock face) along the top of a cliff. A helmet, harness and double carabiner provide the traveler with confidence enough to enjoy the breathtaking views and special cliff dwelling plants along the way. The approach to the Via Ferrata is by an iron ladder that takes the climber to where the cable begins. The Via Ferrata greatly minimizes the potential impact cliff communities might endure if free reign were allowed on the cliff face.

Jesse and Aaron, whose attention to detail and fine craftsmanship is the hallmark of their work, run a business called The Rustic Edge that specializes in handcrafted furniture built from native wood.