Man Injured by Falling Tree on Low Gap Trail Airlifted

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers were involved in the rescue of a 53-year-old male who had been struck by a falling tree during the storm event of Thursday, June 13th. Nathan Lipsom, from Cambridge, MA, was hiking along Low Gap Trail when the storm hit around 4:00 pm and sustained multiple injuries.

A Park Backcountry Ranger was patrolling the trails around Cosby and Big Creek on Friday morning to check on hikers, and trail conditions in the area, when he discovered the injured hiker at approximately 11:30 am. The ranger remained with Lipsom while the Park began organizing a rescue operation. A Park Medic was immediately dispatched to the site to further evaluate and stabilize the patient’s condition.

Due to the number of downed trees from the storm, the trails around the Cosby and Big Creek areas were impassable for the rescue team. The Park ordered a Blackhawk helicopter from the state of North Carolina with winching capabilities to extricate the patient. Lipsom was then flown to the airport in Asheville, NC, and transported by ground to Mission Hospital.

A National Weather Service crew has confirmed an EF-1 tornado in the Cosby area during the June 13th storm.

Right now the Gabes Mountain Trail and Snake Den Ridge Trail in Cosby, and the Baxter Creek Trail and the Big Creek Trail in Big Creek remain closed due to scores of downed trees. The trails are impassable by foot or horse.

In addition to trail closures, the Park has also closed “B” Loop of Cosby Campground. Backcountry Campsites 29, 34, 36, 37 and 38 are all closed as well. There's no estimate for reopening the trails or the campgrounds at this time.


For the most up to date closure information, visit the Park’s website, or call our Backcountry Office at 865-436-1297.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

July Classic Hikes of the Smokies: Newfound Gap-Kephart Prong Excursion

On the third Tuesday of each month this year, Friends of the Smokies will be offering guided hikes as part of their Classic Hikes of the Smokies series. To celebrate the Friends’ 20th anniversary this year, each hike will honor an achievement or cause that the Friends organization has supported in Great Smoky Mountains National Park since its establishment in 1993.

The hike for next month will honor wildlife conservation:

July 16: Newfound Gap-Kephart Prong Excursion
Distance: 7.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 800 feet
Trails – A.T., Sweat Heifer Trail, Kephart Prong, (and shuttle)

To help support the Smokies Trails Forever program, a donation of $10 for members and $35 for non-members is requested. Non-members receive a complimentary membership to Friends of the Smokies. Members who bring a friend hike for free. You can pre-register for this through Friends of the Smokies at outreach.nc@friendsofthesmokies.org or 828-452-0720.











Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

Storm Damage Causes Trail Closures in Cosby and Big Creek Areas

Great Smoky Mountains National Park managers report that several trails in Cosby and Big Creek are closed due to extensive damage from the wind and rain during a late afternoon storm on Thursday, June 13th. Other trails in the area may be closed as the park is continuing to assess the damage.

The park website states that "a major thunderstorm produced heavy rains, high winds and a possible tornado in portions of Sevier and Cocke Counties in Tennessee" yesterday. 

Gabes Mountain Trail and Snake Den Ridge Trail in Cosby, and Baxter Creek Trail and the Big Creek Trail in Big Creek have been closed due to scores of downed trees. The trails are impassable by foot or horse.

In addition to trail closures, the Park has also closed “B” Loop of Cosby Campground due to damage. There's no estimate for reopening the trails or the campground at this time.

Backcountry Campsites 29, 34, 36, 37 and 38 are all closed as well.

“We are in the process of assessing the condition of all of the trails within the storm affected area,” said acting Chief Ranger Steve Kloster. “Hikers and equestrians may want to confirm trail openings by contacting the Park’s Backcountry Office or by visiting our website before planning routes through this section of the Park.”

The storm which hit hardest on the Northeastern most section of the park was the tail end of a storm system which hit the Midwest through much of Thursday. Air monitoring stations at Clingmans Dome and Look Rock recorded over sixty mile per hour winds during the time of the storm.

For the most up to date closure information, visit the Park’s website, or call our Backcountry Office at 865-436-1297.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

Your Guide to the “Smokies” Challenge

The following is a guest blog by FNO Founder Chris DeVore:

Update: After speaking with park officials I have learned that this program has been undergoing some revamping. Although popular amongst frequent visitors, it's a goal of the park to make this well known to new visitors as well. In addition, GSMNP has recently created a “Hike the Smokies for Families” Challenge which targets younger populations as well.

Nearly two years ago the National Park Service released a challenge for citizens visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It was coined the “Hike the Smokies” Challenge. The Challenge rewards individuals based on miles hiked within the park, and sets them apart by tiers. The first tier starts at 100 miles and the tiers rise from there.

I recently left my post working with the Department of the Interior and found this challenge created a decent amount of buzz around DOI social media outlets. From most opinions I have heard, the Challenge was a rather ingenious way to get goal-oriented individuals to take in the treasures of the Smokies and share their exploits.

For those of you with plans to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I have defined a few highlights to make your climb to the first tier memorable. With over 800 miles of trails in the Park, which would you choose? Here are mine:

Must-do Day Hike: Although one of the more popular and busier options, Alum Cave is my day hike of choice. At just short of five miles, this hike has stimuli surrounding throughout the moderate climb. Whether it’s the wildlife of the area, the history, the great views, or the cave (which is technically a massive rock outcropping) there are spectacular sights here year round.

Must-do Overnight Camp: Most of my frontcountry camping trips take place with family and friends. It's a fun way to take in day hikes nearby without the extra challenge of backpacking. If I had to choose one campground close to enough activity that would keep me entertained for days, I would choose Deep Creek. Deep Creek boasts three waterfalls within a short hike, which makes this one of the prime campgrounds in the park. Relaxing fishing spots nearby don’t turn me away either.

Must-do Backpacking Hike: This is probably the most important “must-do” activity in my book, not to mention it’s also the easiest way to take a chunk out of the Challenge. Big Creek Loop, or “Big” as park frequenters call it, is the perfect way to take in sampling of what the park has to offer. At 16.5 miles it’s a great way to spend a weekend of backpacking. Whether it’s swimming holes or wildlife, there's plenty to get your attention on this trail. When you’re on a trail like this the Challenge would be the last thing on your mind.

Must-do Sightseeing: Having a background with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, I would have to choose a wildlife-centric sightseeing adventure. Dating back to the 1800’s thousands of elk naturally roamed the park. Shortly after human encroachment began on the area that is now the park, humans began to take their toll on the species, and the elk were driven to extinction. However, the elk made a reemergence in an experimental phase of reintroduction of the species in the early 2000s. The experiment has now led to an elk population of nearly 140 in North Carolina alone. Therefore, my must-do sightseeing trek would be to spot one of the few elk in the eastern United States. This can be best accomplished in the area near Maggie Valley.

Whether you’re into day hikes, backpacking, or even wildlife-viewing, the Challenge is an option for everyone. Next time you’re in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, stop by a Visitors Center and pay just $1 to take part in the program for yourself. Next thing you know you'll be climbing tiers.

Christopher DeVore is the founder of Father Nature Outdoors. His company produces outdoors camping products, most notably the award winning FNO Integrated Sleeping Bag. For more information on Mr. DeVore or Father Nature Outdoors check out www.fathernatureoutdoors.com. Father Nature Outdoors - Because Mother Nature can be a pain.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

Road Striping Operations on Newfound Gap Road

A contractor for Great Smoky Mountains National Park will perform striping operations in NC beginning Wednesday, June 12th, through Tuesday, June 18th, along Newfound Gap Road from Newfound Gap south to Cherokee, along with various secondary roads throughout the NC section of the Park.

Operations will be completed between 7:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. for seven consecutive nights. Weather delays due to rain could cause the project to continue beyond June 18th. During the operation, traffic will be reduced to one lane for short sections. Motorists should use caution when they encounter the road striping operations and pay close attention to traffic control devices along the roadway.

For more information about road conditions, please call the park’s Road and Weather Information Line at 865-436-1200.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

Smokies To Host Event Showcasing Traditional Women’s Work

On Saturday, June 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Mountain Farm Museum in Great Smoky Mountains National Park will come to life as national park staff and volunteers pay tribute to rural women of the past through demonstrations of traditional women's work.

This day recognizes the many contributions of the region's rural women by providing an opportunity to experience the past and to actively take part in the traditions of the southern Appalachia through hands-on activities. As part of the celebration, demonstrations among the historic Mountain Home buildings will include hearth cooking, soap making, cornshuck crafts, sewing, and traditional mountain music. Exhibits of artifacts and historic photographs will also provide a glimpse into the many and varied roles of rural women. The Davis-Queen house will be open for visitors to walk through with an audio exhibit featuring the last child born in the house.

All event activities are free to the public. The Mountain Farm Museum is located on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. Highway 441) adjacent to the national park's Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 2 miles north of Cherokee, North Carolina. For additional information call the visitor center at 828-497-1904.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

Participation in Outdoor Recreation Activities Reaches Highest Level in Six Years

Participation in outdoor recreation reached a six-year high in 2012 with nearly 50% of Americans ages six and older taking part in at least one of the 43 outdoor activities included in the latest Outdoor Recreation Participation Report. This percentage equates to 141.9 million American outdoor participants, reflecting an increase of nearly a million people compared to 2011. In addition, outdoor participants were more active in 2012 than in past years, taking an average of 87.4 outdoor outings per participant for a total 12.4 billion outings. Overall, more Americans participated in outdoor recreation in 2012 than in any year since The Outdoor Foundation began measuring participation six years ago, perhaps signaling a move toward healthier, more active lifestyles.

These findings are part of The Outdoor Foundation's 2013 Outdoor Recreation Participation Topline Report, the leading report tracking American participation trends in outdoor recreation with a focus on youth, young adults, diversity and the future of the outdoors.

Participation rates by age remained consistent in most categories from 2011 to 2012 — a testament to the resilience of outdoor participation in uncertain economic times. Participation rates among younger generations remained steady yet are still significantly lower than they were in 2006. Young participants are also less diverse than the nation’s population as a whole. In 2012, 71 percent of youth and young adult participants were non-Hispanic Caucasian – which is not reflective of the nations increasingly diverse population.

When averaging the year-to-year changes in participation for specific outdoor activities over the past three years, multisport activities, such as triathlons and adventure racing, have experienced the largest average annual increases in participation. Activities such as downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, camping, RV camping, and rafting have all experienced the largest average annual decreases.

Here are a few stats of interest:

* After showing a sharp decline in 2011 versus the prior year, backpacking made a strong return in 2012. The report shows a 23.6% increase in the number of people participating in the outdoor pursuit. The 2012 numbers were also the highest level of participation in the 7-year history of the study.

* Interestingly, however, camping (within a 1/4 mile of a vehicle or home) declined 9% when compared to 2011.

* Participation in hiking remained relatively flat for 2012. However, the latest figures don't reflect the strong growth in the outdoor pursuit in recent years. Compared to 2006 (the first year of the study), hiking is up 15.7%. Compared to 2010, participation in hiking has increased by 6.3%.

In 2012, the top 5 most popular outdoor activities for adults (ages 25+), based on participation rates were:

1. Fishing - 15.7% of adults
2. Running, Jogging and Trail Running - 14.9% of adults
3. Bicycling (Road, Mountain and BMX) - 12.0% of adults
4. Hiking - 11.7% of adults
5. Camping (Car, Backyard and RV) - 11.5% of adults

The top 5 favorite outdoor activities for adults (ages 25+), based on frequency of activity were:

1. Running, Jogging and Trail Running - 87.2 average outings per runner
2. Bicycling (Road, Mountain and BMX) - 58.4 average outings per cyclist
3. Birdwatching - 40.7 average outings per birdwatcher
4. Backpacking - 33.4 average outings per backpacker
5. Wildlife Viewing - 29.9 average outings per viewer

The report is based on an online survey of more than 42,000 Americans ages six and older and covers over 40 different activities, making it the largest survey of its kind. To download a complete copy of the 2013 Outdoor Recreation Topline Participation Report, visit The Outdoor Foundation website.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies