The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog: March 2009

Hikers and kayakers come together to celebrate the Appalachian Trail and Cheoah River at the 2009 HiYak Festival taking place at the Fontana Village Resort from April 17 to April 19. There will be live music, educational lectures, geocache events, trail maintenance and more.The event includes trail maintenance programs in conjunction with the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club and the Benton MacKaye Trail...

appalachian trail · Appalachian Trail Conservancy · ATC · specialty license plate · Tennessee

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy needs your support

Saturday, March 28, 2009

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) needs your support, ASAP!The Tennessee legislature recently approved for the creation of a specialty license plate for the Appalachian Trail. Funds produced from the sale of the plate will be shared with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy for the support and management of the Appalachian Trail.In order for the state to produce the license plates, the ATC needs...

Cabins · Chalet · gatlinburg · Great Smoky Mountains · overnight accommodations · pigeon forge · Rentals · Smokies · Townsend

HikingintheSmokys.com launches Cabins/Chalet Rentals Page

Thursday, March 26, 2009

HikingintheSmokys.com is proud to announce the launch of our new cabin and chalet rentals page. Visitors seeking hiking information for trails in the Great Smoky Mountains can now find information for their overnight accommodations on the same website.We are also pleased to announce that three cabin and chalet rental businesses have committed to listing their establishments on our site for the next...

Clingmans Dome Road · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · re-open

Clingmans Dome Road to open again next week

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

If all goes as planned, Clingmans Dome Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park will re-open next Wednesday, April 1.Of course the higher elevations in the park can still experience early spring snow storms which could delay the opening. If you're planning on visiting this area of the park during the first couple of weeks in April, it's a good idea to pay a visit to the park's website to make sure...

book · Danny Bernstein · Hiking North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Heritage

Danny Bernstein publishes new hiking guide

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Just last week, local author Danny Bernstein published her latest hiking guide, Hiking North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Heritage.As you may recall, Ms. Bernstein is also the author of Hiking the Carolina Mountains, which she published in 2007.In her latest book, Danny covers 66 of the best hikes in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, an area which roughly encompasses the triangle from Pilot Mountain...

75 Hikes on the 75th · April Schedule · Great Smoky Mountains National Park

75 Hikes on the 75th: April Schedule

Monday, March 23, 2009

As part of the year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Jerry Span from the Fontana Hiking Club has organized a program called “75 Hikes on the 75th”. As the name would imply, there will be 75 organized hikes in the Smoky Mountains throughout 2009.Below are the six hikes scheduled for April:April 4. Turkey Pen Ridge/Schoolhouse Gap to Scott Mtn trailhead/Bote...

75th anniversary · Fontana Dam Village Resort · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · hiking · Spring Hike Week

Spring Hike Week

Sunday, March 22, 2009

As part of the year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Fontana Dam Village Resort will be sponsoring Spring Hike Week from April 19 thru April 23.Spring Hike Week is a celebration of the scenic splendor of the Great Smoky Mountains and the rich cultural heritage of the region.Many hikes will take place in the southwestern area of the park, including...

Air Horns · bear · bear horns · bear spray · deterrents · hiking

Do Air Horns make for good bear deterrents?

Saturday, March 21, 2009

27 comments

** For the most up-to-date information on this topic, please click here. About a week ago I was reading some information with regards to the pros and cons of hiking alone in the wilderness. One person participating in the discussion mentioned that he carries an air horn in case he ever runs into a bear on the trail. I found this admission to be quite interesting because I've often wondered myself...

appalachian trail · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · podcasts · Ridgerunner

Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner reports now online

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Roughly 30 ridgerunners are hired by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) each season to hike and camp along sections of the Appalachian Trail. Their job is to report on trail conditions, water availability, shelter closings, bear activity and spread important news related to hiker safety, effective food storage in bear country and Leave No Trace practices. Up until this year, the timely information...

adventurers · climbers · explorers · Hiking in the Smoky Mountains · Mountain Hardwear · mountaineers · outdoors · social networking site · The Expedition Republic

Mountain Hardwear Launches Outdoor Social Website

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Gear manufacturer Mountain Hardwear has launched a brand new website called The Expedition Republic, which is essentially a social networking site for adventurers, explorers, climbers, mountaineers, or any type of outdoor enthusiast.In addition to being a pretty slick outdoor community site, the website already has lots of great videos and photographs. Members have the opportunity to submit their...

cades cove · Forge Creek Road · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Parson Branch Road

Parson Branch Road will be closed

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park website just announced that Parson Branch Road in Cades Cove will be closed until late spring due to storm damage.In that same area, Forge Creek Road has been closed due to storm damage back in December. This road is scheduled to re-open in mid-March according to the Park website.These road closings impact access to the Gregory Bald and the Gregory Ridge trailheads.JeffHikingintheSmokys.com...

75th Anniversary Weekend · cades cove · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Knoxville Symphony Orchestra · Senator Lamar Alexander

75th Anniversary Weekend in the Smokies

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Several events are scheduled for the 75th Anniversary Weekend in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Throughout the weekend, from June 13 through June 15, the Smith Family will be performing at the Smith Family Theatre. Prior to each show, a video clip of President Roosevelt dedicating the park will be shown. On June 13, a special performance...

Animal Planet · black bear · Courses · Ely · Field Study · Lynn Rogers · Minnesota · The Man Who Walks With Bears · Wildlife Research Institute · Workshops

Black Bear Field Study Workshops

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Looking for an interesting and educational alternative for a vacation this year? You may want to check out the Black Bear Field Study Course offered by the Wildlife Research Institute.The black bear workshops are lead by Lynn Rogers, Ph.D., and are designed for anyone interested in bears. You may have seen Dr. Rogers on the Animal Planet documentary "The Man Who Walks With Bears."The courses are designed...

Backpacker Magazine · Contest · Gear Tester

Want to be a Backpacker Mag Gear Tester?

Friday, March 13, 2009

Backpacker Magazine is currently running a contest on their website for a handful of its readers to become official Gear Testers for the magazine.If you happen to be one of the lucky winners, you’ll be given regular testing assignments over the course of a 12-month period. In addition to testing gear, you'll also have the opportunity to try your hand at writing reviews for both the magazine and Backpacker.com....

backpacking · circuit hikes · day hikes · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · hiking · loop hikes · loop trails · Smokies

15 Loop Hikes in the Smoky Mountains

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

On at least two separate occasions in recent months I’ve read in some hiking forum about a lack of loop trails in the Smoky Mountains. It’s possible that these individuals were referring to the lack of park designated loops. If that’s the case, then those people might have a point. However, there are many loop hikes that can be created by simply linking together multiple trails – in all areas of the...

Balsam Mountain · Great Smoky Mountains · Little Greenbrier · Parson Branch · Rich Mountain · Road · Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail · Seasonal Road Openings · Smokies

Seasonal Road Openings in the Smokies

Monday, March 9, 2009

1 comment

As a sure sign that spring in the Smokies is just around the corner, several of the seasonal roads in the Smokies will be opening again this weekend, provided, of course, that the region doesn’t experience any late winter snow storms.Beginning this Friday, March 13, the following seasonal roads will re-open:• Little Greenbrier Road – just outside of Wears Valley• Parson Branch Road - Buses, RVs and...

75th anniversary · East Tennessee Historical Society · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Pennies for the Park Exhibit

Pennies for the Park Exhibit: The Grassroots Campaign to Establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Sunday, March 8, 2009

In conjunction with the year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the East Tennessee Historical Society will be presenting Pennies for the Park Exhibit: The Grassroots Campaign to Establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Through compelling artifacts, graphics, and audio-visual programs, the Pennies for the Park Exhibit will highlight how the efforts...

best · photos · pictures · SummitPost

Best SummitPost Photos

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Check out this collection of photos from SummitPost. If you've never been to the "SP" website, you're definitely missing out. In addition to finding important information and details on hikes or climbing mountains around the world, the website has some outstanding personal adventure stories and some excellent photographs, all user submitted.Someone put together a "best of" collection of photos. On...

Campsite 86 · Fontana Marina Shuttle · Fontana Village · Hazel Creek · Lakeshore Trail · Ollie Cove Trail · trailhead

Attn: Hikers using the Fontana Marina Shuttle

Friday, March 6, 2009

I was made aware of this situation after reading Smoky Scout’s misadventure over the weekend. She found out the hard-way that the pick up location for the shuttle to Fontana Village has been re-located as a result of low water levels in Fontana Lake.Smoky Scout was forced to make an emergency bivouac in the Calhoun House as a result of the Park Service not posting any signs indicating a change in...

backpack · day hike · daypack · hiking · items · pack · Top 10 · Top Ten

Top 10 Items to have in your Backpack on a Day Hike

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Below is my list of the top ten things you should keep in your backpack on any day hike. Obviously you will need to make changes to your overall list based on weather conditions, season, terrain and length of trip, but generally speaking, these are the items I consider to be the most important to have on any day hike. 1) Orientation - Take a map and/or guide book with you. National Geographic’s Trails...

appalachian trail · hiking · Time Outdoors

The Appalachian Trail Season Kicks Off

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

It’s that time of year again. Days are finally just beginning to get a little warmer, flowers are starting to pop-up in the lower elevations of the southern mountains, and Appalachian Trail thru-hikers are starting to pound their first steps out of Springer Mountain as they make their way towards Mount Katahdin in Maine.One such hiker, Time Outdoors, a 35-year-old civil engineer from North Carolina,...

day hikers · leconte lodge · Lunch · mt. leconte

Lunch served for day hikers at LeConte Lodge

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Last summer, the National Park Service announced that it awarded the current operator of the LeConte Lodge a new 10-year contract. The most interesting aspect of the new contract is that, beginning this season, hikers will be able to purchase snacks, beverages and lunches at the Lodge. Up until the end of last season, only overnight guests were allowed to purchase meals at the lodge.Beginning on March...

Dale Ditmanson · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design · oconaluftee visitor center · Park Superintendent

Oconaluftee Visitor Center to be environmentally friendly

Monday, March 2, 2009