SOCIAL MEDIA

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Bicycling the Cades Cove Loop Road

Thursday, April 30, 2009

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Beginning next week, the Cades Cove Loop Road in the Great Smoky Mountains will become a bicycling friendly option for cyclists again. Every year during the summer months, the National Park Service closes the 11-mile, one-way loop to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10:00 a.m. in order to allow cyclists the opportunity to enjoy the cove without the hassle of dodging motorists....
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Roan Highlands better than the Smokies?

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

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Well, according to National Geographic's Adventure Magazine, the answer to that question is a resounding yes.In the lastest issue of Adventure, National Geographic ranked the top 50 Best American Adventures. Coming in at number 23 was “Hike the Roan Highlands,” which refers to a 48-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail between the Nolichucky River and U.S. Highway 19E.As you might expect, locals and...
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State Byway status for entire length of Newfound Gap Road

Monday, April 27, 2009

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Officials from Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced today on the park website that Newfound Gap Road has now been designated as a State Byway by both Tennessee and North Carolina. Newfound Gap Road (US 441), is the 34-mile link between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC.Earlier in the month, it was announced that the North Carolina section of the road was granted the designation. Now, Tennessee...
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Smokies Wilderness Elite Appalachian Trail Crew

Monday, April 27, 2009

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The Smokies Wilderness Elite Appalachian Trail Crew (S.W.E.A.T.) is the primary steward for the 30 most remote miles of the Appalachian Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Between June 1 and August 20 of this year, volunteers can join SWEAT and work in the heart of the largest and most beautiful wilderness area in the east.The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) trains professional trail...
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The Appalachian Trail in 20 Minutes

Saturday, April 25, 2009

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Check out the cool video of Bo Cox's thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail from last year. The video condenses his entire 2176-mile trek into just twenty minutes!I found this video, along with a couple of feature articles, on Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine's Appalachian Trail Guide.The Appalachian Trail 2008 Northbound from Bo Cox on Vimeo.If you have trouble viewing the video in this window, please click...
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75 Hikes on the 75th: May Schedule

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

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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 ten hikes scheduled for May:May 2. Rabbit Creek/Cooper Road /Little Bottoms /Hatcher Mtn. / Abrams...
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Further clarification of bear spray laws in national parks

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

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Yesterday I posted an article about bear spray being illegal in the Great Smoky Mountains and in other national parks. This information came to light after Chris Hibbard over at Your Smokies brought attention to the law after a discussion he had with one of the Supervisory Wildlife Biologists in GSMNP.A great deal of confusion was generated about the law because it is a known fact, or it is accepted,...
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GSMA pledges $1.9 Million to Smokies in 2009

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

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I just received my copy of the Great Smoky Mountains Association quarterly newsletter this past weekend. In this issue, which includes the GSMA Annual Report, they outlined how their $1.9 million pledge for 2009 will aid the park this year. Here are a few ways some of those funds will be distributed which will benefit hikers in the Smokies this year:* $154,000 will go to 40 Student Conservation Association...
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Is bear spray illegal in national parks?

Monday, April 20, 2009

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According to Chris Hibbard over at Your Smokies, the answer to that question is an emphatic yes. Chris recently learned of this law from one of the Supervisory Wildlife Biologists with Great Smoky Mountains National Park.The law reads as follows: (a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section and parts 7 (special regulations) and 13 (Alaska regulations), the following are prohibited:(i) Possessing...
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Smoky Scout hikes them all

Sunday, April 19, 2009

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I just wanted to send out a well deserved congratulation to Smoky Scout (Sharon) for her recent completion of all 800+ miles of trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She finished her mission exactly one year to the day from her first step onto a trail, which, coincidentally, happens to be her birthday.Smoky Scout took the final steps of her year-long odyssey last Saturday when she completed...
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The Synchronous Fireflies of Elkmont

Saturday, April 18, 2009

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Each June in the Elkmont area of the Great Smoky Mountains, a natural phenomenon occurs that continues to baffle scientists. During a two week window in late spring, thousands of lightning bugs flash in complete unison. The synchronous firefly show, which researchers have identified as a rare form of “simultaneous bioluminescence”, is a popular and growing attraction for the Smoky Mountains. Each...
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“Discovering New Life in the Smokies” Presentation

Thursday, April 16, 2009

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The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education will host a presentation this Saturday on the hundreds of new species being discovered in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.“Discovering New Life in the Smokies” will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Park Ranger Susan Sachs, Education Coordinator of the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center in the Park, will be showing some of the new...
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Cabin / Chalet Listings Expanding

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

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Just a quick note on our relatively new cabin and chalet page on our HikingintheSmokys.com website. We just wanted to take this time to announce that we have recently added several new listings to our site to assist you in planning your vacations and road trips to the Smoky Mountains.To see all of the listings on our website, please visit:www.hikinginthesmokys.com/cabins.htmOh yea, if you know of...
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Peak Wildflower Season in the Smokies

Monday, April 13, 2009

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It's already mid-April, which means that peak wildflower season is rapidly approaching in the Great Smoky Mountains.If you have any interest in taking part in the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage this year, you better make plans soon. The annual event will be taking place next week - from April 22 thru April 26. The pilgrimage is a five-day event consisting of a variety of wildflower, fauna, and natural...
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Birds eye view of nesting raptors

Saturday, April 11, 2009

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Check out the Bird Cams courtesy of Xcel Energy. This is an excellent opportunity to see nesting Bald Eagles, Great Horned Owls, Ospreys, Kestrels and Peregrine Falcons up-close, via streaming video and photos taken every two minutes. Since 1997, Xcel Energy has provided online Bird Cams of raptors nesting near one of their power plants in Colorado and Minnesota. The cams are provided in order to...
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Guess and win free gear!

Friday, April 10, 2009

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Calling all hikers familiar with the great American southwestern deserts: Backpacker Magazine just announced a new contest to name the remote national monument in the ariel picture below for a chance to win a Casio Pathfinder altimeter watch.Click here to find a few clues and to enter the contest.Good Luck!JeffHikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail...
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Appalachian Trail Festival 2009

Thursday, April 9, 2009

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The Biennial meeting of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) will be held July 17 - 24, 2009 at Castleton State College in Castleton, Vermont. In addition to the membership meeting of the ATC, the 37th biennial gathering of the Appalachian Trail community will features over 60 guided hikes, more than 50 workshops, excursions, bike trips, and a number of family-friendly events suitable for all ages.Among...
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Bradley Fork Hike with Carolina Mountain Club

Sunday, April 5, 2009

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As part of the Smoky Mountains 75th Anniversary celebration, the Carolina Mountain Club will be holding a series of three guided hikes on the North Carolina side of the Smokies this spring. All three hikes are free to the public.The first hike is on 4/26/2009 and will take you along the Bradley Fork Trail.Hikers will meet at 10 a.m. at the Bradley Fork Trailhead located at the far end of D loop in...
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The Mountain Sports Festival in Asheville

Saturday, April 4, 2009

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Mark your calendar for the weekend of May 29 to May 31 to be in Asheville NC to watch or participate in some challenging and adventurous competitions during the annual Mountain Sports Festival.Whether you’re a hardcore athlete or a newbie trying an event for the first time, the Mountain Sports Festival offers something for just about everybody. From intense trail running to laid-back disc golf, from...
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Smoky Mountains N.P. closes all caves to protect bats

Friday, April 3, 2009

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Officials of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have closed all caves over concern about a disease affecting bats.The National Park Service said the malady known as White-nose Syndrome has killed an estimated 400,000 bats in the Northeast. White-nose Syndrome is named for a white fungus that shows up on the faces of bats.The disease causes bats to come out of hibernation severely underweight...
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Park History: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Thursday, April 2, 2009

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The following article was originally published on the National Parks Traveler blog site. The article was written by Bob Janiskee, a frequent contributor to this excellent website that covers all aspects of all parks in our National Park system.Thanks to Kurt Repanshek, editor of the site, for allowing me to re-publish this article.Quite large as Eastern parks go – more than 800 square miles -- Great...
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National Junior Ranger Day in the Smokies

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park will celebrate the third annual National Junior Ranger Day on April 25, 2009 with special activities at the Park's three visitor centers.From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., children and their families can join in a variety of free hands-on activities, including searching for salamanders, making dinner bells at a blacksmith shop, historic toy making, weaving, wildflower...
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