SOCIAL MEDIA

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Cades Cove Loop to be closed for rehab for 10 weeks

Friday, July 31, 2009

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According to the Great Smoky Mountains Association Newsletter that was just delivered to my email in-box, the Cades Cove Loop Road is scheduled to be closed for rehab for 10 weeks in 2010.The road repair is scheduled to begin on or about March 1, 2010, and will conclude on or about May 15.During this time, the loop road will be closed to the public. Access beyond the gates will be prohibited. The...
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Wilderness First Aid offered in Henderson County

Friday, July 31, 2009

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Yesterday I mentioned that the Asheville-Mountain Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering Wilderness First Aid training later this month.I just found out through the Carolina Mountain Club that the American Red Cross of Henderson County will also be offering a Wilderness First Aid class next week, from August 7 through August 9. The class will be Friday night, all day Saturday and half...
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Appalachian Trail Conservancy Report from CMC

Friday, July 31, 2009

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Several members of the Carolina Mountain Club made the trip to Vermont a couple of weeks ago to attend the biennial meeting of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Yesterday the club posted a report from several members who attended. You can read highlights and their take on the conference by clicking here.JeffHikingintheSmokys....
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Red Cross offering wilderness first aid training

Thursday, July 30, 2009

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The American Red Cross is offering Wilderness First Aid training for those who work, live or play in remote areas where usual EMS service is not immediately available.The training will cover assessment and urgent first aid techniques, treatment of wounds, head and spinal injuries, extremity injuries, types of delayed help situations, and more.The two-day class will be from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on August...
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Smoky Mountains Trivia Quiz: Level 2

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

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About a week and a half ago I published a Smoky Mountains Trivia Quiz. A regular reader of this blog, The Juggler, was kind enough to post a link on the Knox News GoSmokies site. Several readers commented that they enjoyed taking the quiz, but most said that it was too easy.I took that as a challenge!So, I created a brand new quiz. I think you’ll find this one to be a little, or even much more challenging...
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75 Hikes on the 75th: August Schedule

Saturday, July 25, 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.Hikers are invited to hike one, some, or all the hikes on the calendar.Below are the eight hikes scheduled...
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The American Chestnut: Restoring Forest Majesty

Friday, July 24, 2009

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The American Chestnut: Restoring Forest Majesty, is the final in a series of seminars being held at Shenandoah National Park this year.The American chestnut once graced eastern forests in grand splendor. This mighty giant all but disappeared last century as a result of a fungus introduced from Asia. It’s estimated that the total number of chestnut trees in eastern North America was over three billion,...
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Are national parks no longer for the people?

Monday, July 20, 2009

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Kurt Repanshek over at the National Parks Traveler published a thoughtful article yesterday asking a couple of provoking questions: Are national parks no longer for the people? Have environmental groups succeeded in legally creating roadblocks to prevent their enjoyment?Mr. Repanshek posed these questions to his readers after reading a response to a New York Times column. The gentleman responding...
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Great Smokies Trivia Quiz: The Answers

Sunday, July 19, 2009

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Here are the answers from yesterday’s trivia questions:1. What name did the Cherokee Indians give to the Smoky Mountains?a) “Place of Blue Smoke”2. Roughly how many people visit the Smoky Mountains each year?b) 9 million3. High elevation balds such as Gregory Bald and Spence Field were used by early settlers for:a) Grazing cattle4. In what year was Great Smoky Mountains National Park established?a)...
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Great Smokies Trivia Quiz

Saturday, July 18, 2009

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The following is a semi-challenging list of Smoky Mountain trivia questions. Actually, people intimately familiar with the Smokies will probably find most of these questions to be fairly easy. However, there are a couple questions that may trip up even some of the most knowledgeable Smoky Mountain history buffs. Answers will be posted on this blog tomorrow. If you can’t wait until tomorrow, or if...
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Video: Black Bear Cubs

Friday, July 17, 2009

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Black Bear Cubs on the Blue Ridge Parkway:JeffHikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and mo...
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American Trails Survey

Thursday, July 16, 2009

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American Trails, the only national, nonprofit organization working on behalf of all trail interests, would like your opinion. They are asking all trail users and trail professionals to take a few minutes to complete an anonymous survey. If you fall under both categories, they invite you to take both surveys. Each will take only 5-10 minutes of your time. Your responses will help guide the organization...
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Canon Photography in the Parks Photo Contest

Thursday, July 16, 2009

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This is your chance to win a trip to the National Park of your choice (in the lower 48 states).Canon U.S.A. is currently holding its fourth annual Canon Photography In The Parks Photo Contest. The contest invites photography enthusiasts, from now to September 30th, 2009, to enter by submitting their "Inspirational Nature Images," the theme for this year's contest. Photos taken at any park or monument...
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Amazon.com Launches Outdoor Recreation Store

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

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Amazon.com today announced the launch of its Outdoor Recreation Store – a single shopping destination offering thousands of outdoor gear and apparel items from top-tier brands. Amazon.com’s growing selection is complemented by offerings available from leading outdoor merchants, including Altrec, Backcountry and Mountain Gear, and FREE Super Saver Shipping offers on thousands of eligible items.Shop...
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Grandfather Mountain closes several trails due to bears

Monday, July 13, 2009

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Well, it looks like the Great Smoky Mountains isn't the only park experiencing bear issues this year. An announcement on the Grandfather Mountain State Park website is stating that several trails had to be closed, until further notice, due to bear activity.The statement reads as follows:"The Grandfather Extension Trail, the Black Rock Trail and the Grandfather Trail from the Swinging Bridge to MacRae...
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1st Annual Discover Biodiversity at LeConte Lodge

Sunday, July 12, 2009

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Discover Life in America (DLIA), the non-profit organization coordinating the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) in the Great Smoky Mountains, is sponsoring a guided overnight hike to Mt. LeConte on August 15 - 16.The event will raise money for DLIA and the Smokies ATBI. Icluded in the package is a guided hike up the Alum Cave Trail, lunch on the trail, an evening sunset program at Cliff Top,...
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“Your Parks” video challenge

Saturday, July 11, 2009

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The National Park Foundation just announced their first “Your Parks” video challenge.The grand prize winner will win an exclusive, all-expense paid trip for two to the national park of his/her choice, an Olympus PEN camera kit, and a Federal Recreation Lands Pass.The National Park Foundation wants to know what America's National Parks mean to you. How do they inspire you? Why are they important? Why...
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Tennessee Trails sponsors Porters Creek Trail hike

Friday, July 10, 2009

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The Tennessee Trails Association will sponsor a moderate 7.4-mile hike tomorrow (Saturday) on the Porter Creek Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Interested hikers can meet at 9:30 a.m. at the trailhead. For more information, call 865-548-6171.For additional information on the Porters Creek Trail, including trail description, directions to the trailhead, elevaton profile and pictures,...
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Top 10 Waterfalls near Asheville's Blue Ridge Mountains

Thursday, July 9, 2009

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Readers of the popular online travel guide, RomanticAsheville.com, recently voted on what they consider to be the top 10 waterfalls in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Here's how the respondents voted:1. Sliding Rock: Each summer, thousands of children and adults slip and slide down this favorite natural, 60-foot cascade down a sloping boulder in the Pisgah National Forest.2. DuPont State...
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More volunteer science field days offered in Smokies

Thursday, July 9, 2009

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A couple of weeks ago, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced a new program that allows people to volunteer to become a citizen scientist for a day.Today, park officials announced three new events within the program scheduled to take place next week. They are:Stream Splashin' ScienceOn Monday, July 13, high school students, recent grads, and their families will have an opportunity to join...
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New Salamander Found in North Georgia Mountains

Thursday, July 9, 2009

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National Geographic is reporting that scientists have found a 2-inch-long salamander in a creek near a well-traveled road in northern Georgia.The newly named patch-nosed salamander, the second smallest salamander in the United States, is the first new genus of a four-footed creature found in the U.S. in 50 years! Of the approximately 560 salamanders in the world, 10 percent are found in Georgia's...
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Book store expands

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

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I just wanted to let everyone know that I recently reorganized the book listings in my online Amazon store and have added several more titles.You can find all of the classic books about the Smoky Mountains such as Our Southern Highlanders by Horace Kephart, or Out Under the Sky of the Great Smokies by Harvey Broome.Of course you can find a wide variety of guide books for the Smokies and the surrounding...
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Several new bear warnings posted in Smokies

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

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Based on this morning's update, there are now bear warnings at 9 backcountry campsites, 8 shelters and 5 trails in the Great Smoky Mountains. Additionally, there are still 4 backcountry campsites and 1 shelter that remain closed as a result of aggressive bear activity.Here's the full list of warnings and closings from the GSMNP website:Bear Warnings• Backcountry Campsites 6, 21, 24, 29, 34, 35, 36,...
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Training for a long hike

Monday, July 6, 2009

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So, you have a big hike lined up in a couple of weeks. You’ve done your research, you know how many miles you’ll be hiking, and you know how much elevation you’ll be climbing that day. But are you really ready? There’s nothing worse than getting half-way through a hike and feeling like you’ve already gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. You can avoid that feeling by doing a little training beforehand. What’s...
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Start a fire with your cellphone

Sunday, July 5, 2009

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Here's a good skill to know for anyone that ventures into the wilderness. If you're ever in an emergency situation where you need to start a fire, but don't have any matches, you can use your cell phone to start one. This short video from Backpacker Magazine shows you how to do it:JeffHikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features,...
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Fish for free tomorrow in all North Carolina waters

Friday, July 3, 2009

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The state of North Carolina is offering its annual free 4th of July fishing day again tomorrow.From 12:01 a.m. - 11:59 p.m. both residents and non-residents can fish in any public water in the state, including coastal waters, without the purchase of a fishing license or trout privilege license.For more information, please click here.JeffHikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky...
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Oconaluftee Visitor Center to host book signing

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be hosting author Danielle “Danny” Bernstein next Tuesday, July 7, at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, near the Cherokee, NC entrance.Bernstein has authored two books in recent years, including Hiking the Carolina Mountains, which she published in 2007.Her most recent guide, Hiking North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Heritage, was published earlier this year. The book...
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