The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog: November 2009

3000 Miles in the Great Smokies · books · gifts · Historic Photos of Appalachia · Map · Meditations from the Great Smoky Mountains · Sanctuary · Waterfalls of North Carolina

New Smoky Mountains related books

Monday, November 30, 2009

If you're looking for a great gift idea, or something new to add to your own reading list, there are a handful of books that have been published in recent months that you might be interested in:3000 Miles in the Great SmokiesAuthor Bill Hart has hiked, camped and fished in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 40 years. In over three thousand miles of walking, he has recorded his experiences...

Amazon · bargains · Christmas · Cyber Monday · deals · discounts · holiday season · shopping

Cyber Monday bargains guaranteed to save money

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Although Black Friday has already ended, Amazon has extended the best deals of the season through Monday to help you get your holiday shopping done for much less. Amazon is offering deep discounts on outdoor gear, electronics, books, video games, toys and more.Please help support HikingintheSmokys.com and keep the most comprehensive source of trail information in the Smoky Mountains free by shopping...

Arrowhead Loop Trail · Beech Mountain · Grass Gap Creek Trail · guided winter hikes · Red Fox · Sassafras Trail · Shawneehaw Overlook Trail · Smoketree Trail

Beech Mountain to offer free guided winter hikes

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Beech Mountain's Parks & Recreation Department will host a series of free, guided hikes this winter ranging from 1.6 to 2 miles on the mountain's designated trails.There are five hikes remaining on the schedule, all taking place on Tuesdays:Dec. 1: Grass Gap Creek Trail, 2 MilesDec. 29: Shawneehaw Overlook Trail, 2 MilesJan. 5: Red Fox/Arrowhead Loop Trail, 1.6 MilesFeb. 2: Sassafras Trail, 2...

Appalachian Trail Conservancy · ATC · invasive exotic plant workshop

ATC invasive exotic plant workshop

Saturday, November 28, 2009

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is seeking volunteers to participate in an invasive exotic plant workshop next Saturday, December 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. along the Appalachian Trail near Erwin, Tenn.The workshop will educate hikers and the general public about the threats of invasive exotic plants and how to identify 15 of the most threatening species in the region. The workshop will also involve...

Ed Wright · mount leconte

Ed Wright, a Mount LeConte Legend, passes away

Friday, November 27, 2009

Sadly, I’ve just learned that the Great Smoky Mountains has lost a dear friend.Many of you may have heard about or actually met Ed Wright while hiking to Mt. LeConte. Mr. Wright is famous for being the person to have hiked to the summit of LeConte on 1,310 occasions. Many of those hikes are documented on his website. It appears that his final attempt at reaching the summit occurred on June 20th of...

Dolly Parton · Sha-Kon-O-Hey · Trails Forever

Dolly Parton raises over $80,000 for Trails Forever

Thursday, November 26, 2009

The latest issue of the Cub Report from the Great Smoky Mountains Association is reporting that Dolly Parton has raised more than $80,000 for the Trails Forever program.The funds are being generated from the proceeds of Parton's latest CD, Sha-Kon-O-Hey.Sha-Kon-O-Hey was released back in February in conjunction with the 75th Anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The CD contains 8 new...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Le Conte's Sparrow · Smokies

First documented sighting of rare bird in Smokies

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The latest issue of the Cub Report from the Great Smoky Mountains Association is reporting the first documented sighting (and only the second siting ever) of a Le Conte's sparrow inside the Smokies. It was spotted and photographed (photo on right) by Benjamin Zank along the trail from the Sugarlands to Gatlinburg.The only previous sighting in the Smokies was in Cades Cove.The Le Conte's Sparrow is...

Black Friday · Christmas · deals · discounts · holiday season · shopping · Smoky Mountains books · specials

Support HikingintheSmokys.com this Holiday Season

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Black Friday is just days away…..so if by chance you’re looking for hiking gear or Smoky Mountains related books this Christmas and holiday season, I would really appreciate your support by shopping from our Amazon store at HikingintheSmokys.com.Even if you don’t find anything in our store, you can still help support our website by using the search function on the store page, which will take you to...

colorado · gilpin lake · Gold Creek Lake · hike · loop · mount zirkel wilderness area · Mt. Zirkel · Routt Divide Blowdown · Routt National Forest · Slavonia Trailhead · steamboat springs · trail

Hike Report: Gilpin Lake Loop

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The Gilpin Lake / Gold Creek Lake Loop in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area is an extremely popular hike; and for good reason. My wife, brother and I tackled this hike while on vacation in August of 2008.The Mount Zirkel Wilderness is located in north-central Colorado near the town of Steamboat Springs, and lies within the Routt National Forest. With the passing of the Wilderness Act in 1964, Mt. Zirkel...

Amazon Wish List sweepstakes · Beatles Rock Band · Blu-ray Disc Home Theater · High-Def Heaven · LCD HDTV · Nintendo Wii

Win a 55” LCD HDTV and Blu-ray Disc Home Theater

Monday, November 23, 2009

Amazon.com is offering customers a chance to win a Large 55-inch LCD HDTV and a Blu-ray Disc Home Theater, plus other goodies like a Nintendo Wii as well as the Beatles Rock Band for Wii.The approximate retail value of the Grand Prize is $3400.The prize package is part of the 10th anniversary of the Amazon Wish List sweepstakes. Each week during the holiday season customers will have a chance to enter...

Cobalt Lake · Dawson Pass · Glacier National Park · Grinnell Glacier · grizzly bears · Highline Trail · huckleberries · Iceberg Lake · Scenic Point · Serrano’s · Sperry Chalet

Glacier National Park: Fire and Rain

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Kathy and I made our first trip to Glacier National Park just as the region was beginning to sink into the grips of a long drought. Late summer also happens to be the peak fire season for the park in northwestern Montana.About midway through our vacation a couple of fires began to pop-up in and around the park, including one less than 10 miles outside of East Glacier, the town where we were staying....

Great Smoky Mountains · rangers

Smokies seeks to fill several Park Ranger positions

Friday, November 20, 2009

The Division of Resource and Visitor Protection at Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking to fill multiple GS-9 protection ranger positions.Rangers are provided with the full spectrum of law enforcement and resource protection activities. With 10 front country campgrounds recording more than 350,000 camper nights annually, 11 picnic areas and a major highway corridor from Gatlinburg to Cherokee,...

companion book · DVD · ken burns · National Parks · The National Parks: America's Best Idea

Amazon offering deep discounts on Burns' National Parks

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Earlier this fall, PBS aired Ken Burns' excellent documentary film, The National Parks: America's Best Idea. Hopefully all of you got a chance to watch it.The documentary is the story of an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence and just as radical: that the most special places in the nation should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone. It was filmed over...

Clingmans Dome Road · Repaving · Roaring Fork Road · seasonal road closing

Clingmans Dome and Roaring Fork Road Closings

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

On Tuesday, December 1, Clingmans Dome Road will be closed for the winter. This will impact access to several trailheads along the road, including; the Spruce-Fir, Road Prong, Sugarland Mountain, Fork Ridge, Noland Divide, Forney Creek, and Forney Ridge (Andrews Bald) trails.Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail will also be closing on December 1. Trails impacted by this road closing include; Trillium Gap,...

Amazon · books · hiking gear · Outdoor Recreation Store · smoky mountains · The Smoky Mountain Hiking Store

The Smoky Mountain Hiking Store is Open

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

With Christmas and the Holiday Season rapidly approaching, I just wanted to remind everyone that the Smoky Mountain Hiking Store is open for business! In addition to hiking gear and apparel from some of the best outdoor brands, we also have a large selection of books related to hiking, the Great Smoky Mountains and the surrounding region.Some new titles you may be interested in include; 3000 Miles...

Cataloochee · elk · poaching · Smokies

North Carolina man confesses to poaching elk in Smokies

Monday, November 16, 2009

A North Carolina man is facing charges for allegedly shooting an elk inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Last Friday rangers in the Smokies found a bull elk carcass lying along the edge of a pasture in the Cataloochee area.A lead on a vehicle led investigators to Granville County, North Carolina. A NPS Special Agent traveled to the county and located the suspect at his home. The individual...

appalachian trail · Carvers Gap · Cloudland Hotel · Grassy Ridge Bald · hike · Jane Bald · Rhododendron Gardens · Roan High Bluff · Roan High Knob · Roan Highlands · Roan Mountain · Round Bald

Hike to Grassy Ridge Bald on Roan Mountain

Monday, November 16, 2009

Grassy Ridge, along the eastern flank of Roan Mountain, is the longest stretch of grassy bald in the Appalachian Mountains, and is an easy hiking destination starting from Carvers Gap.Because of the massive size of Roan Mountain, let me explain a little bit about the geography of the area.First off, the Roan Highlands, traversed by the Appalachian Trail, is separate from Roan Mountain State Park,...

Chimney Tops Trail · Conquering the Chimney Tops · video

Conquering the Chimney Tops

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Another fine video from the Great Smoky Mountains Association. The video is about the ins and outs of climbing one of the most popular hikes in the Smokies:For additional information about hiking the Chimney Tops Trail, please click here.JeffHikingintheSmokys.comSmoky Mountain Rental Cabins Cabin and chalet listings in the Smoki...

2009 ATBI Conference · All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory · atbi · Discover Life in America · DLIA · Invasive Species: The Biggest Threat to Biodiversity?

Invasive Species: The Biggest Threat to Biodiversity?

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Discover Life in America is inviting supporters and admirers of Great Smoky Mountain National Park to join them on December 9-12 for the annual All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) conference titled, "Invasive Species: The Biggest Threat to Biodiversity?"DLIA will be holding the 2009 ATBI Conference this year in Gatlinburg, Tennessee at the Riverside Terrace Resort and Conference Center.This year's...

Outside Magazine · Outside Survival Quiz

Test Your Survival IQ

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Outside Magazine has an interesting little quiz on their website. The Outside Survival Quiz is designed to test your ability to survive in a number of situations - most of them in the wilderness.I found several of the questions to be very challenging - obviously - I only got 7 out of 14 right!To take the short quiz, please click here.So how did you do?> Today and tomorrow are your final opportunities...

Comet Tempel-Tuttle · Leonid meteor shower · November 17

Strong Leonid Meteor Shower expected Tuesday

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Night owls and early morning risers should circle November 17 on their calendars. Early that morning a moderate to possibly very strong showing of the annual Leonid meteor shower is likely to happen - weather permitting.Although the strongest displays will occur over Asia, a more modest, but still potentially enjoyable display of a few dozen Leonid meteors per hour is expected for North America. Observers...

BBC · cycling · Cycling the Americas · cyclist · Mark Beaumont

Catching up with Mark Beaumont

Friday, November 13, 2009

Earlier in the year I wrote a blog about a Scottish cyclist who had just embarked on a trek to ride a bicycle from Alaska to the southern tip of South America.In late May, Mark Beaumont began his epic journey to cycle from Anchorage, Alaska to Ushuaia in Southern Argentina.Before leaving Alaska, he took three weeks off his bike to climb Denali (Mount McKinley), reaching the summit on June 16th. He...

Arbor Day Foundation · tree identification · What Tree Is That?

What Tree Is That?

Friday, November 13, 2009

This past weekend I had a chance to take a recently published book out on test run at one of our local parks. The book is intended to help amateurs like me properly identify trees.What Tree Is That? is a new book published by the Arbor Day Foundation, the nonprofit organization dedicated to tree conservation, care, and education. This pocket-sized reference book is a user-friendly, step-by-step guide...

Danny Bernstein · Mountains-to-Sea Trail · North Carolina · Smoky Scout

Local bloggers tackle the Mountains-to-Sea Trail

Thursday, November 12, 2009

A couple of bloggers long-time readers of this blog will probably be familiar with have decided to tackle the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.Beginning in late October, Sharon (a.k.a., Smoky Scout), and author, Danny Bernstein began section hiking the entire MST. The two plan to complete trail, which crosses the state of North Carolina, over the course of the next two years.The Mountains-to-Sea Trail stretches...

Absaroka Range · Avalanche Peak · Eleanor Lake · grizzly bear · hike · hiking · trail · whitebark pine trees · Yellowstone National Park

Grizzly Encounter on Avalanche Peak

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

During the late summer of 2001, Kathy and I spent our vacation in Yellowstone National Park. One of our prime hiking destinations for the week was a climb up 10,566-foot Avalanche Peak, located about eight miles from the park’s east entrance. We put this hike at the top of our itinerary because it’s one of the higher peaks in Yellowstone, and it didn’t require any technical skills to reach the summit.Instead...

hike · mount leconte · Mt. LeConte Lodge

Leconte Lodge Seasonal Closing

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Another closing hikers should be aware of this time of year is with regards to the Mt. LeConte Lodge.Although overnight accomodations at the lodge have been booked full for the season for some time, day hikers can still enjoy the opportunity to purchase a sit-down lunch, or a sack lunch to go, at the top of the mountain.However, the lodge will close for the season after November 24, at which time...

Canon Photography in the Parks Photo Contest · Explorers of Light · Photo Expedition · Yellowstone · Yellowstone National Park

Win a Yellowstone Photo Expedition

Monday, November 9, 2009

Amazon.com is offering customers a chance to win a trip to Yellowstone National Park. In addition to the trip, the winner will also be awarded a Canon Photography equipment package, as well as a private lesson with Adam Jones, a leading photographer and instructor in Canon's "Explorers of Light" program.The approximate retail value of the Grand Prize is $18,600.The prize is part of the 10th anniversary...

Construction · foothills parkway · TN · Walland

Construction on Foothills Parkway

Monday, November 9, 2009

Park officials are advising hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders to be on the lookout for construction vehicles on a 9-mile unopened portion of the Foothills Parkway beginning this Thursday, November 12th.Although seldom used by motorized vehicles, the stretch of gravel road east of Walland, TN is popular with outdoorsmen.Construction work will go on Monday through Friday for six weeks ending December...

75th anniversary · Asheville · blue ridge parkway · Ceremonial Torch Passing · Cherokee Indians · concert · Gerard Baker · Nanci Griffith

The Passing of the Torch: Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Next weekend the Blue Ridge Parkway will kick off its 75th anniversary celebrations with several historical and symbolic events. The official anniversary, however, is actually next year.The highlight of the weekend will be the Ceremonial Torch Passing on Friday, Nov. 13, on the Blue Ridge Parkway outside Cherokee. A torch will be passed from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which celebrated...

cades cove · ceiling · churches · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · handprints · Primitive Baptist Church

Why are there handprints on the ceiling of the Primitive Baptist Church in Cades Cove?

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Why are there handprints on the ceiling of the Primitive Baptist Church in Cades Cove within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?The Great Smoky Mountains Association answers this question, along with others in their latest video that highlights the three remaining churches in Cades Cove:JeffHikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions,...

Entrance fees · Ken Salazar · National Parks · Secretary of the Interior · Veterans Day · waived

Entrance Fees Waived On Veterans Day

Saturday, November 7, 2009

To honor America’s service men and women, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has announced that areas managed by the department will not charge entrance fees on Wednesday, November 11th.Visitors to public recreation lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation are invited to take a day to honor and reflect on what...

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