Friday's Video

Friday, December 31, 2010

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What a great way to end the year by taking a few minutes to watch a year's worth of Smokies moments in just one short film. From snow covered mountains, to spring wildflowers, summer bugs and spectacular fall colors, and everything in between.

Thanks to the Great Smoky Mountains Association for putting this together:


© GSMA 2010. All rights reserved.


Have a safe and Happy New Year!


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Friends of the Smokies Needs List

Thursday, December 30, 2010

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I just received my email copy of the Know Before You Go newsletter from the Friends of the Smokies. In this issue they included a link to their "Needs List" as approved by their Board of Directors on November 8th.

This year Friends is looking to fund programs benefiting the Smokies that total more than $1.2 million. Many of the programs are probably very familiar to fans of the Great Smoky Mountains, such as the Elk Bugle Corps, suppression of the woolly adelgid infestation, and support for the Appalachian Bear Rescue.

However, there are several programs on their list that directly impacts hikers and backpackers. For instance, in 2011 they will need:

* $146,900 for the Trails Forever program. Apparently the Forney Ridge Trail is high on their list for rehab work this year. (this is also the largest line item on the list)

* $50,000 to rehab the Laurel Gap Shelter near Balsam High Top - this is the last of the 15 shelters to be remodeled in the Smokies.

* $38,700 for the Appalachian Trail Ridge Runner project.

* $25,000 for Student Conservation Association trail rehab projects.

* $4500 for the Black Bear Hiking Patrol (never heard of this one??).

* $4000 to install or improve food storage cable systems.

These six projects alone, that have a direct impact on hikers, represent more than 22% of the Friends Needs List for the upcoming year. If you're interested in helping out, Friends of the Smokies could always use your financial help.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Agreement reached on logging project just outside of Smokies

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The Southern Environmental Law Center announced yesterday that the U.S. Forest Service has agreed to limit logging in the Cherokee National Forest after several conservation groups raised concerns.

The logging project was originally proposed for about 355 acres in the watershed of Big Creek, a tributary of the French Broad River. The area is located northeast of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Interstate 40, and near Max Patch, a popular high-elevation bald just over the state line in the neighboring Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. At the heart of the watershed lies the rugged Laurel Mountain area, which provides important backcountry wildlife habitat. It's also part of the relatively remote forest stretching between the Smokies and the Bald Mountains in the Cherokee and Pisgah national forests.

Under the agreement reached this week, the Forest Service will withdraw all logging in the Laurel Mountain area, thus avoiding many steep slopes and the most remote places where access and logging would be difficult, infeasible or damaging. Restricting logging in the area ensures protection for core wildlife habitat, rare natural communities, and sensitive higher elevation areas on Laurel Mountain. In the areas remaining for timber harvest, the agreement clarifies the Forest Service's limits on logging operations on steep slopes.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Wilderness First Responder Course

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Do you know how to respond to backcountry emergency situations? The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont will be offering a week-long course next month for anyone interested in wilderness travel or in emergency medical training.

The course offers hands-on training for dealing with bites, burns and other injuries. It will also teach participants how to manage conditions brought about from extreme temperatures and other outdoor emergencies.

Instructors from Roane State Community College will be leading the program. The program will take place from Sunday evening, January 16, to the following Sunday afternoon, January 23. You should note that all participants are required to have completed Professional Level CPR before attending, or CPR for the Healthcare Provider.

Interestingly, participants are also required to bring 2 sets of clothing that can be destroyed in scenario training.

The cost is $795, and includes meals, lodging, and instruction. Advance registration required.

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is an educational partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tremont is a non-profit environmental education center that provides programs that celebrate ecological and cultural diversity, foster stewardship, and nurture appreciation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

For additional information on the course, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Sharp drop in visits for Smokies in November

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

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The Great Smoky Mountains National Park reported a sharp decline in visitation for the month of November. Overall, the number of visitors dropped 12.4% for the month, with Gatlinburg reporting the largest decline, a drop of 25.3%, when compared to November of 2009.

The Townsend entrance was down 12.3%, while the Cherokee entrance saw a decline of 2.5%. Fortunately the park's 13 outlying entrances reported an increase of 5.3%.

For the year-to-date, through the end of November, visitation to the Smokies is up 1.7%.

Comparatively, recreational visitation on the Blue Ridge Parkway was up 0.7% for November, but is down 8% for the YTD.

Shenandoah National Park is having a great year. Visitation was up 20.3% for November, and 11.1% for the YTD.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Top Hiking Towns

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

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The folks over at besthike.com recently concluded a series of posts outlining their Top 10 Hiking Towns in the world. Many of the towns on their list I had never heard of, but if you’re a world traveler this series would certainly provide some great ideas for future hiking trips.

Since only one town from the United States (Moab, Utah) made the list, I thought I would offer my own list of hiking towns. This isn’t intended to be a “top 10” list, rather just a brief run-down on some of the hiking towns I’ve visited during my travels.

Favorite hiking towns:

Ouray, CO: This cool little western town in the heart of “Little Switzerland” provides easy access to arguably some of best hiking in Colorado. Two of my all-time favorite hikes are within a 20 minute drive of town: Blue Lakes and the Horsethief Trail.

Damascus, VA: An extremely friendly town that makes a great base for hikes in the Mt. Rogers area. There’s a small diner on the eastern edge of town that serves the best pancakes I’ve ever had (sorry, but I can’t remember the name).

East Glacier, MT: Admittedly, there isn’t much of a town here, but it does have one of the best Mexican restaurants I’ve ever been to. Make sure to leave room for dessert - they serve Huckleberry Pies that are out of this world. Serrano’s is a great way of rewarding yourself after a great day of hiking in the Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park.

Asheville, NC: Can you consider Asheville a hiking town? It’s a little big to be called a town, and you could argue that it isn’t necessarily close to any of the great hiking in western North Carolina. However, if you think Asheville is deserving of the “hiking town” title, chalk this up as a favorite of mine.


Towns I need to spend more time in next time:

Cooke City, MT: Just outside of the northeastern corner of Yellowstone is the laid back, old western town of Cooke City. Not only does it provide access to America’s oldest national park, but it also sits on the western terminus of the Beartooth Highway, a road Charles Kuralt once said was the most beautiful drive in America.

Bryson City, NC: Unfortunately I haven’t spent any time here other than passing by on my way to a few hiking excursions in the Deep Creek area. Bryson seems to have the most character out of any of the towns bordering the Smokies.

Moab, UT: I know this is supposed to be a great little town for outdoor types. I did spend a night here several years ago. We arrived after midnight and couldn’t find a hotel, but someone told us we could set up camp on the outskirts of town. Apparently there must have been something going on that night because there were several other campers squatting in the same place which we called “Hooverville.” The next day we moved on and used the outstanding campground in nearby Dead Horse Point State Park as are base for hikes in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Since we don’t camp all that much anymore, Moab would be the best place to stay next time we visit the red rock desert region of Utah.

Fairplay, CO: We just discovered this town this past fall after a hike up to Quandary Peak. The town is an absolute hidden gem. Although it plays up its association with the popular South Park animated sitcom, it’s really a small, laid-back rustic town with an old west vibe.

Grand Lake, CO – Grand Lake sits on the western side of the less visited Rocky Mountains National Park. Compared to Estes Park, I guess you could call this the “Peaceful Side of the Rockies.”


Other towns I like:

Townsend, TN: The “Peaceful Side of the Smokies” is far more relaxing than that town 15 miles east of here. I would also argue that the food is better here as well.

Taos and Santa Fe NM: Two towns (well, Santa Fe is really a city) that provide access to some great hiking in the Sangro de Cristo Mountains.

Leadville, CO: Funky little old mining town with some great food and access to some great hiking in the heart of Colorado.


Over-crowded and over-commercialized:

Gatlinburg and Estes Park, CO fall into this category. Both towns aren’t that bad during the off season, but during the summer months I find my blood pressure and stress levels moving north.

Over-rated, overly pretentious and no soul:

Vail, Aspen, Breckinridge and Boulder. Yes, they’re all basically Colorado ski towns in the winter, but they all provide access to some great hiking in the off season. For me, however, there’s absolutely nothing that could convince me to stay longer than it takes to fill-up my gas tank. Unfortunately Jackson, WY has also succumbed to the avalanche of big money as well - much of it from Hollywood types.

Feel free to add your own thoughts or comments on any these towns, or, give a shout out to any of your own favorites that aren’t on this list.





Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Outdoor Gear year-end clearance sales

Monday, December 27, 2010

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All the major outdoor gear retailers are advertising their big year-end clearance sales right now. Here's a quick run down on a few of the sales in case you're looking to save on some new outdoor gear and apparel for the new year:

> The Sierra Trading Post is offering an extra 20-30% off on more than 6000 items. This is on top of their every day savings on all the top name brands.

> REI is offering savings of up to 30% on selected outerwear, sweaters, backpacks, CamelBak, camping gear, cycling gear, and more during their Holiday Clearance Sale. This includes all the top brands such as Marmot, Smartwool, North Face and Patagonia, as well as REI-Brand gear.

> You can save up to 70% during Altrec's Big Chill Sale.

> And Backcountry.com is offering up to 40% off during their After Christmas Sale. This includes camping, skiing and snowboarding gear.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Snow closes most roads in Smokies

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The winter storm that dumped more than a foot of snow in the higher elevations of the Smokies has forced the closure of most of the roads in the park. The following are the current road closures:

• Newfound Gap Road
• Little River Road
• Laurel Creek Road to Cades Cove
• The Gatlinburg By-Pass
• Cherokee Orchard Road at the Park Boundary
• Greenbrier Entrance Road
• Cataloochee Entrance Road
• Toms Branch Road
• Cosby Entrance Road
• Lakeshore Drive
• Old NC-284 between Big Creek and Cataloochee

As of 7:30 this morning the National Weather Service website is reporting 15 inches of snow on the ground at Mt. LeConte, 10 inches at both the Sugarlands and Oconaluftee Visitor Centers, and 9 inches in Cades Cove. You can view a couple of photos from Mt. LeConte from the lodge blogsite.

If you prefer warmer weather, help is definitely on the way! Temps are supposed to hit 60 degrees in Gatlinburg this coming Saturday.

To stay up-to-date on weather forecasts and conditions in the Smokies, click here.

For the latest road reports, click here or call the park office at (865) 436-1200.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Win a Dream Job as a Backpacker Field Scout

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Here's another opportunity to get paid for hiking. This isn't just any other hike either. This can be any hiking destination you can think of - your dream hike.

All you need to do is convince Backpacker Magazine that your planned adventure is the best, and that you have the trip-recording skills (GPS, photo, video) to share it with readers. The winner will land an assignment as a Backpacker field scout, and the magazine will send him or her - and a partner - on a trek anywhere in the Lower 48.

As an added bonus, the winner and the top four runners-up will receive a KEEN prize package as well.

All you need to do to enter is tell Backpacker where you want to go and why you’re the best hiker for the job. Just email an essay (300 words maximum) or a link to a personalized video (5 minutes maximum) or web page to Backpacker Magazine by January 15th.

For more information, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Vote on the Share Your Adventure Video Contest

Sunday, December 26, 2010

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Sierra Trading Post is now in the process of the final leg of their "Share Your Adventure" Video Contest. Late last week they announced their Phase 3 winners, and now final voting begins for the best adventure video. The best video, chosen by the public, will win a $2,500 Grand Prize.

Voting closes Dec. 29 for the 15 finialists, and Sierra will announce the Grand Prize Winner on Dec. 30.

Here's a sample video from one of the finalists:




To see all the videos and to vote, please click here. Make sure you check out the "Awesome Man on the Hunt" video in the Phase 1 winners grouping.....


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Merry Christmas from the Smokies

Friday, December 24, 2010

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Hope you all have a Merry Christmas this weekend. Here are a few snow scenes from the Smokies to help you get into the Christmas spirit:




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Civil War-era Santa

Thursday, December 23, 2010

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Check out the NPS photo below of the portrayal of Santa Claus during the Civil War.

Park volunteer Kevin Rawlings plays an 1862 version of Santa during his recent annual appearance at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. His costume was inspired by an old Harpers Weekly rendition of Kris Kringle by artist Thomas Nast.

Decked out in the stars and stripes, the old-time Santa appears to be a combination of St. Nick and Uncle Sam:





Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Shenandoah Historical Timeline

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On July 3rd, 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated Shenandoah as a national park in a ceremony at Big Meadows. This year will mark the 75th anniversary of the park.

Just as the Great Smoky Mountains did last year, Shenandoah National Park has published a special website for its 75th Anniversary. Since launching the site the park has been steadily adding content, such as upcoming events. And, just recently, they added a park timeline.

Right now the timeline content isn't as rich as that of the Smokies site, but it could very well be that they intend to add more as time goes by. For those that wish to learn a little more about the Park's history, this is a pretty good starting point. It's an easy way to find out some of Shenandoah's most important moments, such as when a large chunk of the Park was declared a Wilderness Area.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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The Monowalker

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

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How many times have you said, "Man, why didn't think of that?!"

Introducing the Monowalker:

Although climbers, photographers and hunters would find this useful, the Monowalker is specifically geared towards hikers, trekkers and backpackers who want to hike without weight on their shoulders. Instead of busting your back and shoulders to the next campsite, the Monowalker places all of the weight of your equipment on your hips and on the back wheel of the contraption.

The makers of the Monowalker claim they haven't found one trail in the Alps that has stopped the Monowalker from following them - this includes scree and root covered trails.

The device even comes with disk brakes, allowing you to take a breather on steep inclines without having to worry about the Monowalker pulling you downhill.

Cross-country cyclists use trailers all the time to carry their gear. This is a logical extension of this concept. To me, this seems like a great idea, and potentially could get more people into the backcountry.

I bet this guy could make a lot money in Nepal with this!


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Winter Road Closures in the Chattahoochee National Forest

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Forest Service officials of the Chattahoochee National Forest are planning to close some roads on the Conasauga Ranger District this winter. The closures will begin on January 3, 2011 and last until mid-March. As a result, the Grassy Mountain, Lake Conasauga, Betty Gap, and Three Forks areas will be inaccessible by vehicle.

The roads that will be closed are West Cowpen Road (FS 17) at the intersection with Mill Creek Road (FS 630); Potato Patch Road (FS 68) at Potato Patch Mountain; and Three Forks Road (FS 64) at Potato Patch Mountain and Jacks River Fields Campground.

District Ranger Michele Jones explained, “The constant freezing and thawing of the roads at these high elevations causes the roadbeds to become soft, resulting in rutting and significant damage to the roads from vehicle traffic. These roads are also a public safety hazard in the winter because they become extremely dangerous when covered with ice and snow. These closures are needed to protect resources and public safety.”

The road closures will impact trailheads leading into the Cohutta Wilderness Area. You can click here for a map of the impacted area.

You may also want to note that the Glassy Mountain Road/Forest Service Road 11 in Rabun County will be closed to thru traffic during the week thru 30 March 2011. This action is due to a daylighting and hazard tree removal project. Further information can be obtained by calling the Chattooga River Ranger District Office at 706-754-6221


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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National Park Foundation: Countdown to Christmas Sweepstakes

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

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The National Park Foundation has just launched the Countdown to Christmas sweepstakes. From December 20 through December 25, the National Park Foundation will be celebrating the holiday season by giving away exciting prizes to three lucky entrants daily. By going to the National Park Foundation Facebook page, visitors can enter to win one of eighteen National Park Foundation prize packs.

Some of the exciting prizes to be given away include the “America the Beautiful” park pass, Magellan GPS units, Olympus cameras, and LL Bean active wear. For easy reference, the prize packs will be listed on the National Park Foundation Facebook site daily.

For full sweepstake rules, description of prizes, and to enter, go to the National Park Foundation Facebook page.



Jeff
Smoky Mountains Day Hiker Store
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Smokies Biologist Receives National Recognition

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Supervisory Fisheries Biologist Steve Moore was recently recognized with two national awards for his leadership in native trout stream restoration at the Smokies and in national parks across the nation. Moore recently received the Aldo Starker Leopold Medal by the Wild Trout Symposium and the Trout Unlimited Trout Conservation Professional Award.

Both awards recognized Moore’s over 25 years of achievement in restoring populations of native brook trout to streams in the Smokies, and assisting with other projects including the restoration of bull trout to Crater Lake National Park (Ore.) and to North Cascade National Park (Wash.) and restoring Bonneville cutthroat trout to Great Basin National Park (Nev.). Throughout the country, a combination of habitat degradation and extensive stocking of non-native fish species, have taken a heavy toll on numerous species of native trout, which typically require cold, clear, pristine water for survival. In many cases streams that may have been degraded by siltation or pollution in past years have been cleaned up, but the native trout still need a helping hand to return.

According to Deputy Park Superintendent, Kevin FitzGerald, “One of the core missions of national parks is to preserve natural biodiversity which sometimes means restoring native plant and animal species which have been displaced from their historic homes by earlier human impacts. “

“In our case, the brook trout was the only native species of trout in the Smokies, but they were crowded out of all but the most isolated high-elevation streams when – with the best of intentions – logging companies and early park managers released rainbow and later brown trout into Park streams in the early 20th Century.”

In the Smokies the brookies that remain in the headwaters face a double threat. They are squeezed between heavy competition from rainbows and browns downstream, and airborne acid deposition upstream that has made the water too acidic to support trout. The key to preserving the Appalachian brook trout is to remove the non-native trout from selected segments of lower-elevation streams and then to assist the brookies in moving downstream into less acidic waters.

To be suitable for restoration, a stream segment must have a record of a pure brook trout population in the past and a waterfall or other barrier at the lower end that prevents non-native fish from returning back upstream. Restoration of each segment involves removal of the non-natives through either electro-shocking and/or chemicals. Over the last 24 years of the Park’s Brook Trout Restoration Program Park biologists, assisted by a small army of state fishery managers and volunteers from Trout Unlimited, have restored a total of 24.1 miles of stream to brook trout habitat.

Restoring each segment involves close coordination of 20 or more biologists and volunteers who string nets, electro-shock and relocate the non-natives, add and monitor the chemicals used and add neutralizing agents at the lower end of the segment being restored.

“Stream restoration is such a complex and labor-intensive process that the Park could never even attempt it without the financial support and/or hands-on assistance of all the neighboring entities such as Trout Unlimited, Tennessee Brookies, Friends of the Smokies, and the Tennessee and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commissions.” FitzGerald said. “Steve has become nationally-recognized master of planning these restoration projects and brokering together a huge number of partners to get them done. We welcome this opportunity to acknowledge this well deserved recognition of Steve and show our appreciation to all the partners that he has brought into the mix over the years.”


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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The Prize of a Lifetime

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The Prize of a Lifetime. That's what the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race photographic competition is being billed as.

The Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race takes place February 8-16, 2011. Adventure racers receive minimal assistance as they traverse through Chile's pristine southern Patagonia region by means of trekking, climbing and related rope work, kayaking, mountain biking, and backcountry navigation. They often cover hundreds of kilometers without seeing a soul.

This year event organizers are running a contest to find someone to add to their official photography team. The winner will have the opportunity to travel to Patagonia and be an official photographer for The Wenger Patagonia Travel Race. The prize package includes flights, accommodations, and ground transport to follow the race.

All you need to do is complete an entry form and upload three of your best images to prove to the committee that you are the person they're looking for. Just click here for more information and to enter.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Last Minute Gift Solutions

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What gift is always the perfect size, color and ideal for every occasion? A Gift Card of course!

So, for you last minute shoppers, here are a couple of gift solutions to save the day:

Outdoor gear and apparel company, Patagonia, offers both E-Gift Cards and Traditional Gift Cards. Their E-Gift Cards are delivered free of charge via email within 24 hours of purchase, and their traditional Cards are mailed for free via U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail:



Top brand outdoor gear seller, Backcountry.com, offers electronic “Gear” Certificates that can be sent via email to anyone at anytime:



If you prefer to send a gift card from a store that offers more than just outdoor gear, check out Amazon.com. They offer email, Facebook, printable, as well as physical gift cards. The electronic versions of their gift cards are sent immediately, and you can receive free one day shipping on their physical cards. Another benefit with using Amazon gift cards is that they have several designs to choose from:





Jeff
Smoky Mountains Day Hiker Store
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Total eclipse of full moon tonight

Monday, December 20, 2010

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Weather permitting, almost anyone in North America will be able to see a total lunar eclipse of the full moon tonight.

Moreover, tonight's eclipse will fall on the same day as the winter solstice, the first such occurrence since 1638.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon, Earth, and the sun all line up, with Earth in the middle.

Around 1 a.m. EST tonight the Earth will begin casting a faint shadow on the moon. The shadow will continue to advance until the total eclipse, which is expected to begin at 2:41 a.m. EST, and will last for a little over 70 minutes.

For all those night owls and amateur astronomers out there, hopefully you'll have some clear skies in your neck of the woods tonight!

For a better understanding of what to expect tonight, please click here.


"There is no dark side of the moon really.
Matter of fact it's all dark."



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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A Touch of Snow in the Great Smoky Mountains

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A Touch of Snow in the Great Smoky Mountains is the latest video from the Great Smoky Mountains Association. If you haven't had a chance to make it to the Smokies in the last couple of weeks to see some of the beautiful winter scenes, this video provides a quick look at some of the falling snow near Maloney Overlook on Little River Road:




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Up to 70% off on Columbia Sportswear

Saturday, December 18, 2010

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For today only Altrec.com is offering up to 70% off on all Columbia Sportswear.

This includes fleece, jackets, base layers, convertible hiking pants, shorts, and all the apparel you need to keep you warm and dry on the trail this winter.

The sale includes discounts on their Omni-Tech waterproof-breathable line of gear, their Titanium Premium Series of outdoor apparel, and their Omni-Grip Premium Footwear series.

This sale ends tonight at midnight PST.

Altrec is also offering 2 Day Free shipping through 12/20/10. The coupon code for this offer is Holidayair.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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The ultimate hiking gigs?

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For those looking to get paid while pursuing their passion for hiking, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is now accepting applications for seasonal Ridgerunner and Caretaker positions on the Appalachian Trail.

ATC Ridgerunners are assigned to hike specific sections of the A.T., while Caretakers remain at specific overnight sites. The ATC is looking for candidates who can work independently, with minimal supervision, as well as cooperatively as a member of a team.

The ATC is also looking for crew leaders. Seasonal volunteer trail crews perform large-scale trail construction, treadway rehabilitation, and resource-management projects to assist local clubs and public agencies (such as the US Forest Service and the National Park Service) in managing the Appalachian National. Trail crews are staffed with two paid crew leaders (Crew Leader and Assistant Crew Leader) and a crew (8-10 volunteers) and operate from a centrally-located base camp, traveling to sites on a weekly/biweekly schedule to complete projects.

For more information on these and other positions, please click here.


> Amazon is offering FREE Super Saver Shipping in time for Christmas through Sunday.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Geminid meteor shower photos

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Check out the photos of the Geminid meteor shower from earlier this week on the National Geographic website.

The five photos were taken from different spots around the world, but the article stated that in the United States, between about 12:30 and 4:30 a.m., as many as three to five meteors per minute were seen!


Jeff
Smoky Mountains Day Hiker Store
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Porters Creek Trail temporarily closed

Friday, December 17, 2010

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Park officials just posted a blurb on their website that the log footbridge on the Porters Creek Trail above its junction with Brushy Mountain is damaged. They ask not to use the trail until the bridge has been repaired.

I assume they mean only the portion above the Brushy Mountain junction is closed.


Jeff
Smoky Mountains Day Hiker Store
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Friday's Video

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Follow along vicariously with a couple that spent three days exploring some of the most rugged and remote country in Wyoming's Wind River Range. Amy and Forrest McCarthy covered over 50 miles - much of it off trail - that took them to Indian Pass, Alpine Lakes Pass, Angel Pass, Mount Douglas, Knife Point Mountain, as well as Wyoming's highest unnamed and most obscure 13,000-foot peak:




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Top Unique Reasons for Hiking in the Southern Appalachians

Thursday, December 16, 2010

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What makes hiking in the Southern Appalachian Mountains so special? Or, put another way, what are the things that make hiking in the Southern Appalachians unique?

I’ve been giving these questions some thought for sometime now, and have come up with a list of eight reasons that set the Southern Appalachians apart from the rest of the country. I must admit that some of these are not totally unique, but nonetheless are fairly rare, thus making them distinctive in terms of a hiking feature.

Here’s my list, in descending order:

8) Roan Mountain Goats: Grassy balds in the Great Smoky Mountains, such as Gregory and Andrews, require occasional mowing in order to prevent trees from reclaiming them. On Roan Mountain, however, they use goats!

For the last three years scientists have been testing the use of goats as a measure for keeping the more than 1000 acres of grassy balds in tact. The use of goats may help Roan Mountain in two ways: they appear to be far more economical than mowing, and there’s speculation that goats will actually help promote the germination of the rare Gray's Lily wildflower.

Known as the “Baa-tany Goat Project,” the goats are surrounded by a solar-powered electric fence from July thru September. The enclosure covers a one-half to one acre plot, and is moved every week or two as the goats deplete the vegetation growth.

For the past couple of years the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has been leading guided Goat Hikes on Roan Mountain, thus offering the public an excellent opportunity to see the goats in action and learn about their role in preserving the grassy balds.

7) Fire Lookout Towers: The Southern Appalachians are littered with old fire towers, remnants of a bygone era when rangers climbed their perches to look for wildfires in their respective patrol areas. Most of the towers were abandoned in the 1960s when it was decided that planes could monitor the mountains more economically.

Today, fire lookout towers have become popular hiking destinations, thanks in part to Peter Barr, author of Hiking North Carolina’s Lookout Towers, and the Carolina Mountain Club’s official hiking challenge of reaching 24 lookout towers in Western North Carolina. Many of the towers are still accessible, allowing hikers to soak in the 360-degree views from their prominent vantage points.

Some of the more notable fire towers in the Southeast in terms of architecture include Duckett Top Lookout Tower on Rich Knob in the Pisgah National Forest, Wayah Bald in the Nantahala National Forest, and of course the Mt. Cammerer fire tower in the Smokies.

6) Trail Days in Damascus: Trail Days is the annual Woodstock for hikers. It’s the mother of all hiking gatherings. It’s a celebration of all things Appalachian Trail. And it all happens in tiny Damascus, Virginia, also known as Trail Town, USA where the Appalachian Trail, the Virginia Creeper and the Iron Mountain Trail slice through the middle of town. Each year Damascus becomes the destination point for thousands of thru-hikers, veteran hikers and those who just love hiking and the Appalachian Trail. Trail Days is recognized as the largest trail event in the world, and many A.T. thru-hikers will time their hike in order to be in town in mid-May for the annual three day festival.

5) The LeConte Lodge: Although there are a handful of other national parks that offer hike-in lodging, one of the great traditions in the Great Smoky Mountains is overnighting in the lodge sitting near the top of 6,593-foot Mount LeConte. For those that don’t like backpacking, the lodge offers an excellent opportunity to enjoy a backcountry experience in relative luxury (compared to roughing it!). The LeConte Lodge also has a sister lodge at Big South Fork (Charit Creek) where the only access is hiking in as well. One other backcountry lodge in the southeast worth mentioning is the Len Foote Hike Inn at Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia.

4) Azaleas, Mountain Laurel & Rhododendron: One of the great annual events in the Southern Appalachians is the spectacular Azalea, Mountain Laurel and Rhododendron blooms of late spring. For some of the best examples of these beautiful displays of Mother Nature, hike up to Gregory Bald in mid-to-late June to check out the world famous Azaleas that grow atop the 10-acre bald. Spence Field near Rocky Top has the finest display of Mountain Laurel that I’ve ever seen. Early-to-mid June is the best time to visit when they’re usually reaching peak bloom. For Rhododendron, your best bet is Roan Mountain which has the largest natural rhododendron garden in the world. Count on peak blooms arriving around mid-to-late June.

3) Natural Bridges & Sandstone Arches: With places like Arches and Canyonlands National Park, it’s likely that Utah is more synonymous with natural bridges in the minds of most people. However, hikers shouldn’t forget the abundance of natural bridges and sandstone arches that permeate the Southern Appalachians. The Red River Gorge Geological Area in the Daniel Boone National Forest has over 100 natural arches, making it the greatest concentration of arches east of the Rocky Mountains. The Big South Fork region also contains one of the highest concentrations of natural bridges in the eastern U.S., including the largest sandstone arches in the east. Other notable arches include Natural Bridge in Virginia - a National Historical Landmark, and Sewanee Natural Bridge in Tennessee.

2) The Appalachian Trail: It may not be the longest anymore, nor the most scenic, but it will always be the most iconic trail in the world. The Appalachian Trail, America's first National Scenic Trail, is one the most popular trails for day-hikers and thru-hikers alike. An estimated 4 million people hike at least part of it each year. My guess is that most of them know it’s one of the best ways to see and explore the scenic wonders of the Appalachian Mountains.

1) Grassy Balds: One of the great mysteries of the Southern Appalachians is whether or not the treeless mountain tops and ridges, known as “balds,” are natural or if they were manmade. For hikers, does it really matter? Balds provide outstanding vantage points for sweeping panoramic vistas of the Appalachian Mountains. Some of the balds with the best views in the Smokies include Gregory, Andrews, Spence Field and Rocky Top. Outside of the Smokies, hikers should check out Roan Mountain, Max Patch, Mt. Rogers, Shining Rock, Cheoah Bald, Big Bald or Black Balsam.

So, Southern Appalachians hikers, are there any others that need to be added to this list?




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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One Day NOC Sale on Backpacks

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For today only, the Nantahala Outdoor Center is offering 31-39% off on Deuter Backpacks: the ACT Lite 45, ACT Lite 40, Fox 30, and Fox 40 models.

---------------------------------------------

Altrec.com Deals:

* Marmot Jacket Sale - Save up to 20% on some Marmot Jackets.

* As part of their 12 Days of Deals campaign, Altrec.com is offering 30% - 80% off on select ski wear - today only - sale ends tonight at midnight PST.

* Altrec is also offering 2 Day Free shipping through 12/20/10. The coupon code for this offer is Holidayair.

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Jeff
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It's official: The A.T. is now 2181 Miles

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

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The Appalachian Trail Conservancy just announced in the new 2011 Appalachian Trail Data Book that the official length of the Appalachian Trail is now 2,181.0 miles. Relocations and re-measurements in 2010 meant an additional 1.9 miles for the legendary pathway.

Every December, the latest mileage and shelter information for the 11 official guides is updated from volunteers who are constantly improving the trail, with volunteer Daniel D. Chazin of Teaneck, N.J., pulling it all together since 1983. This year, increases were reported for Massachusetts–Connecticut (0.2 mile), New York–New Jersey (0.9 mile), central Virginia (0.1 mile), and Tennessee–North Carolina (0.9 mile), while the southwest Virginia mileage was reduced by 0.1 mile.

“The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s 2011 Data Book is an essential planning resource for any Appalachian Trail hiker; whether they are out for a day hike or hiking the entire length from Maine to Georgia,” stated Brian B. King, Publisher of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Each year, the $6.95 Appalachian Trail Data Book is a top-selling official guide to the longest continuously marked footpath in the world — it condenses into 96 pages the high points of the series of guidebooks and maps. Information is presented at a glance in the same geographic units as the guides, with elevations for major points. Shelters, campsites, water sources, road crossings, supply sources, off-trail lodging, eateries, and post offices are all easy to identify in the Data Book.

For more information about the 33rd edition of the Appalachian Trail Data Book or to purchase a copy, please click here.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Almost all roads in Smokies still closed

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The winter storm that passed through the Smokies over the weekend still has most of the roads in the park closed as of this morning.

Here are the current road closures:

• Newfound Gap Road (US-441) is open ONLY to vehicles with 4WD or chains.
• Little River Road
• Foothills Parkway East (Cosby to I-40)
• Foothills Parkway West
• Old NC-284 between Big Creek and Cataloochee
• Cataloochee Entrance Road
• Cherokee Orchard Road above Twin Creeks Science Center
• Wear Cove Road
• Lakeview Road
• Upper Tremont Road
• Toms Branch Road
• Greenbrier Road
• Cosby Campground Entrance Road
• Foothills Parkway (unfinished section) - the 4 mile section from the gate at US-321 in Wears Valley that is normally closed to motor vehicles is now closed to all use until January 2012. The Walland end of the road will be closed to all public use begining Dec. 16, 2010.

As of 7:30 this morning the National Weather Service website is reporting 20 inches of snow on the ground at Mt. LeConte.

Things aren't looking much better either. The National Weather Service has posted another Winter Weather Advisory for the Smokies region that will be in effect until Thursday morning:

A WARM FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION WEDNESDAY NIGHT...GENERATING A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION OVER THE REGION. WITH VERY COLD AIR ALREADY IN PLACE...THE INITIAL PRECIPITATION WILL BE IN THE FORM OF LIGHT SNOW. THE LIGHT SNOW WILL GRADUALLY CHANGE OVER TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN. AS WARMER AIR MOVES IN BEHIND THE FRONT...THE WINTRY MIX WILL SLOWLY CHANGE TO RAIN LATE TONIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING.

To stay up-to-date on weather forecasts and conditions in the Smokies, click here.

For the latest road reports, click here or call the park office at (865) 436-1200.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Time running out for Christmas FREE Shipping

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There are just 2 days left to order to receive FREE Super Saver Shipping in time for Christmas at Amazon.com.

* Tomorrow is the last day to receive Free Shipping, and Standard & USPS Priority Shipping, guaranteed for Christmas, from Backcountry.com. Order as late as 5 p.m. EST.

* The 12 Days of Deals continues: Altrec.com is offering 25% off on all Icebreaker and Acorn outdoor apparel - today only. This sale ends tonight at midnight PST. (Altrec is also offering 2 Day Free shipping through 12/20/10. The coupon code for this offer is Holidayair.)

>> The Omni-Heat Elite Jacket: Amazon.com is offering up to 21% off on some men's Elite Jacket colors and sizes, and up to 15% on select women's colors and sizes. (click here to read my recent review)



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Hoaxers and Real Adventurers

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Remember Rosie Ruiz’s Boston Marathon win? Or, how about Jennifer Figge swimming 2,100 miles last year, from the Cape Verde Islands to the Caribbean’s Trinidad — in just 25 days?

Actually, neither of those really happened.

These are just two entries from Outside Magazine's list of the Top 5 Adventure Hoaxes of All Time that were posted on their blog yesterday.

Then, after reading about the phonies, check out some real outdoor adventurers from the past year.

For the 6th year running National Geographic Adventure is allowing the public to vote for their favorite adventurer of the year. These are individuals who made the Nat Geo list with their remarkable achievements in exploration, conservation and adventure sports.

From the list of ten nominees you can choose from inspiring individuals such as 12-year-old Matt Moniz who climbed to the highest point in all 50 states earlier this year - in just 43 days.

There's also 16-year-old Jessica Watson who made headlines back in May when she completed her sailing excursion around the world - alone.

You can check out the full list of nominees by clicking here. Read the candidate's in-depth profiles, and then cast your vote for the person you think best embodies the spirit of adventure.

You can vote every day until January 15, 2011. The People's Choice Adventurer of the Year will be announced in February 2011.



Jeff
Smoky Mountains Day Hiker Store
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National Parks featured on Wheel Of Fortune this week

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

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The NPS announced this morning that national parks will be featured each day this week on the “Wheel of Fortune.” The show will feature park-related props, puzzles, prizes, and photography on episodes airing from today through Friday.

Now in its 28th season, “Wheel of Fortune” is the longest running syndicated game show in U.S. television history. It averages 11 million viewers each night and the show’s online Wheel Watchers Club has 5.7 million members.

Footage of parks will be constantly displayed on a large screen behind the contestants throughout the week. Long time hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White will end Tuesday’s show with some NPS history.

NPS concessioners provided the week’s prize packages. Players will spin the wheel in hopes of winning trips to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Yosemite, Glacier, Isle Royale, and Denali National Parks.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Today only: 25-70% off Helly Hansen outdoor apparel

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As part of their 12 Days of Deals campaign, Altrec.com is offering 25% - 70% off on all Helly Hansen outdoor apparel - today only. Items on sale include base layers, jackets, fleece, gloves and more. This sale ends tonight at midnight PST.

* Altrec is also offering 2 Day Free shipping through 12/20/10. The coupon code for this offer is Holidayair.


* For today only, the Nantahala Outdoor Center is offering 40% off on Patagonia Capilene Baselayers.


** Reminder: you have just 3 days left to order for Christmas with FREE Super Saver Shipping at Amazon.com.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Polartec Awards Appalachian State Outdoor Programs $10,000

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Polartec, the leading global manufacturer of performance fabrics, announced this week Appalachian State University as the winner of its Made Possible College Challenge. The contest, which began in early October, was aimed at promoting collegiate outdoor programs, with the winner receiving a $10,000 grant and Polartec apparel.

After accepting submissions from around the country in early October, and narrowing the finalists to four on November 1st, the results were then left up to the public. After three weeks and over 28,000 votes, Appalachian State University officially won the contest, coming out just ahead of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the University of Idaho, and Middlebury College, respectively.

“We can't express enough how generous it is of Polartec to support university outdoor programs in this way,” said Rich Campbell, Associate Director of Outdoor Programs at Appalachian State. “Each of the finalists offer outstanding opportunities for students and presented inspiring ideas for this award. We at Appalachian State University Outdoor Programs are thrilled to win the award and we are blown away by all the support we have received from so many people. It is a tribute to the spirit we have at Appalachian State University and is a testament to the value of outdoor adventures and programs.”

This $10,000 money will serve as the starting point for a permanent Outdoor Programs Scholarship Fund at the university in Boone, NC.

Here's a video that Appalachian State produced as part of the contest:

Appalachian State University Outdoor Programs - Polartec "Made Possible" Challenge Video from Jessica Abt on Vimeo.




** Just 3 days left to order for Christmas with FREE Super Saver Shipping at Amazon**



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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The Top 10 Longest Trails in the Southeast

Monday, December 13, 2010

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Some would argue that the Appalachian Trail is getting a little too crowded. So if you’re in that camp and you’re looking for a little more solitude, or possibly just some new places to explore, I thought I would present long distance hikers with some other choices in the southeast - some you may not be aware of. The following represents the top 10 longest trails in the southeast:

The Florida Trail: At 1562 miles in length, the Florida Trail is the southeast’s longest trail. As one of only eleven National Scenic Trails in the United States, the Florida Trail traverses through a diverse landscape as it extends from Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida's panhandle to Big Cypress National Preserve in south Florida. Along the way it passes through some of the state's most picturesque areas including the Apalachicola, Ocala, and Osceola National Forests, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and several state parks. In addition to the poisonous snakes, panthers and bears, keep a look out for alligators!

Appalachian Trail: Although the A.T. runs for a total of 2179 miles from Georgia to Maine, only a thousand of those miles actually pass through the Southern Appalachians (the section south of Harpers Ferry), thus making it the second longest trail in the southeast. The A.T. arguably offers some of the best hiking in the southeast, passing through places like the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Parks, Big Bald, Roan Mountain and Mt. Rogers. As a result of its popularity, some of these sections attract a lot of hikers.

Mountains-to-Sea Trail: The Mountains-to-Sea Trail stretches roughly 1,000 miles from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks. Although only 500 miles of footpath are built right now, people can still hike across the state using temporary connectors on back roads and state bike routes. The trail is a showcase for North Carolina’s diverse landscape. Thru-hikers will experience mountains, rugged gorges, small Piedmont farms, coastal swamps, colonial towns, and barrier islands. It climbs both the tallest mountain peak and the highest sand dune in the Eastern United States, passes through three national parks, two national wildlife refuges, three national forests, seven state parks and three lighthouses, including the nations tallest.

Pinhoti National Recreation Trail: The Pinhoti National Recreation Trail is a combination of the Alabama Pinhoti Trail and the Georgia Pinhoti Trail. Its southern terminus is on Flagg Mountain just outside Weogufka, Alabama, and stretches 335 miles to its northern terminus at the intersection with the Benton MacKaye Trail near Ellijay, Georgia. From here hikers have the opportunity of extending their hike all the way to Maine by heading southeast on the Benton MacKaye Trail for roughly 70 miles to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Completed in early 2008, the Pinhoti Trail is characterized by heavily wooded forests, far reaching ridgelines, countless creek crossings and spectacular views. Part of the trail includes dirt and paved roads, but otherwise provides ample solitude.

Benton MacKaye Trail: Nearly 300 miles in length, the Benton MacKaye Trail runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Davenport Gap on the northern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail passes through some of the most remote backcountry in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, including eight federally designated Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas. For those looking for a large loop hike, you can combine the Benton MacKaye with the Appalachian Trail. From Springer Mountain, the Benton MacKaye heads off in a westerly direction, while the A.T. traverses eastward. The two cross each other again near the Shuckstack Fire Tower in the southern Smokies.

Palmetto Trail: The Palmetto Trail is South Carolina’s mountain-to-sea trail. When completed, the cross-state, multi-use trail will take hikers from Oconee State Park in the western mountains, to its eastern terminus at the intra-coastal waterway at Awendaw Creek. With nearly 290 miles of trail open to the public, roughly two-thirds of the eventual 425-mile Palmetto Trail is now complete. The Palmetto Trail features maritime, sandhill, and piedmont forests, knife-edged mountaintops, and two Revolutionary War battlefields. Some sections of the trail are urban bikeways, greenways and rail-to-trail conversions.

Sheltowee Trace: The Sheltowee Trace is a 269-mile multi-use trail that traverses the length of the Daniel Boone National Forest in eastern Kentucky. The trail is named in honor of Daniel Boone. Sheltowee, meaning Big Turtle, was the name given to Boone when he was adopted into the Shawnee Indian tribe as the son of the great war chief, Blackfish. Designated as a National Recreation Trail in 1979, the Trace passes through Cave Run Lake, Red River Gorge, Natural Bridge State Park, Laurel River Lake, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park and the Big South Fork National Recreation Area. Along its course hikers will see waterfalls, arches, panoramic ridge-top views and massive sand­stone cliffs.

Cumberland Trail: The Cumberland Trail in east Tennessee follows a line of ridges and gorges along the eastern escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau. When completed, the trail will stretch more than 300 miles from the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park on the Tennessee-Virginia-Kentucky border, to the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area just outside Chattanooga. In between it will pass through four Tennessee Wildlife Management Areas, a National Park Wild and Scenic Area, two State Parks, and two protected State Natural Areas. Designated as a Tennessee State Scenic Hiking Trail, hikers have access to numerous waterfalls, scenic overlooks and deep gorges. Right now there are roughly 175 miles of hikeable trails, and it’s estimated that it will take another 8 to 10 years before the entire trail is completed.

Bartram Trail: The Bartram Trail follows the approximate route of naturalist William Bartram who traveled throughout the southeast from 1773 to 1777. During his travels Bartram wrote vivid descriptions of the plants and animals he saw, as well as the Native Americans he encountered. Designated as a National Recreation Trail, the 115-mile Bartram Trail crosses over some of the most scenic mountains in North Carolina and Georgia. Starting from Cheoah Bald in the Nantahala National Forest, hikers will cross over Wayah Bald and Rabun Bald before reaching the southern terminus of the trail in the Chattahoochee National Forest near the Georgia-South Carolina state line. One of the more interesting aspects of the trail is that hikers have the option of canoeing a nine-mile section of the Little Tennessee River, near Franklin, in lieu of walking the nearby roadway here.

Foothills Trail: The Foothills Trail offers an extraordinary opportunity to explore the Appalachian foothills along the GA, NC, and SC border area. The 77-mile trail stretches from Oconee State Park to Table Rock State Park. Along the way hikers will visit Sassafras Mountain, South Carolina’s highest peak, the Cantrell home site, the massive granitic dome at Table Rock, and the cliffs and ledges atop Pinnacle Mountain that contain petroglyphs believed to have been made by ancient Native Americans.

Pine Mountain Trail: Although the Pine Mountain Trail currently ranks as only the 11th longest trail in the southeast right now, I included it here because it will move up to number 10 once the trail is finished. Once completed, the long distance trail designed for backpacking and hiking will span approximately 120 miles from Breaks Inter­state Park, to Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, and will pass through several natural areas such as Bad Branch State Nature Preserve, Kingdom Come State Park and Blanton Forest along the Pine Mountain range in eastern Kentucky. Currently, 44 miles of hiking trails are open.






Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Today Only: 20-70% off all Mountain Hardware

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For today only, Altrec.com is offering 20% - 70% off on all Mountain Hardware outdoor gear and apparel. This sale ends at midnight PST.

Altrec is also offering 2 Day Free shipping through 12/20/10. The coupon code for this offer is Holidayair.


Jeff
Smoky Mountains Day Hiker Store
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Yosemite's "Fire Waterfall"

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Check out the photos of the "Fire Waterfall" in Yosemite National Park. The waterfall is actually Horsetail Fall on the east side of El Capitan.

At first I thought that maybe this was a hoax, or maybe they were photo shopped images, but apparently they're real. The spectacular view of the waterfall is created by the reflection of sunlight hitting the falling water at a specific angle, and can only be seen during a 2-week period towards the end of February. Thus, seeing and photographing this phenomenon is fairly rare.


>> Just 4 days left to order for Christmas with FREE Super Saver Shipping at Amazon.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Winter weather road closures in Smokies

Sunday, December 12, 2010

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The winter storm that passed through the Smokies yesterday and overnight has shut down most of the roads in the park. As of 7:30 this morning, the National Weather Service website is reporting that 10 inches of snow are on the ground at Newfound Gap, and 8 inches atop Mt. LeConte.

Here are the current road closures:

• Newfound Gap Road (US-441) between Gatlinburg and Cherokee
• Gatlinburg Bypass Road
• Little River Road
• Cherokee Orchard Road
• Wears Cove
• Old NC-284 between Big Creek and Cataloochee
• Cataloochee Entrance Road
• Foothills Parkway
• Lakeview Drive
• The Cades Cove Loop Road is closed due to downed trees, but is expected to open later this morning.


The National Weather Service has also posted a Winter Storm Warning for the Smokies region, that is in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday morning:

WINTER STORM TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATION...GUSTY WINDS AND VERY COLD TEMPERATURES...

ACCUMULATIONS: EXPECT TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION BY MONDAY EVENING OF 2 TO 6 INCHES IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS...WITH 8 TO 15 INCHES POSSIBLE OVER THE HIGHER MOUNTAINS.

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL TRACK ACROSS THE SOUTHERN GREAT LAKES REGION TODAY...PUSHING MUCH COLDER AIR INTO OUR REGION BEHIND A DEPARTING COLD FRONT. ANY LINGERING RAIN SHOWERS WILL CHANGE TO QUICKLY SNOW SHOWERS THIS MORNING...THEN SNOW SHOWERS WILL PERSIST THROUGH MONDAY. GUSTY WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED AS WELL...WHICH MAY MAY PRODUCE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILL VALUES ARE ALSO EXPECTED AT TIMES.

To stay up-to-date on weather forecasts and conditions in the Smokies, click here.

For the latest road reports, call the park office at (865) 436-1200.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Smoky Mountains Shelters: then and now

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Most of you are probably aware that the backcountry shelters in the Great Smoky Mountains have undergone extensive renovations over the past several years. Many of those shelters date back before the park was even established.

Fortunately, one of the most prolific early photographers of the Great Smoky Mountains, Albert "Dutch" Roth, left us with an invaluable visual record of the mountains from his travels in the park from the 1920s through the 1950s. Included in his vast collection are several photographs of the backcountry shelters in the Smokies and along the Appalachian Trail outside of the park. The photos offer an opportunity to compare how the shelter's looked more than half century ago with today's renovated shelters (here and here).

You can also view the full Albert "Dutch" Roth collection of photos on the University of Tennessee Libraries website.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Martina Navratilova forced to abandon Mt. Kilimanjaro due to HAPE

Saturday, December 11, 2010

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Extreme Adventure News is reporting that tennis great Martina Navratilova was forced to abandon her bid to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro yesterday after suffering from HAPE, or High Altitude Pulmonary Edema.

Navratilova, 54, was assisted down Africa's highest peak by porters and taken to a hospital in Nairobi where she'll spend the next 2-3 days recuperating from a build up of fluid around her lungs as a result of HAPE. She is expected to make a full recovery.

Prior to her climb she told a reporter:

"It's just a basic hike except you get to be pretty high and there's not much air up there, but it doesn't require much mountain climbing experience."

So what is High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)?

HAPE is a dangerous build-up of fluid in the lungs that prevents the air spaces from opening up and filling with fresh air with each breath. When this happens, the sufferer becomes progressively more short of oxygen, which in turn worsens the build-up of fluid in the lungs, and can be fatal within hours.

HAPE can occur in otherwise healthy mountaineers at altitudes typically above 2,500 meters (8,200 ft).

For those of you that aren't old school, Martina Navratilova was one of the greatest tennis players of all time, winning 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 Grand Slam women's doubles titles (an all-time record), and 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. She reached the Wimbledon singles final 12 times, including 9 consecutive years from 1982 through 1990, and won the women's singles title at Wimbledon a record 9 times.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Outdoor Gear & Apparel sales

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Bargains on outdoor gear and apparel are heating up as we enter the home stretch of the Christmas shopping season:

Altrec.com started their 12 Days of Deals yesterday, which will feature deep discounts on name brands each day (up to 60% off). They're also offering 2 Day Free shipping through 12/20/10. The coupon code for this offer is Holidayair.

(Altrec is also giving away a Nuptse Jacket from The North Face - Valued up to $198.95 - just for signing-up with your email)

This week Backcountry.com started their Holiday Toppers Sale. They're offering up to 40% off select outdoor gear. Also, orders over $50 qualify for FREE shipping. This sale expires on 12/14/2010.



Jeff
Smoky Mountains Day Hiker Store
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Friends of the Smokies needs your vote

Friday, December 10, 2010

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Scripps Networks will be making a special holiday gift to one of their charitable partners next month. The winner of the gift will be based on the number of online votes.

The four non-profits in the running for this gift, including Friends of the Smokies, will receive a minimum donation of $5,000 and a maximum donation of $10,000 based on voting percentages.

Votes must be received by January 15, 2011 to be included. Please take a second to help Friends of the Smokies win this donation by clicking here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Friday's Video

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Have you ever considered or wondered what it would be like to work at a National Park? The video below gives a bit of the inside scoop on working for the government, or one of the concessionaires that provide a host of services for many of our parks.

The producer of the video, Rosemary Regello, a former employee of Aramark, Xanterra and Delaware North Companies, doesn't exactly paint a very pleasant picture. Is this a case of a former employee with a bad attitude? Possibly. However, I guess the bottom line for those considering such a job is to do a lot of research before jumping in. This might be a good place to start:





Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Winter Sports in the Smokies

Thursday, December 9, 2010

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Even though Old Man Winter is already tightening his icy grip on the mountains, it doesn’t mean you still can’t find plenty to do in the Great Smokies.

Winter is an excellent time to visit the Smokies, especially for those seeking solitude. Although the Great Smoky Mountains National Park sees more visitors year-round than any other park, winter is by far the slowest tourist season.

While it might be rather frosty at Newfound Gap, temperatures in the lower elevations of the park are usually quite balmy during the winter months. Roughly half the days have high temperatures of 50 degrees or more – some even reach into the 70s. On average, you can expect a snow of one inch or more just 1 to 5 times a year. This means that on most days you’ll still find plenty of opportunities for some great hiking on trails such as Abrams Falls, Little River, or Porters Creek - just to name a couple.

For the more ambitious who wish to venture into the higher elevations, you should expect snow and ice, especially on trails in the upper reaches of the park. You may even want to consider taking a pair of strap-on crampons (made for hiking boots) along with you. Even packed snow has a tendency to turn to ice overnight, and if you’re on a trail with steep drop-offs, such as Alum Cave, you’ll appreciate the extra traction they’ll give you.

If your preference is for sports that rely on snow you can usually count on plenty of it at the highest elevations. Although Gatlinburg averages only about seven inches of snow throughout the winter, Clingmans Dome, on the other hand, normally receives a whopping 85 inches. Up to two feet can fall during one winter storm!

One of the best places to be in the park when there’s snow on the ground is at Newfound Gap. The seven-mile road to Clingmans Dome, closed to traffic from December through March, provides excellent opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Appalachian Trail - spanning the crest of the Smokies and crossing over Newfound Gap - also provides for some great snowshoeing opportunities when conditions are right.

Sledding is another popular activity on or near Newfound Gap, especially for children and those that are still kids at heart themselves.

Adrenaline junkies looking for the speed and thrills of downhill skiing or snowboarding can get their fix at nearby Ober Gatlinburg or the Cataloochee Ski Area. Cataloochee offers 14 different runs, while Ober Gatlinburg has eight, including one that’s almost a mile in length. Both resorts also offer snow tubing opportunities as well.

Winter in the Great Smoky Mountains is truly magical. After a blanket of fresh snow the landscape turns into a scenic wonderland, especially in the spruce-fir forests of the upper elevations. For those that have only visited during the warmer months, winter is an excellent time to experience the Smokies in a whole new way.






Jeff
Smoky Mountains Day Hiker Store
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