The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog: February 2010

aerial view · birthday · Grand Canyon National Park · video

Happy (belated) Birthday to the Grand Canyon

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Yesterday the Grand Canyon National Park turned 90 years old. On February 26, 1919, the Grand Canyon became the 15th national park added to the system. To help celebrate, check out this awesome aerial view video I found on the Backpacker Mag blog site:JeffHikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps,...

Paddling Through Tibet · Tibet Kayak Mission · video

Video: Paddling Through Tibet

Friday, February 26, 2010

Pretty cool video of kayakers paddling through the incredible scenery of Eastern Tibet:Tibet Kayak Mission from Kayak TV on Vimeo.JeffHikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and mo...

Allen Coggins · Armchair · Tour of Cades Cove

Join GSMA for an "Armchair" Tour of Cades Cove

Friday, February 26, 2010

With the Cades Cove Loop Road being closed for repaving through May 21, visitors can still enjoy an "armchair" tour through this historic section of the park - and not have to deal with the usual bumper to bumper traffic or bear jams!

Join Allen Coggins at 1:00, Saturday, March 27 in the Sugarlands Training Room for a powerpoint presentation on the history of the Cades Cove and the people who made it their home. Allen will take you on a "drive" through the Cove without ever having to leave your seat... it's like having your own personal guide!

Seating is limited and a $5 per person registration fee is required. Call the Great Smoky Mountains Association at 865-436-7318, Ext. 222 or 254 to register.

*** Need a cabin or chalet for your next visit to the Smokies? Be sure to check out our cabin listings first by clicking here.

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Cooper Road · Flat Creek · Fork Ridge · Forney Creek · Grapeyard Ridge · Gregory Ridge · Hannah Mountain · Hemphill Bald · Indian Grave Gap · Noland Divide · Rabbit Creek · Road Prong · Rough Fork · trail

Contruction season in the Smokies to begin Monday

Thursday, February 25, 2010

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the Federal Lands Highway Program, several park improvement projects will be conducted in the Great Smoky Mountains this year.Beginning this Monday, and lasting throughout the spring and summer, over $93,300,000 worth of improvements will be made to park roads and facilities.The park has recently published a summary of the projects, which...

2009 · Acadia · Cuyahoga Valley · Grand Canyon · Grand Tetons · National Parks · Olympic · Rocky Mountain · visitation · visitors · Yellowstone · Yosemite · Zion

Top 10 most visited National Parks in 2009

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Despite the recession, or perhaps because of it, more than 285 million visitors flocked to national parks last year, falling just short of the all-time visitation record of 287.2 million set in 1987. The National Park Service reported that 2009 visitation represented an increase of 10 million people, or 3.6%, versus the prior year. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar speculated that the increases may...

Amicalola Falls · Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association · Appalachian Trail Celebration · ATC · Backpacking Clinic · Friends · Gene Espy · Georgia Appalachian Trail Conference · State Park

Appalachian Trail Celebration & Backpacking Clinic

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, GA will host its Annual Appalachian Trail Celebration & Backpacking Clinic on Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7, 2010. Both experienced and novice hikers and campers attend this annual event to celebrate the great outdoors, learn about the Appalachian Trail, listen to AT hikers share their experiences, and discover what it takes to make the 5-million step...

appalachian trail · Ash Cave · Benchmark Outdoor Outfitters · Buckeye Trail · Cedar Falls · Georgia license plate · Grandma Gatewood Trail · Hiking Through · Hocking Hills · Old Man's Cave · Paul V. Stutzman

The Appalachian Trail in the news

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The following are a couple of news items related to the Appalachian Trail you might be interested in knowing about.* Last week the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and volunteers through its affiliate Georgia Appalachian Trail Club announced the establishment of a Georgia Appalachian Trail specialty license plate. The Georgia license plate will help raise awareness of the Trail, and volunteers...

bans · Emerald Ash Borer · firewood · invasive beetle · shenandoah national park · white ash trees

Shenandoah National Park bans outside firewood

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Officials at Shenandoah National Park announced that they will be instituting a ban on outside firewood beginning on Monday, March 1.A park news release said the ban will attempt to slow the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive beetle.The beetle is responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of ash trees throughout the Midwest, according to park officials, and has been documented in Fairfax...

Big Creek · Chestnut Branch Trail · Friends of the Smokies · Get on the Trail · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · hiking · Missy Kane · Spruce Flat Falls

Get on the Trail with Friends and Missy

Monday, February 22, 2010

Join Friends of the Smokies and fitness expert Missy Kane for a series of hikes this spring. Each Wednesday throughout the month of April, Missy and Friends will be hiking a different trail.Ms. Kane was an Olympic runner and a Pan American Games medalist."Get on the Trail" is a great opportunity for people who are new to the area, or new to hiking, as well as people who just want to know more about...

Alum Cave Bluffs · alum cave trail · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · hike · Smokies · snow · winter

Video: Winter hike to Alum Cave Bluffs

Sunday, February 21, 2010

The Great Smoky Mountains Association has just published their latest video. This time the GSMA takes viewers to one of the most popular destinations in the park during a winter hike up to Alum Cave Bluffs.For more information on hiking to Alum Cave Bluffs, please click here.JeffHikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features,...

An Antarctic Ski Odyssey · Andrea Binning · Antarctic · Australis · Chris Davenport · Movie Trailer · skiing · Stain Hagen

Australis: An Antarctic Ski Odyssey

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Below is a trailer for a yet to be released film called Australis: An Antarctic Ski Odyssey. The film chronicles a skiing expedition to the bottom of the world. In November 2009 Chris Davenport joined Stain Hagen and Andrea Binning on a trip to discover some new lines to ski on the Antarctic Peninsula.The film is due out this summer.The scenery in this clip is simply amazing. Looks like the skiing...

Baxter Station · Derby Festival · Derby Mini-Marathon · Havana Rumba · Kentucky · Kentucky Derby · Louisville · Louisville Bicycle Club · Louisville Slugger · Lynn’s Paradise Café · Muhammad Ali · visit

Top 3 Reasons to Visit Louisville, Kentucky

Thursday, February 18, 2010

It’s a slow day for any news concerning the Great Smoky Mountains or hiking in general, so I thought I’d take a little time to give a shout out to my adopted hometown; Louisville, Kentucky. Originally from just up the river in Cincinnati, I'll explain some of the reasons that have kept me tied to the Derby City, and at the same time, lay out my top 3 reasons why someone should spend a visit to this...

Gabes Mountain · Grapeyard Ridge · Great Smoky Mountains · hikes · Injun Creek · Little Cataloochee · Long Bunk · Noah "Bud" Ogle · Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage · Thomas Divide · trail · walks · White Oak Sinks

Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage hiking schedule

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

As mentioned last week, the 60th annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in Great Smoky Mountains National Park will take place from April 21 thru April 25 this year - provided that the snow and cold weather decides to move out of here sometime before then.As mentioned in that post, program details weren't yet released by the Great Smoky Mountains Association at that point. However, just yesterday, the...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park · mount leconte · road closings · Smokies · snow

Most roads closed in Great Smoky Mountains

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Due to more snow and ice overnight, most of the roads in the Smokies are closed again. Here's the full list:• Newfound Gap Road (US-441)• Little River Road• Laurel Creek Road• Cades Cove Loop Road• Foothills Parkway West• Foothills Parkway East• Cataloochee Entrance Road• Old NC-284 between Big Creek and Cataloochee• Cherokee Orchard Road at Twin Creeks Science Center• Greenbrier Entrance Road at...

Doug Smith · National Parks · wolf · Wolf Recovery Program · wolves · Yellowstone National Park

Bringing back the wolf

Sunday, February 14, 2010

A couple of weeks ago Trailspace.com posted an article that discussed a recently published paper in which researchers concluded and proposed the reintroduction of wolves back into our national parks.Here's a synopsis from the paper:The absence of top-level predators in many natural areas in North America has resulted in overabundant ungulate populations, cascading negative impacts on plant communities,...

2010 · American Hiking Society · Find Your Happy Place · National Trails Day · Ronald Reagan · Trails for All Americans

National Trails Day 2010 announced

Sunday, February 14, 2010

The American Hiking Society has recently announced the date for National Trails Day 2010.On June 5th, 2010, the American Hiking Society and outdoor enthusiasts across the country will celebrate the 18th annual National Trails Day, a celebration of America's magnificent trail system and its countless supporters and volunteers. More than 1500 events will take place around the country including trail...

Ansel Adams Wilderness · John Muir Trail · King's Canyon · Mount Whitney · Ryan Commons · Sequoia · Seven Days on the John Muir Trail · Sierra Mountains · Winter is Coming · Yosemite National Park

Video: Seven Days on the John Muir Trail

Saturday, February 13, 2010

"The mountains are calling and I must go"- John MuirBelow is a video from Ryan Commons that documents his hike across the Sierra Mountains along the John Muir Trail.Ryan made the trip from the Mt. Whitney Portal to Happy Isles in Yosemite National Park - 222.4 miles - in just seven days! Along the way he climbed a total of 42,000 feet, or, put another way, almost 8 miles of climbing! Obviously he...

Chimney Rock State Park · Exclamation Point · Hickory Nut Falls Trail · Hickory Nut Gorge · hike · Old Rock · Skyline Trail · The Last of the Mohicans · Valentine’s Day

Chimney Rock State Park BOGO Valentine’s Special

Friday, February 12, 2010

Chimney Rock State Park is offering a sweet deal for Valentine’s Day. Now through Feb. 17, visitors can buy one regularly-priced adult ticket and receive another one for free.“It’s a fun way for our guests to celebrate Valentine’s Day with that special someone. They can take a romantic walk in the woods, enjoy lunch at the Old Rock and really reconnect with each other,” said Meghan Rogers, public...

Coalition of National Park Service Retirees · firearms · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · guns · National Parks · North Carolina · Smokies · Tennessee

Guns in National Parks becomes Law on Feb. 22

Friday, February 12, 2010

In less than two weeks a new federal law concerning firearms in national parks will go into effect. The new law, signed by President Obama last year which will go into effect on February 22, will allow park visitors to possess firearms in national parks consistent with the laws of the state in which the area is located.As a result of straddling two states, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will...

Appalachian Trail Conservancy · AT license plates · Cable Gap Shelter · grants · Nantahala Hiking Club · Sassafras Gap Shelter · Smoky Mountains Hiking Club · Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club

AT license plates fund mini trail grants

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy will once again be awarding mini-grants for projects in the region that will benefit the long-distance hiking trail.This year the Appalachian Trail Conservancy will give out $25,000 in grants, not to exceed $5,000 per grant. The grants are funded through proceeds from the specialty AT license plates, which raised $116,000 last year for the AT Conservancy.Grants can...

three-legged bear · video · walking upright

Video: 3 Legged Bear Walking Upright

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Check out this amazing video making the rounds on the internet. This is a video of a three-legged mama bear walking upright with her cub.No one seems to know how the bear lost her right paw and foreleg (my guess is it's likely the bear was caught in a trap at some point), or where the video was taken.I've been wrong before, but the video looks to be legitimate:JeffHikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information...

gatlinburg · Great Smoky Mountain National Park · great smoky mountains association · Greener Living Expo · Mills Conference Center · Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage

Dates set for the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage

Monday, February 8, 2010

The 60th annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in Great Smoky Mountains National Park will take place from April 21 thru April 25 this year and will be headquartered at the Mills Conference Center in Gatlinburg. The pilgrimage is a five-day event consisting of a variety of wildflower, fauna, and natural history walks, motorcades, photographic tours, art classes, and indoor seminars.With over 150 programs...

Cabins · chalets · February · gatlinburg · Great Smoky Mountains · holiday · North Carolina · pigeon forge · specials · Townsend · winter

Winter Specials on Cabins & Chalets in the Smokies

Sunday, February 7, 2010

As a way of thanking our advertisers on HikingintheSmokys.com, I wanted to let readers of this blog know about the specials they’re offering on overnight lodging this winter season. You can find a variety of cabins and chalets in Townsend, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge as well as the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains. If you or anyone you know is planning on visiting the Smokies through...

2009 National Recreation Trails · American Trails · Photo Contest

American Trails announces winners of Photo Contest

Friday, February 5, 2010

American Trails recently announced the winners of their 2009 National Recreation Trails Photo Contest. They've posted all 240 entries into the contest, including the winners which have been categorized according to hiking, equestrian, water, bicycling and accessible trails under the broad category of trail use.You can also find photos based on trail feature, such as arts and interpretation, rail and...

free · Mammoth Cave National Park · Mammoth Passage tours · Patrick Reed · Superintendent

Free Mammoth Cave Passage tours on Feb. 14

Friday, February 5, 2010

Mammoth Cave National Park Superintendent Patrick Reed announced on Wednesday that the park will be offering several fee-free days again this year, beginning with Sunday, February 14. “Please come out and join us for a Mammoth Passage tour on February 14, free of charge,” said Reed.“We had such a great response from the public last year, we are continuing the free tours days again this year. Just...

An Economic Asset at Risk · Kentucky · Louisville · national dept · National Parks · National Parks Conservation Association · NPCA · Otter Creek Park · Tom Kiernan

Obama's national parks funding campaign promise

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Did Barack Obama renege on a campaign promise?Tom Kiernan, president of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), thinks so.Here's the statement from a press release published earlier in the week:(the) NPCA is calling on President Obama to keep his campaign promise to continue the federal commitment toward restoring our national parks in time for the 2016 centennial and beyond. Further,...

Asheville · blue ridge parkway · Folk Art Center · Friends of the Western North Carolina Nature Center · Red Wolves · The Red Wolf Survives · Warren Parker

The Red Wolf Survives

Thursday, February 4, 2010

This Saturday, Feb. 6, Friends of the Western North Carolina Nature Center will unveil its New Winter Speaker Series on native animals at the Folk Art Center at 10:30 a.m.Asheville native Warren Parker, retired chief Endangered Species Biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Service’s first national director of the Red Wolf Species Survival program, will talk about the nuts and...

hikers · Old Rag Mountain · Search and Rescue · shenandoah national park · Skyline Drive · snow · Whiteoak Trail · winter rescues

Shenandoah records 3 significant winter rescues in 2 months

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The National Park Service is reporting that Shenandoah National Park staff have been involved in three winter-related search and rescue operations over the past two months:* On December 18th, the park was forecast to receive substantial snow. In preparation for the storm, the park’s interior was evacuated and roads were closed. On the following morning, the park received a call for assistance from...

Great Smoky Mountain National Park · Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse · Townsend · Walker Sisters Homestead · Winter Heritage Festival

Winter Heritage Festival this weekend in Townsend

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The 4th annual Winter Heritage Festival is this weekend in Townsend near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.The festival will include hikes, exhibits, lectures and craft showcases Thursday through Sunday.There will be naturalist-led hikes to Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse and Walker Sisters Homestead with Butch McDade; to Elkmont with Herb Handly, as well as other historic and scenic places. Among...

ARAMARK · Denali · Glacier Bay · Glen Canyon · Grand Tetons · Mesa Verde · national park · National Park Foundation · Olympic · Shenandoah · This Is Your Land Sweepstakes · Yellowstone

Win a Trip to One of America's Most Popular National Parks

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

In celebration of Ken Burns’s landmark documentary, “America’s Best Idea: The National Parks,” airing on PBS throughout February, the National Park Foundation and ARAMARK Parks and Destinations are giving you a chance to explore your land – with a free trip to one of America’s most popular national parks.Participating is easy – just share with the world one, or all, of your favorite spots in America’s...

2010 Reader Photo Contest · Backpacker Magazine

Backpacker Mag 2010 Reader Photo Contest

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Backpacker Magazine recently released their results from the 2010 Reader Photo Contest. There are some truly outstanding photos in this collection. Be sure to check out the shot of the mountain goat and the precarious spot on a cliff that he's standing on!There are several other galleries in various categories that you can browse as well. Please click here to see the photos.JeffHikingintheSmokys.com...

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