Articles and information on hiking, outdoor adventures and the Great Smoky Mountains. For hiking trail information in the Smokies, please visit HikingintheSmokys.com
Earlier this week Coca-Cola launched the "America Is Your Park" campaign to encourage millions of Americans to get active outdoors and to cast a vote for their favorite park in order to win a $100,000 recreation grant made possible by Coca-Cola's Live Positively initiative.From July 29 to August 31, people can go to LivePositively.com to cast a vote for their favorite state or national park to win...
The Great Smoky Mountain Association and the national park is looking for volunteers to work at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center, located between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg on U.S. 441.The work entails answering visitor questions and providing information on destinations and resources of the park. Even one 4-6 hour shift per week could be a big help!If you're interested, email Alice@GSMAssoc.org or...
I don't know if anyone has noticed, but it's been a very deadly summer in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks this year - and it's not even August yet.Check out these headlines so far:7/28 A mother bear and her three sow cubs went on a rampage just before dawn on Wednesday morning and killed one man and injured two others in a campground just outside of Yellowstone. Terrified campers sought...
In January of this year, a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement effort was launched to identify and prosecute drug traffickers operating in and around the Cherokee Indian Reservation and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Today's National Park Service Digest is reporting that on June 3rd, an NPS agent, along with an agent from the ATF, saw a suspected drug trafficker traveling through the park. The...
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced earlier in the week that the National Park Service will waive entrance fees on August 14 and 15 to encourage all Americans to visit our national parks.“This fee-free weekend provides an opportunity for individuals and families alike to take an affordable vacation or to explore a nearby park they have never visited before,” Salazar said. “I encourage...
A 35-acre tract of forested land next to the Blue Ridge Parkway near Browning Knob has recently been purchased to safeguard its scenic views and wildlife habitat.The Mount Lyn Lowry property, adjacent to the Parkway on the Jackson-Haywood County line near Waterrock Knob (between Mileposts 449 and 450), was purchased by the Conservation Trust for North Carolina with funds from private donors.CTNC plans...
Join a Blue Ridge Parkway ranger for a summer wildflower walk on Frying Pan Mountain this Friday, July 30.This moderate, one hour walk will begin at Milepost 409.6 one mile south of Pisgah Inn at 10:00 AM. Bring water and wear good hiking shoes.For more information, please click here.JeffHikingintheSmokys....
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a 3.3% increase in visitors this year compared with the same period last year.For the month of June, visitation was up 15.1% compared to last year.However, park spokesman Bob Miller said that's not an accurate reflection of a rise in tourism to the park. Miller said in a press release that there was construction near the Cherokee Orchard Road counter, just outside...
An open letter to Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France:Mr. Prudhomme,Congratulations on another successful Tour de France. The 97th edition of the Tour was an exceptionally exciting and dramatic race to follow this year.Over the course of its history the Tour de France has visited more than 10 countries. I would like to propose to you that the time has arrived for the Tour to visit...
The Blue Ridge Parkway recently announced a three-part series of programs regarding the building of the BRP. All three programs will be held at the Peaks of Otter near Milepost 86.The first program, “The Early Years 1906-1936”, will focus on the politics, planning and groundbreaking of the road. The program will feature National Park Service Ranger David Meyer and will be presented in the Flat Top...
In the June issue of Backpacker Magazine, author Kelly Bastone offers up her top 10 animal viewing tips.1. Keep a safe distance.2. Hike at a leisurely pace.3. Take long breaks.4. Hike in the right weather.5. Call wildlife biologists (at a park or college) and rangers.6. Keep binocs/camera handy.7. Look for parts and portions.8. Practice "scatter vision."9. Sneak up ridges.10. Observe prey animals.Obviously...
Since glaciers retreated around fifteen thousand years ago, rock fall has been the major force of change in Yosemite Valley.Below is the latest video from Yosemite National Park. As part of a series known as Yosemite Nature Notes, the video chronicles the role of rock fall in the evolution of the famous granite walls that dominate Yosemite Valley.It features a cliff-side interview with a rappelling...
Want to go to the next tailgating party in style? How about a little team building with your co-workers?Check out the PedalPub out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.Yes, this is real!The PedalPub carries up to 16 passengers, plus the driver. There are 5 pedaling seats on each side, plus one non-pedaling seat over the rear wheels. There's also a bench in the back of the PedalPub that seats three, plus one...
Blue Ridge Parkway rangers will be leading a moderate, one-mile hike along the Art Loeb Trail to the summit of Black Balsam Knob in the Pisgah National Forest tomorrow. The hike begins at 10 a.m. and will climb to an elevation of 6,214 feet.The guided, one to two-hour roundtrip hike through alpine-like terrain will begin approximately 0.8 miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway on Forest Service Road 816,...
Tom Mangan has a very imformative article on Trailspace.com regarding the threats of invasive species and how to limit their spread. He discusses in detail threats posed by Mountain pine beetles, wooly adelgids and the Emerald Ash Borer, but also mentions that trees aren't the only species at risk.Especially in the west, the Mountain pine beetle is decimating thousands of acres of pine forests in...
Next Monday night, July 26th, is the second in a series of "Full Moon" hikes in Cades Cove of the Great Smoky Mountains this summer.This is an excellent opportunity to take a stroll in Cades Cove under a full moon. If interested, meet at the Orientation Shelter near the entrance to the Cades Cove Loop Road. The hike is from from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM.JeffHikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on...
The Waynesboro News Virginian published an article over the weekend that highlighted some of hazards faced by the Appalachian Trail. The motivation for the article stemmed from a National Parks Conservation Association study (PDF) that was released earlier in the year that listed many of threats the AT is facing, including invasive plant species, power lines, pipelines, race tracks, quarries, cell...
Last December, Nature Valley announced it would fund key programs in three national parks across the country this summer. With the guidance and support of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), the division operated by General Mills will donate at least $250,000 to the NPCA - 10 cents for every specially marked granola bar wrapper sent to Nature Valley. Funds will also be raised through Kenney Chesney’s summer concert tour (see his PSA below), Nature Valley's Facebook outreach project, and a partnership recently announced with best selling author Patricia Schultz, who wrote the book 1000 Places To See Before You Die.
All told, contributions are expected to grow to more than $500,000.
Money raised for the NPCA in 2010 will focus on three preservation projects:
• Reestablishing plant life critical to the Grand Canyon
• Restoring habitat for Yellowstone's wildlife
• Rebuilding Biscayne National Park's damaged coral reefs
Nature Valley will also be giving away three trips to Grand Canyon National Park. For more information on the project and the contest, please visit PreserveTheParks.com and the company's Facebook page.
Jeff HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more
Every other Saturday from July 24 - September 18, Blue Ridge Parkway rangers host hikes that take visitors to Rock Castle Gorge, located roughly half-way between Roanoke and the North Carolina-Virginia line (roughly 50 miles from either direction).For those interested, meet at the Rocky Knob Cabins off of Woodberry Road (Milepost 167) to join a ranger on a five mile hike and learn about the history...
Below is an email update I just received from Peter Barr, author of Hiking North Carolina’s Lookout Towers. Peter is making steady progress on two of his main goals this summer: hiking the entire length of the Appalachian Trail, and raising funds to help restore the Shuckstack Lookout Tower in the southwestern corner of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Here's his email:Dear Friends,I have finally...
A black bear biologist from Minnesota has stirred up a bit of controversy with his proposal that feeding bears actually keeps them out of trouble with humans.Black bear biologist Lynn Rogers, from the Wildlife Research Institute in Ely, Minnesota, thinks that hunger is largely to blame for so-called nuisance behaviors.Placing food such as nuts, sunflower seeds, or even beef fat away from potential...
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is again looking for Citizen Scientist volunteers to help researchers collect scientific data on ash trees by mapping the locations of these trees within the Park.The mapping project, which will take several years to complete, will be used to monitor future threats from a nonnative insect.People are again being invited to join park biologists and educators during...
Maybe it's just me, but I'm having a hard time trying to understand what the “America’s Great Outdoors Initiative” is all about. Seems to me that it's just an excuse to just spend more money - our tax dollars.According to coverage of the event in Asheville yesterday, the listening session focused on how to get kids more interested in the outdoors. Some of the suggestions that were brought up include:•...
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is recruiting for volunteers to participate in the Adopt-a-Trail (AAT) program, an effort that helps to maintain the Park’s 800-mile trail system. The Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program has integrated volunteerism into many of its Park operations, including trail maintenance that covers everything from picking up litter to removing treefalls and reporting trail problems...
As I mentioned in a post from a couple of months ago, Danny Bernstein from the Carolina Mountain Club has organized a series of trail workdays in the Great Smoky Mountains this summer. The workdays are in conjunction with the Trails Forever program.The next workday will be next Saturday, July 24th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Volunteers will be working on the first few miles of the Rainbow Falls Trail....
Join Blue Ridge Parkway rangers tomorrow at 10 a.m. for a short but steep half-mile hike to the summit of Devil's Courthouse. The summit, which sits at an elevation of 5,720 feet, offers 360-degree views and allows you to see into four states on a clear day.The one-to-two hour roundtrip hike will start at the Devil's Courthouse Overlook (Milepost 422.4). Hikers should bring water and be prepared for...
Smokey Bear has returned to remind Americans that “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires.”The Advertising Council recently joined with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) to launch a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) and an educational DVD for elementary school students designed to provide critical information to Americans about wildfire prevention.Since...
Whether you’re a birder or mountain biker, paddler or hiker, photographer or hunter, now is your chance to speak up about the future of outdoor recreation in America.A series of listening sessions are being held across the country “to hear Americans’ ideas on land conservation, recreation, and best ways to reconnect Americans to the great outdoors.”Outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists from around...
Every Wednesday between tomorrow and August 11, the Great Smoky Mountains sponsors a weekly program called Safe Hiking in the Smokies.The program is held at the Newfound Gap Overlook from 12:30 PM to 1:15 PM.Visitors to the park can learn about hiking safety practices, including changing weather conditions in the Smokies, appropriate dress, and what should be in your backpack. The program is accessible...
Almost two years ago I posted an article about adventurer Bruce Nelson.
Bruce personifies adventure. He’s hiked the 2168-mile Appalachian Trail, the 2700 plus miles of the Continental Divide Trail, canoed 2300 miles down the length of the Mississippi River, and has climbed Mt. McKinley (aka Denali). Additionally, in what he described as “one of the great adventures of my life”, he walked and paddled over 1,000 miles across Alaska in the summer of 2006 - alone! (see video)
Right now he's tackling the 2650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. So far he's already completed over 1000 miles. You can follow along on his trek, and check out some excellent photographs, by clicking here.
Speaking of the PCT, I recently saw an excellent program on the trail on the National Geographic Channel. It's part of the America's Wild Spaces series. Not sure if they will be showing the program again, but you could check with the Nat Geo website for more information.
Jeff HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
The A Walk for Sunshine / Appalachian Trail Show movie premieres in Asheville next Tuesday, July 20, at the Fine Arts Theatre.In this documentary of engaging tales and stunning photography, author, adventurer and story teller Jeff Alt takes you with him on his 2,000 mile hike along the Appalachian Trail.Alt shares humorous and hair raising animal encounters of sleeping with a skunk, being charged...
This coming weekend (July 16 - 18) is the Grassy Ridge Mow-Off on Roan Mountain.The Southern Appalachian Highland Conservancy is sponsoring a volunteer weekend to help keep the Roan Highlands bald. You can work all three days, or just one.Activities include blackberry mowing with heavy-duty weed whackers, cutting of shrubs and small trees with lopping shears and hand saws, and toting cut shrubs away...
No Way Down: Life and Death on K2, the new book from Graham Bowley, is getting a lot of attention since being released a couple of weeks ago. Although several hundred feet shorter than Mt. Everest, K2, the second highest mountain in the world, is far more dangerous. The death rate on K2 is much higher than that of Everest.In No Way Down, Bowley re-creates one of the most dramatic tales of death and...
The black bear, the symbol of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will be the topic of discussion at a special presentation at Sugarlands Visitor Center on Saturday, July 24 at 10:00 am.Kim Delozier, GSMNP wildlife biology supervisor, will bring you up to date on the bear population, the mast situation, the human problem of feeding bears, and what to do and NOT do if and when encountering a bear...
Cumberlink.com posted an article on their website last week stating that the Appalachian Trail Museum is already preparing for Phase 2 of their opening.Located in Pine Grove Furnace State Park at the midway point of the Appalachian Trail, the museum opened its doors to the public on June 5.The museum's first exhibits tell the stories of the founding, construction, preservation, maintenance, protection...
Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail recently launched a new website. The website redesign, which makes navigating much easier and contains more useful information, was made possible by a special grant from REI.Friends of the MST are also asking members to contact their North Carolina legislators and urge them to support three items:* A bill which would allow a specialty license plate for the MST....
This past Tuesday night, WRAL out of Raleigh, NC broadcasted an excellent short documentary on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The film will also be shown in Charlotte and Durham over the next several days, and on UNC-TV, the statewide PBS network, at some point as well.Fortunately you don't have to live in North Carolina to see the film. WRAL has made the 22-minute film available on their website.In addition...
The fugitive black bear of Red River Gorge is still on the run.Federal officials have placed an All Points Bulletin (APB) on a black bear in the Red River Gorge of central Kentucky. Officials from an array of Federal agencies are combing the Red River Gorge wilderness in search of the bear that became famous after becoming the first black bear to attack a human in modern Kentucky history earlier this...
A new video podcast, Day Hiking and Wildlife, associated with the recently launched program “Reward Yourself - Hike the Smokies Challenge”, is now available for viewing. This 6-minute podcast is the second of a three-part series on hiking safety and informs the viewer of wildlife behavior, particularly black bears, and the appropriate responses and regulations to be followed by Park visitors.The chance...
For the last two years the Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club has been working to relocate the Appalachian Trail between Grassy Ridge and Bradley Gap, replacing the route originally installed in the 1950’s that basically goes straight up and down every summit.Trail locations such as this along the fall line result in high erosion, especially in areas with heavy use, high precipitation, and...
