SOCIAL MEDIA

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Big Brothers Big Sisters Cabin Raffle

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina recently announced its 1st Annual Smoky Mountain Cabin fundraiser. The grand prize is a fully furnished log home, located in Bryson City, North Carolina near the entrance to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The cabin is valued at $340,000!Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is an organization that originated out of Cincinnati in 1904 to help children,...
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Small wildfire on western end of Smokies

Monday, August 30, 2010

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials are reporting that a small wildfire is burning between U.S. 129 and the shores of Calderwood and Chilhowee Lakes - roughly 7 miles west of Gregory Bald.The fire is believed to have been started by a lightning strike on August 17 on land owned by Tapoco, but was first detected and confirmed on August 22. It has spread slowly onto national park land. Firefighters...
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Clawhammer Mountain: Hike and a beer

Monday, August 30, 2010

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In conjunction with its release of their fall seasonal beer, Clawhammer Oktoberfest, the Highland Brewing Company will be leading a hike to the top of Clawhammer Mountain this Saturday.Highland Brewing, one of Asheville’s oldest micro-breweries, will be celebrating the release of Clawhammer Oktoberfest this Friday night between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.The following day, in conjunction with the Southern Appalachian...
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Foundation seeks eminent domain to build trail

Saturday, August 28, 2010

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American Trails has a story posted on their trail news page concerning the use of eminent domain to build a bike/hike path through the Pocatello, Idaho valley.When the plan was introduced by the Greenway Foundation in 1992, it called for a 23-mile contiguous path through the valley, but so far, only 6 miles have been completed.So, since planners from the Greenway Foundation haven't been able to convince...
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2010 Share the Experience Photo Contest

Saturday, August 28, 2010

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The National Park Foundation and Olympus are once again promoting their Share the Experience photo contest. The annual contest is the largest national park and public land photo contest for amateur photographers, and runs now through December 31, 2010. The National Park Service and its partners are inviting amateur photographers to submit up to three photos to the Share the Experience contest through...
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Kayaker makes First Descent of Linville Falls

Friday, August 27, 2010

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This past Tuesday, kayaker Pat Keller made the first descent ever of Linville Falls - albeit illegally.Linville Falls in Western North Carolina is a complicated, discontinuous series of falls that drops roughly 90 feet into the Linville Gorge. The falls begin as a twin set of upper falls, then moves down a small gorge before making a final 45-foot plunge into the basin below.Keller, 24, a professional...
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Broad-Winged Hawk Migration

Friday, August 27, 2010

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The first cold front of the year usually passes through the Smoky Mountains during the early-to-mid September time period. With the passing front comes Broad-winged Hawks as they make their annual migration down the Appalachian Mountain range to winter in the neo-tropics - from Mexico to as far south as Southern Brazil. This is an excellent opportunity to watch the buteos as they kettle-up over the...
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Passport to the Parks Sweepstakes

Thursday, August 26, 2010

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The National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, recently launched its "Passport to the Parks Sweepstakes".Running through September 10th, the foundation teamed up with Sunset Magazine and Merrell to give away 5 national park "packs" loaded with national park gear and information — including a national park pass.Individuals can enter daily for their chance to win one...
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Ash tree mapping volunteers needed this Saturday

Thursday, August 26, 2010

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The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is once again looking for Citizen Scientist volunteers to help researchers collect scientific data on ash trees by mapping the locations of the trees within the Park.The mapping project, which will take several years to complete, will be used to monitor future threats from a non-native insect. There are four dates left to volunteer this year, with the next being...
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Taking care of your hiking feet

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

6 comments
The following are a few tips, suggestions and strategies for taking care of your feet before and during a hike to help ensure that it isn’t ruined as a result of blisters: Toenails: Make sure you take the time to trim your toenails before a big hike, especially one that involves long descents. It’s best to clip your toenails as short as possible so that there’s no extra nail length. If need be,...
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Smokies seeks comments on elk management

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

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Officials at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are seeking public comment on the Park's plans to transition the management of its elk herd from an experiment to a long-term management strategy. Under provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) the public has 30 days to provide comments before the National Park Service can make a decision. Comments will be accepted through September...
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New Outdoor Gear Partnerships

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

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HikingintheSmokys.com is proud to announce a brand new partnership with Altrec Outdoors and Backcountry.com in order to provide you with all the latest and greatest hiking and outdoor gear.I think you’ll find shopping for gear and clothing from HikingintheSmokys.com to be much easier now. In addition to far better navigation tools, you’ll find a much wider selection of the best gear from the top brands...
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Six injured in RV crash on Newfound Gap Road

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

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Yesterday was not a good day on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441). After being shut-down as a result of a rock slide on Sunday evening, the main artery through the park was reopened late in the morning, only to be shut-down once again just a couple of hours later.Around noon yesterday, a large motor home went off the road and slid about 100 feet down an extremely steep embankment, injuring six of its seven...
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Lost and Found

Monday, August 23, 2010

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Q: Where are people most likely to get lost?A: The Great SmokiesThe online version of the August issue of Backpacker Magazine has an outstanding article that offers 33 essential tips to remember if you or your partner goes missing, including "ways to stay found," and what to do if you do become lost. I highly recommend reading this; whether you're a hiking newby or a grizzled outdoor veteran. Hey,...
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Rockslide shuts-down Newfound Gap Road

Monday, August 23, 2010

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Update: U.S. 441 (Newfound Gap Road) is now reopened.---------------------------------------------------------------------A rockslide in the Smokies on U.S. 441 (Newfound Gap Road) yesterday evening has shut down the road to all traffic from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, NC.The slide occurred near Collins Creek roughly six miles north of Cherokee and has impacted both sides of the road.The road is expected...
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Visits to the Smokies up fo the year

Sunday, August 22, 2010

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Visits to Great Smoky Mountains National Park this year have remained strong - despite several road construction projects.For the year-to-date, through July, visits are up 2.4%. This figure is even more impressive when you consider that the park was celebrating its 75th anniversary last year.Although overall July visits were flat compared to the same month last year, Gatlinburg saw a 7.4% increase,...
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Cades Cove Picnic Area to be closed August 23-24

Saturday, August 21, 2010

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park managers have announced plans to close the Cades Cove Picnic Area on Monday and Tuesday, August 23-24. During the closure, Park crews and contract personnel will repave all of the deteriorated parking areas in the picnic area.The work is weather-dependent so extended rain could cause the Park to delay the completion until Thursday, August 26. No closures will occur...
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Certified Good Hiker

Saturday, August 21, 2010

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Catherine Dold, a former “trail host” volunteer for the U.S. Forest Service in the Indian Peaks Wilderness in Colorado, and former editor for Audubon Magazine, has recently developed a Certified Good Hiker Kit for children.The kit teaches kids to be “Good Hikers.” It includes a fun fill-in-the-blanks “class” that introduces kids to the basic guidelines of hiking and trail manners: what to bring on...
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Work resumes on Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Friday, August 20, 2010

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced that the reconstruction project on the Cherokee Orchard Road and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail just outside of Gatlinburg has resumed.The projected reopening date for the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is now October 1st.According to Park officials, from Monday through Sept. 3, all traffic up the two-lane Cherokee Orchard Road will...
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2010 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race

Friday, August 20, 2010

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Below is a video clip from the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Adventure Race, one of the premiere events on the adventure racing calendar.The race takes place in Patagonia, one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile at the southernmost portion of South America.I posted this video, not for the race itself, but for the stunning beauty of the land in...
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Two more bears killed in Yellowstone

Thursday, August 19, 2010

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A couple weeks ago I posted an article about several tragic deaths that have occurred in Yellowstone this summer, including that of several bears that have been killed in or just outside of the park.Now comes word that two more bears have been found dead near Fishing Bridge in the east central section of Yellowstone National Park.One was a giant 576-pound grizzly, currently in Bozeman undergoing a...
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BRP Ranger Hike: Sam Knob

Thursday, August 19, 2010

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Blue Ridge Parkway rangers will be leading a moderate, 3-mile hike to the summit of Sam Knob in the Pisgah National Forest tomorrow. The hike begins at 10 a.m. and will climb roughly 620 feet to an elevation of 6,040 feet.The popular trail leads through alpine-like terrain of northern hardwood forests and open meadows to a "bald" summit that offers outstanding 360-degree views of the surrounding Blue...
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Hiking calorie calculator

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

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A couple of weeks ago I posted an article that offered tips for keeping your cool during the summer hiking season. One of the most important aspects of hiking while the mercury is high is to make sure that you stay properly hydrated. As a follow-up, I thought I would discuss the importance of food while hiking as well. Although most people prefer to eat food that tastes good, you need to think of...
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Final Full Moon hike in Cades Cove

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

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Next Tuesday night, August 24th, is the final "Full Moon" hike in Cades Cove of the Great Smoky Mountains for the 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 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.Free Shipping over $45 at Altrec OutdoorsJeffHikingintheSmokys.com...
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Great Smokies taking it on the chin right now!

Monday, August 16, 2010

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There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game and that is first place.-- Vince LombardiOver? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?-- Bluto from Animal HouseIt’s roughly half-time for the Coca-Cola Live Positively $100,000 recreation grant contest, and the Great Smokies, quite frankly, is still getting its...
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Blue Ridge Parkway closures

Monday, August 16, 2010

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There are several temporary road closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway this week as a result of bears, construction, and storm debris removal projects.In Virginia:* The Peaks of Otter Picnic Area has been closed temporarily due to a sow with three cubs that have been acting aggressively and have bluff charged several people over the past week in the picnic area and on nearby trails. Employees and visitors...
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Students Excavate Ancestral Cherokee House

Monday, August 16, 2010

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The NPS Digest posted an article today about a group of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian high school students from the Cherokee and Snowbird communities that spent this past July excavating a tenth century ancestral house in the Great Smoky Mountains.The site offered an opportunity for the students to learn about a poorly understood period in Cherokee prehistory (Mississippian, AD 1000 - 1350).You...
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The Mt. LeConte Lodge Llama Train

Sunday, August 15, 2010

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The Mt. LeConte Lodge Llama Train is the latest video from the Great Smoky Mountains Association.Using the Trillium Gap Trail three times a week, llamas are used to keep the LeConte Lodge stocked with supplies, including fresh linens. On the return trip, the llamas transport garbage and dirty laundry back down the mountain.The park service originally used horses, but switched to the more sure-footed...
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Multi-club camp and hike outing in Cherokee N.F.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

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The Carolina Mountain Club mentioned a multi-club camp and hike outing in the Cherokee National Forest in their latest newsletter.Several hiking clubs affiliated with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy are organizing a camp and hike during the weekend of September 17 to 19.The location for the campout will be at the Rock Creek Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest near Erwin, Tennessee.There...
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Survivorman returns to the Discovery Channel

Friday, August 13, 2010

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In November of 2008, Les Stroud, host of “Survivorman,” announced that he was ending his popular show on the Discovery Channel, and would look into other projects someday down the road.Stroud was quoted as saying:“You can only do seven days surviving without food a certain number of times a year. I’m pleased with what I have done, I’ve been copied around the world, but 25 times I’ve not eaten anything...
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Trail workday in Cades Cove

Friday, August 13, 2010

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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, August 21th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Volunteers will be working on a horse and hiker trail out of Cades Cove. Work will include improvements to the trail head and...
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Annual Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight

Thursday, August 12, 2010

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Citizen astonomers, night owls and early morning risers may want to make note that the annual Perseid meteor shower will be at peak viewing tonight, and to a lesser rate, tomorrow night.According to the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, the Perseids are predicted to reach a peak of 60 to 90 meteors per hour tonight.The Perseid Meteor Shower is one of the more reliable showers, and lasts for...
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Guided Goat Hike on Roan Mountain

Thursday, August 12, 2010

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The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy will be hosting a guided Goat Hike on Roan Mountain this Saturday.Once again this summer, Jamey Donaldson, leader of the “Baa-tany Goat Project,” is rotating goats through test plots of vegetation on the high-elevation grassy balds of Roan Mountain. The SAHC hike will visit the goats and learn about their role in preserving the grassy balds. The hike...
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Low water reports in the Smokies

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

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The national park website, updated today, is reporting a couple of water issues that you may want to make note of.• The Mollies Ridge Shelter has no water (located roughly 10.6 miles north of Fontana Dam).• There is no water along Appalachian Trail for approximately 1.5 miles south of the Mollies Ridge Shelter as well.• Water is available at the Russell Field Shelter and the Birch Spring Gap tent...
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Park Rangers needed in the Smokies

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

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Ever wanted to be a ranger in Great Smoky Mountains National Park? There are two positions being advertised on the NPS website today. Here's what the park is looking for:Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking candidates for two permanent, full-time GL-0025-9 park ranger (LE) positions. Candidates must currently possess (or be able to obtain) Level I law enforcement commissions.The first position...
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The Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

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Virtual Blue Ridge has announced the dates for the 8th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition. Amateur and professional photographers can begin submitting their photos on September 17, 2010.This years' competition theme is The Parkway Tree Project. The areas comprising the Blue Ridge Parkway boast nearly 100 tree species that contribute to ecological zones of unsurpassed diversity. The...
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The Rest Step

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

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The "Rest Step" is a technique used by mountaineers to slow their cadence, rest their muscles, and preserve their energy while hiking on steep terrain at high altitudes. Essentially, the “rest step” takes pressure and strain off your muscles and transfers it to your bone structure. Although it’s mainly useful on snow, or on climbs at elevation where endurance is important, it can be employed on any...
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The Great Smokies needs your help - ASAP!

Monday, August 9, 2010

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A few days ago I posted about a $100,000 recreation grant that Coca-Cola was offering to a state or national park that received the most votes in its Live Positively initiative.At that time the Great Smoky Mountains appeared to be in firm control of first place as they had a wide lead over Little Ocmulgee State Park out of Georgia.Somewhere along the way, in the last day or two, a small state park...
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Local author returns from Alaska

Monday, August 9, 2010

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In case you've missed her blog recently, Danny Bernstein, author of two NC hiking guides, has been posting about her trip to Alaska.Her travels took her to Anchorage, Barrow, the Kenai Peninsula, and a short cruise in Prince William Sound.She's also published an excellent article on the National Parks Traveler website that goes into a little detail about her experiences in Denali National Park, as...
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16th Annual Friends Across the Mountains Telethon

Monday, August 9, 2010

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This Thursday, August 12th, is the 16th annual Friends Across the Mountains Telethon. The telethon will be broadcast on WBIR-TV Channel 10 in Knoxville, TN and WLOS-TV Channel 13 in Asheville, NC from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM.The broadcast highlights projects and programs that Friends of the Smokies has funded. The telethon raises roughly $200,000 each year. It's a fun event that raises awareness of both...
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Shooting Star viewing party at Cumberland Gap NHP

Sunday, August 8, 2010

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The public is invited to watch the annual Perseid meteor shower with Cumberland Gap park rangers at the remote Hensley Settlement this Friday night.As darkness falls in the southern mountains, the historic Hensley Settlement in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park becomes the stage for a shooting star spectacular. Its remote location high upon Brush Mountain provides an incredible opportunity to...
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Predicting weather in the backcountry

Sunday, August 8, 2010

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Exposure is the leading cause of death in the mountains. One of the skills that will help keep you out of trouble while in the backcountry is learning how to predict the weather.Deep in the wilderness it's highly unlikely you'll be able to get updated local weather forecasts. Essentially, you must become your own forecaster.Obviously predicting the weather is difficult - even for the local weatherman...
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Tips for keeping your cool in the summer

Saturday, August 7, 2010

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Given how hot of a summer we've already endured so far, and the fact that high temps won't be leaving anytime soon, I thought I'd take this time to revisit a previous post that offered a few tips for dealing with the heat while out on the trail: Summer hiking season is already upon us. Anyone who has ever been to the Smoky Mountains during the summer knows how hot and humid it can get in the Southern...
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Traversing the Khumbu Icefall

Friday, August 6, 2010

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I saw this on the Adventure Blog the other day.This excellent video captures the experience of crossing the infamous Khumbu Icefall from the perpective of the climber.The video was shot with a helmet-mounted camera as climbers passed over the Khumbu glacier just above Base Camp on Mt. Everest this past spring:JeffHikingintheSmokys....
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The Smokies at Twilight: Sunset Hike

Friday, August 6, 2010

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This Monday (8/9) is the final ranger led Sunset Hike in the Smokies for the year.Join a ranger at the Clingmans Dome Parking Lot for a short walk to experience the top of the Smokies in all its glory.The hike lasts from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Rangers ask that you wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots and to bring a flashlight.The final ranger led hike anywhere in the Smokies this year is scheduled for ...
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Mark your calendars: Wilderness Wildlife Week

Thursday, August 5, 2010

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Pigeon Forge has just announced the dates for the 2011 Wilderness Wildlife Week. The 21st annual event will be held January 8-15, 2011.More than 150 experts — nature photographers, biologists, raptor rehabilitators, social historians and just plain folks who grew up in the Smokies — will donate their time to present daily programs and a range of outdoor activities. There will be more than 250 programs...
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DOJ: Segways not allowed on trails

Thursday, August 5, 2010

3 comments
American Trails has a report on their website regarding a recent final ruling by the Department of Justice with regards to wheelchairs and "Other Power Driven Mobility Devices" on trails in federally designated wilderness areas.Basically the DOJ has ruled that the Segway® Personal Transporter is not a wheelchair because the Segway® is not designed primarily for use by individuals with disabilities,...
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Wildflower / Fall Foliage Report?

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

1 comment
Tom Harrington, Park volunteer and naturalist, has recently updated his Wildflower Report on the Great Smoky Mountain Association website.His most recent report is from a hike on the Big Creek Trail in the northeastern corner of the Smokies. Mr. Harrington is reporting sightings for the following flowers: Heal All, Yellow Touch-me-nots (Pale Jewel Weed), Purple Flowering Raspberry, Common Milkweed,...
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