SOCIAL MEDIA

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Discounts for Winter Weekend Getaways

Monday, January 31, 2011

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Right now is one of the best times to take advantage of some of the best discounts of the year on cabin rentals in the Smokies. And just in time. This weekend is the 5th annual Winter Heritage Festival in Townsend. And don't forget Valentines Day is just around the corner as well. The Great Smoky Mountains make for a great romantic weekend getaway. Below are several specials and discounts that...
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Chattahoochee-Oconee to Host Public Meetings on Trails

Sunday, January 30, 2011

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Earlier this week the USDA Forest Service announced a series of meetings to provide opportunities for public discussion on the long-term management of recreation trails in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. The meetings are the beginning of a new collaborative effort to understand the desires and expectations of trail recreationists and to develop a common understanding of the natural resource...
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Practice Map and Compass skills with Free App

Sunday, January 30, 2011

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YonYonson, a small web development company out northern England, is offering a free map and compass training application that you can download onto your desktop.The product, known as Cardinal Points, uses an interactive compass, and an expansive 360 degree panoramic view of the Castlerigg Stone Circle to guide you through key navigational techniques. The panorama allows users to pan around and take...
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N.C. State Parks Declare 2011 'Year of the Turtle'

Saturday, January 29, 2011

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North Carolina state parks have declared 2011 the “Year of the Turtle,” with plans for a 12-month exploration of this wildlife resource through its interpretive programs, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.North Carolina is home to 21 turtle species, including the familiar box turtle, which burrows up to two feet beneath its upland forests in winter, and the rare loggerhead, leatherback...
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Wilderness & Remote First Aid Training

Saturday, January 29, 2011

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The Knoxville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross will be offering a Wilderness & Remote First Aid training course in April.The course aims to provide individuals with a foundation of first aid knowledge and skills to be able to respond to emergencies and give care in areas that do not have immediate emergency medical services (EMS) response, such as wilderness and remote environments. Participants...
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Are bears in the Smoky Mountains being mismanaged?

Friday, January 28, 2011

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There is a pronounced tendency among some pantywaist poltroons in the U. S. National Park Service, in the Smokies and elsewhere across the country, to fall back on the tired old nostrum which suggests that their mission exclusively involves the natural world, humans be damned.As you might tell from the quote, Jim Casada, book author and frequent contributor to several outdoor magazines, has a pretty...
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Friday's Video

Friday, January 28, 2011

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Daredevil kayaker, Tao Berman, has put together a compilation of his "greatest hits" while paddling some of the most extreme whitewater in the world: JeffHikingintheSmokys....
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Great Smoky Mountains historical visitation trends

Thursday, January 27, 2011

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Last week the National Park Service Public Use Statistics Office reported that the Great Smoky Mountains ended the year with a total of 9,463,538 visitors to the park in 2010.I was curious to see what the historical trends were for this measure of the country's most visited national park. This same website also provides annual visitation count data going back to 1931. Here's a look at the total number...
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Protection ranger positions available in Smokies

Thursday, January 27, 2011

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The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking candidates for three permanent, full-time protection ranger positions – one each in the Cades Cove, Cosby, and Cataloochee areas.Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers participate in the full spectrum of frontcountry and backcountry emergency services operations, including law enforcement, SAR, EMS and wildland fire. Each of these areas offers...
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Update on the Appalachian Clubhouse at Elkmont

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

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The latest issue of the Cub Report from the Great Smoky Mountains Association is reporting that the Park's historical carpentry crew has completed rehabilitation of the Appalachian Clubhouse at Elkmont.The current plan is to allow visits to the exterior of the building and make the interior available for use by groups with a reservation and a rental fee.According to Wikipedia, an affluent group of...
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In case you own a Backcountry Access Tracker2

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

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Backcountry Access (BCA) is offering free replacements on its Tracker2 avalanche beacon after multiple malfunctions were reported by the Jackson Hole ski patrol and alpine guides.Essentially, the ski patrol and guides at Jackson Hole have reported several instances where the Tracker2 stopped transmitting. BCA suspects the problems were being triggered by a buildup and discharge of static electricity...
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Smokies Recruiting for 2011 Internships

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

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The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is currently recruiting for several 3-6 month internships during 2011. The positions are available for college students and recent graduates who would like to gain valuable work experience while helping to protect the cultural and natural resources in the park through education, research, and management.The internships are available for people who are interested...
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Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival and Tours

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

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The 7th annual Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival is set for Feb. 4-6 this year, and will celebrate one of the largest wintering populations of bald eagles outside of Alaska. The Eagle Festival offers a wide range of opportunities for Reelfoot Lake visitors to see these magnificent birds in the wild. Guided van and bus tours will be offered for $5 per person, leaving twice daily from the Reelfoot Lake State...
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The 5th annual Winter Heritage Festival in the Smokies

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

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Next weekend Townsend, Tennessee will hold its 5th annual Winter Heritage Festival in the Smokies.The festival, to be held on February 3-6, will include hikes, history, exhibits, lectures and craft showcases during the Thursday through Sunday event.Some of the hikes scheduled this year will include an Elkmont Hike with Herb Handly, as well as a short walk to Gourley Pond with Park Ranger Mike Maslona.Among...
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Air Horns as Bear Deterrents (revisited)

Monday, January 24, 2011

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** For the most up-to-date information on this topic, please click here. Almost two years ago I posted a blog that explored the question as to whether or not air horns make for good bear deterrents. My thoughts were that the high-decibel noise coming from an air horn might be more effective than bear spray because: 1) You don't have to worry about the direction of the wind (or rain) 2) You...
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Spring Photography Workshop with Bill Lea

Sunday, January 23, 2011

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Attention budding photographers: the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont will be offering its' annual Spring Photography Workshop on April 15-18.Nationally recognized nature photographer Bill Lea will lead a workshop this year emphasizing wildlife, landscape, and macro photography. Bill and his assistants will tailor the program to the skill level and interests of each individual participant,...
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Latest Trail Tracks Newsletter from American Trails

Saturday, January 22, 2011

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Below is a link to Trail Tracks, the latest monthly e-Newsletter from American Trails.Of particular interest is the recent controversial order by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar that gives the Bureau of Land Management immediate authority to "designate appropriate areas with wilderness characteristics under its jurisdiction as 'Wild Lands' and to manage them to protect their wilderness values." The...
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Smokies visitation slightly down in 2010

Friday, January 21, 2011

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The Great Smoky Mountains reported a total of 9,463,538 visitors to the park in 2010, a 0.3% decrease from the prior year. Although Gatlinburg (1.5%), Townsend (3.2%) and Cherokee (4.6%) each saw year over year increases, the park's 13 outlying entrances reported an overall decrease of 9.1%. Much of that decrease was driven by declines at the Foothills Pkwy East portion of the park, which has been...
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Gatlinburg contest: Recreate Your Childhood Experience

Friday, January 21, 2011

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The Gatlinburg Department of Tourism is sponsoring a contest for visitors to "Recreate Your Childhood Experience" and recount their memories of visiting Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains as a child.The contest invites participants to submit a brief description of their favorite childhood memory while visiting Gatlinburg, along with an old photo from that trip.Each month from January through...
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Friday's Video

Friday, January 21, 2011

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Join adventurer Alastair Humphreys as he treks the Laugavegur, the famous trekking route in Southwestern Iceland. The route is noted for the wide variety of landscapes that are experienced over the course of its 55km. His slideshow includes mountains, volcanoes, hot springs and the stark beauty of the region - but virtually no ice!Iceland's most famous long-distance trek from Alastair Humphreys on...
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A.T. Journeys

Thursday, January 20, 2011

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The latest issue of A.T. Journeys, the magazine of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, has just been posted to the ATC website.Of particular interest in this issue is the article about the Smokies Wilderness Elite Appalachian Trail Crew (S.W.E.A.T.). It's basically a day in the life type article on what it's like to be a part of the crew that helped to repair the section of trail near the Tricorner...
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White Nose Syndrome Video

Thursday, January 20, 2011

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The Great Smoky Mountains just posted a new video on their website regarding White Nose Syndrome, the disease that is devastating whole bat populations across the east.The video, produced by Great Smoky Mountains Association, is well made and provides more in-depth information for those that have been following this issue for the last couple of years. Just click here to visit the park website and...
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Return of the Smokies greenhouse

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

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The latest Dispatches from the Field update highlights the return of the greenhouse at the Twin Creeks Science Center.You may recall the windstorm on Christmas Eve of 2009 that flattened the historic Caughron Barn in Cades Cove. That same storm that produced gusts of up to 95 miles per hour also toppled the greenhouse that had been used to cultivate native grass seedlings. Those seedlings are used...
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Wrap-up Report On 111th Congress Issued

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

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The NPS Digest published a "Wrap-up Report On 111th Congress" that highlights the list of National Park Service-related laws enacted during the most recent Congress. In all, there were more than 300 NPS-related bills introduced in the House and Senate during 2009 and 2010 session. By far, the two most important bills were the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the Omnibus Public Land...
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Win a trip to a National Park

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

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The National Park Traveler is offering you a chance to win a 4-day, 3-night trip to one of 14 national parks; that is, if you're a student between the age of 8 and 18, or, you happen to have a child in that age range that has some pretty good writing skills.The National Park Traveler announced today it's first "Take Your Family to the National Parks" Essay Contest. Entries are being accepted from...
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The Great Smoky Mountains Scavenger Hunt

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

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On March 5th the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont will hold its 4th annual Great Smoky Mountains Scavenger HuntThe hunt ranges over most of the park, using roads and official trails to access particular areas. Some questions require research to answer. As it is illegal to remove items from the park, one digital camera with a flash memory card will be required per team.Questions are awarded...
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Time-lapse video of snow storm

Monday, January 17, 2011

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Below is a pretty cool time-lapse video of the snow storm that hit the northeast last month. The video was taken by Mike Black from his home in New Jersey:December 2010 Blizzard Timelapse from Michael Black on Vimeo.JeffHikingintheSmokys....
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ATC awarded grant to support Appalachian Trail Communities

Monday, January 17, 2011

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The Virginia Environmental Endowment has awarded a $22,000 grant to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) to support the Appalachian Trail Community program in Virginia. During the 2011 granting period, the ATC plans to accept at least five new communities from Virginia into the growing network of designated trail-side communities.Through this grant from the Virginia Environmental Endowment, the...
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The 3rd Annual Roan Mountain Winter Rally

Sunday, January 16, 2011

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The Friends of Roan Mountain recently announced the schedule for the 3rd Annual Roan Mountain Winter Naturalists' Rally to be held on Saturday, February 12.There will be presentations from biologists and naturalists in the morning, and then a series of hikes in the afternoon. In all, there will be four hikes from which to choose from, including:* an animal tracking hike near the Doe River* a photography...
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Membership has its benefits

Saturday, January 15, 2011

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Did you know that REI has a fairly unique membership program?REI, one of the leading outdoor gear and clothing retailers, offers a lifetime membership program that includes a member refund in the form of an annual dividend notice.For a one-time fee of just $20, outdoor enthusiasts receive a lifetime membership to the REI co-op. Each March active members receive a refund in the form of an annual dividend...
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Friday's Video

Friday, January 14, 2011

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Have you ever heard of the Wagah border crossing ceremony? I first heard about this while watching one of Michael Palin's travel shows on PBS several years ago.Wagah is the only road border crossing between India and Pakistan. Every evening since 1959 the small village of Wagah hosts what is known as the "Beating Retreat Ceremony." The hostile relationship between India and Pakistan is acted out in...
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BRP receives $10,000 Grant for Oral Histories

Thursday, January 13, 2011

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Earlier this week the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation announced that it has received a $10,000 grant from the National Parks Foundation that will allow for the collection of a number of important oral histories.The focus of this oral history project will be to record the first-hand accounts of the people who helped to build the parkway, including the Civilian Conservation Corps crews from the 1930’s...
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Unwritten Rules of Trail Etiquette

Thursday, January 13, 2011

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Backpacker Magazine apparently has a new member of their blogging team. The author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Backpacking and Hiking, Professor Hike (a.k.a. Jason Stevenson), has agreed to dispense with his sage outdoor advice three times a month.His latest posting, 5 Unwritten Rules of Trail Etiquette, includes some very useful advice that hikers ought to heed. His list includes stepping aside...
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Snow / Ice warnings for hikers in the Smokies

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

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Officials at the Great Smoky Mountains just posted this piece of information for hikers on their website:Snow/ice Warning - recent winter storms have left deep snow and ice accumulations on backcountry trails, especially at high elevation. Travel in the backcountry is difficult at this time. Hikers are reporting that Alum Cave Trail is impassible due to heavy snow and that snow is waist deep on portions...
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Trails Forever Program making strides in 2010

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

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At the end of 2010, Christine Hoyer, the Trails & Facilities Volunteer Coordinator for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, posted a year-end review of the Trails Forever program.The report provides an overview of how the Trails Forever program continues to take shape, and how the steady growth in the number of volunteers and the quality of the trail improvements in the last year is already...
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National Parks in the News

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

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The following are a couple of news items that were reported in the NPS Digest yesterday that I thought might be of interest to you:* Late last year the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced that 47 projects in national parks, forests and wildlife refuges across the United States will share in $27 million from its Paul S. Sarbanes Transit In Parks program to improve public and alternative...
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Dick Winters passes away

Monday, January 10, 2011

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Dick Winters, the focal subject of the TV movie series, 'Band of Brothers,' died last week at the age of 92. The announcement of his death was made today due to his request to withhold the news until after his funeral.I consider Band of Brothers by far and away the greatest war movie ever made. I base this on several factors, mainly the realism of the cinematography and the acting. The series, produced...
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Snow shuts down the Smokies!

Monday, January 10, 2011

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Snow continues to pile up in the Great Smoky Mountains - with up to an additional foot on the way. More than two feet of snow is already on the ground atop Mt. LeConte. In addition to every road being closed right now, the park has issued this statement on its website:Due to a winter storm, park facilities, including visitor centers, will be closed until 12:00 p.m. on Monday, January 10.The National...
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Appalachian Trail Slideshow/Movie Presentation

Monday, January 10, 2011

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Peter Barr, author of Hiking North Carolina’s Lookout Towers, will be hosting a slideshow/movie presentation of his 2010 Appalachian Trail thru-hike next month in Hendersonville, NC.In addition to hiking the 2,181 miles of the A.T., Barr hiked an additional 200 miles to reach peaks, waterfalls, high points, historical spots, and views which will also be featured in the presentation as well.His movie/slideshow...
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Help the National Park Foundation raise up to $600,000

Sunday, January 9, 2011

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Please take a moment to help the National Park Foundation raise up to $600,000 - with just one click!From January 9th through January 21st, the National Park Foundation will be one of four charities competing for a percentage of a $1 million grant from the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. As part of this unique challenge grant, each of the competing charities is guaranteed $100,000, but...
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Chestnut blight and the good virus

Sunday, January 9, 2011

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The latest update on the Smokies Dispatches from the Field page is about the chestnut blight and the "good virus".In the 1940s the chestnut blight, a fungus accidentally introduced from Asia, killed an estimated four billion American chestnut trees nationwide. Before the blight, roughly one third of all the trees in the Great Smoky Mountains were chestnuts. Today, even single spindly saplings are...
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Most roads closed in Smokies: More snow on the way

Saturday, January 8, 2011

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The snow from last night and in recent days has closed almost every road in the Great Smoky Mountains this morning. The winter caretaker atop Mt. LeConte is reporting 7 new inches of snow, making a total of 15 inches on the ground right now.The National Weather Service is calling for more snow over the next several days, which will likely keep most roads closed during this time period. Here's the...
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The Last Best Place

Saturday, January 8, 2011

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Backpacker Magazine has a feature article piece posted on their website from their November issue: The Last Best Place.More than three decades ago, a tiny band of California hikers discovered a magical valley in the Sierra Nevada. They possessed a rough map, but told no one. Now, the truth comes out.This is fairly long, but a great article - probably one of the best I've ever read from years of reading...
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Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Announced

Friday, January 7, 2011

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Earlier this week the Appalachian Trail Museum Society announced the establishment of a hall of fame that will recognize those who have made significant contributions towards establishing and maintaining the 2,181-mile footpath.With the announcement, the Appalachian Trail Museum Society released the following details about the nomination criteria and nominating and selection processes:Criteria - Those...
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Friday's Video

Friday, January 7, 2011

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Presenting the "Top 10 Biggest and Best Jumps Ever". Ski, motorcycle, airplane and BASE jumps. Some of these are simply amazing. Some are just crazy and stupid.JeffHikingintheSmokys....
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A day in the life of the LeConte Lodge winter caretaker

Thursday, January 6, 2011

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The Smoky Mountain News published an excellent article yesterday about Doug McFalls, the Gatlinburg native who spent last winter as the LeConte Lodge caretaker. The article does a great job of explaining a little bit of what it's like to spend the winter near the top of the 6593-foot summit of Mt. LeConte. It explains the caretaker's duties, the weather conditions, how they keep supplied, as well...
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17 Free Entrance Days Announced for National Parks

Thursday, January 6, 2011

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The National Park Service announced yesterday that it will waive admission fees on 17 dates during the upcoming year.The 2011 fee-free dates will be:• The weekend of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 15-17)• National Park Week (April 16-24)• The first day of summer (June 21)• National Public Lands Day (September 24)• Veterans Day weekend (November 11-13)Many national park concessions will also...
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The Via Alpina

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

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Backpacking Light posted an excellent article yesterday about the Via Alpina, a relatively new route that traverses eight countries in Europe.The route combines a network of pre-existing long distance trails that traverses more than 1200 miles as it passes through Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, France, and finally down to Monaco on the Mediterranean.The author, Brandon...
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Hiking fears: Keeping things in perspective

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

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Professor Hike (a.k.a. Jason Stevenson) has a thoughtful article on the Backpacker Magazine website regarding the things that hikers fear the most.He makes the point that many hikers spend far too much time and energy worrying about scary — but low percentage — threats like bears, cougars, and poisonous snakes, and not enough time concerning themselves with dull but common dangers like germs, blisters,...
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Winter Specials on Cabin Rentals in the Smokies

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

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Planning a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains this winter? Check out some of the specials and discounts our website advertisers are offering on overnight lodging this season. You'll find a variety of discounts on cabins and chalets in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Townsend and the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains. If you or anyone you know is planning a visit to the Smokies in the next...
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Moon Travel names Smokies as best camping destination

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

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Moon Travel Guidebook author and blogger, Laura Martone, has published her top picks for the best U.S. travel destinations in 2011.In her list, published today, Martone picks the best destinations for a variety of categories, including best city for art lovers, history buffs, the top bargain destination, and the best city for a family vacation, among others. As part of her list, she named the Great...
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