l’Etape du Tour: The Cherohala Challenge

l’Etape du Tour: The Cherohala Challenge

Thursday, June 30, 2011

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This is the third in a weekly series by guest blogger, Michael Lowe, leading up to his Étape Du Tour ride on July 11th:The l’Etape ride is only 67 miles and arguably one could train at that distance or even a little less and then do the ride. I believe, however, that it helps to train at a further distance, prove I can do it, and then tackle the shorter distance with more speed than I might otherwise...

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Guided hike to Spruce Flats Falls

Guided hike to Spruce Flats Falls

Thursday, June 30, 2011

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In the latest edition of The Cub Report, the Great Smoky Mountains Association announced that they will be offering an educational hike to Spruce Flats Falls with former Great Smoky Mountains at Tremont teacher/naturalist Mike Matzko on Saturday, July 9th.This beautiful little known gem of the Smokies is located in the Tremont area of the park, and consists of four cascades making up a 125 foot drop...

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Some tornado damaged trails in Cades Cove have reopened

Some tornado damaged trails in Cades Cove have reopened

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

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The EF-4 tornado that ripped through the western end of Cades Cove on April 27th forced the shut-down of several trails in the area. The Beard Cane Trail saw the most damage, as the tornado essentially followed almost the entire length of the 4.2-mile trail.Since then the park has taken on the monumental task of removing thousands of trees blocking those trails, and is slowly but surely reopening...

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Interpretive Programs at Big South Fork for 4th of July Weekend

Interpretive Programs at Big South Fork for 4th of July Weekend

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

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The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area will host a series of day and evening programs during the July 4th weekend. Park rangers will present a variety of programs in both Tennessee and Kentucky. The programs in Tennessee will be held at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center or nearby Leatherwood Ford. Programs in Kentucky will be at the Blue Heron Campground or the McCreary County Museum in...

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The Backpacker Tough Guy (and Gal) Challenge

The Backpacker Tough Guy (and Gal) Challenge

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

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Want to win a guided climb up Mt. Rainier (airfare included!) with International Mountain Guides, including an array of Outdoor Research apparel? All you have to do is prove you're the toughest backpacker out there.All you have to do to show you're the toughest guy or gal is create a video (no more than five minutes long) to prove it.Backpacker Magazine has provided some intentionally vague guidelines:*...

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Multiple incidents on the Blue Ridge Parkway keep rangers busy

Multiple incidents on the Blue Ridge Parkway keep rangers busy

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

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Rangers and rescue personnel on the Blue Ridge Parkway have been kept quite busy over the last couple of weeks. A slew of incidents, including climbing accidents, a suicide attempt, and a kidnapping, have been reported recently: * On June 13th, a suicidal person operating a red Subaru near Craggy Gardens placed a burning rag into the vehicle’s gas tank and set it afire. A Buncombe County deputy on...

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Great Smoky Mountains seeking candidates for ranger positions

Great Smoky Mountains seeking candidates for ranger positions

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking candidates for two permanent, full-time GL-9 protection ranger positions in the Oconaluftee and Cataloochee areas. Both positions are located within the South District in North Carolina.Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers participate in the full spectrum of frontcountry and backcountry emergency services operations, including law enforcement,...

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Is the National Park Service experiencing mission creep?

Is the National Park Service experiencing mission creep?

Monday, June 27, 2011

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Kurt Repanshek of the National Park Traveler site posted an article yesterday titled; Is There A New Unit of The National Park System Coming To Your Neighborhood?I bring this article to your attention because the National Park Service is looking to possibly add as many as 40 new park units to the NPS System. Nearly every single one of these units are historical sites.I have to ask though, in this...

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Trail Talk

Trail Talk

Monday, June 27, 2011

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Ever wondered about the best hikes, sites and activities in America’s national parks? Or are you unsure about how you should plan your next visit to a national park or what you should pack? Join the National Park Foundation for Trail Talk and get all of your questions answered!Presented by the National Park Foundation and Merrell, Trail Talk is an opportunity for you to get an insider’s perspective...

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How Pharr will she go?

How Pharr will she go?

Sunday, June 26, 2011

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Jennifer Pharr Davis is now one week into her attempt to break the overall Appalachian Trail speed record. In order to break the current record of 47 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes, she will have to average roughly 46.5 miles per day. So far she's averaging just above 34.5 miles per day. However, she's traversing through some very tough terrain, including the Mahoosuc Range, which is considered to...

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Win a trip to Colorado's Weminuche Wilderness

Win a trip to Colorado's Weminuche Wilderness

Sunday, June 26, 2011

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Enter the Backpacker Magazine EXTREMES SWEEPSTAKES for a chance to win an epic hike for you and a guest with Southwest Adventure Guides. You'll cross wildflower-filled meadows and peak-studded basins to reach one of the most remote spots in the Lower 48: Rock Creek Lake in Colorado's Weminuche Wilderness (featured in BACKPACKER's May Issue and Dec 2007).Big-time bonus: Both the winner and guest will...

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Two Men Busted for Meth Lab at New River Gorge National River

Two Men Busted for Meth Lab at New River Gorge National River

Saturday, June 25, 2011

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Are our parks becoming safe zones for drug runners?Earlier this month the U.S. Forest Service published a guide titled: What to do if you encounter a marijuana cultivation site in a National Forest. Then earlier this week Mammoth Cave National Park announced that they will be offering rewards to stop crime within park boundaries. The press release included a quote from Ranger David Alexander, one...

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The narrows of the Virgin River in Zion National Park

The narrows of the Virgin River in Zion National Park

Friday, June 24, 2011

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Cool video of seven kayakers as they make their way down the narrows of the Virgin River in Zion National Park. Last June the kayakers spent 2-days on a self-supported trip along this 16-mile stretch in the upper reaches of Zion Canyon. The Virgin River has carved a spectacular gorge up to 2000 feet deep, and at times only 20-30 feet wide!JeffHikingintheSmokys....

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DUI Enforcement Operations Planned for Smokies

DUI Enforcement Operations Planned for Smokies

Friday, June 24, 2011

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Rangers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have announced plans to conduct two sobriety checkpoints and ramp up traffic patrols between June 24 and July 10, in conjunction with a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). As part of this wave of DUI reduction activities, Park Rangers will be conducting checkpoints on June...

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l’Etape du Tour: Training for the Mountains of France

l’Etape du Tour: Training for the Mountains of France

Thursday, June 23, 2011

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This is the second in a weekly series by guest blogger, Michael Lowe, leading up to his Étape Du Tour ride on July 11th:Only eighteen days to go before I tackle l’Etape.When I closed the introduction, I had deferred a description of Alpe d’Huez to this installment. That’s because it is probably the most celebrated modern finish in the French Alps. A relatively new addition to the Tour, it arrived...

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Friends of the Smokies raises more than $463,000 for new trail improvement fund

Friends of the Smokies raises more than $463,000 for new trail improvement fund

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

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Friends of the Smokies announced yesterday the creation of a new trail improvement fund to honor the memory of Tom Cronan, Professor Emeritus at Carson-Newman College. Cash gifts and pledges already total more than $463,000 toward a $500,000 fundraising goal.Tom Cronan inspired many as he forged his path as a teacher, national pentathlon champion, husband, brother, father, grandfather, courageous...

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Mammoth Cave offers reward to stop crime

Mammoth Cave offers reward to stop crime

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

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Do you have information that could help stop a crime in Mammoth Cave National Park? Park rangers have set up a reward program, up to $1,000, for information that will lead to a successful prosecution."The park is a quiet sanctuary, but our law enforcement rangers face the same crimes that city and county officers do," said Superintendent Patrick Reed. "We are asking our neighbors' to help us keep...

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Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame inducts its first class

Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame inducts its first class

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

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The Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame inducted its first class of honorees last Friday night, with trail founder Benton MacKaye and trail builder Myron H. Avery leading the inaugural group of six inductees.Rounding out the list are Earl Shaffer, the first person to report an end-to-end thru-hike of the trail; Gene Espy, the second person to thru-hike the trail; Arthur Perkins, the first person to begin...

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Water Availability Notice posted for Smokies

Water Availability Notice posted for Smokies

Monday, June 20, 2011

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Great Smoky Mountains officials have posted a Water Availability Notice for a couple of locations around the park. If you're a backpacker, or a hiker that relies on obtaining water in the backcountry, you should make note of these:• Springs along the Appalachian Trail may run dry during summer and fall. Please check with the Backcountry Office at (865) 436-1297 for additional information.• Newfound...

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ATC’s Konnarock Trail Crew is Heading into the Woods with Open Positions

ATC’s Konnarock Trail Crew is Heading into the Woods with Open Positions

Monday, June 20, 2011

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The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s (ATC) Konnarock Trail Crew is currently searching for volunteers to help maintain the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) from Rockfish Gap, VA to the Trail's southern terminus at Springer Mountain in GA. The ATC will provide food, tools, equipment and safety gear needed for volunteers to get into the backcountry and complete some much needed work on the Trail.Konnarock is...

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Dry Creek Trail System opens in the Chattahoochee National Forest

Dry Creek Trail System opens in the Chattahoochee National Forest

Sunday, June 19, 2011

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Earlier in the week, the USDA Forest Service announced the grand opening of the 26-mile Dry Creek Trail System in the Chattahoochee National Forest in northwest Georgia. After several years of planning, new trails were built from the ground up to create a safer, more maintainable, and ecologically sustainable trail system from an unplanned network of older trails that did not meet current trail standards....

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Backcountry.com Camping Gear Expert Shells Out Beta on Season’s Best Gear

Backcountry.com Camping Gear Expert Shells Out Beta on Season’s Best Gear

Saturday, June 18, 2011

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Whether you’re a burly mile-counting thru hiker, weekend warrior wilderness backpacker or car camper extraordinaire, having the right reliable gear to keep you comfy and smiling in the outdoors is imperative. But, with so much camping gear out there to choose from it’s hard to know what’s best.No sweat, let Backcountry.com’s camping Merchandising Division Manager, Matt Enloe, be your compass and lead...

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A hike to the LeConte Lodge

A hike to the LeConte Lodge

Friday, June 17, 2011

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Author Randy Johnson provides a nice overview of the hike up to the LeConte Lodge atop Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains:Randy Johnson is author of, among several other local hiking guides, Best Easy Day Hikes of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.For more information on hiking the Alum Cave Trail to Mt. LeConte, please click here.JeffHikingintheSmokys....

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Appalachian Clubhouse Open House

Appalachian Clubhouse Open House

Friday, June 17, 2011

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park has set a two-day open house at Elkmont to showcase the newly-restored Appalachian Clubhouse. The first day, Saturday, June 25, is set aside for the original residents of Elkmont and their families, and on Sunday, June 26, the general public is invited to attend. The open houses are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days at the Appalachian Clubhouse, which is located...

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Woman trapped under snow in a creek rescued in Sequoia National Park

Woman trapped under snow in a creek rescued in Sequoia National Park

Thursday, June 16, 2011

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This is truly an amazing story of survival. This comes from a Sequoia National Park press release issued yesterday:Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks' staff had to initiate a search-and-rescue for a woman who had been pulled from the creek at the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park on Tuesday.A 52-year-old Squaw Valley, CA woman left the Farewell Gap Trailhead on a solo day hike to train...

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l’Etape du Tour: “An Introduction”

l’Etape du Tour: “An Introduction”

Thursday, June 16, 2011

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The following begins a series of articles written by a good friend of mine, Michael Lowe. He probably doesn’t remember this, but after moving to Louisville in 1994, Michael was the first person in the local cycling club to chat with me during one of my first rides. In less than four weeks he’ll be riding in L’Etape Du Tour, a cycling event that will take riders from Modane, France to the famous and...

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Bear Encounters Reported in Pisgah Ranger District

Bear Encounters Reported in Pisgah Ranger District

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

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The USDA Forest Service in North Carolina issued the following alert today with regards to bears in the Pisgah Ranger District (south of Asheville):Several reports of encounters with black bears have been reported recently on the Pisgah Ranger District in the vicinity of Graveyard Fields, North Mills River and Wash Creek areas. Campers, hikers and others visiting the national forests should practice...

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Numerous Search & Rescue Operations in Shenandoah

Numerous Search & Rescue Operations in Shenandoah

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

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NPS Digest has a report this morning that over the past several weeks, search and rescue responders at Shenandoah National Park have conducted nine search and rescue operations, five of them becoming major SAR incidents. Here are some details on a couple of those incidents:* A 24-year-old man was climbing grape vines along the Hazel River Trail and only recognized the folly of this activity when he...

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20 Best Hikes in America's National Parks

20 Best Hikes in America's National Parks

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

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Veteran parks writer Robert Earle Howells has compiled a list of the 20 best hikes within our national parks for National Geographic Adventure. The list includes some of the greatest day trips and backpacking escapes our national park system has to offer.Among the 20 hikes in this list, I saw that I've hiked at least a portion of 4 of them.The portion of the Teton Crest Trail that we hiked will forever...

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Contest: Share Your “Core” Story, Win a Suunto Watch

Contest: Share Your “Core” Story, Win a Suunto Watch

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

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The Tactical Gear Blog is offering you a great chance to win a Suunto Core Watch ($299) right now. All you have to do is share your most “Core” story in 75 words or less. You know you have some hardcore stories, so come on and share ‘em.It’s easy to enter. Just post your story to the TacticalGear.com Facebook page or in the comments section of their blog. There are already some pretty interesting...

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Claim your summit

Claim your summit

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

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I just wanted to let everyone know about a new website I found out about last week called "peakery".Essentially, peakery allows users to claim any peak they've summitted from anywhere around the world. It's a great online tool for keeping track of your summits, or for bragging purposes amongst your friends and family. With photos, trip reports, peak stats, route info, and maps, peakery also serves...

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Temporary closures at Cades Cove and the Alum Cave Trailhead this week

Temporary closures at Cades Cove and the Alum Cave Trailhead this week

Monday, June 13, 2011

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As mentioned in a posting last week, the Great Smoky Mountains will be temporarily closing the Cades Cove Loop Road and the north portion of the Alum Cave Trail parking area later this week in order to install new precast concrete public restrooms (vault toilets). The park has provided a few more details on the two projects in a press release today:The Cades Cove Loop Road will close on Thursday,...

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Ranger led hikes in the Smokies

Ranger led hikes in the Smokies

Monday, June 13, 2011

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Rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains will again be leading a series of hikes to various destinations within the park this summer. This is a great opportunity for adults and children to learn a little bit more about the history and the natural surroundings of the area your hiking in. Here's the current list of scheduled hikes:Cades Cove Night Hike: Mondays and Fridays thru mid-AugustTimes: 9:00 PM...

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Kentucky Adventure Giveaway

Kentucky Adventure Giveaway

Sunday, June 12, 2011

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Blue Ridge Outdoors and Kentucky's tourism partners are offering you a chance to win one of two fantastic paddling and overnight trips in one of the beautiful, secluded State Parks of Kentucky.The Grand Prize will be an overnight stay for 2 at Carter Caves, and a guided canoe trip down Tygart Creek or Smoky Valley Lake.The winner of the First Prize will win an overnight stay for 2 at Jenny Wiley State...

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Jennifer Pharr Davis set to begin A.T. odyssey this week

Jennifer Pharr Davis set to begin A.T. odyssey this week

Saturday, June 11, 2011

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If all goes as planned, sometime this week Jennifer Pharr Davis will begin her much anticipated attempt at breaking the overall Appalachian Trail speed record. Jennifer already owns the Women’s Speed Record for the fastest thru-hike of the A.T., setting the record in 2008 after completing the trail in just over 57 days.To break the overall record she'll have to hike the entire 2,180-mile trail in...

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Vault toilet installations to cause temporary closures in Smokies

Vault toilet installations to cause temporary closures in Smokies

Friday, June 10, 2011

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The Great Smoky Mountains website has posted an update regarding the installation of vault toilets at the Alum Cave Trailhead and on the Cades Cove Loop Road. The installations will result in a couple of temporary closures next week. Here's the statement from the GSMNP website:• Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed until noon on Thursday, June 16 to install a vault toilet.• The north parking area at...

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The future of camping?

The future of camping?

Friday, June 10, 2011

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Is this the future of tent camping? Obviously not if you're a backpacker. But if you're into "glamping", that is, luxury camping or glamorous camping, this may be a perfect fit for you.A firm out of the United Kingdom called Concrete Canvas Ltd has developed a technology, invented at Imperial College London in 2004, to create Concrete Cloth and Concrete Canvas Shelters.Now if there are any enterprising...

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The Validity of Petzoldt's Energy Mile Theory

The Validity of Petzoldt's Energy Mile Theory

Thursday, June 9, 2011

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In 1976, Paul Petzoldt, a mountaineer and founder of the National Outdoor Leadership School, proposed a theory to help backpackers plan trips and calculate their energy needs while on the trail in his book, Teton Trails. As defined by Petzoldt's theory, one energy mile is equal to the energy required to walk one mile on flat terrain. He also said that you should add two energy miles for every 1000...

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Flame Azaleas approaching peak bloom on Gregory Bald

Flame Azaleas approaching peak bloom on Gregory Bald

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

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Just a reminder for those wishing to see one of the greatest sites in the Smokies: the flame azaleas atop Gregory Bald should be nearing peak bloom within the next week or two.Tom Harrington, a volunteer for the Great Smoky Mountains who provides regular wildflower updates for the Great Smoky Mountains Association, recently stated:"I checked my diary back to 1995, and the middle of June has been the...

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Guided Backpacking Trips in the Great Smoky Mountains

Guided Backpacking Trips in the Great Smoky Mountains

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

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Did you know that REI offers guided backpacking trips in the Great Smoky Mountains? If you’re new to the park, or new to backpacking, this is a great way to explore the Smokies with experienced and professional guides.REIs challenging Appalachian Trail tour follows the crest of the western Smoky Mountains. Along the way participants visit Clingmans Dome, Derrick Knob, Thunderhead Mountain, Rocky Top...

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