SOCIAL MEDIA

Jennifer Pharr Davis Breaks the A.T. Speed Record!

Sunday, July 31, 2011

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Roughly an hour ago team Davis posted this blurb on Jennifer's blog:After 46 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes Jen has finally finished the 2,181 mile trail. She reached the end at 3:26 p.m. today. Hard to express how proud of her we are. Pics and more stories from the trail to come soon.The now previous overall Appalachian Trail speed record was 47 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes. That means Jennifer has...
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The Times They Are a-Changin' for Backpackers

Sunday, July 31, 2011

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Earlier in the week the U.S. Postal Service announced that they will be conducting a study over the next several months to determine the need for some 3700 retail post offices. Potentially, the USPS could eliminate more than 10% of all their post offices around the country. Most of these closings will likely occur in rural areas, such as those along the Appalachian Trail.A.T. thru-hikers, and section...
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GSMA Guided Hike to John Oliver Homeplace in Cades Cove

Saturday, July 30, 2011

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On Saturday, August 13th, join the Great Smoky Mountains Association and Park volunteer Jim Burbank for a guided hike to the John Oliver homeplace in Cades Cove.Oliver, a veteran of the War of 1812, his wife Lucretia, and their young child, arrived in the Cove in 1818, and were the first permanent white family to settle here. The cabin dates from the 1820s and is one of the oldest structures in the...
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Confirmed: Smokies considers online backcountry camping permits, with fees

Friday, July 29, 2011

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Earlier in the day I posted some information stating that the Great Smoky Mountains is considering a move to make all backcountry camping permits (for all sites) go through Recreation.gov, an online and call-in reservation service. The proposal will now cost backpackers between $2.25 and $10.00 to make a reservation for a backcountry campsite (depending on which proposal is ultimately adopted).Although...
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Backcountry Office & Permit System Restructuring Proposal for Smokies

Friday, July 29, 2011

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First, let me say, there is nothing official from the Great Smoky Mountains at this point. The information below was posted in a Backpacker Magazine forum, however, an article on one of the local news networks has more or less confirmed the following.The bottom line on all this is that the Great Smoky Mountains is considering to contract with Recreation.gov, an online and call-in reservation service,...
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Across the Smokies: The New Endurance Record

Friday, July 29, 2011

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Back in May I received an email from David Worth, announcing that he had just broke the record for the fastest trek across the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains. David ran/walked/trekked 72 miles - from Fontana Dam to Davenport Gap - in 14 hours and 50 minutes, besting the previous record set by Will Harlan of 15 hours and 57 minutes.I didn't realize it at the time, because I don't know...
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Lost: The First Five Minutes

Thursday, July 28, 2011

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Is this still the trail?Why are we going down when we should be climbing?This direction doesn’t seem right.Professor Hike has a pretty good article in Backpacker Magazine on how to prevent yourself from getting lost. The professor makes a great point in that the most critical time period is the first five minutes after you begin to question yourself as to whether you're on the right path or not.He...
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Smokies Institutes New Firewood Restrictions

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced that its current policy to prohibit the transportation of firewood from federal and state quarantined areas into the park has been tightened to include several neighboring counties in Tennessee. The affected areas, Blount, Knox, Anderson, Loudon and Union, and the most recent county just added to the list, Grainger, have been quarantined by either...
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Boy Scouts Work To Improve Park Trails

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

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Three cheers for the Boy Scouts of America!SummitCorps 2011 is in full swing at New River Gorge National River. Throughout the month of July, 1400 Boy Scouts between the ages of 14 and 21 will be volunteering their time and energy to construct and improve trails within the park.Members of The Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scout’s National Honor Society, will be constructing 16 miles of completely new...
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Construction to close section of Blue Ridge Parkway for 1 Year

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

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The Blue Ridge Parkway will be closed to all traffic from Milepost 232.5 at Stone Mountain Overlook to Milepost 236.9 at Air Bellows Gap Overlook Parking beginning July 15, 2011, and lasting until the Summer of 2012. Detour traffic signage will direct Parkway visitors around the closure area via NC Route 18 and US Highway 21 through Laurel Springs and Sparta.The Doughton Park Campground and Brinegar...
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"Spectacular" Double Meteor Shower This Week

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

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Beginning later this week, and lasting for several nights, will be some of the best chances for observing meteors this year.

The lesser known Delta Aquarid meteor shower is expected to peak on Friday night, while the more famous and more productive Perseid meteor shower is just starting to ramp up.

The combined showers will produce anywhere between 15 and 30 shooting stars per hour.

According to the National Geographic News article, the simultaneous activity during the last days in July and early August will produce the best chance for meteor observers to see a lot of shooting stars during either shower.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Mammoth Cave to commit $130,000 to backcountry trail repairs

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

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Mammoth Cave National Park will commit $130,000 to backcountry trail repairs, planned for August through November, Superintendent Patrick Reed announced last week. Trail users will experience some closures and delays. New trail construction of Big Hollow Trail will begin later this year.“Extreme weather conditions over the last three years, plus increased use, have caused erosion and mires along several...
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Gunter Fork Trail is closed

Monday, July 25, 2011

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The Gunter Fork Trail on the eastern end of the Great Smoky Mountains has been temporarily closed due to landslides. The 4.1-mile trail connects the Camel Gap Trail with the Balsam Mountain Trail. No word on how long the trail will be closed.JeffHikingintheSmokys....
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American Hiking Society Announces 2011 National Trails Fund Recipients

Monday, July 25, 2011

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The American Hiking Society enjoyed another great year of awarding funds to selected trail projects across the country through its 2011 National Trails Fund. Thanks to the generous support of their Charter Sponsors, L.L. Bean and Cascade Designs (Therm-a-Rest and MSR), the National Trails Fund (NTF) awarded $27,000. This was a landmark year because NTF eclipsed the half million dollar mark with total...
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Why is visitation in the Smokies down significantly?

Sunday, July 24, 2011

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"Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."-Yogi BerraVisitation to the Great Smoky Mountains dropped 17.6% in June, and is down 11.9% through the first six months of the year. This represent nearly a half million fewer visitors so far this year!Park spokesman, Bob Miller, has been quoted in the press stating that managers aren't exactly sure as to the reasons for the decline, but think that high...
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Much Pharr-ther down the road

Saturday, July 23, 2011

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Since the last time we checked-in on her, Jennifer Pharr Davis has made some serious progress in her quest to break the overall record for the fastest hike of the Appalachian Trail.By my calculations she's hiked 1656 miles through 36 days, and has averaged 46 miles per day! During one 5-day stretch Jennifer put in a whopping 261 miles!Although the terrain in Maine is quite tough, I was a little concerned...
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Patagonia Sale

Saturday, July 23, 2011

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For the next couple of days Patagonia will be holding their 30% Off Sale on spring and summer styles. They're also offering Free shipping on orders over $75. Patagonia doesn't have many sales, so if you're a fan of their outdoor clothing, this might be a good opportunity to purchase some new threads at a discount. The sale ends on July 27th. Just click on the Ad for more information:JeffHikingint...
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Alcoa Grant to Benefit Teachers Near the Smokies

Saturday, July 23, 2011

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Alcoa Foundation has granted $15,000 to Friends of the Smokies to support teacher enrichment programs, including teacher workshops and opportunities for three teachers to spend a summer working as park rangers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.“We all share an interest in improving student achievement in science and technology,” said Liz Dupree, Chief of Resource Education at Great Smoky Mountains...
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Smokies Invites Comments on Proposed Historical Artifacts Storage Facility

Friday, July 22, 2011

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Managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are inviting comments on an Environmental Assessment which lays out the impacts of a proposed new storage facility which will preserve 422,000 historical artifacts and 450,000 archival records. These items help document the history of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and four other National Park Service (NPS) areas in East Tennessee.The historic artifacts...
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Cleaning Up After the Tornado in Cades Cove

Friday, July 22, 2011

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Crews in the Great Smoky Mountains continue to make progress in clean-up efforts in the aftermath of the April 27th EF-4 tornado that ripped through the western edge of Cades Cove. The Great Smoky Mountains Association recently published a short video providing an update on those efforts:© GSMA 2011. All rights reserved.JeffHikingintheSmokys....
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Don't urinate on the trails in Olympic National Park

Thursday, July 21, 2011

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Visitors to Olympic National Park are being advised not to pee near trails, or face the risk of being attacked by mountain goats.This warning stems from a fatal goring that occurred in the park last fall. Witnesses at the time of the attack described an aggressive male mountain goat, weighing more than 350 pounds, that approached, followed and fatally gored a Port Angeles man while he was hiking last...
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Backcountry Campsites 84 & 85 Changed to Reservation Only

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced a decision to transition backcountry campsites 84 and 85, along the Hazel Creek Trail in North Carolina, from non-reservation campsites to reservation-only. This change takes effect on August 1, 2011. The decision was made as a result of repeated bear-human conflicts, which have necessitated lengthy closures of these two sites in the past...
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The Next Great Mountain Towns

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

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Hikers and adventurers are already familiar with towns like Asheville, Gatlinburg and Damascus, but the Southern Appalachians are full of lesser-known small towns that boast vibrant scenes and access to incredible adventure. Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine has compiled a list of 11 candidates that are poised to become the South’s Next Great Mountain Town.A couple of the towns I had never heard of, and...
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REI Awards the ATC a $20,000 Grant for Appalchian Trail Community Program

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

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The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is pleased to announce that it has received a $20,000 grant from the REI, a national outdoor retailer committed to connecting people with nature. The funds will go towards recruiting and training Appalachian Trail Community™ Ambassadors, in support of the Appalachian Trail Community™ program.The Appalachian Trail Community™ program is designed to recognize communities...
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Land trusts win $2.7 million to protect scenic byways

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

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North Carolina’s land trusts have for a second time been entrusted with federal funds to help them complete land protection projects that will protect the views from 20 of our state’s scenic byways, including the Blue Ridge Parkway and three National Byways.The Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways Program recently awarded $2.7 million to the Conservation Trust for North Carolina...
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Top 10 North Carolina Waterfalls near Asheville

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

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North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville is home to hundreds of waterfalls, so the choices can be overwhelming. According to the readers of the popular online travel vacation guide RomanticAsheville.com, here are the Top 10 Waterfalls that visitors should not miss during the summer and fall of 2011:1. Sliding Rock: Each summer, thousands of people of all ages slip and slide down this favorite...
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Hannah Mountain Trail Reopens

Monday, July 18, 2011

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According to the latest update on the Great Smoky Mountains Temporary Road Closures page, the Hannah Mountain Trail has reopened. The trail had been closed as a result of the tornado that swept through the far western end of Cades Cove on April 27th. Crews continue to make progress on opening the trails that were closed after more than 4500 trees were downed by the EF-4 tornado. Five trails, as well...
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Battle brewing on the Upper Chattooga River

Monday, July 18, 2011

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Late last week, the US Forest Service released a controversial Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) on managing recreation uses on the upper segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River. The announcement includes the selection of a preferred alternative (number 12) that would allow high-quality whitewater boating on the upper river in the winter and preserve a boat-free experience for other users...
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US Forest Service Finds Global Forests Absorb One-Third of Carbon Emissions Annually

Monday, July 18, 2011

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Forests play a more significant role in removing carbon from the atmosphere than first reported - by absorbing one-third of carbon emissions annually, a new U.S. Forest Service study says.“Forests provide us with abundant clean air,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “This study shows the important role global forests play in keeping the air clean and it also broadens our understanding of...
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NPS Introduces Online Water Safety Lessons

Sunday, July 17, 2011

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Heading to the water is a great way to beat the heat of summer. However, it is important to take precautions. Before hitting the beach, have the kids play two new National Park Service Junior Ranger WebRanger games to learn about rip currents and general water safety. They can be found at http://www.nps.gov/webrangers.According to the Great Smoky Mountains website, drowning is one of the leading causes...
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Nature Valley's PreserveTheParks to benefit Smokies

Saturday, July 16, 2011

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As summer travel season heats up, Nature Valley® has partnered with travel expert and TV personality Samantha Brown to encourage Americans to experience the beauty of our national parks, while helping to raise awareness for the importance of preservation efforts. The program, called the National Parks Project, benefits the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), whose mission is to help preserve...
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The Cataloochee Valley

Friday, July 15, 2011

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Interesting (artistic?) video of the Cataloochee Valley by Matt Brass. Apparently he and his buddies recently spent a few days camping in the southeastern portion of the Smokies when they shot this:Cataloochee (GSMNP) from Matt Brass on Vimeo.JeffHikingintheSmokys....
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Road work on the Cherohala Skyway

Friday, July 15, 2011

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Cherokee National Forest officials announced yesterday that the Tennessee Department of Transportation will be working on the Cherohala Skyway beginning in July, and continuing through August. The work will be ocurring on Mondays through Thursdays.TN DOT will be resurfacing and installing new guardrails along the entire length of the Skyway, and be working on a large landslide near mile marker 7....
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Guided hike to Cattail Peak

Thursday, July 14, 2011

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In celebration of its seasonal beer, Cattail Peak Organic Wheat Beer, the Highland Brewing Company, in partnership with staff from the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, will be hosting a free guided hike this Saturday to Cattail Peak in Yancey County.This will be a strenuous hike along the Black Mountain Crest Trail, starting from the parking lot on...
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Oconaluftee Old Time Music Jam Sessions

Thursday, July 14, 2011

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park is starting an acoustic old time jam session every third Saturday of the month starting July 16 at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.“Musical expression was and still is often a part of daily life in the southern mountains, and mountain music is strongly tied to the Smokies history and culture,” said Lynda Doucette, Supervisory...
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l’Etape du Tour: Mission Accomplished!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

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This is the final posting by guest blogger, Michael Lowe. On Monday of this week, during one of the Tour de France rest days, Michael had an opportunity to ride in the Étape Du Tour, an epic cycling event that takes riders from the town of Modane to the famous and storied climb of L'Alpe D'Huez. Below is his story and some of the photos he took along the way. Major kudos and congratulations for conquering...
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