The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog: August 2012

Abigndon · Appalachian Trail Community · virginia

Abigndon, Virginia Designated as an Appalachian Trail Community

Friday, August 31, 2012

On September 11, 2012, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) will celebrate the official designation of Abingdon, Virginia as the newest Appalachian Trail Community™. The Town of Abingdon, in conjunction with the ATC and the Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club, has planned an evening of celebratory activities including presentations, vendors, live music and guest speakers....

Great Smoky Mountains National Park · wildlfowers

Summer Wildflowers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Friday, August 31, 2012

Sadly, and unbelievably, we're already near the end of summer. Didn't it just start a few days ago? Unfortunately time continues to march on, whether or not we're ready. If you didn't get a chance to visit the Smokies to see some of the wildlfowers this past summer, you're not completely out of luck. The Great Smoky Mountains Association recently published this short video that highlights some of...

50th Anniversary · Fall Roan Mountain Naturalists’ Rally

The Fall Roan Mountain Naturalists’ Rally Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Fifty years ago the vision of a German immigrant, Freddie Behrend, became a reality with the establishment of the first Roan Mountain Naturalists’ Rally. Nature enthusiasts have been coming to Roan Mountain on the weekend after Labor Day ever since to celebrate the natural world.This fall's rally continues to celebrate the natural world by providing two top speakers: Roan Mountain authority Jennifer...

cades cove · great smoky mountains association · monarch butterflies · tag

Help tag monarch butterflies in Cades Cove

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Here's an excellent opportunity to help with scientific research on monarch butterflies in the Smokies. Join naturalist Wanda DeWaard and the Great Smoky Mountains Association on a monarch tagging venture in Cades Cove on Saturday, September 29th.Volunteers will meet Wanda at the orientation shelter at the beginning of the Cades Cove loop road at 9:30 a.m. for an introduction to the program, prior...

blue ridge parkway · Plates for the Parkway

Plates for the Parkway: Local Dining to Benefit the Blue Ridge Parkway

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is pleased to announce the first annual Plates for the Parkway event benefitting the Blue Ridge Parkway. Set in Asheville, NC, Blowing Rock, Waynesboro, Roanoke and other communities along the Parkway, Plates for the Parkway links dozens of unique restaurants in one event to benefit the Parkway.Set for September 18th, participating restaurants agree to donate a minimum...

Cable Mill · cades cove loop road

Cades Cove Loop Road to Open Late Tomorrow

Monday, August 27, 2012

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Officials announced this afternoon that the Cades Cove Loop Road will open later than usual tomorrow, August 28th. A delay in opening the road is necessary to transport heavy equipment to the Cable Mill area. The road is expected to reopen by 8:30 a.m.JeffHiking Trails in Great Smoky Mountains National P...

Smokies to Complete Road Work

Monday, August 27, 2012

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced plans today to complete road projects on the Gatlinburg Bypass and a section of Newfound Gap Road near the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Work will begin on August 29th and is expected to be completed by September 1st. Weather delays, however, could extend the project into the Labor Day weekend.To minimize impact to visitors, all work will be completed...

blue ridge parkway · Radio Telemetry Enforcement

Blue Ridge Parkway to Step-Up Radio Telemetry Enforcement

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Earlier this week Blue Ridge Parkway officials announced that they will be increasing enforcement efforts against the illegal use of radio tracking equipment. The only legitimate use of radio telemetry on the Blue Ridge Parkway is to assist hunters in retrieving dogs that are no longer actively engaged in a hunt. Using telemetry or other tracking devices to track dogs that are actively hunting, or...

Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center · Astronomy Club of Asheville · Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Purchase Knob · Star Event

Star Event at Purchase Knob

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is hosting a star gazing event on Friday, September 7th at one of Haywood County's clearest views of the sky - Purchase Knob, home to the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.The Astronomy Club of Asheville will lead an exploration of the night sky at this high elevation site with a 260 degree unobstructed view of...

Grant Recipients · hiking trails · National Trails Fund

National Trails Fund Grant Recipients Announced for 2012

Saturday, August 25, 2012

The American Hiking Society recently announced the recipients of National Trails Fund grants in 2012. Thanks to the generous support of Charter Sponsors, L.L.Bean and Cascade Designs (Therm-a-Rest and MSR), the National Trails Fund (NTF) awarded a total of $26,000 in grants this year. A cumulative total of $540,500 has been awarded to trail clubs over the life of the program, since its inception in...

Big South Fork · Salt Pine Trail · Yellow Cliff Horse Trail

One Week Temporary Closure of Trails in Big South Fork

Friday, August 24, 2012

The National Park Service is in the process of installing stream crossing protection on trails in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. During this process, trails will need to be closed while the work is being performed. These projects will improve water quality, ensure better protection to a variety of species that live in the areas streams, and also improve visitor safety.Beginning...

hiking · Shuckstack Fire Tower · Smokies

The Shuckstack Fire Tower

Friday, August 24, 2012

Have you ever been to the Shuckstack Fire Tower in the southwestern portion of the Smokies? If not, here's what you're missing:For more information on the hike to Shuckstack, please click here.JeffHiking in the Smok...

Foliage forecaster for WCU predicts good fall colors in WNC

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Kathy Mathews, Western Carolina University’s fall foliage forecaster, is predicting a good display of color this autumn in Western North Carolina’s mountains. However, leaf peepers should be aware that some areas will enjoy brighter hues than others.Due to local rainfall amounts across the region this past spring and summer, the intensity of the fall colors will vary. Mathews, an associate professor...

New Design, Expanded Content for Recreation.Gov

Thursday, August 23, 2012

A new website design was announced earlier this week that will improve navigation tools and provide expanded content for Recreation.Gov, the interagency website that guides visitors to 90,000 sites on federal lands such as national parks, wildlife refuges, waterways, forests and recreation areas.The redesign of www.recreation.gov is an initial step in a multi-year strategy to engage visitors with...

Michael Giovanni Cocchini · missing person

Human Remains May be Linked to Missing Person Case in Smokies

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced new developments yesterday in the case of Michael Giovanni Cocchini, a man thought to be missing in the Park since March.On Friday, park employees discovered items thought to belong to Cocchini near the area where his vehicle was originally found parked along Newfound Gap Road. On Saturday and Sunday searchers combed the area where clothing and...

blue ridge parkway · stabbing victim

Stabbing Victim Found on Blue Ridge Parkway

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

NPS Digest is reporting that rangers received a report on Monday of a man walking down the parkway covered in blood. Rangers David Hynes and Dan Vrchota responded and found a 41-year-old man with stab wounds to his arm, abdomen and neck. Although the victim was upright and walking, he did not acknowledge the rangers’ presence. The man was taken into custody and treated by the rangers. A local ambulance...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park · NPS Academy · Student Conservation Association

NPS Academy Students Report On Summer Experiences

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Earlier in the week NPS Digest published this report on the NPS Academy in the Smokies:Great Smoky Mountains National Park recently celebrated ten students within the region who participated in the NPS Academy, a program designed to introduce diverse college students to career opportunities within the NPS. The park served as the Southeast Region’s host park for the program.During spring break 2012,...

bike patrol · cataloochee valley · volunteers

Volunteers Needed for Bike Patrol in Cataloochee Valley

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking volunteers to assist rangers during the increased fall visitation period in Cataloochee Valley, N.C. from mid-September until October 31st. Volunteers will work as a part of a bike patrol program within the Valley and will assist the park by providing traffic control, and visitor information and other assistance as needed.Cataloochee Valley is a remote...

Big Creek · Classic Hikes of the Smokies · Friends of the Smokies

Classic Hikes of the Smokies: September

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

The Friends of the Smokies Classic Hikes of the Smokies series continues next month with a hike along Big Creek.Thursday, Sept. 20: Big Creek9.0 miles, 1,100 ft. ascentWe'll walk along Big Creek seeing rivulets, waterfalls, cascades and every other synonym for falling water that you can think of. This gradual walk will be a reward for all those hearty hikers who climbed up Mt. Cammerer (the prior...

Backpacking Basics

Backpacking Basics Class

Monday, August 20, 2012

Next month REI in Asheville will be taking the mystery out of backpacking as they share their knowledge in a show and tell session. REI will cover backpacking essentials such as: choosing a pack; selecting proper clothing; and the right footwear; and understanding the basic gear you need to reach your destination.The free event will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. on September 9th. For more information...

bear attacks · hiking · menstruation odors · women

Myth Busted: Women aren't more prone to bear attacks due to menstruation odors

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Ever since the night of August 13, 1967, when two women were attacked and killed by grizzly bears in two separate incidents in Glacier National Park (which was later chronicled in Night of the Grizzlies), a myth has persisted that women may be more prone to bear attacks as a result of odors associated with menstruation.However, according to a paper recently published by the National Park Service,...

Friends Across the Mountains · Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park · telethon

Smokies a Big Winner with 18th Annual Telethon

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park raised $192,157 Thursday night through its 18th annual “Friends Across the Mountains” telethon with help from event sponsors Dollywood, Mast General Store, Mountain Laurel Chalets, and Pilot Corporation. The cumulative total for all Friends of the Smokies’ telethons since 1995 is now nearly $2.7 million.“As far as I am aware, the Smokies is the only...

Within the Shadows of Cumberland Gap

Within the Shadows of Cumberland Gap

Saturday, August 18, 2012

As the days slowly grow shorter and the heat of summer begins to fade in anticipation of autumn, the stories of the Wilderness Road at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park will come alive in a special program conducted on the evening of August 25th.Visitors participating in the program, a 1.5 mile walk through the historic Cumberland Gap, can expect to encounter a special cast of historical characters....

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area · Honey Creek Overlook · YCC · Youth Conservation Corps

YCC Crew Finishes Their 2012 Assignment in BSF

Friday, August 17, 2012

This past summer, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (NRRA) received funding for a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crew to help with performing trail maintenance activities within the Big South Fork area. A crew of eight students from one of the local high schools (Alvin C. York Agriculture Institute) was selected for the project. The project was set up to perform a wide range of trail...

Colorado Parks and Wildlife · outdoor survival · signaling · video

Signaling

Friday, August 17, 2012

In this episode of the Colorado Parks & Wildlife outdoor survival video series, outdoor expert Peter Kummerfeldt discusses signaling for help in the backcountry:JeffHikingintheSmokys....

blue ridge parkway · suicides

Five Suicides Reported on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Recent Weeks

Thursday, August 16, 2012

On Monday afternoon a trail runner found a 52-year-old Asheville man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head, only a few feet off the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This was the 5th suicide in the park in just three weeks.On Thursday, August 9th, rangers located the body of a 25-year-old Asheville woman with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to her head at the Rough Butt...

ginseng · Nantahala National Forest · Pisgah National Forest

Reminder: Permits Required to Harvest Ginseng in September

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Yesterday the U.S. Forest Service reminded visitors to the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests that permits are required to collect ginseng during the designated harvest season, which runs September 1-30.The Nantahala Ranger District will begin selling permits on Aug. 27. The office address is 90 Sloan Road, Franklin, N.C. 28734.The following ranger districts will sell permits beginning Aug. 31:*...

Oconaluftee · Volunteer Rovers

Volunteer Rovers Needed at Oconaluftee

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The Great Smoky Mountains Association posted this request on their Facebook page for anyone that might be interested:Great Smoky Mountains National Park is recruiting for volunteers to help the park staff by roving the River Trail, Mountain Farm Museum and fields along Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road). This position will be available from late August until November 10, 2012. Volunteers will be asked...

Knoxville · Legacy Parks Foundation · Outdoor KnoxFest

Outdoor KnoxFest 2012

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Next weekend is Outdoor KnoxFest 2012, a three-day urban adventure weekend packed with events and activities for the avid adventurer, weekend warrior, the novice outdoor enthusiast, and everyone who loves the outdoors.Some of the events in this year's event include:* An Urban Adventure Race that offers a 6-8 hour challenging course for teams of three who will bike, run, paddle, swim, orienteer and...

Overall Run Falls · shenandoah national park

Visitor Dies of Injuries Sustained in 70-Foot Fall

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

NPS Digest is reporting this morning that a man has died as a result of a fall in Shenandoah National Park.On Thursday, August 2nd, park dispatch received a report that a man had fallen about 70 feet near Overall Run Falls, the highest waterfall in Shenandoah. Park personnel from all divisions geared up for a technical rescue and carryout of the 41-year-old Ohio man. Ranger Stuart Curtin was first...

Cumberland Mountains · Frozen Head State Park · Volunteer Trail Day

Frozen Head hosts Volunteer Trail Day This Weekend

Monday, August 13, 2012

Frozen Head State Park will be hosting a Volunteer Trail Day this Saturday, August 18th. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET.The public is invited to join the park in helping to maintain the park's trails. Tools will be provided. Volunteers should be prepared for a variety of weather conditions including rain. You should bring food, water and a daypack. Some areas require hiking one to...

Colorado Parks and Wildlife · Compass · Map · outdoor survival · video

Map & Compass

Friday, August 10, 2012

In this episode of the Colorado Parks & Wildlife outdoor survival video series, outdoor expert Peter Kummerfeldt discusses the use of maps and compass in the field:JeffHikingintheSmokys....

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area · transportation infrastructure

Public Invited to Meeting to Discuss Transportation and Recreational Access in Big South Fork

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area will host a meeting with park managers, transportation experts and the public to discuss opportunities for improving all forms of access in the park. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 29, 2012, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (EDT), at the park headquarters building, 4564 Leatherwood Road in Oneida, TN. Transportation experts from the National...

blue ridge parkway · observation platform · Sharp Top Mountain · volunteers

Peaks of Otter Maintenance staff looking for volunteers

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway posted this information yesterday:Donnie Parker and the Peaks of Otter Maintenance staff are looking for volunteers to assist them in re-pouring the cement observation platform on the summit of Sharp Top Mountain.The project is scheduled for August 13th and 14th, but could be completed on the 13th depending on staffing availability. Meeting time is 8:00 AM at the...

Asheville · Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival · Carolina Cinemas · Radical Reels Tour

The Radical Reels Tour visits Asheville

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Faster, Steeper, Higher, Deeper! This is the Radical Reels Tour.Every year the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival presents the wildly popular Radical Reels night – a presentation of the best high-adrenaline films entered into the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival competition. Inspired by the excitement of the Festival event, the Radical Reels Tour has been travelling with a selection of the...

backpacking · Early Warning · Outdoor Industry Association · outdoor recreation

Should we be concerned about the decline in backpacking?

Monday, August 6, 2012

The other day I stumbled upon a posting in a blog called Early Warning, which lamented the decline of backpacking. In the posting the author, Stuart Staniford, created a graph of "Back Country Overnights" using data from the National Park Service (from 1979 to 2011). Staniford states that this data "seems likely to be a decent proxy for overall backpacking levels". Here's a look at his graph:Staniford...

Bryson City · Cullowhee · Hazel Creek · Horace Kephart Days · Smokies

Horace Kephart Days

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Next month is the annual Horace Kephart Days in Bryson City and Cullowhee, NC. This year marks Horace Kephart's 150th Birthday. The schedule of events for the four-day celebration are as follows:Thursday, September 6, 20124-7pm Mountain Heritage Museum, WCU, Opening Reception for year-long Horace Kephart exhibit. Open to the public.7:30pm Opening night performance of play, "Horace Kephart, His Life...

deer fatalities · hemorrhagic disease · Stone Mountain State Park

Hemorrhagic disease is suspected cause of deer fatalities at Stone Mountain State Park

Saturday, August 4, 2012

At least 20 white-tailed deer have died in the area of Stone Mountain State Park in a suspected outbreak of hemorrhagic disease, the result of a virus that does not pose a danger to humans, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.State park rangers and natural resource managers and officials with the N.C Wildlife Resources Commission are working to confirm the outbreak through testing....

Balsam Mountain · great smoky mountains association · Heintooga Overlook · Smokies

Exploring Balsam Mountain

Friday, August 3, 2012

Explore the Balsam Mountain area, including the panoramic views from Heintooga Overlook, with the Great Smoky Mountains Association. This fairly remote section of the Smokies lies in the southeastern portion of the park, and is an oustanding summertime refuge from the heat and crowds:JeffHiking in the Smok...

75th anniversary · appalachian trail · Asheville · Highland Brewing Company · Summer Games Celebration

Summer Games Celebration in Honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Appalachian Trail

Thursday, August 2, 2012

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the completion of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) with a summer games competition on August 14, 2012 at the Highland Brewing Company in Asheville, NC. The event will run from 5 to 9 p.m.Participants will compete for a variety of outdoor gear prizes by playing classic activities like a water balloon toss, watermelon seed spitting...

backcountry fires · Big South Fork

Big South Fork Announces Lifting of Restrictions on Backcountry Fires

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Due to the recent rains, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area has lifted the recent temporary restriction on backcountry fires within the Big South Fork. Visitors are reminded that fireworks are always prohibited within the Big South Fork. For further information, contact the Bandy Creek Visitor Center at (423) 286-7275JeffHiking in the Smok...

Friends Across the Mountains Telethon · Friends of the Smokies

Programming Note: Friends Across the Mountains Telethon

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

In just two weeks, on Thursday, August 16th, is the 18th annual Friends Across the Mountains Telethon. The event 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 will highlight projects and programs that Friends of the Smokies has funded over the years. It's a fun event that raises awareness of both the Park's needs...

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