Delicate Arch

Sunday, September 30, 2012

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If not the best known arch in the world, Delicate Arch certainly qualifies as the most iconic rock formation in Arches National Park. The hike to the arch begins from the Wolfe Ranch parking area, located in the east-central portion of the park. If you wish to go home with some great photos the park recommends hiking the trail in the late afternoon. However, summer afternoons are usually quite hot....
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Astronomy Programs at Big South Fork Saturday October 6th

Saturday, September 29, 2012

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Paul Lewis from the University of Tennessee and the Big South Fork astronomy volunteers will be at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area on Saturday, October 6, 2012, for two special programs. A telescope with a sun filter will be positioned in front of the Bandy Creek Visitor Center from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to allow for solar viewing. The use of special telescope filters will allow...
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Cherokee National Forest Acquires Final Rocky Fork Tract

Friday, September 28, 2012

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US Forest Service officials at the Cherokee National Forest say a four year effort with The Conservation Fund to protect the Rocky Fork property is complete with the recent purchase of nearly 1,200 acres of the tract. Click here for map. For years a broad-based coalition of local, state and federal leaders worked together to save Rocky Fork. They did this because of the property’s natural resources,...
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A Smoky Mountain Minute: Fall's Arrival

Friday, September 28, 2012

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September is a unique month in the park that starts with the last days of summer and ends with the first signs of fall. The month of September is a good time to view summer wildflowers, brook trout spawning, and the first signs of fall color in the higher elevations. Here is the latest video from the Great Smoky Mountains Association: Jeff HikingintheSmokys....
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A Walk Down Park Avenue

Thursday, September 27, 2012

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Earlier in the week I mentioned that I had just returned from a three-week tour of the southwest. After spending more than a week in Rocky Mountain National Park, Kathy and I paid a visit to Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. It was Kathy’s first venture into this park, and my second. One of the first stops along the main road in the park is the Park Avenue Trail. Although the overlook at this...
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GSMA Hike of the Month to Rhododendron Creek

Thursday, September 27, 2012

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Join the Great Smoky Mountain Association and Park Ranger Carey Jones for a hike to Rhododendron Creek on October 27th. There are multiple waterfalls on this walk, so be prepared to do at least one serious creek crossing, depending on recent rainfall. A hiking stick will be an asset on this one. Carey considers this a "Naturalist Ramble" and will address the flora, fauna, and natural history...
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Rocky Top Trail Crew is in Search of Volunteer Trail Maintainers in Smokies

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

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The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s (ATC) Rocky Top Trail Crew is looking for volunteers to help reconstruct a remote section of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park from September 30th to October 7th. The ATC will cover all work related expenses such as food, gear, and safety equipment. The crew will spend 8 days living in the backcountry building steps, turnpike...
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Parkway Slope Stabilization Project Implements Road Closures at Mile Post 358

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

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Virtual Blue Ridge is reporting that the Blue Ridge Parkway plans to install a traffic light to direct one-way traffic at mile marker 358 between Craggy Gardens and Mt. Mitchell State Park. The traffic light will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from September 24 until November 1, 2012. After November 1st, 6.5 miles of the Parkway will be closed to traffic. The resulting detour will direct...
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Back From Grand Tour of the Southwest

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

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I’m back! I just returned from a three week tour of the southwest. Along the way Kathy and I visited 5 national parks, 3 national monuments, climbed 2 peaks above 12,600 feet, summited another state high point, all while knocking out a couple of bucket list items. We were able to achieve all of our objectives, with the exception of climbing Mt. Bierstadt in Colorado. This was the second time our attempt...
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Southern Forest Watch to sue Smokies over new backcountry camping fee

Monday, September 24, 2012

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A group called the Southern Forest Watch has recently sent a letter notifying officials at the National Park Service that it intends to file a lawsuit challenging the $4 per-person, per-night, backcountry camping fee approved last March. The letter, sent by Knoxville attorney J. Myers Morton, was mailed to Dale Ditmanson, Great Smoky Mountains National Park superintendent; Ken Salazar, secretary of...
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Big South Fork Celebrates National Public Lands Day on Saturday September 29

Monday, September 24, 2012

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Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area will be celebrating National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 29th by authorizing one night of free camping at Alum Ford Campground and free backcountry camping permits. National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer event in which eight federal agencies as well as other groups partner together to maintain and protect...
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Classic Hikes of North America

Sunday, September 23, 2012

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Classic Hikes of North America, the latest release from Peter Potterfield, offers hikers of all abilities details on "25 Breathtaking Treks in the United States and Canada".Illustrated with more than 150 color photographs, Classic Hikes of North America covers a diverse range of hikes: from routes in the White Mountains of New Hampshire to the Grand Canyon; from the Sierra Mountains to the Black Hills,...
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Truck Crash Results in Major Paint Spill in Bandelier

Saturday, September 22, 2012

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NPS Digest is reporting that on the morning of Tuesday, September 18th, a tractor-trailer rig traveling eastbound on New Mexico State Highway 4 in Bandelier National Monument missed a sharp curve, went off the road, and plunged roughly 200 feet down a steep slope into the park. The truck was carrying about 2200 gallons of highway striping paint that spilled and spread over nearly an...
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Outdoor Survival - Clothing

Friday, September 21, 2012

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In this episode of the Colorado Parks & Wildlife outdoor survival video series, outdoor expert Peter Kummerfeldt discusses clothing (your only dependable shelter) and layering:JeffHikingintheSmokys....
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Alternative Hiking Destinations

Thursday, September 20, 2012

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Last week I posted a blog about hiking to the summit of Mt. Rogers, the highest point in Virginia. Today I wanted to highlight three other areas that you may or may not be aware of, all of which are outstanding hiking destinations:The Linville Gorge Wilderness Area:Linville Gorge, also known as the Grand Canyon of the East, is one of the wildest, most rugged gorges in the eastern United States. It's...
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Free Entrance to all National Parks on September 29th

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

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All 397 national parks will offer free entrance on Saturday, September 29 for National Public Lands Day. The 19th annual event encourages everyone to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Visit www.nps.gov for a list of parks and information to help plan your park adventure. “National Public Lands Day reminds all of us of the vast and diverse nature of America’s open spaces, from small neighborhood...
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Classic Hikes of the Smokies: October

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

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The Friends of the Smokies Classic Hikes of the Smokies series continues next month with a hike along the Caldwell Fork in Cataloochee.Thursday, Oct 18: Caldwell Fork9.4 miles, 1,650 ft ascentElk pens, homesites, graves and the Steve Woody House. The quintessential Cataloochee hike.To register call Holly at (828) 452-0720.A donation of $35 to go to the Friends’ Smokies Trails Forever program is requested,...
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The Top 10 Longest Trails in the Southeast

Sunday, September 16, 2012

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There are some that would argue that the Appalachian Trail is getting a little too crowded. So if you’re in that camp, and maybe looking for a little more solitude, or possibly just some new places to explore, I thought I would present long distance hikers with some other choices in the southeast - some you may not be aware of. The following represents the top 10 longest trails in the southeast: The...
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Another Insane Hiking Video

Saturday, September 15, 2012

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Check out this video of this hiker - actually, he should be called a daredevil - as he walks along the Mt. Huashan Cliffside Path in China - without a harness! Would you do this...even with a harness?JeffHikingintheSmokys....
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Outdoor Survival - Shelter

Friday, September 14, 2012

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In this episode of the Colorado Parks & Wildlife outdoor survival video series, outdoor expert Peter Kummerfeldt discusses the use of shelters in a survival situation. He has some fairly surprising recommendations on what you should bring into the wilderness:JeffHikingintheSmokys....
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Update: Plates for the Parkway

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

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A couple of weeks ago I posted some information on the upcoming Plates for the Parkway event, sponsored by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, and benefitting the Blue Ridge Parkway. Christy Bell, Development Director for the Foundation, recently emailed me to let me know that the entire list of participating restaurants are now listed on their website.In case you missed the original post, here's some...
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Top Unique Reasons for Hiking in the Southern Appalachians

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

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What makes hiking in the Southern Appalachian Mountains so special? Or, put another way, what are the things that make hiking in the Southern Appalachians unique?I’ve been giving these questions some thought for sometime now, and have come up with a list of eight reasons that set the Southern Appalachians apart from the rest of the country. I must admit that some of these are not totally unique, but...
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Traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains in 1933

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

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So what was it like to travel to the budding Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1933? Thanks to the National Park Service for publishing hundreds of historical park brochures on their website, we can now look at the very first park brochure ever published for the Smokies, and get an idea of what the park was like in 1933. The brochure includes photographs by George Masa and Jim Thompson, quotes...
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Man Reports Being Shot While Hiking Off Trail in Smokies

Monday, September 10, 2012

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Update from NPS Digest this morning:Sanford Lethco, 29, of Sevier County, who reported that he’d been shot while hiking in the park on September 7th, has confessed to park investigators that the gunshot wounds he suffered were sustained in an incident occurring outside of park boundaries in Sevier County. The county has accordingly taken the lead in the investigation. Lethco sustained and was treated...
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National Public Lands Day Service Project in the Smokies

Monday, September 10, 2012

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Saturday, September 29th, is National Public Lands Day and your chance to give back to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Trail maintainence volunteers will have an opportunity to work on a popular and well-used trail near the Park Headquarters just outside of Gatlinburg.The work day will involve gravel, bridge and drainage feature construction, as well as standard trail maintenance. Please be comfortable...
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Mt. Rogers: The Highest Point in Virginia

Sunday, September 9, 2012

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As many of you are already aware, I absolutely love hiking the balds in the Southern Appalachians. Gregory, Andrews and Rocky Top are some of my favorite destinations in the Smokies. Roan Mountain, Max Patch and the Art Loeb Trail are also notable destinations. However, my absolute favorite hike in the Southern Appalachians is along the Appalachian Trail to the summit of Mt. Rogers in southwestern...
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Final Rock Castle Gorge Hike

Saturday, September 8, 2012

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September 22nd is the final guided hike through Rock Castle Gorge. This will be your final opportunity to join a ranger from the Blue Ridge Parkway as they lead a guided five-mile hike through Rock Castle Gorge and highlight the history of the Rock Castle community that existed in this area from the late 1700s through the 1930s.Participants will meet at the Rocky Knob Cabins off of Woodberry Road...
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Outdoor Survival - Fire

Friday, September 7, 2012

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In this episode of the Colorado Parks & Wildlife outdoor survival video series, outdoor expert Peter Kummerfeldt discusses techniques for starting fires in a survival situation:JeffHikingintheSmokys....
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Get on the Trail with Friends & Missy

Thursday, September 6, 2012

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Join Friends of the Smokies and fitness expert Missy Kane for another series of hikes next month. Each Wednesday throughout the month of October, Missy and Friends will be hiking a different trail in the Great Smoky Mountains."Get on the Trail" is a great opportunity for people who are new to the area, new to hiking, or for those who just want to know more about the Park.The dates for the hikes this...
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What are the Best Fall Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains?

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

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Fall hiking season is rapidly approaching, and soon leaf peepers will be out in full force in the Great Smoky Mountains.The beauty of the Smokies is always spectacular, but never more so than during the autumn when the mountains are ablaze with the colors of fall.The timing of the fall color season depends upon many variables, making it virtually impossible to predict the exact date of "peak" colors...
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The Mountain Life Festival at Oconaluftee

Monday, September 3, 2012

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Join park staff and volunteers as they celebrate the fall harvest. The Mountain Farm Museum will be alive with history as demonstrators provide visitors with a glimpse into the past as they make soap, apple cider, sorghum molasses, hominy, music and more.This year's Mountain Life Festival will be held on September 15th at the Mountain Farm Museum next to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee,...
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