SOCIAL MEDIA

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Park Reopens Trails Damaged in 2011 Tornado

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced today the reopening of two trails that have been closed since 2011 after receiving extensive damage from a F4 Tornado in the western end of the Park. The Park's Trail Crew recently completed rehabilitation work on Beard Cane and Hatcher Mountain Trails. These trails have been closed since April 2011 due to damaging tornado winds and rain...
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White-nose Syndrome Decimates North Carolina’s Bats

Monday, April 29, 2013

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Biologists with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have determined that white-nose syndrome (WNS) continues to decimate bat populations in western North Carolina, with some infected locations showing up to a 95 percent decline in hibernating bats over the past one to two years. The disease, which has been confirmed in seven counties in western North Carolina,...
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Hiking the Beautiful USA

Saturday, April 27, 2013

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Quick: What's the longest National Scenic Trail in America? If you answered the Continental Divide Trail you would be wrong. In fact, the CDT isn't even close to being the longest. At 4600 miles, the North Country National Scenic Trail is by far the longest trail in America. Recently, REI published an infographic that provides a bird's-eye view of the 11 National Scenic Trails in the United States,...
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Smokies Offers Mountains-to-Sea Trail Hike and Presentation

Friday, April 26, 2013

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park is offering an opportunity for visitors to learn about the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) on Saturday, May 4th. Danny Bernstein, Great Smoky Mountains Association Board Member and author, will lead a 2-hour hike on a section of the MST and later give a talk about her adventures hiking the entire length of the MST from Clingmans Dome to the Outer Banks. The guided...
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Firefly Viewing Schedule - Passes Required Now

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

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Park officials have announced the Elkmont Firefly Viewing event in Great Smoky Mountains National Park will take place from Thursday, June 6 through Thursday, June 13. For this year's viewing event, the on-line ticketing system, operated through Recreation.gov, will again provide visitors with parking passes to guarantee they will be able to park at Sugarlands Visitor Center without the inconvenience...
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Smokies Recruiting Volunteers for Elk Bugle Corp in Cataloochee

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking volunteers to assist rangers with managing traffic and providing visitor information on responsible elk viewing practices in Cataloochee, NC. Cataloochee is a remote mountain valley on the eastern edge of the Park where remnants of early settlements are preserved. Surrounded by mountain peaks, the isolated valley is a popular, year-round destination....
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May Classic Hikes of the Smokies: Big Creek Scenic Hike

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

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On the third Tuesday of each month this year, Friends of the Smokies will be offering guided hikes as part of their Classic Hikes of the Smokies series. To celebrate the Friends’ 20th anniversary this year, each hike will honor an achievement or cause that the Friends organization has supported in Great Smoky Mountains National Park since its establishment in 1993. The hike for next month will...
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Updates on Flood Damaged Trails in the Smokies

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park crews are making needed repairs on both Chimney Tops Trail and Noland Creek Trail which received significant flood damage this winter. In Tennessee, the popular Chimney Tops Trail has been closed since January when high waters destroyed the pedestrian bridge across Walker Camp Prong at the beginning of the trail. Crews are working to replace the 70-foot long bridge...
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National Junior Ranger Day on April 27

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park will celebrate the seventh annual National Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with special activities at all three of the Park's visitor centers. Children and their families can join in a variety of free, hands-on activities at Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, TN; Cades Cove Visitor Center near Townsend, TN; and Oconaluftee...
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Chattanooga To Be Named First Official Trail Town Of The Great Eastern Trail

Monday, April 22, 2013

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Chattanooga will be named as the first official trail town of the Great Eastern Trail at a ceremony to be held at the Tennessee Riverpark’s Amnicola Marsh pavilion on Sunday, April 28, 2013, at 12:00 noon EDT. Representatives of the City of Chattanooga, including then Mayor Andy Berke, Hamilton County, and the Great Eastern Trail Association will participate. The public is also invited to attend. The...
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Noland Creek Trail to be closed for 2 weeks

Saturday, April 20, 2013

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The Noland Creek Trail will be closed from the trailhead to campsite #64 for approximately two weeks. Beginning on April 22nd, the trail, located on the North Carolina side of the Smokies, off Lakeside Drive, will be closed for landslide repair as a result of heavy rains this past winter. During the January 30th storm, the Great Smoky Mountains received more than 4 inches of rain in 24 hours, resulting...
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The National Park Week Getaway Giveaway

Friday, April 19, 2013

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The National Park Foundation has partnered with Globus to launch the National Park Week Getaway Giveaway! The lucky winner of this sweepstakes will receive airfare, hotel stays, transportation, and VIP access to some of the most spectacular national parks including Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, and Grand Teton National Park. The total value of the Grand Prize is approximately $4800! The National...
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Appalachian Trail Enthusiasts to Meet at Western Carolina University for 39th Biennial Conference

Thursday, April 18, 2013

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Registration is now open for the 2013 Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) Biennial conference, scheduled for July 19-26, at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. The event is hosted by the five southern Appalachian Trail (A.T.) maintaining clubs and convenes Trail managers, hikers, and fans to celebrate and conserve the iconic National Scenic Trail. The program includes 137...
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Shenandoah National Park Hosts Wildflower Weekend

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

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Conservation of native flowers and plants will be the focus of Shenandoah National Park's 27th annual Wildflower Weekend. This year event takes place on the weekend of May 4-5. Visitors may see woodland beauties such as trillium, wild geranium, jack-in-the-pulpit, and a variety of others on naturalist-led hikes. Trails included this year are Millers Head, Mill Prong, Appalachian, Stony Man, Franklin...
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Recipients Announced for 2013 North Carolina Appalachian Trail License Plate Grants

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

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The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) have announced this year’s recipients of North Carolina Appalachian Trail (A.T.) License Plate grants for projects which enhance the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in North Carolina. $35,000 was granted this spring to eleven individuals and partner organizations including Trail clubs, schools, botanists and ecologists, and environmental & conservation...
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Newfound Gap Road Reopens to Thru Traffic

Monday, April 15, 2013

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced the completion of road repairs to Newfound Gap Road (Hwy 441) this morning. The road has been closed since the January 16th landslide that washed away approximately 200 feet of the road. At 10:00 am on April 15th, the Park officially opened the road to all thru traffic between Cherokee, NC and Gatlinburg, TN. Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson,...
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Trail Crew Provides Opportunities to Volunteer on the Appalachian Trail in the Smokies

Monday, April 15, 2013

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The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is currently seeking volunteers, 18 and over, to help maintain the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with the Smokies Wilderness Elite Appalachian Trail Crew (S.W.E.A.T.) this season. These positions are designed for experienced hikers who have a desire to work hard, live in the backcountry and have a great time with new friends. ...
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Annual “Music of the Mountains” Scheduled

Saturday, April 13, 2013

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park will hold its 9th annual "Music of the Mountains" celebration Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 21. Over the years, this event has grown to span an entire weekend, with performances of traditional music in neighboring communities, including an entire day of free music at the Sugarlands Visitor Center on April 20th. The three-day event begins with a concert...
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Black bear cub killed during prescribed fire in Shenandoah National Park

Friday, April 12, 2013

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The 500-acre Jarman Gap prescribed burn in Shenandoah National Park was successfully completed on Wednesday and Thursday, April 10-11. Assistant Fire Management Officer John Fry reported that "prescribed fire objectives were achieved." Fry added that local residents and visitors will continue to see smoke from within the burn area over the next several days. Firefighters successfully contained three...
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National Park System Advisory Board Report Offers Strategies to Strengthen 21st-century National Park Service

Friday, April 12, 2013

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Strategies to strengthen the work of the National Park Service as it prepares for its centennial in 2016 are included in a report released today by the National Park System Advisory Board (NPSAB). The report, Engaging Independent Perspectives for a 21st-Century National Park System, summarizes the board’s recommendations to National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis for the future in four...
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N.C. Forest Officials Issue Alert about Flash Flood Danger

Friday, April 12, 2013

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National forest officials have issued a flash flood bulletin for nearby communities and people who camp outdoors. A flash flood is a serious weather event for forest visitors because rising flood water is extremely dangerous—a sudden surge can claim victims in less than one minute. Any intense, heavy rain that falls in a short amount of time can create flash flood conditions in a low-lying area,...
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Obama's Budget Proposal Slashes National Parks Budget by 13%

Thursday, April 11, 2013

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The National Park Service announced today that the "President’s Fiscal Year 2014 budget requests $2.6 billion to support the critical conservation, preservation, and recreation mission of the National Park Service." This request represents a 13% reduction in the amount from the original 2013 NPS budget, which gave total budget authority to the NPS in the amount of $2.99 billion. That figure was...
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Friends of the Smokies Announces Details on "Fontana Lake Experience"

Thursday, April 11, 2013

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This year is the 20th Anniversary of the Friends of the Smokies, an organization that assists the National Park Service in its mission to preserve and protect the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by raising funds and public awareness, and providing volunteers for needed projects.

To help celebrate this milestone, Friends of the Smokies will be offering guided hikes each month as part of their Classic Hikes of the Smokies series. Each hike will honor an achievement or cause that the Friends organization has supported in the park since its establishment in 1993.

This June the Friends group is offering a special overnight experience, which will honor support for the Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner Program. The "Fontana Lake Experience" will be held on June 18th and 19th.

Here's the itinerary for the two-day event:

Tuesday: 
- 11:00 a.m. Meet at Fontana Marina
- Boat ride to Hazel Creek with History Walk lead by local historian Lance Holland (author of Fontana: A Pocket History of Appalachia)
- Reception with Smokies Superintendent Dale Ditmanson at Fontana Village
- Gather for dinner
- Overnight accommodations at Fontana Village

Wednesday - Guided Hikes:
- Option 1: Shuckstack Firetower with Danny Bernstein, celebrated outdoor author, blogger, and hiking expert (Honoring support for the Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner Program)

 - Option 2: Lakeshore Trail with Keith Hoffman, AmeriCorps Outreach Associate, M.S. Biology (Celebrating pollination in the Park for National Pollinator Week)

* The Friends’ early rate: $130 for current members $165 for non-members / After May 15: $160/$195
* Double occupancy rates: $160/$195 / After May 15: $195/$230. Rooms with 2 queen beds at The Lodge in Fontana Village. Price includes room, round-trip boat shuttle to Hazel Creek, guided excursions, and reception. Meals are not included.
* Non-members also receive a complimentary one-year Friends membership.

Space is limited!

You can pre-register for this event through Friends of the Smokies at 1-828-452-0720 or outreach.nc@friendsofthesmokies.org.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
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Park Volunteers Needed for Roving Oconaluftee Area

Thursday, April 11, 2013

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park is recruiting volunteers to assist park visitors by roving the Oconaluftee River Trail, Mountain Farm Museum and fields along Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road). The volunteer positions will be available from now through November 9, 2013. These volunteers will provide information regarding various park regulations including littering, disturbing wildlife, approaching...
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Shenandoah Plans Prescribed Burn for Today

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

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Shenandoah National Park Fire Managers plan to burn 500 acres in the park's south district on April 10, 2013. The ignition of the fire is dependent on weather conditions. The burn area is located west of Jarman Gap and northeast of Waynesboro, Virginia. Prescribed fires are ignited by fire managers under a pre-determined set of conditions, including weather, fuel moisture and resource availability,...
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The Many Views of Mt. LeConte

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

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Although it's not the highest mountain, Mt. LeConte is arguably the most prominent peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At 6593 feet, Mt. LeConte ranks as the third highest peak in the Smokies. However, measured from its immediate base near Gatlinburg, to its summit at High Point, Mt. LeConte can be considered the tallest mountain in the Eastern United States - rising a total of 5301 feet. Although...
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Stomach Virus Hits Appalachian Trail near Hot Springs, N.C.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

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Pisgah National Forest officials are advising hikers that they may want to avoid sections of the Appalachian Trail near Hot Springs, N.C., especially the stretch running north to the Tennessee border. A number of hikers have been sickened by a severe, 24-hour stomach virus that is being passed between hikers. Shelters to avoid include No Business Knob, Big Bald and Hogback Ridge. A section of the...
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New Mobile App Now Available for Tennessee State Parks

Sunday, April 7, 2013

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The Department of Environment and Conservation has partnered with the Parks by Nature Network to launch Tennessee State Parks Pocket Ranger®, a free iPhone and Android application for park visitors on the move. “With more than 31 million visits annually, Tennessee’s 54 state parks serve as popular destinations year round,” said TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau. “This new mobile app will give those...
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Forest Service proposes fee increase for Koomer Ridge Campground

Thursday, April 4, 2013

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U.S. Forest Service recreation managers are proposing a fee increase at the Koomer Ridge Campground in the Red River Gorge. The current camping fee was implemented in year 2000. The winter camping fee would increase from $7 to $10 in November 2013. The fee would increase to $14 in November 2015. The fee increase is proposed to help fund campground maintenance and improvements. Some recent improvements...
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Smokies Announces Completion of Sugarlands Visitor Center Renovations

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials are pleased to invite the public to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Sugarlands Visitor Center to view the recent renovations to the main lobby and visitor contact area of the 50-year-old facility on Friday, April 12th at 10:00 am. This project was made possible with funding provided by Great Smoky Mountains Association and Friends of the Smokies. The renovated...
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Arial video from the Smokies: Which trail does this track?

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

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A couple days ago the Great Smoky Mountain Association published this aerial footage over "the entire stretch of one of the most beautiful trails in the Smokies". They've asked as to whether you can guess which trail treks along this ridge? See if you can figure it out: Jeff Hiking in the Smok...
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Investigation Underway Into Violent Assault on Bicyclist on the Natchez Trace

Monday, April 1, 2013

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This morning's NPS Digest is reporting that on March 17th, a bicyclist riding on the Natchez Trace Parkway near Friendship Hill Road, north of Tupelo, was physically assaulted by an unidentified person, leading to his hospitalization with severe injuries. The man’s bicycle was also damaged. Rangers are currently conducting an investigation and are seeking the community’s assistance in identifying...
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