The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog: July 2013

Gatlinburg Bypass · Newfound Gap Road · roadwork

Smokies Hosts Public Meetings to Provide Updates on Roadwork Projects

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials invite the public to a meeting for a project update on current and future roadwork plans for Newfound Gap Road and the Gatlinburg Bypass. The discussion will include details related to roadway resurfacing, drainage system improvements, stone-wall masonry rehabilitation, and slope stabilization in efforts to make these well-traveled roadways sustainable...

Madison County · Rapidan Road · shenandoah national park

NPS Denies Madison County Request to Establish New Park Entrance for Shenandoah

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Shenandoah National Park Superintendent Jim Northup announced yesterday that he has denied Madison County's request to establish a new entrance for motor vehicles into the national park on Rapidan Road in Madison County. In a six-page letter sent to County Administrator Mr. Ernie Hoch and the members of the Madison County Board of Supervisors, Northup said that he respected and appreciated Madison...

Dark Hollow Falls Trail · rescue · shenandoah national park

Heart Attack Victim Saved in Shenandoah

Monday, July 29, 2013

NPS Digest is reporting this morning that on July 10th, Shenandoah National Park employees responded to a report of a 71-year-old man experiencing shortness of breath and chest pain on Dark Hollow Falls Trail, one of the most popular and steepest trails in the park. A ranger/medic provided patient care until a litter team arrived and transported the man by wheeled litter to the park’s ambulance....

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area · rescue

Rangers In Swiftwater Rescue Course Rescue Several Boaters

Saturday, July 27, 2013

While participating in a 40-hour swiftwater rescue technician certification training course on the Chattahoochee River on Friday, July 12th, rangers Jay Kolodzinski and James Psillis, supervisory ranger Sean Perchalski, and members of two local fire departments performed four rescues involving seven visitors. Due to heavy rains over the last several weeks, the training was conducted in extreme...

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park · Wilderness Road · Within the Shadows of Cumberland Gap Heritage Walk

Special Evening Hike to Showcase Hidden Stories of Cumberland Gap

Friday, July 26, 2013

The staff at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park eagerly heralds the third annual “Within the Shadows of Cumberland Gap Heritage Walk” being held next Saturday, August 3rd, 2013. Each year, some of the lesser-known people in the Gap’s history - from geologists to politicians, from scalp buyers to ancestors of presidents - are showcased. This year, visitors will encounter seven short plays along...

2013 Trails Forever Volunteer Workday Schedule

Friday, July 26, 2013

The Trails Forever crew is looking for a few volunteers to help with trail maintenance in the Smokies over the next several weeks. The volunteer workdays for these projects will begin Wednesday, July 31st, and occur every Wednesday for the remainder of the season. Volunteers will work to complete a variety of trail rehabilitation tasks - volunteers need to be physically able to hike to the work...

blue ridge parkway · lightning

Twelve Injured By Lightning In Two Separate Incidents on Blue Ridge Parkway

Thursday, July 25, 2013

NPS Digest is reporting this morning that twelve Blue Ridge Parkway visitors were injured - two of them were hospitalized - after being struck indirectly by lightning in two separate incidents - one week apart. On July 10th, a lightning strike at the Linville Falls Campground affected 10 people who were camping adjacent to each other – a family group of eight and two other separate campers. All...

shenandoah national park · Summer Ranger Programs

Summer Ranger Programs in Shenandoah National Park

Thursday, July 25, 2013

With a little over a month left before Ranger Programs shift to their fall schedule, the time is now to plan to get out and see Shenandoah National Park in the company of the professionals who know it best. This summer’s Ranger Programs calendar features a total of 23 regularly scheduled hikes, talks, and programs spread between each of the Park’s three districts. Here’s a sampling of what’s offered: North...

Classic Hikes of the Smokies · Mt. Sterling Vistas

August Classic Hikes of the Smokies: Mt. Sterling Vistas

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

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...

High School Student Intern · Teacher-Ranger-Teacher

Local Teachers and Students Become Park Rangers

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Great Smoky Mountains Park officials announced the completion of two unique summer programs engaging selected high school students and teachers as park rangers. The Teacher-Ranger-Teacher and the High School Student Intern programs are six-week paid work experiences where participants learn a great deal about the park through on-site training exercises that enable them to perform ranger duties. Participants...

GAO · Government Accountability Office · National Forest Trails · trail maintenance · U.S. Forest Service

GAO Report Identifies Maintenance Gaps on National Forest Trails

Monday, July 22, 2013

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) was recently asked by members of Congress to review the U.S. Forest Service's trail maintenance activities. The study, published in late June, concluded that while the Forest Service does a good job overall of offering trail-users recreational opportunities and maintaining the most popular trails, there remains a significant maintenance backlog, the...

Doug Elliott · oconaluftee visitor center

Smokies To Host Storyteller Doug Elliott

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials invite the public to attend a special program titled Stories, Songs, and Lore Celebrating the Natural World presented by well-known naturalist storyteller Doug Elliott. The hour-long program will be held on the porch of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center on Friday, July 26 at 1 pm. Elliott is a naturalist, herbalist, storyteller, basket maker, philosopher,...

blue ridge parkway · closed · Mt. Mitchell State Park

Section of Blue Ridge Parkway Closed Due to Cracks in the Pavement

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

A 21-mile section of the historic 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina is closed from Milepost 376 at Ox Creek Road, to Milepost 355 at Mt. Mitchell State Park. A detour route is available that directs traffic from Asheville, NC, along Interstate 40 to U.S. Route 221, back to the Parkway at Spruce Pine, NC, and alternately from Spruce Pine south to Asheville via U.S. Route 221 and Interstate...

Civil War Music · Sparky and Rhonda Rucker

Civil War Music with Sparky and Rhonda Rucker at Sugarlands Visitor Center

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced a free special music program featuring old-time musicians Sparky and Rhonda Rucker. The event will take place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 20th in the park Sugarlands Visitor Center theater. The program will focus on the Civil War and its impacts on the Southern Appalachian Region, and will include stories, period music, and personal...

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area · Oscar Blevins Trail

Guided Hike to a Big South Fork Rock Shelter this Sunday

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

A ranger guided hike to a rock shelter along the Oscar Blevins Trail will take place on Sunday, July 21st, near the Bandy Creek Visitor Center in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. On this moderate two mile hike, visitors will learn about plants and animals in the park, hear about park history, and will be able to view rock shelters along the trail. The hike will begin at 10:00 a.m....

General Management Plan · Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park – what does it mean to you?

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Mammoth Cave National Park – what does it mean to you? That's what Superintendent Sarah Craighead is asking as Mammoth Cave National Park prepares a foundation document for its future planning and management. Public comment is welcome and needed. The public comment period is open July 15-29, 2013. "A foundation document involves revisiting a park's core mission and significance, what is important...

Appalachian Trail Conservancy · backpackers · bears · Friends of the Smokies

Friends of the Smokies and Appalachian Trail Conservancy Help to Protect Backpackers and Bears

Monday, July 15, 2013

This summer while enjoying a visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, backpackers can continue to keep their food and packs out of reach of bears, protecting both themselves and the bears. For a third year the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) has made backpacker safety and wildlife health a priority, providing $1,110 from its specialty license plate funds to help reduce black bear access to...

shenandoah national park · Tyler Keefer

Body of Missing Man in Shenandoah National Park Found

Saturday, July 13, 2013

The body of Tyler Keefer was located yesterday in the Dickey Ridge area of Shenandoah National Park, marking the end of a multi-day search. The cause of death is under investigation. Keefer, 21, had been missing since Saturday, July 6th. His family reported him missing to the Front Royal Police Department and park officials were notified Monday that his bicycle had been located near the Dickey...

Big South Fork · visitor use survey

Big South Fork Visitor Use Survey Report Now Available

Friday, July 12, 2013

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area has just released a visitor use study that examines characteristics, trip preferences, and expenditures of visitors of the park. The park partnered with the University of Idaho to conduct a systematic random sample of visitor groups at 11 locations (Alum Ford, Bear Creek, Blue Heron, Burnt Mill Bridge, Divide Road, Leatherwood East and West Entrances,...

Max Patch · vandalism

Man Sentenced For Vandalism at Max Patch

Thursday, July 11, 2013

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service, today announced that Tyler Pace was sentenced to 90 days incarceration by United States Magistrate Judge Dennis Lee Howell for vandalizing parts of Max Patch, a scenic area in the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. "This sentence sends a message to vandals that damaging our public lands will not be tolerated," said...

Dickey Ridge Trailhead · Missing Man · shenandoah national park

Search Underway for Missing Man in Shenandoah National Park

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Shenandoah National Park Rangers are searching for Tyler Keefer, a 21 year-old Front Royal, VA area man. Keefer was reported missing to Park Rangers on Monday, July 9, 2013, around 12:00 p.m. The last known location point for Keefer is believed to be the Dickey Ridge Trailhead on July, 6, 2013. Keefer's bicycle was found at the trailhead, and he may have been hiking in the area that afternoon. Tyler...

Bandy Creek · Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area · Oscar Blevins Farm Loop · photography

Guided Photography Hike at Bandy Creek in Big South Fork

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

A guided photography hike will take place at 10:00 a.m. (EST) on Saturday, July 13th, along the Oscar Blevins Farm Loop in the Bandy Creek area at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Visitors will learn quick and easy tips for all photography levels while out enjoying the Big South Fork. The Oscar Blevins Farm Loop can be found at the Bandy Creek Trailhead. Follow the Bandy Creek...

shenandoah national park · Shenandoah Scramble

Mark your calendars for The Shenandoah Scramble

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Mark your calendars and usher in the first day of autumn with the Shenandoah National Park Trust during The Shenandoah Scramble on Sunday, September 22nd. Hikers of all ability levels are invited to choose one of six guided hikes of varying length and difficulty in Shenandoah National Park. Participants will gather for a light breakfast and then head out to hike with their group and hike leader...

Best iPhone Apps

Top 8 of the Best iPhone Apps to Access on Your Nature Walk

Saturday, July 6, 2013

The following is a guest blog by Debbie Denard: Who says technology and nature can’t go hand in hand? Next time you’re out walking in nature, enhance your experience with a few of these nifty iPhone apps. There are apps available to help you find nature, navigate through it and learn more about it during your excursions. These apps may make the trek more appealing for young hikers as well! • My...

Old Rag Mountain · rescue · Ridge Trail · shenandoah national park

Injured Hiker Rescued From Old Rag Mountain

Friday, July 5, 2013

NPS Digest is reporting this morning that Shenandoah National Park rangers responded to a report on June 3rd that a man had fallen on Old Rag Mountain in the park’s Central District. Initial reports were that he’d broken a leg and was unable to move. Ascending Old Rag Mountain requires a three-and-a-half mile hike up Ridge Trail, followed by a mile-long rock scramble to the summit. The rock scramble...

bridge · Chimney Tops Trail · Walker Camp Prong

Chimney Tops Trail Bridge Repair Complete

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Great Smoky Mountains National Park crews completed bridge repairs on the Chimney Tops Trail. The popular trail is now open to the public through the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The trail has been closed since late January when high flood waters destroyed the pedestrian bridge. On January 30th, the park received more than 4 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. The 70-foot long pedestrian bridge,...

appalachian trail · Art Exhibit · Asheville · Blue Spiral 1 Gallery

Appalachian Trail Inspired Art Exhibit on Display in Asheville

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Blue Spiral 1 Gallery is featuring an exhibit inspired by the Appalachian Trail until July 23, 2013 at the Blue Spiral 1, located at 38 Biltmore Avenue in Asheville, North Carolina. Named Along the Trail, ten percent of all proceeds from sales of the works associated with the exhibit will be donated to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and its local Trail maintaining clubs. The exhibit...

Kayaking · tubing · water recreation

Smokies Visitors Urged to Exercise Caution Near Rivers - Cite Multiple Recent Incidents

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers are reminding visitors that water recreation is not recommended in the park due to numerous hazards and dangers. Weather forecasts for the Fourth of July holiday week include heavy rain and thunderstorms which can cause river levels to rise rapidly. Serious water-related injuries, including fatalities, occur each year in the park. Over the last several...

free mobile app · NC State Parks

NC State Parks free mobile app upgraded for 2013 visitor season

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

With summer visitation in full swing, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and ParksbyNature Network LLC have jointly announced significant improvements to the free mobile app designed for North Carolina’s state parks and state recreation areas. North Carolina’s Pocket Ranger mobile app, released in 2011 for iPhone and Android, was the first full featured one of its type in the nation and...

Appalachian Trail Conservancy · Biennial Conference

Appalachian Trail Biennial to Feature Music, Culture, and Trails at WCU

Monday, July 1, 2013

The 2013 Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Biennial Conference organizers invite the public to attend live music, dancing, presentations about hiking trails, and a Cherokee storyteller from Sunday, July 21 to Thursday, July 25 at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Events each evening begin at 8 p.m. Nightly tickets are $7, and children under 12 are admitted free. Sunday,...

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