With spring hiking season already in full gear, and summer just around the corner, you may be finding yourself in need of some new gear. If money's a little tight, you may want to check-out REI's current sale.
Starting today REI will be offering an extra 35% off The North Face, ALPS, and Mountain Hardwear closeouts on REI-OUTLET. The outdoor gear retailer has over 300 styles from these top brands,...
Articles and information on hiking, outdoor adventures and the Great Smoky Mountains. For hiking trail information in the Smokies, please visit HikingintheSmokys.com
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NC recreation and park planners seek public input for five-year plan
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
North Carolinians place a high value on outdoor recreation places and activities, and view these resources as important components of a healthy lifestyle and a healthy community. The N.C Division of Parks and Recreation invites the public to participate in a survey designed to assess the state’s outdoor recreation preferences, needs and priorities.
The survey is one component of the 2014-18 Statewide...
Frazil Ice ·
Yosemite National Park
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Frazil Ice in Yosemite National Park
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
The last gasps of winter in the Yosemite Valley....
Check out this amazing video showing the "giant slurpee" that forms when "frazil ice" collects on Yosemite Falls, and flows down Yosemite Creek each spring like a lava flow.
As you might expect, the scenery in this film is quite awesome:
My wife and I visited Yosemite National Park for the first time this past fall. We did quite a bit of...
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced the Elkmont Firefly Viewing event in the park will take place from Wednesday, June 4 through Wednesday, June 11. 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 the Sugarlands Visitor Center without the...
A Short Walk to the Edge of Life ·
Scott Hubbartt
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A Short Walk to the Edge of Life
Monday, April 28, 2014
Over the weekend I finished reading another compelling story of survival, this one fraught with hard lessons every adventurer should learn. Called A Short Walk to the Edge of Life: How My Simple Adventure Became a Dance with Death and Taught Me What Really Matters, it's the first full length book written by Scott Hubbartt, a retired combat veteran and Air Force Chief Master Sergeant. Hubbartt is also...
Bear Warning Issued for Black Balsam and Shining Rock Wilderness Areas
Saturday, April 26, 2014
The U.S. Forest is warning visitors in the Black Balsam and Shining Rock Wilderness areas of the Pisgah National Forest, to be on the lookout for black bears and “Be Bear Aware.”
The warning comes after recent bear encounters have been reported in both the Black Balsam and Shining Rock Wilderness areas, north of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Haywood County. There were no injuries.
The bears have...
Big South Fork National River and Recreation ·
Blue Heron Mining Community ·
Yahoo Falls
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Big South Fork to Conduct Guided Hikes
Friday, April 25, 2014
The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area will be conducting a series of wildflower and birding guided walks as part of the McCreary County, Kentucky, Tourism Commission's Wildflower Discovery Weekend. A number of state and federal agencies as well as volunteers will be working with the McCreary County Tourism Commission to provide a series of talks and walks around the county on Friday,...
Photo Contest ·
Zoom in to the Appalachian Trail
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Appalachian Trail Conservancy Launches 'Zoom in to the Appalachian Trail' Photo Contest
Thursday, April 24, 2014
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is now accepting submissions for its “Zoom in to the Appalachian Trail” photo contest, a nationwide search for the best photos featuring close-up shots of the details that make up the Appalachian Trail (A.T.).
The photo contest asks participants to recognize that the A.T. is not only a footpath, but is also home to a vast array of wildlife and vegetation,...
Last week I mentioned a couple of times that Kathy and I spent a few days hiking in the Smokies recently. As a result of that visit, we have just added several new hikes to the website. Almost all of which are on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains. Here's what's new:
* Mingus Creek Trail: There's still more exploring to do in this area after visiting the historic Mingus Mill.
*...
Alseseca River ·
canoe ·
Jim Coffey ·
La Cascada de Truchas
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Canoeist Breaks 20-Year-Old Record for Highest Waterfall Drop
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Last fall, Jim Coffey from Canada paddled over the 60-foot La Cascada de Truchas on the Alseseca River in Mexico. In doing so, he broke a record for the highest waterfall drop in a canoe that had stood for almost 20 years.
The previous record was held by Steve Frazier when he went over the 55-foot Compression Falls on the Elk River in Tennessee in 1994.
Although Coffey broke the record last...
blue ridge parkway
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Bicyclist on Blue Ridge Parkway Killed by Deer
Monday, April 21, 2014
The NPS Morning Report is reporting this morning that a cyclist was killed by a deer on the Blue Ridge Parkway. On the evening of April 2nd, a 52-year-old man was bicycling on the Parkway in the area of Milepost 64 (just northwest of Lynchburg, VA) when he was struck by a deer.
The bicycle was traveling at approximately 25 miles per hour when the deer collided with the rider’s right side, causing...
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation ·
Graveyard Fields
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Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Seeks Support for Graveyard Fields Improvements
Monday, April 21, 2014
Last week the Blue Ridge Parkway announced that work will soon begin on the final portion of the Graveyard Fields improvement project. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has been raising funds for this project for the past two years and seeks the support of local businesses and individuals to raise the remaining $50,000.
This project includes multiple enhancements to the Graveyard Fields area,...
Music of the Mountains Festiva
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Annual Music of the Mountains Festival Scheduled
Friday, April 18, 2014
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will hold its 10th annual Music of the Mountains celebration Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27. This event now spans 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 26th.
The three-day event begins with a concert of Celtic music by The...
Cherokee ·
Shaping our Future ·
Understanding our Past
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Smokies to Host Cherokee Exhibit at Oconaluftee Visitor Center
Friday, April 18, 2014
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is hosting a Cherokee touring exhibit, “Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future“, on Saturday, April 26 through Tuesday, May 27th at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The exhibit focuses on Cherokee language and culture, using sound recordings as the basis for presenting a coherent story in words and text. Acting Superintendent Pedro Ramos will welcome the community...
National Junior Ranger Day
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Free National Junior Ranger Day to be Held in Smokies
Friday, April 18, 2014
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will celebrate National Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with special activities at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Cades Cove Visitor Center and Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
Children and their families can join in a variety of free, hands-on activities including ranger-guided walks, historic toy making, talking to a real...
Okay, “best” might be too strong of a superlative, but we can certainly use the word “glorious” to describe our hike out to Andrews Bald this past Saturday.
As mentioned in a post on Tuesday, Kathy and I spent several days hiking in the Smokies last week, and spent our final day at Andrews Bald. And what a perfect day it was to visit one of the most scenic spots in the Great Smoky Mountains....
backpacking ·
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area ·
camping
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Big South Fork Celebrates National Park Week With Free Camping
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area will be observing National Park Week from Saturday, April 19, through Sunday, April 27. Everyone is invited to celebrate all that America's more than 400 national parks have to offer with the theme "National Park Week: Go Wild!"
National Park Week will kick off with free backcountry camping permits as well as free camping at Alum Ford Campground...
Beginning Tuesday, April 22, 2014, the Graveyard Fields Parking Area and Trailhead, at Milepost 418.8, will close for approximately 11 weeks. During the closure, the National Park Service will complete important phases of a comprehensive construction project underway at this highly used and popular recreation area. The project addresses important visitor services and safety issues, and includes construction...
Chimney Tops Trail ·
rescue
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Foreign Visitor Fractures Leg on Chimney Tops Trail
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Last week Kathy and I spent several days hiking in the Smokies. On Tuesday, our first day in the park, we decided to hike the Chimney Tops Trail. As we were putting our gear together I noticed three people standing near Newfound Gap Road trying to flag someone down. They were finally able to stop a road construction vehicle, and after a few seconds, the truck sped away. I had no idea what was going...
Major Section of the Appalachian Trail in Southwest Virginia Permanently Protected
Monday, April 14, 2014
After nearly 30 years, the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in Giles County, Virginia near the New River will be on permanently protected lands through the collaborative efforts of the U.S. Forest Service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), Columbia Gas of Virginia, Columbia Gas Transmission, Celanese Corporation, the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, the Outdoor Club at Virginia Tech, and local governments....
Celebrate National Park Week 2014 With FREE Admission and Special Events
Sunday, April 13, 2014
The National Park Service, in partnership with the National Park Foundation, recently announced that the nation’s 401 national parks will celebrate National Park Week April 19-27 with a free admission weekend and special events nationwide.
The theme for this year’s National Park Week invites visitors to “Go Wild” for history, nature, culture, wildlife, and fun in America’s national parks. Additional...
The hike to Mt. LeConte via the Alum Cave Trail is one of the classic hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are several trails in the park that are far longer, gain more elevation, and have steeper climbs, but the Alum Cave Trail is unmatched in its combination of interesting geological features, history, high adventure and stunning views. Below is a video highlighting many of the sights...
Two Found Guilty In Major Auto Break-In Case in Shenandoah National Park
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Another reason to not leave valuables in your car while hiking - or at least lock them in your trunk:
On October 21st, Shenandoah rangers arrested two people – Florida residents Hataria Whitehead and Stephanie Kantz – who were suspected of committing two vehicle burglaries (‘car clouts’) within the park. Numerous items of stolen property were found inside their vehicle, including various IDs, bank...
Comprehensive Guide ·
Hiking Trails of the Great Smoky Mountains ·
Kenneth Wise
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Newly Revised Edition of Hiking Trail Guide for the Smokies
Monday, April 7, 2014
A newly revised edition of a Great Smoky Mountains National Park hiking trail guide will be released this week. Written by Kenneth Wise, Hiking Trails of the Great Smoky Mountains: Comprehensive Guide is the completely updated second edition of his book, first published in 1996.
According to the description on Amazon, this edition includes details for more than 125 official trails within the...
cliff top ·
Great Smoky Mountains National Park ·
Laura Thornborough ·
Mt. Le Conte ·
mt. leconte ·
Myrtle Point ·
paul adams
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The Allure of Mt. Le Conte: A “Past and Present” Perspective
Friday, April 4, 2014
The following is a guest blog by Andy Drinnon from Twisted Ridge Photography. This is the last part of a three-part series. You can read part one here, part two here, as well as an introduction on the series by clicking here.
Part Three – Following Traditions
Often recognized as the “grandstand of the Smokies,” Mt. Le Conte commands a central position within Great Smoky Mountains National Park....
Noland Creek Trail
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Temporary Partial Closure of Noland Creek Trail Due to Landslide
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials just announced the temporary closure of Noland Creek Trail from the trailhead at Lakeview Drive to Campsite 65 for crews to repair a landslide on the 1.5 mile section of trail that is used for cemetery access in the spring.
The 1.5 mile trail section and Campsite 65 will be closed to all use Monday through Thursday beginning Monday, April 7 through...
Mt. Le Conte ·
paul adams
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The Allure of Mt LeConte: A “Past and Present” Perspective
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
The following is a guest blog by Andy Drinnon from Twisted Ridge Photography. This is part two of a three-part series that will run on this blog through the end of this week. You can read part one here, as well as an introduction on this series by clicking here.
Part Two – A Summit Camp for Hikers
In 1918, Paul J. Adams moved with his family from rural Western North Carolina to Knoxville, Tennessee....
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