SOCIAL MEDIA

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GSMA Member Hike into Hazel Creek and Bone Valley

Sunday, November 30, 2014

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You may have heard of these remote areas, but have you ever actually seen them? Here's a peek at the Bone Valley and Hazel Creek areas of the Great Smoky Mountains. Earlier this year 17 members and 3 employees of the Great Smoky Mountains Association went on a hike to Bone Valley along the Hazel Creek Trail. This 16-mile adventure was one of the exclusive member activities the GSMA conducts every...
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NC National Forests: Know Before You Go

Friday, November 28, 2014

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With winter fast approaching, the U.S. Forest Service is urging outdoor enthusiasts to "Know Before You Go" and follow simple tips to stay safe when visiting the Nantahala, Pisgah, Uwharrie and Croatan national forests during the colder months. “The forests can provide stunning scenery and recreational opportunities during the winter, but it is important to be aware of the dangers and risks associated...
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An Island in the Sky - Fall in the Higher Elevations Sequence

Friday, November 28, 2014

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Below is a clip from the Great Smoky Mountains Association's first film in the Smoky Mountain Explorer Series, An Island in the Sky - Clingmans Dome & the Spruce-fir Forests. This clip showcases fall in the higher elevations of the northern hardwood forests that are found on Clingmans Dome. You can purchase a copy of the film here. Jeff HikingintheSmokys.com HikinginGlacier.com ...
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Seasons of the Smokies - Autumnal Equinox Sequence

Sunday, November 23, 2014

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Below is a clip from the Great Smoky Mountains Association's second film in the Smoky Mountain Explorer Series, Seasons of the Smokies - A Wondrous Diversity of Life. This clip showcases the beginning of the Autumnal equinox and the challenges that wildlife face as they prepare for winters arrival. You can purchase a copy of the film here. Jeff HikingintheSmokys.com HikinginGlacier.c...
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REI Awards $25,000 Grant to Support Sustainable Environmental Practices Along the Appalachian Trail

Thursday, November 20, 2014

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Earlier this week the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) announced that it had received a $25,000 grant from REI, a national outdoor gear and apparel retailer committed to connecting people with the outdoors. The grant will support sustainable environmental practices along the Appalachian Trail (A.T.), particularly in the southern region, which is the most popular location to begin thru-hiking the...
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Hiking in Grandfather Mountain State Park

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

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Sitting at an elevation of 5946 feet, Grandfather Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina is best known for its "Mile High Swinging Bridge" and the Linn Cove Viaduct. The "Mile High Swinging Bridge", the highest such bridge in America, was built in 1952 by Hugh Morton, who inherited the mountain from his grandfather and developed the tourist attractions. The 228-foot long suspension...
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Hiking in Gorges State Park

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

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Gorges State Park is a 7500-acre state park in Transylvania County, North Carolina. The land along Jocassee Gorges was purchased by the state from the Duke Energy Corporation in 1999. The park lies adjacent to the Nantahala National Forest and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's Toxaway Game Land. It’s now North Carolina's westernmost state park, and one of the newest in the state. Gorges...
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Place Names in the Smoky Mountains

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

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Have you ever looked at a map of the Smoky Mountains, or maybe have been hiking in the Smokies, and wondered; “where did that name come from?" or "what in the world does that mean?". The following is a list of several place names and regional terms that help explain the meaning and historical origins of some of those names and places that may have had you perplexed. Abrams Falls: The waterfall...
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Tennessee State Parks to Host After Thanksgiving Hikes

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

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Tennessee State Parks will be offering hikers an excellent chance to work off some of that turkey and dressing the day after Thanksgiving. Parks across the state will be offering free, guided hikes on Friday, November 28th. The fourth in the quarterly hikes program, the "After Thanksgiving Hikes" will be offered at each of the 55 state parks in Tennessee. “The After Thanksgiving Hikes are a perfect...
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Collections Preservation Center Groundbreaking

Friday, November 14, 2014

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National Park Service (NPS) officials were joined by representatives from Senator Bob Corker’s office, Representative John Duncan’s office, Friends of the Smokies, Great Smoky Mountains Association, Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, and AMEC Environment and Infrastructure Inc. to break ground on the new NPS Collections Preservation Center. The NPS facility will preserve 418,000 artifacts...
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Improvised Explosive Device Found Near Trail In Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

Thursday, November 13, 2014

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The NPS is reporting this morning that an improvised explosive device (IED) was found near a trail in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Georgia. On November 4th, a park visitor found a backpack which was left unattended in the Vickery Creek Unit adjacent to a hiking trail. The visitor checked the backpack to identify an owner and noticed what appeared to a possible improvised explosive...
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Big South Fork’s John Muir Trail Extension Now Open

Thursday, November 13, 2014

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A new 2.3 mile section of the John Muir Trail in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, from Devils Den to Honey Creek Loop, was completed this past National Public Lands Day, September 27, 2014. This new connection allows hikers to travel approximately 39 miles on the John Muir Trail from Pickett State Forest all the way to Honey Creek Loop trailhead. The new section of the John Muir...
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Tennessee State Parks Announce Special Winter Rates

Thursday, November 13, 2014

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Tennessee State Parks will offer special winter rates for 360 cabins in 18 parks across the state, along with individual rooms at six state park inns, from Nov. 15, 2014, through March 15, 2015. With a state park within an hour’s drive of just about anywhere in Tennessee, families and groups seeking unique recreation opportunities and high-quality accommodations can find the perfect getaway – all...
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Nine Rivers: A Canadian Adventure

Saturday, November 8, 2014

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Nine rivers, four men and two canoes. This excellent film follows four adventurers on a month-long, one-thousand kilometre (621 miles) canoe journey through the Canadian shield. The group shares the hardships and splendor of the North on this journey to Hudson Bay. This film is fairly long compared to most I post on this blog, but it's very well done, and takes you through an area of North America...
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Have craft brewers jumped the shark?

Friday, November 7, 2014

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I have a question for beer lovers and common sewers, I mean connoisseurs: Has the whole craft beer industry jumped the shark? In recent years there's been a growing trend towards extreme levels of hops and flavors not normally associated with beer. Some of the flavors I've seen or heard about - that have gone way out on the limb - include chile peppers, avocados, coconut curry, oysters, pine...
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Park Plans Controlled Burns in Cades Cove

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park fire management officials are planning a series of controlled burns in Cades Cove. Weather permitting, burn operations could begin in early November and continue intermittently through the rest of the month. Controlled burns are used to reduce woody encroachment into the fields, perpetuate native herbaceous species, reduce exotic plant species, and maintain...
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Nearly Half of All Americans Participate in Outdoor Recreation

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

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Almost 143 million Americans, or 49.2 percent of the US population, participated in an outdoor activity at least once in 2013. Although the actual number of outdoor participants increased since 2012, the participation rate fell slightly, due to population growth. The findings are part of The Outdoor Foundation’s 2014 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report, the leading report tracking American participation...
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Laurel Falls Trail Temporarily Closed Due to Storm Damage

Monday, November 3, 2014

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced the temporary closure of Laurel Falls Trail due to storm damage. The trail will reopen on Friday, November 7. The trail received between 7 and 8 inches of snow during the storm event on November 1. The heavy, wet snow clung to the foliage causing several trees and limbs to come down blocking the trail. In addition, a tree uprooted near...
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115 Years and Counting: Volunteers Get Ready for Audubon Christmas Bird Count

Monday, November 3, 2014

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The National Audubon Society invites volunteers across the western hemisphere to participate in the longest-running citizen science survey in the world, the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Between December 14, 2014 and January 5, 2015 tens of thousands of participants will brave inclement weather to help scientists assess and guide significant conservation efforts at a scale they could...
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Veterans Day Designated a Free State Park Day for Tennessee Veterans

Saturday, November 1, 2014

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Tennessee State Parks announced this week its annual free state parks day for all Tennessee veterans offering one free night of camping and/or a complimentary round of golf with appropriate identification. Veterans Day is Tuesday, Nov. 11. “On Veterans Day we honor the many brave men and women who have served our country,” Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill said. “The state parks family invites all...
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