SOCIAL MEDIA

Linville Gorge Celebrates Spring With New Information Cabin & Ranger-led Hikes

Friday, April 29, 2016

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The Linville Gorge, located on the Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest, is gearing up for spring with the opening of the Linville Information Cabin, a Spring Celebration with ranger-led hikes, and the beginning of Wilderness permit requirements. The Linville Gorge Information Cabin, located at the north end of Old Hwy 105, provides visitors with area information as well as...
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Arches National Park Seeks Graffiti Vandals

Thursday, April 28, 2016

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Seriously, what the hell is wrong with people? Arches National Park recently discovered another act of graffiti vandalism, and posted this message on their Facebook page yesterday: We need your help. Staff recently discovered new graffiti at Frame Arch, just off the trail to Delicate Arch. If you saw anyone carving or writing on the rock on the Delicate Arch trail, please contact the park via email...
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Total Eclipse Of The Sun Will Pass Through The Great Smoky Mountains

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

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There's no time like the present to begin planning for the future. Yesterday I just happened to come across a website that mentioned there will be a total eclipse of the Sun next year. This is significant because it will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States since 1979, and will be the first total eclipse visible from the southeastern United States since March...
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Tips for Hiking with Kids

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

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So you want to go on a hiking trip this summer, but you’re thinking that it might not be a good idea due to the young kids in the back seat. It’s likely you’re concerned that your children will be bored by the idea of traipsing through the woods. Although I hear this concern quite a bit, you really don’t have to hang up your boots until the kids go off to college. Fortunately there are several things...
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2015 Tourism to Big South Fork NRRA Created $19.2 Million in Economic Benefits

Saturday, April 23, 2016

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A National Park Service report shows that approximately 600,000 visitors to Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area in 2015, spent $19.2 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 263 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy. "Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area welcomes visitors from across the country and around...
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Temporary Road Closure on Blue Ridge Parkway

Friday, April 22, 2016

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A section of the Blue Ridge Parkway from Milepost 90.0 to Milepost 105.8 will close Monday, April 25, 2016, for approximately five weeks in order to make necessary paving repairs to the road and overlooks in the area. Access to Peaks of Otter from the south will be available via VA-43. Detour signs will be in place to direct travelers around this area. During the first month of the project,...
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Several Wildfires Reported in the Southern Appalachians

Thursday, April 21, 2016

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Multiple large wildfires are currently burning along the Tennessee and North Carolina state line, and are impacting communities in Western North Carolina. The Cherokee National Forest, North Carolina Forest Service, and Tennessee Division of Forestry, along with multiple cooperating agencies, are working to control the State Line Fire burning near Hot Springs, NC. The fire is located in Cocke...
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Video Hike to Ramsey Cascades

Thursday, April 21, 2016

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Awhile back the Great Smoky Mountains Association published a video of the hike to Ramsey Cascades. Dropping roughly 100 feet over the course of multiple tiers, Ramsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall in the Smokies. The popular trail takes hikers though the largest old-growth forest remaining in the Great Smoky Mountains, and passes the 6th tallest tree in the park. For more information on this...
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Portion of Appalachian Trail Closed Due To Wildfire

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

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Due to a wildfire a portion of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) has been temporarily closed in the Cherokee National Forest. The USFS has rerouted the trail for 7.2 miles along Forest Road 293 at Bitter End, off Buck Mountain Road north to the first field. There are several water sources available along Forest Road 293, and one up at the field JCT. For a map of the impacted area, please...
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USFS: Fire Danger High Across North Carolina

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

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The U.S. Forest Service and the North Carolina Forest Service are warning the public of high fire danger across North Carolina. Fire danger is high across the state due to lack of rainfall in recent weeks and low humidity. Conditions across North Carolina are forecasted to remain dry for the next couple weeks. April typically marks the height of wildfire season in North Carolina. This year,...
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Alum Cave Trail Restoration Work Continues This Summer

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced the schedule for the next phase of the Alum Cave Trail restoration project. Over the next several months Trails Forever crews will focus restoration efforts on several targeted locations along the 5-mile trail to improve visitor safety, and to stabilize eroding trail sections. The restoration work will require temporary trail closures throughout...
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Wildfire in Shenandoah Closes Portions of Appalachian Trail and Skyline Drive (updated)

Monday, April 18, 2016

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This information has been updated as of 11:00 pm on 4/21/16: A fire was reported on Saturday, April 16, 2016, within the south district of Shenandoah National Park. The Rocky Mount Fire 2016 is currently estimated at 7935 acres, and is burning entirely within the park boundary in designated wilderness. As of late 4/21, 40% of the perimeter has been contained. No structures are currently threatened...
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Black Bears in Graveyard Fields and Shining Rock Wilderness Vicinity

Saturday, April 16, 2016

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The Pisgah National Forest is encouraging visitors to Graveyard Fields, Black Balsam, or the Shining Rock Wilderness areas of the Pisgah Ranger District to be on the look-out for black bears. The large number of bear sightings and encounters in the past few years has led to required use of bear-proof canisters in these specific areas (see http://go.usa.gov/czWXR) and a camping closure in Graveyard...
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Temporary Road Closure for Bridge Project at Milepost 316 on BRP

Friday, April 15, 2016

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A section of the Blue Ridge Parkway from Milepost 316.5 to Milepost 317.5 will close Monday, April 18, 2016, for approximately six weeks in order to make repairs to the historic Linville River Bridge. Access to Linville River Picnic Area will be available from the south at US221. Access to Linville Falls camping, trails, and visitor center at Milepost 316.4 will be available from the north at NC181...
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Ken Burns: Secrets of Rocky Mountain National Park

Thursday, April 14, 2016

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What makes Rocky Mountain National Park so special? Back in 2014 Ken Burns sat down with USA TODAY and shared some of the secrets of Rocky Mountain National Park. Burns, along with Dayton Duncan, are the creators of the PBS documentary, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea." If you haven't been to this park yet, here's why it needs to be on your bucket list: With more than 350 miles of...
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Nat Geo Publishes New Map Guides for the Entire Appalachian Trail

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

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Although most thru-hikers have already left Springer Mountain, backpacking season is just beginning for almost everyone else. Whether you're a thru-hiker, a section hiker, or a backpacker who only wants to spend a night or two on the Appalachian Trail, you may want to note that National Geographic has recently published a series of Topographic Map Guides for the world's most famous long-distance hiking...
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Epic Animal Migrations in Yellowstone

Sunday, April 10, 2016

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Some of the world's most incredible animal migrations take place within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Among them are a 120-mile pronghorn migration, as well as nine elk herds with unique migration patterns. While on assignment in Yellowstone for National Geographic, photographer Joe Riis was able to capture the awe-inspiring migrations that few tourists are ever able to see: Jeff...
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Iceberg Lake

Thursday, April 7, 2016

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Below is another outstanding video from "The West is Big! Travel Guides". This short video highlights the popular hike to Iceberg Lake, one of the best hikes in Glacier National Park, if not the entire national park system. The hike features stunning alpine scenery, up-close views of the Ptarmigan Wall, wildlife, wildflowers and of course, the alpine lake that typically features floating icebergs. In...
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Lady Of The Mountain

Saturday, April 2, 2016

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Her name is Bronka Sundstrom. 13 years ago she hiked to the summit of 14,410-foot Mt. Rainier - at the age of 77, thus becoming the oldest women to summit the peak - a record she still holds today. Bronka and her husband Aki moved to Tacoma WA in 1949. As a survivor of the Holocaust during World War II, Bronka and her husband would find peace while hiking around Mt. Rainier National Park. By sheer...
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