Winter Sports in the Smokies

Winter Sports in the Smokies

Sunday, December 29, 2013

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Even though Old Man Winter is already tightening his icy grip on the mountains, it doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to do in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Winter is an excellent time to visit the Smokies, especially for those seeking solitude. Although the Great Smoky Mountains National Park sees more visitors year-round than any other park, winter is by far the slowest tourist season.

While it might be rather frosty at Newfound Gap, temperatures in the lower elevations of the park are usually quite balmy during the winter months. Roughly half the days have high temperatures of 50 degrees or more – some even reach into the 70s. On average, you can expect a snowfall of one inch or more just 1 to 5 times a year. This means that on most days you’ll still find plenty of opportunities for some great hiking on trails such as Abrams Falls, Little River, or Porters Creek - just to name a couple.

For the more ambitious who wish to venture into the higher elevations, you should expect snow and ice, especially on trails in the upper reaches of the park. You may even want to consider taking a pair of strap-on crampons (made for hiking boots) along with you. Even packed snow has a tendency to turn to ice overnight, and if you’re on a trail with steep drop-offs, such as Alum Cave, you’ll appreciate the extra traction they’ll give you.

If your preference is for sports that rely on snow you can usually count on plenty of it at the highest elevations. Although Gatlinburg averages only about seven inches of snow throughout the winter, Clingmans Dome, on the other hand, normally receives a whopping 85 inches. Up to two feet can fall during one winter storm!

One of the best places to be in the park when there’s snow on the ground is at Newfound Gap. The seven-mile road to Clingmans Dome, closed to traffic from December through March, provides excellent opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Appalachian Trail - spanning the crest of the Smokies and crossing over Newfound Gap - also provides for some great snowshoeing opportunities when conditions are right.

Sledding is another popular activity on or near Newfound Gap, especially for children and those who are still kids at heart themselves.

Adrenaline junkies looking for the speed and thrills of downhill skiing or snowboarding can get their fix at nearby Ober Gatlinburg or the Cataloochee Ski Area. Cataloochee offers 14 different runs, while Ober Gatlinburg has eight, including one that’s almost a mile in length. Both resorts also offer snow tubing opportunities as well.

Winter in the Great Smoky Mountains is truly magical. After a blanket of fresh snow the landscape turns into a scenic wonderland, especially in the spruce-fir forests of the upper elevations. For those that have only visited during the warmer months, winter is an excellent time to experience the Smokies in a whole new way.

If you're considering a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains this winter, please help support HikingintheSmokys.com this season by supporting the sponsors on our Accommodations page.







Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Great Smoky Mountains to host Christmas Events

Great Smoky Mountains to host Christmas Events

Friday, December 13, 2013

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host the 38th annual Festival of Christmas Past celebration tomorrow, December 14th, 10:-0 am to 4:00 pm, at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. The event, sponsored in cooperation with Great Smoky Mountains Association, is free to the public.

Festival of Christmas Past is an annual celebration of the culture of the Smoky Mountains, with an emphasis on the Christmas season. "Around Christmas time, people gathered in churches, homes, and schools and many of them celebrated the holiday through music, storytelling, and crafts. Festival of Christmas Past allows us to pause and remember some of these traditions," said Kent Cave, North District Resource Education Supervisor.

On Saturday, December 21, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host a Holiday Homecoming at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center where children and adults will have an opportunity to learn about and experience some of the traditions surrounding an Appalachian Christmas. Park staff and volunteers will provide hands-on traditional crafts and activities from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. the park will host the monthly acoustic old time jam session.

“Musical expression was and still is often a part of daily life in the southern mountains, and mountain music is strongly tied to the Smokies history and culture,” said Lynda Doucette, Supervisory Park Ranger. “This month our music jam will focus on traditional holiday tunes. We would like to invite musicians to play and our visitors to join us in singing traditional Christmas carols and holiday songs as was done in the old days.”

The visitor center will be decorated for the holiday season and will include an exhibit on Christmas in the mountains. Hot apple cider and cookies will be served on the porch and a fire will be in the fireplace. All activities are free and open to the public. Support of this event is provided by the Great Smoky Mountains Association.

The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is located on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. Highway 441), two miles north of Cherokee, N.C. For more information call the visitor center at (828) 497-1904.



Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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Comparing the top hiking books for the Smoky Mountains

Comparing the top hiking books for the Smoky Mountains

Sunday, December 8, 2013

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Trying to decide which hiking guide to purchase for the Great Smoky Mountains? Below is a quick reference guide that compares the most popular hiking guides for the National Park.

Hiking Great Smoky Mountains
By Kevin Adams
287 pages – 2nd edition (2013)
Covers 82 hikes as well as info concerning the AT
Book also includes:
* Locator map
* Elevation profiles
* Trail maps
* Quick reference trail highlights
* Many photos
* Safe hiking tips and backcountry camping information


Best Easy Day Hikes GSMNP
By Randy Johnson
117 pages - 1st Edition (2010)
Covers 22 hikes
Book also includes:
* Information on the “Quiet Walkways” scattered throughout the park
* Covers several self-guided nature trails
* Includes a few trails that are rated as moderate or even difficult in some cases
* Locator map
* Trail maps
* Brief history of park, safety tips and basic travel information
* Recommendations based on best views, nature lovers, history hikes, waterfalls etc.


Top Trails: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
By Johnny Molloy
384 pages - 1st edition (2012)
Covers 50 hikes
Book also includes:
* Ratings and rankings for each trail
* Clear and concise directions to the trailhead
* Detailed route map and elevation profile
* Distances and approximate times of each hike
* Easy-to-follow trail notes and permit information
* Overnight backpacking options
* Black and white photos


100 Hikes Great Smoky Mountains
By Russ Manning
282 pages – 2nd edition (1999)
Cover 100 hikes (as you might expect)
Book also includes:
* Locator map
* Provides elevation change data
* Many photos
* Brief natural and park history
* No trail maps


Day and Overnight Hikes: GSMNP
By Johnny Molloy
210 pages - 4th edition (2008)
Covers 41 hikes in total: including 13 day loops and 10 overnight loop hikes
Book also includes:
* Recommendations based on winter, solitude, easiest, wildlife, and most scenic hikes, etc.
* Quick reference trail highlights
* Locator map
* Elevation profiles
* Trail maps
* Weather data, safety and hazard information


Hiking Trails of the Smokies
By the GSMA
a.k.a "The Little Brown Book"
584 pages – 1st Edition (1994)
Covers 162 hikes
Book also includes:
* Elevation profiles
* Trail maps
* Safe hiking tips, weather and suggested loop hikes
* Information on all backcountry campsites, shelters, regulations and permit/reservation information



Other guide books you might find helpful:

* Appalachian Trail Guide to Tennessee-North Carolina

* Great Smoky Mountains National Park Pocket Guide

* Great Smoky Mountains Travel Photo Guides iPhone App



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains in 1933

Traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains in 1933

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

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So what was it like to travel to the budding Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1933? Thanks to the National Park Service for publishing hundreds of historical park brochures on their website, we can now look at the very first park brochure ever published for the Smokies, and get an idea of what the park was like in 1933.

The brochure includes photographs by George Masa and Jim Thompson, quotes from Horace Kephart, as well as information regarding the Qualla (Cherokee) Indian Reservation, fishing, hiking, wild animals, etc.

In 1933 there were only 297,000 acres under the administration and protection of the National Park Service. For prospective visitors, the brochure warns that:

“As the United States is prohibited by law from undertaking any development of the park until the minimum of 427,000 acres has been turned over to it for that purpose, visitors will not find the conveniences and interesting activities they are used to in the other national parks of the system.”

With regards to the neighboring Cherokees, the brochure points out:

“The Indians still play the Cherokee game of ball — a sport far too strenuous for members of the Caucasian race.”

Listed at that time as having an elevation of only 5860 feet, Andrews Bald has grown another 60 feet somewhere along the way! Though I should point out that they were real close to the correct elevation for Clingsman Dome, listing it as 6642 feet, rather than the 6643 feet that it's measured at today.

Interstingly, a that time; “Deer are practically exterminated.” Wow, how times have changed!

Apparently there were lodges located in Cades Cove in the early 1930s. Both John Oliver's Lodge and the Ekaneetlee Lodge offered overnight accommodations for just $2.00 a night. A room at the Wonderland Club Hotel in Elkmont could be reserved for $3.50 — $4.00. And the going rates for the Mountain View Hotel in Gatlinburg were $3.50 — $6.00. Only two other hotels were listed for Gatlinburg at that time: the Riverside Hotel and the Indian Gap Hotel. My guess is that visitors didn't have to fight traffic all day long to get through town back then.

What if you wished to camp in the park? Well, here were the guidelines you had to abide by:

"When the development of the park is undertaken by the National Park Service, adequate camping places with pure water and other necessities will be provided. Until such time no camping over night or fires of any sort will be permitted except by special permit of the superintendent or his authorized representatives. In such instances the following rules must be carefully observed: Wood for fuel only can be taken from dead or fallen trees. Combustible rubbish shall be burned on camp fires, and all other garbage and refuse of all kinds shall be buried."

Oh, and don't expect to gamble, or bring dynamite into the park!

This is really an interesting read, especially if you enjoy the history of the park. You can read the entire brochure by clicking here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Severe Storm in Smokies Leads To Two Deaths, Injuries, Other Emergencies

Severe Storm in Smokies Leads To Two Deaths, Injuries, Other Emergencies

Friday, July 6, 2012

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A severe thunderstorm swept through the west end of the Great Smoky Mountains around 6 p.m. yesterday evening, causing significant tree fall in a line stretching from Metcalf Bottoms across Cades Cove to Abrams Creek. Several emergency responses were underway late last night and the situation was continuing to evolve. Two fatalities have been confirmed – a man who died in a motorcycle accident a half mile east of Townsend Wye, and a woman at Abrams Creek who was killed by a falling tree. There have also been reports of multiple injuries.

At the time of the report around midnight, ambulances were en route to Cades Cove to deal with three injuries and a cardiac incident. Three people in the Abrams Creek area were also injured; one was evacuated by ambulance and two others by helicopter. Many trees are down on both the Little River and Laurel Creek Roads. One lane of each road has been cleared for emergency vehicles.

The Cades Cove and Abrams Creek areas have also received significant tree fall. National Park Service crews have swept all roads in storm-damaged areas to identify stranded motorists and those in need of medical attention. Emergency crews from Blount County are assisting park crews in the area of the Townsend Wye and at Abrams Creek.

At the time of the report, priorities for park crews were to continue to get emergency personnel to individuals in need of medical attention and to evacuate those individuals from the park. Once this was accomplished, the need for overnight clearing operations was to be evaluated. Rangers will continue to work today to ensure all visitors and staff are accounted for and begin to assess needs for emergency response in the park’s backcountry.

The storms produced wind gusts between 60 and 70 miles per hour, a lot of lightning, and left several thousand people without power overnight.

As of this morning, Little River Road from Elkmont to the Townsend Wye, Laurel Creek Road, and the Cades Cove Loop Road are temporarily closed to access damage and facilitate clean up.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Great Smoky Mountains Confirms White-Nose Syndrome in Bats

Great Smoky Mountains Confirms White-Nose Syndrome in Bats

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

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Biologists at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have confirmed that both a tricolored and a little brown bat found in a park cave tested positive for white-nose syndrome (WNS). This discovery transitions the park from only finding evidence of the fungus that causes WNS in a cave to now finding animals actively affected by the disease.

White-nose syndrome is a disease caused by the fungus Geomyces destructans and is responsible for the deaths of millions of bats in eastern North America. It is named for a white fungus that forms on the faces of many infected bats. While the actual cause of death due to WNS is unknown, the disease causes bats to become restless during hibernation, moving about the cave and burning up fat reserves or losing body water they need to survive the winter. There is no known cure for the disease.

Bats are important components of intact natural ecosystems and may provide services that benefit people, such as eating large amounts of insect pests. Great Smoky Mountains is home to eleven bat species and the largest hibernating population of the endangered Indiana bat in the state of Tennessee. Of the eleven known species that reside in the park, at least six of them that hibernate in park caves and mines are susceptible to WNS.

In 2009 all 16 park caves and two mining complexes were closed to any public entry to delay the importation of the WNS pathogen on visitor's clothing or gear. Park caves will continue to remain closed to human access to minimize the chances of spreading the disease to other areas.

"While the confirmation of WNS in the park is not a surprise it is still a sad day for the resource," said Dale Ditmanson, Park Superintendent. "By continuing to monitor bat populations in our caves and forests we hope to minimize WNS affecting other bat habitats outside of our boundaries"

Park visitors are reminded to not handle dead bats or bats found to be acting abnormally. According to the NPS Office of Public Health, WNS does not appear to pose a threat to human health since the fungus that causes WNS only grows at temperatures well below human body temperature. However, WNS can cause sick bats to exhibit unusual behavior, such as flying outdoors or at hibernaculum entrances at all times of day and in all types of weather, so bats may be encountered in unusual settings.

"While humans are not at risk of contracting WNS, bats are known to carry other diseases such as rabies. If you see a dead, sick or injured bat within the park, please notify the park at (865)-436-1230," said Bill Stiver, NPS Wildlife Biologist. "Any dead, injured or sick bats found outside of the park should be reported to your local state wildlife agency."

To see a brief video about White Nose Syndrome in Great Smoky Mountains, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Hiking the Middle Prong Trail

Hiking the Middle Prong Trail

Friday, January 20, 2012

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Take a hike with the Great Smoky Mountains Association along the Middle Prong Trail in the Smokies. This short video takes viewers on a vicarious stroll up the Middle Prong Trail in Tremont. The 4-mile hike follows the Middle Prong of the Little River, past relics from the old logging days, and on to the intersection with the Lynn Camp Prong Trail and the Greenbrier Ridge Trail:



© GSMA 2011. All rights reserved.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Trail Talk with Ranger Bob Miller

Trail Talk with Ranger Bob Miller

Saturday, November 26, 2011

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Earlier in the summer the National Park Foundation announced a new interactive website feature called Trail Talk, which provides an opportunity for the public to get an insider’s perspective on a national park - from the experts themselves. Every two weeks, NPF features a different national park on their Facebook page. Fans of NPF then have the chance to submit any and all questions they have about that park. Trail Talk rounds-up the questions, and then presents them to one of the rangers in that park.

Back in August, Bob Miller, spokeman for the Great Smoky Mountains, was the focus of Trail Talk. Ranger Bob offered readers some of his favorite hikes, as well as his three “can’t miss” activities in the park, among several other questions he fielded.

You can read the entire Q & A here.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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High Vistas: New release from George Ellison

High Vistas: New release from George Ellison

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

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Local and prolific writer, George Ellison, released his newest book today, High Vistas: An Anthology of Nature Writing from Western North Carolina & the Great Smoky Mountains.

This new release is actually the second and final volume covering nature writings from the region. His latest book focuses on writings from 1900 to 2009, and includes well-known names such as Donald Culross Peattie, Roger Tory Peterson, James Fisher, Edwin Way Teale, Edward Abbey and Scott Weidensaul. The descriptions from these writers, and others, provide specific insights into the region's landscapes, flora and fauna, as well as a sense of wonder at its diversity and beauty.

High Vistas, Volume I, released in 2008, covers writings from the region from 1674 to 1900, and includes essays from celebrated naturalists such as John Muir and William Bartram, as well as lesser-known writers, who describe how they went about exploring and depicting the region.

The two High Vistas volumes are the first anthologies devoted to nature and descriptive writing from Western North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Both books include original illustrations from George's wife, Elizabeth.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Smoky Mountain Agencies Ramp Up DWI Efforts

Smoky Mountain Agencies Ramp Up DWI Efforts

Monday, September 19, 2011

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In a press conference held on Wednesday, August 31st, local, state, and federal law enforcement officials in the Smoky Mountain Region gathered to announce the recently created Foothills Law Enforcement Coalition at a local college campus.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park took the lead in forming this 13-agency partnership, consisting of all the sheriff and police departments in the three Tennessee counties adjoining the park, including the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Made possible with special funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the focus is to increase public awareness of the dangers of driving while impaired through education efforts, as well as to coordinate law enforcement activities like sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols.

Great Smoky Mountains is one of three parks participating in a pilot program funded by NHTSA aimed at reducing DUI crashes in the National Park System through enhanced education and law enforcement efforts. Now in the third year of this program, these efforts have enabled rangers at the Smokies to more effectively join with neighboring law enforcement partners to more effectively target impaired drivers. The other pilot parks are Delaware Water Gap and Zion.

“Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s mountainous roads are narrow, windy and heavily travelled. It can be an unforgiving environment for a careless driver; or worse, for a driver whose mental state is compromised by alcohol or drugs,” said Clay Jordan, the park’s chief ranger, at the conference. “Of the 14 or so alcohol-related fatalities the three county area averages each year, three or four of them typically occur within the park.”

Kendell Poole, director of the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office, whose office receives funding from NHTSA to dole out to local law enforcement agencies, also played a role in the conference.

“This is a significant partnership,” he said. “By this endeavor, we are going to create further public awareness in and around the national park area. We’re going to create a united front and let people know we are serious about keeping our roads safe.”

In attendance were family members of a 32-year old man who was killed by a drunk driver and their story was brought to light. Representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) also were present and interviewed by the media. All three Knoxville television stations, ABC, NBC, and CBS affiliates, covered the event as well as print media from each of the participating communities.

The different departments also organized educational displays including goggles that simulate various stages of intoxication, along with examples of equipment used at sobriety checkpoints, and a DUI crashed vehicle. The press event also showcased a couple of professionally designed graphics, visually depicting the 13 agencies working together to combat impaired driving. The graphics are being distributed throughout the region as an educational tool.

Ruth Esteban, an official in attendance from NHTSA, stated that the press event was a great success and that news of the coalition efforts was acknowledged and well-regarded at the highest levels of NHTSA.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Fall Scenes from the Smokies

Fall Scenes from the Smokies

Friday, September 16, 2011

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Pretty cool video of some beautiful fall scenes in the Great Smoky Mountains. The video was taken in 2009:

Smoky Mountains 2009 from James Swartz on Vimeo.

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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The Great Smoky Mountains Quiz: The Answers

The Great Smoky Mountains Quiz: The Answers

Monday, August 22, 2011

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As promised, here are the answers to yesterday's Great Smoky Mountains quiz. Hope you at least got a passing grade!

1) The number of mammals found in GSMNP is one of the most diverse in North America. One of the main reasons for this diversity of species in the Smokies is:

a. Amount of rainfall
b. Wide range of elevations
c. Temperature fluctuations
d. Amount of moving water
e. Acreage within park boundaries

2) "Tsali's Rock" is on what trail on the North Carolina side of the GSMNP:

a. Deep Creek
b. Sunkota Ridge
c. Thomas Divide
d. Bone Valley
e. Noland Divide

3) How many grist mills remain in GSMNP today:

a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5
e. 6

4) What are the two mammals in the Smokies listed as federally endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973:

a. Norway rat / Eastern fox squirrel
b. Appalachian cottontail / Star-nosed mole
c. Least shrew / Spotted skunk
d. Carolina northern flying squirrel / Indiana bat
e. Southern bog lemming / Mink

5) During the peak "timber boom" of the early 20th Century, how many miles of logging railroad were in the Smokies:

a. 50 miles
b. 75 miles
c. 100 miles
d. 150 miles
e. 200 miles

6) Roughly how many black bears are estimated to live in GSMNP:

a. 400-800 bears
b. 800-1100 bears
c. 1100-1400 bears
d. 1400-1700 bears
e. 1700-2000 bears

7) The first experimental release of elk in GSMNP came from:

a. Virginia/Kentucky border
b. Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
c. Rocky Mountain National Park
d. Yellowstone National Park
e. Manitoba, Canada

8) The last tree logged in the Smokies was cut at the Townsend Mill of the Little River Lumber Company in:

a. 1939
b. 1943
c. 1913
d. 1926
e. 1932

9) Which company got its start out of Alum Cave in 1838:

a. Epsom Salts Company
b. Champion Fiber and Paper Company
c. Reynolds Aluminum Company
d. Alcoa
e. Little River Lumber Company

10) Which of the species below was not a successful reintroduction into the GSMNP:

a. Eastern cougar
b. Red-cockaded Woodpecker
c. River otter
d. Sonoran Desert Toad
e. Red wolf


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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The Great Smoky Mountains Quiz

The Great Smoky Mountains Quiz

Sunday, August 21, 2011

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It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a quiz on the Great Smoky Mountains, so I thought I'd lay down the gauntlet to see how much you really know about the greatest national park in the country. Here are 10 questions - my toughest quiz yet - to challenge your mind today. I’ll provide the answers tomorrow.

1) The number of mammals found in GSMNP is one of the most diverse in North America. One of the main reasons for this diversity of species in the Smokies is:

a. Amount of rainfall
b. Wide range of elevations
c. Temperature fluctuations
d. Amount of moving water
e. Acreage within park boundaries

2) "Tsali's Rock" is on what trail on the North Carolina side of the GSMNP:

a. Deep Creek
b. Sunkota Ridge
c. Thomas Divide
d. Bone Valley
e. Noland Divide

3) How many grist mills remain in GSMNP today:

a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5
e. 6

4) What are the two mammals in the Smokies listed as federally endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973:

a. Norway rat / Eastern fox squirrel
b. Appalachian cottontail / Star-nosed mole
c. Least shrew / Spotted skunk
d. Carolina northern flying squirrel / Indiana bat
e. Southern bog lemming / Mink

5) During the peak "timber boom" of the early 20th Century, how many miles of logging railroad were in the Smokies:

a. 50 miles
b. 75 miles
c. 100 miles
d. 150 miles
e. 200 miles

6) Roughly how many black bears are estimated to live in GSMNP:

a. 400-800 bears
b. 800-1100 bears
c. 1100-1400 bears
d. 1400-1700 bears
e. 1700-2000 bears

7) The first experimental release of elk in GSMNP came from:

a. Virginia/Kentucky border
b. Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
c. Rocky Mountain National Park
d. Yellowstone National Park
e. Manitoba, Canada

8) The last tree logged in the Smokies was cut at the Townsend Mill of the Little River Lumber Company in:

a. 1939
b. 1943
c. 1913
d. 1926
e. 1932

9) Which company got its start out of Alum Cave in 1838:

a. Epsom Salts Company
b. Champion Fiber and Paper Company
c. Reynolds Aluminum Company
d. Alcoa
e. Little River Lumber Company

10) Which of the species below was not a successful reintroduction into the GSMNP:

a. Eastern cougar
b. Red-cockaded Woodpecker
c. River otter
d. Sonoran Desert Toad
e. Red wolf


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Why is visitation in the Smokies down significantly?

Why is visitation in the Smokies down significantly?

Sunday, July 24, 2011

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"Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

-Yogi Berra

Visitation to the Great Smoky Mountains dropped 17.6% in June, and is down 11.9% through the first six months of the year. This represent nearly a half million fewer visitors so far this year!

Park spokesman, Bob Miller, has been quoted in the press stating that managers aren't exactly sure as to the reasons for the decline, but think that high gas prices and the continuing weak economy are to blame.

It's true that a gallon of gas costs roughly $1.00 more when compared to last summer, Gross Domestic Product is down from last year, and the unemployment situation is roughly the same, but visitation across the entire National Park System is down only 1.1% for the YTD.

Incidentally, visitation to the Blue Ridge Parkway has jumped 23.5% this year. Superintendent Phil Francis, however, said the increase was due to the Parkway opening on time this year as a result of an easier winter that brought fewer trees down on the road. I'll buy that analysis when comparing the early spring numbers, but the BRP still saw an increase of 1.7% for the month of June.

So there has to be another reason(s) for the significant drop in the Smokies relative to the rest of the National Park System. Have there been significant increases in hotel and cabin rental rates? Is the park's reputation for being too crowded catching up with the general public? Did reports of the April Cades Cove tornado give the impresson that major portions of the park were damaged? Has Pigeon Forge and/or Gatlinburg lost any significant convention business?

Anybody have any insight?


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Water Availability Notice posted for Smokies

Water Availability Notice posted for Smokies

Monday, June 20, 2011

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Great Smoky Mountains officials have posted a Water Availability Notice for a couple of locations around the park. If you're a backpacker, or a hiker that relies on obtaining water in the backcountry, you should make note of these:

• Springs along the Appalachian Trail may run dry during summer and fall. Please check with the Backcountry Office at (865) 436-1297 for additional information.

• Newfound Gap - the water system and drinking fountain are closed due to the potential for contamination by surface water. Bottled water may be available from the Great Smoky Mountains Association store at Clingmans Dome, which is open daily from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

• Mollies Ridge - no water

• Spence Field - no water

• Backcountry Campsite 26 - very low water


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Guided Backpacking Trips in the Great Smoky Mountains

Guided Backpacking Trips in the Great Smoky Mountains

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

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Did you know that REI offers guided backpacking trips in the Great Smoky Mountains? If you’re new to the park, or new to backpacking, this is a great way to explore the Smokies with experienced and professional guides.

REIs challenging Appalachian Trail tour follows the crest of the western Smoky Mountains. Along the way participants visit Clingmans Dome, Derrick Knob, Thunderhead Mountain, Rocky Top and Spence Field. Along the way hikers stay in backcountry shelters, and REI provides breakfast and dinners. The trip is considered challenging for experienced backpackers or very fit beginners. REI runs this guided trip about a dozen times this year, but half are already sold out.

For a backpacking excursion that’s a little less challenging, and a little more family friendly, REI introduced a new three day backpacking loop hike this year, designed for families with children ages 9 and up. The trip starts and ends in the Big Creek area, and includes a visit to the Mt. Sterling fire tower. Along the way hikers pass by old growth Hemlock and Spruce trees, streams, pools and cascading waterfalls. There are still two dates available for this year; however, you do have the option of organizing a privately guided trip.

For those seeking the ultimate in adventure, REI offers an introductory course in rock climbing in North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest. During this two-day course participants spend time at Looking Glass and Cedar Rock, two areas ideal for beginner climbers. The course is run by professional instructors that are certified by the American Mountain Guides Association, and have many years experience in teaching “Rock Climbing 101”. All meals, camping accommodations and required technical equipment are provided. Several dates are still available.

For more information on these guided trips, as well as a variety of other adventures in national parks and outdoor areas across the country - and around the world - please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Winter Hike to Baskins Creek Falls

Winter Hike to Baskins Creek Falls

Friday, March 11, 2011

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Join Elizabeth and Jill from the Great Smoky Mountains Association for a winter hike to Baskins Creek Falls, one of the less visited waterfalls - and one of the most underrated falls in the park.


© GSMA 2011. All rights reserved.


For more information on the hike to Baskins Creek Falls, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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The AT and Great Smoky Mountains from a Chinese Perspective

The AT and Great Smoky Mountains from a Chinese Perspective

Sunday, March 6, 2011

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The Kinda Long March: in which a team of Chinese men travel to the United States for the first time to hike the legendary Appalachian Trail — and find its manicured paths a little wimpy.

Outside Magazine has an excellent article in their March 2011 issue about six men from China who trekked across the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains (I assume last spring). Yang Xiao, the author, compares and contrasts the trail and the park to the fledgling sport of hiking in China, and provides a pretty unique and interesting perspective of the park, hiking in America, thru-hikers and tourists. It's a great read!

You can check it out by clicking here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Great Smoky Mountains historical visitation trends

Great Smoky Mountains historical visitation trends

Thursday, January 27, 2011

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Last week the National Park Service Public Use Statistics Office reported that the Great Smoky Mountains ended the year with a total of 9,463,538 visitors to the park in 2010.

I was curious to see what the historical trends were for this measure of the country's most visited national park. This same website also provides annual visitation count data going back to 1931. Here's a look at the total number of visitors by year:

It might be a little tough to see from this graph, but the park reached the one million visitor milestone for the first time in 1941, just as the United States was getting ready to enter into WWII. During the war years, visitation declined significantly, just as you might expect. However, in 1946, the first full year after the war, visitation jumped above one million mark again, and never looked back.

From 1946 through 1977, the park experienced almost uninterupted growth. 1977 was also the first year visitation pushed through the 9 million mark. Since that year, and up until the present, the number of visitors has basically trended within a range of 8 - 10 million visitors per year. On three occasions the park has exceeded the 10 million mark. Interestingly, since 2001, the Smokies has seen a tighter range of visitors flowing into the park, averaging just above 9 million visitors per year.

You can click here for a few more visitation stats for 2010 and the month of December.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Smokies visitation slightly down in 2010

Smokies visitation slightly down in 2010

Friday, January 21, 2011

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The Great Smoky Mountains reported a total of 9,463,538 visitors to the park in 2010, a 0.3% decrease from the prior year. Although Gatlinburg (1.5%), Townsend (3.2%) and Cherokee (4.6%) each saw year over year increases, the park's 13 outlying entrances reported an overall decrease of 9.1%. Much of that decrease was driven by declines at the Foothills Pkwy East portion of the park, which has been closed for much of the year due to the reconstruction project. This section of the park saw a decline of just over a half million visitors, or 46.2% versus 2009.

The 9.46 million visitors to the park in 2010 represented the second highest total in the last decade. Only 2009, the 75th Anniversary year, was higher.

For the month of December, the entire park saw a sharp decline from the same period in 2009. Visitors arriving through the Gatlinburg entrance were down more than 40%, while Townsend dropped 20%, and Cherokee plummeted more than 56%.

Nearby Parks:

* The Blue Ridge Parkway reported a total of 14,517,119 visitors in 2010, which represented an 8.9% decrease from the previous year. This is a bit of a surprise given that the park celebrated its 75th Anniversary this past year. Road closures likely played a large part in this decline.

* Shenandoah National Park reported 1,264,347 visitors for the year, an 11.7% increase versus 2009.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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