Teenager rescued after fall from cliff on Linville Falls trail

Teenager rescued after fall from cliff on Linville Falls trail

Thursday, August 18, 2011

No comments

NPS Digest is reporting this morning that on August 16th, two teenage boys on a family outing climbed over the containment wall at Erwin’s View on the Linville Falls trail. One of them slipped and went over the edge of a cliff, falling about 60 feet and ending up caught in a tree. He yelled back to his friend that he was uninjured but unable to free himself. A multi-agency rescue ensued. Due to the height and features of the cliff, the boy was short-hauled from his location by a National Guard helicopter and taken to a nearby landing zone. He was treated for minor cuts and scrapes and released.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Read More

Kayaker makes First Descent of Linville Falls

Kayaker makes First Descent of Linville Falls

Friday, August 27, 2010

No comments

This past Tuesday, kayaker Pat Keller made the first descent ever of Linville Falls - albeit illegally.

Linville Falls in Western North Carolina is a complicated, discontinuous series of falls that drops roughly 90 feet into the Linville Gorge. The falls begin as a twin set of upper falls, then moves down a small gorge before making a final 45-foot plunge into the basin below.

Keller, 24, a professional kayaker who grew up in and around water, has been kayaking since he was seven. In 2008 he paddled a kayak down the 83-foot La Paz Falls in Costa Rica.

His foray down Linville Falls earlier this week is against park regulations, and could cost him a maximum penalty of up to $5000 and six months in jail.

Canoe & Kayak Magazine has an article on his recent feat, as well as some pretty dramatic and amazing photographs. So far, no video has emerged.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Read More

Blue Ridge Parkway closures

Blue Ridge Parkway closures

Monday, August 16, 2010

No comments

There are several temporary road closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway this week as a result of bears, construction, and storm debris removal projects.

In Virginia:

* The Peaks of Otter Picnic Area has been closed temporarily due to a sow with three cubs that have been acting aggressively and have bluff charged several people over the past week in the picnic area and on nearby trails. Employees and visitors are advised to stay out of the area until further notice.

In North Carolina:

* Tree removal projects are being conducted near Deep Gap at Milepost 275 to the Yadkin Valley Parking Overlook at Milepost 290. Parkway visitors should expect minor delays as a result of traffic control through this area.

* The Linville Falls Picnic Area, near Milepost 316, is scheduled to be temporarily closed beginning today, August 16, at 8 a.m. and will remain closed until Wednesday – August 18, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. This closure is necessary for the completion of the paving of the picnic area entrance road, which includes asphalt sidewalks, drain repairs, and re-striping of the road and parking areas.

* The Craggy Gardens Picnic Area at Milepost 367.6 will be temporarily closed from Monday, August 16, at 6:00 a.m. until noon Friday, August 20. Due to the narrow road leading up to the picnic area, pavement overlay activities require complete closure of the entrance road.

* The Blue Ridge Parkway will be temporarily closed from Wagon Road Gap at Milepost 412 to the Graveyard Fields Parking Overlook at Milepost 418 on Monday, Aug. 16 through Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010, to conduct storm debris removal and hazardous tree work. Access to the parkway from U.S. Route 276 will remain open.

For updates on parkway road and weather conditions, please call 828-298-0398.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Read More