Division of NC Parks and Recreation Seeks Public Input on Wilderness Gateway State Trail Plan

Division of NC Parks and Recreation Seeks Public Input on Wilderness Gateway State Trail Plan

Sunday, January 12, 2020

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The Division of Parks and Recreation is seeking public input on the Wilderness Gateway State Trail plan. When finalized, it will guide project stakeholders as they refine the planned corridor and build the trail.

The trail will connect Chimney Rock State Park to locations in Catawba County as well as the Overmountain Victory State Trail, the Town of Valdese, and South Mountain game lands and state park. When complete, the trail will traverse Rutherford, McDowell, Burke and Catawba counties.

The plan is being developed by the division with input from officials from the four counties, major towns in the corridor, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and Conserving Carolinas Land Conservancy, among others. It will identify opportunities, challenges, trail section sponsors and stakeholders along the trail corridor.

Drop-in style open house meetings to receive public input will be held on Jan. 14, 15 and 16 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations:

Jan. 14 
Rutherfordton County Administration Office
289 N. Main St.
Rutherfordton, N.C. 28139

Jan. 15
South Mountains State Park
3001 South Mountains Park Ave
Connelly Springs, N.C. 28612

Jan. 16 
Catawba County Government Center
25 Government Drive
Newton, N.C. 28658

Members of the public are encouraged to attend and can expect to spend about 20 minutes to review, discuss, and comment on the planned trail corridor.

If inclement weather is anticipated for any of the meetings, a weather-related notice will be posted on the Wilderness Gateway State Trail planning webpage at https://trails.nc.gov/state-trails/wilderness-gateway-state-trail.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

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First Day Hikes to be offered at every North Carolina State Park on January 1st

First Day Hikes to be offered at every North Carolina State Park on January 1st

Monday, December 30, 2013

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A North Carolina tradition continues on New Year’s Day with opportunities to exercise and reconnect with nature on First Day Hikes at every state park and recreation area, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.

In the past two years, hikers in North Carolina have joined rangers and volunteers to walk more than 6,000 miles on state park trails Jan. 1. There will be more than 40 scheduled hikes ranging from short “leg-stretchers” to four-mile treks, many of them offering interpretive programs along the way. All state park facilities will remain open on the holiday.

“As the holiday season draws to a close, First Day Hikes are an excellent way to relax, lose the stress and connect with the outdoors and the rich natural resources that distinguish North Carolina,” said Brad Ives, assistant secretary for Natural Resources at the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “We want to remind everyone that the state parks are a year-round resource for exercise, education and enjoyment for more than 14 million visitors.”

This year’s event will be the first of many First Day Hikes at the new Carvers Creek State Park, which opened in September in Cumberland County. Lake James State Park will hold a hike along new sections of its Paddy’s Creek Trail, and families can enjoy self-guided hikes on the new Holly Discovery Trail, which has won a national award for environmental education. A walk alongside the ocean at Hammocks Beach State Park has always been a popular favorite, and at Weymouth Woods Historic Nature Preserve, hikers will visit the world’s oldest known longleaf pine. Also, the Eno River Association will offer long and short hikes as part of a decades-old tradition at Eno River State Park.

Details about all First Day Hikes in North Carolina can be found here.



50% off New Styles MARMOT!! Free Shipping over $49!! RockCreek.com. Click here for details.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Open House in North Carolina for New Smokies Deputy Superintendent

Open House in North Carolina for New Smokies Deputy Superintendent

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

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On Thursday, October 3, Great Smoky Mountains National Park invites the public to an open house to welcome new Deputy Superintendent, Patricia Wissinger, to the Smokies. The event will be held at the Calhoun House in Bryson City, NC from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Wissinger most recently served as Superintendent of Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Atlanta where she developed many partnerships with the surrounding community. This will be the first opportunity for the public to meet the newest addition to the Park Management Team.

“Great Smoky Mountains National Park has a tradition of working cooperatively with local communities on many park issues,” said Wissinger. “I look forward to meeting our community members and begin building on the important relationships which have developed with our supporters throughout the years.”

A native of North Carolina, Wissinger received both a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Public Administration Degree from Western Carolina University. She spent many years in Asheville, NC where she volunteered extensively for the Buncombe County School system, and served on the Boards of the Appalachian Consortium, the Haw Creek Neighborhood Association and the East Asheville Recreation Association.

The reception is hosted by the Calhoun House which is located at 110 Bryson Ave, Bryson City, NC 28713.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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Recipients Announced for 2013 North Carolina Appalachian Trail License Plate Grants

Recipients Announced for 2013 North Carolina Appalachian Trail License Plate Grants

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

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The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) have announced this year’s recipients of North Carolina Appalachian Trail (A.T.) License Plate grants for projects which enhance the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in North Carolina. $35,000 was granted this spring to eleven individuals and partner organizations including Trail clubs, schools, botanists and ecologists, and environmental & conservation groups. Overall, A.T. specialty license plate sales in North Carolina bring the ATC about $120,000 each year.

This year’s recipients include the Carolina Mountain Club, East Tennessee State University, Friends of the Smokies, Nantahala Hiking Club, North Carolina State University, Regulus Designs, Southern Appalachian Cooperative Weed Management Partnership, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, Southern Appalachian Raptor Research, Summit Charter School, Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club, and The Wilderness Society’s Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards.

Some of the projects that this grant will help support include monitoring & and disease analysis of Gray’s Lily along the A.T. corridor in the Roans Mountains, repair food storage cables at Mollies and Cosby Shelters in the Great Smokies Mountains National Park, help support invasive plant workshops & other related activities along the A.T., complete a 5-year bird monitoring project in the A.T. bald habitats, and continue support of Summit Charter School’s 8th grade A.T. water monitoring trip.

This grant program is funded by drivers who purchase and renew their North Carolina A.T. specialty license plates. Twenty dollars from each license plate is given to the ATC to support its work in the state. This money is used to fund the grant program, for A.T. greenway acquisition, and to help support the work of the Southern Regional Office of the ATC in Asheville, North Carolina.

Specialty license plates for the A.T. are a way to support the ATC in its work to sustain the Trail into the future. A.T. specialty license plates are currently offered in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia.

For more information about the ATC license tag program visit www.appalachiantrail.org/plates.




Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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High Fire Danger Warning Issued for National Forests in North Carolina

High Fire Danger Warning Issued for National Forests in North Carolina

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

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The U.S. Forest Service announced yesterday that there is a high threat of wildfire this week in the Nantahala, Pisgah, Uwharrie, and Croatan National Forests and encouraged visitors to help prevent wildfires. Dry conditions are increasing the chances of wildfire across North Carolina.

All campfires should be completely extinguished before leaving a campsite and never leave a campfire unattended. The following are additional tips for campers:

* Clear a 10-foot safety circle of all leaves, pine needles and flammable material.
* Allow the wood to burn completely to ash, if possible.
* Pour lots of water on the fire, drown ALL embers, not just the red ones.
* Pour until hissing sound stops.
* Stir the campfire ashes and embers with a shovel.

The U.S. Forest Service is also asking residents to postpone burning debris this week. Debris burning is a major cause of wildfires in the South.

Lastly, there are general fire prevention tips that visitors can follow including:

* Don't play with matches.
* Keep your cigarette butts in the car.
* Park vehicles so that the exhaust system does not come in contact with dry grass, weeds or leaves.





Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Recipients Announced for 2012 North Carolina Appalachian Trail License Plate Grants

Recipients Announced for 2012 North Carolina Appalachian Trail License Plate Grants

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

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The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) announced yesterday the recipients of this year’s North Carolina Appalachian Trail (A.T.) License Plate grants for projects which enhance the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in North Carolina. $35,000 was granted this spring to twelve individuals and partner organizations including Trail clubs, schools, botanists and ecologists, environmental & conservation groups, and civic organizations. Overall, A.T. specialty license plate sales in North Carolina bring the ATC about $120,000 each year.

This year’s recipients are the Baatany Goat Project, East Tennessee State University (in regards to two botanical research projects), Friends of the Smokies, Hot Springs Tourism, Nantahala Hiking Club, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, Southern Appalachian Raptor Research, SouthEast Ecological Design, Summit Charter School, Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club, and The Wilderness Society’s Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards.

This grant program is funded by drivers who purchase and renew their North Carolina A.T. specialty license plates. Twenty dollars from each license plate is returned to the ATC to support its work in the state. This money is used to fund the grant program, for A.T. greenway acquisition, and to help support the work of the Southern Regional Office of the ATC in Asheville, North Carolina.

Specialty license plates for the A.T. are a way to support the ATC in its work to sustain the Trail into the future. A.T. specialty license plates are currently offered in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia.

For more information about the ATC license tag program visit www.appalachiantrail.org/plates.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Mountains-to-Sea Trail license plate approved

Mountains-to-Sea Trail license plate approved

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

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Late last month almost 1200 people voted in two surveys conducted by Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail to decide the best design for the new Mountains-to-Sea Trail license plate. The voting process resulted in the design as seen above.

The next goal is to sell 300 plates. The North Carolina General Assembly has given FMST only a short time to sell the first 300 plates before the authorization for the plate expires. To help encourage the purchase of the new plates, FMST will enter everyone who sends them a completed plate application and check, by December 31st, into a drawing for one of three $100 gift cards (from Great Outdoor Provision Co, Mast General Store or REI).

For more information on the plates and an application form, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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NC National Forests Take Strategic Approach to Managing Trails

NC National Forests Take Strategic Approach to Managing Trails

Friday, December 9, 2011

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The USDA Forest Service in North Carolina announced yesterday that it will host multiple workshops next year to address management of non-motorized recreation trails across the Nantahala, Pisgah, Uwharrie, and Croatan National Forests.

Reading between the lines in the press release, as well as on the linked pages, it sounds to me like the Forest Service might be interested in closing some trails. And/or possibly closing access to some activities such as mountain biking or horseback riding. If you have an interest in any outdoor activity on National Forest lands in North Carolina, it might be a good idea to attend one of these meetings to make your voice heard.

“Referred to as the Non-motorized Trails Strategy, this effort gives partners the opportunity to identify sustainable forest trail systems,” said Forest Supervisor Marisue Hilliard. “I believe this initiative will produce high-quality trail systems that will better serve our visitors and the land.”

Public workshops for Pisgah and Nantahala National Forest trails start in early January 2012. The Uwharrie and Croatan National Forests meetings start in summer 2012. A complete list of meeting dates and times is posted here.

Representatives from a wide range of trail-user groups, individuals who represent local communities and ecotourism, or individuals not represented by larger user groups are invited to collaborate in the process, which is expected to take up to a year to complete. The result will be recommendations for a comprehensive trail management plan for each national forest in North Carolina, along with a stronger community of volunteers to assist with these efforts.

The Forest Service initiated this process because use of forest trails in North Carolina is increasing every year. Resources used to maintain trails have been static or decreasing. The emphasis will be on high-quality experiences on sustainable trail systems.

Through this process, the Forest Service and users will work together to look at the trail systems and recommend how to make the best use of current and future resources. The agency will use information generated from this process for the Nantahala/Pisgah National Forests Management Plan revision slated to start in 2013.

The National Forests in North Carolina includes 1.25 million acres of public lands, more than 1600 miles of non-motorized trails and nearly five million visitors per year, making it one of the most visited forests in the nation. For more information on the Trail Strategy, click here.






Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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This weekend: WNC OutdoorAthlon

This weekend: WNC OutdoorAthlon

Thursday, October 6, 2011

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Nestled in the heart of the Appalachians in Western North Carolina, Franklin, NC is a small town located at a key crossroads that consistently funnel in the region’s most valuable resource – tourism. For the first time ever, on October 8th and 9th, 2011, this quaint mountain town will host a unique event unlike any the region has ever seen. The focus: highlight the outdoor resources and community resources that will ultimately yield a more intimate connection between the landscape, businesses and visitors that serve each other so well. There’s no disputing that tourism in the region is anchored on our landscape and climate. However, most visitors rarely see more than what’s visible from a road overlook or a cabin window.

The organizers of the WNC OutdoorAthlon have strategically planned a 2-day festival that will be offering something fun for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a mountain thrill or an Appalachian chill, visitors and locals of all ages will have many opportunities to celebrate the natural resources that set Western North Carolina apart from the rest of the world. Offerings include great music, distinguished food and limitless recreation at your own pace. The marquis slogan anchoring the event is “Live, Love, and Learn about the Mountains of North Carolina”.

This family-friendly event will feature free clinics for all things outdoors – from fly fishing sessions with some of the area’s most respected guides, to kayak demos and a rock climbing wall. Intros to biking, hiking, disc golf… even pilates, and area information from recreation experts will be abundant. Guest’s will have lots of opportunities to up the intensity by participating in six competitive events including the area’s first ever adventure triathlon, ultimate frisbee team tournament, disc golf skills competition, cornhole tournament, or the classic 5k run. And lets not forget the kids – the WNC OutdoorAthlon will feature an interactive kids zone and competitive Kid’s Duathlon for little adventures, ages 6-12. If you’re not up for honing your skills or trying something new, attendees are invited to relax in front of the live music stage featuring 5 talented performances, including national recording artist, Zach Deputy. The vendor promenade will host only local vendors and non-profits that pride themselves in promoting regional outdoor resources and ethical outdoor awareness.

For more information, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Night Motion Timelapse: Outer Banks

Night Motion Timelapse: Outer Banks

Friday, July 1, 2011

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Below is a beautiful night motion timelapse video of the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

The short video, by Daniel Dragon Films, includes shooting stars, the Milky Way, shots of the Hatteras Lighthouse (the tallest lighthouse in North America), and flames and smoke from the Stumpy Point wildfire.

If your computer has trouble viewing the video, just turn off the HD:

Night Motion Timelapse: Outer Banks from Daniel Dragon Films on Vimeo.

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Big Brothers Big Sisters raffles cabin in Smokies

Big Brothers Big Sisters raffles cabin in Smokies

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

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For the second year in a row, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina will be giving away a custom-built log cabin as part of its fundraising campaign this year. The grand prize in this years' raffle will be a fully furnished log home, located in Bryson City, North Carolina, near the entrance to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The cabin is valued at more than $280,000!

The 2,000 square foot cabin has a hot tub, pool table, a sleeping loft, two bathrooms and a 1,400 square foot wraparound porch with majestic views overlooking the beautiful Deep Creek Valley.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is an organization that originated out of Cincinnati in 1904 to help children, between the ages of 6-14, by spending time with them in a one to one mentoring relationship.

Raffle tickets are priced at $100 each, with no more than 10,000 tickets being sold. Entrants may purchase as many available tickets as they like. The drawing for the prize will be July 4, 2011.

For more information, please click here.

This could be all yours:




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Summer Cabin Reservations for the Smokies

Summer Cabin Reservations for the Smokies

Monday, May 2, 2011

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For anyone considering a vacation or weekend trip to the Great Smoky Mountains this summer, now is a great time to make your plans and reservations to make sure you find your perfect mountain getaway.

If planning a Smokies visit, please take a moment to check out our cabin and chalet listings for Gatlinburg, Townsend, Pigeon Forge and the North Carolina side of the Smokies.

By supporting our sponsors you help to keep this blog and the HikingintheSmokys.com website up and running.

Thank you!


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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NC Governor proposes closing state parks two days a week

NC Governor proposes closing state parks two days a week

Monday, February 21, 2011

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As budget woes mount across the country, the governor of North Carolina is proposing to close state parks two days a week in order to make ends meet.

In Governor Beverly Perdue's proposal, she recommends reducing funding to the Division of Parks and Recreation by 10%:

"To avoid reductions in permanent staff, this reduction will require the closure of most parks two days per week. The division has the flexibility to manage this adjustment to minimize the impact on programs, services, and activities."

The savings from this proposal would amount to roughly $3 million.

The budget proposal also recommends that the Rendezvous Educational State Forest and the Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest be closed due to low attendance.

The information concerning state parks and forests in this proposal begin on page 238 of this PDF file.

Interestingly, just last week, North Carolina’s state parks and state recreation areas reported near-record visitation in 2010, with 14 million visits.

With federal lawmakers and bureaucrats continuing to spend our money like there's no tomorrow, the question that comes to mind; Will the day of reckoning come to our National Parks at some point?


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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White-nose Syndrome spreads to North Carolina

White-nose Syndrome spreads to North Carolina

Sunday, February 13, 2011

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According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, White-nose Syndrome has now been officially documented in North Carolina.

According to the press release published earlier this week, White-nose syndrome was discovered in a retired mine in Avery County, and in a cave at Grandfather Mountain State Park.

“White-nose syndrome is confirmed in Virginia and Tennessee, so we expected we would be one of the next states to see the disease,” said Gabrielle Graeter, a biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “This discovery marks the arrival of one of the most devastating threats to bat conservation in our time.”

On Feb. 1, a team of Commission biologists were conducting a bat inventory of the closed mine where they saw numerous bats displaying symptomatic white patches of fungus on their skin. Five bats from the mine were sent to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study unit at the University of Georgia for testing, which confirmed the presence of white-nose syndrome.

In late January, a team of state, federal, and private biologists were conducting a bat inventory of a cave at Grandfather Mountain when they discovered a single dead bat. Following state white-nose syndrome surveillance protocols, the bat was sent for testing and it has been confirmed for white-nose syndrome.

North Carolina is home to three federally endangered bats, the Virginia big-eared, Indiana, and gray. Virginia big-eared bats are known from the Grandfather Mountain cave and have been seen in the Avery county mine, though not recently. Thus far, the disease has not been observed in Virginia big-eared bats farther north, however it has greatly impacted Indiana bat populations at infected caves and mines. Both of the North Carolina sites have Eastern small-footed, little brown, Northern long-eared, and tri-colored bats while big brown bats are also found at the mine – all bat species that have been affected to some degree by white-nose syndrome in the Northeast.

“The discovery does not bode well for the future of many species of bats in western North Carolina,” said Sue Cameron with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “Although researchers are working hard to learn more about the disease, right now so little is known. There has been some evidence that humans may inadvertently spread the disease from cave to cave, so one simple step people can take to help bats is to stay out of caves and mines.”

In 2009, fearing the disease could be transferred from cave to cave by humans, the Service released a cave advisory asking people to refrain from entering caves in states where white-nose syndrome has been confirmed and all adjoining states. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission holds a protective easement on the mine and both it and the Grandfather Mountain cave have been gated and closed to the public for years to protect hibernating bats.

Below is a map of white-nose syndrome by county/district as of 02/09/2011. You can click the map for a full-size version:



For more information about the disease you can visit http://www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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New Rules announced for NC National Forests

New Rules announced for NC National Forests

Saturday, September 25, 2010

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On Thursday of this week the USDA Forest Service for National Forests in North Carolina announced new rules that will impact the Nantahala, Pisgah, Croatan and Uwharrie National Forests.

Oddly, it states that the rules went into effect this past April, but are scheduled to be in place until April of 2015.

The first new rule states that it's now illegal to store geocaching equipment, or any equipment not being used in conjunction with a current visit, in any NC National Forest without a permit.

The second new rule states that use or possesion of any type of metal detector is prohibited in NC National Forests.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Big Brothers Big Sisters Cabin Raffle

Big Brothers Big Sisters Cabin Raffle

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina recently announced its 1st Annual Smoky Mountain Cabin fundraiser. The grand prize is a fully furnished log home, located in Bryson City, North Carolina near the entrance to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The cabin is valued at $340,000!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is an organization that originated out of Cincinnati in 1904 to help children, between the ages of 6-14, by spending time with them in a one to one mentoring relationship.

The raffle ticket price is $100 each and no more than 10,000 tickets will be sold. Entrants may purchase as many available tickets as they like. The deadline for the raffle is October 7th, however, there are early bird prizes, with the deadline for the first prize being August 7, 2010.

For more information, please click here.

This could be all yours:





Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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31 New National Recreation Trails Designated

31 New National Recreation Trails Designated

Sunday, May 30, 2010

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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the designation of 31 trails in 15 states as National Recreation Trails, adding more than 716 miles of trails to the National Trails System.

"From coast to coast, the National Trails System helps connect American families with the wonders of the great outdoors," said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. "These new National Recreation Trails, built through partnerships with local communities and stakeholders, will create new opportunities for fitness and stewardship while creating a lasting legacy for our children and grandchildren."

Each year nominations for designation of new National Recreation Trails may be submitted. The NRT Program recognizes trails that provide opportunities for all Americans to enjoy the out-of-doors and improve the quality of life of our communities. The trails which are designated are announced in the first week of June as part of National Trails Day events.

With nine trails added to the National Trails System, the state of Alabama scored the highest number of newly designated National Recreation Trails.

The Highlands Plateau Greenway was the only trail to be designated in the Great Smoky Mountains region. The Highlands Plateau Greenway is located roughly 35 miles south of Cherokee in Highlands, North Carolina, the highest incorporated town east of the Mississippi. The 5-mile network of continuous walking trails connects natural areas and historic sites for educational and recreational opportunities. Straddling the Eastern Continental Divide in a temperate rainforest, the area boasts the highest floral and faunal diversity in North America. Because of this unique environment, landscaping along the trail with plants native to the southern mountains is a major focus.

You can find the complete list of newly designated National Recreation Trails by clicking here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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ATC awards $25,000 in grants towards AT projects

ATC awards $25,000 in grants towards AT projects

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

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The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s specialty license-plate program in North Carolina is distributing $25,000 in 2010 grants to nine organizations for their work on projects to benefit the Appalachian Trail.

Projects to enhance the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) experience this year include treadway improvement; maintenance of the popular Overmountain Shelter, commonly called “the big red barn”; and the inventory and control of exotic-invasive plant species along several miles of the footpath.

The grants are also supporting newer programs of the Conservancy and its partner organizations for work in Trailside communities and schools. The Nantahala Hiking Club and Franklin Main Street program received support for their involvement related to Franklin’s Appalachian Trail Community designation, the town’s April Fools Hiker Bash, and other A.T.-focused community events.

Three grants related to youth and schools were also awarded. The Carolina Mountain Club received assistance for an effort to increase youth engagement in the club. Summit Charter School of Cashiers, N.C., received funds to enhance and interpret a trail on school grounds that serves as an outdoor classroom. Jennifer Pharr Davis’ Blue Ridge Hiking Company will provide assistance to eight schools implementing curricula related to the Conservancy’s Trail to Every Classroom program. That program uses the A.T. as a learning tool for placed-based education and includes a component of service learning for teachers, all intended to increase awareness of the Trail and encourage youth to become stewards of it.

Two groups received funding to study birds along the A.T. The Southern Appalachian Raptor Research will initiate a bird education program and monitor the Northern Saw-whet owl population, habitat, and breeding at Big Bald, near Wolf Laurel, N.C. Mountains-to-Sea Ecological will provide a baseline survey of rare and common breeding birds at a number of high-elevation sites along the Trail in the state. Defining bird populations along the Appalachian Trail as part of ATC’s citizen-scientist-based environmental-monitoring program will help determine what species are at risk, the factors that influence bird species' distribution and population numbers, how severely population numbers are changing, and how the birds will fare in the face of climate change or other stressors. With that information, land managers and policymakers will be better able to protect the birds’ habitat to ensure their continued survival.

Vehicle owners who support the Conservancy’s work through their Appalachian Trail license-plate purchases make the grant program and associated projects possible. Please click here for more information.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

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Franklin, NC to become newest Appalachian Trail Community

Franklin, NC to become newest Appalachian Trail Community

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

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On March 23, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and town leaders from Franklin, N.C., will hold a ceremony celebrating the designation by ATC of Franklin as the newest Appalachian Trail Community, with a luncheon and proclamation signing. Mayor Joe Collins; ATC’s Board Chair, Bob Almand; and community representatives will speak. The ceremony will be held at Town Hall board room, 95 East Main Street, Franklin 12:00–1:00 p.m.

The ceremony is part of a week long celebration in Franklin. In addition to the official welcome, Walking with Spring - a series of A.T. related presentations and films - and a photography contest, will be held that week. A few days later, April Fools Trail Days (April 2 - 3) welcomes thru-hikers of the Appalachian Trail as they start their journey north to Katahdin.

Appalachian Trail Communities is a new program of the nonprofit managers of the Appalachian Trail, highlighting the value of trailside communities and towns as a driver for sustainable economic development and the importance of the towns to the A.T. as agents in protecting its complex recreational, volunteer, educational and environmental resources.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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Guns in National Parks becomes Law on Feb. 22

Guns in National Parks becomes Law on Feb. 22

Friday, February 12, 2010

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In less than two weeks a new federal law concerning firearms in national parks will go into effect. The new law, signed by President Obama last year which will go into effect on February 22, will allow park visitors to possess firearms in national parks consistent with the laws of the state in which the area is located.

As a result of straddling two states, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will pose a unique problem for visitors wishing to possess firearms within the park. According to a press release from the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees:

In North Carolina, there are few gun restrictions and visitors could be seen openly carrying guns. However, if you happen to be a gun-carrying visitor, you will need a “carry permit” when you cross into the part of the park located in Tennessee.

For more information, the park website has recently posted basic information regarding the laws and policies concerning firearms possesion within the Smokies. There are several links on this page that provide more in depth information as well.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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