Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge

Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be gathering in Pigeon Forge next month for the 20th annual Wilderness Wildlife Week.

The eight-day event from Jan. 9 through 16 includes hikes, expert presentations, demonstrations, photo contest, and hands-on classes - all free to participants.

Visitors will enjoy more than 100 experts sharing their knowledge of the outdoors in more than 175 seminars, lectures and hands-on workshops. You'll also have the chance to get up close to nature with your choice of more than 50 guided walks and hikes.

The city is hosting the event at the Music Road Hotel and Convention Center and transportation is provided to the park for the hikes and other outdoor events.

For more information on the event, please click here. You can also click here to see the full hiking schedule. For more details on many of the trails on this list, please click here.


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.

Finally! (Little River Trail)

Finally, the bear warnings for the Little River Trail have been removed. The bear activity warning had been posted on the Little River Trail for several months this year, and was the last of six trails that had bear warnings during the year.

Also, several backcountry campsites and shelters have been re-opened or have had posted warnings removed in recent weeks.

Back in October there were 5 backcountry campsites and shelters that were closed, in addition to at least 18 that had posted warnings. There were also six trails at that time that had warnings as well.

There are now only 9 backcountry campsites and shelters with posted warnings and 1 closing at this time.

Below is the current list of warnings and closings:

Bear Warnings:

• Backcountry Campsites 13, 84, and 88
• Cosby Knob Shelter
• Double Spring Gap Shelter
• Mollies Ridge Shelter
• Mt Collins Shelter
• Mt Le Conte Shelter
• Tricorner Knob Shelter

Backcountry Campsite 75 is still closed.


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.

How To Bake Cake...In An Orange

Yesterday I posted Backpacker Magazine's list of cocktails for the trail. Now they show you how to make a fresh cake - with an orange.

Here's the "Trail Chef" video to explain how this is done:




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.

Cocktails for the trail

If you're going to be backpacking over New Years, Backpacker Magazine has a list of cocktail recipes to help ring in the new year. Who says you can't join in with the rest of the world as 2009 fades into history.

Many of the drinks require fresh snow, and in one case, hailstones?!?!

1. Mountain Margarita
2. Watermelon Snowfield
3. Bikini Sunburn
4. Mountain Storm
5. Snake in the Grass
6. Blackberry Margarita
7. Backcountry Mai Tai
8. Goodnight Kiss
9. Wilderness White Russian
10. Under the Sleeping Bag

Please click here to see the recipes.


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.

Bears fatten-up for the winter

Short video from the Great Smoky Mountains Association showing a mother bear and her two youngsters as they tear apart a fallen tree looking for food:





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.

Swannanoa Rim Explorer Hikes

The Swannanoa Valley Museum in Black Mountain, North Carolina is offering a monthly hiking series during 2010 called the Swannanoa Rim Explorer Hikes.

The Swannanoa Rim Explorer hiking series offers twelve hikes that will take place on the third Saturday of each month in 2010. Each hike will cover a portion of the approximately 31 miles of the Swannanoa Rim, which runs from Jesse’s High Top, across Lakey Gap, over Ridgecrest and Montreat, up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and down to Cedar Cliff above Camp Rockmont. These hikes will be led by experienced hikers who are also extremely knowledgeable about the history, topography, and ownership of the land.

Hikers will be issued a “Passport to the Swannanoa Rim” on their first hike, which will be validated upon completion of each segment. Special awards will go to those completing the full course during the first year.

The series is recommended for experienced hikers, as the hikes in this series will be strenuous and at times will require bushwhacking. Participation in each hike will be limited to 30 hikers plus the Museum team. The cost for each hike is $20 for Museum members, and $40 for non-members. Those wishing to secure reservations on all 12 hikes may do so by paying in advance, and they will receive a 10% discount.

An orientation meeting for hikers interested in participating in the series will be held on Thursday, January 7 at 7 pm in the Conference Room at the Black Mountain Savings Bank, 200 E. State St., Black Mountain. The first hike will be Jan. 16. Reservations will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Please call the Museum, 828-669-9566, or send an email to info@swannanoavalleymuseum.org for more information or to reserve a place on the hikes.

Here's the schedule for 2010:

Jan. 7: Preview meeting as the kickoff for the Swannanoa Rim Hikes, 7 pm, Black Mountain Savings Bank.

Jan. 16: First leg of the Swannanoa Rim hikes: Jesse's High Top to NC Hwy 9.

Feb. 20: Second Swannanoa Rim hike: Sunset Mountain to NC Hwy 9.

Mar. 20: Third Swanannoa Rim hike: Sunset Mountain to I-40.

Apr. 17: Fourth Swannanoa Rim hike: I-40 through Ridgecrest to Sourwood Gap.

May 15: Fifth Swannanoa Rim hike: Sourwood Gap to Greybeard. Led by Joe S.

June 19: Sixth Swannanoa Rim hike: Black Mountain Gap to Balsam Gap. Led by Wendell.

July 17: Seventh Swannanoa Rim hike: Black Mountain Gap to Greybeard. Led by Joe S.

Aug. 21: Eight Swannanoa Rim hike: Glassmine Falls Overlook to Craggy Pinnacle.

Sept. 18: Ninth Swannanoa Rim hike: Balsam Gap to Glassmine Falls Overlook.

Oct. 16: Tenth Swannanoa Rim hike: Craggy Gardens to Craggy Knob & return.

Nov. 20: Eleventh Swannanoa Rim hike: White Oak Flats to Brushy Ridge & return.

Dec. 18: Final Swannanoa Rim hike: White Oak Flats to Cedar Cliff to Camp Rockmont.

For more information on the museum and the series, please click 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.

Merry Christmas

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and a New Year full of great hiking adventures!

Jeff

Snowdrifts as high as 6-8 feet deep on Blue Ridge Parkway

Crews on the Blue Ridge Parkway continue to work to remove snowdrifts and downed trees. The National Park Service is reporting that there are snowdrifts as high as six to eight feet deep on the Parkway!

This is the report from the National Park Service today:

The Blizzard of 2009 dumped from 10 to 30 inches of snow along the entire length of the 469-mile-long parkway. High winds, particularly in the northern districts, have created snow drifts as much as six to eight feet deep, which require the use of front-end loaders and back-hoes in conjunction with snow plow equipment to clear administrative access to park duty stations.

Numerous fallen trees are further complicating snow-removal operations. Unrestricted access to some sections of the parkway that cannot be controlled by a gated closure has further compounded the severity of this storm event because law enforcement rangers have limited ability to identify and respond to stranded motorist emergencies.

Protection rangers are working with Virginia and North Carolina State Highway Patrol officers to receive information from flyovers. The HQ and visitor center in Asheville, North Carolina, are open and the Peaks of Otter Lodge in Virginia is open via State Route 43.


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.

Lost hikers in Big South Fork hampered search efforts

The following is from the National Park Service Incident Report from this morning:

A Scott County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher received a cell phone call from a lost hiker on Friday, December 18th. The number was given to rangers and contact was made with John Huling.

Huling reported that he’d been hiking in the Twin Arches area with two other people late Thursday night when they decided to go off trail and camp. When they attempted to return to the trail, they became disoriented. A description of where they had gone off trail put them in the Charit Creek drainage. Rangers attempted to determine a more precise location, but could not due to Huling’s lack of knowledge of the area.

A search was begun immediately, as it was raining and the forecast called for it to soon turn to snow. Personnel searched for approximately six hours without luck. The rain did not turn to snow, and plans were made to continue the search at first light the next day. Additional personnel were called in and the search resumed early on Saturday morning. Further phone contact helped them to finally locate the trio in mid-afternoon.

Search efforts were hampered by the men continuing to move after being told to stay in one position so that searchers could find them. There were no injuries to either hikers or searchers.

The key point of this story is in bold. File this one under: "What were they thinking?" One of the first "rules" for getting lost is to stop, stay put and wait for rescue. This is especially true after making contact with rescuers!


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.

Would you do this?

Buggy Rollin: the next Olympic Sport? Certainly an X-gamers event:







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.

More snow in the mountains

Mt. LeConte now has 32 inches of snow on the ground as reported by the winter caretaker at the Lodge. This is an additional 12 inches from yesterday afternoon.

As of 1:07 p.m. today, the National Weather Service is reporting 24 inches of snow on the ground at Newfound Gap, and 5 inches at the Sugarland Visitor Center.

More snow is on the way. The National Weather Service has a winter storm warning posted for the North Carolina side of the Smokies until 4 p.m. today. Snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are possible in Cherokee - more likely in the mountains.

It's likely that many, if not all the roads in the Smokies are still closed. The Smokies road conditions hotline has been busy (865-436-1200), and the park website hasn't been updated since Thursday. It would be extremely helpful if the park could keep the site updated during weather conditions like this.


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.

ATC Wins $25,000 in Chase Community Giveaway

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) announced on Friday that they were among 100 organizations to win a $25,000 grant from the Chase Community Giving campaign.

You may recall from a posting a few weeks ago that the JP Morgan Chase Foundation was sponsoring a Facebook-based charity campaign in which voters directed where Chase grants would be awarded.

The 100 organizations winning a $25,000 grant in the first round of voting are now automatically eligible for a chance to win a final $1-million grant in the next round of voting.

In this next round, the ATC and the other winning organizations will submit documents stating what difference $1 million would make in their work, with Facebook users voting on those proposals starting on January 15. One organization will win that amount in February, and five others will receive $100,000 each. A Chase advisory board will select other charities to share in another $1-million pool.

As soon as information is provided on how and where to vote in this second round, I'll post it on this blog.


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.

Mt. LeConte receives 20 inches of snow

Mt. LeConte received 20 inches of snow from yesterday's storm, including 3 foot drifts in places.

This information comes courtesy of an online report from Doug McFalls, the winter caretaker at the Mt. LeConte Lodge. He's using a broadband connection, powered by solar panels, to give the world photos and updates from his new blog, called "Life On LeConte".

This morning, Doug spent time digging out the out house - taking care of the important stuff atop LeConte!

You can check out his blog by clicking here.

Also, as of 10:33 this morning, the National Weather Service has no report on the amount of snow on Newfound Gap. Yesterday morning the Gap already had 4 inches of snow, while Mt. LeConte was reporting only a dusting. So, it's possible that the Gap has even more than 20 inches on the ground.

** Almost every road in the Smokies remains closed - please call the park hotline at (865) 436-1200 for the latest updates **


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.