Tennessee State Parks: Free day on Veterans Day

In addition to the free admission being offered this Veterans Day to all public recreation lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service, all State Parks in Tennessee will be offering a free state park day for all Tennessee Veterans this Thursday

Earlier this week, Tennessee State Parks announced a new addition to its veterans’ discount policy, including a free state park day for all Tennessee Veterans on Thursday, Nov. 11.

Passed by the General Assembly earlier this year, the new policy calls for a yearly, special state parks day to honor Tennessee’s resident veterans. Tennessee State Parks chose each Nov. 11 as that designated day, offering one free night of camping and complimentary greens fees for 18 holes of golf with appropriate identification. The new free day will go into effect this Veterans Day and will occur on Nov. 11 each year.

The new free day on Nov. 11 is in addition to Tennessee State Parks’ current veterans’ policy, which includes a camping discount within the state parks system and is available annually beginning November 1 through March 31, offering a 15 to 25 percent reduction off the standard nightly base rates (depending on the type of site chosen). This camping discount is available to Tennessee residents showing proof of prior military duty.

A special state park discount also is in place for active duty military personnel and members of the Tennessee National Guard. This year-round discount is given to all U.S. military – regardless of their branch of service or where they are stationed. Disabled Veterans also are eligible for the Tennessee State Parks year-round ADA discount that provides a 25 to 50 percent discount for campsites. For more information about Tennessee State Parks’ Veterans and military discounts, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Video: Mountain Life Festival

Earlier this fall the Great Smoky Mountains held its annual Mountain Life Festival at the Mountain Farm Museum (next to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center).

Each fall, for almost 40 years, the Mountain Life Festival has provided visitors with living history demonstrations on how the homesteaders of the region settled the land that would become a national park. Visitors get a glimpse into the traditions of the past as reenactors and volunteers make sorghum molasses, apple cider, apple butter and cornbread. There are also live demonstrations on hearth cooking, blacksmithing, lye soap making, food preservation, broom making, quilting and chair bottoming.

The Great Smoky Mountains Association has recently published a video of the 2010 festival which highlights some of the sights and sounds from the day:


© GSMA 2010. All rights reserved.

The Mountain Farm Museum is a collection of farm buildings assembled from locations throughout the park. Visitors can explore a log farmhouse, barn, apple house, springhouse, and a working blacksmith shop to get a sense of how families may have lived 100 years ago. Most of the structures were built in the late 19th century and were moved here in the 1950s. The Davis House offers a rare chance to view a log house that was built from chestnut wood before blight decimated the American Chestnut in the 1930s and early 1940s. The site also demonstrates historic gardening and agricultural practices, including livestock.

The Mountain Farm Museum is located next to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center on Newfound Gap Road (US 441), roughly two miles north of Cherokee, N.C.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Smokies photographer featured at The Art Market Gallery

Award winning Sevier County photographer, Eric Gebhart, will be one of the featured artists at The Art Market Gallery from November 5th - November 28th, 2010.

Mr. Gebhart is a nature and landscape photographer who draws much of his inspiration from the Smoky Mountains. He endeavors to initiate the viewer to make a connection with the natural world around them.

Mr. Gebhart is best known for his breathtaking large format panoramic prints of The Smokies. Included in this exhibit will be his Fall 2010 limited edition release "Autumn Rush". A 30 x 80 inch print showcasing the vibrant fall colors of Southern Appalachia and rushing waters of a pristine mountain stream

The Art Market Gallery is located at 422 South Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902 (1/2 block south of the Mast General Store).

You can view some of Mr. Gebhart's work by clicking here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Smokies Snow update

The upper elevations of the Smokies received their first big snow of the season over the last day-and-a-half.

Allyson Virden, resident manager at the LeConte Lodge, is reporting that Mt. LeConte has 8.5 inches of snow on the ground. At 8:30 this morning she reported a crisp 16 degree temp as well!

Clingmans Dome Road and Newfound Gap Road between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC is still closed due to the ice and snow.

If you're planning to travel on US-441 through the park this weekend, it's a good idea to call 865-436-1200 for road and weather updates before making an attempt. You can also call 511 in either North Carolina or Tennessee to access the Department of Transportation Information Line for updates on US-441.

A little more snow is expected in the mountains of Western North Carolina and the Smokies throughout the morning. To keep up up-to-date with weather forecasts you can also click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

McKittrick Canyon in the Fall

Several weeks ago I posted a couple of reports about our hikes up Guadalupe Peak and to the Devils Hall during our visit to Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas this past September.

A blogger from Midland, Texas happened to see both those postings and commented that he enjoyed seeing what "outsiders" had to say about the national park just down the highway from him. He mentioned that he was planning a three-day backpacking trip in the Guadalupe Mountains in late October to enjoy the fall colors of McKittrick Canyon. I invited him to send a link to his report so that I could see and read about that section of the park that I missed on my visit.

McKittrick Canyon in the fall is considered by many to be the most beautiful spot in Texas. The canyon is renowned for the breathtaking fall color displays. Unlike most of the rest of the park, which is predominantly arid desert, the upper reaches of McKittrick Canyon is considered to be a riparian woodland oasis, containing pine, oak and maple trees.

Earlier this week, Steven from MyLifeOutdoors sent me the report he promised from several weeks ago.

Starting from the Pine Springs Visitor Center, Steven's three day trek took him up the Tejas Trail, over "The Notch," and then down into McKittrick Canyon, logging 16.5 miles along the way.

Steven has an excellent write-up. He also as several photographs that provide for an excellent visual documentation of his adventures. To read his article, please click here. You can also click here to see a map of the route he took.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Snow and Ice closes Newfound Gap Road

In addition to yesterday's announcement about Clingmans Dome Road being closed, the Smokies website is reporting this morning that US Hwy 441 (Newfound Gap Road) between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC is also closed due to ice and snow.

The website also has this posted warning:

A winter storm advisory is in effect for the mountains (above 3,000 feet elevation) through 5 AM EDT Saturday. If you are planning to travel on US-441 through the park this weekend, please call (865) 436-1200 for road and weather updates. You can also call 511 in either North Carolina or Tennessee to access the Department of Transportation Information Line for updates on US-441.

The National Weather Service said more snow (2-4 inches) above 3000 feet is possible.

As of early this morning, Allyson Virden, one of the resident managers at the LeConte Lodge, is reporting that Mt. LeConte has already received 1.5 inches of new snow.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Friday's Video

Below is a video and photo collage of Shenandoah National Park from Photo Trekker.

The video includes beautiful scenes from places like Dark Hollow Falls, Hawksbill Summit, White Oak Canyon and Luray Caverns:




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Tis' the Season

The Great Smoky Mountains website is reporting that the Clingmans Dome Road is closed due to ice and snow.

They also give this weather warning:

A winter storm is forecast for the mountains (above 3,000 feet elevation) Thursday through Friday night. If you are planning to travel on US-441 through the park this weekend, please call (865) 436-1200 for road and weather updates. You can also call 511 in either North Carolina or Tennessee to access the Department of Transportation Information Line for updates on US-441.

The National Weather Service has posted this forecast:

RAIN SHOWERS WILL CHANGE TO SNOW SHOWERS THIS EVENING ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SMOKIES AND SURROUNDING AREAS. COVERAGE OF SNOW SHOWERS WILL INCREASE TOWARD DAYBREAK...AND BY LATE FRIDAY MORNING...SOME HEAVIER BURSTS OF SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE. SNOW SHOWERS WILL BEGIN TO DECREASE IN COVERAGE FRIDAY EVENING... BEFORE TAPERING OFF TO FLURRIES SATURDAY MORNING. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO 7 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE...MAINLY IN AREAS ABOVE 3500 FEET.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Kayak/Canoe site launches Interactive Map

Paddling.net recently launched a pretty cool new feature for paddlers looking for a place to launch their canoe or kayak.

Just click and drag the map and zoom into an area you wish to explore. Look for any red dot and then just click on it for basic information about that launch site.

The website also provides a function for visitors to add any new launch sites not listed on the map.

Please click here to check it out.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Roots in the Cave - 2010

The annual Roots in the Cave at Mammoth Cave National Park will focus on local cave explorer Edmund Turner (1867-1917) this year. Turner is credited with the discovery of Great Onyx Cave, but died penniless and was buried in a pauper's grave at the Mammoth Cave Baptist Cemetery on Flint Ridge.

This years' event will be held on November 12-13, and is sponsored by the Mammoth Cave Hotel and Mammoth Cave National Park.

"Roots in the Cave is an annual fall event that explores the family histories and lore of those people who once lived on what is now parkland," said Superintendent Patrick Reed. "Mammoth Cave became a national park in 1941, but before that time this land held 600 farms and 30 communities. Roots in the Cave pulls descendents together to share stories and research."

"One of the items on the agenda this year is to place a headstone on Edmund Turner's long neglected grave," said Greg Davis, manager of the Mammoth Cave Hotel. "Other events and discussions will bring to light pieces of Turner's life story, such as he explored Salts Cave accompanied by young Floyd Collins. Turner was an expert caver who has received little recognition."

Activities for registered participants include: a panel discussion on Edmund Turner by Roger Brucker and Norman Warnell; a guided walk to Stephen Bishop's homeplace; unveiling of the Turner headstone; and a tour of Great Onyx Cave (limited to 40 people). A genealogy display in the Rotunda Room on November 12-13 will be open to the public.

To register for Roots in the Cave activities contact the Mammoth Cave Hotel at 270-758-2225. Registration is $20 per person; all proceeds will be applied to the cost of Turner's headstone.

For information on hiking in the park (above ground), please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Bridge Repairs in Greenbrier are Rescheduled

Due to the rain and snow forecasted for the Smokies area over the next several days, the bridge repair project on the Ramsey Prong Road in Greenbrier has been rescheduled for next week.

The Great Smoky Mountains announced this morning that the Ramsey Prong Road will now be closed from Monday, November 8 through Friday November 12. The project was originally scheduled for this week.

For safety reasons the Ramsey Prong Road beyond its junction with the Porters Creek Road will be closed to all use including, cars, bicycles and pedestrians. Park officials have advised that all vehicles will have to be out of the Ramsey Cascades Trailhead by Sunday night, November 7th.

Bridge inspections performed by the Federal Highway Administration showed deficiencies which will be corrected during the closure period. One bridge will be stripped to the support beams, and be totally re-decked and get new bridge rails, while the other will receive less extensive repairs to both end of the wooden bridge deck. Barring any extreme weather conditions, rock slides or other complications we should reopen the road by the end of the day on Friday.

This closure impacts access to the Ramsey Cascades Trail, as well as the Old Settlers Trail.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

More information on rescue of missing woman on BRP

This morning's NPS Digest provided more details on the rescue of Crystal Lynn Ham, the woman from South Carolina that went missing for three days on the Blue Ridge Parkway. There's still no information on how she became lost or why she wasn't able to walk out on her own.

Crystal Lynn Ham, 25, of Elgin, South Carolina, was located by search crews Monday evening after an extensive three day search. She is currently recovering in a hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Ham was hypothermic, but conscious and able to confirm her identity when searchers located her about a mile from where her vehicle had been parked on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Crystal had been last seen by her father at his office on the morning of Tuesday, October 26th. Her vehicle was seen parked at Bullhead Mountain Overlook near Milepost 234 on the Blue Ridge Parkway on Wednesday morning. As this overlook provides parking for an area where visitors frequently hike and camp overnight, the vehicle’s registration was not immediately checked. Upon running the registration of the vehicle on Saturday morning, rangers discovered that the owner, Ham, was listed as missing by her family.

Over the next three days, searchers and organizers from multiple cooperating agencies searched an area with a radius of about a mile and a quarter from the point where here vehicle was found. The area was divided into segments, and those segments were prioritized and searched. Seven teams searched assigned areas on November 1st, some going out on multiple missions during the day as they searched the difficult terrain. That afternoon, one of the teams volunteered to search one last segment of the area before dark – and found Ham just after 6 p.m., alive but suffering from hypothermia, dehydration and exposure. The searchers began warming her, and her condition started to improve.

Ham was found on Stone Mountain State Park land, approximately one mile downhill from where she had parked on the parkway and in an area of steep terrain and tall trees, with the light quickly fading. A paramedic was able to hike in to her location, arriving just before 10 p.m. It was determined that she was stable enough to stay the night.

Due to the difficulty and risk associated with a helicopter rescue in steep terrain, a plan was developed to bring Ham out of the area by helicopter at first light. Thirteen searchers and rescuers spent the night with Ham, keeping her warm and monitoring her condition. A helicopter from the North Carolina National Guard hoisted her out of the ravine she was in around 8:30 a.m. along with one of the paramedics who had been treating her. She was then flown to a nearby landing zone near the Bluffs Lodge on Blue Ridge Parkway, where she was assessed by an ambulance crew before being transferred to a medical helicopter to be flown to Winston-Salem.
Participants in the search included personnel from North Carolina State Parks, North Carolina Highway Patrol, Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Laurel Springs, Cherry Lane, Glade Creek, Alleghany County Search and Rescue, Alleghany County Sheriff’s Department, Kershaw County, North Carolina Search and Rescue Dog Association, and North Carolina Project Saver Specialized Team.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

The Blue Ridge Parkway: A Long and Winding Road

A new documentary about the Blue Ridge Parkway will be airing at 10 p.m. tomorrow night (Nov. 4) on UNC-TV.

This is not your ordinary travelogue.

In "The Blue Ridge Parkway: A Long and Winding Road," documentary filmmaker Bruce Bowers break news by revealing a 75-year-old family account - a stunning secret deal that may have determined the route of the Parkway and altered the course of American society.

The hour-long documentary also takes a fascinating look at the diverse people along the mountain corridor and addresses how the scenic road affected their lives and cultures. The Parkway changed lives in unexpected ways. It may be surprising to some that the 469-mile long scenic highway was not universally welcomed in the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, and many people fought against it.

If you miss it, the film can also be purchased on DVD.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

National Parks & Forest Service waive fees on Veterans Day

To honor America’s service men and women, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has announced that areas managed by the department will not charge entrance fees on Veterans Day, next Thursday, November 11th.

This includes public recreation lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation.

“The Department of the Interior is honored to offer this fee free day to thank our nation’s service men and women,” said Salazar said “The sacrifices and achievements of the brave men and women of our armed forces can never be understated. We invite all of our visitors to enjoy this fee free day and take time out on this national holiday to remember our service men and women who are currently serving overseas in harm's way.”

What better way to honor America’s Veterans on Veteran’s Day than to visit a National Park that commemorates where they fought and served their country. The National Park Service has a relatively new website that lists the battlefields, military parks, and historic sites that commemorate and honor the service of American veterans. This is a great place for discovering and researching a new park you may not have ever visited.

Not yet included on this website is the newest national park in the system, the River Raisin National Battlefield Park in Monroe, Michigan.


U.S. Forest Service waives fees:

The U.S. Forest Service has also recently announced that they will be offering national fee waivers on recreation sites.

"The Forest Service is working to ensure as many visitors as possible have the opportunity to experience the great outdoors and take advantage of the many recreational activities national forests have to offer," said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. "By waiving fees, everyone will have the opportunity to enjoy the wonder and rejuvenation of recreation on national forests and grasslands."

These fee waivers are offered in cooperation with other federal agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Day use fees will be waived at all standard amenity fee sites operated by the Forest Service and concessionaire operated day-use sites may be included in the waiver if the permit holder wishes to participate.

Traditionally, fees are not charged on 98 percent of national forests and grasslands and over two-thirds of developed recreation sites on National Forest System lands can be used for free. Many recreation opportunities such as camping, sightseeing and hiking can be enjoyed throughout the year at no cost.

The Forest Service operates approximately 17,000 recreation sites nationwide. Of those, approximately 6,000 require a fee, generally used to help offset the costs of visitor services, repairs and replacements, and facilities maintenance.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Surveillance video captures Red River Gorge fire suspects

U.S. Forest Service investigators are offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of those causing a wildfire in the Red River Gorge. The men in the photographs below are believed to be two of three individuals responsible for the fire that has closed nearly 3,000 acres on Auxier Ridge. The Forest Service is seeking help in identifying these men.

The wildfire was discovered in the early morning hours of Oct. 24. The fire was set during a declared fire ban. Forest Service law enforcement officers observed three individuals fleeing from the scene. They escaped in a car parked below the ridge at Nada Tunnel on Highway 77.

To date, the fire has burned twelve hundred acres, has closed 25 miles of trails, and has resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars being spent to fight the blaze.

Back at the site where the men were camped, officers found a receipt of purchased items that matched those at the scene. The receipt is from a Walmart in Dry Ridge, Ky. Security cameras captured photographs of the individuals purchasing the receipt items.

Camping gear, clothing and other personal items were abandoned at the campsite where the wildfire started. Fingerprints are being taken from the recovered items.

“The suspects are encouraged to come forth,” said Patrol Captain Kimberly Kipp. “Their cooperation with law enforcement will be considered during prosecution if they come forward now.”

The Auxier Ridge area of the gorge, including roads and trails, remain closed. A portion of Highway 77 from Nada Tunnel to the Martins Fork parking area remains closed due to falling tree hazards.

Anyone who can identify the men in the photographs or has other information is asked to contact Kipp at 606-875-5042.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Fatal goat goring investigation continues at Olympic NP

The preliminary investigation of the October 16th fatal mountain goat goring near Klahhane Ridge has concluded and the findings were consistent with initial accounts of the incident.

Witnesses and others in the area at the time describe an aggressive male mountain goat that approached, followed and fatally gored Robert Boardman while he was hiking. Following the fatal encounter, the goat stood over Boardman until several visitors, including an off-duty National Park Service employee, succeeded in scaring off the goat. First aid and CPR were administered at the scene and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter transported Boardman to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles, where he was pronounced dead.

Following the incident, the goat was positively identified by park rangers and destroyed. A necropsy and comprehensive tissue analysis were conducted on the goat and preliminary results have been released. A wide range of tests, including the initial visual examination during necropsy, followed by microscopic study of the major organs and a battery of diagnostic tests, have not revealed any signs of disease or other physical abnormalities.

The goat is estimated to have weighed over 350 pounds. Tests for rabies virus, encephalitis virus, plague and tularemia revealed no evidence of those diseases. Salt concentrations in the animal’s urine were within normal limits. Tissue analysis showed that the goat was in breeding condition or “rut.” Additional diagnostic tests for several diseases are still ongoing, including listeria and chronic wasting disease, as are several chemical assessments for key nutrients.

Rangers and wildlife biologists conducted daily goat behavior monitoring patrols during the week of October 18th, but these have not continued since snowfall began on October 24th – nearly two feet of snow is now on the ground at Hurricane Ridge. Up to eight goats were seen in a day but there were no observations of aggressive mountain goat behavior. Some goats appeared to be habituated to human presence, but quickly moved away when people yelled or waved their arms. Patrols will resume this fall if weather and snow conditions permit.

Once winter weather begins, mountain goats typically move to their winter range, which varies from herd to herd. Winter range for goats in the Hurricane/Klahhane area is primarily along a rocky, windswept ridge north and east of Klahhane Ridge. Park biologists, in collaboration with biologists from neighboring land and wildlife management agencies, have solicited and have been receiving information about mountain goat–human interactions from across the animals’ range. Park staff will incorporate all new information learned through this incident into the park’s nuisance and hazardous animal plan.

You can read about my encounter with a mountain goat in Colorado a couple of weeks ago by clicking here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Forest service using new methods to save hemlocks

Back in mid-October the U.S. Forest Service began using a series of new approaches to save hemlock forests under attack from woolly adelgids.

The new approaches include aerial application of an adelgid-killing fungus, use of the chemical dinotefuran in high-priority areas where trees are in immediate danger of dying, expanding the number of sites that will be treated, releasing new species of predator beetles as they are evaluated, and allowing the use of the longer-lasting chemical, imidacloprid, on all treatment areas as needed.

“We are very concerned about how many hemlocks have already been killed by the hemlock woolly adelgid,” said Marisue Hilliard, forest supervisor of the National Forests in North Carolina. “It is a catastrophic pest that is continuing to kill eastern and Carolina hemlocks throughout their range. We intend to use all appropriate tools in conserving hemlocks for future generations.”

In 2005, the forest service identified 159 eastern and Carolina hemlock areas that were distributed throughout a conservation network designed to represent genetic diversity within the distribution of known hemlock stands. These areas were part of a larger conservation network of areas being treated in surrounding states. Initial treatments focused primarily on release of certain predator beetles and treatment of high-priority areas with imidacloprid.

Follow-up studies have shown that hemlocks in a number of the conservation areas have died. Hilliard decided in late August to increase the number of treatment areas. In addition, the wider range of allowed treatments will help forest managers select the treatments best suited for a specific area. The recent decision will also give the forest access to new treatments and predator options in the future.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Fall Colors across the South

For the most part, fall colors are already past their peak in the higher elevations of the Smokies and the surrounding Southern Appalachians. However, Tom Harrington from the Great Smoky Mountains Association is reporting that "exceptional fall colors are hanging on at the mid and lower elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains."

For those that still can't get enough of nature's autumn beauty, there are still many places further south where fall colors have yet to reach peak.

In the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Georgia, autumn colors are at their peak right now. You can even check out the live streaming images from the two webcams atop Brasstown Bald.

Fall colors in Talladega National Forest, Bankhead National Forest and Tuskegee National Forest in Alabama are expected to reach peak in mid-November.

Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests in South Carolina are expecting peak fall colors from early to mid-November this year.

To keep up-to-date on the progress of fall colors in all the national forests of the south, please click here. You can also call the National Forest Service Fall Color Hotline at 1-800-354-4595.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Safety tips for hiking during hunting season

With hunting season in full swing across much of America, it's important for hikers, backpackers, trail runners, and mountain bikers to understand that many of the areas that they frequent are also popular with hunters. Trailspace.com recently published an article offering some valuable tips for keeping safe while in the backcountry during this time of year. You can click here to read the article.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

You're Barking up the Right Tree

With more than 130 different types of trees in Great Smoky Mountains National Park - more than all of Europe - how can you tell them apart?

The Great Smoky Mountains Association is teaming up with Vesna and Erik Plakanis, owners of A Walk in the Woods, a local nature guide service, for a program to introduce park visitors to some of the trees in the Smokies and what makes them special.

This program begins as an indoor program, but weather permitting you'll venture outside to test what you've learned inside. No leaves on the trees? Not to worry. There are other ways to identify trees.

The Tree Identification Program will be held on Saturday, November 20, at 10 a.m. in the Sugarlands Training Room.

Registration is required along with a small fee of $10 per person to cover the cost of the program leaders. Children under 12 may attend at no charge. Call 865-436-7318 x 222 or 254 to register.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Several trails to be closed in Joyce Kilmer for 2 weeks

Several trails in the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest will be closed for the next two weeks in order to remove dead and dying hemlock trees.

Beginning tomorrow, all or portions of the Joyce Kilmer National Recreation Trail, Stratton Bald Trail, Naked Ground Trail and the Jenkins Meadow Trail, will be closed until November 14th.

The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest near Robbinsville, NC, has been heavily impacted by the hemlock wooly adelgid infestation over the last several years. Forest managers will be removing roughly 150 dead or dying hemlocks in order to assure the safety of hikers.

Interestingly, rather than chain saw the trees, the Forest Service plans to use explosive charges at varying heights on the trees in order to mimic the effects of natural events, such as wind storms.

The Memorial Forest is a 3800-acre tract of land that is named after Joyce Kilmer, a poet and journalist who was killed in World War I. Kilmer was the author of a poem called "Trees."

Many of the trees in Joyce Kilmer are over 400 years old, with the largest rising to heights of over 100 feet, and circumferences of up to 20 feet.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Haunted Reading

Today is Halloween, and what better way to celebrate if you're not out trick or treating yourself than to curl up underneath the covers and read about America's scariest trails, haunted hikes, or paranormal activity in the deep woods to scare the bejeebers out of you next time you venture into the wilderness.

Here are a few links to check out to get you into the mood of the holiday:

* Just in time for the scariest season of the year, Backpacker Magazine has put together a collection of "America's Scariest Trails."

* Earlier this month Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine published a list of the five most spookiest hikes in the southeast - each leading to a cemetery.

* Over at the Hiking Boots blog they put together an interesting collection of videos purportedly showing various paranormal activities in the wild.

* If that's not enough for you, check out Juanitta Baldwin's Smoky Mountain Ghostlore, a collection of ghost and paranormal tales from the Smokies that just can't be explained. Or, how about Andrea Lankford's Haunted Hikes, a collection of "Spine-Tingling Tales and Trails from North America's National Parks" from a former national park ranger.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Photo: New Oconaluftee Visitor Center

This photo comes courtesy of the Smokies Cub Report from the Great Smoky Mountains Association. It shows the progress on the new Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

Looking pretty good so far:




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Winter Mountaineering School

If you're looking to expand your winter hiking, backpacking and mountaineering skills, or possibly looking for an alternative vacation this coming winter, you may want to note that the Adirondack Mountain Club has just published the dates for this years' Winter Mountaineering School.

For more than 50 years the Adirondack Mountain Club has hosted the annual Winter Mountaineering School near Lake Placid, New York. They typically cover the following areas of instruction:

* Winter backpacking skills
* Snowshoe, crampon and ice axe techniques
* Proper clothing and temperature management
* Steep snow and ice travel
* Safe above-treeline travel under winter conditions
* On- and off-trail navigation; map and compass review
* Trip planning
* How to pack a winter backpack
* Group gear review
* Hydration and nutrition
* Constructing snow shelters and a winter backcountry kitchen
* Wilderness first aid
* Avalanche awareness
* Decision making and risk management
* Winter "Leave No Trace" principals

Past participants have included three season hikers and backpackers looking to expand their winter skills, as well as more experienced skiers, trip leaders and winter mountaineers who are wishing to refine their skills or are looking for some excitement and adventure. The organization has an experienced, all-volunteer staff, with a low student-to-instructor ratio.

They offer weekend day hikes, weekend backpacking, and weeklong backpacking options from January 28 through February 3, 2011. The deadline for registration is January 15 , 2011. You may also want to note that space is limited, so it might be a good idea to register quickly.

For more information, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Blue Ridge Parkway closes Mt. Pisgah Trail - again

For the third time in the last couple of months, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the US Forest Service will implement a limited closure of the Mount Pisgah Trail located at Milepost 407.6.

The television broadcasting tower located at the top of Mount Pisgah is scheduled to undergo painting, which will require closure of the top of the mountain while the painting is being conducted. In addition to the top one-quarter of the trail, the viewing platform and the immediate area around the television tower will be closed; however, the trailhead and parking area will remain open, as will the bottom half of the trail. Hikers will be able to walk within a quarter mile of the top but will not be allowed to progress further. The closure will begin on today, October 29, 2010, and conclude on Sunday, October 31, 2010.

Blue Ridge Parkway management regrets the inconvenience this closure may cause our visitors.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Red River Gorge seeks 3 campers for wildfire

Last weekend an illegal campfire in Red River Gorge, set during a declared fire ban, has spread to more than 400 acres and has led to the closure of Tunnel Ridge Road, a portion of Kentucky Highway 7, and several trails in the Auxier Ridge area.

The U.S. Forest Service (Daniel Boone National Forest) is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the three individuals responsible for the escaped campfire. The fire began just after midnight on Saturday.

The escaped campfire led to an emergency Forest Supervisor’s Order that closed an estimated 3,000 acres in the Auxier Ridge area. Forest Service officials spent most of Sunday morning searching for more than 50 backcountry campers and hikers who had vehicles parked in the closure area. All visitors associated with the vehicles were found safe.

Forest Service law enforcement officers witnessed three individuals running from the escaped campfire and getting into their car parked along Kentucky Highway 77. An investigation is under way. According to law enforcement officials, the individuals starting the fire would be best served by coming forward.

The wildfire has led to the closure of Tunnel Ridge Road, a section of Kentucky Highway 7 from Nada Tunnel to the Martins Fork parking area. Trails closed due to the fire include Grays Arch, Rough Trail, Sheltowee Trace, and the entire Auxier Trail system which includes Auxier Ridge, Courthouse Rock and Double Arch (click here for a map of the impacted area).

Earlier this week, Daniel Boone National Forest officials increased the fine for violating the ban on campfires from $75 to a $500 minimum.

Since the ban, Forest Service law enforcement officers have issued nearly 200 violations for illegal campfires in the Red River Gorge.

All violations will require a mandatory appearance in federal court. Up to six months imprisonment could be incurred in addition to a fine. Individuals who allow a campfire to escape and result in a wildfire may be required to pay restitution for suppression costs.

Anyone with information about the fire should call Forest Service Patrol Capt. Kimberly Kipp at (606) 875-5042.

For more information on the Red River Gorge in central Kentucky, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Friday's Video

When humans take flight (from the Imax movie Adrenaline Rush):

Last Walk Around Mirror Lake - Boom Bip (Boards of Canada Remix) from FroschYankee on Vimeo.

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Wilderness First Aid Course Offered

In conjunction with the Carolina Mountain Club, the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) will be offering a Wilderness First Aid Course at the Asheville School Campus on November 13-14, 2010.

The two-day, hands-on introductory course covers a wide range of wilderness medicine topics for people who travel and work in the outdoors.

The cost for the course is $150, however, if you're a member of the CMC, you will be reimbursed for 50% of the cost after completion of the course.

If you're interested in attending you will need to complete an application packet by November 1, 2010.

For more information click here or contact Nan Needs at Nanspath@aol.com.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Ramsey Prong Road to be closed for bridge repairs

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Chief of Facilities Management Alan Sumeriski announced today that the Ramsey Prong Road in the Greenbrier Area of the park will be closed for bridge repairs from Monday, November 1 through Friday November 5.

For safety reasons the Ramsey Prong Road beyond its junction with the Porters Creek Road will be closed to all use including, cars, bicycles and pedestrians. Park officials have advised that all vehicles will have to be out of the Ramsey Cascades Trailhead by Sunday night, October 31.

According to Sumeriski, “Bridge inspections performed by the Federal Highway Administration showed deficiencies which will be corrected during the closure period. One bridge will be stripped to the support beams, and be totally re-decked and get new bridge rails, while the other will receive less extensive repairs to both end of the wooden bridge deck. Barring any extreme weather conditions, rock slides or other complications we should reopen the road by the end of the day on Friday.”

This will obviously impact access to the Ramsey Cascades Trail, as well as the Old Settlers Trail.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

More road closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway officials have just announced another multi-month road closure between Asheville and Mount Pisgah.

Beginning November 1, 2010, and continuing into early spring 2011, the Parkway will be closed from Milepost 399 at Pine Mountain Tunnel to Milepost 405 at NC Route 151. Due to dangerous conditions in the work zone, all traffic by foot, bicycle, and motor vehicle will be prohibited.

The project includes stabilization work on a failing hillside near Milepost 400.

Detour routing is as follows: For southbound traffic, follow NC Route 191 to NC Route 280, interconnecting to US Route 276 in Brevard and back to the Parkway south of Pisgah Inn. The detour can be taken in the opposite direction for northbound traffic.

Parkway travelers should also be aware of another repavement project near milepost 465 that will cause a few delays next week.

A project to reconstruct pavement in the Sherrill Cove Tunnel at Milepost 466 and the Rattlesnake Mountain Tunnel at Milepost 465 will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, November 1, 2010. Pavement reconstruction will involve milling the pavement surface and repaving through the tunnel. Milling and repaving, replacing centerline and edge striping, installing pavement markers, and other related repairs will require the tunnels to operate under one-lane flagmen controlled traffic for the entire week of November 1-5, 2010.

Reconstruction work is expected to be completed and the tunnels open to traffic by Friday, November 5th.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Reminder: 6-month closure on Blue Ridge Parkway

As a reminder, the Blue Ridge Parkway will be closed to all traffic from Milepost 241 near Doughton Park to Milepost 244.9 at Basin Cove Parking Overlook beginning next Monday, November 1, 2010, and lasting until April 29, 2011. Detour traffic signage will direct Parkway visitors around the closure area via NC Route 18 and US Highway 21 (you can click here for a map of the detour route). Access to the Bluffs Lodge and Coffee Shop following the regular seasonal operating schedule will remain open from the north via the Parkway. Signs will be in place to direct visitors to the Bluffs Lodge and Coffee Shop.

Upon completion of the first phase of construction, additional closures and detours will follow between Milepost 218 near Cumberland Knob and Milepost 240.7 near Doughton Park. The project is scheduled to be completed in May 2012.

The Historic Stone Guardwall Reconstruction Project will involve 28 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 217 to Milepost 245) that contain 32,000 linear feet of historic rock masonry walls. A significant portion of the walls are severely deteriorated due to settlement and the effect of freeze-thaw cycles over the past 75 years. This project will rehabilitate and reconstruct the most deficient wall sections.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Two Bears Killed in Smokies

The latest Smokies Cub Report from the Great Smoky Mountains Association is reporting that two bears have been killed in the park this month.

The report states that:

At least two bears were hit by motor vehicles and killed in the park this October. Many of these tragedies can be prevented if motorists obey posted speed limits and drive cautiously.

The GSMA also goes on to warn motorists that:

Very sudden appearances of bear, deer, elk, bobcat, or falling rocks are always a possibility in the national park.

The Cub Report also mentions that the Little River and Jakes Creek trailheads are now open. The GSMA also urges visitors to check out the restoration project of the Appalachian Clubhouse in Elkmont. The facility will be available for day use for events like meetings, reunions, and receptions next year.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Win a pair of Hi-Tec’s Yeti II 200i Hiking Boots

The folks over at HikingBoots.com are giving away a free pair of Hi-Tec’s Yeti II 200i Hiking Boots this month. To enter the contest all you need to do is answer the question: Where will your new Hi-Tec boots take you and why?

Simply answer the question in the comments section of the blog post by clicking here.

The staff over at HikingBoots.com will then pick the best comment and the winner will be announced on Wednesday, November 3, 2010. All you need to do then is choose your size and color.

They look like a very nice pair of boots - and I could use a new pair myself!

By the way, take a look at the blog, they have some very interesting material.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Shenandoah National Park Begins 75th Anniversary Celebration

Shenandoah National Park will launch a year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of its establishment with a ceremony at McCormick Gap Overlook at milepost 102 on Skyline Drive at 2:00 p.m. on November 5, 2010.

Park Superintendent Martha Bogle will receive the "mantle of celebration" from Phil Francis, superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, whose 75th anniversary celebration took place in 2010. Due to limited space along Skyline Drive, parking for the event will be at Afton Mountain on Route 250, and shuttles will provide transportation to the ceremony at the McCormick Gap Overlook. Shuttle service will begin at 12:30.

The program will feature remarks by Alisa Bailey, President and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, followed by "A Journey Through the Decades," a program marking the milestones of achievements and honoring Shenandoah's partners. Among the participants will be Matthew Mesher, great-great grandson of President Herbert Hoover, whose Rapidan Camp retreat lies within what is now the boundary of Shenandoah National Park; Robert Jacobsen, former Shenandoah National Park superintendent; and Mike Breeden, descendent of former residents of the land from which the park was created. Hammered dulcimer player, Madeline MacNeil will provide entertainment at the overlook from 1:00 until 2:00.

In announcing the event, Superintendent Bogle remarked, "We are excited about the beginning of this year-long celebration of Shenandoah National Park. We look forward to remembering the vision and dedication of the park's early supporters, the sacrifice of the residents and landowners, and inspiring a new generation of park stewards."

A rededication of Shenandoah will occur on June 25, 2011.

For more information about the 75th Anniversary, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Closing Dates for the Conway Robinson State Forest

The Conway Robinson State Forest will be closed to recreational use on Monday Nov 15, Monday Nov 22, Tuesday, Nov 30, and Monday Dec 13 for the Deer Management Program, which is continuing for its third year. According to data from the neighboring Manassas National Battlefield, deer populations are about 160 per sqare mile, even though biological carrying capacity is 40-60 per square mile. This overpopulation has affected tree regeneration in the forest and damaged the habitat for other species of wildlife. The goal of the program is to reduce the deer population. Hunting will be conducted only on those four days listed above. Please contact stateforest@dof.virginia.gov with any questions.


We appreciate your cooperation and understanding!

Advance reservations now required for Cataloochee Campground

Great Smoky Mountains Superintendent Dale A. Ditmanson announced today that when the park’s Cataloochee Campground reopens for the season next March 11th, campers will be required to have made advance reservations through Recreation.gov. Historically, the popular, but remote, 27-site campground has operated on a first-come-first-served basis, which did not provide prospective campers any way of knowing whether they would be able to get a site until after they arrived at the Campground.

“Cataloochee Campground offers one of the park’s most sought-after camping experiences, but getting there involves a 30 to 40 minute, 11-mile, drive off I-40, with much of that along a very-narrow and circuitous gravel road.” Ditmanson said. “There is no cell or landline phone service and no regularly-assigned staff assigned at the campground, so there is no way for anybody to check to see if sites are available. The reservation system will eliminate the frustration of finding no campsites left after having made the difficult drive to the campground.”

“The new reservation system will allow all interested campers an equal chance to plan their visits up to six month in advance with the assurance that they will have a site.” Ditmanson continued. “

The reservation system typically allows reservations to be made up to six months in advance, but the reservation database for Cataloochee in this first year is not expected to be active until February 1, 2011. On that date, reservations for sites from the March 11 campground opening date through August 1 will be reservable at once. Each day after February 1, 2011 a new date, six months ahead, will become available. Reservations will be made either online at: www.recreation.gov or toll-free at 1-877-444-6777.

The Cataloochee Campground is too small to have regularly-assigned staff on-site to collect fees, so reservations must be made in advance by phone or on-line. The cost of camping at Cataloochee in 2011 will be $20 per night beginning in March 2011. This fee is consistent with other park campgrounds with similar amenities that are available via the reservation system.

The park has been using the same reservation system with a high degree of visitor satisfaction for many years at its other three most popular campgrounds; Smokemont, Elkmont and Cades Cove as well as at all park horse camps, group campsites, and picnic pavilions.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Last minute getaway offer

I just received an email from one of our advertisers, Hidden Creek Cabins, and they are offering a 50% discount on all remaining cabins this week and next. This is an outstanding offer, especially with fall colors hitting peak during this time. According to Tom Harrington's latest report on the Great Smoky Mountains Association website, fall colors in the lower elevations are expected to peak between now and early November.

For more information on this special offer, please call Hidden Creek Cabins at 1-888-333-588 and ask for Kevin.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

The 127 Defining Moments

Next weekend is the opening of 127 Hours, the new film about Aron Ralston, the adventurer who sawed his arm off after it became pinned under a boulder in an isolated slot canyon in Utah

To celebrate the release of the film, Outside Magazine is launching the 127 Defining Moments Contest, which seeks to inspire people to share their own life-changing or death-defying experiences in the great outdoors.

Outside will select 126 of those entrants to go along with Aron's to create the 127 Defining Moments. The 126 winners will receive some great outdoor gear from Eddie Bauer, Sierra Designs, Larabar and CamelBak, including Ten Grand Prize gear packages.

The contest ends November 12. For more information and to enter, please click here. To read some of the current submissions, please click here.

You can check out the trailer for the film by clicking here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Land purchase in New River Gorge helps clear way for 100-mile trail

On September 14th, with assistance from the West Virginia office of The Nature Conservancy, the United States purchased approximately 618 acres at New River Gorge National River for $980,000. Congress appropriated the money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which receives revenue from offshore oil and gas leases.

The property is located underneath the New River Gorge Bridge on river left, and it stretches approximately 5.6 miles downriver to Hawks Nest State Park. A large portion of this property was added to the park boundary with legislation enacted in 2002.

Gary Driggs, owner and developer of adjacent Bridgeview Estates, sold the land to the USA. Driggs constructed a network of trails through the 618-acre parcel that connects with Bridgeview Estates, providing a recreational enhancement for the subdivision residents.

"This purchase is critical to New River Gorge National River in many ways,” said Superintendent Don Striker. “Protecting these large, intact forests is crucial to protecting the gorge. But it also will allow us to add six miles to the through-the-park trail, which will eventually stretch 100 miles through the park."

Bridge Day, occurring on the third Saturday in October, is the one time of the year New River Gorge Bridge is open to pedestrians and closed to vehicle traffic, and this willing seller purchase will help preserve the view on the southeast slope of the canyon downriver from the bridge, which is shown on the West Virginia State Quarter.

Here's a flavor of what Bridge Day is all about:





Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed trail information for the Great Smoky Mountains; trail descriptions, key features, pictures, maps, elevation profiles, news, books and more.

Brand new national park added to NPS

This past Friday the River Raisin National Battlefield Park in Monroe, Michigan, was officially announced as the 393rd park in the National Park System. The War of 1812 battlefield was set aside by Congress with legislation and signed on March 30, 2009.

NPS Director Jon Jarvis called the new park “an important addition to the National Park System. The War of 1812 is often forgotten, remembered only for the birth of our national anthem, but it was as significant as any war in our history,” said Jarvis. “At the Battle of the River Raisin in January, 1813, American forces suffered one of the worst defeats of the War of 1812. When the battle was over, Indian allies of the British killed wounded American prisoners, so enraging Americans that the phrase "Remember the Raisin" became a rallying cry for future engagements in the war. We should all know about this engagement for its significance and now as the newest park in the National Park System.”

Fought along the north bank of the River Raisin in Monroe, Michigan, from January 18th to January 23rd, 1813, the battle pitted American and British troops against each other in a contest for control of all of Michigan and the Lower Great Lakes. At stake were America’s independence and the futures of Frenchtown (known today as Monroe, Michigan), Canada, and Tecumseh's alliance of Native American tribes.

The British and their Indian allies destroyed an entire American army at the River Raisin and in the process raised Native Americans’ hopes that their alliance with the British would result in the preservation of their land. Frenchtown was laid waste, and the Ohio frontier was exposed to invasion and raids by the British and Indians. The Battle of the River Raisin was not a decisive turning point of the war, but it did have significant effects on the campaign for the Great Lakes. Following the defeat at River Raisin, American forces would struggle for nine months before they could regain their momentum.

The park visitor center is open from June through October on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. While the visitor center is closed November through May, the park grounds are open to visitors year-round. National Park Service personnel are already on site and will continue to work closely with the Monroe County Historical Society to make the battlefield more available to the public.

For more historical information on the battle, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Winter forecasts for the Smokies

Two long range forecasts for this winter for the United States have been published in the last couple of days: one from AccuWeather.com, the other from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Overall, both reports are very similar, but differ a little with respects to the Great Smoky Mountains region. They both expect a weather phenomenon known as La Nina to be the main player governing weather patterns this winter. La Nina occurs when sea surface temperatures across the equatorial central and eastern Pacific are below normal. This weather phenomenon can have a significant impact on weather patterns across North America for several months. This year appears to be no exception.

Both forecasts expect warmer temperatures for the southeast, including the Smoky Mountains region:

However, the two forecasters differ a little on how much precipitation the Smokies could receive this winter. While NOAA is predicting normal precipitation amounts:

Joe Bastardi at AccuWeather.com is predicting that precipitation levels will be below normal this winter season:

Bastardi also goes on to state that the overall dry weather pattern expected across the southern tier of the nation could lead the region into a "perilous period" similar to the 1950s and 1960s, which was drier than normal. Drought conditions and water shortages could become major problems from Southern California into the Deep South.

The Deep South is already in the midst of a severe drought, and a lack of precipitation this winter will only make matters worse. According to the Climate Prediction Center, it's likely that drought conditions could develop in the Smokies over the next three months - but not anywhere near the levels seen in the surrounding region:

Interestingly, and consequently, the highest incidents of forest fires in the Smokies occur during the months of February, March and April. Hopefully an unexpected wet weather pattern will develop at some point to give the southeast some much needed relief.

To read the full AccuWeather report, please click here.

To read the full NOAA report, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Johnson Farm organizes day hike to Panthertown

Historic Johnson Farm is teaming up with Gary Eblen of Diamond Brand Outdoors early next month for a hike in Panthertown.

Nicknamed 'the Yosemite of the East,' Panthertown Valley is home to sheer granite cliffs and domes, cascading waterfalls, valley floors, and rare high altitude bogs.

Interested participants should meet at the Pisgah Forest Ranger Station on Rte 276 in Brevard at 9 a.m. on November 6th.

Organizers ask that you wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. Bring water and a lunch. A map, compass and trail snacks will be provided. The 4-6 mile hike is moderately difficult and is appropriate for those over 16. No pets are permitted.

Since the guided hike is limited to only 10 people, please make your reservation by calling Historic Johnson Farm at 828-891-6585 before November 2nd. The cost is $25 per hiker.

Contact Gary Eblen at geblen@outdoorbrand.com if you would like to borrow a day pack or trekking poles.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Hiker killed by mountain goat versus my recent experience

Most of you have probably already heard the story about the hiker that was fatally gored by a mountain goat in Olympic National Park last weekend.

After reading the details that have emerged this week, I couldn’t help but relate this to my own recent experience on Quandary Peak in Colorado.

Here's a quick recap of the incident in Olympic:

Last Saturday 63-year-old Robert Boardman of Port Angeles, WA was hiking with his wife and a friend on the Switchback Trail in the national park. They stopped for lunch at an overlook when a goat appeared and began acting aggressively toward them. After chasing him for a bit, the ram gored Boardman in the thigh, then stood over him as he lay bleeding to death, staring at people trying to help.

That goat was killed shortly thereafter, but rangers and biologists continue to investigate the area for other signs of aggressive goat behavior.

I pointed out in my blog posting from a couple of weeks ago that the highlight of our hike up Quandary was seeing a family of mountain goats. It was the closest I’ve ever been to a mountain goat. However, the story of Boardman’s death hit a little close to home as the goats we encountered appeared to express a degree of aggressiveness towards us as well.

The first indication of this behavior was when the largest male goat laid down on the trail as we approached from below, thus preventing us from proceeding forward. The only reason the ram started moving again was due to another group of hikers ascending the trail below us. This group included a dog.

Although the goats were at least walking again, they stayed on or near the trail, not allowing us to pass. This went on for several minutes until another group of hikers approached from above, prompting the goats to move off the trail. We were finally able to safely pass, and got about a quarter of a mile away from the goats when we decided to take a quick bathroom, food and drink break. Because we were on a fairly narrow ridge, we were just off the trail at this point.

After sitting down on a rock for a couple of minutes we noticed the goats moving again. The large male, the same ram that plopped down on the trail earlier, was making a direct bee line towards us. In a somewhat similar situation as the Olympic incident, I told my wife to get moving as quickly as possible. She was already up the trail when I was finally able to get my backpack together and hurriedly moved out as the goat got to within 75 feet of me. It was the last time we saw the goats.

Interestingly, since the incident in Olympic, park officials there have warned hikers not to urinate on or near the trail because goats are attracted to the salt. Was this the reason the ram approached us?

Obviously I’m not a mountain goat expert, so I don’t know if this behavior is considered normal or aggressive, but I’m going to forward this posting to rangers at the White River National Forest as an FYI.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Shenandoah announces night closing of Skyline Drive during hunting season

Park Superintendent Martha Bogle announced yesterday that portions of Skyline Drive, the famed mountain road through Shenandoah National Park, will be closed at night during the upcoming hunting season. She noted that this is the thirtieth year that this closure has been undertaken and stressed its importance at reducing illegal hunting activity within the park, a sanctuary for wildlife, during Virginia's hunting season outside the park.

From November 8, 2010, through January 1, 2011, the Skyline Drive between Front Royal (Mile 0 at U.S. Highway 340) and Thornton Gap (Mile 31 at U.S. Highway 211), and between Swift Run Gap (Mile 65 at U.S. Highway 33) and Rockfish Gap (Mile 105 at U.S. Highway 250), will be closed daily between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. The central portion of the Drive, between Thornton Gap and Swift Run Gap, will remain open for overnight access to Skyland Resort and Big Meadows Campground until those facilities close on November 28. Then, beginning November 28, 2010, through January 1, 2011, the entire length of the Skyline Drive will be closed daily from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m.

Superintendent Bogle said, "Closing portions of the Skyline Drive enables rangers to concentrate patrols on problem areas and to increase contacts along the park boundary."

Superintendent Bogle also reminded the public that the park has a reward program to assist in combating illegal hunting in the Park. "A reward will be paid to anyone who furnishes information which leads to the conviction of any person who hunts, transports, or attempts to transport illegally taken wildlife within the park," said Bogle. Anyone with information about such activities should call the nearest Ranger Station or Park Headquarters (toll free, 1-800-732-0911; or (540) 999-2227). The identity of persons furnishing information will be kept strictly confidential, and a person does not have to reveal his or her name.

For more information on hiking in Shenandoah, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Friday's Video

Members of the Great Smoky Mountains Association recently joined naturalist Wanda Dewaard on a mission to tag and release monarch butterflies in Cades Cove. The tags will help researchers with the Monarch Watch program learn more about the flight patterns of these butterflies as they migrate to Mexico for the winter.

Here's a GSMA video highlighting the process of tagging the butterflies:


© GSMA 2010. All rights reserved.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Landslide on Little River Road / Elkmont Closing

The Great Smoky Mountains website is reporting that a landslide on Little River Road, two miles east of Metcalf Bottoms, has closed one lane of the road. Drivers should expect delays in this area as crews work to clear the road.

Also, the Elkmont Historic district, including the Little River/Jakes Creek Trailhead area in the Elkmont area, will be closed to public use today and tomorrow (Oct 21-22).


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Seasonal Road Closing Season

If you intend to hike any of the trails along the Balsam Mountain Road or the Heintooga Ridge Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park before winter arrives, you have less than two weeks left before these roads are closed for the season.

Both roads are located in the Southeastern corner of the park between Maggie Valley and Oconaluftee in North Carolina. The two seasonal roads will close on Monday, November 1, and won’t reopen again until late next May.

Of course the trails along these roads will continue to be open, but you may have problems reaching the trailheads. The following trails will be impacted: Flat Creek Falls, Hemphill Bald, Rough Fork, Palmer Creek, Balsam Mountain, Beech Gap and Hyatt Ridge trails.

Heintooga Ridge Road is accessed from the Blue Ridge Parkway near milepost 458. This two-way road dead-ends into the one-way Balsam Mountain Road.

Balsam Mountain Road is a thrilling ride on a one-way gravel road. Along the way you’ll see sweeping mountain vistas overlooking the vast wilderness area where many Cherokee Indians retreated in order to avoid removal on the tragic Trail of Tears. The road also passes the highest picnic area in the park, which affords outstanding views as well.

Five other seasonal roads, Roundbottom, Parson Branch, Rich Mountain, Roaring Fork and Clingmans Dome Road, will be closing throughout the month of November.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Body of crime suspect found in Smokies

The body of a man wanted by local police was found just inside the Great Smoky Mountains' boundary near the city limits of Gatlinburg yesterday afternoon.

A Pigeon Forge Police Department canine unit found the body, later identified as that of Mark Christian, 45, of Lebanon, Tennessee. Pigeon Forge police were assisting the Gatlinburg Police Department in their ongoing search for Christian, who was wanted for unspecified reasons. The body was found at the base of a very steep slope along the north bank of Dudley Creek on the south side of U.S. 321, which investigators believe he may have attempted to climb. No weapon was found at the scene to indicate suicide and there was no immediate indication of foul play.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

'Click It or Ticket' starts on Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway rangers announced this week they will be starting an aggressive fall foliage "Click It or Ticket" campaign. Any one caught not buckling up on the parkway will be ticketed and fined.

“Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year,” said Chief Ranger Steve Stinnett. But a drive on a beautiful fall day can quickly turn to tragedy if you fail to buckle up.”

The crackdown, beginning October 18 and ending October 29, marks the second of many seat belt enforcement mobilizations throughout the Blue Ridge Corridor designed to increase seat belt use and decrease motor vehicle fatalities. Motorists can expect to see an increase in enforcement patrols and other enforcement efforts to drive home the message: Click It or Ticket – day and night.

According to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost 200 passenger vehicle occupants died in crashes in America’s national parks from 2005-2009, and almost half of them (46 percent) were not wearing their seat belts.

For more information, please contact the Chief Rangers Office at (828)271-4779.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Hiker with severe injury evacuated from Alum Cave Trail

The NPS Digest has this report on their website this morning regarding a rescue on the Alum Cave Trail:

Ranger Brad Griest was heading up the Alum Cave Trail on the afternoon of October 10th to checkout a report of an ill hiker when another hiker told him that a man had fallen on the trail about three miles further on and that he’d sustained a head injury and was complaining of back and neck pain.

Griest reached him about 45 minutes later. The man reported that he had no feeling below his neck, and Griest found an obvious spinal deformity in the upper back and confirmed that the man had no motor or sensory functions below the deformity. He put a cervical collar on him, administered oxygen, managed for spinal trauma, and monitored the man’s vitals until a litter crew comprised of 13 park personnel arrived on scene.

The man was secured to a rigid backboard and placed on a litter. The evacuation was complicated by steep and rocky terrain, deep creek crossings, a short section of technical rope belay, and darkness. The carryout was completed just before 10 p.m.

The man was taken by Gatlinburg FD ambulance to the Sugarlands Visitor Center and flown via Lifestar helicopter to the Level 1 trauma center at University of Tennessee Hospital.

Unfortunately there's no word on what exactly happened, or any follow-up on the victim's condition at this point.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Final Full Moon Hike in Cades Cove

This Saturday night, October 23rd, is the final "Full Moon Hike" of the year in Cades Cove of the Great Smoky Mountains.

This is an excellent opportunity to take a stroll in Cades Cove under the light of a full moon. If interested, meet at the Orientation Shelter near the entrance to the Cades Cove Loop Road. The hike is from from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.


Free Shipping over $45 at Altrec Outdoors


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com