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
Sunday, November 7, 2010
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
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
Saturday, November 6, 2010
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
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
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
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
Friday, November 5, 2010
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
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
The video includes beautiful scenes from places like Dark Hollow Falls, Hawksbill Summit, White Oak Canyon and Luray Caverns:
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
Thursday, November 4, 2010
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
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
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
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
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
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
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
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
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
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
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
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
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
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
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
Monday, November 1, 2010
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
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
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
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