Predicting weather in the backcountry

Exposure is the leading cause of death in the mountains. One of the skills that will help keep you out of trouble while in the backcountry is learning how to predict the weather.

Deep in the wilderness it's highly unlikely you'll be able to get updated local weather forecasts. Essentially, you must become your own forecaster.

Obviously predicting the weather is difficult - even for the local weatherman - and especially in the mountains. However, there are several things that can help hikers to better understand weather patterns.

One of those is learning how to identify cloud formations. Being able to assess the clouds approaching from a distance can help you determine if it's just a short front passing through, or a long lasting storm.

The most recent online issue of Backpacker Magazine has a very helpful article that explains how to identify the various cloud formations and what they mean. They even have a quiz to make sure you understood what you just read.

Having a little knowledge on weather forecasting could mean the difference between a great hike and a horrible one.

As far as keeping up with updated forecasts before heading into the Smokies, as well as finding historical climate information, please click here.





Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Survey on the restorative benefits of hiking

I discovered this on Facebook yesterday:

Mark Ellison, a doctoral student at North Carolina State University, is studying the restorative benefits of backcountry hiking and the relationship to job satisfaction.

“I know from personal experience that hiking in natural environments is restorative, that it provides opportunity for reflection because there are not demands on attention; and that the experience is transforming for people,” Mark said.

“I have hiked thousands of miles, and it has transformed me,” he continued. “Sure, I am in good shape physically because of it. Psychologically, I am a lot better off for it as well. The concept of this research topic is central to who I am. I am really studying to see if others have had the same experience I have.”

This research is being conducted for a doctoral dissertation at North Carolina State University. This is the first research on the topic and will provide the foundation for future research on the restorative benefits of backcountry hiking and how it may benefit the workplace.

The online survey includes questions related to your experiences while backcountry hiking, and specific questions about your workplace and supervisor. It takes roughly 5 minutes to complete and doesn't ask for any personal information.

This is a great opportunity to help a fellow hiker out. Click here to take Mark’s survey.


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

Big Brother in the backcountry: Follow-up

This is a follow-up to a blog posting I did earlier in the week with regards to Yellowstone National Park recently adopting a comprehensive plan that could open the door to the use of web cams in the backcountry.

The posting was picked up by Michael Silence who publishes a blog on the Knox News site. Here's what Michael had to say in his first posting on this subject:

This raises a number of troubling questions. The plan would not allow public access to view what the cameras are seeing. How can that be legal? They would be paid for with public dollars, put on public lands that are also funded by public dollars, and administered by public employees. That's like saying video from revenue-light cameras is not public.

The following day (yesterday), Mr. Silence posted a follow-up on the subject:

Naturally, we thought we'd check with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to see if it were considering the move.

Morgan Simmons, our master reporter on all things Smokies and outdoors, checked and filed this e-mail: I checked with the Smokies regarding the Yellowstone National Park's proposal to upgrade webcams in developed areas and possibly install them in the backcountry. The Smokies is not considering anything like that (and were unaware of the story). The park currently has two webcams, one at Look Rock, other at Purchase Knob. Both monitor air quality/visibility.

It doesn't surprise me that there aren't any plans to install backcountry webcams in the Smokies, however, I was a little surprised that the park didn't know anything about the Yellowstone plan.

Of course this doesn't mean that the concept doesn't catch on at some point.

(Thanks to Mr. Silence for digging into this a little more!)


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