Backpacking with Confidence

Backpacking with Confidence is a hands-on field course offered by the Smoky Mountain Field School, an organization founded through the cooperative relationship between The University of Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

In this class you'll gain the confidence and know-how to care for yourself in the backcountry.

You'll learn the basics of backpacking (from how to get safe drinking water and storing your food, to setting up camp) and will help you cope with whatever challenges you may encounter and make any adventure safe and enjoyable.

The course will also discuss wildlife that might be encountered to help you become more familiar and comfortable.

Participants will also enjoy both the natural and cultural history aspects of the Smokies along the Porter's Creek Trail. This moderate (7.4 miles roundtrip) is well known for its high diversity and abundance of spring wildflowers. Meals and some gear are to be provided by each participant.

The course is scheduled for the weekend of May 29-30th, and the cost is $98 (nonrefundable). For more information, please click here.


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

National Trails Day

American Hiking Society's signature trail awareness program, National Trails Day, will take place on June 5th this year.

One of the goals of National Trails Day is to inspire the public and trail enthusiasts nationwide to seek out their favorite trails to discover, learn about, and celebrate trails while participating in educational exhibits, trail dedications, gear demonstrations, instructional workshops and trail work projects.

There will be many events all across the country. The Smoky Mountain Hiking Club will utilize the day as a trail repair and construction event. They will meet in Gatlinburg at 7:30 a.m. that morning.

The Carolina Mountain Club will host a couple of hikes, including the Lakeshore Loop near Fontana Lake in the southern Smoky Mountains.

Chimney Rock State Park will be offering free guided hikes on the hour from 11am to 3pm with park education staff and rangers who will discuss the plants and wildlife at the park.

The Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club and will host a hike to Grassy Ridge Bald on Roan Mountain.

These are just a couple of examples. You can get more details on each of these, and see the complete list of events across the country, by clicking here.


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

The "Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble"

The Catawba Rhododendron is abundant all across Grandfather Mountain, from MacRae Meadows at 4,300 feet in elevation to MacRae Peak at 5,845 feet in elevation. Because the shrub abounds across this broad range of elevations, its purple flowers can be enjoyed at each successive elevation. The first blooms appear at the lower overlooks in early June and the display will arrive at the Swinging Bridge by the end of the month.

Naturalists at Grandfather Mountain will be waiting to share their excitement for the showy rose-lavender blossoms. Visitors can join park staff from June 1 thru June 13 for the "Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble" and participate in special programs and activities that celebrate this herald of summer.

All programs and guided walks offered as part of the Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble are included in the price of admission. For details, please click here or phone 800-468-7325.

For information on the hiking trails at Grandfather Mountain State Park, please click here.


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

Photos from the Himalaya

One of the blogs I follow is the Adventure Blog by Kraig Becker. Kraig recently returned from a trek in the Himalayas and has posted a photo gallery that includes pictures from Kathmandu and his trek to Base Camp on Mt. Everest.

Click here, then click on the slideshow button and enjoy these excellent photos.

Speaking of Mt. Everest, 13-year-old Jordan Romero is on a 48 hour countdown - as of yesterday - to begin his attempt at summiting the highest mountain in the world. His team hopes to possibly make the summit on May 21 or 22nd.

And in keeping with the Everest theme, Stephen Regenold, author of the Gear Junkie, is posting a series of articles on his experience in Nepal last month as a journalist covering Expedition Hanesbrands from Base Camp at Mount Everest. His most recent article is a profile of Ang Temba Sherpa, a leader with Expedition Hanesbrands. Please click here to read the series.


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

Top Summits in the Appalachians

Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine recently published their list of the Top Summits in the Appalachian Mountains, "the pinnacles of outdoor adventure".

The list was put together with a bit of a swist. It's not just about hiking to the summit of each of these mountains. The magazine put together a list of mountains that offer several ways to enjoy them; such as biking, backpacking, racing, climbing, camping, paddling and even swimming on them.

Here's their list:

1) Shenandoah Mountain, Virginia
2) Spruce Mountain, West Virginia
3) Blood Mountain, Georgia
4) Mount Mitchell, North Carolina
5) Walden Ridge, Tennessee
6) Crowders Mountain, N.C.
7) South Mountain, Maryland
8) Table Rock Mountain, S.C.
9) Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia

You can read the full article by clicking here.


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

What is that purple box hanging in that tree?

Have you seen this purple box? Do you know what it is? If you guessed a trap used for detecting the Emerald Ash Borer, you are right! The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that has found it's way into Virginia.
EAB is already responsible for the death of millions of ash trees. First found in Michigan in 2002 this metallic green insect has wreaked havoc across thirteen states and parts of Canada. EAB was found in Fairfax, VA several years ago. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have been monitoring for the pest and fortunately have yet to find any significant moves. However, the EAB is a clever little bug and has figured out that it is easier to travel with unsuspecting humans than to fly from tree to tree. That is why it is VERY IMPORTANT that you do not transport firewood 1) from any of the quarantined counties (check VDOF website for list or google EAB in VA) and 2) for long distances. I know paying for firewood in a park or forest is ridiculous when you can bring it yourself, but trust me, spreading EAB will cost much more.

So why do I care that this bug kills ash trees? What are they good for anyways? Well ash is most famously used for America's favorite past time, that's right, baseball. Ash is the best wood out there for baseball bats, dense and elastic. You might also find out that your electric guitar is made from ash (that could explain why they are so hard to break on stage). Ash also plays an important role in the forest as a common riparian species. Riparian species are found near waterways and can act as huge filters for sediment and chemicals trying to reach the water. Ash make great yard trees as they are both beautiful and provide excellent shade.

Back to the traps now. I had an opportunity to participate in the monitoring for this insect through the Society of American Foresters. I have placed two traps at Holliday Lake State Park and two at Bear Creek Lake State Park. I will be checking these traps in late June and then again in August before taking them down. I certainly hope that I don't find anything.

What is that purple box hanging in that tree?

Have you seen this purple box? Do you know what it is? If you guessed a trap used for detecting the Emerald Ash Borer, you are right! The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that has found it's way into Virginia.
EAB is already responsible for the death of millions of ash trees. First found in Michigan in 2002 this metallic green insect has wreaked havoc across thirteen states and parts of Canada. EAB was found in Fairfax, VA several years ago. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have been monitoring for the pest and fortunately have yet to find any significant moves. However, the EAB is a clever little bug and has figured out that it is easier to travel with unsuspecting humans than to fly from tree to tree. That is why it is VERY IMPORTANT that you do not transport firewood 1) from any of the quarantined counties (check VDOF website for list or google EAB in VA) and 2) for long distances. I know paying for firewood in a park or forest is ridiculous when you can bring it yourself, but trust me, spreading EAB will cost much more.

So why do I care that this bug kills ash trees? What are they good for anyways? Well ash is most famously used for America's favorite past time, that's right, baseball. Ash is the best wood out there for baseball bats, dense and elastic. You might also find out that your electric guitar is made from ash (that could explain why they are so hard to break on stage). Ash also plays an important role in the forest as a common riparian species. Riparian species are found near waterways and can act as huge filters for sediment and chemicals trying to reach the water. Ash make great yard trees as they are both beautiful and provide excellent shade.

Back to the traps now. I had an opportunity to participate in the monitoring for this insect through the Society of American Foresters. I have placed two traps at Holliday Lake State Park and two at Bear Creek Lake State Park. I will be checking these traps in late June and then again in August before taking them down. I certainly hope that I don't find anything.