Yesterday the Grand Canyon National Park turned 90 years old. On February 26, 1919, the Grand Canyon became the 15th national park added to the system. To help celebrate, check out this awesome aerial view video I found on the Backpacker Mag blog site:
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.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Video: Paddling Through Tibet
Pretty cool video of kayakers paddling through the incredible scenery of Eastern Tibet:
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
Tibet Kayak Mission from Kayak TV on Vimeo.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
Join GSMA for an "Armchair" Tour of Cades Cove
With the Cades Cove Loop Road being closed for repaving through May 21, visitors can still enjoy an "armchair" tour through this historic section of the park - and not have to deal with the usual bumper to bumper traffic or bear jams!
Join Allen Coggins at 1:00, Saturday, March 27 in the Sugarlands Training Room for a powerpoint presentation on the history of the Cades Cove and the people who made it their home. Allen will take you on a "drive" through the Cove without ever having to leave your seat... it's like having your own personal guide!
Seating is limited and a $5 per person registration fee is required. Call the Great Smoky Mountains Association at 865-436-7318, Ext. 222 or 254 to register.
*** Need a cabin or chalet for your next visit to the Smokies? Be sure to check out our cabin listings first 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.
Join Allen Coggins at 1:00, Saturday, March 27 in the Sugarlands Training Room for a powerpoint presentation on the history of the Cades Cove and the people who made it their home. Allen will take you on a "drive" through the Cove without ever having to leave your seat... it's like having your own personal guide!Seating is limited and a $5 per person registration fee is required. Call the Great Smoky Mountains Association at 865-436-7318, Ext. 222 or 254 to register.
*** Need a cabin or chalet for your next visit to the Smokies? Be sure to check out our cabin listings first 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.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Contruction season in the Smokies to begin Monday
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the Federal Lands Highway Program, several park improvement projects will be conducted in the Great Smoky Mountains this year.
Beginning this Monday, and lasting throughout the spring and summer, over $93,300,000 worth of improvements will be made to park roads and facilities.
The park has recently published a summary of the projects, which includes project details, as well as road and trail closures.
Beginning on Monday, March 1, the first major project to kick-off the season will be the repavement of the Cades Cove Loop Road. Here's the complete list of projects and expected closures:
• Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed to all public use from March 1 thru May 21 for repaving. This will impact the Forge Creek Road, Parson Branch Road and Rich Mountain Road, as well as the Abrams Falls Trail, Cooper Road Trail, Gregory Bald Trail, Gregory Ridge Trail, Hannah Mountain Trail, Indian Grave Gap Trail and Rabbit Creek Trail.
• Clingmans Dome Road will be closed to all public use through May 28 for repaving. This will impact the Fork Ridge Trail, Forney Creek Trail, Forney Ridge Trail (Andrews Bald), Noland Divide Trail, Road Prong Trail, Sugarland Mountain Trail.
• Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail will be closed to all public use through May 28 for repaving. This will impact the Baskins Creek Trail, Grapeyard Ridge Trail, Trillium Gap Trail.
• Cherokee Orchard Road past the Noah Bud Ogle Cabin will be closed to all public use through March 19. This will impact the Bullhead Trail, Old Sugarlands Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail, Trillium Gap Trail.
• The Sinks parking area on Little River Road closed through May 25 for repaving. This will impact the Meigs Creek Trail.
• Smokemont Campground will be closed March 10 - May 27, 2010. This will impact the Bradley Fork Trail and the Smokemont Loop Trail.
• Heintooga Ridge Road and Balsam Mountain Campground will be closed until May 27, 2010. This will impact the Flat Creek Trail, Rough Fork Trail, Hemphill Bald Trail.
• Little River and Jakes Creek Trailhead. Portions of the area will be closed to public use from July 6-August 31, 2010, impacting the Little River Trail and Jakes Creek Trail.
• Other projects include the Foothills Parkway East and West, the Gatlinburg By-Pass Road, and Newfound Gap from Collins Creek Picnic Area to Cherokee, NC.
Here's a map of all the park improvement projects. Please click on the map for a larger view:
For more information on each of these proejcts, 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.
Beginning this Monday, and lasting throughout the spring and summer, over $93,300,000 worth of improvements will be made to park roads and facilities.
The park has recently published a summary of the projects, which includes project details, as well as road and trail closures.
Beginning on Monday, March 1, the first major project to kick-off the season will be the repavement of the Cades Cove Loop Road. Here's the complete list of projects and expected closures:
• Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed to all public use from March 1 thru May 21 for repaving. This will impact the Forge Creek Road, Parson Branch Road and Rich Mountain Road, as well as the Abrams Falls Trail, Cooper Road Trail, Gregory Bald Trail, Gregory Ridge Trail, Hannah Mountain Trail, Indian Grave Gap Trail and Rabbit Creek Trail.
• Clingmans Dome Road will be closed to all public use through May 28 for repaving. This will impact the Fork Ridge Trail, Forney Creek Trail, Forney Ridge Trail (Andrews Bald), Noland Divide Trail, Road Prong Trail, Sugarland Mountain Trail.
• Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail will be closed to all public use through May 28 for repaving. This will impact the Baskins Creek Trail, Grapeyard Ridge Trail, Trillium Gap Trail.
• Cherokee Orchard Road past the Noah Bud Ogle Cabin will be closed to all public use through March 19. This will impact the Bullhead Trail, Old Sugarlands Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail, Trillium Gap Trail.
• The Sinks parking area on Little River Road closed through May 25 for repaving. This will impact the Meigs Creek Trail.
• Smokemont Campground will be closed March 10 - May 27, 2010. This will impact the Bradley Fork Trail and the Smokemont Loop Trail.
• Heintooga Ridge Road and Balsam Mountain Campground will be closed until May 27, 2010. This will impact the Flat Creek Trail, Rough Fork Trail, Hemphill Bald Trail.
• Little River and Jakes Creek Trailhead. Portions of the area will be closed to public use from July 6-August 31, 2010, impacting the Little River Trail and Jakes Creek Trail.
• Other projects include the Foothills Parkway East and West, the Gatlinburg By-Pass Road, and Newfound Gap from Collins Creek Picnic Area to Cherokee, NC.
Here's a map of all the park improvement projects. Please click on the map for a larger view:
For more information on each of these proejcts, 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.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Top 10 most visited National Parks in 2009
Despite the recession, or perhaps because of it, more than 285 million visitors flocked to national parks last year, falling just short of the all-time visitation record of 287.2 million set in 1987.
The National Park Service reported that 2009 visitation represented an increase of 10 million people, or 3.6%, versus the prior year.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar speculated that the increases may have be a result of families on tight budgets view parks as bargains, parks offered free visitation on three weekends, and parks attracted extra attention as a result of Ken Burns's documentary on the history of parks.
As usual, the Great Smoky Mountains ranked the highest in total visitation. Here's how the top 10 parks ranked in terms of visitation for 2009:
1) Great Smoky Mountains (9.5 million visitors)
2) Grand Canyon (4.3 million visitors)
3) Yosemite (3.7 million)
4) Yellowstone (3.3 million)
5) Olympic (3.3 million)
6) Rocky Mountain (2.8 million)
7) Zion (2.7 million)
8) Cuyahoga Valley (2.6 million)
9) Grand Tetons (2.6 million)
10) Acadia (2.2 million)
Also, the Blue Ridge Parkway was the most visited unit of the system with nearly 16 million visitors in 2009.
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 National Park Service reported that 2009 visitation represented an increase of 10 million people, or 3.6%, versus the prior year.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar speculated that the increases may have be a result of families on tight budgets view parks as bargains, parks offered free visitation on three weekends, and parks attracted extra attention as a result of Ken Burns's documentary on the history of parks.
As usual, the Great Smoky Mountains ranked the highest in total visitation. Here's how the top 10 parks ranked in terms of visitation for 2009:
1) Great Smoky Mountains (9.5 million visitors)
2) Grand Canyon (4.3 million visitors)
3) Yosemite (3.7 million)
4) Yellowstone (3.3 million)
5) Olympic (3.3 million)
6) Rocky Mountain (2.8 million)
7) Zion (2.7 million)
8) Cuyahoga Valley (2.6 million)
9) Grand Tetons (2.6 million)
10) Acadia (2.2 million)
Also, the Blue Ridge Parkway was the most visited unit of the system with nearly 16 million visitors in 2009.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
Appalachian Trail Celebration & Backpacking Clinic
Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, GA will host its Annual Appalachian Trail Celebration & Backpacking Clinic on Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7, 2010. Both experienced and novice hikers and campers attend this annual event to celebrate the great outdoors, learn about the Appalachian Trail, listen to AT hikers share their experiences, and discover what it takes to make the 5-million step journey across 14 states.Invited AT hikers include: Gene Espy, the second man to thru-hike the AT in 1951; David Miller, author of AWOL on the Appalachian Trail; Leslie Mass, a 2001-2002 thru-hiker, Laurie Potteiger of the ATC, a 1987 thru-hiker, and Bill Walker, who completed his thru-hike in 2005.
In addition there will be presentations by several invited trail organizations including the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), Georgia Appalachian Trail Conference, Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association, Atlanta Hiking Club, Leave No Trace, and others.
Several equipment specialists will be on hand to display, demonstrate and answer questions about specific outdoor equipment such as shelters, cooking gear & food, backpacks, sleeping bags & pads, and clothing.
Evening activities will include informal chats, questions & answers, and book signings by speakers. Other activities will include a night hike, and a Birds of Prey program.
Activities will begin at 9 AM each day and end at about 8 PM on Saturday and 6 PM on Sunday. A detailed scheduled of events can be found on the Friends of Amicalola Falls SP website. More information can be found on the the Amicalola Falls State Park website, or by calling the park Programming Office at 706-265-1969.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Appalachian Trail in the news
The following are a couple of news items related to the Appalachian Trail you might be interested in knowing about.* Last week the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and volunteers through its affiliate Georgia Appalachian Trail Club announced the establishment of a Georgia Appalachian Trail specialty license plate. The Georgia license plate will help raise awareness of the Trail, and volunteers will pursue profit-sharing legislation from the state to provide a source of ongoing funding to maintain, manage and protect the first 78 miles of the 2,179-mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
* Ohio trail honors pioneering hiker: Ohio's No. 1 must-see state park, Hocking Hills (southeast of Columbus), is dedicating one of the park's most famous trails to Ohio's No. 1 long-distance hiker, the late Emma Rowena Gatewood. Grandma Gatewood, who died in 1973 at 86, gained national attention when she hiked the entire Appalachian Trail solo in 1955 - at the age of 68 - in tennis shoes!
In 1964, at the age of 77, Gatewood hiked the A.T. again, for the third time! In that same year she blazed a 40-mile loop off the Buckeye Trail from Meigs County through Gallia County to Lawrence County.
One of Gatewood's favorite hikes was in the Hocking Hills - a 6-mile hike from Ash Cave to Cedar Falls to Old Man's Cave. That stretch of trail is now officially known as the Grandma Gatewood Trail. Be sure to read the full article - she sounds like a wonderful and inspirational woman.
* Blogcritics.org posted an interview with Paul V. Stutzman, the author of Hiking Through: Finding Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail. The book and the interview discusses how hiking the Appalachian Trail changed his life after losing his wife to breast cancer.
* Jeff Alt, author of the highly acclaimed "A Walk for Sunshine", will be at Benchmark Outdoor Outfitters in Cincinnati, Ohio to present his "Appalachian Trail Show". Alt decided to share the experience of hiking the Appalachian Trail by turning his adventure into a fundraiser for the Sunshine Home, a facility in Maumee, Ohio that cares for 850 developmentally disabled residents, including his brother, Aaron, who has cerebral palsy. He has since raised $175,000 for the home.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
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