'Brown Spirits' Are Back!

M. and I stopped at the liquor store on Thursday, and the #2 guy was asking me what kind of whiskey I liked.



Mainly bourbon and rye, I said. (I've been trying to perfect my Sazerac cocktail recipe lately.)



And he scurried off to the back office to photocopy some article from a liquor-trade magazine about different bourbons and their grain mixes, which was kind of him.



He also pointed out that the store's clearance bin contained a lot of tequilas.They were cutting back on tequila and vodka and ordering more whiskeys, he said. (Although they did not have any rye the last time that I looked, which is why I had to buy some in Colorado Springs.)



Then I remembered reading some business-journalist's article a some years ago about how "brown spirits" were a declining market share. Only old people drank bourbon. Tequila and vodka were where it was at.



Now we have these craft distillers popping up. Among others in Colorado are Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey (not bad, I've had it) and, in my bioregion, Deerhammer's "white whiskey," which is to say more of a moonshine recipe, not aged in charred barrels. Makes a decent Old Fashioned though.



So it's all about fashion, but I will enjoy this little whiskey renaissance while I can.

The Allure of Mt. Le Conte: A “Past and Present” Perspective

The following is a guest blog by Andy Drinnon from Twisted Ridge Photography. This is part one of a three-part series that will run on this blog through the end of this week. You can read an introduction on this series by clicking here .



Part One - Trailblazers

Mt. Le Conte in winter, as seen from Brushy Mountain. ©Twisted Ridge Photography

At an elevation of 6,593ft, Mt. Le Conte is the third highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Towering above Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the undulating ridgeline of Mt. Le Conte has had a magnetic effect on hikers and visitors to the Smokies for more than a century. As part one of a three-part series examining the allure of Mt. Le Conte, this post summarizes the trailblazing efforts of early-twentieth-century “Le Conte enthusiasts” whose profound love of the mountain fueled the movement to preserve its awe-inspiring beauty for future generations.



Today, hikers can access the summit of Mt. Le Conte via one of five distinct trails: Boulevard , Rainbow Falls , Trillium Gap , Bull Head , and the most popular route, Alum Cave . However, during pre-Park years, access to the top of the mountain was limited. Two trails were commonly used by pioneering hikers to reach the summit. At Bear Pen Hollow, located close to the present loop along Newfound Gap Road, hikers trekked up what author and founding member of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, Carlos C. Campbell, described as “barely a beaten path” that led to Le Conte’s West Point. This was a rather difficult route for even the most experienced hiker of the period. In his memoirs, Paul J. Adams explained that people would often climb tall trees next to the path in order to read the lay of the land and locate their next objective. After clambering through, and sometimes over, thick patches of tangled laurel and rhododendron, hikers would then follow the ridge from West Point to the summit. Because Newfound Gap Road had not yet been built, one’s journey to Le Conte from Bear Pen Hollow actually began in Gatlinburg. From there, hikers reached Bear Pen Hollow by walking (or riding horses) along the old Thomas Road, the first wagon road over the Smokies, which was located about a mile and a half to the west of the current highway.

Bear Pen Hollow and Mt. Le Conte’s West Point (upper left) as seen from Chimney Tops, ca. 1920-1940. ©Thompson Brothers Digital Photograph Collection, University of Tennessee Library Digital Collections

The second, more accessible early hiking trail on Mt. Le Conte was located southeast of Gatlinburg at Cherokee Orchard. This route began near a barn at the rear of the orchard where a sign post once indicated a distance of four miles from Cherokee Orchard to Cliff Top. There, a rugged path known at the time as the “Mill Creek Trail” (later renamed Le Conte Creek), followed a boulder-strewn route to Rainbow Falls where hikers would often rest before continuing up the mountain.



The old Mill Creek Trail once used by Adams and other hikers has since fallen out of use, but Rainbow Falls remains a popular destination for Park visitors. Today, hikers can head to the top of Mt. Le Conte from Rainbow Falls by following the Rainbow Falls Trail for an additional 4.2 miles. The current trail, constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps workers during the early days of the Park, crosses a footbridge over Le Conte Creek and leads away from the 80ft high waterfall. A switchback brings you above the falls where you can continue the steady climb up the mountain. However, in the 1920s, hikers undertook a more adventurous route in order to regain the old Mill Creek Trail above Rainbow Falls.



On August 6, 1924, Adams and Wiley Oakley, the famed local mountain guide from Gatlinburg, led a group of twenty-five individuals, including two members of the Southern Appalachian National Park Committee, to the summit of Mt. Le Conte from Cherokee Orchard. It was the hope of the Great Smoky Mountains Conservation Association who organized the hike, that the two committee members would be so impressed by the grandeur of the mountain that they would support the growing movement to create a national park in the Smokies. Prior to the hike, workers cleared large blow-downs and heavy underbrush along the route in an effort to improve trail conditions. While this may have simplified matters for the group on the day of the hike, Adams recorded the daunting scene that unfolded when the hikers reached Rainbow Falls.

Back then, one needed both strong legs and arms to gain the top of Rainbow Falls. The ‘trail’ went up a leaning [hemlock] tree near the bluff, about 100 feet west of the falls. Helpers at the base of the tree helped some of our less agile guests to reach the first tree branches. Others at the top helped them from the tree to solid ground. But everyone had to climb the middle distance under his own power.

One has to wonder what the Park Committee members from Washington, D.C. were thinking as they scrambled up the fallen tree to the top of Rainbow Falls. Fortunately for the GSMCA, no one was injured and the hiking party was able to reach a rough camp established near Cliff Top.

Cherokee Orchard as it looked in 1933 (Mt. Le Conte in the background). ©Albert "Dutch" Roth Digital Photograph Collection, University of Tennessee Library Digital Collections

Two weeks before the Park Committee hike, the influential leader of the Smoky Mountains national park movement, Col. David C. Chapman, along with Oakley and a dozen other men, blazed a trail on the south-face of Mt. Le Conte which served as the descent route for the group. According to Adams, the trailblazers spread out and began searching for a ridge that connected the crest of the mountain with Alum Cave Bluff. After locating the ridge about a half-mile below Cliff Top, the men began the tedious work of cutting a new path. This they linked with a pre-Civil War trail leading from the bluff to Grassy Patch, now the site of the parking area for the Alum Cave trailhead. The present Alum Cave Trail , graded and redirected by men of the CCC, crosses the old, disused path several times along its length.



Alum Cave Bluff presented members of the 1924 park commission hiking party with another tough challenge as they descended the newly blazed trail from the summit of Mt. Le Conte. On the previous day, the group had to scramble up a tree to reach the top of Rainbow Falls. The next afternoon, they had to negotiate the 80ft high, 500ft wide overhanging cliff before carrying on to Grassy Patch. Campbell explained that several members “climbed down a tree, the top of which reached just above the upper edge of the cliff.” Others, he noted, managed to slide down the “almost perpendicular slope” to the side of the rocky outcrop. As time went on, a cable was secured near the top of the bluff to assist hikers coming down the mountain. Today, however, Alum Cave Bluff makes for a pleasant, rather than intimidating rest stop for hikers heading to and from the summit area. The cable has long since been removed, and the current Alum Cave Trail bypasses any serious difficulties near the popular location.

A narrow section of the Alum Cave Trail leading to the summit of Mt. Le Conte. ©Twisted Ridge Photography

By the mid-1920s, Mt. Le Conte had become the focal point for influential Smokies enthusiasts who tirelessly promoted the idea of creating a national park in the mountains of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Combined with the assistance of experienced guides such as Paul Adams and Wiley Oakley, the trailblazing efforts conducted during this period by the Great Smoky Mountains Conservation Association and members of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club (organized in 1924) helped to make that idea a reality. On several occasions, potential park supporters, along with National Park Service commissioners, were led to the summit by means of the old Mill Creek Trail where the lush beauty of the virgin forest and the spectacle of Rainbow Falls “brought high praise” from participants of the hike. After visiting the summit, hiking parties often descended Mt. Le Conte via the newly cut trail on Alum Cave ridge which provided alternative access to Alum Cave Bluff and the viewpoint known as Inspiration Point.



Although they were rough and rugged, the earliest trails leading up Mt. Le Conte allowed an ever-increasing number of hikers to reach the top of the iconic peak. Part two of this series will examine the important activities undertaken by Paul Adams who, in 1925, established a camp for fellow Le Conte enthusiasts near the summit.





Andy Drinnon is an avid hiker, a historian, and a photographer. You can visit his blog at twistedridgephotography.com , or check out the latest on his photography project titled, Scenes from the Smokies: “Past and Present” .







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Baby New Born Lambs Are Anti Bah

Baby New Born Lambs Are Anti Bah

Hummingbirds Slo-o-o-o-wed Down

In about three weeks (three weeks!) it will be time for the first hummingbird to arrive, and shortly thereafter, the Hummingbird Wars will start as they chitter and streak from feeder to feeder under the veranda roof.



This video slows their voices and motion down ten times.

A few of our first Flowers of Spring at Goat Wall in Mazama

A few of our first Flowers of Spring at Goat Wall in Mazama

Some High Plains Bird News

Mountain Plover (Cornell Univ.)

Another news story on the upcoming annual Kaval mountain plover festival. Or how a tiny farming town, fearful of federal regulation, learned to love a (not officially) threatened species.



Meanwhile, to the southeast, the lesser prairie chicken has been placed on the "threatened" list.

The prairie chicken, a type of grouse known for its colorful neck plume and stout build, has lost more than 80 percent of its traditional habitat, mostly because of human activity such as oil and gas drilling, ranching and construction of power lines and wind turbines, Ashe said. The bird, which weighs from 1 ½ to 2 pounds, has also been severely impacted by the region's ongoing drought.

Populations in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico are affected. Governors are upset. So when is the Lesser Prairie Chicken Festival?

First Pasque Flower of Spring

I saw these Pasque flowers blooming on the 26th when I went to check a nearby scout camera.



The amazing part is that they are growing in a finger-deep (or less) layer of leaves and pine needles on top of a huge boulder.

The Allure of Mt. Le Conte: A “Past and Present” Perspective

The following is a guest blog by Andy Drinnon from Twisted Ridge Photography. This posting is the introduction to a three-part series that will run on this blog over the course of the next week. As a photographer and an historian, Andy will be providing a historical perspective on hiking to one of the most iconic spots in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Mt. Le Conte. In addition to his own photography, Andy will also be including some rarely seen historical photographs.



Introduction:

Looking west from Cliff Top. ©Twisted Ridge Photography

Cliff Top, a rocky outcrop that offers some of the finest views in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is situated about a half-mile to the west of the summit of Mt. Le Conte. Paul J. Adams, who in 1925 established the first official camp for hikers on the mountain, appropriately described Cliff Top as the “gathering point of Le Conte enthusiasts in the late afternoon.” Within the pages of his Mt. Le Conte, published in 1966, Adams recalled that those who made the short walk from the camp to Cliff Top came “to watch the sun sink through clouds shot through with orange, purple and golden fire.” Nearly a century later, the allure of Mt. Le Conte continues to attract hikers of all ages who trek up the mountain and gaze upon spectacular sunsets from this popular vantage point.

Heavenly skies from Cliff Top, the sunset peak of Mt. Le Conte. ©Twisted Ridge Photography

When I began thinking about a possible topic for a series of guest blog posts on HikingintheSmokys.com , I remembered Adams’ passion for Mt. Le Conte and the special relationship that he formed with the mountain during his lifetime. Adams believed that the high ridge and lower slopes of Mt. Le Conte comprised the most outstanding section of the Smokies. This sentiment is now shared by countless hikers and visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park who are drawn to the summit of Mt. Le Conte by its scenic vistas, its natural beauty, and its charm. Given the mountain’s iconic status among the many peaks of the Smokies, it is perhaps no surprise that the webpage dedicated to the Alum Cave Trail which leads to the top of Mt. Le Conte is one of the most frequently viewed trail pages on HikingintheSmokys.com. Of the five officially maintained National Park Service trails one can take to the summit, Alum Cave Trail is the shortest and possibly the most widely used. Drawn by the splendor of the mountain, every year thousands of hikers ascend this five-mile-long trail. Many return to their vehicles having completed a memorable hiking experience that they will cherish for years to come.



For me, the popularity of Alum Cave Trail begs the question: how many of those who hike to Mt. Le Conte each year are aware of the fact that they are following in the footsteps of pioneering outdoorsmen like Paul Adams whose lives were forever changed by their experiences on the mountain? To shed light on this historical significance, I opted to write a series of blog posts that compare the early days of hiking to Mt. Le Conte with the present. Over the course of the last century, the nature of hiking on this popular mountain has certainly changed. Yet, the captivating allure of Mt. Le Conte remains as strong today as it was for those who once labored up primitive paths to its the summit.

A group of hikers enjoy the views from Alum Cave Trail during the late-1930s. © Tennessee State Library and Archives, Dept. of Conservation Photograph Collection

Three subsequent posts will follow this introduction. The first examines the trailblazing efforts of early-twentieth-century hikers who fervently supported the national park movement in the Smokies. The second takes a closer look at the role Paul Adams played in establishing a hiker’s camp near the summit. The camp formed the basis of the present-day LeConte Lodge - built by Jack Huff - which accommodates thousands of visitors each year. The final post explains how certain traditions begun by Adams and a host of pioneering Le Conte enthusiasts have survived the test of time.



A number of images captured during the 1920s and 1930s by notable figures of Smokies hiking lore such as Jim Thompson and Herbert Webster will be included in this series. These historic photos showcasing scenes from Mt. Le Conte have been made available to the public through the Great Smoky Mountains Regional Project directed by Anne Bridges and Ken Wise at the University of Tennessee Special Collections Library. A special thanks goes to Anne and Ken for assisting me with my research and for taking an interest in my work.



Earlier this year, I started a photography project titled, Scenes from the Smokies: “Past and Present.” As part of this ongoing project, I will be utilizing my abilities as an avid hiker, a historian, and a photographer to recreate many of the nostalgic photos that I have located in the UT Library Digital Collections. A few of these recreations will appear in this series. For those interested, future comparisons of past and present images, along with relevant background material, will be featured on my blog at twistedridgephotography.com .



Lastly, I would like to thank Jeff at HikingintheSmokys.com for inviting me to write this series of guest blog posts for his very well-designed and resourceful website. Enjoy!







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Cades Cove

Over the years I've had several opportunities to feature videos by Matt Brass on this blog. In this short film, Matt highlights the sights and sounds of Cades Cove for HuffPost Travel. I think you'll enjoy this one:





Cades Cove: Great Smoky Mountain National Park from Matt Brass on Vimeo.



If planning to visit Cades Cove this summer, you may want to consider staying in Townsend. If you've never had the pleasure of staying in the Townsend area, also known as the “Quiet Side of the Smokies”, you may want to note that it's much easier getting in and out of the park, and is fairly close to Cades Cove. If you need a rental cabin during your visit, be sure to visit our Townsend Accommodations page .







Jeff

Hiking in the Smokies

Windchimes in the Wets

The Haunted Windchimes, a Pueblo-based folk/roots music band, playing outside the Songbird Cafe in Beulah, Colo., in the foothills of the Wet Mountains.

Recipients Announced for 2014 North Carolina Appalachian Trail Specialty License Plate Grants

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) announced yesterday this year’s recipients of Appalachian Trail (A.T.) Specialty License Plate grants for projects that enhance the Trail in North Carolina. This spring, $35,000 was granted to 11 partner organizations, including A.T. maintaining clubs, schools, botanists, ecologists and environmental and conservation groups. This year’s recipients include the Carolina Mountain Club, Friends of the Smokies, Nantahala Hiking Club, North Buncombe High School Adventure Club, Hot Springs Tourism Association, Southern Appalachian Raptor Research, Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club and The Wilderness Society’s Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards.



The grant funds will also support additional ATC programs and projects in North Carolina, including a school-wide Trails To Every Classroom immersion program for Summit Charter School in Cashiers; Wilderness First Aid courses for A.T. club volunteers; the Roan Mountain Ridgerunner program; and a workshop to construct a pollinator garden and monitor Monarch butterflies at the Wesser Nantahala Outdoor Center.



“The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is excited to grant these funds to our partner organizations to support a number of projects that preserve and protect the Appalachian Trail,” said Morgan Sommerville, ATC regional director. “The projects represent a broad range of work that will enhance the Trail in North Carolina.”



The A.T. Specialty License Plate grant program is funded by drivers who purchase or renew their North Carolina A.T. license plates. Twenty dollars from each license plate purchase is given to the ATC to support its work in the state. In addition to funding the grant program, the money is used for A.T. greenway acquisition and to help support the work of the ATC’s Southern Regional Office in Asheville. Overall, A.T. specialty license plate sales in North Carolina bring the ATC about $120,000 each year.



A.T. specialty license plates are currently offered in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia and are a way to support the ATC in its work to sustain the Trail into the future.



For more information about the ATC license tag program, visit http://ift.tt/NSUgpo .







Jeff

Hiking in the Smokies

Summiting Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route

Below is a pretty good video of what it's like to climb Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. The video takes viewers through the Boulder Field, the Keyhole, the Ledges, the Trough, the Narrows and the Homestretch. Although many hikers and backpackers reach the summit each year, this really isn't a hike:







As you can see, to reach the summit of Longs Peak is more than just a tough day hike. It's considered to be a Class 3 climb, and requires some basic mountaineering skills, especially if the weather goes south on you while on or near the summit. If you think this is something you would like to do someday, I highly recommend learning more about this climb on the 14ers.com website .



If you're like me and think that the summit is beyond your comfort level, you can still hike up to the Keyhole. Although it's an extremely tough hike, there's relatively little exposure to steep drop-offs. In fact, for experienced hikers, it's one of the most popular hikes in the park. The views along much of the hike, especially from the Keyhole itself are quite spectacular. For more information on this hike, please click here .



If you do plan to visit Rocky Mountain National Park this year, please note that our website offers a wide variety of accommodation listings for both Estes Park and Grand Lake .







Jeff

Hiking in the Smokies

Goodbye, Dave Brockie

Dave Brockie, during his stint with Virginia Beach Police Department

Suddenly today, there were a bunch of hits here, which is unusual. When I tracked them back to the source, it was an article about the death of David Brockie, founder of Death Piggy, and later, GWAR. Sadness.



I'd pretty much left Richmond by the time GWAR came about, but always enjoyed Death Piggy more. So much so, that 30 years after dancing to their manic music, it seemed important to post about their place in the history of punk, the post which is getting all the hits now, apparently because of the Death Piggy image I posted then and there, and here:

David Brockie and I were not friends, and he wouldn't remember me, but he influenced who I became. The random hilarity of Death Piggy, the utter freedom expressed by a band who could get up and play a song consisting entirely of the words "No prob dude," the refusal to plummet into the pitfalls of many a hardcore band (brick-headed hate, intoxicated inability to perform, and maybe worst of all, sanctimonious preachiness), and the commitment to just having fun stuck with me.



The internet, especially those cul-de-nut-sacs where know-it-all critics lurk, is full of references to the ridiculousness of Death Piggy, but without much appreciation of what a gift it was. They use terms like "Silly Core," and treat Death Piggy as a joke precursor to GWAR, which of course is the opposite of what really happened; GWAR was the Death Piggy sideshow that took over. That Death Piggy did not depend on spike-studded leather or huge mohawks to express their hardcore punkness did not mean that they could not thrash out noise with the best of 'em.



Dave Brockie was a leader in the Richmond punk scene because he did not act like a leader. He didn't give a shit how you danced when they played. He did not write lyrics preaching a Message (a Mess, maybe, but that's another thing entirely). He rode the GWAR waves, but as far as I can tell, did not become an insufferable asshole. He was a self-mocking artist. His "time waster" posts (on some site I cannot re-find now) would show up every so often as I surfed the net--one of my favorites was a screed about art in Richmond, especially the Lady Diana Mural and the Bojangles statue, which he correctly recognized as a racist city's backhanded insult, tucked away off the main (white people) drag and appearing to have been literally slapped together out of shit.



It's sad to lose a creative force. It's a loss to have a rebel die. Personal friend or not, I'm pretty sad. Maybe these lyrics, from the first Death Piggy release, will help:



BATHTUB IN SPACE (by Death Piggy)



I tried to get out, I tried to dry off

But when I got out it called my bluff

Bathtub in space, bathtub in space

Once you get in what a difference you make



I went up in space, I've given up hope

When I got out I slipped on the soap

Bathtub in space, bathtub in space

Bathtub in space what a difference it'll make



We're all in bathtubs, given up hope

What's that mean but soap on a rope



Bathtub in space, high above earth

You know I'm covered in cosmic dirt

Bathtub in space, bathtub in space

Once you get in what a difference it'll make







Time for a nice long soak.

Combat Veterans to 'Walk Off The War' on the Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) has again partnered with Warrior Hike to provide a group of military veterans the opportunity to “Walk Off The War” along the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). This year’s group of veterans began the six-month-long physical challenge on March 17th at Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Trail in Georgia.

The "Walk Off The War" Program provides participating combat veterans with equipment and supplies required to complete a thru-hike of one of America’s National Scenic Trails; coordinates trail town support in the forms of transportation, food and lodging; and assists veterans with future employment opportunities through partners and sponsors.



"Hiking over 2,000 miles during the course of six months gives a veteran an opportunity to decompress and come to terms with their wartime experiences," said Sean Gobin, Warrior Hike executive director. "The camaraderie that is shared between our combat veterans and the trail town communities helps facilitate their integration back into civilian life.”



Veterans hiking the A.T. this year include Scott Brooks-Miller, a Vietnam War veteran, and several returning service members from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.



The ATC, A.T. maintaining clubs and veterans groups in trail towns will provide the veterans with support services, including lodging, transportation and meals.



“Similar to Earl Shaffer, the first Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, these veterans will have the opportunity to journey along the Appalachian Trail and reconnect with nature and with the American people,” said Ron Tipton, executive director and CEO of the ATC. “The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is proud to team up with Warrior Hike to offer this experience to our military veterans.”



This year, Warrior Hike has expanded to include end-to-end hikes on the Continental Divide and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails in addition to the A.T.



For more information, visit http://ift.tt/1iQpABm or www.warriorhike.com .







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Taking care of your hiking feet

Spring has finally arrived, and with it comes hiking season. As we prepare for our first hikes of the year, now's a good time to take some proactive steps to help prevent unwanted blisters. The following are a few tips, suggestions and strategies for taking care of your feet before and during a hike to help ensure that it isn’t ruined as a result of blisters:



Toenails: Make sure you take the time to trim your toenails before a big hike, especially one that involves long descents. It’s best to clip your toenails as short as possible so that there’s no extra nail length. If need be, file the nails down until they’re flush with the skin. Sometimes I forget to do this and end up with a long nail digging into the flesh of a neighboring toe!



Socks: One way of preventing blisters is to wear proper socks. This means staying far away from 100% cotton socks which absorb sweat and can lead to blisters. It’s best to wear socks made from synthetics, or a blend of synthetics and cotton, which wicks moisture away and keeps your feet drier and cooler. Also, make sure you wear socks that fit properly. Socks that are too big can bunch together in boots and create friction areas that result in blisters.



Finally, I always keep an extra pair of socks in my backpack just in case the ones I’m wearing get wet.



Boots: Much has already been written on boots and walking shoes , including what type to wear, proper fit, etc. That discussion is beyond the scope of this article, but if you’re looking for an informative article on the subject I highly recommend this one . Also, my wife has had problems with blisters, and even lost a toenail while hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon several years ago. She’s since discovered that as a result of her narrow feet, she wasn't wearing boots that fit her properly. This article on Backpacker Mag offers solutions for people who have similar issues.



Boot laces: One way to help prevent blisters from forming on your heels, and toes from hitting the front of your boot, is to make sure your boots are properly laced, especially on descents.



When heading downhill it’s important to make sure that your heel doesn’t slip forward, thus causing friction which leads to blisters. The key is to keep your heel secure within the boot, while still allowing some room for natural swelling that occurs in the fore and mid areas of your foot.



Most good hiking boots have two types of eyelets: closed metal rings along the top of the foot, and quick-release types on the top of the boot above the ankle.



On the lower eyelets along the top of the foot, it’s best to lace your shoes with a little give. In other words, not snug, but not real loose either. This will give your foot room to expand as your foot swells during a hike.



Then, on that last lace before you start lacing through the quick release eyelets, do a single, very snug, overhand loop. Lace through the first pair of quick release eyelets and then do another snug overhand loop. Do the same all the way to the top of the eyelets (don’t strangle your ankle though!). This will anchor your heel area to the boot and keep it from sliding.



Another option for lacing boots, especially if you have narrow feet, is to use the technique outlined by the Hiking Lady in this video:









Gaiters: Most people would agree that wet socks suck. Wet socks are not only uncomfortable, but can also be dangerous if it’s cold out. Moreover, hiking for long periods in wet socks is a prescription for blisters.



One way to combat wet terrain, snow, and even sand and pebbles from jumping into your boots, is to wear gaiters. Basically there are two types: high and low. High gaiters are used for snowshoeing and mountaineering, extend to just below your knees, and are designed to keep your socks and pants dry. Short gaiters generally cover the lower part of your shin and are used in warmer weather to protect against wet terrain, sand and pebbles.



Blisters: The following are a few other suggestions for avoiding blisters:



* Train your feet. Don’t go out on a long hike without taking the time to toughen up your feet by doing walks or short hikes leading up to the big day.



* Don’t try to break in brand new boots on a long hike either. Wear a new pair around town, or on short hikes, before taking them long distance.



* Walking barefoot around the house, especially outside, will toughen the skin of your feet.



* Stop and remove dirt, sand, or any other debris that gets in your boots ASAP.



* Air your feet out during a break in order to cool and dry them off.



* For people with feet that sweat excessively, try using extra-strength antiperspirant creams, roll-ons, or powders to reduce sweating.



* If you have areas on your foot that have caused problems in the past, try putting moleskin or athletic tape on before blisters have a chance to form.



* If you do develop a hot spot, cover them immediately with moleskin, athletic tape, or even duct tape before they become blisters.



Treating Blisters: Well, if all of the above fails, and you still wind up with a blister, here are a few tips for treating them (and another good reason for keeping a small first aid kit in your pack).



* If the blister isn’t torn and is full of liquid, pierce it from the side with a sterile needle at its base and let all the fluid drain out. If the affected skin is still intact, don't remove it. Instead, cover the drained blister with moleskin.



* If the blister is already torn, carefully cut away the loose skin and clean the area with antiseptic. Allow it to dry and harden in the open air for as long possible. Before resuming your hike, put a band-aid or gauze over the torn blister and then put a layer of moleskin over the blister area. It’s best to cut a doughnut shaped piece of moleskin that fits around the blister rather than putting it directly on it.



* If you have a blister that's buried deep in the skin and doesn't hold a lot of liquid, it’s best not to puncture them. Instead, just cover them with a moleskin doughnut to relieve the friction.



If you have any other helpful tips, please feel free to add them in the comments section.







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

You Can't Burn 'Em, You Can't Plow 'Em: SE Colorado's Tumbleweed Blizzard

Southeast Colorado county officials try to deal with the combination of blustery spring winds and last summer's bumper crop of tumbleweeds (Russian thistle).



Burning kills the seeds, but you cannot burn them when it is windy. And the various mulching solutions just scatter the seeds.

Section of Trillium Gap Trail Closed

The Great Smoky Mountains announced today that a 2.3 mile section of the Trillium Gap Trail, between the Rainbow Falls parking lot and the Grotto Falls parking lot, is closed due to hazardous tree removal.



At this point there's no word on how long the closure will last. To get updated information on this and all temporary closures, please click here







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Kilkelly, Ireland

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone and anyone who claims a little Irish heritage, even it's only for a day. I wanted to share a song I discovered on a PBS program several years ago. This sad and haunting song, called Kilkelly, Ireland, was taken from letters sent to a son in America by a father left behind in Kilkelly, Ireland in County Mayo. Whoever put this video together did a great job:











Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Photographs from the Great Smoky Mountains

The following short film is a compilation of some excellent photos that showcase the grand beauty of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The photos were taken by M&D Hills Photography. For some reason the video defaults to the lowest quality, so you may want to change the setting to HD. Enjoy:



)







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Outside Investigator Praises Black Forest Firefighters

KKTV in Colorado Springs has a good story (text and video) on the recent independent investigation into last summer's Black Forest Fire.



The report said that Black Forest Fire/Rescue Chief Bob Harvey, his volunteers, and the other departments that initially responded acted in ways that were "professional, heroic, well-meaning and exemplary."



The worst thing that Harvey stands accused of maybe is not having enough paper road maps on hand to distribute to firefighters arriving from outside the area. Point taken.



It also includes accounts an incident in which firefighters say they were sent on a "secret special assignment" into a dangerous area specifically to protect the home of the acting commander of Emergency Services for El Paso County, Bob McDonald.



It also "states that there have been nine suspicious fires in the Black Forest area since the Black Forest Fire. There is a possibility of these being related."



The sheriff, Terry Maketa, who has had a bee in his bonnet about Harvey ever since the fire, responded that the report was "garbage."

Harvey has been harshly criticized by El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa for his leadership during the Black Forest Fire, the most destructive fire in Colorado history. A war of words was set off late last year after Harvey told members of the media that the fire was likely intentionally caused. This prompted Maketa to release a withering statement alleging that Harvey was "covering up his own mishandling" of the fire.

I suspect that voters in the area would side with the fire chief, but Sheriff Maketa is at the end of his term abd cannot be re-elected due to term limits.



The day that the fire started, I listened for a while to the Internet feed from the sheriff's dispatch center, until it just started making me too nervous. There were some calls from units outside Black Forest who had responded, used all the water that they had brought with them, and were trying to learn where they could go to refill their engines. But it was not chaos.



At most Harvey might be guilty of optimism that the fire could have been brought under control quickly the first day, June 11, 2013, before the combination of dry weather, dense pine forest, and wind sent it off and running. It burned more than 14,000 acres, killed two people, and destroyed more than 500 homes.

Karl Meltzer Announces Appalachian Trail Speed Record Attempt

Ultrarunner Karl Meltzer announced on his website this week that he will be making another attempt at the Appalachian Trail speed record this season.



He made a very strong attempt at the record in 2008. Although he was hampered by injuries, he still completed the 2176 miles, and roughly 500,000 feet of vertical climbing, in just 54 days, 21 hours, and 12 minutes. That time now ranks as the fifth-fastest recorded time in history. Jennifer Pharr Davis currently holds the Appalachian Trail speed record after completing the trail in just 46 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes in 2011.



Here's the announcement Karl made on his website:

In other big news. I am now making a formal mention that I’ll be headed back to Mt. Kathadin in Maine for another run at the AT record. I”m sure I’ll get some negative response, but keep in mind…this is all about being on that amazing trail, moving quickly and efficiently, and giving it all the respect I can possibly give it. If I fail, or fall behind a potential record, I am jumping in our vehicle and coming home. I won’t complete it this time if the record can’t go down. There will be no blog, no circus, and no listening to people tell me that hikers are faster than runners. Or visa versa….there is no difference, one person just moves a bit quicker and takes more risks.

You can read more on his blog by clicking here .







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

SNAPSHOT: Playing with Glass

I know this isn’t nature but I thought it was a cool looking shot. Just got a new Canon G15 Power Shot camera and trying out the settings. I needed a smaller camera to hike with and this one seems to fit the bill. Going on a hike with hubby tomorrow and hope to have some great nature shots to share with you. Hope y’all have a great weekend too!

Restoring the Royal Gorge Burn

Tracy Harmon at the Pueblo Chieftain has a story with photos today on restoration following last June's Royal Gorge Fire, which was they are now saying was human-caused, as I suspected. (Arson or accident—they are not saying which).



One big issue is trying to keep sediment out of Cañon City's municipal water intake, which is just downstream of where the fire jumped the Arkansas River.



The scenic bridge and surrounding park are open weekends—get updates at their site.

Southern Colorado Drought Conditions Improve

Click to enlarge

Drought conditions have eased in the Wet Mountains and Sangre de Cristo Range, but southeastern Colorado is still dry.

Appalachian Trail Conservancy Seeks Trail Crew Volunteers

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is inviting volunteers, ages 18 and older, to join Trail Crews that will help repair and construct new sections of the famous Appalachian Trail. No previous experience is necessary – just a desire to work hard, live in the backcountry and have a great time among new friends.

The ATC’s all-volunteer Trail Crews are led by paid trail crew professionals who teach volunteers trail construction, stewardship and Leave No Trace skills during the multi-day adventure. The ATC provides food, tools and the equipment necessary to get the job completed. Multi-week volunteers are welcome to stay at our various base camps between sessions.



Trail Crews tackle projects such as relocation, reconstruction, and bridge and shelter construction along the A.T. The crews are active every year, from April through October, on projects located from Maine to Georgia. Trail Crew projects, which may last for a week or more, are planned and completed in cooperation with Trail-maintaining clubs and agency partners such as the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.



Konnarock, the ATC’s flagship crew, tackles projects involving trail construction from the A.T.'s southern terminus in Springer Mountain, Georgia to Rockfish Gap in central Virginia. Volunteers work a five-day week in the field and return to base camp for a celebratory dinner the evening of the fifth day. This year, crew weeks begin May 7 and end August 13, with work sites varying from Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia to Little Rock Knob in Tennessee.



The Mid-Atlantic Crew is also searching for volunteers for its spring, summer and fall sessions. Based at an old farmstead in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the Crew works on the A.T. from Rockfish Gap in Virginia to the New York-Connecticut state line. Sessions begin April 3 and end October 27.



For adventurous volunteers, the Smokies Wilderness Elite Appalachian Trail Crew (S.W.E.A.T.) leads workers into the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to work at the highest elevations along the A.T. Six-day sessions begin June 7 and run through August 26. Those who wish to volunteer in the Smokies may also consider the Rocky Top Trail Crew, which works exclusively along 70 miles of the A.T. following the ridge crest from Davenport Gap to Fontana Dam, North Carolina. Rocky Top Crew sessions begin August 30 and end October 25.



Additional volunteer opportunities include the Vermont Long Trail Patrol (VLTP), which works on heavy construction projects on hiking trails in Vermont, including the co-aligned A.T. and Long Trail, and the Maine Trail Crew, which focuses on projects involving reconstruction and rockwork along 267 miles of the A.T. VLTP sessions begin July 4 and end August 12, and Maine Trail Crew sessions begin June 14 and end August 13.



To learn more about the ATC’s Trail Crews, visit http://ift.tt/1ev6fAA .







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Tent Rocks

If you’re ever in the Santa Fe or Albuquerque area, be sure to take the one-hour drive to visit Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. This is truly a remarkable place. The best way to see this unique landscape is to hike the Cave Loop / Slot Canyon Trail. This short video will give you an idea of what this magical place is all about. For more detailed information on the hike, please click here .









Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

North Carolina State Parks actively seeking volunteers for 2014

North Carolina’s state parks are actively seeking volunteers to help protect the state’s rich natural resources and serve an expected 14 million visitors this year, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.

At all 40 state parks and state recreation areas, volunteers serve in many capacities including campground hosts, visitor center aids, trail workers and special events coordinators, and they provide manpower for specials projects involving tree planting, habitat improvement, inventory of rare species and environmental education.



“Throughout our 98-year history, citizen volunteers have been critical partners of our state parks,” said Carol Tingley, acting state parks director. “Together, state parks and their volunteers demonstrate strong stewardship and build stronger communities with a conservation ethic.”



Anyone interested in volunteering can contact a nearby park through the division’s website or contact the division’s volunteer coordinator at 919-707-9346 or tara.gallagher@ncparks.gov .







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

U.S. Mint to Launch Shenandoah National Park Quarter

Back in January the U.S. Mint launched a new quarter honoring Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Next month will be Shenandoah National Park's turn to be honored by a quarter in a series known as the America the Beautiful Quarters™ Program.

The Shenandoah coin will be the second of five new United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters for 2014. It will also be the twenty-second for the program that started in 2010, which will see a total of 56 new strikes during its eleven year run. Arches, Great Sand Dunes and Everglades national parks will be the other three parks honored throughout the rest of the year.



An issuing ceremony will be held at Skyline High School in Front Royal, VA on the morning of April 4th. The director of the U.S. Mint will be on hand, and people will be able to purchase uncirculated quarters at the public event.







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Blog Stew on the Scenic Railroad

¶ After the June 2013 fire, the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is reopening for limited hours. Meanwhile, the scenic train that goes from Cañon City up the gorge and back is upgrading and hoping to get its tourist riders back.

[Owner Mark] Greksa believes his yearly passenger counts will increase as he continues to add amenities. Last year, he let passengers pay to ride in the locomotive next to the engineer. He also eliminated the train's "concession car," which offered only vended foods to coach customers, and created a dining car where they can order hot food, and a "bar car" with bistro-styled tables. Food offerings include beef and buffalo items, organic chicken and a crafted pale ale, Royal Gorge Route Rogue, Greksa said. In the summer, the train will offer dishes made from rattlesnake, antelope and ostrich.

¶ Managers at the national wildlife refuges in the San Luis Valley are wondering if groundwater pumping rules will affect the areas flooded for sandhill crane habitat.GQ



¶ GQ magazine runs another art-of-manliness story on being introduced to deer and elk hunting in Montana. Actually, it's not bad; it has a Chesapeake Bay retriever in it. (Hat tip: Suburban Bushwacker)



¶ Most water from the Fraser River in Middle Park gets sent under the Continental Divide and into Denver's water system. Trout Unlimited, however, has worked out a new deal to protect flows for fisheries by regulating when the water is removed and how much.

The deal announced Tuesday could make the Fraser the most-watched river in Colorado – and maybe in the West. It sets out an innovative, science-based plan that seeks to balance increasing urban needs for water with an imperative to restore crucial habitat for river trout.

Me, I see the Fraser only when looking out the window of Amtrak's California Zephyr and thinking, "That looks really fishable in there." Maybe I should do something about that.

Smokies Announces Spring Opening Schedule

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced the spring opening schedule for park facilities for the 2014 season. Campgrounds and secondary roads began opening yesterday.



You can find the full schedule by clicking here .







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Illegal Campfire is cause of Rocks Mountain Fire in Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park personnel have determined that the cause of the Rocks Mountain Fire was an illegal campfire. The fire, which was reported to the park at approximately 3:10 p.m. on Friday, February 28th, had burned approximately 450 acres inside Shenandoah National Park before a winter storm brought rain, sleet and snow to the area.



Fire managers visited the fire location just northeast of Crimora, Virginia yesterday and confirmed that a continuous layer of snow still covers much of the incident area. Once the snow melts, firefighters will patrol the area for hot spots.



The following trails in the park remain closed: Riprap, Wildcat Ridge, Rocks Mountain and Paine Run.







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Tennessee State Parks to Host Spring Hikes

Tennessee State Parks announced yesterday that they will be offering free, guided hikes on March 22nd. The second in the quarterly hikes program, the Spring Hikes will be offered at each of the 54 state parks.

“We are excited to welcome the spring season with hikes at each of our great parks,” Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill said. “These hikes are a great way to get outside, exercise and enjoy nature with friends and family.”



From Reelfoot Lake to Fall Creek Falls to Warriors’ Path and every state park in between, the 2014 Spring Hikes are designed for all ages and abilities. Some hikes will be approximately one mile in length and tailored for novice hikers, while others are lengthier and geared toward more experienced hikers. For a more in-depth look into planned hikes in your area, please click here .







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Ramsey Cascades Trail Closed Until Late April

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced earlier today that the Ramsey Cascades Trail has been temporarily closed due to a damaged footbridge.



According to a park press release a 60-foot footbridge was damaged when high winds toppled a large hemlock tree, which destroyed the handrail. The trail is expected to reopen by late April.







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Smokies Offers Reward for Information on Historic Window Theft

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials are offering a reward for information regarding the recent theft of an antique window from a historic cabin in the Elkmont Historic District. The window was discovered missing in late January resulting in a significant loss to the unique features that characterize the cabin.



“This is a very sad case of vandalism and theft,” said Chief Ranger Clay Jordan. “The people who did this have stolen a piece of our shared history that can never be replicated.” Park officials are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for the theft.

The missing window was from the former summer home of a Knoxville glass maker featuring an intricate and unusual design. The entire 3 feet x 12 feet glass window is missing from the frame which includes 34 individual glass panes, each measuring 4 inches x 4 inches. Two of the original 36 glass panes were missing prior to the theft of the entire window.



It is unlawful to disturb or deface natural and historic resources within the Park. Perpetrators may be sentenced up to 6 months in jail and or fined up to $5,000. Anyone with information as to the possible identity of the individuals responsible for the theft is encouraged to call the tip hotline at 865-436-1580.



The Elkmont Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. Upon its registration as a Historic District, it was comprised of 74 cottages, outbuildings and the Wonderland Hotel with 49 of the structures noted as being of significance to the District.







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Blog Stew for Airport Survival

¶ News from the other America. A headline on the Reuters news site reads "Winter travel survival tips," and I am thinking, yeah, blanket in the car, something to eat and drink, warm coat . . . But the subhead continues, "Here’s what to do when your flight gets canceled." Get creative.



Some people suggest that you call the service desk and tell them you want to book an international, first-class flight, in order to jump to the head of the queue. And if the plane crashes, remember the Chilean rugby team.



¶ "After more than 30 years living in metropolitan Detroit, Kristen Schmitt moved to the Green Mountains in Vermont and now she's determined to make hunting part of her new life." So she started a blog, "City Roots to Hunting Boots." Just one post so far, on the sustainable/locavore food angle.



¶ A big solar plant is planned for Pueblo. Supposedly, the power produced "will be equal to the power used by 31,000 homes." No one ever comes back and checks those optimistic projections, however. At least it is next to an existing coal-fired plant, which means that transmission lines are already in place.

A Yosemite Classic: The Vernal Fall / Nevada Fall Loop

The spectacular Mist Trail at the eastern end of the Yosemite Valley leads to some of the most popular destinations in Yosemite National Park. Although the mileage is relatively moderate, this is still a fairly tough hike. It’s all worth it though; you’ll visit star attractions such as Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall and the Emerald Pool. For more information on this “bucket list” hike, please click here .

Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Now We're Talking about a Little Ice Age Again

This is not reported on the five o'clock news, but solar activity is declining.



A short video at the BBC, which I cannot embed, "Has the Sun Gone to Sleep?" explains what is happening—a possible return to the Maunder Minimum.

The Maunder Minimum [1645–1715] of course was a period of almost no sunspots at all for decades and we saw a really dramatic period where there were very cold winters in the northern hemisphere. It was a period where you had a kind of mini ice-age. You had a period where the Thames froze in winters and so on. It was an interesting time.

Another name for that period is The Little Ice Age. In the video, you hear researchers talking about phenomena "that we don't really understand." And about "a redistribution of temperature around the North Atlantic."



Full transcript here (scroll down).

A Piñon Canyon "Armistice"

The big news in southern Colorado back in the late 1970s was the Army's search for a new training area for mechanized troops.



Fort Carson, formed during World War II (at the begging of city fathers who wanted soldiers' pay spent in Colorado Springs), was created by expropriating ranch land to create the 137,000-acre military reservation.



But it was not enough anymore, the Army said. They wanted another training area close enough to shuttle units back and forth. Various locations were suggested: South Park, the San Luis Valley, the High Plains.



The High Plains "won," and a new round of condemnations created the 235,896-acre Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site along the Purgatory River.



Some landowners took the money and ran, while others fought futilely against the federal government.



It's possible to hunt on PCMS, and my friend Eric and I took advantage of that to explore various archaeological sites, old and new. I remember walking into an abandoned house in the late 1980s and finding, for example, a1977 Sears Roebuck catalog still lying on a kitchen counter, while kids' toys littered the living room floor. It was a sad scene.



At the same time, I had to admit that Army ownership gave those of us who jumped through a couple of bureaucratic hoops opportunities to explore country that we never could have entered before.



The Army's civilian wildlife specialists kept windmills pumping water for deer and antelope and lobbied to keep training activities out of "sensitive areas." One of them told me that they would mark off small wetlands, for example, with engineer's tape, and the troops were supposed to treat them as "minefields."



An area containing the now-famous dinosaur trackway was transferred to the U.S. Forest Service and opened to the public.



But generals kept hinting that they needed still more land — more than 400,000 acres — and local residents lobbied Colorado politicians to stop that. Homemade signs saying "This land is not for sale to the Army" went up in Otero, Las Animas, and other counties.



Late last November (I missed this at the time), the Army backed down.

At the urging of Sen. Mark Udall, a Boulder County Democrat, Army Assistant Secretary Katherine Hammack used the paperwork equivalent of a wooden stake to kill expansion plans for the 235,000-acre training site.



"It's kind of an emotional moment," said Las Animas County Commissioner Gary Hill, a rancher and neighbor of the training area who has been at war with the Army over expansion for years.

The Army's reason is that fewer troops means less need for training. But then they would never admit that the years of bad publicity, political conflict, and hard feelings mattered.

Smokies Tourism Creates $741 Million in Economic Benefit

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 9,685,829 visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2012 spent $741 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 10,959 jobs in the local area.



“Great Smoky Mountains National Park is proud to welcome visitors from across the country and around the world,” said Acting Superintendent Pedro Ramos. “We are delighted to share the story of this place and the experiences it provides for visitors. We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities.”

National park tourism is a critical economic driver for gateway communities across the nation. Researchers estimate that for every $1 invested by American taxpayers, the National Park Service returns $10 to the U.S. economy.



The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber along with Lynne Koontz for the National Park Service. The report shows $14.7 billion of direct spending by 283 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 243,000 jobs nationally, with 201,000 jobs found in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.75 billion.



According to the report, most visitor spending supports jobs in restaurants, grocery and convenience stores (39 percent), hotels, motels and B&Bs (27 percent), and other amusement and recreation (20 percent).



To download the report, please click here . The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Wildflowers Are Opening in NW Florida

Tourism to the Blue Ridge Parkway creates $902 Million Dollars in Economic Benefit

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 15.2 million visitors to the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2012 spent $902 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 12,168 jobs in the local area.

"The Blue Ridge Parkway is proud to welcome visitors from across the country and around the world," said superintendent Mark Woods. "We are delighted to share the story of this place and the experiences it provides and to use the park as a way to introduce our visitors to this part of the country and all that it offers. National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy – returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service - and it's a big factor in our local economy as well. We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities."



"The Parkway will continue to rely on important relationships with our partners and neighboring communities as we prepare for the upcoming 2014 visitor season and beyond," Woods continues."The symbiotic nature of the Parkway and its gateway communities is clearly demonstrated by this report and reinforces one of the original vision statements of the Parkway as "a major contributor to regional economic vitality.""



The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber and Lynne Koontz for the National Park Service. The report shows $14.7 billion of direct spending by 283 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 243,000 jobs nationally, with 201,000 jobs found in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.75 billion. According to the report most visitor spending supports jobs in restaurants, grocery and convenience stores (39 percent), hotels, motels and B&Bs (27 percent), and other amusement and recreation (20 percent).



To download the report, please click here . The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

Work on Chimney Tops Trail to Resume in May - Volunteers Needed

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Trails Forever program has announced on their website that trail rehabilitation work will once again resume on the Chimney Tops Trail this summer. The project will stabilize and improve conditions on the popular trail in order to protect resources and enhance the visitor's experience.



As a result, the Chimney Tops Trail will once again be closed on Mondays through Thursdays, from May 5th through October 16th, while this work is in progress. This will be the third season that crews have been trying to complete rehabilitation work on the trail. Last year work was delayed as a result of flooding rains in January, which washed-out the 70-foot footbridge that crosses Walker Camp Prong near the Chimney Tops Trailhead. The bridge and trail didn't reopen until July. The government shutdown in October also ended the work season a little shorter than expected.



The Trails Forever website also announced that volunteers will be needed to help with the five-month project.



Beginning on May 21st you can help by joining the work crew on Wednesdays throughout the season.



Volunteers will work to complete a variety of trail rehabilitation tasks. There will be a limit of the number of volunteers for each of the workdays and you must sign up in advance to volunteer. Once you sign up and secure a spot for one of the workdays you will receive more details. To sign up, please contact Christine Hoyer, the Trails and Facilities Volunteer Coordinator, by emailing her at christine_hoyer@nps.gov .



For more information, please click here .







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

One Frosty Morning

The forces of fog advance toward the house.

Hoarfrost on Gambel oak.

Yesterday felt like a clash of the weather titans. When I woke up, the air was foggy and the temperature about 20° F. I put on a warm jacket and took Fisher on the road climbing into the national forest. In little more than two hundred yards we had climbed out of the fog, and at the top of the first low ridge, it felt twenty degrees warmer.



All day, a warmer westerly breeze fought the fog advancing up from the plains. (Sort of like the California coast if you substitute the High Plains for the Pacific Ocean.) In the end the fog was triumphant, giving us something that we see only once or twice a year — hoarfrost.



Today the sun broke out, illuminating the frost.

The driveway.

Mixed pines and juniper.

If I had taken the last photo an hour later, I would have heard the Clock of the Cranes — a flock of sandhill cranes overhead, the first of the season here that I have heard.



They were at Monte Vista NWR a few days ago, where they will be "Celebrating Spring in the Valley of the Cranes" next weekend, March 7th–9th.

Volunteers Needed to Staff Information Center at Clingmans Dome

Great Smoky Mountain National Park is recruiting volunteers to staff the Information Center at Clingmans Dome, from April 1 through November 30, 2014. The center sits at an elevation of 6,300 feet and is a source of information for the national park. Volunteers are needed to provide educational, recreational and trip planning information.

Until recent years, visitors to this popular destination did not have a chance to regularly obtain information about the park. With the help of volunteers staffing the center and walking along the Tower Trail, visitors can inquire and learn about the trails and interesting facets of the high elevation spruce-fir ecosystem.



Other helpful services provided include the ability to purchase guides, maps, outdoor apparel, and other products sold by the Great Smoky Mountain s Association (GSMA). GSMA is a primary park partner and is involved in a number of projects to improve the visitors’ experience.



Volunteers will be working alongside GSMA employees and each volunteer is asked to work at least one four-hour shift per week, either 9:30 am until 1:30 pm or 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm. Volunteers are needed to fill all days of the week, but especially Friday through Sunday. Interested persons will be provided orientation and training before their tour of duty.



Volunteers will be needed during peak season, from April 1 through November 30. Training will be held at the Oconaluftee Administration Building north of Cherokee, North Carolina on Thursday, March 13, 2014. To sign up for this volunteer program or for more information, please contact Florie Takaki at 828/497-1906 or by email Monday through Friday.





Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com