REI is Offering an Extra 35% off on Closeouts
With spring hiking season already in full gear, and summer just around the corner, you may be finding yourself in need of some new gear. If money's a little tight, you may want to check-out REI's current sale.
Starting today REI will be offering an extra 35% off The North Face, ALPS, and Mountain Hardwear closeouts on REI-OUTLET. The outdoor gear retailer has over 300 styles from these top brands, including jackets, packs, hoodies, sleeping bags, tents, sleeping pads and more. This sale only lasts 3 days (from 4/30 thru 5/2/14).
For more information simply click on this graphic Ad:
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Starting today REI will be offering an extra 35% off The North Face, ALPS, and Mountain Hardwear closeouts on REI-OUTLET. The outdoor gear retailer has over 300 styles from these top brands, including jackets, packs, hoodies, sleeping bags, tents, sleeping pads and more. This sale only lasts 3 days (from 4/30 thru 5/2/14).
For more information simply click on this graphic Ad:
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
NC recreation and park planners seek public input for five-year plan
North Carolinians place a high value on outdoor recreation places and activities, and view these resources as important components of a healthy lifestyle and a healthy community. The N.C Division of Parks and Recreation invites the public to participate in a survey designed to assess the state’s outdoor recreation preferences, needs and priorities.
The survey is one component of the 2014-18 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, which is updated every five years to provide guidance for North Carolina’s recreation future. It also maintains the state’s eligibility for federal funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) administered by the National Park Service. The survey is available online through today at the division’s website .
”The results of the survey will allow the state to balance the outdoor recreation demands of its people with its mission to protect and restore natural resources,” said Carol Tingley, acting division director. “The information collected will make the state’s decision-making process more accurate and responsive to public need for the next five years.”
LWCF grants provide matching assistance to state and local agencies to acquire new land for outdoor recreation and develop or renovate recreation facilities. Since 1967, the State of North Carolina and its local governments have received more than $80 million in LWCF grants. In recent years, LWCF grants have been awarded for land acquisition for Chimney Rock State Park in Rutherford County, Carver’s Creek State Park in Cumberland County and Yellow Mountain State Natural Area in Avery County. The city of Wilson received a LWCF grant to build youth baseball fields, a walking trail, shuffleboard and bocce courts at Burt Gillette Athletic Complex, and the town of Morrisville received a grant to build tennis courts, a cricket field, picnic shelter and playground at the RTP Park.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
The survey is one component of the 2014-18 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, which is updated every five years to provide guidance for North Carolina’s recreation future. It also maintains the state’s eligibility for federal funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) administered by the National Park Service. The survey is available online through today at the division’s website .
”The results of the survey will allow the state to balance the outdoor recreation demands of its people with its mission to protect and restore natural resources,” said Carol Tingley, acting division director. “The information collected will make the state’s decision-making process more accurate and responsive to public need for the next five years.”
LWCF grants provide matching assistance to state and local agencies to acquire new land for outdoor recreation and develop or renovate recreation facilities. Since 1967, the State of North Carolina and its local governments have received more than $80 million in LWCF grants. In recent years, LWCF grants have been awarded for land acquisition for Chimney Rock State Park in Rutherford County, Carver’s Creek State Park in Cumberland County and Yellow Mountain State Natural Area in Avery County. The city of Wilson received a LWCF grant to build youth baseball fields, a walking trail, shuffleboard and bocce courts at Burt Gillette Athletic Complex, and the town of Morrisville received a grant to build tennis courts, a cricket field, picnic shelter and playground at the RTP Park.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Frazil Ice in Yosemite National Park
The last gasps of winter in the Yosemite Valley....
Check out this amazing video showing the "giant slurpee" that forms when "frazil ice" collects on Yosemite Falls, and flows down Yosemite Creek each spring like a lava flow.
As you might expect, the scenery in this film is quite awesome:
My wife and I visited Yosemite National Park for the first time this past fall. We did quite a bit of hiking while we were out there, and have posted several hike reports and photos on our new Discover the West website.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Check out this amazing video showing the "giant slurpee" that forms when "frazil ice" collects on Yosemite Falls, and flows down Yosemite Creek each spring like a lava flow.
As you might expect, the scenery in this film is quite awesome:
My wife and I visited Yosemite National Park for the first time this past fall. We did quite a bit of hiking while we were out there, and have posted several hike reports and photos on our new Discover the West website.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
I Finally Started Tumbling
| A Mojourner Truth exclusive. |
Over the years, I've posted a lot of photos here. The Procession of the Species has accounted for its share, and as it rolled around again this year, I figured it was time to try out tumblr. I would have started one years ago, but never could clear the profound hurdles that keep people from doing stuff, like having a few minutes, or choosing a username and deciding how much anonymity to pretend to have.
Before the 2014 Procession photos grow old and moldy, I wanted to post them, so I took a few minutes, decided to name the site Anthrowback (My actual given name, relegating "mojourner" to the page header), and started posting photos. I'll be posting pretty much the same kinds of things I do here: random Olympia, landscapes and plants, more landscapes and plants, rocks, landscapes and highways as seen through a bug-splattered windshield, archaeology, skyscapes, and the occasional psychedaelic edit of any of the above.
For now, though, check out the Procession photos at Anthrowback. Or, follow this throwback link to previous Procession posts here at the MT mothership.
Firefly Viewing Scheduled for June 4-11
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced the Elkmont Firefly Viewing event in the park will take place from Wednesday, June 4 through Wednesday, June 11. For this year's viewing event, the on-line ticketing system, operated through Recreation.gov, will again provide visitors with parking passes to guarantee they will be able to park at the Sugarlands Visitor Center without the inconvenience of having to arrive hours in advance.
Every year in late May or early June, thousands of visitors gather near the popular Elkmont Campground to observe the naturally occurring phenomenon of Photinus carolinus; a firefly species that flashes synchronously. Access to the viewing area is provided by shuttle from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. A parking pass will be required for all vehicles wishing to attend the event.
The pass will cover a maximum of 6 persons in a single passenger vehicle (less than 19 feet in length). Four passes for oversize vehicles, like a mini bus (19 to 30 feet in length and up to 24 persons), will also be available. Each reservation will cost $1.50. Parking passes will be non-refundable, non-transferable, and good only for the date issued. There is a limit of one parking pass per household per season. Each reservation through www.Recreation.gov will receive an e-mailed confirmation and specific information about the event.
The number of passes issued for each day will be based on the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot capacity. Passes will be issued with staggered arrival times in order to relieve congestion in the parking lot and for boarding the shuttles.
The shuttle buses, which are provided in partnership with the City of Gatlinburg, will begin picking up visitors from the Sugarlands Visitor Center RV/bus parking area at 7:00 p.m. The cost will be $1 round trip per person, as in previous years, and collected when boarding the shuttle.
The shuttle service will be the only transportation mode for visitor access during this period, except for registered campers staying at the Elkmont Campground. Visitors will not be allowed to walk the Elkmont entrance road due to safety concerns.
The parking passes for this year's event will be on sale on-line beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday April 30th. The park will hold back 85 passes for each day to accommodate individuals who did not learn of the need to pre-purchase tickets. The 85 passes will go on sale on-line at 10:00 a.m. the day before the event and will be available until 3:30 p.m. on the day of the event or until the passes are all reserved. Passes can be purchased at www.Recreation.gov . Parking passes may also be obtained by calling 1-877-444-6777, but park officials strongly encourage the use of the on-line process, because it provides far more information to visitors about what to expect when they arrive at the park and because the process is faster and visitors are more likely to get a pass. The $1.50 reservation fee covers the cost of processing the requests for the passes. The park will not receive any revenue either from the reservations or the shuttle tickets.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Every year in late May or early June, thousands of visitors gather near the popular Elkmont Campground to observe the naturally occurring phenomenon of Photinus carolinus; a firefly species that flashes synchronously. Access to the viewing area is provided by shuttle from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. A parking pass will be required for all vehicles wishing to attend the event.
The pass will cover a maximum of 6 persons in a single passenger vehicle (less than 19 feet in length). Four passes for oversize vehicles, like a mini bus (19 to 30 feet in length and up to 24 persons), will also be available. Each reservation will cost $1.50. Parking passes will be non-refundable, non-transferable, and good only for the date issued. There is a limit of one parking pass per household per season. Each reservation through www.Recreation.gov will receive an e-mailed confirmation and specific information about the event.
The number of passes issued for each day will be based on the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot capacity. Passes will be issued with staggered arrival times in order to relieve congestion in the parking lot and for boarding the shuttles.
The shuttle buses, which are provided in partnership with the City of Gatlinburg, will begin picking up visitors from the Sugarlands Visitor Center RV/bus parking area at 7:00 p.m. The cost will be $1 round trip per person, as in previous years, and collected when boarding the shuttle.
The shuttle service will be the only transportation mode for visitor access during this period, except for registered campers staying at the Elkmont Campground. Visitors will not be allowed to walk the Elkmont entrance road due to safety concerns.
The parking passes for this year's event will be on sale on-line beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday April 30th. The park will hold back 85 passes for each day to accommodate individuals who did not learn of the need to pre-purchase tickets. The 85 passes will go on sale on-line at 10:00 a.m. the day before the event and will be available until 3:30 p.m. on the day of the event or until the passes are all reserved. Passes can be purchased at www.Recreation.gov . Parking passes may also be obtained by calling 1-877-444-6777, but park officials strongly encourage the use of the on-line process, because it provides far more information to visitors about what to expect when they arrive at the park and because the process is faster and visitors are more likely to get a pass. The $1.50 reservation fee covers the cost of processing the requests for the passes. The park will not receive any revenue either from the reservations or the shuttle tickets.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
A Short Walk to the Edge of Life
Over the weekend I finished reading another compelling story of survival, this one fraught with hard lessons every adventurer should learn. Called A Short Walk to the Edge of Life: How My Simple Adventure Became a Dance with Death and Taught Me What Really Matters, it's the first full length book written by Scott Hubbartt, a retired combat veteran and Air Force Chief Master Sergeant. Hubbartt is also an historian, having earned an M.A. in History, with a post-graduate certificate in Latin American Studies. While in the Air Force he meet his wife, Carolina, who happens to be a native of Peru. This background would eventually lead to Scott's five-day "dance with death".
After retiring from the Air Force in 2004, Mr. Hubbartt was now free to spend more time traveling around the world, especially to Peru where he paid visits to his wife's family. As an historian he became quite interested in learning the fate of an old gold mine that was owned by Carolina's grandfather in the 1930s. The mine was located on the isolated Puna, the high plateau grassland region of the central Andes Mountains of Peru. So, with a bit of wanderlust and adventure, Hubbartt set-off on what he thought would be an 8-hour trek from the small mountain town of Chepen de Salpo. From there he intended to descend through steep canyons to a village called Poroto, where he hoped to find some clues as to the whereabouts of the old gold mine.
However, as you might guess from the title of the book, things didn't go quite as planned. As he laid there on the desert floor - exhausted, hungry and completely dehydrated, on perhaps the final night of life - Hubbartt summed it up fairly succinctly when he stated:
The story, and the trajectory of his life, however, took a sharp turn when the author received a strange vision from his deceased brother. Did this, and another unexplainable physical miracle, actually save his life?
I thought A Short Walk to the Edge of Life was a great read. Hubbartt does a great job of moving the story forward, while keeping you eager to turn the next page. My only complaint with the book was with the maps he published. Just as the author was confused with his compass readings, I was confused with the maps that showed his location each day. I think some basic contour lines with elevation readings, as well as distance figures, would've been very helpful to the reader. But this is just nitpicking, and shouldn't prevent you from reading an otherwise great story.
The book is scheduled to be released next week, but you can pre-order it on Amazon right now. You can click here for more information.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
After retiring from the Air Force in 2004, Mr. Hubbartt was now free to spend more time traveling around the world, especially to Peru where he paid visits to his wife's family. As an historian he became quite interested in learning the fate of an old gold mine that was owned by Carolina's grandfather in the 1930s. The mine was located on the isolated Puna, the high plateau grassland region of the central Andes Mountains of Peru. So, with a bit of wanderlust and adventure, Hubbartt set-off on what he thought would be an 8-hour trek from the small mountain town of Chepen de Salpo. From there he intended to descend through steep canyons to a village called Poroto, where he hoped to find some clues as to the whereabouts of the old gold mine.
However, as you might guess from the title of the book, things didn't go quite as planned. As he laid there on the desert floor - exhausted, hungry and completely dehydrated, on perhaps the final night of life - Hubbartt summed it up fairly succinctly when he stated:
"I knew I had miserably messed up and was a victim of my own undoing. Pride, arrogance, and overconfidence were leading to my demise"
The story, and the trajectory of his life, however, took a sharp turn when the author received a strange vision from his deceased brother. Did this, and another unexplainable physical miracle, actually save his life?
I thought A Short Walk to the Edge of Life was a great read. Hubbartt does a great job of moving the story forward, while keeping you eager to turn the next page. My only complaint with the book was with the maps he published. Just as the author was confused with his compass readings, I was confused with the maps that showed his location each day. I think some basic contour lines with elevation readings, as well as distance figures, would've been very helpful to the reader. But this is just nitpicking, and shouldn't prevent you from reading an otherwise great story.
The book is scheduled to be released next week, but you can pre-order it on Amazon right now. You can click here for more information.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Bear Warning Issued for Black Balsam and Shining Rock Wilderness Areas
The U.S. Forest is warning visitors in the Black Balsam and Shining Rock Wilderness areas of the Pisgah National Forest, to be on the lookout for black bears and “Be Bear Aware.”
The warning comes after recent bear encounters have been reported in both the Black Balsam and Shining Rock Wilderness areas, north of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Haywood County. There were no injuries.
The bears have successfully obtained food from visitors. This time of the year black bears are opportunistically looking for food that campers and trail users bring on their trips. Regulations to require users to use bear-proof food canisters or bags are being considered. While black bear attacks on people are rare, such attacks have resulted in human fatalities.
Visitors are encouraged to prevent bear interactions by practicing the following safety tips:
* Do not store food in tents
* Properly store food by using a bear-proof container and properly hanging it in a tree
* Clean up food or garbage around fire rings, grills, or other areas of your campsite
* Do not leave food unattended
For more tips, visit http://ift.tt/1imNdSP , click on “Learn about Bear Safety.”
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
The warning comes after recent bear encounters have been reported in both the Black Balsam and Shining Rock Wilderness areas, north of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Haywood County. There were no injuries.
The bears have successfully obtained food from visitors. This time of the year black bears are opportunistically looking for food that campers and trail users bring on their trips. Regulations to require users to use bear-proof food canisters or bags are being considered. While black bear attacks on people are rare, such attacks have resulted in human fatalities.
Visitors are encouraged to prevent bear interactions by practicing the following safety tips:
* Do not store food in tents
* Properly store food by using a bear-proof container and properly hanging it in a tree
* Clean up food or garbage around fire rings, grills, or other areas of your campsite
* Do not leave food unattended
For more tips, visit http://ift.tt/1imNdSP , click on “Learn about Bear Safety.”
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Big South Fork to Conduct Guided Hikes
The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area will be conducting a series of wildflower and birding guided walks as part of the McCreary County, Kentucky, Tourism Commission's Wildflower Discovery Weekend. A number of state and federal agencies as well as volunteers will be working with the McCreary County Tourism Commission to provide a series of talks and walks around the county on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3. Pre-registration is required and group size is limited.
The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and the Daniel Boone National Forest will be conducting wildflower walks at Yahoo Falls on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3. Walks are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on both days. The hikes will begin at the Yahoo Falls Picnic Area. The Yahoo Falls area provides a stunning variety of spring flowers on a short, moderate hiking trail. In addition to wildflowers, spectacular scenery is provided by 113 foot tall Yahoo Falls, towering sandstone cliffs, a huge rock shelter, and an outstanding overlook of the Big South Fork River. These walks will be conducted by National Park Service Ranger Howard Duncan and U. S. Forest Service Ranger Laurie Smith. The Yahoo Falls area is accessed from Highway 700, west of Whitley City, Kentucky.
National Park Service volunteer Chuck Nicholson will be conducting a birding walk on Friday, May 2, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Big South Fork at the Blue Heron Mining Community. Dr. Nicholson is an environmental scientist with the Tennessee Valley Authority and past president of the Tennessee Ornithological Society. Take this opportunity to share in his abundant knowledge of the rich and diverse bird population in the Big South Fork. Blue Heron is accessed by following signs from U.S. 27 to Hwy. 92 west and then turning on 1651 south. Watch for signs to Blue Heron. Turn onto Hwy. 742 (Mine 18 Road) which ends at the Blue Heron Mining Community.
National Park Service Ranger Dave Carney will lead a hike at the Blue Heron Mining Community on Saturday, May 3, entitled "Myth, Magic and Medicine". The walk will begin at 1:00 p.m. and continue until 4:00 p.m. and will meet at the Blue Heron Mining Community. This easy walk will explore the diverse plant community along the banks of the Big South Fork River. It is an excellent opportunity to learn about the folklore surrounding local plants and the many ways that people in earlier times utilized plants for food and medicine. Blue Heron is accessed by following signs from U.S. 27 to Hwy. 92 west and then turning on 1651 south. Watch for signs to Blue Heron. Turn onto Mine 18 Road (Hwy. 742) which ends at the Blue Heron Mining Community.
For further information about the Wildflower Discovery Weekend, contact Tara Chaney of the McCreary County Tourism Commission at (606) 376-3008 or visit the website at http://ift.tt/1dgo5FT . To see the complete schedule of talks and hikes and to register for the events go to: http://ift.tt/1pxcTks .
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and the Daniel Boone National Forest will be conducting wildflower walks at Yahoo Falls on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3. Walks are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on both days. The hikes will begin at the Yahoo Falls Picnic Area. The Yahoo Falls area provides a stunning variety of spring flowers on a short, moderate hiking trail. In addition to wildflowers, spectacular scenery is provided by 113 foot tall Yahoo Falls, towering sandstone cliffs, a huge rock shelter, and an outstanding overlook of the Big South Fork River. These walks will be conducted by National Park Service Ranger Howard Duncan and U. S. Forest Service Ranger Laurie Smith. The Yahoo Falls area is accessed from Highway 700, west of Whitley City, Kentucky.
National Park Service volunteer Chuck Nicholson will be conducting a birding walk on Friday, May 2, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Big South Fork at the Blue Heron Mining Community. Dr. Nicholson is an environmental scientist with the Tennessee Valley Authority and past president of the Tennessee Ornithological Society. Take this opportunity to share in his abundant knowledge of the rich and diverse bird population in the Big South Fork. Blue Heron is accessed by following signs from U.S. 27 to Hwy. 92 west and then turning on 1651 south. Watch for signs to Blue Heron. Turn onto Hwy. 742 (Mine 18 Road) which ends at the Blue Heron Mining Community.
National Park Service Ranger Dave Carney will lead a hike at the Blue Heron Mining Community on Saturday, May 3, entitled "Myth, Magic and Medicine". The walk will begin at 1:00 p.m. and continue until 4:00 p.m. and will meet at the Blue Heron Mining Community. This easy walk will explore the diverse plant community along the banks of the Big South Fork River. It is an excellent opportunity to learn about the folklore surrounding local plants and the many ways that people in earlier times utilized plants for food and medicine. Blue Heron is accessed by following signs from U.S. 27 to Hwy. 92 west and then turning on 1651 south. Watch for signs to Blue Heron. Turn onto Mine 18 Road (Hwy. 742) which ends at the Blue Heron Mining Community.
For further information about the Wildflower Discovery Weekend, contact Tara Chaney of the McCreary County Tourism Commission at (606) 376-3008 or visit the website at http://ift.tt/1dgo5FT . To see the complete schedule of talks and hikes and to register for the events go to: http://ift.tt/1pxcTks .
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Appalachian Trail Conservancy Launches 'Zoom in to the Appalachian Trail' Photo Contest
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is now accepting submissions for its “Zoom in to the Appalachian Trail” photo contest, a nationwide search for the best photos featuring close-up shots of the details that make up the Appalachian Trail (A.T.).
The photo contest asks participants to recognize that the A.T. is not only a footpath, but is also home to a vast array of wildlife and vegetation, scenery, unique people and special Trail communities. Contestants will submit a photograph of a favorite feature along the Trail. Photos may include people, places, scenery or more.
“The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is excited to see the outdoor community’s appreciation of the Appalachian Trail displayed artistically,” said Javier Folgar, the ATC’s director of marketing and communications. “We hope that each photo will bring to light the special connections people have with the Trail.”
The top three photographers will each win a one-year membership to the ATC and will be featured in A.T. Journeys, the official magazine of the ATC. The grand prize winner will also win a custom ATC-themed hammock, courtesy of ENO™.
Photo submissions will be accepted through Tuesday, June 3, and can be uploaded via the ATC’s Facebook page, http://ift.tt/1ic0qxB . The public will then vote for their favorite photos through Sunday, July 13. Winners will be announced the week of July 14.
For a complete list of submission guidelines, rules and regulations, or to enter, visit http://ift.tt/1gTjdcs .
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
The photo contest asks participants to recognize that the A.T. is not only a footpath, but is also home to a vast array of wildlife and vegetation, scenery, unique people and special Trail communities. Contestants will submit a photograph of a favorite feature along the Trail. Photos may include people, places, scenery or more.
“The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is excited to see the outdoor community’s appreciation of the Appalachian Trail displayed artistically,” said Javier Folgar, the ATC’s director of marketing and communications. “We hope that each photo will bring to light the special connections people have with the Trail.”
The top three photographers will each win a one-year membership to the ATC and will be featured in A.T. Journeys, the official magazine of the ATC. The grand prize winner will also win a custom ATC-themed hammock, courtesy of ENO™.
Photo submissions will be accepted through Tuesday, June 3, and can be uploaded via the ATC’s Facebook page, http://ift.tt/1ic0qxB . The public will then vote for their favorite photos through Sunday, July 13. Winners will be announced the week of July 14.
For a complete list of submission guidelines, rules and regulations, or to enter, visit http://ift.tt/1gTjdcs .
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Git Yer Baxter On
It's National Cowboy Poetry Week.
Related: a review of Poems That Make Grown Men Cry. As a predominately British collection, it probably omits Robinson Jeffers' "The House Dog's Grave."
Related: a review of Poems That Make Grown Men Cry. As a predominately British collection, it probably omits Robinson Jeffers' "The House Dog's Grave."
HikingintheSmokys.com Adds New Hikes to Website
Last week I mentioned a couple of times that Kathy and I spent a few days hiking in the Smokies recently. As a result of that visit, we have just added several new hikes to the website. Almost all of which are on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains. Here's what's new:
* Mingus Creek Trail: There's more exploring to do in this area after visiting the historic Mingus Mill.
* Chasteen Creek Cascades: Nice cascading waterfall - with lots of spring wildflowers along the way.
* Balsam High Top: There were fewer levels spots on this hike than people. And we didn't see anyone else....
* Goldmine Loop: My first visit to the "Road to Nowhere!" Afterwards we rewarded ourselves with an excellent stout from the Nantahala Brewing Company.
We also updated a few hiker favorites with new photos and updated descriptions. These include Andrews Bald , Chimney Top Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail .
Hopefully you'll find this information useful as you explore the many trails of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
* Mingus Creek Trail: There's more exploring to do in this area after visiting the historic Mingus Mill.
* Chasteen Creek Cascades: Nice cascading waterfall - with lots of spring wildflowers along the way.
* Balsam High Top: There were fewer levels spots on this hike than people. And we didn't see anyone else....
* Goldmine Loop: My first visit to the "Road to Nowhere!" Afterwards we rewarded ourselves with an excellent stout from the Nantahala Brewing Company.
We also updated a few hiker favorites with new photos and updated descriptions. These include Andrews Bald , Chimney Top Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail .
Hopefully you'll find this information useful as you explore the many trails of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Fire Fungus after the Black Forest Fire
Wandering through the burnt woods around their school, students at the School in the Woods in Black Forest, northeast of Colorado Springs, discover a "fire fungus" never before seen in Colorado.
Experts identified it as the rare Neottiella hetieri, a fire fungus that has been found only twice before in the entire country and never in our state.
Video at the link from KKTV, Colorado Springs.
Canoeist Breaks 20-Year-Old Record for Highest Waterfall Drop
Last fall, Jim Coffey from Canada paddled over the 60-foot La Cascada de Truchas on the Alseseca River in Mexico. In doing so, he broke a record for the highest waterfall drop in a canoe that had stood for almost 20 years.
The previous record was held by Steve Frazier when he went over the 55-foot Compression Falls on the Elk River in Tennessee in 1994.
Although Coffey broke the record last fall, this video showing his amazing feat was only published two weeks ago:
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
The previous record was held by Steve Frazier when he went over the 55-foot Compression Falls on the Elk River in Tennessee in 1994.
Although Coffey broke the record last fall, this video showing his amazing feat was only published two weeks ago:
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Bicyclist on Blue Ridge Parkway Killed by Deer
The NPS Morning Report is reporting this morning that a cyclist was killed by a deer on the Blue Ridge Parkway. On the evening of April 2nd, a 52-year-old man was bicycling on the Parkway in the area of Milepost 64 (just northwest of Lynchburg, VA) when he was struck by a deer.
The bicycle was traveling at approximately 25 miles per hour when the deer collided with the rider’s right side, causing him to lose control of his bicycle. The cyclist, who was wearing a helmet, hit the roadway with his head, resulting in severe head and neck trauma.
EMS was provided on scene by Big Island Rescue and the cyclist was evacuated by helicopter to Lynchburg General Hospital. He remained in critical condition there until succumbing to his injuries on Sunday, April 13th. According to his obituary, it was his first ride of the season.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
The bicycle was traveling at approximately 25 miles per hour when the deer collided with the rider’s right side, causing him to lose control of his bicycle. The cyclist, who was wearing a helmet, hit the roadway with his head, resulting in severe head and neck trauma.
EMS was provided on scene by Big Island Rescue and the cyclist was evacuated by helicopter to Lynchburg General Hospital. He remained in critical condition there until succumbing to his injuries on Sunday, April 13th. According to his obituary, it was his first ride of the season.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Seeks Support for Graveyard Fields Improvements
Last week the Blue Ridge Parkway announced that work will soon begin on the final portion of the Graveyard Fields improvement project. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has been raising funds for this project for the past two years and seeks the support of local businesses and individuals to raise the remaining $50,000.
This project includes multiple enhancements to the Graveyard Fields area, some of which began this fall. In November, crews from the US Forest Service completed several areas of trail enhancements to both protect the environment and provide a safer resource for all visitors. The upcoming construction will provide additional enhancements to the area by doubling the parking capacity and constructing an ADA compliant restroom facility. This comfort station is part of the Park’s efforts to ‘green the Parkway’ and is designed to reduce waste and capture rainwater for cleaning purposes. This project will also include the installation of a new trail map at trailhead and four additional interpretive signs on the Loop Trail. All projects are intended to enhance visitor safety and protect the environment while ensuring visitors have an enjoyable experience.
“The Graveyard Fields Area is a significant recreational resource on the Parkway’s southern corridor, and we are thankful to the Foundation for securing a National Scenic Byways Grant to begin the work and for cultivating the interest of both visitors and neighbors to raise the funds to complete the project,” said Mark Woods, Superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Carolyn Ward, CEO of the Foundation, adds, “We deeply appreciate all of those in our Community of Stewards – now over 100 businesses, individuals and families – who have shown their love for Graveyard Fields by contributing to these efforts. Anyone who loves this treasure is invited to help improve it by joining our Community of Stewards today.”
To learn more about how to support this project, visit http://ift.tt/1luKKsD or call 866-308-2773 x177.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
This project includes multiple enhancements to the Graveyard Fields area, some of which began this fall. In November, crews from the US Forest Service completed several areas of trail enhancements to both protect the environment and provide a safer resource for all visitors. The upcoming construction will provide additional enhancements to the area by doubling the parking capacity and constructing an ADA compliant restroom facility. This comfort station is part of the Park’s efforts to ‘green the Parkway’ and is designed to reduce waste and capture rainwater for cleaning purposes. This project will also include the installation of a new trail map at trailhead and four additional interpretive signs on the Loop Trail. All projects are intended to enhance visitor safety and protect the environment while ensuring visitors have an enjoyable experience.
“The Graveyard Fields Area is a significant recreational resource on the Parkway’s southern corridor, and we are thankful to the Foundation for securing a National Scenic Byways Grant to begin the work and for cultivating the interest of both visitors and neighbors to raise the funds to complete the project,” said Mark Woods, Superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Carolyn Ward, CEO of the Foundation, adds, “We deeply appreciate all of those in our Community of Stewards – now over 100 businesses, individuals and families – who have shown their love for Graveyard Fields by contributing to these efforts. Anyone who loves this treasure is invited to help improve it by joining our Community of Stewards today.”
To learn more about how to support this project, visit http://ift.tt/1luKKsD or call 866-308-2773 x177.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Half-blind Faith and Half-baked Science
Well, it all starts with a miraculously convenient find, what appeared to be a finial from a cross at a site probably associated with the Christian Mission. Those of us working on the project had been softened up, conditioned to accepting the axtraordinary by the previous miracle of finding identical artifacts wrought in stone and glass, providing the evidence of Contact we'd hoped for. As with the many peices of the true cross passed off as sacred relics over the years, there was no proof, although in this case it was a plausible and interesting enough story that it tempted faith. Upon further examination, wrought by the dogged (of not Godded) persistence of a scientist not quite comfortable with the all-too-easy retreat to calling an unknown artifact a "ritual object."
Oh well. The story, and my confession at the altar of science, is over at ArchaeOlygy. It is not all a tale of faith undermined, but a strange cycle that may loop back to the Tenino Stone.
So on a day when many of you celebrate a miracle of resurrection, I wish you well. I cannot share ultimate faith in the un-provable, but I share my physicist Dad's awe at the universe wrought by forces we may not yet fully comprehend, but which we can investigate and incrementally come to know for sure.
The "Children of Ludlow"
One of my colleagues from the university recently referred to the students as "children of Ludlow, " claiming by analogy that they were being "massacred" by CSU system budget cuts.
It might not be the best analogy, though, if the reader has to look up the source that is unfamiliar. And I bet that 95 percent of Coloradans overall could not tell you what happened on April 20th, one hundred years ago.
The term "children of Ludlow" has a difference resonance for me.
For several years, a colleague in the History Dept. tapped me to be a judge on National History Day. Competing in different age classes, students from local schools might create posters-based exhibits, build dioramas, etc., and then they had to talk about them briefly to us judges as we came around. To quote the website, "NHD inspires children through exciting competitions and transforms teaching through project-based curriculum and instruction."
Imagine my surprise when I came across a sort of poster-triptych about the Ludlow Massacre, created by three middle-school boys. Something local, not another Martin Luther King, Jr., or other high-profile subject!
In talking with them, I asked if they had visited the site. It was only an hour-plus drive away but they would have needed a parent or someone to take them, being too young to drive themselves.
No, they had not. Learning the difference between primary and secondary sources was part of the project, so I said, "Look, the place is a primary source. You walk around on it and you see where things were — the tents, the machine gun, the railroad tracks where the engineer tried to move the freight train between the gunners and the camp . . . "
They looked at me like little birds. Maybe going there never occurred to them; maybe they felt unable to ask someone older for a ride, I don't know. Sometimes teaching in Pueblo was like teaching at the bottom of a well and wondering who would climb up and out.
It might not be the best analogy, though, if the reader has to look up the source that is unfamiliar. And I bet that 95 percent of Coloradans overall could not tell you what happened on April 20th, one hundred years ago.
The term "children of Ludlow" has a difference resonance for me.
For several years, a colleague in the History Dept. tapped me to be a judge on National History Day. Competing in different age classes, students from local schools might create posters-based exhibits, build dioramas, etc., and then they had to talk about them briefly to us judges as we came around. To quote the website, "NHD inspires children through exciting competitions and transforms teaching through project-based curriculum and instruction."
Imagine my surprise when I came across a sort of poster-triptych about the Ludlow Massacre, created by three middle-school boys. Something local, not another Martin Luther King, Jr., or other high-profile subject!
In talking with them, I asked if they had visited the site. It was only an hour-plus drive away but they would have needed a parent or someone to take them, being too young to drive themselves.
No, they had not. Learning the difference between primary and secondary sources was part of the project, so I said, "Look, the place is a primary source. You walk around on it and you see where things were — the tents, the machine gun, the railroad tracks where the engineer tried to move the freight train between the gunners and the camp . . . "
They looked at me like little birds. Maybe going there never occurred to them; maybe they felt unable to ask someone older for a ride, I don't know. Sometimes teaching in Pueblo was like teaching at the bottom of a well and wondering who would climb up and out.
To Be Continued
Taking the Hitchhikers to Ludlow
| Ludlow Massacre monument (Wikipedia) |
It was a summer day in the mid-1970s and I was driving my ten-year-old Ford pickup down Interstate 25, heading back from Denver to my summer construction job in Taos. (I had gotten a couple of days off; there was a lady involved.)
In my denim clothes and straw hat, I was feeling all southern-Colorado-native-ish, being about 20 years old and preoccupied with questions of authenticity and roots, even though — or because — for eight months a year I was also a student at a liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon. (The old pickup had Oregon plates, even while I carried a New Mexico driver's license.)
Then I saw them: two young guys hitchhiking on the south edge of Pueblo, and I figured to pick them up before some cop got after them for being on the interstate. They were from New Jersey, as I recall, going to Santa Fe — and I could get them closer.
We went down the road, talking about their journey West, etc., and to them I was just this guy from Taos with a faint northern-New Mexico accent (courtesy of the crew I was working with). And I decided that they should see Ludlow as part of their Western experience.
We took the lonely exit, bumped over the railroad tracks and past the United Mine Workers billboard over a little rise to the memorial: the statues, the picnic ground, the plaques.
I did not have to play history guide: the story is there.
And now my memory breaks down.
Did I make up some story to leave them out there on the prairie between Trinidad and Walsenburg?
The quickest way to Taos would have been US 160 west over La Veta Pass, then south. But to get there from Ludlow I would have had to drive back north to Walsenburg first.
And I have a memory of coming down the west side of La Veta Pass, getting panicky because the oil pressure light started flickering— worrying that the oil pump was failing (they rarely do). And driving south through San Luis and Questa, heart in mouth, not wanting to break down, only to learn later that it was merely the sending unit going bad that caused the warning light to flicker.
Or was the whole experience an example of road-hypnosis hallucination? I've had several of those over the years.
To be continued.
Annual Music of the Mountains Festival Scheduled
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will hold its 10th annual Music of the Mountains celebration Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27. This event now spans an entire weekend, with performances of traditional music in neighboring communities, including an entire day of free music at the Sugarlands Visitor Center on April 26th.
The three-day event begins with a concert of Celtic music by The Good Thymes Ceilidh Band on Friday at 7:00 p.m.at the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center in Townsend, Tennessee. General admission is $5. Music of the Mountains continues on Saturday with a series of free performances of old-time mountain music at the park's Sugarlands Visitor Center. Programs are planned from 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. The park will welcome back the world famous Roan Mountain Hilltoppers – a family that has been playing traditional music for generations. The band will play two sets at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
New this year, in celebration of National Junior Ranger Day, Music of the Mountains will present a special Junior Ranger Program led by Boogertown Gap at 1:00 p.m.in the Sugarlands Training Room. Kids will learn how to play the spoons and the washtub bass.
The Bluegrass music of Outta' the Blue can be heard on the plaza outside of the Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokies on Saturday evening from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The Sunday afternoon program at the Smoky Mountain Visitor Center in Cosby, Tennessee will feature traditional Appalachian religious music with an old fashioned community sing along from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. General admission is $4.
The schedule of events:
♦ April 25 - Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, Townsend Admission: $5 7:00 p.m.– Celtic Music by The Good Thymes Ceilidh Band
♦ April 26- Sugarlands Visitor Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Admission is free:
• 10:00 a.m. Lost Mill String Band .
• 11:00 a.m. Boogertown Gap
• 12:00 Noon Brien Fain
• 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. Roan Mountain Hilltoppers
• 3:00 p.m.Mountain Strings
Special Program for Junior Rangers at 1:00 p.m. Join Keith Watson and Ruth Barber of the band Boogertown Gap in the Sugarlands Training Room (below the restrooms) and learn to play the spoons and the washtub bass. This hands-on program is a part of National Junior Ranger Day celebration.
♦ April 26 - Plaza at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Gatlinburg Admission is Free 7:00 p.m.- 8:30pm – Outta' the Blue
♦ April 27- Smoky Mountain Visitor Center, Cosby Admission: $4 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.– "Heritage, Harps and Hymns" – traditional offerings from Cocke County
If planning to attend the events in Townsend, 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 cabin rental during your visit, be sure to visit our Townsend Accommodations page .
If planning to stay in Gatlinburg, don't forget to visit our Gatlinburg Accommodations page before making any reservations!
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
The three-day event begins with a concert of Celtic music by The Good Thymes Ceilidh Band on Friday at 7:00 p.m.at the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center in Townsend, Tennessee. General admission is $5. Music of the Mountains continues on Saturday with a series of free performances of old-time mountain music at the park's Sugarlands Visitor Center. Programs are planned from 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. The park will welcome back the world famous Roan Mountain Hilltoppers – a family that has been playing traditional music for generations. The band will play two sets at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
New this year, in celebration of National Junior Ranger Day, Music of the Mountains will present a special Junior Ranger Program led by Boogertown Gap at 1:00 p.m.in the Sugarlands Training Room. Kids will learn how to play the spoons and the washtub bass.
The Bluegrass music of Outta' the Blue can be heard on the plaza outside of the Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokies on Saturday evening from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The Sunday afternoon program at the Smoky Mountain Visitor Center in Cosby, Tennessee will feature traditional Appalachian religious music with an old fashioned community sing along from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. General admission is $4.
The schedule of events:
♦ April 25 - Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, Townsend Admission: $5 7:00 p.m.– Celtic Music by The Good Thymes Ceilidh Band
♦ April 26- Sugarlands Visitor Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Admission is free:
• 10:00 a.m. Lost Mill String Band .
• 11:00 a.m. Boogertown Gap
• 12:00 Noon Brien Fain
• 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. Roan Mountain Hilltoppers
• 3:00 p.m.Mountain Strings
Special Program for Junior Rangers at 1:00 p.m. Join Keith Watson and Ruth Barber of the band Boogertown Gap in the Sugarlands Training Room (below the restrooms) and learn to play the spoons and the washtub bass. This hands-on program is a part of National Junior Ranger Day celebration.
♦ April 26 - Plaza at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Gatlinburg Admission is Free 7:00 p.m.- 8:30pm – Outta' the Blue
♦ April 27- Smoky Mountain Visitor Center, Cosby Admission: $4 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.– "Heritage, Harps and Hymns" – traditional offerings from Cocke County
If planning to attend the events in Townsend, 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 cabin rental during your visit, be sure to visit our Townsend Accommodations page .
If planning to stay in Gatlinburg, don't forget to visit our Gatlinburg Accommodations page before making any reservations!
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Smokies to Host Cherokee Exhibit at Oconaluftee Visitor Center
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is hosting a Cherokee touring exhibit, “Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future“, on Saturday, April 26 through Tuesday, May 27th at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The exhibit focuses on Cherokee language and culture, using sound recordings as the basis for presenting a coherent story in words and text. Acting Superintendent Pedro Ramos will welcome the community to a special sneak preview of the exhibit on Friday, April 25th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
“We are honored to host this incredible exhibit that tells the story of our shared past,” said Ramos. “We cannot separate the story of the Cherokee people from the story of the park and we look forward to sharing this rich history in such a special way with our visitors.”
The content for the exhibit was developed, by design, with significant community input allowing a more personal Cherokee story to be told. Community teams held monthly discussions to develop exhibit themes and images. Rather than presenting a chronological history, teams developed a thematic approach to sharpen the Cherokee perspective focusing on Cherokee homeland, heritage sites, tourism, family, and community celebrations.
Much of the exhibit text was excerpted from conversations originally recorded in Cherokee instead of translating from English into Cherokee. A Cherokee speakers group, organized in cooperation with the Cherokee Language Program at Western Carolina University, met weekly at the Kituwah Academy where members were shown historic photographs and asked to comment on them. These conversations were transcribed, translated, and included on the fifteen panels that make up the exhibit. Re-recorded by language instructor Tom Belt, these conversations are archived in Hunter Library’s online digital collections at Western Carolina University.
The exhibit panels use smart phone technology and QR codes to link to conversations in the archived collections. By hitting the on-screen play button, an exhibit visitor can listen to the Cherokee syllabary as it is spoken. Members of the speakers’ group include: Myrtle Johnson, Edwin George, Eli George, Marie Junaluska, Sallie Smoker, Nannie Taylor, and J.C. Wachacha. Others who worked on the exhibit include: Roseanna Belt, Western Carolina University (WCU) Cherokee Center; Tom Belt, WCU Cherokee Language Program; Evelyn Conley, Indigenous Education Institute; Jeff Marley, Nantahala School for the Arts; Yona Wade, Cherokee Central School; Andrew Denson, Jane Eastman, and Hartwell Francis, WCU professors; Corrine Glesne, Asheville evaluator; and Anna Fariello, project director.
The touring exhibit is sponsored by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in partnership with Cherokee Central Schools, Southwestern Community College, and Western Carolina University. Funding was provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Slated to travel to ten sites in the region, the exhibit places cultural interpretation in locations frequented by the public. “Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future” will later be on view at the Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City, Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville, Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Cashiers Symposium and Historical Society in Cashiers.
If planning to visit the exhibit you may want to note that the North Carolina side of the Smokies has a lot to offer. In addition to lots of outdoor adventures and fun, both Cherokee and Bryson City have some excellent restaurants. If planning an overnight stay during your visit, be sure to visit our Accommodations page to find the perfect cabin or resort on the North Carolina side of the Smokies.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
“We are honored to host this incredible exhibit that tells the story of our shared past,” said Ramos. “We cannot separate the story of the Cherokee people from the story of the park and we look forward to sharing this rich history in such a special way with our visitors.”
The content for the exhibit was developed, by design, with significant community input allowing a more personal Cherokee story to be told. Community teams held monthly discussions to develop exhibit themes and images. Rather than presenting a chronological history, teams developed a thematic approach to sharpen the Cherokee perspective focusing on Cherokee homeland, heritage sites, tourism, family, and community celebrations.
Much of the exhibit text was excerpted from conversations originally recorded in Cherokee instead of translating from English into Cherokee. A Cherokee speakers group, organized in cooperation with the Cherokee Language Program at Western Carolina University, met weekly at the Kituwah Academy where members were shown historic photographs and asked to comment on them. These conversations were transcribed, translated, and included on the fifteen panels that make up the exhibit. Re-recorded by language instructor Tom Belt, these conversations are archived in Hunter Library’s online digital collections at Western Carolina University.
The exhibit panels use smart phone technology and QR codes to link to conversations in the archived collections. By hitting the on-screen play button, an exhibit visitor can listen to the Cherokee syllabary as it is spoken. Members of the speakers’ group include: Myrtle Johnson, Edwin George, Eli George, Marie Junaluska, Sallie Smoker, Nannie Taylor, and J.C. Wachacha. Others who worked on the exhibit include: Roseanna Belt, Western Carolina University (WCU) Cherokee Center; Tom Belt, WCU Cherokee Language Program; Evelyn Conley, Indigenous Education Institute; Jeff Marley, Nantahala School for the Arts; Yona Wade, Cherokee Central School; Andrew Denson, Jane Eastman, and Hartwell Francis, WCU professors; Corrine Glesne, Asheville evaluator; and Anna Fariello, project director.
The touring exhibit is sponsored by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in partnership with Cherokee Central Schools, Southwestern Community College, and Western Carolina University. Funding was provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Slated to travel to ten sites in the region, the exhibit places cultural interpretation in locations frequented by the public. “Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future” will later be on view at the Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City, Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville, Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Cashiers Symposium and Historical Society in Cashiers.
If planning to visit the exhibit you may want to note that the North Carolina side of the Smokies has a lot to offer. In addition to lots of outdoor adventures and fun, both Cherokee and Bryson City have some excellent restaurants. If planning an overnight stay during your visit, be sure to visit our Accommodations page to find the perfect cabin or resort on the North Carolina side of the Smokies.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Free National Junior Ranger Day to be Held in Smokies
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will celebrate National Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with special activities at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Cades Cove Visitor Center and Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
Children and their families can join in a variety of free, hands-on activities including ranger-guided walks, historic toy making, talking to a real wildland firefighter, making dinner bells at a blacksmith shop, and visiting touch tables with animal skins, skulls, and scat. Information about specific programs is available at each visitor center.
Children can earn their free Junior Ranger patch by completing three specially planned activities. A Junior Ranger booklet is also available for those who would like to explore the park in more depth. The Junior Ranger booklets, produced in cooperation with Great Smoky Mountains Association, can be purchased for $2.50 each at park visitor centers. The booklets are designed to serve a variety of age targeted groups from 5-12.
National Junior Ranger Day is a special event during National Park Week celebrated this year betweenApril 19 and 27. National Park Week is an annual presidentially proclaimed week for celebrating and recognizing national parks. This year's theme is "Go Wild!"
Most parks throughout the country will host ceremonies, interactive games, and special events designed to connect children with the resources found in national parks.
"Great Smoky Mountains is famous for its natural and cultural resources, recreational opportunities and scenic vistas. Junior Ranger Day is a great opportunity for children and families to "GO Wild!" for learning about the park by doing free and fun activities while interacting with our staff and the resource." said Park Acting Superintendent Pedro Ramos.
Junior Ranger Day will run in conjunction with the park's annual Music of the Mountains festival at the Sugarlands Visitor Center onApril 26. Families are encouraged to stop in and listen to Appalachian music that will be featured in the theatre from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
There will also be an opportunity for middle and high school students at Sugarlands Visitor Center on April 26th, to participate in a salamander monitoring project from10:00 a.m. through12:30 p.m. This project will provide a "behind the scenes" look into a real science project that has been an on-going study for many years in the park.
Students will help Park Rangers restore an aquatic salamander monitoring transect in a Sugarlands area stream. Once the scientific plot is set up, students will help search for salamanders to help take the first recordable data of the year by capturing salamanders to weigh, measure, and identify. By including this opportunity for older children during the National Junior Ranger Day event, the park hopes to provide opportunities for all ages to experience the park.
For information and questions about Junior Ranger Day, please contact Lloyd Luketin at 865-436-1292.
For information and questions about Music of the Mountains, please contact the visitor center information desk at 865-436-1291.
For information and questions about the salamander monitoring project, please contact Emily Guss at 865-736-1713.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Children and their families can join in a variety of free, hands-on activities including ranger-guided walks, historic toy making, talking to a real wildland firefighter, making dinner bells at a blacksmith shop, and visiting touch tables with animal skins, skulls, and scat. Information about specific programs is available at each visitor center.
Children can earn their free Junior Ranger patch by completing three specially planned activities. A Junior Ranger booklet is also available for those who would like to explore the park in more depth. The Junior Ranger booklets, produced in cooperation with Great Smoky Mountains Association, can be purchased for $2.50 each at park visitor centers. The booklets are designed to serve a variety of age targeted groups from 5-12.
National Junior Ranger Day is a special event during National Park Week celebrated this year betweenApril 19 and 27. National Park Week is an annual presidentially proclaimed week for celebrating and recognizing national parks. This year's theme is "Go Wild!"
Most parks throughout the country will host ceremonies, interactive games, and special events designed to connect children with the resources found in national parks.
"Great Smoky Mountains is famous for its natural and cultural resources, recreational opportunities and scenic vistas. Junior Ranger Day is a great opportunity for children and families to "GO Wild!" for learning about the park by doing free and fun activities while interacting with our staff and the resource." said Park Acting Superintendent Pedro Ramos.
Junior Ranger Day will run in conjunction with the park's annual Music of the Mountains festival at the Sugarlands Visitor Center onApril 26. Families are encouraged to stop in and listen to Appalachian music that will be featured in the theatre from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
There will also be an opportunity for middle and high school students at Sugarlands Visitor Center on April 26th, to participate in a salamander monitoring project from10:00 a.m. through12:30 p.m. This project will provide a "behind the scenes" look into a real science project that has been an on-going study for many years in the park.
Students will help Park Rangers restore an aquatic salamander monitoring transect in a Sugarlands area stream. Once the scientific plot is set up, students will help search for salamanders to help take the first recordable data of the year by capturing salamanders to weigh, measure, and identify. By including this opportunity for older children during the National Junior Ranger Day event, the park hopes to provide opportunities for all ages to experience the park.
For information and questions about Junior Ranger Day, please contact Lloyd Luketin at 865-436-1292.
For information and questions about Music of the Mountains, please contact the visitor center information desk at 865-436-1291.
For information and questions about the salamander monitoring project, please contact Emily Guss at 865-736-1713.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
The Hummingbird's Gamble
On April 11th I mentioned on Facebook that the first broad-tailed hummingbird had arrived, and a friend a few miles north in similar habitat said that she had seen one too.
The bird flew up to the end of the veranda where the feeder hangs during the summer, circled, and left. I had some sugar water ready, got a feeder from the basement, filled it, and hung it up.
He did not come back that day.
It's a tradition that at least one snowstorm follows the males' arrival. I always tell M. that thousands of years of evolution must have prepared them for this possibility, that they settle into "torpor" and wait it out.
Sure enough, on the 13th we had cold rain and graupel turning into snow, with a foot of snow accumulating and temperatures down around 20° F (-7° C).
The sun came out on Monday, but the hummingbird did not. The feeder hangs there — I can see it from my desk —but no hummer has visited it.
Maybe our one early hummingbird kept on flying. Maybe he froze to death. I would like to know, but I never will. Was the early arrival worthwhile just to get a good breeding territory?
The bird flew up to the end of the veranda where the feeder hangs during the summer, circled, and left. I had some sugar water ready, got a feeder from the basement, filled it, and hung it up.
He did not come back that day.
It's a tradition that at least one snowstorm follows the males' arrival. I always tell M. that thousands of years of evolution must have prepared them for this possibility, that they settle into "torpor" and wait it out.
Sure enough, on the 13th we had cold rain and graupel turning into snow, with a foot of snow accumulating and temperatures down around 20° F (-7° C).
The sun came out on Monday, but the hummingbird did not. The feeder hangs there — I can see it from my desk —but no hummer has visited it.
Maybe our one early hummingbird kept on flying. Maybe he froze to death. I would like to know, but I never will. Was the early arrival worthwhile just to get a good breeding territory?
The Best Day in the Smokies…. Ever!
Okay, “best” might be too strong of a superlative, but we can certainly use the word “glorious” to describe our hike out to Andrews Bald this past Saturday.
As mentioned in a post on Tuesday, Kathy and I spent several days hiking in the Smokies last week, and spent our final day at Andrews Bald. And what a perfect day it was to visit one of the most scenic spots in the Great Smoky Mountains. Temperatures were in the low 60s, there wasn’t any wind to speak of, and we had cobalt blue skies above! It was a wonderful reward after enduring one of the worst winters in human history! Moreover, we practically had the entire grassy bald to ourselves for almost the first hour.
As we soaked in the amazing panoramic views, large white billowing clouds began to drift overhead.
During our five-day stay we literally saw spring emerge in the Smokies. Last Tuesday, as we drove over Newfound Gap, there were very few signs of spring. We spent the next several days exploring some new trails on the North Carolina side of the Smokies. So on Saturday, when we drove back over Newfound Gap, we were quite amazed to see how green everything had turned in just those couple of days.
Can’t wait to get back and possibly hike to Gregory Bald during the azalea bloom!
As result of our hike on Saturday we have updated our Andrews Bald page with some new information and photos.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
As mentioned in a post on Tuesday, Kathy and I spent several days hiking in the Smokies last week, and spent our final day at Andrews Bald. And what a perfect day it was to visit one of the most scenic spots in the Great Smoky Mountains. Temperatures were in the low 60s, there wasn’t any wind to speak of, and we had cobalt blue skies above! It was a wonderful reward after enduring one of the worst winters in human history! Moreover, we practically had the entire grassy bald to ourselves for almost the first hour.
As we soaked in the amazing panoramic views, large white billowing clouds began to drift overhead.
During our five-day stay we literally saw spring emerge in the Smokies. Last Tuesday, as we drove over Newfound Gap, there were very few signs of spring. We spent the next several days exploring some new trails on the North Carolina side of the Smokies. So on Saturday, when we drove back over Newfound Gap, we were quite amazed to see how green everything had turned in just those couple of days.
Can’t wait to get back and possibly hike to Gregory Bald during the azalea bloom!
As result of our hike on Saturday we have updated our Andrews Bald page with some new information and photos.
Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
Why I Would Not Man the Barricades for Cliven Bundy
The stand-off over Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy's refusal to pay public-lands grazing fees has energized a lot of people who are starting to think that the federal government is oppressive.
Maybe so. You can count on federal law-enforcement to be clumsy and oppressive, and idea of a "First Amendment Zone" is ludicrous. The entire country is a "First Amendment Zone."
But still. This is an ongoing story that the anti-federal zealots have just recently discovered, but I think they picked the wrong poster boy.
Consider the timeline. It goes back for decades.
In my opinion, here we have a patriarchal Mormon who thinks that God gave the land to him to abuse however he chooses. Range management? Heck no! Habitat protection? Heck no! Paying the Animal Unit Month fees? Heck no!
Besides, this particular anti-federal government narrative just won't get traction, as compared to, say, NSA spying on your emails. Two reasons:
1. It involves agriculture, and 97 percent of the people in this country feel no emotional connection to agriculture.
2. It involves Nevada. What is Nevada to most Americans? Las Vegas and Area 51? They probably do not even know that there are ranches in Nevada, aside from those non-agricultural establishments with "ranch" as part of their name.
The Bureau of Land Management should have removed his cattle long ago for non-payment, but they have been politically cowed (pun intended) by people like Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.). As a former BLM contractor, I have seen how sensitive to the political winds that agency can be.
Maybe so. You can count on federal law-enforcement to be clumsy and oppressive, and idea of a "First Amendment Zone" is ludicrous. The entire country is a "First Amendment Zone."
But still. This is an ongoing story that the anti-federal zealots have just recently discovered, but I think they picked the wrong poster boy.
Consider the timeline. It goes back for decades.
In my opinion, here we have a patriarchal Mormon who thinks that God gave the land to him to abuse however he chooses. Range management? Heck no! Habitat protection? Heck no! Paying the Animal Unit Month fees? Heck no!
Besides, this particular anti-federal government narrative just won't get traction, as compared to, say, NSA spying on your emails. Two reasons:
1. It involves agriculture, and 97 percent of the people in this country feel no emotional connection to agriculture.
2. It involves Nevada. What is Nevada to most Americans? Las Vegas and Area 51? They probably do not even know that there are ranches in Nevada, aside from those non-agricultural establishments with "ranch" as part of their name.
The Bureau of Land Management should have removed his cattle long ago for non-payment, but they have been politically cowed (pun intended) by people like Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.). As a former BLM contractor, I have seen how sensitive to the political winds that agency can be.
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