A Brand New Month and a Brand New Eruption at Mount Warning

This morning started in a very interesting way. I wasn’t sure but there was some shaking of my house. I just thought it was a garbage truck going by so I thought little more of it. That was until I drove to work and looked out at Mount Warning. The clouds that hang around the peak in the morning (often to the dismay of tourists watching the sunrise from its peak) looked just a little odd shaped and darker. Again, I thought nothing of it.

What I didn’t know I had just experienced was one of the many small earthquakes that struck the region last night and continue today. You can see the latest seismic readings from geoscience Australia here. The clouds were actually not morning clouds but small amounts of ash and steam rising from the peak as a new vent opened up (the first in a very long time). Australia has not had a volcano erupt on the mainland since pre-colonial times and even those volcanoes erupted in Victoria and South Australia, no-where near our pretty part of the world.

The news websites are going very busy and I know that there are some interesting Instagram and facebook pictures going around already. I should have one of my own pictures up shortly. By all accounts there is little danger away from the mountain but people intending to visit the national park should be aware of the dangers present and not attempt to climb if they see any evidence of Holocene lava.

Honey Bee's Pollinating Cherry Tree Blossoms

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Honey Bee's Pollinating Cherry Tree Blossoms

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1st Day of Summer - Grand Teton National Park

I realize that we're still a few weeks away from the 1st day of summer. I'm just reusing the name that Finley Holiday Films used for their outstanding short film highlighting Grand Teton National Park. The video shows what this beautiful park looks like in June as the snow melts, and the wildflowers and wildlife begin to emerge from a long winter.



With more than 200 miles of trails meandering throughout the park, hiking is the absolute best way to see Grand Teton National Park. Fortunately the park offers a wide variety of outstanding day hikes. If you do plan to visit Grand Teton this year, please note that our hiking website also offers a variety of accommodation listings and other things to do to help with all your vacation planning.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
HikinginGlacier.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

North Peak Wildfire Now 100% Contained

Favorable weather conditions have allowed firefighters to fully contain the North Peak Fire in McDowell County over the weekend. The final size of the fire is approximately 570 acres.

The North Peak Fire was reported Wednesday morning, March 23 on North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission Game Lands. The fire burned on private and Pisgah National Forest Lands on the Grandfather Ranger District. The fire area is located in rugged terrain north of Lake James Road, east of Hankins Road, and south of Bald Knob, 5 miles northeast of Marion, N.C.

A history of prescribed fire and wildfire in the area allowed firefighters to use existing containment lines in suppression efforts. This limited the spread of the wildfire to the south and west and provided safe access routes to the fire area. There were no injuries or structures lost in the fire.

The Over Mountain Victory Trail has reopened.

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and N.C. Forest Service (NCFS) managed the fire jointly with resources from both agencies and support from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, McDowell County Emergency Management Services, Hankins-North Fork Volunteer Fire Department, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Both agencies remind the public that we are currently in wildfire season across Western North Carolina.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
HikinginGlacier.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

6 Great Hikes in Colorado

With endless amounts of stunning mountain scenery, the State of Colorado arguably ranks as the top hiking destination in the country. Although I’m quite partial to the hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, there are many other places around the state that are on par with the national park. Here are six hikes that I think you’ll find to be quite amazing, and may want to consider for your hiking bucket list:

Ice Lakes
Ice Lakes, located just outside of Silverton in the San Juan National Forest, has the most intense cobalt blue color I’ve ever seen in nature. Combine this extraordinarily beautiful alpine lake with outstanding mountain scenery and several thousand wildflowers, and you have one of the best hikes found just about anywhere.

Blue Lakes
The Blue Lakes Trail travels to an extremely scenic glacial basin within the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness area. Although not a national park, the San Juan Mountains near Ouray could easily qualify as one, and would probably rank as one of the crown jewels within the entire national park system. You could also make a strong argument that the hike to Blue Lakes would rank high on the list of the best hikes among all of our national parks.

Black Face Mountain
Although Black Face Mountain may look fairly nondescript from the top of Lizard Head Pass just outside of Telluride, you shouldn't be deceived - the views from the summit are quite amazing. After a relatively easy climb hikers will enjoy stunning panoramic views of several 13 and 14,000-foot peaks, as well as the iconic Lizard Head.

Gilpin Lake Loop
The Gilpin Lake / Gold Creek Lake Loop in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness area near Steamboat Springs is an extremely popular hike. The trail visits waterfalls, broad glacially-carved meadows, and two scenic lakes. From the top of Gilpin Ridge you’ll enjoy absolutely stunning views of Gilpin Lake, a deep blue, alpine lake that lies below the gaze of Mt. Zirkel and Big Agnes Mountain.

Mt. Elbert
Why not just go to the top of Colorado? Not only is 14,440-foot Mt. Elbert the highest point in Colorado, it’s also the highest point between Mt. Whitney in California, Fairweather Mountain in Canada, La Malinche Mountain in Mexico, and Mont Blanc in France. From the “roof of Colorado” hikers will enjoy outstanding panoramic views. Moreover, as “fourteeners” go, the hike to the summit is relatively easy.

Quandary Peak
At 14,265 feet Quandary Peak ranks as the 13th highest mountain in Colorado, and is one of the more accessible fourteeners in the state. The trailhead is located only 8 miles south of Breckenridge, and doesn't require a 4-wheel drive vehicle to reach it. Moreover, the 6.75-mile roundtrip route has very little exposure to steep drop-offs, thus making this a great first mountain for novice peak baggers.

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
HikinginGlacier.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

North Peak Wildfire Grows to 500 Acres - Now 50% Contained

Firefighters are working to contain the North Peak Fire burning in McDowell County. With dry conditions and low humidity, the fire grew Thursday afternoon and is now estimated at 500 acres and 50 percent contained.

The North Peak Fire was reported Wednesday morning, March 23 on North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission Game Lands. The fire is also burning on private and Pisgah National Forest Lands on the Grandfather Ranger District. The fire is located in rugged terrain north of Lake James Road, east of Hankins Road, and south of Bald Knob, just north of Lake James and 5 miles northeast of Marion, N.C.

Low humidity and high winds increased fire activity yesterday afternoon ahead of approaching storms. Higher humidity overnight provided good conditions for crews to make progress on containment. However, no rainfall was recorded on the fire.

76 firefighters are currently assigned to the incident. Firefighters are working to improve containment lines today. Burn out operations will take place this afternoon to secure the containment lines. Firefighters are also providing point protection for structures and equipment in private rock quarries within the fire boundary. No homes are threatened. A helicopter will be assisting today.

The area adjacent to where the fire is burning has a history of prescribed fire treatments and wildfires. These areas provide natural fire breaks and allow for utilization of existing containment lines.

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and N.C. Forest Service (NCFS) are managing the fire jointly with resources from both agencies and support from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, McDowell County Emergency Management Services, Hankins-North Fork Volunteer Fire Department, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Minimizing risk for firefighters, local communities, and the public are primary goals. Smoke may be present today near Lake James and Marion. Members of the public traveling in the area should use caution when driving. Officials are asking the public to avoid the area for their own safety and the safety of emergency response personnel on scene.

The Over Mountain Victory Trail in the Bear Creek area is closed to provide for public and firefighter safety.

An information center to provide public and media information on the wildfire is stationed at the Black Bear Boat Launch on Lake James. The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
HikinginGlacier.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Hike to Charlies Bunion in the Great Smoky Mountains

Awhile back the Great Smoky Mountains Association published a video of the hike out to Charlies Bunion - arguably one of the best hikes in the national park. Charlies Bunion (the video explains the origins for this somewhat odd name) is a rock outcropping located along the Appalachian Trail that offers stunning views of the northern Smokies. For more information on this popular hike, please click here.

 
© GSMA 2010. All rights reserved.

With more than 800 miles of trails meandering throughout the park, hiking is the absolute best way to see the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In addition to Charlies Bunion, the park offers many other outstanding hikes. If you do plan to visit the Smokies this year, please note that our hiking website also offers a wide variety of accommodation listings to help with all your vacation planning.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
HikinginGlacier.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Forest Service Increases Watch for Illegal Taking of Slippery Elm Bark

Over the past several years, the market for medicinal herbs has been on the rise. One of the products in demand is the bark from slippery elm trees (Ulmus rubra).

The inner layer of slippery elm bark contains a gel-like substance that is presumed to be a soothing agent for sore throat, gastrointestinal problems, and skin irritations.

“Each year, we have seen a steady increase in the number of slippery elm trees being stripped of their bark,” said Forest Botanist David Taylor with the Daniel Boone National Forest.

“For these trees, it’s a death sentence. The trees die within a year once their bark has been removed, since the inner layer of the bark provides for the flow of nutrients that sustain the tree.”

The taking of slippery elm bark from trees on national forest land is illegal. Under the 36 Code of Federal Regulations, “removing any timber, tree or other forest product, except as authorized by a special-use authorization, timber sale contract, or Federal law or regulation” is prohibited (36 CFR, Section 261.6h).

“The theft of natural resources from national forest lands can lead to a species’ demise,” added Taylor.

“As an example, ginseng has been illegally removed from public lands in the eastern United States for decades, causing serious decline and even extirpation of this plant in some forest areas.”

Other forest products commonly removed from national forest lands include timber, mosses and lichens, wildflowers and rocks. None of these resources can be taken without a permit.

To help prevent the illegal taking of natural resources on national forest lands, the public is encouraged to report the theft of forest products by calling 859.745.3100.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
HikinginGlacier.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Scenic Wonders of the Colorado Trail 2015 ~ Part 3 of 3

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Tap Here to View Part 1

from our

Colorado Trail Adventure.

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Scenic Wonders of the Colorado Trail 2015 ~ Part 2 of 3

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Tap Here for Part 3

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