The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog

Mt. LeConte receives 20 inches of snow

2009-12-19T11:43:00.005-05:00

Mt. LeConte received 20 inches of snow from yesterday's storm, including 3 foot drifts in places.

This information comes courtesy of an online report from Doug McFalls, the winter caretaker at the Mt. LeConte Lodge. He's using a broadband connection, powered by solar panels, to give the world photos and updates from his new blog, called "Life On LeConte".

This morning, Doug spent time digging out the out house - taking care of the important stuff atop LeConte!

You can check out his blog by clicking here.

Also, as of 10:33 this morning, the National Weather Service has no report on the amount of snow on Newfound Gap. Yesterday morning the Gap already had 4 inches of snow, while Mt. LeConte was reporting only a dusting. So, it's possible that the Gap has even more than 20 inches on the ground.

** Almost every road in the Smokies remains closed - please call the park hotline at (865) 436-1200 for the latest updates **

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

Appalachian Trail Visitation Study Underway

2009-12-19T07:26:00.000-05:00

The National Park Service is currently conducting a project to develop an effective system for tallying the number of hikers on the Appalachian Trail.

This is from the press release:

The project started in 2007 with the Appalachian Trail (AT) entering into an interagency agreement with the Forest Service’s Southern Research Station and expert mathematical statisticians and social scientists to identify a process for determining a defendable annual visitation number. This was no small task. With literally thousands of access points from Georgia to Maine, where does one begin?

Researchers spent a year identifying a pilot process and implementing a survey on a “testable” section of the AT. The process selected included a stratified random survey design which utilized two survey instruments, exit site tallies, and a survey questionnaire to obtain visitation estimates on a portion of the AT.

The design identifies three components (non-proxy, proxy, and special days) which can be used to subdivide the sampling frame into estimator types that lead to more efficient sampling and estimation processes.

I guess a fairly accurate head count would be a nice thing to know. But what value does it really have? Will this information have any impact on how the trail is managed?

Given the state of our economy and the number of people unemployed, doesn't this seem like a grand waste of money? But hey, this is our government at work, why do they have to care about how are tax dollars are spent....

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

Pictures of the past on the Appalachian Trail

2009-12-18T17:51:00.001-05:00

The Charleston Daily Mail has an article on their website about a new book, Along Virginia's Appalachian Trail. The book was written by Leonard Adkins, an accomplished author and hiker who has hiked the entire length of the AT on five separate occasions.

The book was produced in cooperation with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The team hopes to publish similar books for the other sections of the trail in the future. The book includes dozens of vintage photographs—most never before published—that document the history of the trail and the volunteers who made it possible from the time it was first proposed in 1921 until more recent years.

The newspaper article includes a few of those historical photos from the book.

For more information on the book itself, please click here.

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

Winter Storm Warning for Southern Appalachians

2009-12-18T09:02:00.011-05:00

From the National Weather Service:

...WINTER STORM TO BRING ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL ACROSS A LARGE PART OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS BY TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY...

> Total snowfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches is expected for Eastern Tennessee by Saturday evening, with higher accumulations in the mountains.

> WATE is reporting that Newfound Gap already has 4 inches on the ground as of this morning.

> Western North Carolina is expected to receive 8 to 12 inches of snow.

We already have a few road closings:

* Newfound Gap Road (US 441), Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC

* Little River Road

* Cades Cove Loop Road

* Lyons Springs Road (a.k.a. Wears Gap Road)

* Cherokee Orchard Road in the Roaring Fork area

* Cataloochee Entrance Road near Maggie Valley, NC

* Old NC 284 (Cove Creek Road), between Big Creek, NC and Cataloochee, NC

* The Foothills Parkway - both east and west

* The Asheville Citizen-Times is also reporting that officials have already closed the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Stay tuned for further expected closings in the Smokies as the day progresses, or call the park at (865) 436-1200.

For more weather related details and information, please click here.

Here's a look at the snow as it piled up at park headquarters in Gatlinburg this afternoon (from the Great Smoky Mountains Association):

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

U.S. House approves $13M towards "Road to Nowhere" settlement

2009-12-17T14:09:00.004-05:00

The Asheville Citizen-Times is reporting that the U.S. House has approved a provision to give Swain County in North Carolina $13 million toward settling the decades-long dispute over the so called "Road to Nowhere" through the North Shore area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

A provision backed by U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler to spend the money is part of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2010 that the House passed yesterday.

Shuler’s office said the Senate is expected to pass the bill this weekend.

The bill would release $4 million in federal funds to Swain County immediately, with the remaining $8.8 million to come 120 days after a settlement agreement is reached.

A 1943 agreement between the federal government, the state of North Carolina and Swain County called for the federal government to build a road along the north shore of Fontana Lake when Congress approved the money. The road would have replaced N.C. 288, a road paid for by Swain taxpayers that was largely flooded by the lake.

Sections of the new road were built in fits and starts, but environmental concerns and a lack of money eventually halted construction. The Department of Interior decided in 2007 to pursue a cash settlement with Swain County instead.

Settlement talks since then have gone slowly and the parties have yet to agree on how much Swain County should be paid. Bob Miller, spokesman for the park, said last week that negotiators met three times in 2008 and only once this year, on Oct. 29.

“We still are very eager to settle that issue,” Miller said.

The measure moving through Congress apparently does not say how much the total amount of a settlement should be. A statement from Shuler’s office refers to the money as “a down payment on an eventual North Shore Road settlement.”

Swain leaders in the past have said the county should receive at least $52 million in lieu of the road. Some county residents, however, still want the road, saying it would provide easier access to cemeteries in the area and that visitor use of the road would be a boost to the county’s economy.

For more information on the North Shore Road (Road to Nowhere), including historical background, letters, stories and old photos, please click here.

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

Eagle owl in flight high speed camera

2009-12-17T09:47:00.001-05:00

Kinda cool video I found on Backpacker Mag's site:

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

Last minute gift solution

2009-12-16T10:04:00.000-05:00

Need a last minute gift solution? How about a gift card from Amazon? The card is redeemable for millions of items on Amazon - and - there are no fees or expiration dates.

Just click on the image below for more information:

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

The North Face sues teenager

2009-12-15T18:32:00.005-05:00

The North Face Apparel Corp. is suing a small suburban St. Louis-area company called The South Butt and the teenager who started it. The lawsuit filed last week in federal court in St. Louis seeks unspecified damages and asks the court to prohibit The South Butt from marketing and selling its parody product line.

The South Butt's attorney, Albert Watkins, says The South Butt was started by 18-year-old Jimmy Winkelmann to help pay for college. It puts out products with the tag line, "Never Stop Relaxing," a parody of The North Face line, "Never Stop Exploring."

The lawsuit says The South Butt is trying to "legitimize piracy under the banner of parody."

You gotta love this! Clearly the North Face has a legitimate beef with Winkelmann regarding the logo. However, I'm not so sure about the name or the tag line.

Maybe the North Face should settle this one out of court. Have Winkelmann shut down the business, but agree to pay for his college and then hire him as a junior marketing exec after he graduates!

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

Southern Appalachian hiker gift ideas

2009-12-15T10:38:00.002-05:00

Need some gift ideas for that special hiker in your life? Below are a few suggestions any hiker or lover of the Southern Appalachians would appreciate:

Just Passin' Thru A Vintage Store, the Appalachian Trail, and a Cast of Unforgettable Characters is the brand new release from Winton Porter. The book recounts some of the stories, dramas and characters that show up at his store - the historic Mountain Crossings, a combination hostel and outfitter shop along the Appalachian Trail.

Waterfalls of North Carolina is the very first map available that features over 300 waterfalls in the western North Carolina region. In addition to the WNC region, the map also includes falls on the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains. The map was published this past October.

The Garmin Oregon 400T is the next generation of GPS for hikers and outdoors types. National Geographic Adventure Magazine had it on its list of must-have outdoor gear for 2009. Right now Amazon has this item on sale for only $399.95. That's a savings of $240!

The Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers' Companion-2010 is another brand new release. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association collaborated on this guide especially designed for potential thru-hikers.

Blue Ridge Mountains 2010 Scenic Wall Calendar is the latest from professional photographer, Jerry Greer.

For many more suggestions, please visit the Smoky Mountains Hiker Store.

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

November visits to Smokies up 8.7%

2009-12-15T09:06:00.002-05:00

Visits to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park increased by 8.7 percent in November.

National Park Service spokesman Bob Miller said the jump was fueled by a 27.2% increase at the Gatlinburg entrance to the Smokies - mainly due to the major rock slide that has closed Interstate 40 just inside North Carolina.

The number of visitors entering through Townsend and Cherokee remained unchanged for the month.

The count at the 13 outlying entrances was off by 6.3%, but that was mostly because the traffic counter at Cosby was removed for a month of paving work.

The number of visits to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is on track to finish at 9.4 million by the end of the year, which tranlates into a 4.7% year-to-date increase over 2008 levels for the Park, said Miller.

So the increase in November was fueled by the closure of I40. Are these really visitors? No, these are people simply passing through to their destination. So, in effect, the park service is essentially padding the numbers - not that it makes a whole hill of beans in the grand scheme of things.

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

Backpacker Mag: National Parks Hall of Fame

2009-12-14T14:22:00.004-05:00

Backpacker Magazine has just posted, from their November issue, their annual list of best hikes in our national parks. The magazine rated trails based on: Solitude, Loop hikes, Alpine hikes, Dayhikes, Canyon hikes, Wildlife, X-Country Adventure, Wildflowers, Coastal hikes, and Peaks.

Two hikes of interest that made the list from the region, include:

> Mt. Cammerer, which won the title as best hike for wildflowers. The magazine suggests taking the 16-mile loop that begins on the Low Gap Trail, climbing out of the Cosby Campground to the Appalachian Trail, and then finishing on the Lower Cammerer Trail. The article states you'll see trilliums not seen anywhere else in the park here, as well as the dwarf-crested iris that paint the ground purple for three consecutive miles.

Tom Harrington, a volunteer interpreter in the Smokies, said that you should hike this loop around the third week of April. "The wildflowers are exceptionally beautiful, and the amazing thing is I'll rarely see anyone out there," says Harrington.

Click on the link for more information on hiking to Mt. Cammerer.

The magazine also included a list of trails that won awards in a list of "sub-categories".

> The Cedar Run Trail in Shenandoah National Park won the award for best Swimming Hole. The magazine says; "You'll never be far from an emerald plunge pool on this hike. Go in June for the perfect combination of Southern swelter and high water in the steep, cliffy canyon. Link to the Appalachian and Whiteoak Canyon Trails (with six waterfalls) for a perfect, 13-mile weekend loop."

You can see all the trails that made the Backpacker list by clicking here.

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

Great Deals on Best selling GPS Units on Amazon

2009-12-14T10:11:00.000-05:00

Below are the best selling GPS Units on Amazon. Some of the best deals in this category can be had on GPS units for hikers, such as the Garmin Forerunner 305, Garmin GPS 60CSx Handheld, DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 Handheld and the Garmin Oregon 400T.

Each of these GPS units are discounted by more than 40% right now (offering savings between $155 and $350):

Amazon.com Widgets

* If you're interested in the Garmin 60CSx Handheld, I did a short review of this product last year. Please click here to read.

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

Movie Trailer: North Face

2009-12-14T08:38:00.003-05:00

Below is a trailer from an upcoming movie called North Face.

Based on a true story, North Face is a gripping adventure drama about a competition to climb the most dangerous rock face in the Alps. In 1936, Nazi propaganda urged German Alpinists to conquer the unclimbed north face of the Swiss massif, the Eiger, bringing two reluctant climbers, Toni Kurz (Benno Furmann) and Andi Hinterstoisser (Florian Lukas), to begin their daring ascent and attempt to scale the infamous rock face, often called the Murder Wall.

Looks like this could be a pretty good suspense-filled movie:

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

Save on outdoor gear and apparel

2009-12-13T10:19:00.001-05:00

Amazon is offering great deals on all your outdoor gear and apparel needs for this holiday season. Some of the best prices can be found on Amazon, such as the Columbia Ballistic II Windproof Fleece Jacket, or a Kelty Grand Mesa 2-Person Tent, or Leki Trail Trekking Poles. You can even save 50% on the popular Teton Sports Fox 75+10L Internal Frame Backpack.

Click on the logo below for more information on all the outdoor products Amazon offers:

* Amazon offers FREE Super Saver Shipping on eligible items totaling more than $25.

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

Four must-do Hikes near Santa Fe

2009-12-13T06:59:00.003-05:00

A couple years ago Kathy and I spent a week in Santa Fe to take in the rich history and culture of the region, and of course, to check out some hiking in the Southern Rockies.

Among the 8 or 9 trails we tackled, there were four must-do hikes that I would recommend for anyone considering a visit to the area. The following are some photos from those hikes.

Canyon Trail in Tent Rocks National Monument
If you’re spending more than a day or two in Santa Fe, be sure to visit the somewhat unknown Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. This is truly a remarkable place located about 40 miles southwest of Santa Fe.

The oddly cone-shaped formations giving the area its name are the products of volcanic eruptions that occurred 6 to 7 million years ago that left pumice, ash and tuff deposits over 1,000 feet thick.

The monument includes a national recreation trail that provides up-close views of the tent rocks, as well as the opportunity to pass through a narrow canyon.

The hike we took was a combination of the Cave Loop and the Canyon Trails - for a total hike of 3.2 miles. The more difficult Canyon Trail is a one-way trek through the narrow canyon before making a steep 630-foot climb to the mesa top. From here you can look down upon the tent rocks. You’ll also have excellent views of the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia mountains and the Rio Grande Valley.

Wheeler Peak
One of our main objectives for this trip was to climb Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico. With a roundtrip trek of 16 miles and a climb of almost 4000 feet, this would be the toughest hike either of us had ever attempted at that time.

Wheeler Peak is about 90 miles north of Santa Fe in the Sangre De Cristo (Blood of Christ) range, in the Carson National Forest. To reach the summit we took the Bull-of-the-Woods Trail that begins out of the Taos Ski Area.

Climbing in late May, there were still a few snow covered areas on the trail. In fact, we were warned that there would be a section below the tree-line where we would most likely run into some problems. Although that section still had quite a bit of snow, we were able to pass it with only a little extra work.

Prior to reaching Wheeler, the trail crosses over Mount Walter. At 13,141 feet, it’s the second highest named summit in New Mexico, but it’s not usually considered an independent peak as it only has about 80 feet of topographic prominence. From here the path leads you along a fairly narrow ridgeline to your final destination. It was here that we experienced some extremely high winds. As a precautionary measure I held onto Kathy just to make sure she didn’t get blown off the mountain! Other than the wind and cool temps at the top, the weather was otherwise perfect.

Pecos National Historical Park
Although some may not consider it to be a true hike, there is a 1.25 mile self-guided trail in the Pecos National Historical Park that shouldn’t be overlooked. The park is located about 25 miles east of Santa Fe.

The trail winds through the ruins of the Pecos Pueblo which is thought to have been established sometime during the 14th century. The original mission that was on the site was destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, but a smaller church was built in 1717. The massive adobe walls and arched doorways of this later church still stand on top of the earlier church's stone foundation.

In addition to exploring the old mission, the trail also passes many other ruins from the pueblo, including a "kiva". The park allows you to descend a ladder to reach the small room-sized underground ceremonial chamber.

Tsankawi Loop in Bandelier National Monument
We hiked a couple of short trails the day we spent in Bandelier National Monument. One trail that is very easy to overlook, but one that definitely shouldn’t, is the 1.5 mile Tsankawi Loop located in the detached portion of the monument known as the Tsankawi unit. The 1.5 mile loop provides access to numerous unexcavated ruins, cave dwellings carved into the soft tuff, as well as several petroglyphs from the Ancestral Tewa Pueblo that lived here until the 16th century. Many sections of the trail are worn 8 to 12 inches into solid rock! Petroglyphs are common throughout this area; however, the meanings of many are unknown to present-day Indians. The trail also requires hikers to climb up and down several wooden ladders.

Bandelier is roughly 30 miles northeast of Santa Fe.

Santa Fe
Santa Fe is an awesome town, and is probably now my favorite urban destination. Being several centuries old, the city is steeped in Native, Hispanic, Spanish and early-American history and culture (as is nearby Taos). If you love history at all, you could spend several days just checking out all the sites in the area, including the oldest house in the United States. The town is also known for its Indian Market, art galleries, museums and its Southwestern cuisine.

There’s also an excellent brewpub in town called the Blue Corn Café. With two locations in town, I would recommend going to the downtown location. If you’re lucky enough, grab a table on the balcony. Both the beer and the New Mexican style food are outstanding.

Santa Fe-Taos Hiking Guide:

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

The Smoky Mountain Hiking Store is Open

2009-12-12T10:04:00.005-05:00

With Christmas less than two weeks away, I wanted to remind everyone that the Smoky Mountain Hiking Store is open for business! In addition to hiking gear and apparel from some of the best outdoor brands, we also have a large selection of books related to hiking, the Great Smoky Mountains and the surrounding region.

Some new titles you may be interested in include;

* Just Passin' Thru (just released)

* 3000 Miles in the Great Smokies

* Historic Photos of Appalachia

* Sanctuary: Meditations from the Great Smoky Mountains

* Waterfalls of North Carolina, a comprehensive map that features over 300 waterfalls in the western North Carolina region.

You can also support HikingintheSmokys.com by visiting Amazon’s new Outdoor Recreation Store which offers outstanding deals on a wide variety of hiking, camping and outdoor gear.

P.S. There are only 5 days left to order for Christmas for Free Super Saver Shipping at Amazon.

Jeff
Smoky Mountain Day Hikers Store

Cascade Canyon Trail in the Grand Tetons

2009-12-12T07:16:00.009-05:00

The Cascade Canyon Trail in Grand Teton National Park is often rated as one of the best trails in the United States. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to hike this gem you would probably concur.

Having such notoriety bestowed upon it, the trail is naturally going to be one of the most popular hiking destinations in the park. Our hike in September of 2001 was no exception. In fact, this hike is probably the most memorable one we’ve ever had – and that’s not just due to the majestic mountain scenery.

Roughly a mile-and-a-half from the boat dock we caught up with a large group of hikers making a bit of a commotion. Based on their accents we made the assumption they were tourists from Germany. The “leader” of this group, a muscular guy without a shirt and wearing a bandana, whom we appropriately nicknamed “Rambo”, was banging the ground with a large stick. He and his fellow travelers were all yelling at a young black bear walking along the trail just in front of them.

The absurd part of the story is that the bear really didn’t care how loud these people yelled. He just continued strolling down the trail at his own leisurely pace. With the Germans in front of us, we literally followed the bear for nearly a mile before he decided he'd had enough and meandered off into the woods. We took this opportunity to double-time it in order to get away from this loud and obnoxious group.

Don’t try this at home! I never would’ve gotten this close had there not been so many other people around:

Later on, near the Forks of Cascade Canyon, we came across another commotion. This time there were several people off the side of the trail watching two bull moose engage in a turf battle. Naturally we wanted to check out the struggle ourselves. However, just as we arrived, the smaller moose waived the white flag, licked his wounds and wandered out of the danger zone. Most of the people continued to stick around to snap a few more photos of the victor. But as the group grew in size, and people tried to get a little closer, the moose became visibly agitated. Giving us fair warning, he began thrashing his antlers in the brush before suddenly rushing across the creek towards us. In an instant everyone scattered to the wind. Fortunately, it was only a bluff charge that ended just as quickly as it started, but I guarantee that everyone’s heart was racing for a few seconds. That ended the photo shoot.

We continued on to the forks. On our return, I was able to get a shot of the moose with no one else around.

The hike to the forks is roughly 6.5 miles one-way. However, you can subtract two miles each way by taking the shuttle boat across Jenny Lake.

Many people prefer to end their hike at Inspiration Point, satisfied with the spectacular panoramic views of Jenny Lake and Jackson Hole below:

Just beyond Inspiration Point, Mt. Owen comes into view:

Cascade Creek and Mt. Owen a mile above:

From Jenny Lake to the Forks of Cascade Canyon, the trail gains a little more than 1000 feet. Most of that elevation gain occurs in the first mile or so (above Jenny Lake). Just beyond Inspiration Point, the trail levels out as it passes through the U-shaped, glacially sculpted Cascade Canyon. The trail offers close-up views of Grand Teton, Mt. Owen and Teewinot Mountain.

Parting shot: this photo was taken the morning we left for home. We were extremely lucky to come across this vantage point near Moran Junction just as a cloud bank was passing mid-way below the summit of Mount Moran. This is one of my all-time favorite shots:

Must-Do Hikes in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons:

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

Save on Electronics from Amazon

2009-12-11T09:35:00.004-05:00

If you're going to be shopping for electronics this holiday season, Amazon will be the place to find some of the best deals on the internet.

Right now, you can find big savings on items such as:

* A Canon PowerShot MP Digital Camera for only $199

* Save $175 on an Samsung 37-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

* Pay only $12.03 for a SanDisk Cruzer Micro 8 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive (Save 73%!)

* Save $184 (53%) on a Garmin nüvi 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

* 19% off (Save $72) on a Samsung 10.1-Inch Blue Netbook

For more information on any of these items, or from the thousands of Computers, TVs, Cameras, Cell Phones, MP3s, Video Games and other gadgets from Amazon, please click here, or click on the logo below:

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

Can you survive in the wilderness in the winter?

2009-12-11T07:13:00.002-05:00

I'm sure most you would never really want to actually find out, but you could test yourself - virtually - by playing the Discovery Channel's "Life or Death Game".

The scenario is that you are on a guided extreme winter hike to a luxury cabin. You awake after the first night to find that the guide has left - with all the food - and you're still two days away from the cabin. Can you survive?

Warning: the game can be quite annoying because everytime you miss the right answer, you're forced to start over again. Fortunately there's only a handful of questions. All in all though, it's a pretty good exercise because there are a couple of questions with counter-intuitive answers, forcing you to think outside of the box, which is something that would come in handy in a real survival situation.

The site also has other scenarios including being lost at sea and being stranded in the jungle.

Click here to play.

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

Planning a Thru-Hike

2009-12-10T07:33:00.004-05:00

Trailspace.com has a pretty good four-part series on their website about planning for a thru-hike. Written by Barbara Egbert, a thru-hike veteran herself, The Lure of a Long Trail: Planning a Thru-Hike offers basic information for would-be long distance thru-hikers to help them tackle the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail or the Continental Divide Trail. Obviously, much of the advice provided would also benefit backpackers attempting much shorter distances as well.

This is probably a good starting point for someone in the consideration phase of planning a thru-hike to see if they really want to get serious about it:

Part 1: In the first of four articles, Pacific Crest Trail veteran Barbara Egbert talks to other thru-hikers about gear decisions, training, and preparation.

Part 2: Sorting through a deluge of advice and wondering which to pay attention to? Successful backpackers can tell you what really matters, including reasons to thru-hike a long trail, what to eat, and finding water.

Part 3: Triple Crowners — hikers who have completed the AT, PCT, and CDT (that’s nearly 8,000 miles of trail) — offer advice to first-timers on how to stay safe and have fun.

Part 4: Two trail angels offer advice based on the hundreds of thru-hikers they've befriended and assisted along the Pacific Crest Trail.

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

Help the ATC Win a Grant from Chase Bank

2009-12-09T17:16:00.003-05:00

Chase Community Giving is giving away $25,000 to 100 charities. With your help, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) will have a chance to win one of these grants from Chase Community Giving and possibly one million dollars if they make it to the second round.

Chase Community Giving is a program run by Chase Bank that allows Facebook users to vote for local charities and non-profits, and help direct Chase corporate philanthropy dollars to eligible organizations in the following focus areas: education, healthcare, housing, the environment, combating hunger, arts and culture, human services, and animal welfare. The grassroots campaign aims to inspire a new way of corporate philanthropy.

The ATC needs just a minute or two of your time to vote for ATC on Facebook. And then ask your friends to do the same. It's quick. It's easy. And best of all, it's free.

Voting for Round 1 ends December 11.

Please click here to vote!

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

Winter Mountaineering School

2009-12-09T07:38:00.002-05:00

If you're looking to expand your winter hiking, backpacking and mountaineering skills, or possibly looking for an alternative vacation this coming winter, you may want to check out the Adirondack Mountain Club's Winter Mountaineering School this year.

Each year, the Adirondack Mountain Club hosts its annual Winter Mountaineering School near Lake Placid, New York. They typically cover the following areas of instruction:

* Winter backpacking skills
* Snowshoe, crampon and ice axe techniques
* Proper clothing and temperature management
* Steep snow and ice travel
* Safe above-treeline travel under winter conditions
* On- and off-trail navigation; map and compass review
* Trip planning
* How to pack a winter backpack
* Group gear review
* Hydration and nutrition
* Constructing snow shelters and a winter backcountry kitchen
* Wilderness first aid
* Avalanche awareness
* Decision making and risk management
* Winter "Leave No Trace" principals

Past participants have included three season hikers and backpackers looking to expand their winter skills, as well as more experienced skiers, trip leaders and winter mountaineers who are wishing to refine their skills or are looking for some excitement and adventure. The organization has an experienced, all-volunteer staff, with a low student-to-instructor ratio. They offer weekend day hikes, weekend backpacking, and weeklong backpacking options from January 29 through February 4, 2010.

The ADK Winter Mountaineering School is non-profit group that has been sponsored for over 50 years by the Adirondack Mountain Club. The purpose of the program is to promote enjoyable and successful winter mountaineering and camping through a learn-by-doing approach and is held in the Adirondack Mountains of New York.

For more information, please click here.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Find Amazon's top deals on all your Christmas shopping needs, including outdoor gear, electronics, toys and more, by simply clicking here:

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

Pisgah observatory program looks at winter night-time skies

2009-12-08T13:09:00.002-05:00

The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute will hold its monthly Evening at PARI program at 7 p.m. Dec. 11, looking at the wintertime night sky and celestial objects visible in Western North Carolina.

"We plan to provide a practical guide to the wintertime night sky and solar system objects visible in Western North Carolina,” said PARI Education Director Christi Whitworth. “Our storytelling staff will also share some of the lore associated with several objects of interest from around the world. This program is designed for all ages and all knowledge levels - from astronomy newcomers up to those who have been observing all their lives. We’ll also have an observing session so everyone can begin exploring the wonders of the universe right away.”

Reservations are required and will be accepted until 3 p.m. on Dec. 11.

Evening at PARI programs cost $20 per adult, $15 for seniors/military and $10 for children under 14. For additional information or to schedule a reservation contact Whitworth at 862-5554 or send an email to cwhitworth@pari.edu.

Reservations can also be made online at www.pari.edu.

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

The 7 Best Hikes in the Smokies

2009-12-08T07:12:00.002-05:00

Some of you may have already seen this article (The 7 Best Hikes in the Smokies) on a previous blog posting of mine, but the folks over at CheapOair.com have allowed me to become a “guest blogger” for a day and re-publish it on their blog site.

CheapOair is a 7-time award winning travel website, and is ranked #7 amongst travelers by Hitwise.com. The site offers one of the largest selections of airfares, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages and travel deals. Travel services are obtained from multiple sources, including three of the most respected and widely used reservation systems, and fifteen other negotiated rates data sources to bring the best value to their customers.

You can check-out their website, and read the article by clicking here.

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

Smoky Mountain Rental Cabins Cabin and chalet listings in the Smokies!

Partial closure of Cades Cove this Thursday

2009-12-07T16:56:00.005-05:00

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have rescheduled the hemlock tree spraying operation in Cades Cove for this Thursday, December 10. During that time, a partial closure of the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road will occur while Park forestry technicians finish treating the adelgid-infested hemlock trees. Previously, vegetation management crews had to suspend the second day of its scheduled operation due to bad weather.

The spraying operation will only impact the western end of the Loop Road. Motorists and cyclists will be able to enter the Loop as they normally would, but will have to detour across the Loop via Hyatt Lane (the second gravel crossroad) to exit Cades Cove. Hikers can continue through the closed portion. The detour will shorten the length of the trip to an 8-mile tour of Cades Cove. The Hyatt Lane bypass will eliminate access to the Cades Cove Visitor Center and Cable Mill area as well as the several trailheads located on the western end of Cades Cove: Abrams Falls, Cooper Road, Rabbit Creek, and Wet Bottom Trails, and Gregory Ridge trailheads.

To check the status of the road closure, visitors can call the Park’s general information number at 865-436-1200.

* Need to find a Christmas gift for that special hiker? Check out the great deals at Amazon.

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