Bears and Campsites

CAMPSITES CLOSED DUE TO BEAR ACTIVITY: BC Sites: #35 and #38
USE CAUTION AT THESE CAMPSITES/ LOCATIONS DUE TO BEAR ACTIVITY: BC Sites: BC #28, #36, #37, #38, #61 and #85 Shelters: Mt LeConte, Spence Field, Mt. Collins, Double Spring Gap,Laurel Gap, and Silers Bald Trails: Mt. Sterling, Anthony Creek Trail & Horse Camp,Laurel Falls, Clingmans Dome Tower, Little River, Ramsey Cascades, Forney Ridge (upper section) and Old Sugarlands Shelter closed for Construction: Laurel Gap
Closed Trails and BC sites:Due to recent storms, the following trails are closed: Gunter Fork Trail,Beard Cane Trail including Campsites 3 & 11, Hatcher Mountain Trail north of its intersection with the Little Bottoms Trail. USE THE FOOD STORAGE CABLES PROVIDED AT ALL BACKCOUNTRY CAMPSITES

Campsites and Bears in The GSMNP

CAMPSITES CLOSED DUE TO BEAR ACTIVITY:BC Sites: #35, and #68 USE CAUTION AT THESE CAMPSITES/ LOCATIONS DUE TO BEAR ACTIVITY:BC Sites: BC #18, #21, # 24, #28, #36, #37, #38, #61 and #85Shelters: Mt LeConte, Spence Field, Mt. Collins, Double Spring Gap,Laurel Gap, Cosby Knob, and Silers BaldTrails: Mt. Sterling Trail, Anthony Creek Trail & Horse Camp, Laurel Falls,Clingmans Dome Tower, Little River, Ramsey Cascades Trail, and Forney RidgeTrail (upper section). Old Sugarlands TrailShelter closed for Construction: Laurel Gap Closed Trails and BC sites:Due to recent storms, the following trails are closed: Gunter Fork Trail,Beard Cane Trail including Campsites 3 & 11, Cooper Road Trail fromjunction at Beard Cane to Cades Cove Loop Road, Hatcher Mountain Trailnorth of its intersection with the Little Bottoms Trail, Rabbit Creek Trailfrom the junction with the Hannah Mountain Trail east to the Abrams FallsTrailhead, including Campsite 15, and Wet Bottom Trail. USE THE FOOD STORAGE CABLES PROVIDED AT ALL BACKCOUNTRY CAMPSITES

GSMNP Trail and campsite closures Update

CAMPSITES CLOSED DUE TO BEAR ACTIVITY:
BC Sites: #35, and #68

USE CAUTION AT THESE CAMPSITES/ LOCATIONS DUE TO BEAR ACTIVITY:

BC Sites: BC #18, #21, # 24, #28, #36, #37, #38, #61 and #85
Shelters: Mt LeConte, Spence Field, Mt. Collins, Double Spring Gap,
Laurel Gap, Cosby Knob, and Silers Bald
Trails: Alum Cave, Anthony Creek Trail and Horse Camp, Laurel Falls,
Clingmans Dome Tower, Rainbow Falls, Little River, Trillium Gap (Grotto
Falls parking
to Grotto Falls) Pretty Hollow Gap Trail, Ramsey Cascades
Trail, and Forney Ridge Trail (upper section).
Shelter closed for Construction: Laurel Gap

Closed Trails and BC sites:
Due to recent storms, the following trails are closed: Gunter Fork Trail,
Beard Cane Trail including Campsites 3 & 11, Cooper Road Trail from
junction at Beard Cane to Cades Cove Loop Road, Hatcher Mountain Trail
north of its intersection with the Little Bottoms Trail, Rabbit Creek Trail
from the junction with the Hannah Mountain Trail east to the Abrams Falls
Trailhead, including Campsite 15, and Wet Bottom Trail.

USE THE FOOD STORAGE CABLES PROVIDED AT ALL
BACKCOUNTRY CAMPSITES
October 05, 2011


FYI:
A Special Use Permit is in the works to authorize the Appalachian Trail
Conservancy to conduct another airlift of supplies on or about October
10-13.
The drop zones will be the Laurel Gap and Tricorner shelters and various
points along the A.T. between Camel Hump Knob and Old Black.
The staging LZ will be outside the park at Big Creek.

And some legislators say what?

Wow! You know the data has been in regarding MTR and extremely high rates of birth defects, cancers and assorted ailments for folks near MTR coal mining sites (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935111001484). And it has been pretty clear to those not blinded by party rhetoric, greed and campaign finance that the majority of the residents in these communities want this form of mining to end. The results of a recent bipartisan poll show this clearly. Please check it out, the link is provided by clicking the title to this entry, and call someone in congress (202-225-3121) and tell them about it, again, because "annoying persistence" pays off. Peace

Fall Colors Bloom

Hey dudes and dudettes! This day began with a pleasant walk into White Oak Sink, coming in from outside the park and the School House Gap. As I enjoyed the relative quiet I took pictures of some of the many colors along the trail that were in the form of blooms and not the usual suspects yet. Though some trees are beginning to show change the "peak" is still a few weeks out. The enjoyment of the often unrecognized fall blooms delights me as I appreciate this season for the beginnings of some things. I hope you can too. Peace

National Actions continue

In speaking with an individual last night while in Washington I was clued in on an action beginning today, right now even as I type. This action is, from what I understood in my conversation, an all inclusive, peaceful conglomeration of various actions which are beginning on Liberty Plaza in DC. Are you tired of being lied to, cheated for your hard work and not appreciated for the daily chores required to maintain a safe and clean home for yourself and others while being opposed on all fronts by those who are supposed to work for us? Then come on! to Liberty Plaza in this nations capitol. Peace

Educate yourself and Speak Out!

The work we've continued this week in Washington has been completed for now with little discernible movement. Those folks elected to work for the people seem in most cases bought and paid for by corporations and their inhumane self-interest.
People are being poisoned, lands wasted, and heritages erased by MTR and the greed which drives it. There is a need for action and more action. Both within and without established parameters. Peace

The Land of the free

These woman were doing their afternoon prayer on the lawn of our nations capital. It was pleasing to see them carrying out this daily practice in this location where there is talk of freedom and justice yet we let our fears legislate these principles into obscurity. Peace

We're Back!!!

Several of the groups which make up the Alliance for Appalachia have returned to Washington to meet with some of our elected officials and attend some hearings in an effort to speed the end of Mountaintop Removal as a form of coal mining. If you are not familiar with MTR please click on the title of this entry and see for yourself the crimes against humanity and our natural world which are being committed. Call your congressperson and let them know what you think about the wholesale destruction of a regions people, their legacy and their future. And do mention our need for drinking water which is polluted from MTR. The number is 202-225-3121, and then ask for your senators or representatives office. It is answered 24/7 so be sure and leave a message if it's after hours. Stay tuned more to come! In Solidarity.