Hiking is not just a walk in the woods.

Wow! Read on folks. This is from the GSMNP just the other day. (With a few additions) 

 GATLINBURG, Tenn.—The National Park Services is urging visitors to plan ahead, prepare for changing conditions and know their personal limits while recreating in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Park rangers have been responding to an increased number of emergencies and are reminding visitors that rescue is not a certainty.  

In March, park rangers have responded to a significant volume of backcountry and front-country emergencies, including: 

18 backcountry search and rescue incidents, including 2 Tennessee Army National Guard hoist extractions and 4 technical rope rescues. 

15 front‑country EMS calls, with 4 patients transported by UT Medical Center Life Flight. 

5 backcountry 911 calls resolved through phone contact, preventing the need for full rescue responses. 

And that was just in March!!!

Emergencies can happen to even experienced hikers, but many are preventable with the right awareness and preparation. Reducing avoidable risks helps keep park rangers available for the most critical emergencies. Just recently, rangers have provided life‑saving care multiple times—including yesterday, (4/1/26) when rangers successfully resuscitated a patient on Kuwohi. 

Hiking in the Smokies carries inherent risks, and trail conditions can change quickly due to natural forces. Be prepared for swollen streams, washed‑out bridges, downed trees and erosion. If conditions feel unsafe or a hike becomes more difficult than expected, turn back—your safety is your responsibility. In an emergency, call 911 and clearly state your location. If you have no cell service, send someone for help. 

Visitors are responsible for:

Researching your route and destination: Trails vary widely in difficulty, elevation gain and exposure. Whether you’re day hiking or backpacking, come with a plan before you arrive to the park. Call the backcountry office for at 865-436-1297 for backcountry trip planning advice.  

Carrying the right gear: Essentials include plenty of water, warm layers, rain protection, food, a map and a flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries. Learn about the 10 essentials.  

Having a backup plan: Parking areas and popular trailheads often fill early, which may mean you need to hike a different trail. Illegally parked vehicles will be ticketed or towed.  

Knowing your limits: Choose activities that match your physical ability, comfort level and experience with backcountry terrain. 

Staying weather-aware: Conditions in the mountains can shift rapidly, especially during spring. 

Telling someone your plan: Share details about where you’re going and when you expect to return. Emergencies can happen to anyone!  

The park’s new Preventative Search and Rescue Team (funded by parking tags) continue their work to share information on hiking safety, prevent emergencies and respond quickly when help is needed. But visitor preparation remains the key to preventing avoidable incidents. 

Visitors should check the park website for trip planning resources, trail information, and real‑time updates. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

And be safe out there, you're probably not as tough as you think you are!

About the National Park Service. Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America’s most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov. 

Prescribed burning planned for the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests

Hello! 

So, work may begin as early as today, 3/4/2026, with prescribed burns happening in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forest. Plan your trips with this in mind.

Below you'll find a bunch of information on these burns. Read on!

(Asheville, N.C., March 3, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service will conduct prescribed burns on both the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests to reduce hazardous fuels and improve wildlife habitat and forest health starting this week and lasting for approximately 2 months. 

On the Pisgah National Forest, the prescribed fires will take place in several locations across Transylvania, Henderson and Haywood counties, including Funnel Top (1,100 acres), Otter Hole (2,100 acres), Brushy Ridge (1,800 acres), Sam Knob (200 acres) and Pink Beds (1,600 acres). 

Firefighters will also begin prescribed fire operations on the Nantahala National Forest in Jackson and Macon counties, including Big Green (500 acres), Moses Creek (158 acres), Coward Bald (684 acres), Split Whiteoak (1025 acres) and Deweese (894 acres). A portion of the Appalachian Trail will be temporarily closed in the Deweese Unit for public safety during active firing operations. Once conditions permit safe travel, the trail will promptly reopen. 

The actual acreage, locations and dates of the burns will depend on weather and forest conditions, with operations beginning as early as tomorrow. Fire managers will carefully assess those conditions, and notifications on specific burn times and locations will be posted to the National Forests in North Carolina website and on Facebook when available. 

Please pay attention to any posted signs and watch carefully for wildland firefighters working in the forest during this time. There could be temporary road and trail closures during burning operations and following days while the area is monitored. These closures are for the safety of the public and firefighters. Helicopters may also be used to monitor and assist burn operations.

Why does the Forest Service use prescribed fire?

Prescribed fire is an important forest management tool for reducing fuels, improving wildlife habitat and promoting forest health. Burning under controlled conditions, or as “prescribed,” helps to reduce fuels that build up on the forest floor while ensuring public and firefighter safety.

How does the Forest Service plan for a burn?

All prescribed burns are thoroughly planned and analyzed by a team of specialists to ensure that wildlife, fisheries, rare plants and historic sites are not harmed. They use information from decades of fire science research to build controlled burn plans to improve forest health and reduce potentially hazardous fuels. 

Who participates in a burn? What do they look for?

Forest Service wildland firefighters and fire management team that respond to wildfires are the same people that plan and carefully set prescribed fires. They go through extensive training to ensure the safety of both the public and firefighters, reduce the impacts of smoke on nearby communities and set the burns so that they improve forest conditions. Fire managers consider wind speed and direction, relative humidity, conditions on the forest floor and other factors before and during a burn. Wildlife, including turkey and deer, often move in quickly after a burn to take advantage of the newly opened areas and easy to find food sources. 

For more information on how the Forest Service uses prescribed fire, visit www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/prescribed-fire.

For more information on the National Forests in North Carolina, visit www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc or follow the National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/nfsnc).