Road to Cades Cove has reopened

Laurel Creek Rd is now open with no restrictions.

Laurel Creek Rd from Tremont Rd to Cades Cove is temporarily closed due to a rock slide

Laurel Creek Rd from Tremont Rd to Cades Cove is temporarily closed due to a rock slide.  This apparently occurred last night.
You can see the park's information here:https://twitter.com/SmokiesRoadsNPS

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Changes Firewood Regulations to Protect Forests

The folks at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park a change to regulations that will help protect park forests by limiting the type of firewood brought into the park. These are the details...

 

Beginning in March 2015, only heat-treated firewood that is bundled and displays a certification stamp by the USDA or a state department of agriculture will be allowed for use in park campgrounds. 

Heat-treated firewood will be available to purchase from concessioners in many of the campgrounds as well as from private businesses in the communities around the park. Certified heat-treated firewood is packaged in 0.75 cu-ft. bundles clearly displaying a certification stamp. The wood is a high-quality hardwood product that has been heated for 60 minutes at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The wood lights easily, burns well for campfires, is safe to cook over, and is already available at over 85 locations near the park that can be viewed on an interactive map by visiting www.nature.org/firewoodmap. In addition, visitors may still collect dead and down wood in the park for campfires.

“The threat of these new pests coming into our forests, both in the park and regionally, compels us to do all we can to reduce the risk to our forests,” said Acting Superintendent Clayton Jordan. “While a ban on the importation of non-treated firewood will not entirely halt the spread of destructive forest pests and diseases, it will greatly slow it down. This allows time to develop and implement new treatment strategies to help control the impacts from these non-native pests and diseases.” 

Non-native, tree-killing insects and diseases can unknowingly be introduced through firewood transported from infested areas. A variety of destructive pests lay eggs or stowaway in firewood. These insects from Asia and Europe have the potential to devastate over 30 species of hardwood trees native to the park. New infestations threaten our forests with widespread tree mortality that could devastate wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and scenic views. The use of firewood that has been heat treated eliminates the threat posed by these pests through the movement and use of wood in campfires. 

National parks throughout the Appalachian region have taken action to limit the spread of insect pests in firewood including, in many cases, the banning of imported firewood. For the past three years, the Smokies has prohibited the importation of firewood from areas quarantined by the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service. Park rangers have been working over the past year with numerous partners representing federal and state agencies, conservation organizations, and universities to mitigate the risks associated with movement of firewood including a public education campaign with campground programs and regionally placed billboards.

For more information about firewood and forest and insect pests in the park, please visit the park website athttp://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/firewood-alert.htm.

Temporary Closures for Cades Cove

The folks at the Great Smoky Mountains NP, announced today the closure of Cades Cove Loop Road for 6 days in January to complete the removal of some trees which are hazardous.  The road will be closed to all pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists January 6 through January 8 and January 13 through January 15. 

“We regret the inconvenience to Cades Cove visitors,” said Acting Superintendent Clay Jordan. “We chose mid-week dates in early January when visitation is expected to be low to accomplish the needed work, but we realize that some visitors will be disappointed.”

In addition to the Cades Cove Loop Road, hazard trees will be removed from the Cades Cove Campground. The campground will remain open during the closure, but campers may be relocated during the work period.

For more information about temporary road and trail closures, please visit the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm or by following the park’s Twitter account for road updates at https://twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps.

I watched a snail...crawl across the edge of a straight razor.

This little critter was living dangerous as this rock it's crawling across was a good stepping stone on a steep decline, from my direction. I saw it on a short walk I squeezed in yesterday afternoon, up and over to Spruce Flat Falls. 

Can you tell me what movie the title of this entry came from? 

A quiet afternoon up along Sam's Creek

It was a pleasant walk during the afternoon with overcast skies, little wind and a temperature in the upper 40's if I remember correctly.  The important thing for me was to find time between obligations and dinner to enjoy the early winter forest and the relative quiet.
These winter months are somewhat quieter for several reasons, with one being that there are fewer people in the park after the hectic flood of visitors here for the fall colors and there are fewer insects out singing their songs.  Also there has been moisture recently which softens the path making it much quieter to walk on. 

This walk took me off the main path along Sam's Creek, and farther along the right side of this stream than I can recall doing in the past.  Eventually the rodo's became too thick and the shore too steep so I had to find a place to cross the beautiful waterway.  Once across I traveled a route that I was familiar with until I encountered more rodo hells, that I new were coming, and turned around.
At other times I have bushwhacked through these rhododendron but just didn't have the need, desire or energy to do it today.  It breaks through after a few dozen yards of crawling through these natural barriers and you pick up the leftovers of an old trail, or more likely the bed of an old railway from the logging that took place in these mountains before it was designated a National Park.
Over 80% of the GSMNP is wilderness and inaccessible by car or developed foot paths. Peace

This just in....Alum Cave Trail closing for repairs, in 2015.

Today officials at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced that the next full-scale, Trails Forever restoration will begin on Alum Cave Trail in 2015. The Trails Forever crew will focus restoration efforts on several targeted locations along the 5-mile trail to improve visitor safety and stabilize eroding trail sections. The restoration work will require temporary trail closures throughout the 2-year process.
This trail is one of the most popular in the park, leading hikers to iconic areas including Arch Rock, Inspiration Point, Alum Cave Bluffs, Mt. LeConte, and LeConte Lodge. Park rangers respond to numerous accidents along the trail each year, especially along the upper, narrow corridors. The planned work will improve overall trail safety and protect natural resources by repairing historic cable and handrail systems, reinforcing hanging trail sections, reducing trail braiding, and improving drainage to prevent further erosion.
Alum Cave Trail and associated parking areas will be closed May 4 through November 19 in 2015, excluding federal holidays, on Monday mornings at 7:00 a.m. through Thursday evenings at 5:30 p.m. weekly.  Due to the construction process on the narrow trail, a full closure is necessary for the safety of both the crew and visitors.  Hikers can still reach Mt. Le Conte, LeConte Lodge, and the LeConte Shelter by using one of the other five trails to the summit.  The Mt. LeConte Lodge and Mt. LeConte backcountry shelter will remain open and can be accessed from any of these other routes during the Alum Cave Trail closure.
These alternative routes are the Boulevard, Bull Head, Rainbow Falls, Trillium Gap, and Brushy Mountain trails all lead to Mt. LeConte, but trailhead parking is limited. Carpooling is encouraged.  Day hikers should also consider enjoying other trails offering stunning views such as Chimney Tops Trail, Forney Ridge Trail to Andrews Bald, or the Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap to Charlie’s Bunion. 

The Trails Forever is a partnership program between Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Friends of the Smokies. The Friends have donated $500,000 to support the program.   The Trails Forever program provides the opportunity for a highly skilled trail crew to focus reconstruction efforts on high use and high priority trails in the park including the recently restored Forney Ridge Trail and Chimney Tops Trail which opens December 12.  The program also provides a mechanism for volunteers to work alongside the trail crew on these complex trail projects to assist in making lasting improvements to preserve the trails for future generations.