Appreciation For our Parks.....Show Some

NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY RECOGNIZED WITH VOLUNTEER WORK On Saturday, September 25, many public lands across the country will be holding events to celebrate National Public Lands Day.
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy.
In recognition, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host two volunteer trail projects. The Park is currently recruiting for volunteers for two trail projects that are supported through the National Park Foundation and the Trails Forever Program. They are the Cosby Nature Trail in the Cosby Campground (Tenn.) and the Smokemont Nature Trail in Smokemont Campground (N.C.).
Work on both trails will involve installing waterbars, maintaining existing drainage structures, removing social trails, defining the trail tread and installing trail signs. Work will be conducted between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on both projects and staff will provide all the necessary equipment needed, including work gloves, for the projects. Volunteers should come prepared to work for a day in the woods and must be able to hike, safely perform manual labor, and be comfortable using hand tools. It is suggested that participants dress in good sturdy foot wear and long pants. Since volunteers will be working a full day, it will be necessary to pack a lunch and plenty of water.
To attend these projects, interested persons must be at least 12 years old and must RSVP by September 17 to the Trails & Facilities Volunteer Coordinator, Christine Hoyer, at 828-497-1949 or Christine_Hoyer@nps.gov. At the time of RSVP, volunteers will be provided with further project and trailhead information.

Cades Cove Closed.....For a few Days

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Announces 2-day Closure of Picnic Area at Cades Cove. Managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have announced plans to close the Cades Cove Picnic Area on Monday and Tuesday, August 23-24.
During the closure, Park crews and contract personnel will be repaving all of the deteriorated parking areas in the picnic area.
The work is weather-dependent so extended rain could cause the Park to delay the completion until Thursday, August 26. No closures will occur on Wednesday, August 25, because the picnic area is heavily used for parking on Wednesdays and Saturdays when the Cades Cove Loop Road is restricted to bicycle and pedestrian use until 10:00a.m. For information call (865) 436-1200

Leave No Trace

The personal development of a land ethic as proposed by Leopold is the first step, I believe, towards preserving and conserving the wilds which make our existence possible. An honest and realistic appreciation of our need for the wild life in order to maintain our existence and the children's future must become a part of the humans being or else our selfishness will subject the children to perilous obstacles in the way of their survival. Loss of biodiversity and the loss of basic elements like fertile soil and clean water are already occurring and this loss cannot be sustained.
So I'm walking about a mile up this trail in the GSMNP and first I saw the boxers and think well I'll put them on this trial sign and the trail maintenance folks will get them.






And then I see the plastic bottles...and then I see the propane container and then the scraps of paper. I pile them up and make a pledge to myself to pick this stuff up on my return. When I do get back I notice what appears to be some paper in another area off the trail but in the same spot for the most part as the stuff gathered earlier. Turns out there is a bunch of pamphlets advertising a local tourist attraction and a cardboard box stuffed with garbage.
The afternoon walk was as nice as visiting with friends outside on a quiet afternoon while fixin' and enjoying some BBQ until as I reach for the pulled pork I see caviar. Why???

A portion of the AT

Dudes! and Dudettes! What a great experience I had w/ some friends along a section of the AT last week (approx. 70 mls. for myself). This was my first backpacking excursion of this length of time and distance though I've probably walked over 400 miles this year and thus as I was in good physical shape as we covered some righteous elevations between Erwin and Hampton.



We stayed at Greasy Creek Friendly one night and were treated to some veggie items by Connie's vegan friends who were grilling out after hiking. The next morning we bought a hot breakfast from Connie which coupled with good company and a hot pot of coffee made for a good start before getting back on the trail and towards Roan Mountain.
The 3rd and 4th day were physically challenging and worth all the sweat and sore muscles with numerous vistas and great spots to tent camp though at this point is where water needed to conserved some. Water was sometimes a concern due to the lack of rainfall in this region as well as some caution about pollutants from former farm lands on the ridges above the water sources on 4th night and this portion of the trail. Which was a bummer because we spent the night in a tent area right on the side of Laurel Fork a stream which was running despite the dry times.

On the last night we stayed at Kincora Hostel, which by the way lived up to it's billing I read on various sites and reviews, Bob told us that that area was over ten inches below average for rainfall this year. Still the flowers were blooming.

Bear Along The Way

This young bear is on the verge of being relocated due to a it's level of comfort with humans. People who visit the GSMNP are not always aware of the effect their behaviors have on the animals and the wild world they are a part of. This bear lives along a very busy trail and frequently has the opportunity to sample plastic wrappers from snack bars and candy, underwear and diapers left in the trees (see the picture), and assorted paper products. Often I hear folks say how much they love this beautiful place and then drop their cigarette butt on the ground while their child tosses the plastic wrapper from the plastic straw attached to the corn syrup (fruit Juice) they are using for nutrtion.
"I love my national parks" but I can't understand why I have to pay taxes to maintain them, I want this but only if it does not cost me any effort or money"!
I love my country and show my respect for it by throwing my child's diapers in the tree and my recyclable plastic bottle along the trail. Hmmm?
If I hear another "god fearing" conservative preaching god and guns talk about his or her love for country as they spend their kids future today with their low milwage SUV's etc..., or throwing garbage out the window of the vehicle I'm going to ask them what kind of debt are they going to leave their kids? A debt represented on paper created by the dollar or the environmental debt represented by shorter life spans, increased levels of illness as a result of pollutions, wars for clean water and dwindling species diversity. An environmental deficit spurred by personal greed and self-satisfaction that you and your god can't buy you out of! Killing your children's future in gods name with acid rain and toxic coal sludge as "stewards" of the world and all it's creations?


We may still have a choice.
What is wrong with, and how hard is it to be responsible for carrying out your own trash? No one is asking you to be responsible for anyone but yourself. Ask your kid for permission each time you decide to throw something out the window of your vehicle and into their future. Peace

Weird Science

SPECIAL SUMMER PROGRAMS OFFERED TO YOUNG SCIENTISTS Great Smoky Mountains National Park is offering special programs for youth to participate in science activities on three occasions. July 26 at 2:00-3:30 p.m. – Special Scientists Young scientists, 10 years of age or older, are invited to become “Special Scientists” and learn about some of the tiny creatures that are part of the amazing biodiversity of the Smokies. A park ranger will set up microscopes and other scientific equipment for participants to collect and view microscopic invertebrates such as water bears, also known scientifically as tardigrades. These eight-legged creatures, the “other bears” of the Smokies, exist in mosses, liverworts, and lichens. Young scientists will be surprised and amazed to learn how these critters move, eat, and live their lives. The program will be held at the Twin Creeks Science and Education Center, a 15,000-square-foot impressive environmental-friendly facility that supports the Park’s research and science education programs. July 23 and August 2 – High School Volunteer Days – Half Day High school students, recent graduates, and their families can spend time in the field with a Park Ranger conducting scientific projects such as salamander monitoring, tree identification and mapping, and water quality assessments. These hands on projects provide participants with a specialized field experience that will help Park researchers perform important studies. This experience also provides young people an opportunity to get involved in science and in their national park in a fun and interesting way. For more information and to register for the programs, contact Park Ranger Emily Guss at 865-436-1292 -NPS-

Evening Walk in The Woods

A friend and I made a short stroll to Spruce Flat Falls this evening (7pm) and enjoyed the relative solitude in that we saw only a few bugs and some birds while we walked through the pasty evening heat and humidity. Peace