The festival will include old-time mountain music and traditional harp singing. Demonstrations of traditional domestic skills such as the making of rag rugs, apple-head dolls, quilts, and apple butter will be ongoing throughout the day. There will also be several chances to experience these traditions hands-on, with crafts to make and take home.
As in years past, the Christmas Memories Walk will be held at 11 am and 2 pm, to teach visitors about the spirit of the season in these mountains in the time period from the 1880s to 1930s.
“We invite everyone to come and experience the joys of an old fashioned mountain Christmas,” said Cave.
Contact the helpful folks at the Sugarlands Visitor Center for more information, the number there is 865-436-1291
Well these pictures are from a walk I took yesterday (9/25), in the Bridger Mtns., Gallatin National Forest, on a trail to Sacagawea Pass and Peak. Due to the potentially dangerous weather at 9000'+ when I reached the pass I decided it would not be wise to continue the short distance to the peak as I would be on a completely exposed trail with winds at approximately 40mph, blowing icy snow, with low visibility, and I was alone. I was using the rock pile to block the wind and regroup before I made my descent along a short but intense trail which coming up gains over 1000' vertical per mile from the parking area. At this parking area there is a permanent unisex toilet facility and the Fairy Lake Campground. The lake is like less than 1/4 one way from the parking area. 
I have seen this trail described on websites as "moderate". However it may be moderate only in distance and it is wrong to give the impression that if you can walk in a mall or across the parking lot at "wally world" you can do this trail. This trail is steep, gaining a 1000' per mile over it's 2 mls to the peak and a narrow trail at times as it "switch-backs" along open rock faces of the mountain leaving you no shelter from sometimes extreme elements.
Due to the fact that it was cloudy and snowing I was unable to experience the awesome vistas I was told about, and new this to be probable before leaving, however it gives me reason to return!
Last week I got to hike in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area which sits just north of metro Atlanta. It was a really nice area that is appreciated mostly by the urban and suburban folks who live nearby and walk the dog friendly trails. There were lots of different plants and animal life, with the river home for trout, bass, catfish and some 20 other species of fish. The Chattahoochee River is the southernmost trout river in the United States. As I began my hike I spoke with a Volunteer In The Park (VIP), who gave me a brief verbal description of the park and shared some stories on being a volunteer at the Chattahoochee. I will hike this park again, while I am working in ATL, and I'll remember my camera. 
This Fern plant continues to grow in this log each year. I wonder how it will change when, and if, it outlast the log?
Hopefully this dog will find another home other than where it came from. In the years I've been hiking this park I have had several similar experiences where I have come upon a lonely exhausted dog deep in the backcountry and had them follow me out. One hound followed me for a day and a half coming off Gregory Bald to the Twenty Mile ranger station where I found a boar cage to put him in with some water and then I contacted a ranger. Thanks to these folks this dog will know another day.
After enjoying some leftover pizza for lunch at the shelter a through hiker (aka "The Yetti"), came through and asked about water availability between Russell and Spence Field shelters, as he had blisters and wanted to avoid hiking the .2 down to the water source for Russell. We told him that trailside water is scarce along this section and he'd probably be wise to fill up here. The "Mysterious One" offered to go fill it up for him but he went ahead and did it himself. She had spoken with his partner who had passed through about 45 minutes prior and who had told her of the "Yetti's" blister problem. 
As you see in one of the photos there was still some snow on the ground despite the warmer temps and rain.
This route, in and out, is relatively moderate for those in good shape with a mellow incline most of the time, it has some views of Cades Cove in this season without leaves, and a not to much traffic. As we made our return down it began to rain lightly and we passed two men going up in jeans, cotton t-shirts and sneakers, one with a small pack?. I hope their day went well. Peace
The seasonal Lake Ocoee was still holding some water though what remained had retreated far from it's banks. This trail is described by some as "moderately difficult", which is probably true for most, though anyone in good health could easily handle it at a steady pace. The inclines were fairly easy, though sometimes long with few switchbacks and the "rock-hoppin'" was not to difficult. The leaveless trees and shrubs gave way to some great views of the nearly dry lake below and big mountains in the distance which included the Big Frog at over 4000', and the big mountains over towards the TN/NC border, snow covered far off in the distance (probably the "Nani's"). It was another awesome walk with little human interaction to distract us from the song. Peace 
