During the closure periods there will continue to be access to Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and the West Prong and Lumber Ridge Trailheads. The Middle Prong Trailhead will be inaccessible.
Jeff
Hiking Trails in the Smokies
Archive for the ‘Great Smoky Mountains Institute’ Category
Temporary Closure of Tremont Gravel Road
Saturday, May 12th, 2012
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced that the gravel section of Tremont Road beyond the Great Smoky Mountains Institute will be closed on May 15 and 16 to allow crews to clean ditches, culverts and grade the road while using heavy equipment and dump trucks. Workers will also be adding gravel to the road and removing standing dead trees along the shoulders. The closure of this narrow road is necessary for the safety of visitors and employees during this much needed road work.
During the closure periods there will continue to be access to Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and the West Prong and Lumber Ridge Trailheads. The Middle Prong Trailhead will be inaccessible.
Jeff
Hiking Trails in the Smokies
During the closure periods there will continue to be access to Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and the West Prong and Lumber Ridge Trailheads. The Middle Prong Trailhead will be inaccessible.
Jeff
Hiking Trails in the Smokies
Fall Hiking Road Scholar
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
The Great Smoky Mountains Institute, in conjunction with Road Scholar, is offering a week-long hiking seminar next month.
Led by the education staff of the GSMIT, daily hikes will explore the cultural and natural history of the Smokies region with its unique traditions and rich biodiversity. Each day, between October 9-14, hikers will start off with a hot breakfast before heading out on the trail.
Daily hikes of 5 to 13 miles will bring you into contact with the varied plant life, sparkling mountain streams, and breathtaking mountain vistas of the Smokies. Fall color reaches its peak this time of year, so you'll have an excellent opportunity to watch the spectacular colors progress during the week. In the evenings, enjoy a fine meal at the Institute followed by Appalachian music and stories or educational sessions. Program lasts from Sunday supper through Friday breakfast.
At $533, the program isn't for everyone, but if you're looking for an educational experience while hiking, and a chance to meet new hiking friends, this is a perfect option.
For more information and to sign-up, please click here.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
Led by the education staff of the GSMIT, daily hikes will explore the cultural and natural history of the Smokies region with its unique traditions and rich biodiversity. Each day, between October 9-14, hikers will start off with a hot breakfast before heading out on the trail.
Daily hikes of 5 to 13 miles will bring you into contact with the varied plant life, sparkling mountain streams, and breathtaking mountain vistas of the Smokies. Fall color reaches its peak this time of year, so you'll have an excellent opportunity to watch the spectacular colors progress during the week. In the evenings, enjoy a fine meal at the Institute followed by Appalachian music and stories or educational sessions. Program lasts from Sunday supper through Friday breakfast.
At $533, the program isn't for everyone, but if you're looking for an educational experience while hiking, and a chance to meet new hiking friends, this is a perfect option.
For more information and to sign-up, please click here.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
Hiking Road Scholar
Saturday, March 19th, 2011
The Great Smoky Mountains Institute, in conjunction with Road Scholar, is offering a week-long spring hiking seminar next month.
Led by the education staff of the GSMIT, daily hikes will explore the cultural and natural history of the Smokies region with its unique traditions and rich biodiversity. Each day, between April 3-8, hikers will start off with a hot breakfast before heading out on the trail.
Daily hikes of 5 to 13 miles will bring you into contact with the varied plant life, wildflowers, sparkling mountain streams, and breathtaking mountain vistas of the Smokies. In the evenings, enjoy a fine meal at the Institute followed by Appalachian music and stories or educational sessions. Program lasts from Sunday supper through Friday breakfast.
At $533, the program isn't for everyone, but if you're looking for an educational experience while hiking, and a chance to meet new hiking friends, this is a perfect option.
For more information and to sign-up, please click here.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
Led by the education staff of the GSMIT, daily hikes will explore the cultural and natural history of the Smokies region with its unique traditions and rich biodiversity. Each day, between April 3-8, hikers will start off with a hot breakfast before heading out on the trail.
Daily hikes of 5 to 13 miles will bring you into contact with the varied plant life, wildflowers, sparkling mountain streams, and breathtaking mountain vistas of the Smokies. In the evenings, enjoy a fine meal at the Institute followed by Appalachian music and stories or educational sessions. Program lasts from Sunday supper through Friday breakfast.
At $533, the program isn't for everyone, but if you're looking for an educational experience while hiking, and a chance to meet new hiking friends, this is a perfect option.
For more information and to sign-up, please click here.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
Great Smoky Mountains Institute seeks bird banding recruits
Sunday, June 6th, 2010
The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is recruiting help to track populations of the 230 different species of birds in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Thirty-four of the species living in the Park are considered endangered, threatened or otherwise of concern.
Banding sessions typically began at 6 a.m. as volunteers help erect nets. During the next six hours, the nets are checked every 40 minutes, birds are carefully removed and metal bracelets, marked with nine-digit numbers, are attached to their legs. Detailed notes are taken including age, gender and breeding condition. After the birds are inspected they are released.
The bands have a unique number on them, which is registered with the Bird Banding Laboratory in Maryland. If a bird is ever captured again, or if it is found dead, the finder should report the bird's status and band number to the laboratory.
The 2010 bird banding dates are as follows:
* Thursday, June 3rd
* Wednesday, June 16th
* Thursday, June 17th
* Wednesday, June 23rd
* Tuesday, June 29th (Tentative)
* Thursday, July 8th
* Friday, July 30th
* Wednesday, August 4th
For more information, please click here.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
Banding sessions typically began at 6 a.m. as volunteers help erect nets. During the next six hours, the nets are checked every 40 minutes, birds are carefully removed and metal bracelets, marked with nine-digit numbers, are attached to their legs. Detailed notes are taken including age, gender and breeding condition. After the birds are inspected they are released.
The bands have a unique number on them, which is registered with the Bird Banding Laboratory in Maryland. If a bird is ever captured again, or if it is found dead, the finder should report the bird's status and band number to the laboratory.
The 2010 bird banding dates are as follows:
* Thursday, June 3rd
* Wednesday, June 16th
* Thursday, June 17th
* Wednesday, June 23rd
* Tuesday, June 29th (Tentative)
* Thursday, July 8th
* Friday, July 30th
* Wednesday, August 4th
For more information, please click here.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
Smokies seeks input on Tremont improvements
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
Park officials from the Great Smokies are seeking public input on proposed improvements to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont.
With the release of the Development Concept Plan/Environmental Assessment, Park managers are inviting written or electronic public comments on the proposal during a 30-day review process. Comments are due by April 15.
Tremont’s 10-acre campus, located 3 miles south of Townsend, provides in-depth environmental educational experiences for youths and adults in a residential setting. The Institute is a non-profit partner with the Park and is managed by its own board of directors.
The purpose of the plan is to address the deteriorating conditions of the aging facilities on the Tremont campus. According to officials, the 40-plus year old buildings and infrastructure are inadequate to meet current and future programs.
The Development Concept Plan/Environmental Assessment document identifies 5 different approaches for improvements to the campus, and analyzes impacts on the natural and cultural resources, as well as the projected cost of each alternative ranging from $5.9 million to $51 million.
The Park's preferred option is Alternative C. The following are the five options:
Alternative A would be no changes.
Alternative B calls for limited modifications to the activity center/dining area and dormitory with upgrades to the heating and air condition systems and waste water treatment plant.
Alternative C proposes to rehabilitate or reconstruct the institute’s existing dormitory in its current location. It also plans upgrades to rest room facilities, renovations to optimize classroom and office space, moderate site improvements, and improvements to the institute’s aesthetic appearance. The estimated cost of the improvements is between $5.9 million and $12 million depending upon the extent of the dormitory project improvements.
Alternative D includes moderate site redevelopment that calls for the construction of two new dormitories with renovations to the administration building and staff housing.
Alternative E consists of complete site redevelopment, including construction of all the main buildings: two dormitories, administration building, dining hall and staff housing.
The full document has been posted and is available for public review and comment by clicking here.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
With the release of the Development Concept Plan/Environmental Assessment, Park managers are inviting written or electronic public comments on the proposal during a 30-day review process. Comments are due by April 15.
Tremont’s 10-acre campus, located 3 miles south of Townsend, provides in-depth environmental educational experiences for youths and adults in a residential setting. The Institute is a non-profit partner with the Park and is managed by its own board of directors.
The purpose of the plan is to address the deteriorating conditions of the aging facilities on the Tremont campus. According to officials, the 40-plus year old buildings and infrastructure are inadequate to meet current and future programs.
The Development Concept Plan/Environmental Assessment document identifies 5 different approaches for improvements to the campus, and analyzes impacts on the natural and cultural resources, as well as the projected cost of each alternative ranging from $5.9 million to $51 million.
The Park's preferred option is Alternative C. The following are the five options:
Alternative A would be no changes.
Alternative B calls for limited modifications to the activity center/dining area and dormitory with upgrades to the heating and air condition systems and waste water treatment plant.
Alternative C proposes to rehabilitate or reconstruct the institute’s existing dormitory in its current location. It also plans upgrades to rest room facilities, renovations to optimize classroom and office space, moderate site improvements, and improvements to the institute’s aesthetic appearance. The estimated cost of the improvements is between $5.9 million and $12 million depending upon the extent of the dormitory project improvements.
Alternative D includes moderate site redevelopment that calls for the construction of two new dormitories with renovations to the administration building and staff housing.
Alternative E consists of complete site redevelopment, including construction of all the main buildings: two dormitories, administration building, dining hall and staff housing.
The full document has been posted and is available for public review and comment by clicking here.
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.
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