Archive for the ‘Little River’ Category

Visitor Drowns In Little River

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
A drowning victim was recovered yesterday from a section of the Little River at the Townsend Wye, a popular day use area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Dick Chijioke, 34, from Plano, Texas, was tubing with his family when his rental tube tipped and he fell into a 12-foot deep pool of water. Eyewitnesses reported that he failed to resurface after he slipped out of the innertube. Several people from his group, along with other visitors, attempted to find him underwater before emergency personnel arrived.

The park received a report about the accident shortly before noon from Blount County 911. The Blount County Special Operations Dive team was called in to assist with their underwater rescue gear. They located Chijioke about an hour later near the area where he fell into the water. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him on the way to Blount Memorial Hospital, but he was pronounced dead by hospital officials at 1:05 p.m. Townsend Police and Volunteer Fire Departments, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, and Blount County Fire Department also assisted.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Little River, Townsend Wye, drowns | Comments Off

Little River/Jakes Creek access road reopening delayed

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010
An update on the Great Smoky Mountains website is reporting that the Little River/Jakes Creek Trail access road in the Elkmont area will be closed to public use until October 23rd now.

The repaved road, with new parking areas near the Little River and Jakes Creek trailheads, was scheduled to reopen on October 15th.

For now, parking for trail users is available on an extremely limited basis at the walk-in camping area in B loop. There's a marked route through the campground to both trailheads.

Click for more information on hiking the popular Little River Trail and the Cucumber Gap Trail (from the Jakes Creek Trailhead).


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Elkmont, Jakes Creek, Little River, access road, trail | Comments Off

Little River/Jakes Creek access road reopening delayed

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010
An update on the Great Smoky Mountains website is reporting that the Little River/Jakes Creek Trail access road in the Elkmont area will be closed to public use until October 23rd now.

The repaved road, with new parking areas near the Little River and Jakes Creek trailheads, was scheduled to reopen on October 15th.

For now, parking for trail users is available on an extremely limited basis at the walk-in camping area in B loop. There's a marked route through the campground to both trailheads.

Click for more information on hiking the popular Little River Trail and the Cucumber Gap Trail (from the Jakes Creek Trailhead).


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Elkmont, Little River, trail | Comments Off

Smokemont Loop / West Prong Trail

Thursday, January 7th, 2010
The Smokemont Loop and West Prong Trails are a couple of excellent choices if you're looking to get off the beaten path. Although you won't find complete solitude on either of these trails, you definitely won't find the crowds you normally find on many of the other trails in the park.

The Smokemont Loop is just north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, and the West Prong Trail is located near the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (near Townsend).

Near the trailhead of the Smokemont Loop is the Lufty Baptist Church (another sign near the trailhead also calls it the Smokemont Baptist Church - a little confusing):

The Smokemont Loop Trail crosses over Bradley Fork via one of the longest footbridges in the park:

New growth hardwoods grow in near uniformity in this hollow:


One of the highlights of the West Prong Trail is actually crossing the West Prong of the Little River, roughly two miles into the hike. In this same location is Backcountry Campsite 18. There are three sites here, which make for an awesome setting to spend a night or two. This is also a great place for a picnic lunch:

Final Shot: As we were leaving, we just happened to notice this Great Blue Heron sitting on a rock in the middle of the Little River near the park boundary at Townsend. Interestingly, the Discover Life in America website states that "The Great Blue Heron is an uncommon year-round resident bird species in the Park".


For more in-depth information on hiking the Smokemont Loop, please click here.

For more information on the West Prong Trail, 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, hiking gear store, and more.

Posted in Backcountry Campsite 18, Great Blue Heron, Little River, Smokemont Loop, West Prong Trail | Comments Off