Archive for the ‘Natchez Trace Parkway’ Category

Hiking News Round-up

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011
The Great Smoky Mountains Association is inviting the public to an end of the season party for Clingmans Dome Road and Information Center. Both will close for the winter on November 30th. The GSMA will be offering free refreshments at the information center, free postcards, and discounts of 30% on all Clingmans Dome clothing.

The GSMA also announced in the latest Cub Report that George Ellison, his wife Elizabeth, and some of their very special author friends will appear on Friday, December 2, at the Captain's Bookshelf in downtown Asheville, NC, from 6 to 8 p.m. to discuss their new books.

The Adventure Blog is reporting that Les Stroud is returning to Survivorman on the Discovery Channel. I'm sure that will make all of his fans very happy.

NPS Digest announced this morning that the Natchez Trace Parkway has completed the largest tree planting project ever, with 14,000 native tree seedlings and saplings planted in three states as part of comprehensive scenic and natural resource protection effort.

NPS Digest also announced that the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area recently celebrated the donation and acquisition of 44 acres of riverfront land in the park's quickly developing north end.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Natchez Trace Parkway | Comments Off

10,000 trees destoyed on Natchez Trace Parkway

Friday, April 29th, 2011
On April 26th and 27th, a 300-mile stretch of the Natchez Trace Parkway was impacted by several major storm systems. An estimated 10,000 trees were blown down by high winds within the boundary of the park, including hundreds on the parkway itself. A single 10-mile section took park crews most of a day to clear. One visitor was killed as a tree was blown over onto his tent.

Park staff handled about 350 calls for service, ranging from downed trees to stranded visitors, flooding, and numerous motor vehicle accidents. No other major injuries or fatalities occurred despite having over 10,000 travelers on the parkway. Damage assessments are continuing.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Natchez Trace Parkway, trees | Comments Off

Christmas in the National Parks

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
The National Park Service has recently launched a new Holiday Events Page on its website.

The new page lists many of the Christmas and Holiday events going on around the country within our National Park System this season.

For example, Fort Pulaski National Monument in Savannah, Georgia will be conducting its annual Candlelantern tours, which re-creates the Confederate Nog party of 1861.

This Saturday, the Booker T. Washington National Monument in Virginia will celebrate “An Old Virginia Christmas of 1859: The Plantation Residents React to John Brown’s Raid.” Visitors can discover how Christmas was celebrated on the eve of the American Civil War while enjoying sights, smells, and tastes of an antebellum Christmas with candlelit costumed tours, children's activities, storytelling and hot apple cider and gingerbread.

The Natchez Trace Parkway’s annual Holiday Open House will include “TomFoolery”, an acoustic trio that will perform traditional and seasonal music. The public is welcome to bring their instruments to join in.

For whatever reason, the site does not include two scheduled events happening in the Great Smoky Mountains this month. Those two events are:

Festival of Christmas Past - 12/12/09
The Festival of Christmas Past at Sugarlands Visitor Center will feature a blend of mountain music, storytelling, crafts, and skills demonstrations ongoing throughout the day. The event schedule includes the following activities:

At the Sugarlands Visitor Center Theater
* 9:30 am - 11:00 am - Harp Singing and Old Time Hymns
* 11:15 am - 12:00 pm - Lost Mill String Band
* 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm - Storytelling with Cuz and Jan Headrick
* 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Stories of the Past From Local Residents
* 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Bill Proffitt and South of the River Boys
* 3:00 - 4:00 pm - Boogertown Gap Band

Craft Demonstrations In and Around the Visitor Center
* Berry Bark Baskets with Bill Alexander
* Spinning with Dale Lyles
* Blacksmithing with master blacksmith Clayton Sharp
* Mountain Basketweaving with Connie and Bertha Clabo
* Lye Soap Making with Sallie Swor
* Historic Toys and Games with Roy Henson
* Christmas Craft Table with Vicki Law
* Apple Butter Making with Vonda and Carrol Ogle


Holiday Homecoming at Oconaluftee - 12/19/09
On Saturday, December 19, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host a holiday homecoming at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and the Mountain Farm Museum from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Cozy up to the fireplace and enjoy traditional and holiday music while sipping hot apple cider next to the Christmas tree! Enjoy demonstrations of traditional Appalachian folkways, including broom making, corn shuck doll making, and old-fashioned toys and games.

The visitor center will be decorated for the holiday season and the Mountain Farm Museum will be open for visitors to walk through.

For more information, call the visitor center at (828) 497-1904. All activities are free and open to the public.





Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Posted in Booker T. Washington, Christmas, Festival of Christmas Past, Fort Pulaski, Great Smoky Mountains, Holiday Events, Holiday Homecoming at Oconaluftee, Natchez Trace Parkway, National Park Service | Comments Off