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National Trails Day Events

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012
In 1987 President Ronald Reagan authorized the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. The final report recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors, and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities or towns and bring them back without retracing steps. The recommendation, dubbed Trails for All Americans, became the impetus behind several public and private parties joining the American Hiking Society in launching the first National Trails Day in 1993.

In less than two weeks, on June 2nd, the American Hiking Society will celebrate its 20th National Trails Day. More than 2000 events across the nation will take place, including trail maintenance, hiking, paddling, biking, horseback riding, bird watching, running, trail celebrations and more!

Below are a few events in the Great Smoky Mountains region that might be of interest to hikers:

* 16th Annual Appalachian Trail Workday in the Smokies with the Friends of the Smokies. This year, work will be focused on sections of the AT between Icewater Springs Shelter and Silers Bald, and heading NE and SW from Low Gap.

* Firefly Hike in Elkmont with the Smoky Shadows Service Unit Girl Scouts.

* Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Maintenance Day near Roan Mountain.

* National/Tennessee Trails Day Celebration at Roan Mountain State Park.

* Hike Cumberland Mountain State Park with the Tennessee Trails Association Plateau Chapter.

For a full list of events in your area, please click here.





Jeff
Hiking Trails in the Smokies

Posted in National Trails Day | Comments Off

Come Outside and Play Event

Monday, May 30th, 2011
The Forest Service (George Washington & Jefferson National Forests), U.S. Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, is sponsoring a “Come Outside and Play” event at Glen Alton in Giles County, Virginia on Saturday, June 4, 2011 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Partners from a number of local organizations will be on hand to teach skills, lead activities, guide hikes, and give presentations. The event will feature a variety of activities for all ages including:

* Wetland hikes (every hour) – Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Virginia Master Naturalists
* Fly tying and hunting macro-invertebrates – Trout Unlimited
* Raptor identification (on-going) – Friends of Hanging Rock
* Kids fishing and fish simulator machine (on-going) – Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
* Leaf and tree identification walks (10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m.) – Girl Scouts
* Fish identification (ongoing) – Forest Service Center for Aquatics
* Historic lodge tours (11 a.m. and 1 p.m.) – Forest Service
* Chestnut display (ongoing) – American Chestnut Foundation
* Mud Pie Kitchen (ongoing) – Forest Service
* Anniversary of the Weeks Act / Toys of the 1920’s (on-going) – Forest Service
* Free hotdogs and lemonade (11 a.m.) – Friends of Glen Alton

In honor of National Trails Day, three additional guided hikes will begin at 3 p.m. Participants for these hikes will gather at Glen Alton and drive to the trailheads. Craig Mohler will lead a hike on the newly completed Potts Rail Trail; the Appalachian Trail Conservancy will lead a hike on the A.T. starting at Pine Swamp Trailhead; and Brian Hurt will lead a hike to the Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory.

“Come Outside and Play” is part of a larger initiative known as America’s Great Outdoors which encourages all Americans to enjoy their natural and cultural heritage. Outdoor recreation provides Americans physical and emotional rejuvenation and promotes outdoor conservation. Federal agencies provide exceptional recreational opportunities on more than 600 million acres of land that receive more than a billion visits each year.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Come Outside and Play Event, George Washington, Glen Alton, Jefferson, National Forests, National Trails Day | Comments Off

National Trails Day Events

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
On June 4th is National Trails Day, a celebration of trails that evolved from Ronald Reagan's 1987 report, President's Commission on Americans Outdoors, that recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities or towns and bring them back without retracing steps.

Across the country, in just a couple of weeks, will be hundreds of opportunities to participate in this years' event. Below are some of the events in and around the Great Smoky Mountains:

Smokies: Crews and volunteers will be making improvements on A.T. sections between The Boulevard Trail and Silers Bald.

Big South Fork: Crews will do repair and rehabilitation work on trails.

Roan Mountain: A birding, nature and history-related hike on the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.

Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Trail Building Work Day near Asheville and Waynesville.

Appalachian Trail: Invasive Plant Removal near Robbinsville with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

The Swag: Guided hike along the trails on The Swag property, and the adjoining Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

To see all the events associated with National Trails Day, please click here.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in National Trails Day, The Swag | Comments Off

National Trails Day in the Smokies

Monday, May 9th, 2011
Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Regional Office of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, are pleased to coordinate the Annual Appalachian Trail Work Day on National Trails Day, on Saturday, June 4, 2011. They invite you to participate in helping them to take care of the A.T. in the Great Smoky Mountains.

The A.T. Maintainers Committee of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy have responsibility for seeing that the A.T. and its facilities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park are maintained on a continuing basis. With your help on National Trails Day, projects are completed that otherwise would not be accomplished.

This year, crews and volunteers will be working on A.T. sections between The Boulevard Trail and Silers Bald.

Registration for the event is $17.00. Registration fees are an important source of funds for trail improvements in the Smokies. You can receive a $2.00 discount if your registration is postmarked by May 16th. After May 16th, the fee is $17.00.

Please note that registering early helps the Crew Assignment Committee get workers placed in work groups, and increases your chance of being assigned to your hike/work preference. Workers will receive a commemorative t-shirt and a sack lunch.

Email Holly Scott at fotshb@bellsouth.net for more information, and to receive an application.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, National Trails Day, appalachian trail | Comments Off

American Hiking Society announces National Trails Day 2011

Thursday, February 24th, 2011
On June 4, 2011, American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day will bring together outdoor enthusiasts across the country for the 19th annual celebration of America's magnificent trail system and its countless supporters and volunteers. Two thousand events will take place around the country including trail maintenance, hiking, paddling, biking, horseback riding, bird watching, running, trail celebrations and more!

The theme for National Trails Day 2011, Made With All Natural Ingredients, encourages all Americans to get outside, connect with local outdoor clubs, businesses, community groups, and parks and recreation departments as well as federal land managing agencies to experience, appreciate and celebrate the natural places where we can find a spread of scenery, a plateful of peace, and a heap of happiness and health. "Dedicated volunteers, outdoor enthusiasts, trail lovers, and those new to the outdoors are truly the key ingredients to National Trails Day. Naturally, it’s a time to give back to trails and pay it forward by introducing someone new to the outdoors,” said Gregory Miller, American Hiking Society president.

Since 1993, National Trails Day has inspired thousands of individuals and community groups to take part in activities that promote healthy living and mental well being, protect green space, educate youth and adults on the importance of trails, and instill excitement for the outdoors. Plan now to host or attend an event in your area. If you want to get happy, healthy, active, fit, and have some fun, National Trails Day is your recipe to success.

Founded in 1976, American Hiking Society is the only national, recreation-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s hiking trails, their surrounding natural areas and the hiking experience. To learn more about American Hiking Society and its mission and programs, visit www.AmericanHiking.org.

If your community organization would like to host an event or to find out more about NTD 2011, contact Heather Sable, Trail Programs Manager, at hsable@AmericanHiking.org or (800) 972-8608 x 208 or visit the website.





Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in American Hiking Society, Made With All Natural Ingredients, National Trails Day | Comments Off

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