Winter in the Great Smoky Mountains

I was browsing Youtube for some of the latest Great Smoky Mountains videos when I came across this really cool video that shows what the Great Smokies are like in winter. It has been very cold this winter and we’ve seen dozens of freezing days and lots of snow. It has turned this National Park into a winter wonderland.

Check out this video for clips of the frozen rock formations, icicles and wintry waterfalls. It has a really cool shot of Spruce Flats Waterfall that I know you’ll love. All shot in High Def.

Have you made it to The Smokies yet this winter? Post a comment and let me know how your trip went.

Great Smoky Mountains Wilderness Week

The Great Smoky Mountains are home to an amazing array of wild animals and some of those most beautiful vistas in the United States. We share the Park with black bears, deer, elk and more. Wilderness Wildlife Week in the Great Smoky Mountains begins Saturday, January 9th 2010 – it’s an annual event that pays tribute to the National Park and to Mother Nature in general.

Locals and visitors come to the Park every time this year to celebrate this precious place. About 150 experts — rangers from the National Park Service, biologists, botanists, nature photographers, animal rehabilitators and Smoky Mountains residents — donate their time to present lectures, classes, photography shows, musical performances and demonstrations.

Wilderness Week is a free event and runs through January 16. Most of the activities can be found in Pigeon Forge, but there will be signs of celebration all throughout the park. It’s important to remember how scared the Smokies are and we shouldn’t take them for granted.

Snow Storm Slams Smokies

Over the last 4-5 days the Great Smoky Mountains have been blasted with snow: 10-30 inches in some areas. The ski resorts are loving it, but the casual travelers might not be as happy. Sure we all love seeing snow on the ground, but not if it gets in the way of your vacation.

The Great Smoky Mountains have had so much snow over the past few days that certain roads are restricted and trails are closed. Even Cades Cove, the most visited part of the Great Smokies was closed. There was a lot of ice out there making it very dangerous for people who are not accustomed to traveling in those conditions.

Check it this picture from Newfound Gap, it looks nothing like the photo I posted back in October.

So go and enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains this winter – it is truly a blessing to have this much snow so early, but please be careful when traveling and site seeing.

Great Smokey Mountain Skiing

Winter is almost here – it may be freezing outside, but technically winter doesn’t start until December 21. We’ve haven’t had the best snow storms come through here at the end of 2009, but I’m still hopeful for a strong start to 2010.

Most ski resorts in the Great Smoky Mountain area are open for business with limited hours. This early in the season you’re likely to be skiing on man-made snow – but hey, if you’re from Florida then all that matters is the slopes are open.

My favorite resort to ski at in the Great Smoky Mountains is Ober Ski Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. If you’re visiting the GSM during the winter months, then you really should plan a day or two on the slopes. Now for those of you who are used to skiing out west might find a mountain of this size to be disappointing. I’m not going to like – this is nothing like the Rockies.

But what you will find at Ober is 7 Trails accessible by 2 Quad lifts and 1 Double lift. Ober also has and ice skating rink and a scenic chairlift for those of you who don’t enjoy skiing.

Rates are modest at $30 for adults on non-holidays and they have on-site rentals. You really can’t beat this quiet mountain when traveling in the Great Smokies.

Spend New Years in the Great Smoky Mountains

Are you looking for something a little more out of the ordinary to do on New Year’s Eve? Tired of just sitting in front of the TV for Dick Clark’s Special and watching the ball drop? Well, if you’ll be in the Great Smoky Mountain area during New Year’s Eve then there’s an exciting opportunity for you to take advantage of. The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad posted this special on their Facebook page:

Ring in the New Year on board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s New Year’s Eve Gala. Enjoy a gourmet journey on board the train with an evening of dining, dancing and live musical entertainment, cash bar, a complimentary champagne toast at midnight (or sparkling cider), plus party favors for everyone!

The GSMR is New Year’s Eve Gala would be great for other that private time away with just you and the spouse or for a group of friends looking to have a great time. The route of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad passes through fertile valleys, through a tunnel and across river gorges in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. It was truly be a majestic night.

Here’s a little more info on the train ride I took from the GSMR website:

This delightful mountain vacationland is like a nature conservancy in which small towns, rushing rivers, and ancient mountains reside. Railroad depots are located in three historic towns; Dillsboro (no current departures), a village of shops and crafts; Bryson City, located on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; and Andrews (no current departures), a scenic valley in the Snowbird Mountains. All were founded in the 1800s and have retained some of their original character, adding to their historic charm.

So what do you think?

Hike Charlies Bunion

Charlies Bunion is one of the more popular (and fun) day-hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains. It’s about 8.1 miles roundtrip so give yourself plenty of time to hike in and get out. Charlies Bunion rises to an elevation of 5,565 feet, but you only do about 1,640 feet in elevation during the hike.

To get to Charlies Bunion, start at the Newfound Gap parking lot. The trail to Charlies Bunion, via the Appalachian Trail, is not hard to find. Just follow the signs. It’s funny – you’ll see a sign when you get there that reads “Closely control children.” When you reach the summit there is not a lot of room to move around and it’s all rocks. There aren’t picnic benches or anything. You do this hike for the magnificent view.

Check out this video from the summit.

Great Smoky Mountain Book Fair

It’s time for visitors and locals alike to come out to the 5th annual Great Smoky Mountains Book Fair. Stop by Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Christian Life Center of the Sylva First United Methodist Church. There will be more than 50 authors on site for book signings, story telling, and discussions. It’s a great time for families to come out and walk around. The weather should be good so there’s no excuse not to come!

Authors scheduled to appear include: Ron Rash, Pamela Duncan, Vickie Lane, Alan Wolf, Bob Plott, Fred Chappell, Jim Casada, Sheila Kay Adams, Ed Schubert, Terry Taylor, Wayne Erbsen, Doug Elliot and North Carolina Poet Laureate Katherine Stripling Byer.

Admission is free, and 20 percent of all book sales go toward the new Jackson County Public Library Complex.

Cades Cove Loop

Before the Great Smoky Mountain area was turned into a park, Cades Code was home to many of the frontiers first settlers. Of course I’m talking over a hundred years ago… but what makes Cades Cove (located in Tennessee) so spectacular is that many of the original settlers’ cabins, stables, and churches are still standing. Today Cades Cove is the single most popular destination for visitors to the park, attracting over two million visitors a year.

Cades Cove is known for an 11-mile loop that takes you through the entire region. It is a one-way paved road that is accessible by car, bike or foot. By car, you can expect to travel the entire loop in one to two hours, depending on how many stops you make to admire the settlements and abundant display of wildlife. I recommend you travel through Cades Cove via bicycle. Bicycles can be rented for $3.25 an hour at the Visitors Center at the beginning of Cades Cove.

Newfound Gap

Newfound Gap is a mountain pass in the Great Smoky Mountains. Newfound Gap is near the North Carolina and Tennesse border accessible from US 441 (also known as Newfound Gap Road). This is one of my favorite destinations in the Smokies. Not only is the scenic drive magnificent, but you also can visit the Rockefeller Memorial – the site where former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt formally dedicated the park on September 2, 1940.

Newfound Gap is one of the most popular destination in the Smokies. There is a large parking lot and plenty of hiking trails in the area, including the Appalachian Trail. It is generally pretty crowded if you go during the summer/fall seasons. Kids love to climb on the rocks by the Memorial and parents love to walk to the top of the Memorial. From here you can see for miles. One of the best views in the entire park.

Home of the Black Bear

The Great Smoky Mountains have the largest black bear population east of the Mississippi River. Bears are truly amazing amazing. They are beautiful, yet extremely powerful. Seeing a black bear in the wild can frighten some people to death, while others it makes your vacation all worthwhile. As long as you know how to handle yourself in the wild, seeing a black bear shouldn’t be terrifying.

Have you ever been walking a trail or picnicking at a campsite in the Smokies and seen one of those funny looking garbage cans? Those are supposed to be bear proof! Surprisingly enough, anywhere you find food is still one of the most popular places to find a black bear in the GRSM. But seeing a black bear walking down the street doesn’t have the same appeal as seeing one in the wild.

The best places to see black bears in the Great Smoky Mountains:
- Cades Cove
- Cataloochee
- Anywhere in the back country
- In low lying creek beds

What if I see a black bear?
For some, just seeing a black bear can make your entire trip.
Try to stay at great distance away from the black bear.
You’d think this is common sense, but you’d be surprised at the number of bear attacks are a result of humans trying to feed them. Bears are not pets!

Don’t want to see a black bear?
Well, if you’re hiking on a trail try making a lot of noise. Black bears can hear you miles away and will go the other way. Some people say to carry a jingle bell with you. If you’re camping in the back country, be sure to pack all your food away in sealed containers.

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