GSMNP Celebrates Fall Harvest with Annual Mountain Life Festival in the Smokies

Every year at mid September the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) hosts the annual Mountain Life Festival at the Mountain Farm Museum adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee North Carolina This year this popular program will be taking place on Saturday, September 19th, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

This Mountain Life Festival helps preserve the legacy of Appalachian folkways and is meant to be a tribute to the people of European heritage who moved after their land was purchased in order to create the Great Smoky Mountains national park. The event is suitable for all ages and the activities are free.

Besides there being artifacts and historic photographs from the national park’s collection on display, this living history event will include demonstrations on old fashioned life skills such as blacksmithing, lye soap making, food preservation, hearth cooking, apple butter making, and chair bottoming. There will be a music jam session too from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

One of the highlights of the Mountain Life Festival has been taking place for more than 30 years. The sorghum syrup demonstration, shows how with the use of a horse powered cane mill and a wood-fired cooker syrup is made much the same way it was produced a hundred or more years ago.

For the first time ever the Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA) which helps support the park is launching the new Mountain Farm Museum audio tour with free handsets available to visitors and members. There audio tour devices will be distributed for use on a first come first serve basis.

The location where the event take place right of Newfound Gap Road US411 has pretty vistas, a small working farm area with numerous historical structures and a hiking trail along the river which si one of the few places in the GSMNP where you can hike with your dog.

The farm area also contains one of the satellite herds of North American Elk in the Smokies introduced into the area in 2001. Since this is Rut season, male elk are especially active and aggressive so you must keep your distance from them for their safety as well as your own.

Newfound Gap Road (US441) is closed from Cherokee to Gatlinburg and more snow on the way

First Clingmans Dome Road closed yesterday due to snow and ice, and then as the snowfall increased and the ice built, Newfound Gap Road between Gatlinburg Tennessee and Cherokee North Carolina was then closed by rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Crews working on the roadway right now are plowing and resending some areas in hope that Newfound Gap Road can be reopened again to at least 4 wheel drive vehicles.

Since there is a Winter storm warning above 3,500 feet and under 3,500 there is a Winter weather advisory in effect until noon edt Saturday, chances are high that of Newfound Gap us 441 will be closed again for at least some of the weekend.

Update 11-05-2010 12:53 pm. It does not look as if Newfound Gap Road will reopen today.

Snow Closes Roads In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

A light dusting of snow in the upper elevations yesterday afternoon which fell through some of the evening first closed Clingmans Dome Road and then Newfound Gap Road US 441 which runs through the Great Smoky Mountains national park connecting Cherokee North Carolina with Gatlinburg Tennessee.

Other road such as the Blue Ridge Parkway, Old 284 and Cove Creek Road running to Cataloochee all saw accumulation and slushy icy conditions. Last evening a truck needed assistance to make it up and out of Cataloochee but not without fishtailing a few times and cosmetically damaging its tailgate.

Wet conditions made for numerous accidents in and around the Great Smoky Mountains national park. Drivers are reminded to obey speed limit and if conditions require, to drive even slower. During leaf season especially when there is the added beauty of snow in the mountains drivers may become distracted or even slow down and stop in the roadways to take pictures which is prohibited.

This is the first day of the season that snow has been sticking and ice has been forming on roadways as pictured below on Cove Creel Road yesterday at around 3 pm.

Right now the snow and ices is melting quite well and crews are right now sanding the Newfound Gap Road which may open up before 11:00 am. As temperatures cool down later in the day and the melting snow and ice refreezes, it may have to close again.

Blue Ridge Parkway Closure because of the Stony Ridge wildfire to last until at least Saturday

The Northernmost section of the Blue Ridge Parkway from the Soco Road (US19) to the Great Smoky Mountains national parks main thoroughfare Newfound Gap Road (US 441) has been closed for the past 2 days due to the Stony Ridge wildfire near Cherokee North Carolina.

Fire officials believe enough of the wildfire is under control that they will be able to open the Blue Ridge Parkway some time this weekend.

Winter conditions prompt National Park Service to close 2 major roads in GSMNP

The Great Smoky Mountains national parks major through road - Newfound Gap Road also known as US 441 which connects Gatlinburg Tennessee with Cherokee North Carolina has been closed due to ice and snow from the winter storm system that is right now in the Smokies.

Clingmans Dome Road which takes you from Newfound Gap Road near the Newfound Gap parking area up the Clingmans Dome Parking area is also closed due to ice and snow.

No other roads in the GSMNP are closed at this time, nor are any expected to close tonight.

Since the storm will continue to drop snow until as late as Wednesday it is possible Newfound Gap may periodically open and close for the next 2 days. We don't expect Clingmans Dome Road to reopen until Wednesday or Thursday.

Newfound Gap Road 18 month repaving project to start March 16th

The Great Smoky Mountains national park is about to start repaving a stretch of just under 7 miles of the GSMNP Newfound Gap road from the Cherokee North Carolina entrance area north to the Collins Creek Picnic Area.

This 18 month long project will start March 16th and it will cause periodic lane closures until it has been completed some time in September of 2010. If the last repaving work performed on Newfound Gap Road is any indication of how this project will go, serious traffic interruptions especially during peak visitation will not be a problem. Park directives to the contractor APAC Atlantic Inc dictate that single lane closures can not cause more than a 10 minute delay any single work site.

While Newfound Gap Road is not nearly in as bad a shape as the soon to be repaved Cades Cove Loop Road, this section of US 441 has not been repaved since 1983. The extensive work will include removal of the old pavement and widening and realignment of the road at the entrance to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center which will also undergo construction as the new Oconaluftee Visitor Center will be built.

• March 16 2009 - June 15 2009 during the week lane-closures can take place around the clock but will not be allowed between 8 am - 10 pm on weekends*, holidays, or during April 10 through April 19 (Easter Week).
  
  *Weekends are defined as noon on Friday through 8 am on Monday


• June 15, 2009 - August 15, 2009 Between 8 am to 9 pm no closures will be permitted


• August 16, 2009 - June 15, 2010** Daytime lane closures allowed (except on weekends and holidays).
  
  ** No work of any kind will be permitted during October 2009, Thanksgiving 2009 and the following day, or from December 23 2009 through January 2 2010.

Newfound Gap Road Closed Due To Snow and Ice

Newfound Gap Road (441) is now closed due to snow and ice and the snow is still falling.

If it warms up and we are lucky Newfound Gap Road may reopen to drivers trying to get back and forth from Gatlinburg Tennessee and Cherokee North Carolina.

Trail of Tears Memorial Walk in Cherokee North Carolina to Raises Awareness

To Commemorate the Triumphant Spirit of the Cherokee in remembrance of the 1,200 mile forced march in the winter of 1838 on which almost 17,000 Cherokee were made to walk from North Carolina to Oklahoma and sadly almost 4,000 Cherokees needlessly died, the Cherokee Historical Association is sponsoring the Trail of Tears Memorial Walk Saturday, October 11th at the Oconaluftee Islands Park at 9:30 am.

So this needles tragedy is never forgotten and so we may honor to loss and suffering of these Native American men, women and children, the trail of tears memorial walk will follow the Cherokee River Trail Loop for approximately 2.5 miles which will end at the Eternal Flame at Mountainside Theater.

Registration is $12 and to register you must go to the Cherokee Historical Association main office located at 564 Tsali Blvd in Cherokee North Carolina or call (828)497-1111.

Registered memorial walkers will get a free breakfast; enjoy traditional Cherokee dancing on the Village Square Grounds and receive a special tour of the Oconaluftee Indian Village.

Starting at 8 am parking and shuttle services will be provided by Cherokee Transit.

Cherokee NC to host the 6th Annual fall Qualla Open Air Indian Art Market

Looking to find a one of a kind Native American treasure? Then you need you need to come to Cherokee North Carolina on October 18 between 9 am to 5 pm for the 6th Annual fall Qualla Open Air Indian Art Market.

Besides being a way to find a great deal on contemporary and traditional works of Native American art by Cherokee artisans, you can watch these master craftsmen make traditional items right before your eyes with skills such as bead making, basket weaving, woodworking, and pottery.

Qualla Mutual artists have participated in the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival and have also won competitions at the Santa Fe Indian Market with handiwork that has purity and simplicity that attracts many serous and mature collectors alike.

This free event takes place on the grounds of the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual at 645 Tsali Boulevard in Cherokee, NC where there will be artist demonstrations ongoing throughout the day.

Along with crafts visitors can indulge in traditional Cherokee along with other foods will be provided by the Native American Indian Women's Association (NAIWA).

Saturday marks the annual Mountain Life Festival in the Great Smoky Mountains national park

Visitors this Saturday to the Great Smoky Mountains national park should make sure to stop by the Mountain Farm Museum next to the Oconaluftee visitor center where from 10 am to 4 pm the annual Mountain Life Festival will be taking place.

Here at the Farm Museum visitors will be able to see first hand a tradition that has been taking place for almost 40 years here in the Great Smoky Mountains national park - the sorghum syrup demonstration.

Sorghum syrup was a stable food in the diet of those that inhabited the land that became the Great Smoky Mountains national park. Park staff, students and volunteers from Swain County High School will be making sorghum syrup by using a horse-powered cane mill and wood-fired cooker - the same way it was made more than 100 years ago.

Besides the live Appalachian music performed by Marshall Crowe and the Bluegrass Singers, you will get to see live demonstrations traditional toy making, hearth cooking, hominy making, apple butter, apple cider, soap making. There will also be a display of farm implements, historic photographs from the national park's archives and an artifact collection.

The hominy making demonstration will be made by the Woodard family from Bryson City, NC. Also on hand will be well-known naturalist, author and native plants instructor Ila Hatter from Stecoah, NC and Ron and Suzanne Joyner from Big Horse Creek Farm in Ashe County, NC who maintains more than 300 varieties of custom-grafted heirloom apple trees on their family-owned orchard and nursery.

While you are here at the farm museum stroll around and be immersed in the Appalachian history of the park. Go take a walk along the Oconaluftee River Hiking Trail which is easy and level and one of the best handicapped accessible trails in the park.

All of these events are free to the public. To get to the farm museum take Newfound Gap Road (US 441) just 2 miles north of the Cherokee North Carolina entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Native American Pow Wow taking place in Cherokee North Carolina

Today is the final day for the Native American Pow Wow in the Cherokee Fairgrounds where Indian tribes of many nations are gathering to dance, play music and show their tribal customs to an eager crowd.

The crowds are small, the weather is perfect and with free parking and an admission of only $10 this is the place to be right now.

The pow wow is expected to go into the night with grand entrances taking place at 1pm and 7pm.

Visitors will find booths with crafts, food and drink and plenty of music.

Most roads closed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to winter storm

Old man winter blew in hard and with high elevations in the Great Smoky Mountains National park measuring as mush as 17 inches of new snow accumulation the major roads in the national park are all closed including Newfound Gap Road (us 441) a major through road connecting Cherokee North Carolina and Gatlinburg Tennessee.

The following roads are closed due to snow and ice the Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

• Newfound Gap Road (US 441) TN to NC
• Foothills Parkway East in Cocke County Cosby / Newport area
• Foothills Parkway West in Blount County west of Townsend
• Gatlinburg Bypass in TN
• Little River Road in TN
• Laurel Creek Road in TN west of the Tremont Road Junction
• Cades Cove Loop Road in TN
• Greenbrier Road TN
• Cataloochee Entrance Road NC
• Old Route 284 (Big Creek to Cataloochee)

Even though there was a minor accident on the spur connecting Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Tennessee as of now the road remains open. Driver who wish to use the Spur are cautioned that there are still slushy spots even though the road has been heavily salted and drivers should use extreme caution.

Best advice when there is accumulation on the roads is to only drive when absolutely necessary.

Newfound Gap Road US 441 in the Great Smoky Mountains National park is closed

The Great Smoky Mountains 2 lane road which connects Gatlinburg Tennessee with Cherokee North Carolina Newfound Gap Road (US 441) running through the Great Smoky Mountains national park is now closed due to ice and snow.

This beautiful steep winding road cuts right through the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains national park and is often closed in the winter due to ice and snow as the higher elevations tend to freeze quickly and make the road unsafe for travel.

Today weather forecasts for the Smoky Mountains call for freezing weather in upper elevations but the park service may be able to scrape enough snow ice of Newfound Gap Road and drop enough sand to make it safe for travel shortly. The predicted warming trend should make Newfound Gap Road safe for travel this weekend but watch Your Smokies News for the latest updates on road and weather conditions.

Newfound Gap Road, US 441 is in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park now open

The Great Smoky Mountains national parks main road connecting Cherokee North Carolina with Gatlinburg Tennessee is open now that Fridays' rock slide has been cleaned up and official say the road is safe.

Unfortunately while a woman from Florida was taking a photographs of the rockslide on Friday, additional rock fell and stuck her causing her serious enough injuries to require surgery to her back and leg at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

After heavy rains or melt it is common to have rock and mud slides in the Smoky Mountains and drivers should always use extreme caution especially when vision is limited at night or due to fog.

Unfortunately the women who was injured did not realize that after slides are common and before approaching an area that just had a rock fall or when a tree has split or partially fallen and is hung up in other trees you should stay clear of the area unless told by a professional that it is safe to approach.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Weather Related Roads Closings

Newfound Gap Road (US 441) in the Great Smoky Mountains national park is closed from Cherokee North Carolina to Gatlinburg Tennessee due to last nights snow and freezing rain.

Bad weather is expected for the balance of the day with sporadic freezing rain and snow so it is unknown if Newfound Gap will be opened today by the park service.

Forge Creek Road in the far end of Cades Cove remains closed due to muddy conditions and is not expected to reopen for the next few days.

Current conditions at 1,600 feet of elevation in Sevierville are extreme fog and freezing rain with slush on the ground at exactly 32 degrees.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Closes Newfound Gap Road, Laurel Creek Road and the Gatlinburg Bypass

The park service closed major roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to ice and snow including Newfound Gap Road (441) from Gatlinburg Tennessee to Cherokee North Carolina, Laurel Creek Road in Tennessee ending up in Cades Cove Tennessee as well as the Gatlinburg Bypass which connects Gatlinburg Tennessee and Pigeon Forge TN.

The weather in the Smoky Mountains is expected to remain below freezing for the balance of the day and a winter storm warning remains in effect until 4:00 pm today. Tomorrows predicted high of 34 degrees will probably not be enough to melt any of the Ice and snow that has already accumulated and today's predicted snow may keep these roads closed for days.

More closures in the Great Smoky Mountains national park started today.

The national park service has closed the 2 unimproved motor trails in the Cades Cove area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the winter.

Both the Rich Mountain Road and the newly opened Parsons Branch Road are now both closed until late spring to vehicles but still offer beautiful hiking.

The last part of the Roundbottom - Straight Fork Road off of Big Cove road in Cherokee North Carolina will be closing on November 12th. Though there are no faculties in this section of the park open now other than the Roundbottom horse camp which is also closing on the 12th, this is a wonderful place to get away from it all for the next few days.

Newfound Gap Road Closed

Newfound Gap Road (441) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is closed from Gatlinburg Tennessee through to Cherokee North Carolina while crews clean up after more than 200 trees that fell from yesterday's storm. The majority of downed tress on 441 are in North Carolina just south of Newfound Gap.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is also closed today in some sections in North Carolina.

We suggest taking I40 as an alternate to Newfound Gap Road.