Schedule for Day 8 of Wilderness Wildlife Week 2015 in Pigeon Forge Tennessee Smokies

Hard to believe that the last day of the Pigeon Forge Wilderness Wildlife Week in the Winter is already here under yet another day of snow capped peaks and road closures in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The good news is that the few road closures that are still active this morning as well as the weather in the Smokies will not impact any more of the guided hikes and tours and are more of an inconvenience to anyone want to go over the mountain via Newfound Gap Road US441.

Due to 2 small snow storms that rushed through the area, there is still about 5 inches of snow at Newfound Gap and sunrise happening right now over LeConte is a stunning sight. Cades Cove even tomorrow will be post card perfect looking up at Gregory Bald.

There have been hundreds of programs that have already taken place this year at Wilderness Wildlife Week and some programs with local wildlife and nature experts such as Kim Delozier and Warren Bielenberg and performers such as Boogertown Gap have again become attendees favorites.

Even though some other hikes were canceled due to conditions, Warren Bielenberg led three morning bird walks along the Little Pigeon River near the Leconte Center in which he and attendees observed more than 25 bird species each morning and had a cumulative number of 33 species!

Some of the best programs to attend today are the early morning Photography Workshop, A Year in the Life of a Bear by David Whitehead and Southern Fly Fishing by Jon Hopper.

Sat, January 31th 2015 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule

• 9 to 9:45am: SOUTHERN TROUT FLY FISHING FAIR! NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Fly Fishing 101. Presented by Dave Carson. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 9 to 10am: Discovering the Cumberlands Video Presentation. Presented by Stuart Carroll. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 9 to 1pm: Photography Workshop. Presented by Warren Bedell, Kendall Chiles and Don McGowan. A YourSmokies favorite! Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall B.
   
• 9 to 1pm: Special Hours for Photo Contest in Taking place in the LeConte Hall North.
   
• 9:30 to 10:30am: Digital Printing Made Easy. Presented by Douglas Hubbard. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 9:30 to 10:30am: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Yellowstone in Winter: A Photo Tour of Our First National Park Video Presentation. Presented by Jerry Whaley. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   
• 9:30 to 11:30am: LIMITED SPACE! Design Your Own Wilderness Wildlife Week Bandana. Presented by Louise Bales. Limit to 20 people ages 12+ who will join Louise as she teaches them how to design their own Wilderness Wildlife Week 25th Anniversary commemorative bandana. Taking place in the Bob Kolb Memorial Room.
   
• 10 to 11am: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Eat or Be Eaten: How Animals Protect Themselves. Presented by Kris Light. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall A.
   
• 10 to 11am: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! LIMITED SPACE! Make a Grapevine Dreamcatcher. Presented by Sue Todd. Limited to 10 people ages 15+. Taking place in the Bob Hatcher Memorial Room.
   
• 10 to 10:45am: SOUTHERN TROUT FLY FISHING FAIR! NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! South Holston River Trout. Presented by Jon Hopper. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 10:30 to 12:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! LIMITED SPACE! Learn How to Scan and Digitalize Old Photographs or Negatives/Slides. Presented by Bob Keim. Limit 8, bring some pictures/slides. Should have computer knowledge. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 10:15 to 10:45am: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Waterfalls of Tennessee’s Highland Rim and Cumberland Plateau Regions. Presented by Keith Garnes. Join Keith as he shares an overview of Tennessee’s waterfalls west of GSMNP including Fall Creek Falls, Burgess Falls and numerous others. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 3.
   
• 11 to 11:30am: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Waterfalls of Tennessee’s Appalachian Corridor. Presented by Keith Garnes. Join Keith as he shares waterfalls from Polk to Johnson Counties, as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 3.
   
• 11 – Noon: Better Wildflower Pictures. Presented by Bob Stephenson. Join Bob as he provides knowledge on basic camera operation, optics and composition to take excellent flower photos. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 11 – Noon: Capturing Wildlife with a Remote Camera. Presented by Joel Zachry. Join Joel as he shares entertaining stories of capturing wildlife on camera. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   
• 11 to 11:45am: SOUTHERN TROUT FLY FISHING FAIR! NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Traditional Flies of the Smokies. Presented by Don Kirk. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 11:30 to 1pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! KIDS’ TRACK! LIMITED SPACE! The Red Headed Boogertown Bunch. Presented by Mary Phillips. Limit 30, ages 5-10. Participants join Mary as she continues the Tall Tales of a firefly, a boy named Booger and his faithful cat, Stinker. "Who is your granddaddies uncle’s sister? Where did your red hair come from?" Spin a tall tale and color something totally bewildering. Recognize four new native plants. Curriculum standards apply for science, art and literature. Taking place in the Bob Hatcher Memorial Room.
   
• Noon to 1pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Acoustics II: Sound and Birds. Presented by Ethan Duke. Join Ethan as he introduces attendees to techniques for recording and methods of using sounds to monitor the natural world. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall A.
   
• Noon to 1pm: KIDS’ TRACK! LIMITED SPACE! Pioneer and Historical Toys. Presented by Roy Henson. Limited to 20 people ages 10+ who will join Roy as he instructs them on how to make historical style toys pioneers would have had in days gone by. Taking place in the Bob Kolb Memorial Room.
   
• Noon to 12:45pm: SOUTHERN TROUT FLY FISHING FAIR! NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Cataloochee: The Far East of GSMNP. Presented by Ron Gaddy. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 12:30 to 1:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Wildlife on White: Meet Your Neighbors. Presented by Todd Amacher and Paul Hassell. Join wildlife photographers and MYN contributors Paul and Todd as they come to inspire you with the story of a worldwide photography movement across the globe that connects people with wildlife in their own backyard. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 12:30 to 1:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Adventures West. Presented by Pat and Wendell Gordy. Join Pat and Wendell as they share photos and stories from their western U.S. adventure visiting national parks and working and volunteering for the National Elk Refuge and the Greater Yellowstone and Jackson Hole Visitor Center. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 3.
   
• 12:30 to 1:30pm: Wild Ones Among Us. Presented by Lynne McCoy. Join Lynne as she shares the story of wildlife rehabilitation with live animals as ambassadors, including non-releasable animals and their stories and natural history. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   
• 1 to 2pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! HERITAGE! Cades Cove War Veterans. Presented by Dorothy Gregory Sutton. Join Dorothy as she discusses Cades Cove veterans and how war affected Cades Cove and surrounding communities. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 1 to 1:45pm: SOUTHERN TROUT FLY FISHING FAIR! NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Fontana Backcountry Trout. Presented by Steve Claxton. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 1:30 to 2:30pm: Range of Light: Capturing the Mood of the Smokies. Presented by Jerry Whaley. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall B.
   
• 1:30 to 2:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! LIMITED SPACE! Whittle a Mountain Flower. Presented by Jacki Proffitt. Limit to 10 people ages 16+. Participants must bring own sharpened pocket knife. Taking place in the Bob Kolb Memorial Room.
   
• 1:30 to 2:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! LIMITED SPACE! Carve a Wildlife Stamp. Presented by Pat Thomas. Limit to 12 people ages 12+. Taking place in the Bob Hatcher Memorial Room.
   
• 1:30 to 2:30pm: Wild Hog Management: Are We Too Late? Presented by David Whitehead. Join David as he discusses the history of the European wild hogs of Tennessee and the Smokies. Questions to be answered include when did they arrive, how did they spread, problems they cause and behaviors. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 2 to 3pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! HERITAGE! The Elkmont Community. Presented by Missy Tipton Green and Paulette Ledbetter. Join Missy and Paulette as they discuss Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s historic Elkmont community along with a special photo presentation. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall A.
   
• 2 to 3pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Attracting and Protecting Bluebirds. Presented by Steve Garr. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   
• 2 to 2:45pm: SOUTHERN TROUT FLY FISHING FAIR! NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Bamboo Rods. Presented by John Hollifield. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 2 to 3:30pm: Advanced SLR Flower Photography. Presented by Robert Hutson. Join Robert as he provides insight to photographers of all skills on tips and techniques used to capture flower pictures with a single lens reflex camera. No camera required. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 2:30 to 3:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! True Bear Tales. Presented by Janet Dalton. Join Janet as she relates funny and engaging true stories about the black bear cubs rehabilitated by Appalachian Bear Rescue. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 3 to 4pm: Where and When to Photograph in the Smokies: Fall and Winter. Presented by Roger Trentham. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall B.
   
• 3 to 3:45pm: SOUTHERN TROUT FLY FISHING FAIR! NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Southern Appalachian Fly Fishing Museum. Presented by Alen Baker. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 3:15 to 6pm: Photography Contest Pickup: Sherry Lutes and Event Volunteers at the Taking place in the LeConte Hall North Concourse.
   
• 3:30 to 4:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! The 2014 SCIPE Digital Contest Showcase. Presented by Pat Gordy. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 3.
   
• 3:30 to 4:30pm: HERITAGE! Tom Davis, Lizzie Crozier French and the Mystery of the White Caps Book. Presented by Don Williams. Critics say E.W. Crozier could not have written "The White Caps: A History of the Organization in Sevier County" (1899) about a vigilante order that numbered in the hundreds and spread fear, brutality and murder across the Smoky Mountain foothills. New research suggests not only did Crozier write the book, but that it bears the stamp of his famous suffragette sister, Lizzie, along with the heroic sheriff, Tom Davis. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall A.
   
• 3:30 to 4:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! HERITAGE! While the Men Were Away: Stories of Brave Cocke County, Tennessee Women and Children. Presented by J. Duay O’Neil. Join Duay as he tells stories of the bravery of Cocke County, Tennessee’s women and children as their husbands and fathers were away during various times of war. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   
• 3:45 to 4:45pm: A Year in the Life of a Bear: The Life History of Black Bears in Tennessee. Presented by David Whitehead. Join David as he discusses the food habits, life cycle and behavior of black bears in Tennessee. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 4 to 5:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Taking Better Photos Using Your Camera, Cell Phone and Tablet. Presented by Jim Eastin. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 4 to 4:45pm: SOUTHERN TROUT FLY FISHING FAIR! NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Blue Lining Off the Wireless Grid. Presented by Fred Turner. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 4 to 5:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! HERITAGE! Shaconage: Land of the Blue Sky. Presented by Harry Dunn. Join Harry as he reviews the history of the Great Smoky Mountains and the heritage of its inhabitants in this special video presentation. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 4:30 to 5:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! How Are Photographs Judged and How to Select Images for Contest Entry. Presented by Douglas Hubbard. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall B.
   
• 5 to 5:45pm: SOUTHERN TROUT FLY FISHING FAIR! Backcountry Cooking. Presented by Craig Haney. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 5:40pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Seeing God in Nature: The Joys of Seeing the Creator in His Creation. Presented by Ken Jenkins. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   
• 6:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! TICKETED FUNDRAISER EVENT! Appalachian Bear Rescue Fundraiser. Presented by Sam Venable, Ken Jenkins and Friends. Taking place in the LeConte Hall South.
   

Wilderness Wildlife Week 2015 Day 1 in Pigeon Forge Tennessee

The 25th Wilderness Wildlife Week may be starting today on a rainy and dreary day here at the LeConte enter in the Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains, but that is not stopping those who are already here from being excited about all the great activities, guided hikes and musical entertainment that will be taking place here for the next week.

The Wilderness Wildlife Week information desk is open here at the LeConte Center located at 2986 Teaster Lane in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee from 7am to 9pm and the preregistration desk for activities with limited space from 7am to 6pm.

The Wilderness Wildlife Week Vendor and Exhibits Hall locate3d in the LeConte Exhibit Hall is open daily from 9am to 6pm except on Saturday, January 31st when it closes at 3pm.

The wilderness Wildlife week schedules that we will be posting every day are subject to change without notice.

Schedule for Day 1 of Wilderness Wildlife Week 2015:

Saturday, January 24 2015

• 8 to 9am: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! LIMITED SPACE! Beginning Bird ID. Presented by Dana Ripper. Limited to 20 people ages 16+ who will learn how to identify birds as well as participate in a bird hike. Limited binoculars are available to borrow and each participant will receive a free field guide to take home with them! Taking place in South Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 9 to 10am: The Appalachian Trail: An Entertaining Adventure. Presented by Jeff Alt. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   
• 9 - 1pm: Nature Photography Workshop. Presented by Kendall Chiles, Daniel Dempster and Tom and Pat Cory. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall B.
   
• 9:30 to 10:30am Camera Basics 101: Understanding Terminology and Your Camera Adjustments as Used in the Manual. Presented by Douglas Hubbard. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 9:30 to 10:30am: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Ancient Ways: An Appalachian at Home in Israel and Ireland. Presented by J. Greg Johnson. Join Greg both in Galilee where Jesus walked and also in Ireland where many of our native Scots-Irish ancestors made their path before arriving in America. Taking place in the the LeConte Hall North.
   
• 9:30 to 10:30am: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! LIMITED SPACE! Carve a Wildlife Stamp. Presented by Pat Thomas. Limited to 12 people ages 12+. Taking place in the Bob Hatcher Memorial Room.
   
• 9:30 to 11:30am: KIDS’ TRACK! LIMITED SPACE! Design Your Own Wilderness Wildlife Week Bandana. Presented by Louise Bales. Limited to 20 ages 8+ who will join Louise as she teaches them how to design their own Wilderness Wildlife Week 25th Anniversary commemorative bandana. Taking place in the Bob Kolb Memorial Room.
   
• 9:30 to 11:30am: Fly Fishing the Smokies. Presented by Greg Ward. Taking place in the the Bob Kolb Memorial Room.
   
• 9:30 to 1:30pm: Photography Contest On site Take in. Presented by Sherry Lutes and Event Volunteers at the Photography Exhibit. Taking place in the LeConte Hall North.
   
• 10 to 11am: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! A Day in the Life of a Riverboat Captain Power Point Presentation. Presented by Captain John Farmer. See what it is like to be a Captain on a modern sternwheel riverboat. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 10 to 11am: You, Me and the Bears. Presented by Joey Holt. Find out what to do if you live or recreate in bear country, including learning what happens if bears come near your home or campsite. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall A.
   
• 10 to Noon: LIMITED SPACE! Introduction to the Mountain Dulcimer. Presented by TNT Dulcimers. Limited to 25 participants. Please bring own dulcimer as only a limited number of loaner dulcimers are available. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 11 to 11:30am: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! HERITAGE! The Ruddy Pilgrim. Presented by Tyler King doing a character portrayal of a fictional Smoky Mountain settler from Scotland. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 3.
   
• 11 to Noon: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Saving Money Using Free and Open Source Software to Edit Your Nature Photos. Presented by Burt Bicksler. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 11 to Noon: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! LIMITED SPACE! Make A Dreamcatcher Christmas Ornament. Presented by Sue Todd. Limited to 10 people ages 15+. Taking place in the Bob Hatcher Memorial Room.
   
• 11 to Noon: Old Time Hymn Singing. Presented by Tony Thomas. Taking place in the LeConte Hall South.
   
• 11:30am: Sunday Hikes and Field Trips Sign-ups. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall A.
   
• 11:30 to 12:30am: Rock Formations of the Smokies. Presented by Harry Moore. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   
• 12:30 to 1:30pm: Sanctuary: Meditations from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by J. Greg Johnson. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 12:30 to 1:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! LIMITED SPACE! Whittle a Mountain Flower. Presented by Jacki Proffitt. Limited to 10 people ages 16+. Participants must bring own sharpened pocket knife. Taking place in the Bob Kolb Memorial Room.
   
• 12:30 to 1:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Hiking in the Highland Firs: Hammered Dulcimer Adventures. Presented by Timothy Seaman. Join Timothy for a music concert celebrating the trees of the Smokies and outdoor recreation in our Parks, with dynamic original compositions and classic folk tunes. Taking place in the LeConte Hall South.
   
• 1 to 2pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! John Muir and Gifford Pinchot: Shaping Our Value of Conservation and Their Influence on the Civilian Conservation Corps. Presented by Michael and Monique Hodge. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 3.
   
• 1 to 2pm: KIDS’ TRACK! Get Your Kids Hiking: Learn How a Few Simple Techniques and Gear Can Make a Hike with Kids of Any Age Safe and Fun. Presented by Jeff Alt and Family. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall A.
   
• 1 to 2pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Black Bear Encounters in the Smokies! What to Do? Presented by retired park ranger Kim Delozier. Join Kim as he explains a black bear behaviors and how to respond to a black bear encounter. Kim will also share some of his bear encounter incidents in the Smokies. Kim is a YourSmokies favorite and always entertains and informs like no one else! Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   
• 1 to 2pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! LIMITED SPACE! The Uses of Essential Oils in Household Products. Presented by Alison Houston. Limited to 10 people ages 16+ who will learn to make a household cleaner to take home with them. Taking place in the Bob Hatcher Memorial Room.
   
• 1 to 2pm: Nature Writing for Love and Money, Part 1: Observing and Writing about Nature. Presented by Rob Simbeck. Join Rob as he teaches you how to think like a writer, as well as journaling, planning, interviewing, writing, editing and even how to deal with editors. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 1 to 2:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! What’s Wrong with This Picture? It’s the Little Things That Matter. Presented by Roger Trentham. Join Roger as he discusses what common mistakes photographers make that often ruin what could be great images of nature. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 1 to 2:30pm: LIMITED SPACE! Clawhammer Banjo Workshop 1. Presented by Boogertown Gap. Limit to 10 people who must bring their own clawhammer banjo tuned in open G. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 1:30 to 3pm: Lightroom Photo Editing Software: Come Take a Test Drive! Presented by Colby McLemore. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall B.
   
• 1 to 3:30pm: Casting a Fly Rod. Presented by Greg Ward. Participants should bring own fly rods for casting demos. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 3.
   
• 2 to 3pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! The Anatomy of a Steam Riverboat Power Point Presentation. Presented by Capt. John Farmer. Join Capt. Farmer as he shows the evolution from deep draft sailing schooners to shallow draft steamboats. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 2 to 3pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! The Songs of Stephen Foster. Presented by Tony Thomas and Judy Carson. Join Tony and Judy as they perform many of Stephen Foster 150 plus year old compositions that have remained popular. Foster was known as the father of American music and wrote more than 200 songs. Taking place in the LeConte Hall South.
   
• 2 to 3:30pm: KIDS’ TRACK! LIMITED SPACE! Booger: A Tall Tale of the Mountains. Presented by Mary Phillips. Limited to 30 kids from ages 5-10 who will join Mary as she tells the story of about a firefly, a boy named Booger and his faithful cat, Stinker. Kids learn to use the Great Smoky Mountain Wildflower guide book. Program meets curriculum standards for science, literature, life skills and art. Taking place in the Bob Kolb Memorial Room.
   
• 2:30 to 3:30pm: Update on Cougars in the Smokies. Presented by Dr. Don Linzey. Learn about cougar distribution, current range and biology, as well as an update on recent reports and sighting in GSMNP. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 3.
   
• 2:30 to 3:30pm: Discovery of the Gray Fossil Site. Presented by Harry Moore. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   
• 2:30 to 3:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! LIMITED SPACE! Making a Hand Broom for Decoration. Presented by David Ogle. Limited to 10 people ages 16+. Taking place in the Bob Hatcher Memorial Room.
   
• 2:30 to 4pm: LIMITED SPACE! Drawing to Identify Trees. Presented by Maurice Edwards and William Hurst. Limited to 12 Participants, ages 18+. Join a professional botanist and an artist to draw tree parts toward the goal of species identification. Bring own art supplies and plant material or use instructors pencils, paper and subject matter. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 3 to 4pm: Seasons and Weather: Watching the Smokies Change Video Presentation. Presented by Jerry Whaley. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 3 to 4pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! An Adventure Along the John Muir Trail. Presented by Jeff Alt. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall A.
   
• 3 to 4pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! LIMITED SPACE! Introduction to the Hammer Dulcimer. Presented by Timothy Seaman. Limited to 10 people. There will be some loaner dulcimers; however, participants are encouraged to bring their own. Onlookers are welcome to watch. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 3:30 to 4:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! The Forced Removal of the Cherokee in 1838. Presented by Chris Tipton. Join Chris as she discusses the finding of a journal that started a personal rediscovery of one of our nation’s saddest events: The Trail of Tears. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 3:30 to 5pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Making Your Nature Images "POP!". Presented by Larry Perry. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall B.
   
• 4 to 5pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Mother Nature’s Secret Garden: The Harvest You Didn’t Plant. Presented by Ila Hatter. Join Ila as she shows participants how to safely recognize what "weeds" are edibles. Some "weeds" are more nutritious than domestic vegetables so now you can have a harvest before you plant your garden! Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   
• 4 to 5:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Everest...and the People Who Climbed It. Presented by Bill Deitzer. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 3.
   
• 4:30 to 5:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Entering Photographic Competitions: The Benefits of Entering, Pitfalls to Avoid and the Image Selection Process. Presented by Douglas Hubbard. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 4:30 to 5:30pm: Our Summer in Alaska. Presented by Carroll and Michelle McMahan. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall A.
   
• 4:30 to 5:30pm: A Bodacious Snuffy Smith Chalk Talk. Presented by John Rose. Join John as he discusses his cartooning career and draws some of his comic strip’s most popular characters. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 4:30 to 5:30pm: Learn to Play the Spoons and Washtub Bass. Presented by Boogertown Gap. Taking place in the South Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 5 to 6pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Hut Hiking in the Alps. Presented by Shannon Harris. Join Shannon as he explains how best to navigate hiking around in the Alps. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 2.
   
• 5:30 to 6:30pm: Civil War in the West, 1861. Presented by Presented by Jack Carman. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall B.
   
• 5:30 to 6:30pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Colorful Characters of the Smokies. Presented by Hills-N-Hollows (Join Mike and Kathy Gwinn). Enjoy both story and song some of the snuff-dippin’, fire-spittin’, men and women of the Smokies. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   
• 6pm: Monday Hikes and Field Trips Sign-ups. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall A.
   
• 6 to 7pm: NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! Outdoor Photography: Thinking and Shooting Out of the Box. Presented by Harry Dunn. Learn how to view subjects differently, as well as how to use camera functions beyond "Auto" and several "Plan for success" ideas from Harry. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 1.
   
• 6 to 7pm: Lewis and Clark, Part 1: Before the Expedition: Presented by Peter and Gudrun Seifert. Taking place in the North Multi-Purpose Room 3.
   
• 6:45pm: The Scottish Connection to the Smokies and Bagpipe Performance by Bagpiper Charles A. Smith, Commander, TVA Police, retired. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   
• 7pm: Opening Ceremony. Presented by Butch Helton, Ken Jenkins and friends. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   
• 7:45pm KEYNOTE PROGRAM! NEW Wilderness Wildlife Week Program! The Tramp and the Roughrider: An Evening at Glacier Point: Presented by Lee Stetson and Alan Sutterfield. What did John Muir and President Theodore Roosevelt discuss around the campfire in 1903? Witness a live reenactment of this history-altering camping trip in Yosemite as the "Tramp" and the "Rough Rider" engage in lively discussion over the fate of our most wild places and swap stories about their own adventures. Taking place in the Greenbrier Hall C.
   

How is the Government Shutdown Affecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on day 8?

As day 8 unfolds of the government shutdown that closed the Great Smoky Mountains national park, we seem to be stuck in this bad situation with no immediate end in sight.

To make matters worse, if such a thing is possible, almost daily vandalism, petty theft and defiance has become an ongoing issue in the Great Smoky Mountains national park as well as in other national parks, historical sites and monuments around the nation.

Worst hurt here in the Smokies are the 2 great organizations that help support the park through the kindness and good will of donations and purchases made to support the park.

Both the Friends of the Smokies and the Great Smoky Mountains Association have had donation and cash boxes destroyed. The cost to repair or replaces 2 of the boxes damaged will easily exceed $5,000.

Why are these donation boxes so expensive? Sadly people often try to pilfer from these boxes and often when the boxes are emptied, a variety burglary tools are inside.

It takes a lot of sophisticated custom engineering and very solid box building construction to keep the thieves out and yet still let the money come in smoothly.

There also remains some confusion and what has been called by some "mixed signals" as to what is open in the Great Smoky Mountains national park and what is not during this government shutdown.

The only roads open in the Great Smoky Mountains park are the entire length of Newfound Gap Road from Cherokee to Gatlinburg and the Gatlinburg Bypass from Newfound Gap Road in Gatlinburg to the Spur.

The only road outside of the Great Smoky Mountain national park that is maintained by the national park service that remains open is the very well traveled Spur section of the Foothills Parkway which connects the city of Gatlinburg with the city of Pigeon Forge Tennessee.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Road Closures/Conditions

Weather related and seasonal park road closures normally mean that bicycle and pedestrian traffic is allowed. The government shutdown prohibits any use of the parks roads, facilities and trail systems.

The press release Sunday by Chief Ranger Clay Jordan stated:

While most overlooks and pull-offs along the roadway are open to accommodate safe traffic flow over the mountains, facilities and trails remain closed.

He also stated "We ask that the public voluntarily respect the closure of the backcountry for everyone's safety," and "With less staff on duty, we do not have the personnel on hand to sufficiently respond to emergency situations in the backcountry. We understand the desire of visitors to hike during this beautiful time of year and we are hopeful that the park will soon reopen."

There are clear signage and barricades to keep people away from the Chimneys Hiking Trails where reconstruction has stopped as well as the Alum Cave Trailhead. Parking is only allowed in designated pull outs and parking areas so the intent of this extra "enforcement" is quite clear and should be headed. Tickets have been and will continue to be given out for non-compliance of closures.

Remember the Park Rangers you come into contact with are not being paid and most of their acquaintances are furloughed as well. Many working in the park are park families too meaning the loss of 2 or more incomes in the same family.

As much as I understand the heartache of those that work as a career or volunteer in the park, interviewing an employee of one of the stables last Sunday, I now really understand better the extent of the extreme hardships the employees are going through right now. Let's, hope their landlords and finance companies do as well.

Luckily for tourists, there are plenty of stables where you can go horseback riding outside the park and they all are seeing a booming business already and expect it to pick up even more in the next 3 weeks as we hit peak tourism for the Smokies during peak leaf season.

Though the National Park Service attempted to keep all 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway open from North Carolina to Virginia, further road damage to a section of roadway is closing the parkway from the from NC191/Brevard Road (about Milepost 393) to Hendersonville Road/25s in South Asheville (Milepost 389) until the Federal Highway Administration can finish repairs hopefully before the end of the month.

Even with this closure on the Blue Ridge Parkway, drivers can still enjoy about a 100 miles of uninterrupted scenic beauty all the way from Gatlinburg Tennessee to this point where you would have to detour to continue on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Best case estimates call for this section of the Blue Ridge Parkway to be repaired by the end of the week of the 21st. We would all be happier if it was sooner.

As stated before all picnic areas in the Great Smoky Mountains national park are closed, but you can eat in any of the pull-outs. Cooking, grilling and open flames are forbidden in the Great Smoky Mountains national park other than in designated picnic areas, campsites and campgrounds.

Fall color is more apparent by the day in all of the higher ridge-lines and the past 2 nights have seen temperatures just under 50 degrees in the lower elevations of the park. Add to this the light rainfall we received the night before last and we have the prime making for an extraordinary bright and along lasting peak fall right around the corner.

The next week looks like more of the same, bright sunny days climbing up into the 70s during the day and dropping down to the high 40's.

If you can believe very long range forecasts, it looks as though weather in the Smokies will be nice for the month with maybe 4 days where there is a possibility of rain.

There is even a chance of a light dusting of snow on the peaks early the week of the 20th which would make for a stunning fall photograph.

Related Government GSMNP and BRP Closure Articles:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Reopen Tomorrow at 12 Noon. - Posted 10-15-13

Great Smoky Mountains National Park May Reopen Tomorrow – Maybe - Posted 10-15-13

Government Shutdown Affecting Great Smoky Mountains National Park Day 14 - Posted 10-14-13

How Government Shutdown is Affecting Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Posted 10-08-13

Update to Government Closure of Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Posted 10-05-13

Shutdown Info Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway - Posted 10-03-13

Government Shutdown: Road + Facility Closures Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Posted 10-01-13

Government Shutdown: Road + Facility Closures in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

It's happened. The Government shutdown has closed the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to all public use today other than traveling along Newfound Gap Road/US441 from Cherokee North Carolina to Gatlinburg Tennessee.

All other the other Great Smoky Mountains National Parks roads are closed and so are all of the hiking trails, picnic areas, visitor centers, bathrooms, horse stables, streams, scenic overlooks, parking areas, historic buildings, campgrounds and backcountry primitive campsites.

All ongoing scientific studies, park interpretive programs, special events such as weddings, parks as classrooms education programs, have also all been cancelled. Trail rehabilitation and park maintenance has all been stopped and even the park web cam feeds is shut off.

Foothills Parkway East which is outside the park and connects I-40 and 32 in Cosby and the Foothills Parkway West are also both closed.

While the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and all other National Parks, National Monuments, National Seashores, National Historic sites and National Museums have all closed in the past due to Government Shutdowns, the timing of this closure is especially bad.

If the closure extends by more than a few weeks, it would be disastrous to the local economy which depends on the fall leaf season for a huge percentage of their revenue. Add in government workers being furloughed or not paid and you will see that everyone is feeling the pain.

So far the government shut down in Great Smoky Mountains National Park has cause 279 park employees, 60 concessions employees and 45 Great Smoky Mountains Association employees to be indefinitely put on furlough without pay. This does not count wedding photographers, fishing and private tour guides who pay for permits to work in the park.

Tourists coming into the Great Smoky Mountains to see the best of the Smokies fall leaf season book months in advance. Backcountry and front country campers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have to do the same and sadly can not stay here regardless of reservations.

The elk rut is also in full swing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park which attracts thousands of photographers and nature lovers to Cataloochee and Balsam Mountain which are closed.

During October, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park normally sees at least 35,000 visitors on average each day and nationwide the National Park System hosts more than 715,000 visitors a day.

Campers in the national park campgrounds, LeConte Lodge as well as campers in the backcountry campsites have been asked to leave by 6pm Thursday. Some campgrounds are already empty and locked.

There appears to be campgrounds outside the park right now that have extra space, but in the next few weeks, many who thought they could camp here in the Smokies may be out of luck.

National park rangers and other park personnel were clearing out picnic areas, horse stables, locking bathrooms and putting up facility closed signs throughout the park. A very sad day indeed.

Non essential personnel whose numbers have been greatly reduced due to the Sequestration are now being furloughed without pay and they are not alone as about 800,000 federal employees throughout the country lost their income overnight as well.

The more than 3,000 volunteers who work within the park have been asked not to report to duty for as long as the closure takes place.

Law Enforcement Park Rangers will continue to work through the closure although it is not clear if and when they will be paid. I cannot stress enough that there will be no tolerance to those breaking the law such as trespassing on federal land when it is closed to all public use.

We will be providing updates to this story when they become available.

Last Updated 10/01/13 4:55 pm EST

Related Government GSMNP and BRP Closure Articles:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Reopen Tomorrow at 12 Noon. - Posted 10-15-13

Great Smoky Mountains National Park May Reopen Tomorrow – Maybe - Posted 10-15-13

Government Shutdown Affecting Great Smoky Mountains National Park Day 14 - Posted 10-14-13

How Government Shutdown is Affecting Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Posted 10-08-13

Update to Government Closure of Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Posted 10-05-13

Shutdown Info Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway - Posted 10-03-13

Government Shutdown: Road + Facility Closures Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Posted 10-01-13

Is Newfound Gap Road Between Cherokee and Gatlinburg Open Again?

As anyone working in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Cherokee or in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park what question they are asked most often since the huge landslide in January of this year right by mile marker 22 and they will tell you is will be a pleasure to say yes, Newfound Gap Road is open all the way from the Sugarlands all the way to Cherokee, North Carolina.

Firefly Season Past Peak in Parts of GSMNP and Closes Elkmont to Non-Campers Starting Tonight

Fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are a big deal. Strike that. One particular species of the 14 known lightning bugs in the GSMNP is a huge deal. What makes this one firefly (Photinus Carolinus) also called a lightning bug so special is the unique synchronized light show both the male and female firefly provide to around 1,000 visitors a night.

The Synchronized Firefly has been a huge draw for years - so much so that the Great Smoky Mountains national park has created a shuttle system to handle the huge influx of visitors into the Elkmont are of the park close to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Wears Valley.

Though these fascinating lightning bugs can be found through most of the Great Smoky Mountains national park if you know when to be there, the Elkmont are along the Little River Hiking Trail is the only safe place to accommodate many visitors wandering around in the dark.

The City of Gatlinburg has helped the park by providing eco friendly shuttles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking area to Elkmont and back for only $1 per rider. The problem is more visitors arrive to the departure area every day than the park can safely handle.

Each year as more and more people arrived to ride the shuttle to see the fireflies in Elkmont earlier and earlier, the more people missed the opportunity to see the fireflies and their synchronized light show. It also filled the parking in the visitor center lot for much of the day keeping other visitors from having access to the visitor center and the facilities.

The park this year took a bold move to make it fairer for a greater number of visitors and to alleviate congestion by instituting ticket sales in advance through the internet for the firefly shuttle trolleys.

In order to not exceed the holding capacity of Elkmont and the parking area 175 car passes were released for each day the shuttle was to be in operation. There will be already all the campers in the 220 campsites in Elkmont, many of whom reserved their site as much as 6 months in advance.

An additional 25 passes for each date the firefly shuttle trolley was to run will be released on 10 am the day before departure by visiting www.recreation.gov. Cost for the shuttle is $1 per passenger round trip.

While these were all great ways to protect the resources in the park, increase visitor safety and be able to enjoy natures greatest light show right here in the Smokies which could go wrong? How about if the Great Smoky Mountains national park throws a huge party of the fireflies and the guest of honor don't show up!

The fireflies among lots of other plants and animals in the Great Smoky Mountains national park along the lower elevations are all screwed up. Phenologically that is.

Timing is everything in for much of nature in the natural world. When a flower is blooming there better be a way it gets pollinated, when fruit is born, something has to eat it to spread the seeds. Well this year the extremely warm winter and early spring has screwed everything up.

The Photinus Carolinus synchronized firefly starts as a glowworm living underground and emerges once the soil is around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. It likes to keep by slow moving water and uses its bioluminescence (light produced by a living organism) in the form of a greenish glow to attract mates.

Since we have been far too warm in the lower elevations this year, they emerged too soon. As a result, they are passing/past peak right now and by the time the shuttle service was scheduled to begin, the show will be poor and they may be virtually gone before the shuttle service ends.

Because of the tremendous logistic involved in safety handling such a number of people and the staffing along with the trolleys required to shuttle visitors to the firefly show in Elkmont, the Great Smoky Mountains national park cannot move the timing of the shuttles.

To further add to park visitor's frustration, because of safety concerns and staffing shortages, the national park closed Elkmont to all traffic at night other then campers starting tonight.

Other places to see the fireflies in the park right now include deep into Cades Cove around Hyatt Lane - about a 8 mile round trip hike in ideal walking conditions on a paved and gravel road, by the picnic area in Cosby. Other areas in the park to see the fireflies right now are risky to get into and none can handle more than a few dozen visitors a night at most.

As much as we have historical weather data for the park along with great in-depth knowledge of the synchronized fireflies, this year's weather has put a huge damper on nature's best light show in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Regardless whether the new reservation system was implemented or not, mother nature is to blame this time and I for one applaud the new system implemented by the park service.

For those around the Smokies in the next few weeks, as the light show moves up in elevation I will see if I can share 2 other places the show is good in the park.

Was this year's unusually warm weather following 2 particularly rough and unusual winters a result of climate change? It certainly looks that way based upon patterns we clearly see in the GSM park, which is not conclusive.

Portions of a degree up or down a few days earlier or later can wreak havoc on sensitive ecosystems and can threaten biodiversity around the world.

I just hope that decades from now we don't say "remember when the synchronized fireflies used to put their show on before Easter?"

Related Smokies Fireflies News Stories

Synchronized Fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains

• 2015 Firefly Viewing Dates in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
• 2014 Firefly Viewing Dates in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
• Where and When to see Synchronous Fireflies in the Smokies in 2013
• Synchronous Fireflies Emerge Too Early for Visitors In The Great Smoky Mountains national park
• Synchronous fireflies and their admirers are about to invade the Great Smoky Mountains national park
• Great Smoky Mountains National park synchronous firefly
• Great Smoky Mountains Fireflies has 900 visitors first night
• Synchronized Fireflies in Great Smoky Mountains national parks Elkmont a huge disappointment

2nd Rockslide in Days Closes Portion of Little River Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains national park has been dealing with numerous rockslides within the park boundaries and 2 large large rockslides along the Spur connecting Gatlinburg with Pigeon Forge Tennessee. Today crews are inspecting another rockslide along the same section of Little River Road between Metcalf Bottoms and the Townsend Wye that was closed last week.

Presently there is no estimated time in which this section of Little River Road will be able to be reopened. Therefore car, motorcycle, van and light pickup truck traffic is being detoured in and out of the park at the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic area through Wears Gap and back in and out of the park for non commercial vehicles of all sizes at the Townsend Wye. Motor homes cannot cross the Metcalf Bottoms Bridge over the Little River and must take an alternate route of Wears Valley Road (321) when traveling between Pigeon Forge and Townsend.

Besides numerous weather related closures the Great Smoky Mountains national park has had to content with all winter, construction in Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome, Balsam Mountain Heintooga, Cherokee Orchard/Roaring Fork Motor Trail and Smokemont is severely limiting access to drivers and visitors of the park.

• Road conditions and closures in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

New Rock Slide hits Spur Section of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Foothills Parkway

Yet another rockslide just hit the spur with between 20 to 30 feet of debris being dumped on the roadway. This rockslide has occurred where traffic was moving in the Southbound lanes at the first curve past Gum Stand. It is not at where the previous rockslide on the Gatlinburg - Pigeon Forge Spur has occurred.

There are no reports of injuries or property damage at this time.

Traffic is being turned around and the city of Pigeon Forge has blocked off access to the Gatlinburg - Pigeon Forge Spur. Traffic on the Spur is being rerouted to the Flat Branch bridge.

A large trees is also blocking both lanes of the Foothills Parkway East and since the Great Smoky Mountains National Park personnel is tied up with the new landslide on the Spur, it will take a while to clear this road.

Road Conditions in the Great Smoky Mountains national park

Rockslide Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park Keeps Part of Spur Closed a Month or More

This Monday a significant rockslide fell onto the southbound lanes of the Spur section of the Foothills Parkway (US 441) a few hundred yards south of traffic light 10 in Pigeon Forge on the way to Gatlinburg Tennessee and experts now predict that the cleanup and stabilization of the slope could potentially take at least a month.

The rockslide between Gatlinburg and Pigeon thankfully did not cause any injuries and occurred in the off-season so the traffic affected by the detour around the rockslide is minimal right now, but will affect the tourism peak that occurs on and around Valentines Day.

Yesterday morning the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) had geotechnical engineers inspect the rockslide and their determination is that the wall or rock, earth and vegetation is still very unstable and before the roadway can be reopened to traffic, significant stabilization effort is required.

Presently TDOT will need to obtain an emergency contract to stabilize this section of the mountainside along the Spur and once the work is started will be able to offer a more accurate time in which this project can be completed.

Since the rockslide cleanup and stabilization along the spur will take so long, representatives from the Great Smoky Mountains national park and TDOT are working together to improve the traffic flow on the 1 mile detour where northbound traffic is reduced to 1 lane and southbound traffic uses 1 lane flowing south.

According to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Facility Management Chief Alan Sumeriski stated, "We are working with TDOT to improve the configuration of temporary traffic barriers and the signage to help keep traffic flowing as smoothly as possible and to maximize public safety."

He went on to say "We will also be adding numerous signs in the detour area to guide residents and visitors to each of the side roads that are accessed off the Spur."

Though park rangers patrol the entire length of the Spur, the State of Tennessee owns the portion where the rockslide took place, so TDOT has sole responsibility for repairs of the slide itself.

While being restriped today there will be traffic delays along the Spur.

Rock Slide closes portion of the Foothills Parkway Spur between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.

A large rock slide has closed the southbound lanes of the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Spur portion of the Foothills Parkway by the Great Smoky Mountains national park forcing southbound traffic coming from Pigeon Forge to be detoured to the northbound lane that is now become 2-way traffic.

The southbound traffic on the Spur will continue a short distance to the King Branch bridge and at that point will cross over to the south lanes of the Spur. Traffic headed north on the Spur will be funneled to 1 lane at the King Branch exchange.

Temporary electronic variable message signs warn drivers of the detour and even more traffic cones are being put in place right now by the state of Tennessee to help better separate the lanes and assist with the traffic flow.

It is unclear at this time how long this detour will stay in place before the debris from the landslide can be removed and the roadway is declares to be safe again for motorists. Since the rock slide is on the City of Pigeon Forge owned portion of the Spur the city of Pigeon Forge is responsible for the slide clean up.

Local motorists who know the back roads may do best to avoid the area altogether.

Road Conditions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Open and Closed Roads in the GSMNP

With more than 30 inches of snow recorded in some areas of the Great Smoky Mountains national park it will take some time before all the roads in the GSMNP will be open. Power outages and stranded motorists have strained local emergency services, which held up well to this record-breaking snowstorm in the Smokies.

While the Smokies can get snow often in the winter, it is often gone within hours or a most a few days. While local and backcountry roads can use salt to melt ice and snow, the national park service can only use sand. Runoff from salt would disturb the delicate chemical balance in the waterways of the Great Smoky Mountains national park so salting roads in the park is forbidden.

The main priority is to open Newfound Gap Road back up which with I-40 closed at the NC TN border due to a landslide, is even more urgent. It will take days before people can go directory from Gatlinburg To Cherokee NC without huge detours.

Open Roads in the in the Great Smoky Mountains national park:

• Little River Road TN


• Gatlinburg Bypass TN


• The Spur between Gatlinburg TN and Pigeon Forge TN


• Laurel Creek Road TN


• Cades Cove Loop Road TN


• Tremont Road is open to Upper Tremont Road


• Greenbrier Road is open to Ranger station


• Wears Cove Road TN


• Cherokee Orchard Road TN is open to the Twin Creeks Science Center

Closed Roads due snow and ice in the Great Smoky Mountains national park

• US 441 Newfound Gap Road between Cherokee NC + Gatlinburg TN


• Cataloochee Entrance Road NC


• Toms Branch Road NC


• Lake View Drive NC


• Foothills Parkway East TN


• Foothills Parkway West TN

Current Road Closures and Openings in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Little River Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains partially closed until Tuesday

Try as they might the crews from the Great Smoky Mountains national park along with the help of Pigeon Forge construction company Blalock & Sons Inc will not be able to one the section of the Little River Closed by last week’s rock slides.

It is now looking like with all of the additional lose material that needs to stabilized and removed from the roadway the stretch of Little River road between the Elkmont campgrounds and the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area will not be open until sometime late Tuesday the earliest.

Anyone trying to get to Cades Cove or Townsend from either Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge will need to take Wears Valley Road (US 321) at traffic light 3 in Pigeon Forge.

Rock Slide Closes Great Smoky Mountains National Parks Little River Road

A busy section of one the Great Smoky Mountains National Parks main thoroughfares will have a section closed for the next few hours between The Elkmont Campgrounds and the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area due to the cleanup in progress of a rock slide.

Visitors coming from Gatlinburg wishing to go to Cades Cove need to take the Gatlinburg Bypass or the Spur to get to Pigeon Forge.

From Pigeon Forge drivers must take 321 (Wears Valley Road) all the way to Townsend or if they choose enter the park through the back entrance on Wears Cove Road where they can take Little Rover Road all the way to the Townsend Wye.

Campers in the Elkmont campgrounds wanting to go to Cades Cove must go back towards Gatlinburg in order to take the detour around the rock slide on Little River Road.

Little River Road will be open for sure by the mid to late afternoon. We will announce and changes on the cleanup status of the rock slide in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Pigeon Forge Dolly Parton parade a huge hit.

Everyone loves a parade, especially when the grand marshal of the parade is the Smokies own sweetheart Dr. Dolly Parton the ambassador of the Great Smoky Mountains 75th anniversary. Yes Dr. Dolly Parton just received her honorary doctoral degree of humane and musical letters from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville just before the parade.

I have to be honest. I never stuck around to watch the parade in Pigeon Forge before and boy did I miss something. Picture Pigeon Forge meets Mayberry and a whole lot of fun and yes - Dolly Parton!

Many of us were real concerned with the surrounding counties under tornado watches and the weather being shaky all day long and I even felt a few drops just before the parade starting at 6 pm but to everyone delight the weather was perfect until the end of the parade and then within minutes Sevier Country was under tornado watch as well!

Boy scouts, baton twirlers and a marching band opened the Pigeon Forge parade followed by Dolly Parton all dolled up like a national park ranger from a Vegas show on a float celebrating the Smoky Mountains national parks 75th anniversary.

Right behind Dolly Parton was a float from Friends of the Smokies - a non profit organization whose fund raising efforts have been an invaluable help to the Great Smoky Mountains national park. Wave to Bob Miller the GSMNP spokesperson and next to him Holly Burcham the Marketing Director from Friends of the Smokies.

The parade continued for miles and took hours to pass and was a mixture of our local heroes: Fire Fighters and Policemen, bands and dancers from local schools, local clubs and organizations, beauty queens, veterans, the Shiners - everyone loves their little cars, trucks and motorcycles, and a whole host of local businesses showing of their entertainers and talent.

Local country representatives and even the Pigeon Forge Trolley and bear got in the action. Don't you just love this little dozer? It was a huge hit with everyone!

There were even some beautiful classic cars parading down the parkway in Pigeon Forge. Not quite the Rod Run but absolutely top notch collectible cars.

In between all of this there were some unusual displays of once sort or another that can only see in a Pigeon Forge parade!

All the "kids" had a great time at the Pigeon Forge parade so be sure to be here next year for the best parade in the Smokies!

Fire closes Old Time Pottery in the Belz outlet mall in Pigeon Forge

Fire Sprinklers saved the day at Old Time Pottery at the Belz Factory outlet in Pigeon Forge when fire broke out today.

The fire started outside the store in gardening but was contained before there was any significant damage to the interior which still suffered some water and smoke damage.

Everyone was evacuated safely with no reported injuries and Mall management shut down the entire Belz outlet mall as a precaution.

The Mall should be reopened by Monday but Old Time Pottery will need extensive water and smoke remediation before it reopens.

Brutal record breaking cold weather at Mount LeConte recorded in the GSMNP

We knew the weather has been unusually cold here in the Smoky mountains and driving has been treacherous, but a report from the winter caretaker at Great Smoky Mountains National Park's Mount LeConte Lodge reported a low last night of -22 degrees - the coldest recorded temperature since 1886.

Lower elevations that the 6,593' high Mount Le Conte were also recording brutally cold weather. The NPS weather station at Cove Mountain in the Pigeon Forge - Wears Valley area of Sevier County recorded 45 MPH wind gusts last night creating a wind chill of 60 below - cold enough to cause frost bite in 4 minutes to exposed flesh.

The coldest recorded temperature in the park was Jan 21, 1985 at an incredible -32 degrees! Unfortunately there are no wind speeds that were recorded with this temperature so there is no data as to the wind chill factor.

Report from Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge

Wow is Wilderness Week at Winterfest amazing! Day 2 is just starting and day 1 was unbelievable.

The photography classes were world class, the wildlife classes were exciting and informative and the musical classes and demonstrations were world class.

I was just describing while I was on my way to the convention center to a friend on the phone that the photography classes I attended yesterday alone I would have gladly paid $300 and everything all week long is free!

Question I have had for years about cougars in the Smokies were years were answered by a world class expert Dr Don Linzey yesterday along with footage I have never seen before of cougars in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Are you in the Smokies or can get here in the next few days? Run (don't walk) to Pigeon Forge to enjoy this fantastic set of programs.

Plenty of Columbus Day weekend visitors to the Smokies just in time for the start of peak fall season

While regular visitation the Smoky Mountains has been down, the 2008 leaf season and the Columbus Day weekend has offered a real boost of visitors to Smokies.

It was quite apparent that visitation was way up this weekend with far more crowded roads such as the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, the Spur leading to Gatlinburg, Patton Ave and Tunnel Road in Asheville, the Biltmore, Cades Cove and of course the Tail of the Dragon in Deal Gap.

Hiking Trails in the Great Smoky Mountains national park were also very busy. Even quieter trails such as the midway points of the Old Settlers Trail such as Noisy Falls and the Creek along 321 had 2 or 3 cars throughout the day - very rare for this quiet trail.

Parking for Alum Cave was insane and I can not even imagine what it is like to have hiked up that trail to Le Conte with all those people. The at was also crowded as well even some quieter trails in Deep Creek.

Cades Cove at times was like a parking lot but the weather was so spectacular and the fall foliage is starting to come into beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red contrasting against the dark and light green leaves it was worth the slow drive.

The Blue Ridge Parkway from mile marker 380 to the end at 469 was busy with photographers at most pull offs taking advantage of the stunning fall color coming in with perfect blue skies, then amazing cloud formations which the receded leaving perfect blue skies again.

Local businesses are happy to see the crowds here in the Smoky Mountains, most of which will be leaving today. The best time to come right now is midweek where you can still get lodging discounts and it becomes real quiet in spite of the perfect weather and beautiful fall scenery throughout the Smokies.

2008 Visitation down in Smokies - but for how long?

Higher gas prices and food prices along with other necessities, climbing unemployment, credit problems and now the fiasco in the stock market is making an already soft tourist season even softer here in the Smokies.

Luckily for businesses in the Smoky Mountains, the costs here are lower here than most other vacation destinations and since there is so much to do, tourists don't have to drive far to find something that fits everyone's taste and budget.

With air travel prices sky rocketing, economy class tickets are expected to increase even further with the heavy loss of the more profitable business class travelers (Lehman Brothers alone booked $115 million in air travel last year). Air travel for a family to a vacation destination here in the US may no longer be affordable for many more Americans.

Luckily for the Smokies, most of the population in the US is just a day's drive away so people looking to travel on a tighter budget can still do so by driving to the Smoky Mountains.

One of the most popular Smokies destinations is the Great Smoky Mountains national park which does not charge any entrance fees, exhibit fees, guided tour fees or for parking anywhere inside the 800 square mile large biosphere.

More families are finding out how exciting the national park is where they can picnic, hike, bike or take a guided tour for free. For those who have limited mobility or don't want to get that close to nature, there are hundreds of miles or spectacular roads in and around the park where you can see the beautiful scenery without every leaving your car.

While there are still cheap hotel rooms to be found in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Cherokee and the Asheville area, for families it is often far cheaper to spend your vacation in a cabin - it is certainly far more comfortable!

Not only can you prepare and serve your family home cooked meals in your cabin - it's a great way to save gas and avoid paying the high restaurant prices. Most rentals cabins now have amenities such as hot tubs, pool tables, DVD players and some even have media rooms, video game consoles and other ways to keep the clan entertained - for free!

Much of November and some of December is still considered "in season" and is not priced at peak rates so there are still bargains to be found.

Plenty of the outlet malls and stores here in the Smoky Mountains have been slashing prices to attract the tourists who come here to save some money on their Christmas and holiday shopping.

Just strolling down the street to people watch here in the Smokies or listen to live music is loads of fun. Shorty millions of lights will be sparkling and twinkling away through the night in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville for Winterfest 2008.

Close to Christmas there will also be carolers walking down the streets of Gatlinburg in period costumes from the 1800's entertaining all those that they pass with impromptu performances in local stores. The price? Free and tipping is not allowed!

The Smokies have seen a drop in visitation; but the drop that we have seen is far smaller than most popular tourist destinations in the US. We also see that many who live in and near the Smokies are coming back to explore the Great Smoky Mountains.

Are you changing your vacation and holiday travel plans? How do you save money while you are on vacation? We want to know!

So how long will this drop in visitation in the Smokies last? Crystal balls are for sale in some of the gift shops along the parkway and I bet they are on sale.

Gas prices lower and availability improves in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville Tennessee.

Looks like we have seen the last of empty gas pumps and high gas prices in the Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville Tennessee Smoky Mountains because the lines at gas stations are gone and the prices are now below the national average - all just in time for the 2008 peak leaf season which is just about to begin!

Now that gas prices are lower again and availability is good everyone is breathing a sigh of relief.

Hurricane Ike didn't hit the Smoky Mountains, but gas shortages and gas gouging did. The gas problems in the Smoky Mountains first turned up in North Carolina and then spread to Tennessee, but while North Carolina is still having problems with inflated gas prices, gas shortages and long lines, everything is just about back to normal in the Tennessee Smokies.

We suggest that people who have to drive into or through the North Carolina Smokies fill up before they get there as they can save quite a bit of time and as much as 50 cents or more a gallon.

Officials and energy experts say that everything will be back to normal in Tennessee by the peak leaf season which starts in less than 2 weeks and by the end of October in N Carolina.