Hiker dies from fall in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

What began as a quiet vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains for Robert Lyons and his wife Judith Lyons of Louisville, Kentucky ended tragically after Robert fell approximately 20 feet off of the Chestnut Top Hiking Trail. Robert eventually died hours later as a result of blunt trauma he received during the fall.

According to the national park service Robert and his wife Judith were planning to hike the Chestnut Top Trail to Schoolhouse House Gap where they would then hike out via the School house Gap Trail.

The hiking trail was wet from melting snow and heavy rains and though they had only hiked in a few hundred yards, when the thunderstorm rolled in they decided to turn back and return to the safety of their car.

If you are hiking on the Chestnut Top Trail when you get about a hundred yards in from the trailhead, the trail is narrow with a sheer drop and a very steep 250 foot gain in about only 700 feet of hiking. Apparently Robert Lyons fell in the vicinity of this area and tumbled about 20 feet.

Though he had suffered what he believed was just back injuries he made it back down to the side of the heavily traveled Great Smoky Mountains national parks Townsend Entrance Road.

Tragically when the accident was called in at around 5:30 pm, the dispatcher was told that the injured 73 year old hiker was at the Schoolhouse Gap Trail which was miles away. Park rangers who responded to the call were unable to find Mr. Lyons and Mrs. Lyons called park dispatch again at 6:10 pm this time with the correct location of her injured husband.

Mr Lyons was conscious when rangers arrived at the scene and was suffering from back pain and wanted to be transported by ambulance to a hospital.

The Rural Metro ambulance finally arrived at 6:40 pm and took Robert Lyons to Townsend where he was transferred to a LIFESTAR helicopter and taken by air to the University of Tennessee Hospital in Knoxville where he was pronounced dead at 10:20 pm.

This story of a hiker falling and ultimately dying as a result of his injuries is even more tragic since both he and his wife acted responsibly in turning around when a thunderstorm came in so that they would not be hiking along a ridgeline. If they put themselves in danger of being struck by lightning would Mr. Lyons have fallen?

This story may have had a different far happier ending if the original call made was to 911 and an ambulance was sent to the correct location as at least 40 minutes was lost sending the first responding ranger to the wrong location to begin with.

Could the extra time lost in this rescue have cost this hiker his life? Maybe not in this particular case, but this long a delay can surely mean the difference of life and death in another accident.

A park ranger if not an entire Search and Rescue (S&R) team may be needed to extract an injured hiker from deep backcountry, but not in this case when an injured hiker is on the side of one of the most traveled roads in the park.

How maddening it must have been for the Lyons to have Mr Lyons injured on the side of the road and having cars keep passing by them. A witness stated Mr. Lyons had a red handkerchief tied to stick trying to flag down traffic.

This trail such as many other hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains national park can be very slick when wet and saturated ground along the side of a trail may give under your weight without warning. This trail is also particularly steep as well as fairly narrow at this point making it even more of a hazard in wet or icy conditions.

My father once fell off the side of a mountain trail in a remote area in Italy because the edge of the trail we were hiking on just gave way and without a noise he fell and was gone. Luckily he got caught in some brush instead of falling the whole way down the cliff which saved his life. We were able to pull him back up onto the trail with the help of my jacket which we used as a lifeline.

Going down a decline or embankment, especially one that is steep, hikers need to control the speed and direction of their decent. This is a great time to be using 2 hiking poles that you are sure will not give way underneath you.

Of course accidents can just happen while hiking. Countless times I have stumbled and tripped while hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains national park. The more aware, careful and well equipped one is, the less of a chance of a serious hiking accident.

When in an emergency, the Great Smoky Mountains national park suggests that you call 911 - not the park.

It is also a good idea to have a map or the name of the trail(s) written down and as accurate a location as possible where the injured party is.

Another good idea is to make note of how long it took you to go from where the injured party is (use your stopwatch if you have one) as time can be a better gauge of distance than by guessing mileage while you are in a panic.

My condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Lyons.

Hiking on manways and off trail in the Great Smoky Mountains national park

If you read any of the Your Smokies web sites or the SmokiesHiker Twitter posts you will see that I have been speeding more time hiking off of designated hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

I have fielded many inquiries when I am in the GSMNP, emails and phone calls about off trail hiking and hiking on manways along with asking for recommendations, so here they are.

Never hike off trail without know what you are getting yourself in for. It is very easy to get lost off trail and you may never have another hiker pass by and guide you in the right direction. As I have posted before NEVER COUNT ON A GPS - especially on the GSMNP.

Besides getting disorientated and lost when hiking off trail in the Great Smoky Mountains national park another danger to hikers is the fact that the trail may not be safe due to hanging trees and limbs that may fall.

There may also be heavily eroded trails that can give way, unstable rocks and vegetation that can also fall upon unsuspecting hikers or collapse when someone is climbing upon them and holes that may be covered by leaves and vegetation trapping or injuring unsuspecting hikers.

Beside theses potential dangers to hikers, hiking off the beaten path will also expose you to a far greater chance of an encounter with one of the 2 venomous snakes in the GSMNP or one of the greatest annoyances to hikers: Yellow jackets and hornets that can have nests in rotting logs that you may step on making for a very miserable experience in the Smokies.

You may also have to climb over fallen trees and loose rocks that you would normally not encounter on a hiking trail maintained by the national park service.

Other hazards that can injure hikers off trail include broken glass, rusty barb wire hidden in vegetation and plenty of rusty metal objects left by the original inhabitants of the park and the Civilian conservation Corp (CCC).

Off trail the vegetation itself can also be a hazard to hikers. There are bushes with thorns and brier patches, stinging nettles and poison ivy which you should normally not encounter on a maintained hiking trail.

If all of this is not enough to keep you from hiking off trail and on unmaintained hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains national park, there is also a great risk of damage to the park that can be done hikers.

Off trail hikers in the GSMNP who are not careful can damage fragile plants some of which are quite rare if not endangered or destroy groundcover which can ultimately create a serious erosion problem.

To reduce the impact to plants, and lower the risk of rattlesnake, copperhead yellow jackets and hornets encounter, you should only off trail hike when they are all dormant in the winter. Unfortunately this is when you are at the greatest risk of hypothermia.

So with all these hazards to both yourself and the park, why hike off trail? Well a responsible, very well experienced hiker who goes out and hikes off trail in the winter when his or her impact to the environment is lessened, you can find solitude, historical artifacts and observe wildlife with fewer interruptions by other park visitors.

While you are "Walking softly while carrying your hiking stick" you can be going into places where no human has been for decades if not longer. Some of the areas deep inside the park may have never felt the footsteps of humans.

No matter how tempting, it is illegal to camp anywhere other than in designated campsites and campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountains national park and other than in cases of extreme emergency you should never make a fire anywhere other than in a designated campsite or in a BBQ grill in the picnic areas.

With off trail hiking comes great responsibility. The responsibility to hike in a manor to not impact the park by protecting the plants and historical artifacts by not disturbing them and the responsibility to only hike off trail only when you are well enough trained and equipped so you will not get injured or lost and have to be rescued.

Want to know where the most endangered plants and animals are, where the caves that are not locked up are and where the most historical artifacts are just lying around in the Great Smoky Mountains national park? In order to protect the park my lips are sealed.

Looking for great panoramic views, huge stunning waterfalls, the best swimming holes, beautifully preserved historic buildings and the most impressive groves of trees in the Great Smoky Mountains national park? Stay on the designated GSMNP hiking trails!

Brutal cold still grips the Smoky Mountains – Hikers beware!

No it's not as cold as it gets in Alaska but the Smokies are really feeling the arctic blast the blew in here 2 days ago and tonight even low elevations in the Smoky mountains are expecting temperatures of 0 degrees. The next few days will see continuing brutal temperatures and more snow in the Smokies.

For hikers, this weather can present a real challenge. It's not just stream crossings that can be frozen, but even gravel roads, rocks and hiking trails and even tree roots can be slick with ice and these extreme low temperatures.

These extended low temperatures can spell disaster for anyone spending and extended time outside who is not dressed appropriately in layers or who overheats and then get chilled from cooling action of wet clothes which then lowers their body temperature.

When the weather gets more extreme, many hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains national park become deserted making a swift rescue by some kind passerby virtually impossible.

Hikers should always keep extra clothing in their pack during very cold weather in case they need more layers or if they just need to keep fresh dry clothes next to their body to properly maintain body temperatures.

Water can also be an issue as my water bottles froze today and eating snow can dangerously lower your body temperature although when you are exerting yourself heavily it may help cool you down and keep you from overheating.

In extreme weather such as this, an emergency foil blanket as well as an emergency foil "bag" is a must. Both are very cheap and weigh virtually nothing. While you may not plan on spending the night or a very long time in back country when hiking, if an injury occurs that slows you down or keep you from being able to move at all the last thing you want to add to your list of problems is hypothermia.

If you are not and experienced hiker or well equipment, stay on more traveled shorter trails and stay away from the higher elevations which exacerbate the problems of extreme temperatures and chance for injury.

Rough weather for drivers and hikers in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Rain, heavy fog and high winds are creating hazards for drivers and hikers in the Smokies this morning with gusts exceeding 45 miles per hour on some ridgelines.

Since we have been getting light rain on and off for the last 48 hours and the ground is wet, the high winds are creating a major blow down hazard and the high wind advisory which expires in a few hours will still be in effect in some isolated areas.

It is advised to stay off of ridge lines as hikers should avoid hiking in areas of high winds as this may pose and extreme danger.

Drivers must also use extreme caution on less traveled roads that may have a large accumulation of fallen wet leaves that may pose a skidding hazard.

Hikers must also use caution on hiking trails with heavy leaf accumulation as leaves may obstruct tripping hazards such has tree roots and protruding rocks and may be floating on water hiding this hazard as well as slippery rocks underneath.

If unsure of footing hikers should be probing the ground with hiking poles or a walking stick.

Drivers, hikers and bikers need to be cautious today in the Smokies

Colorful fall leaves that were washed down on the Smoky Mountains roadways and hiking trails by the much needed rain we just got is creating hazardous conditions for hikers, bikers and drivers who are not cautious.

While were expecting and needed far more rain than what came, we are thankful what we did get even if it knocked down all the fall leaves that are past peak a little early.

With the increased moisture the small creek and streams though still low have been slightly replenished. If you are planning on coming into the Great Smoky Mountains national park, today should be a waterfall day where you can appreciate the slight gain in water flow over any of the many waterfalls and cascades the national park.

Please make sure that if you are hiking you pay special attention to any wet leaves on rocks and on wet trail floors which could be like skating on ice when you least expect it!

Your Smokies is looking for hiking groups with severely visually impaired hikers in the Smoky Mountains.

At Your Smokies we have been working for years to raise awareness by better understanding the needs of persons with disabilities in the Smoky Mountains.

We have educating business owners and the management of public places to special needs and applicable laws in order to make the Smokies a more enjoyable and safe environment for those traveling to or living in the Smoky Mountains.

We have posted information for persons with specials needs on Your Smokes which have been built using a web architecture that does not block access as other sites do to those who are visually impaired and plan to build additional web sites dedicated to improving access to everyone who lives in or visits the Smokies.

If you are a member of a group that has severely visually impaired hikers or are visually impaired and are an experienced hiker please be so kind as to comment to this post. If you wish for your comment to remain anonymous and to not be posted publicly please say so in your comment and we will respect your wish.

Please help us make the Great Smoky Mountains accessible to everyone who wishes to come to this wonderful place.

Black Bear issues in the GSMNP still creating issues for hikers and campers in the Smokies.

With less than 10 weeks left in the active black bear season in the Great Smoky Mountains National park (GSMNP), heavy black bear activities continues to force closings of backcountry campsites, shelters and the issuing of bear warnings for hikers on various hiking trails and now even parking areas.

Never can I remember such heavy black bear activity in the park, and fellow hikers and campers all agree, black bear activity in the Great Smoky Mountains national park is reaching epidemic proportions.

Mind you I am not complaining. The park is a biosphere and the black bear below here and should be here is numbers as great as possible as long as the park ecosystem is able to sustain their numbers and reasonable contain their population.

As for the numerous closings and warnings in the GSMNP issued by the national park service, they are to be commended by taking extra caution and warning visitors. I am sure they don't want any more repeats of this summers black bear attack in Roaing Fork area of Gatlinburg on a small child.

Sparks Lane in Cades Cove Tennessee will remain closed for most of Leaf Season

Sparks Lane the first gravel road bisecting Cades Cove in the north western Tennessee section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is going to remain closed to all vehicles, cyclists and hikers until the construction is completed proected now as October 25th.

The construction project on Sparks Lane will improve drainage and allow fish to traverse up and down 2 of the streams which the road crosses. Unfortunately the delay in the delivery of these 2 large concrete culverts need for this project has delayed the whole project.

While Sparks Lanes closure does not make a major impact on traffic in the Cades Cove Loop it does limit a quick access through the lower section for people looking to exit the Cades Cove Loop early or to drive or ride again on the back end of the loop without leaving the Cove.

More information about the Sparks Lane constriction project in Cades Cove.

Join me for a Hike through Cades Cove without any traffic tomorrow morning.

Cades Cove is my favorite part of the Great Smoky Mountains national park when it is quiet and not crowded so tomorrow morning I will be hiking the 11 mile loop starting at 7:15 on Saturday June 7th. Since cars are banned from the road until 10:00 am I should be at least past the Cades Cove visitors center in the back end of the loop before the first car passes by.

I have often been asked by hikers and people who follow our news and articles if I would lead a walk as I am very familiar with the area and know most of the haunts of the black bear, deer and wild turkey which am sure we will see tomorrow morning - here is your chance to join me.

Since it is getting warmer by the day, before too long I will not want to hike the loop in daylight as the back end of the Cades Cove Loop has no tree cover and tends to get very hot and sometimes buggy.

If you wish to walk, wear good comfortable shoes - sneakers should be OK as I am not planning on bushwhacking and the road is dry since we have not had much rain. Bring a bottle of water which you can refill at the visitor centers water fountain and by all means bring a camera.

Since I have not made any real prior announcement and this is not an official tour, it's just me letting you tag alone on one of my daily hikes in the National Park, there may be few if anyone joining me.

How will you find me? There is a parking area by the entrance of Cades Cove and I assure you, you can't miss me.

If you are interested in coming please comment back to this thread and tell me how many of you plan to come along.

Hikers and visitors to state and national parks need to take personal responsibility.

The tragic death of 2 year old who fell while hiking with his family in Chimney Rock State Park in North Carolina has opened a dialog where people has been inquiring as to if there were sufficient warnings of the potential danger to hiking children and if these warnings were bilingual or not. Now some are asking if children should be banned from being on certain hiking trails.

In this day and age it is up to everyone to take personally responsibility for their own safety as well as those under their supervision. I have personally turned around on trails that I have hiked before because conditions were such that the trail was unsafe for me to continue.

I never needed a sign to tell me to not dangle one of my kids over a lion's cage at the zoo or let them be alone next to a burning campfire when they were too young to understand not to stick their hands into the pretty flames.

Unfortunately even though I always did do my best to protect my children, they did get some bumps and bruises, sometimes when they were right next to me because accidents do happen - that's why cars have seat belts.

Rather than ban driving because accidents can happen, we ban dangerous behavior when driving such as drinking/drugging while driving and speeding - the biggest dangers in our national parks and state parks that claims more lives than anything else.

It's not that I am just singling out this tragic accident in the Chimney Rock Park. This Labor Day I was hiking along the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains national park and saw 3 blatant cases of foolish behavior which were risky to the risk takers as well as the lives of others arround them.

Before even leaving the Clingmans Dome parking lot to start my hike, 4 men in their early 20s were climbing on damp rocks that have a warning sign prohibiting people from climbing on them. One of their backpacks along with a water bottle were by the warning sign.

Next at the Double Spring Gap backcountry shelter there were more overnight campers than the maximum capacity of the shelter and in violation of Great Smoky Mountains national park rules, tents were set up outside the shelter.

One of these tents contained 4 people who ate food and then stored their food overnight in their tent. Considering the next backcountry shelter over the Mount Collins Shelter has an active bear warning, the chance for an unpleasant encounter with a black bear which could potentially endanger everyone in the over capacity shelter is high.

All backcountry shelters in the Great Smoky Mountains National park that I have checked have signs warning of the presence of black bears in the GSMNP and what to do to avoid them as well as some of the other park regulations for campers. These warnings were obviously ignored.

Further down the Appalachian Trail about 2 miles past the Silers Bald Shelter I ran into 3 young male hikers coming down the trail with the leader of the group wearing beach sandals. It turned out that Mr. Flip Flops was an experienced hiker who just felt like not wearing his hiking boots on this trip.

I asked him which one of his friends was going to carry him out if he twisted his ankle or got hurt and his friends laughed and pointed at each other. Considering how deep in country they were, any extraction would have to be a serious undertaking which would have also put any rescuers at risk.

All of these risk takers spoke English and acted foolishly knowing of the potential danger they were putting themselves and others in. Obviously they just didn't care about their own safety as well as the safety of others.

I hike 10 - 15 miles a day in the Great Smoky Mountains national park year-round unless the weather or road conditions are hazardous. While I solo hike most of the time (which I don't suggest) I outfit myself so that I am ready for any potential emergency and I don't behave in a risky manner or take chances along the trail to increase the chances that I will have to be rescued.

When I bring someone else along on a trail I make sure that I know their skill level and that they have an understanding of what they can and can not do and make sure that they have the right footwear, clothing and supplies to safely and comfortably come hiking with me.

If you plan on taking a hike or engaging in any other activity in the park that has a risk, be smart, go to one of the visitor centers and speak to one of the Park Rangers or volunteers and take their expert advice.

While no one can guarantee you won't have an accident or an unpleasant experience, with a little planning and taking personal responsibility for your own actions and those in your party, your hike will probably end with pleasant memories of time well spent in the park rather than a nightmare that will haunt you the rest of your life.

Last of the hiking trails closed for prescribed burn in GSMNP Cades Cove/Abrams Creek section reopened

The April prescribed burn in the Cades Cove and Abrams Creek Section of the Great Smoky Mountains National park has kept hikers and campers from enjoying some of the GSMNP backcountry campsites and hiking trails for weeks.

Today the last hiking trail that remained closed from the burn - the Beard Cane Trail in the Abrams section has reopened as well as backcountry campsites #3 and #11 which have both been closed for weeks.

The prescribed burn in Cades Cove will help promote the growth of native yellow pine as well as reduce the ferocity of a wild fire in the area by reducing the potential fuel to feed the fire.

The picture above shows the immediate after effects of the prescribed burn on Cooper Road Trail near the Beard Cane junction.

Cades Cove seasonally closed to motorists Wednesday and Saturday Mornings

Bikers and hikers in the Great Smoky Mountains national park love this time of the year when the Cades Cove 11 mile Scenic Motor trail also know as the Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to motor vehicles until 10:00 am on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Bicyclists in Cades Cove increase number during the warmer months and it is a please to ride you bike or hike without worrying about traffic so the national park service keeps traffic of the road to the great pleasure of hikers and bikers.

Early mornings are magical in the Cades Cove section of the Great Smoky Mountains national park near Townsend Tennessee. Fog may settle in the valley slowly revealing the mountains as the sun comes up over the mountains. Deer, black bear and wild turkey roam in the fields of Cades Cove and along tree lines giving visitors a chance to see and hear the native wildlife.

This time of the year the birds are singing up a racket and blue and yellow butterflies will be fluttering in the wind. Beside the birds the other predominate sound of the Cades Cove valley before the traffic begins is the buzzing of bees flying from wildflower to wildflower which carpet the cove and fill the woods.

Hikers who start early enough just at the crack of dawn can make it to the back end of the Cades Cove Loop if not finish the 11 miles before the see or hear a single car.

This is my favorite time of the year in my favorite place in the Smokies!

High winds in the Smokies expected today can cause problems for hikers

The past few days storms and high winds have caused trees and branches to fall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park hiking trails and weakened others which may fall during today’s predicted high winds.

Hikers in the Smokies should keep their eyes open if hiking especially during the high winds by looking to see if there are snags above the trail and remain cautious or avoiding walking under or near snags, dead or damaged trees.

Wind gust speeds are expected to hit 30 mph or more on the Tennessee side and up to 40 mph on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Power outages and trees down in Sevier County Tennessee

Last night severe thunderstorms and hail storms pounded Sevier County Tennessee dumping plenty of rain and knocking down trees.

Currently the Your Smokies office in Sevierville just had power restored only minutes ago as we ready ourselves to survey damage in the national park and surrounding areas.

Drivers are asked to be very cautious as we expect trees, limbs and branches to be in roadway and fallen wet leaves may also present a hazard to drivers.

Hikers should also expect to possibility of newly downed trees to create potential hazards on hiking trails and we suggest allowing a day or 2 before taking a horse out in the park so that the trails can be surveyed for damage.

Cades Cove partially closed to cars, Hikers and Bikers

The tremendously popular Cades Cove 11 mile loop in the Great Smoky Mountains national park will be partially closed from April 28th until May 1st until 10:00 am each day to drives, Cades Cove bikers and hikers while construction will take place.

The national park service will be undertaking 3 projects at the same time, repairing the drainage as well as resurfacing the road at the Abrams Creek Trail at the far end of Cades Cove as well as working on the bridge that crosses Abrams Creek.

Both Sparks Lane and Hyatt Lane will also be closed during this construction period and will reopen at around 10:00 am.

This is not yet the project we are all waiting for - a complete repair and resurfacing of the entire Cades Cove 11 mile loop which is badly in need of repair.

This winter we observed surveyors already measuring the Cades Cove 11 mile loop as well as checking drainage areas. I was advised this week that repairs are expected to get underway next year to the entire road surface.

Next weeks closures will allow only hikers and bikers to hike and bike back and forth on a 5-mile portion of the road between the Cades Cove Loop Road entrance and the construction site.

Hikers will not be allowed past the bridge or on the south end of the loop road so that they will not hinder large construction vehicles or slow down work due to safety concerns.

Drought conditions still affect the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Water is scarce in some parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and the Appalachian Trail which can spell serious trouble for hikers and campers who plan on normally abundant water sources.

We have seen our river and lake levels at extremely low levels this year due to an extended drought for this entire year. Springtime in the Smokies saw excessive wildfires in and around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding state parks and forests.

Now to compound the water problems in the Smokies large areas of the park are "dry" where most or all of the free running springs won't allow any relief to parched hikers - or local animals.

In particular on the Appalachian Trail between Shuckstack Mountain north of Fontana Dam to Spence Field there is approximately a 16 mile stretch that is dry as well as the Russell Field Shelter and Mollies Ridge Shelter and backcountry sites 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 26, 42, 113.

Today's gentle rain falling in parts of the Tennessee Smoky Mountains might have brought some mild relief from the warmth of the afternoon but other than making the leaves on the ground a little less crunchy while hiking and making for some nice raindrops on a leaf pictures (see above) it was not enough to elevate the issues with drying up streams, lakes and wells in both Tennessee and North Carolina.

Smoky Mountains National Park Lifts Ban on Backcountry Fires

The National Park Service has announced that the ban on backcountry fires for campers and hikers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been lifted.

The fire danger due to extremely dry conditions in the GSMNP caused great concern to the park service causing them to issue a ban on backcountry fires in late August.

Fortunately due to some welcome rainfall and lower temperatures in and around the park, campers and hikers may make fires in the in any of the more than 100 backcountry sites and shelters if they practice safe campfire management.

Pisgah National Forest Hiking death from fall

If only a 21 year old from Alabama who was hiking with a friend in the North Carolina Pisgah National Forest read the Your Smokies News last month where we warned hikers of the danger of hiking off hiking trials especially near waterfalls.

While trying to navigate a stream crossing above the Moore Cove Falls area just north of Looking Glass Falls he fell 50 feet to his death. He was not on a designated path or stream crossing but decided with his friend to blaze his own trail in the forest in order to get to the top of the falls.

Even though there are more than 250 waterfalls in North Carolinas Transylvania County known as the Land of Waterfalls, this is the first hiking fatality. Emergency workers in Transylvania County respond to at least 5 waterfall accidents a year even though visitors are warned to stay away from the danger zones.

Wet Rocks at Big Bradley Falls near Saluda in Polk County spelled disaster last June when a hiker fell 100 feet to his death. Waterfall related fatalities here are historically an annual occurrence.

In the Great Smoky Mountains national park there have been plenty of hiking deaths as a result of accidents around waterfalls. The 2 most dangerous waterfalls that come to mind are Laurel Falls and the Ramsey Cascades falls.

Laurel falls in easily assessable via a paved hiking path on a relatively short hike so it is extremely popular - especially with parents of younger children since many can hike to the falls without being carried. Unfortunately with slipper rocks and a steep drop off at the bottom of the falls, there have been numerous deaths.

The Ramsey Cascades falls with its trailhead located in the Greenbrier section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is far more strenuous with a rougher trail, higher elevations and being an 8 mile round trip hike. You are very isolated when you get to the falls making getting help and well as any subsequent rescue far more tedious and time consuming. Sadly many deaths have occurred at Ramsey Cascades falls which is one of the nicest waterfalls in the Smokies.

Hike with caution, don't blaze new trails and don't forget moss and ice covered rocks can be far more slippery than you may expect. We want you to be able to come back to the Great Smoky Mountains national park and the surrounding forests time and time again so please be careful.

West of Cades Cove Prescribed Burn in National Park will cause trail and parking area closings

The Smoke you will be seeing tomorrow in Cades Cove, Townsend, Happy Valley, Walland and Highway 129 will be from 30 firefighters who will employ both ground and aerial ignition methods to ignite and manage a burn within an established fire containment line in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Of course the Smokies weather conditions must be right in order for the park service to ignite and careful burn approximately 1,500 acres of forest west of the Cades Cove Loop Road in Blount County in Stony Ridge and Arbutus Ridge Tennessee.

Due to being crowded out by oak trees and other hardwoods as well as southern pine beetle infestations, yellow pine trees which were the predominate species in Stony Ridge and Arbutus Ridge have been steadily on the decline. By carefully burning some of these areas of the park, openings in the tree canopy will allow more sunlight encouraging pine tree growth.

Expect closures and smoke to affect the following trails and parking areas:

• Rabbit Creek Trail
• Abrams Falls Trail
• Abrams Falls parking area
• Cooper Road Trail
• Wet Bottom Trail
• Elijah Oliver Place Trail

While parts of some of these trails will remain open we strongly urge you to avoid them entirely until the weekend as it may take a few days to be sure that any rouge hot spots as well as any dead snags that can effect hikers on the trails have been taken car of.

Huge 4 day hiking festival in North Carolina this May

The American Hiking Society will be hosting from May 3rd to the 6th a huge gathering at the Great Southeastern Hiking Festival with more than 20 scheduled hikes, seminars for hikers and trail organizations, regional entertainment, and inspirational lectures along with the opportunity to meet with members of trail clubs and hikers from all throughout the southeastern United States.

Along with some fine entertainment and information, meet with the folks from the Carolina Mountain Club, Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail, North Carolina Bartram Trail Society, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Nantahala Hiking Club and the Montreat Trail Club at the Great Southeastern Hiking Festival in the Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, North Carolina.

This conference dedicated to hikers includes all 9 meals (dinner Thursday May 3rd through lunch Sunday May 6th) and participation in all of the events and seminars. The registration for the full conference is only $175 ($150 for early registration) which does not include lodging. For those who can stay only Friday through Sunday you only pay $115. If you can't make either of these options you can register for either the whole day Friday or the whole day Saturday for only $65. For those who have the time I would suggest that you sign up for the American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation which runs from April 29 - May 5.

There will also be a large, free public festival which will include outdoor information and education, arts and crafts, entertainers, and of course plenty of food vendors on May 3rd in historic, downtown Black Mountain North Carolina.

Come one, come all, learn, share and enjoy the great outdoors!