National Trails Day is the American Hiking Society’s signature trail awareness program and the date this year is set for June 5th. National Trails Day is to inspire the public to get out and celebrate, discover and learn about trails nationwide. There will be many events all across the country. The Smoky Mountain Hiking Club will utilize the day as a trail repair and construction event. The Park is currently recruiting volunteers for two of the projects that are supported through the National Park Foundation and the Trails Forever Program. They are the Crooked Arm Ridge Trail on the Tennessee side of the Park near Cades Cove and the Grassy Branch Trail on the North Carolina side of the Park near Cherokee. On the Crooked Arm Ridge Trail volunteers will work to improve the trail by installing waterbars, maintaining existing drainage structures, removing social trails and defining the trail tread. On the Grassy Branch Trail volunteers will work to dig a new section of trail that is permanently being relocated.Work will be between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on both projects and Great Smoky Mountains National Park will provide all the necessary equipment needed for the project. Volunteers should come prepared to work in the woods and must be able to hike, safely perform manual labor, and be comfortable using hand tools. It is suggested that participants dress in good sturdy foot wear and long pants. Since volunteers will be working a full day, it will be necessary to pack a lunch and plenty of water.
To attend these projects RSVP by May 28 to the Trails & Facilities Volunteer Coordinator, Christine Hoyer, at 828-497-1949. At the time of RSVP, volunteers will be provided with further project and trailhead information.
Also, the Friends of the Smokies are inviting volunteers to help out with the 14th Annual Appalachian Trail Work Day in
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in cooperation with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club. The work day concludes with a barbecue picnic at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area for all registrants who will also receive a commemorative t-shirt. A registration fee for this activity will apply which goes to sponsor trail projects in the Smokies.
This past weekend the Great Smoky Mountains National Park benefitted from the 2010 Troutfest in Townsend, TN. The profits from the event were around $30,000 to go to the park’s fisheries department. The money will specifically help the park to restore streams and the native Brook Trout which is the only species of trout native to East Tennessee. It was decimated by the logging industry and the introduction of other competing species of trout such as Rainbow and Brown Trout.
Troutfest was created by The Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited seven years ago and have grown the festival into what it is today. Just from last year the number of vendors has doubled. They also play a huge part in restoring the Brook Trout beyond the festival. They have helped raise more than $2.5 million for Brook Trout restoration.
There will be about 40 miles total of streams that are proposed for total restoration and they hope to have the streams restored and stocked with enough Brook Trout to allow fishing within three to five years. Read Full Story from WBIR.
Fishing in Tennessee is definitely on the rise! Plan your fly fishing adventure today!
We all know Dolly Parton’s love and passion for her hometown in the Smokies and East Tennessee but, you may not know that she also has been a Nashville resident for the past 46 years and also considers Nashville her home. Her love for Music City is just as strong as her love for East Tennessee, Parton says, “I have family and friends in both places, and when one place hurts; I think it is just right for the other to help.” And that’s just what she’s doing! This upcoming weekend Dolly’s Pigeon Forgecompanies, Dollywood and Dixie Stampede are hosting the “Dolly Helps Nashville” weekend fundraiser. The net proceeds from the admission to Dollywood and Dixie Stampede will go to a special fund to assist Nashville flood victims. Dolly wants to be sure to “concentrate on those folks who lost their homes and personal possessions in this terrible flood.”
Davidson and three surrounding counties were declared federal disaster areas after the Cumberland river reached its highest level in over 80 years after record-breaking rainfall on May 1 and 2. The flood devastated the area, destroyed homes and businesses, billions of dollars of damage was done and many people died. With Dolly’s strong roots in the Nashville community she felt the impact of the natural disaster and organized Dolly Helps Nashville to aid those displaced by the flood. Dolly feels that, “So many of the folks from Nashville come to the Smokies to vacation; over the last 25 years, they have helped Dollywood, Dixie Stampede and Dollywood’s Splash Country and this entire vacation area grow,” Parton added. “That’s why it’s our turn to help.”
Of course Dolly won’t be behind the scenes on this event! She will be making several special appearances in the park and at the theaters to greet guests who will be visiting for the weekend event. “I want all of my fans worldwide to come to Dollywood the weekend of May 22 and 23,” Parton said. “If you can’t be there in person, then I hope you’ll donate to flood victims through the Dollywood Foundation online atwww.dollyparton.com.”
Book Your Accommodations Today and Help Dolly Help Nashville!