Where to go. What to See. Things to Do.
The Great Smoky Mountains weather causing road closings. Winter weather conditions in the Great Smoky Mountains and the surrounding towns have caused hazardous driving conditions resulting in road closing. To get the most up to date info about road conditions and road closings see Smokies Road Info. More snow is predicted for Monday with bitter cold temperatures mid-week.
“Heads Up for Hunters of the Sky” will be the program for Great Smoky Mountains Association. on Thursday Feb. 6, 2014 at 2:00 PM at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee, NC.The speaker will be Michael Skinner who is the Balsam Mountain Trust director. The talk will be about bird-of-prey populations and biology. Freedom the American bald eagle, Rasta the sreech owl, along with more birds of prey will be at the event. “Heads Up for Hunters of the Sky” can only seat 50. Sign up ends on Feb. 5, 2014.For more details or info. call 888-898-9102, ext. 325, 222…
Read more
Us 441 also called Newfound Gap Road from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee is open now but the Park Service advises drivers to watch for patches of snow and ice still on the road in some places. Recent snow and cold temperatures have caused hazardous road conditions in the area. For up to date info see Smokies Road Info on Twitter.
Snow in the Great Smoky Mountains this morning has closed the closing of US 441 (between Sugarlands Visitors Center in Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC) Snow and ice on the roads especially in the areas that get little or no sunlight in the Great Smoky Mountains were the reason for the road closure. Park Service is working to clear the road and reopen as son a possible. More snow is in the forecast.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians want to work with the NC State Wildlife to bring back the white-tailed deer on the 50,000 acre NC Cherokee reservation just south of the Great Smoky Mountains. There is a sparse deer population currently in the area. For the next three years mostly young female white-tailed deer families will be relocated to an enclosed area of the reservation, also known as the Quella Boundary. After four weeks and close observation the deer will be released. Officials say it will take time for the white-tailed deer population to grow.
The 24th Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week 2014 is Jan. 25- Feb. 1, 2014 in Pigeon Forge, TN at the LeConte Center at 2986 Teaster Lane. Wilderness Wildlife Week has free activities that promotes visitors to get out and enjoy the great outdoors and learn about nature. Seminars, lectures and workshops are held with outdoor experts that teach about the outdoors, nature and the environment. Guided walks and hikes for all. Educational and fun for the whole family.
Hikers rescued from Appalachian Trail. Three South Carolina men hiking the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains had to be rescued Thursday Jan 2, 2014. The three men Shawn Hood, Steven White and Jonathan Dobbins used their cell phone to call for help after being caught out in the snow overnight without shelter. When they were rescued they were not able to walk and were reportedly very weak. The three were flown to the hospital in Asheville, NC. and treated for hypothermia. The men started what was suppose to be a 10-day trip to backpack the Appalachian Trail but with extreme winter weather…
Read more
Snow and ice conditions in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have lead to the closure of many roads in the area. The counties of NC and TN in the mountain regions are under a wind and wind chill weather advisory. Temperatures are in the mid teens with winds 15 mph with gust to 25 mph ins some areas. US 441 (Newfound Gap Road) between Cherokee, NC and Gatlinburg, TN is closed Cades Cove Loop Road is closed Part of Laurel Creek Road Part of Little River Road is closed For up to date information on the road closed go…
Read more
Work to stabilize Newfound Gap Road through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park begins January 5, 2014 and will last about four months. The project is to rebuild part of the road and add a retaining wall. Traffic lanes will be shifted and drivers should pay close attention to the new traffic patterns when driving in the work zone. Travelers should expect temporary lane closures from time to time. Newfound Gap Road is a popular and busy roadway in the Great Smoky Mountains.
NC spend $15,000 to reopen the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during the government shutdown in October and a spokesman for the Governor says the state probably will not get that money back from the federal government. Tennessee spent $60,00 to reopen the park. Congress would have to pass legislation to repay all the states in the US that used their won money to reopen National Parks during the shutdown. This would be more than $3.5 million that would have to be repaid to the combined states.
