Where to go. What to See. Things to Do.
Fall Foliage 2013 Show and Rain Effects On Color All the rain in western North Carolina this summer may have an effect on the fall foliage 2013 show this autumn in the NC mountains. For a nice fall color show sunshine is needed, not rain. More rain in September would have a negative impact also. The weather just prior to the leaf change season is important. Bright sunshine in September would help make a more vibrant showing of colors.
Friends of the Smokies Help with Bear Problem Cables are being repaired thanks to the Friends of the Smokies and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Park staff are repairing the cables used to hoist food high off the ground at the trail shelters at Mollie’s Ridge and Cosby Knob. Having food high and out of reach of bears at the shelters will hopefully increase the safety of backpackers.
Black Bears and Visitors Too Close For Safety 1,500 black bears live in the GSMNP and roam free but problems from tourist getting too close for pictures or to feed the bears present a huge problem. Feeding them will make the bears depend on close human contact for food and leads to problems. Fed bears keep coming back to humans for more food and thus pose a potential risk. Bears that get used to close human contact must be relocated into other more remote locations in the park for their safety. When they become so comfortable they repeatedly approach people…
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Attendance Attendance in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is getting back to normal this June after a slow start to the first 5 months in 2013 thanks to the reopening of Newfound Gap Road. Attendance up till June of this year were some of the lowest in years a park official states, but the month of June for 2013 is up more than 5% from last year. GSMNP attendance also affect tourism in nearby Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The GSMNP is the most-visited park in the United States.
Cades Cove Visitors Injured Two young children and 41 year old woman injured by a fallen tree in Cades Cove at the GSMNP during storm. The accident occurred near the Missionary Baptist Church about 4 miles into the 11 mile loop road. The three were taken by ambulance to the University Of Tennessee Medical Center. The woman was knocked unconscious while the children sustained injuries of unknown types.
