Cades Cove was recently the site for emergency rescue mission training in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Aviation Unit had training in Cades Cove along with National Park Services Rangers, Tennessee State Parks Rangers, and first responders from across East Tennessee. The training involved air rescue and evacuation skills, procedures and drills. Exercises included a mock rescue of a stranded and injured “victim” and a mock rescue of an incapacitated “victim” due to severe weather. Helicopters were used as part of the training to lower rescuers down and then safely airlift a victim up into the helicopter.