Don’t Feed The Bears Event

Don’t Feed The Bears Event benefitting Appalachian Bear Rescue will be Saturday, November 16, 2019. The event will be held at the Enchanted Valley Barn  in Sevierville, TN from 12:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. All the fun is sponsored by the Gatlinburg Brewing Company (GBC)who will have many varieties of delicious brews on hand to sample.

This is the first annual event for Gatlinburg Brewing Company and will include live music, food, and games for the kids. Who would have thought that drinking beer and playing games could give orphaned bear cubs a second chance at life in the wild.

Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) has been working hard to save bears since the early 1990’s. Generous donations have paved the way for recent expansions to ABR’s facility allowing them to handle more cubs than ever. The facility provides space for the bears to be bears. There are trees to climb, pools to play in and plenty of food for hungry cubs. The monthly expenses of the facility are high and donations are always welcome.

Mark your calendar so you won’t miss this chance to “Don’t Feed The Bears”  or you will have to wait an entire year to toast the symbol of the Great Smoky Mountains. November 16th will be here before you know it. CHEERS!

If you encounter a HeySmokies donation box in the wild feel free to help yourself to a free sticker and please be generous. If you would like to display a donation box in your business contact us today!

HeySmokies.com donation boxes benefit Appalachian Bear Rescue and help save orphaned black bear cubs.

HeySmokies.com donation boxes benefit Appalachian Bear Rescue and help save orphaned black bear cubs.

Smoky Mountain Stargazing Event

Great Smoky Mountains Stargazing Event will be held at the Highlands Science Learning Center Friday, November 15, 2019 in North Carolina. The Highlands Science Learning Center is located high above Maggie Valley in North Carolina. This low light environment is the perfect spot to view the heavens on a cool fall night. The learning center is approximately 5,000 feet above sea level and is considered one of the best places in Haywood County to view constellations and planets.

The Asheville Astronomy Club will be on hand again to lead interplanetary travelers through the stars via a variety of powerful telescopes. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to view binary systems, star clusters and minute  details of the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies.

“National park areas offer a wonderful opportunity to stargaze,” says Park Superintendent Cassius Cash. “Visitors are often amazed at the amount of stars that can be seen simply by entering into the natural darkness of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.”

The fun will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a presentation indoors of what can be expected to be seen when the stars come out. At 5,000′ cold temperatures are to be expected so everyone is encouraged to dress warmly and bring rain gear – the event will proceed rain or shine. Space is limited in the free event and everyone is encouraged to sign up early. Participants must register in advance to reserve one of the 45 parking permits. Reservations for permits can be made at Star Gazing or by calling 828-497-1907.

For more information about stargazing in the park, please visit the park’s website at NPS.gov.

Apple Dapple Cake Recipe

Apple Dapple Cake Recipe. Fall is one of our favorite times of the year in the Smoky Mountains. With the cooler temperatures comes the annual apple harvest. Our Granny always said. “I can’t wait till fall so I can sink my teeth into an old wormy, Winesap apple!”  Today we pass on the worms whenever possible but not on the delicious variety of mountain apples.

What is better than a crisp fall mountain apple – perhaps it is this recipe that has proved a favorite with many of our friends. Early settlers in these mountains dried apples in order to enjoy sweet treats during those long, lonesome winter months. Today’s farmer’s markets offer a variety of apples just waiting for your family to enjoy. Our sweet tooth loves the flavor and texture of mountain apples and cake. It is no surprise that Apple Dapple cake is one of our favorite treats.

Apple Dapple Cake

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

2 cups sugar

3 cups plain flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup chopped nuts (we like toasted walnuts)

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups chopped apples (we like slightly tart apples like Granny Smith or Winesap)

Cooking Instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

Wipe bottom (only) of pan lightly with the butter wrapper

Beat together vegetable oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla; sift together flour, salt and soda and add to mixture. Stir in apples and nuts; place in a tube pan and bake in preheated oven for one hour (ovens vary so keep an eye on your cake. You may test it with a toothpick, but remember this is a very moist cake.

While cake bakes:

Mix together 1 cup brown sugar

¼ cup milk

1 stick real butter

Cook until sugar is dissolved

While cake is still warm, remove from pan; place on a rimmed plate and immediately pour hot mixture over the cake.

Bonus baking tip: A pinch of fresh, fine ground nutmeg added to the cake mix will have your cake tasters begging for the secret ingredient!

Smoky Mountain Campfire Ban Update

Smoky Mountain Campfire Ban Update. As of October 22, 2019 the Great Smoky Mountains National Park backcountry campfire ban has been cancelled. Fires have been banned in the backcountry since September 26th. Drought like conditions subsided after recent rains and cool temperatures moved into the mountains in recent weeks. After considering recently lowered drought severity ratings the decision was made by management officials to lift the fire ban.

Conditions will be monitored throughout the fall season. Additional restrictions may be implemented if necessary. The U.S. drought monitor reports that the majority of the park is still suffering from moderate drought conditions. If you plan to enjoy a fire in the park please keep it confined to existing, designated fire rings and grills. The best way to ensure your fire is completely out is by using water to wet the embers until no heat can be felt. Be sure and stir the embers while pouring water on them to extinguish hidden hot spots.

Drought conditions continue to make finding drinking water sketchy in the backcountry. There is the possibility normally reliable springs are dry so plan accordingly. Many springs may run slower than normal taking five minutes or more to fill a standard quart size bottle. The following backcountry camp site springs are currently bone dry: 5, 13, 16, 26. Mollies Ridge shelter and Russell Field shelter springs are dry also. When not hiking along a major water source it is always wise to carry extra water.

Additional information on backcountry camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park may be found at BACKPACK or by calling the backcountry office at 865-436-1297.

Source material – GSMNP

Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Bearly 5K Run/Walk

Appalachian Bear Rescue‘s Bearly 5K Run/Walk Saturday October 26, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. This fun family event will begin at the ABR Visitor and Education Center at Trillium Cove Shopping Center in Townsend, TN. The event will raise funds to continue ABR’s mission to rescue orphaned black bear cubs and reintroduce them to the wild. A free breakfast will be served to all hungry runners and walkers after the event!

This event will be held during the season of the witch in the Smoky Mountains and participants are

encouraged to wear their favorite Halloween costume! The winner of the best costume contest will receive a wonderful prize. The runners and walkers will not be timed but the first three to make it to the finish line will also receive a special prize!

The registration fee will be in the form of a donation to ABR and a tasty breakfast is included. Breakfast includes sausage biscuits and fruit.

Registration: September 5, 2019 – October 25, 2019: $45

Registration day of event: $50

Race bags will be available for early pick up Thursday & Friday before the race, 10am – 4pm. Every runner can only pick up their own bag and the bag of their children under the age of 18, since a waiver will have to be signed at pick up.