Smoky Mountain Full Beaver Moon

Smoky Mountain Full Beaver Moon is set to rise November 12, 2019. There is no place more special to view the rise of a full moon than Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This month is the famous Beaver Moon.

In ancient times it was common practice for humans to observe and track the changing seasons according to the lunar month instead of the solar year. Our modern calendar is based on the solar year. The ancient peoples of Native American tribes and folks across Europe gave names to the months based on lunar phases observed in the Northern Hemisphere seasons.

You have probably heard the expression, “Busy as a beaver.” There are few times of the year that beavers are more busy than November. With winter fast approaching beavers begin to hoard food and fortify their dwellings. Winter beaver dams are constructed to give additional protection from predators as well. Ancient hunters observed the beaver activity and knew that it was now time for them to prepare for winter too.

This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Beavers make dams of wood and mud. In the middle of the ponds this creates they build dome-shaped homes called lodges with underwater entrances. Beavers continue to grow throughout their lives, and so do their teeth. They constantly gnaw on wood, but because the enamel in a beaver’s incisors contains iron, their front teeth never wear down. Once the beaver dams and lodges were constructed they had a safe refuge for the winter.

There once were more than 60 million North American beavers. However, because people have hunted them for fur and their glands for medicine, among other reasons, the beaver population has declined to around 12 million. Beavers have begun to make a come back in the Smoky Mountain region in recent decades and beaver dams and lodges have been detected in the foothills nears Greenbrier.

Beavers don’t get all the credit for the November moon. Other names are the Frost Moon, November Full Moon, Trading Moon, Snow Moon and sometimes the Oak Moon.

Some of our favorite places to view the Beaver Full Moon is Cades Cove, the porch of Oconaluftee Visitors Center, Cataloochee and Clingmans Dome.

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