Smoky Mountain Turkey Tail Mushrooms
Smoky Mountain Turkey Tail mushroom. Photo credit – Jennifer M
Smoky Mountain Planetary Conjunction Junction
Smoky Mountain Planetary Conjunction Junction has stargazers heads in the sky!
Skywatchers are in for an early Christmas treat. The alignment of Saturn and Jupiter, popularly as the “Christmas Star,” is an especially vibrant planetary conjunction easily visible in the evening sky over the next two weeks as the bright planets come together, culminating on the night of Dec. 21, 2020.
Continue reading…Smoky Mountain Full Buck Moon
Smoky Mountain Full Buck Moon Is On The Rise!
No fireworks this year? No problem. Watch the full Buck Moon rise on the 4th of July instead! Discover why July’s full Moon is called the Buck Moon and learn about the penumbral eclipse that will occur on the same day.
Continue reading…Karen Pence Gets Outside Smoky Mountain Style
Karen Pence gets outside Smoky Mountain Style. Second Lady Karen Pence and Deputy Secretary of the Interior Katherine MacGregor met with park officials at Clingmans Dome recently to talk about the mental health benefits of being outdoors as the next phase in the park’s plan to restore public access to more roads and picnic areas was announced.
Continue reading…“The COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need for us to pay closer attention to our mental health and emotional well-being,” said Second Lady Karen Pence. “Our amazing national parks offer many mental health benefits and more than ever before, we must ensure that we are taking care of ourselves and each other.”
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Bans Backcountry Campfires
Smoky Mountain backcountry campfire ban in effect.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park bans backcountry campfires. Park officials have placed the ban due to recent drought like conditions in the mountains and surrounding area. These conditions sharply increase the chances for wildfires starting and spreading. Backcountry visitors should expect the ban to remain in place until conditions change.
Only people enjoying trail shelters and backcountry campsites will be affected by this ban for now. Front country camp sites like Cades Cove, Cosby, Elkmont, and Smokemont are still allowed to use the fire rings at campsites. Picnickers can continue to enjoy charcoal grills for now also. Visitors are advised to use extreme caution with fire and always be sure and use water to extinguish them. The use of backpacking stoves with pre-packaged gas canisters is currently still allowed in the backcountry.
“The park is experiencing abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions throughout the park,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “With little rain and hot, dry conditions predicted over the next week, it is imperative that we reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires.”
Finding drinking water may also be difficult for hikers and backpackers. Some locations that still have running springs have significantly reduced water flow. If flowing, a quart – sized bottle may take over five minutes to fill. The water sources at campsites 5, 16, 26 and Mollies Ridge Shelter are currently bone dry.
When entering the backcountry use your head and plan your route to maximize available water sources whenever possible. If you know you are heading into a dry area carry as much extra water as you can. Unseasonably high temperatures continue to dry out the region and heat stroke is a real possibility.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
- Throbbing headache.
- Dizziness and light-headedness.
- Lack of sweating despite the heat.
- Red, hot, and dry skin.
- Muscle weakness or cramps.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Rapid heartbeat, which may be either strong or weak.
- Rapid, shallow breathing
