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Take our Hazel Creek Quiz, then register to hike with us
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The Ritter Mill valve house on Hazel Creek contained equipment used to control the level of water in the sawmill's holding pond. (Photo by Kent Cave.)
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Whether you're a Hazel Creek expert or just itching to learn more about this area of the national park, we've planned several opportunities just for you.
Start HERE by taking the first in a series of Hazel Creek quizzes scheduled throughout the year. Be the first person to answer all 10 questions correctly and win a copy of Cooking on Hazel Creek.
If the quiz has you curious for more, consider registering to hike with GSMA board of directors member Danny Bernstein to Hazel Creek/Bone Valley this August. One of our most ambitious membership activities to date, the Hazel Creek/Bone Valley hike will take us deep in the heart of Graham County, NC, August 18-19. We've arranged with Fontana Village Resort to reserve a block of rooms the night before the hike to be sure no one misses the boat, literally.
This hike begins with a picturesque 25-minute pontoon boat ride across Fontana Lake. To be sure we complete the 16-mile round trip and don't miss our return-trip boat ride, time given to discussion of the cultural history of the area will be limited. However, the history of this section of the park is well worth a read and includes the towns of Proctor.... Check it out HERE in "History Hikes of the Smokies."
Participation is limited to 18, all of whom are required to stay overnight at Fontana Village to ensure everyone is ready to go early Tuesday morning. The boat across Fontana Lake leaves at 8 a.m. You'll need water shoes, too, to navigate the water crossings.
This special event comes with perks - lodging, dinner and breakfast at Fontana Village. Cost to participate is $125 per person, double-occupancy; $175 single occupancy.
"While this is a relatively level, easy hike, it will be a long day, folks," said Lisa Duff, marketing and membership director. "Please consider carefully all your needs before you register."
For more information and to register, give us a call at 865.436.7318, Ext. 222, 254 or 325. Participants may reserve their spots now. After June 10, no refunds will be given.
In one of the many cemeteries along this hike you'll find the grave marker of Nancy McMahan, 1866-1936, reads: "She was the sunshine of our home. At rest." Photo by Kent Cave.
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GSMA members invited to
join Tremont's Scavenger Hunt
GSMA members are invited to take part in this year's Tremont Scavenger Hunt on March 22 to support the Institute's scholarship fund. For every GSMA Member team registered, we'll make a $10 donation to Tremont in your team's name.
Here's how it works:
- Organize a team and include "GSMA" as part of your team name/theme
- Register your team, pay the $50 entry fee by March 20, and complete all the required paperwork - EMAIL us a copy of your registration confirmation, using "Tremont" in the subject line- Email us your team photos - group shots and action shots - so we can let others know how you did
- Have a wonderful day in the park!
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Smoky Mountain Mystery:
Tornado Valley
Photo by Gary Wilson
March is tornado season in the South, and one has to reflect on the old adage that there are no tornadoes in the mountains. While tornadoes are certainly more common in the plains states and relatively flat areas of the Deep South, recent events call into question this folk wisdom.
In June of last year a strong EF 1 tornado hit the Big Creek and Cosby areas of the park (see above), damaging trails and sending one visitor to the hospital. In late April of 2011, during the infamous Super Outbreak, an EF 4 tornado hugged the ground for over 3 miles on the park's west side between Cades Cove and the Foothills Parkway. The damaged area perfectly aligned with the Hatcher Mountain and Beard Cane trails, following a narrow, oddly straight northeast trending valley that could have been drawn on the map with a ruler. Stranger still is the fact that basically the same area was hit by a devastating mountain wave windstorm just a few weeks earlier.
And for those of you who know your Smoky Mountain geography, the EF 4 tornado occurred in the vicinity of Hurricane Ridge, which was reportedly named after a highly destructive tornado that hammered the area during the 19th century.
Is it just bad luck for this valley, or is there something about the geography that puts out the welcome mat for destructive storms? Meteorologists now say the geography may indeed influence the bad weather. As storms move up the Little Tennessee River Valley, they can get funneled into the northeast trending valleys that parallel Chilhowee Mountain and the Foothills Parkway. Constricting the heavy weather into a narrower place can actually cause a tornado to form.
Also, one of the reasons that tornadoes are less common in the mountains is that storms feed on warm, humid, unstable air, and as you go up in elevation, air becomes cooler and drier. The storm-prone area at the park's west end is one of the lowest areas of the Great Smoky Mountains range. Keep this in mind if you are ever planning to camp in the vicinity of Hatcher or Hannah mountain when there are warnings of severe weather moving in from the south.
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Official Park Store
Shop here for America the Beautiful quarters featuring GSMNP!
For weeks we shouted it from the mountaintops: "The quarters are coming; the quarters are coming."
We've changed our tune:
"The quarters are here!"
America the Beautiful Quarter Collection - Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is 21st of the US quarters being released to celebrate America's national parks. It includes two uncirculated quarters - one from the Denver mint and one from the Philadelphia mint. It comes packaged in a gorgeous and informative card that provides the information on Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
GSMNP Coin/Stamp Set showcases an uncirculated 2014 National Parks Quarter along with the vintage unused postage stamp featuring Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The colorful insert highlights this beautiful park and includes interesting facts and other educational features. The 4" x 6" hard acrylic case secures and protects the coin and postage stamp.
 NEW! One of our most popular items in years, this blue pottery mug is made in the USA and will remind you of your trip to the Smokies with every sip you take. This mug comes in four colors with three different logo options: historic cabin, tulip poplar, black bear and all three. Collect all four!
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Business Member of the Month
Citizens Bank of Blount County
P. O. Box 9730
Maryville TN 37802-9730
Telephone: 865.977.5900
Since 1973, Citizens Bank of Blount County has worked with a simple philosophy: focus on the financial future of individuals and businesses. We are a locally-owned and operated bank with ten total locations; nine in Blount County and one in Knox County. Decisions are made promptly and locally by a senior management team, which averages over 35 years of service with the bank.
New Business Members
Zeringue Photography
P. O. Box 2948
2211 Seminole Drive, Studio 301
Huntsville AL 35804
Telephone: 256.682.1199
20% available to GSMA members
The Diner
550 Winfield Dunn Parkway
Sevierville TN 37876
Telephone: 865.908.1904
10% available to GSMA members
GSMA Members Benefit...
GSMA members earn discounts at more than 50 North Carolina and Tennessee businesses. Think about it - 20% off here, $5 off there, and before you know it, your membership dues have paid for themselves. It's our way of saying "Thank You" for your membership! See our complete list of supporting business on our website.
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1/4 Million+ Fans on Facebook!
 We're up to more than 275K FANS! We get more "Likes" when you help. Share our posts and invite your friends to "Like" us on
With this number of supporters and in light of a few highly-charged emotional outbursts concerning the partial government shutdown, we've deemed it necessary to establish a
User's Comment Policy, which we've located in our Facebook "About" page within the "Company Overview" section.
Follow us on Pinterest
HERE and give us some suggestions for pins
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Launching new currency
 | | Great Smoky Mountains featured on latest America the Beautiful Quarter |
Released just last month, the latest America the Beautiful quarter from the U.S. Mint features Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Because the day of the release followed a significant winter weather event in east Tennessee, not as many who'd planned to attend were able to see it in person. For those and all others, GSMA's Cinematographer Gary Wilson has produced this video of the event, which also details specifics about how the quarter was created.
Understandingly so, since more than half of this national park is located within North Carolina, many have asked about that state's representation in the America the Beautiful quarter program. As it turns out, the image for the North Carolina quarter, which will be released in 2015, features a stretch of road along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The two-state connection is once again represented here in that the Parkway's southern terminus is within GSMNP near Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The official North Carolina image was recently released and can be seen HERE.
Each of the America the Beautiful quarters released to date is available from GSMA HERE.
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Registration underway for
64th Wildflower Pilgrimage
As winter begins to fade, pastel blooms gradually work their way up through the forest floor to brighten the spirits of those attending the 64th Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage April 15-19. Online regis-tration is now open for this much-anticipated event, as well as the program brochure HERE.
Whether you want to take just a leisurely stroll in the park or maybe a more strenuous adventure, you are sure to find a program or two with knowledgeable leaders to pique your interest in nature's surroundings. Indoor programs are also planned, along with an opening luncheon, photography exhibit, featured artist reception at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and the Smokies Life reception.
Arts, crafts and other items will be available for purchase, along with a select group of native plants and wildflowers. The event is headquartered at Mills Conference Center in Gatlinburg. For more information or to inquire about exhibitor booth space, contact Judy at 865-436-7318, Ext. 222.
Can't get to the Pilgrimage,
but want to find flowers?
On warm days in late March, several early spring wildflowers will burst into bloom at the lower elevations of the national park. Chestnut Top Trail, which starts from the Townsend "Y" near Townsend, TN, boasts more than a dozen species of spring flowers including hepatica, cut-leaved toothwort, star chickweed, spring-beauty, yellow trillium, anemone, violets, and more. Although the trail goes on for 4.3 miles, the early wildflower bonanza is all in the first steep mile.
Other good trails for March flowers include Big Creek Trail out of Big Creek Picnic Area, Cucumber Gap loop out of Elkmont, and Deep Creek Trail, which starts near Deep Creek Picnic Area.
The right guidebook makes wildflower viewing even more enjoyable, and GSMA offers several to choose from. Click HERE to see our offerings, then order online or stop by a visitor center. All purchases support Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Plans shaping up for GSMA's
annual Membership Weekend
Far from hibernating this winter, the marketing and membership staff have been hard at work making plans for this fall's annual Membership Weekend. While we still have plenty of details to work out, here's what we've nailed down so far:
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Beautiful Lake Junaluska, N.C.
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- Date: Friday-Sunday, Sept. 19-21, 2014
- Location: Lake Junaluska, N.C. with accommodations being made available at a special Membership Weekend rate at the historic Lambuth Inn
- Events: Hiking along Cataloochee Divide; Birding around the Lake; viewing the new "Cataloochee" movie; Birds of Prey program; Boating on the Lake; Cataloochee Elk; and much more.
As always, GSMA members are invited to reunite with old friends, relax and enjoy the evening meals Friday and Saturday nights. The lakeside dining experience we have planned should be an extra special treat.
"Events on the scale of our annual Membership Weekend are more successful when more people get involved," said Lisa Duff, GSMA marketing and membership director. "In fact, the facility at Lake Junaluska lends itself perfectly to hosting the first-ever GSMA Olympics, with events like mini golf, horseshoes, corn hole, paddle boats and ping pong. If you'd like to volunteer to help us organize our Olympics, complete with awards, please let me know."
For those who enjoyed the addition of the auction at last year's event and would like to see it continue, we have another challenge for you, said Duff. "We need 4-6 volunteers to step up and plan both, including soliciting gifts, organizing the items for auction, finding an auctioneer and collecting the money. If this is something you'd like to take on, please let me know as soon as possible." Email Lisa HERE.
More Membership Weekend details - including a full activity schedule, volunteer needs and registration requirements - are being posted to our website. Check HERE often to find updates as they become available.
Not a GSMA member yet but want to get involved and meet others who love the Smokies? There's plenty of time to join us and support our mission to help Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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'Proud Member' totes (still) coming soon!
We appreciate everyone's patience. While we expected our new gift bags to be here by early February, we've learned that the estimated date of arrival is looking more like late March. We apologize for the delay.
We, too, are excited to see our first "members only" premium gift - our Proud Member totes. Every new and renewing member in 2014 will have the opportunity to take one home or have one sent to you.
Membership in Great Smoky Mountains Association is an important and easy way to make a lasting difference in this national park's future. One of the greatest benefits of membership - beyond the knowledge that you're supporting the park you love - is the yearly subscription to Smokies Life magazine. This award-winning publication brings timeless stories about the park to your front door each spring and fall. In fact, start looking for the next edition to arrive by late March.
For more information about how you can become a member of GSMA, email Lisa Duff today or call at 865.436.7318, Ext. 325.
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Bears, Boars and Bulls
"Bears, Boars and Bulls" (Oh, my) come to life through the colorful tales of former GSMNP wildlife biologist Kim DeLozier during his members-only presentation Saturday, March 15.
Kim's new book, "Bear in the Back Seat," co-authored by Carolyn Jourdan, is the runaway best-seller of the fall/winter season. In it Kim details several of his most memorable adventures from his early years as a park ranger.
During the presentation, Kim will make time to answer all your wildlife questions, as well as autograph your copy of his book.
Cost to attend is $10 for members and $35 for non-members, which includes a complimentary membership. For more information about Kim's March 15 program, EMAIL us or call 865.436.7318, Ext. 222 or 254. Space is limited, so call today.
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Smoky Mountain Recipe:
Homemade Granola!
Granola: It's the Ultimate Hiking Snack. And what better way to fuel your adventures than by taking along this homemade snack designed by you, for you.
 Homemade Granola
4 C old-fashioned oats
3 C shredded coconut
2 C raw almonds
3/4 C vegetable or canola oil
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Spread out on a large cookie sheet. Bake at 350º for 25 minutes. Let it cool and sit overnight. Break it up and add any dried fruit, like pineapple and cranberries, chocolate chips, or whatever you'd like. Happy Snacking and Hiking!
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GSMA Staff Spotlight: Karen Key
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Karen Key and her husband, Andy, enjoying a recent hike in the national park.
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Q: Where do you hail from, Karen?
A: Erwin, TN
Q: Isn't that where they hung the elephant?
A: Ah yes, our claim to fame from 1916. The circus was actually in Kingsport, but when shooting the elephant didn't work after it trampled its owner, they brought it to Erwin to be hung from a railroad crane. A photo of it is actually in the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum here in Gatlinburg.
Q: Where did you attend college? Your major?
A: I went to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Started out as an engineering major, but quickly learned it wasn't for me. I got my bachelor of fine arts in graphic design.
Q: You have been involved with a lot of projects since joining the GSMA Interpretive Products & Services staff in 2006. What have been some of your favorites?
A: I really do enjoy Smokies Life Magazine because it's like designing a very small book. We have lots of creative freedom with that publication, and I love how different each designer's stories come out. I think it's what makes the magazine so engaging. Also, Corn from a Jar, the moonshine book, is a favorite. I loved how it turned out and the subject matter is really interesting.
Q: Haven't you won awards for some of your projects, too?
Q: When you are assigned a big project, how do you know where to start?
A: I still like to start with pen and paper. I jot down word maps and lists to make relationships. I also write down how the piece should make the viewer feel. For instance, if something is serious and meant to inform only, probably shouldn't have a whimsical illustration or typeface. I also have a lot of inspiration just right outside my window.
Q: What's your favorite part of the design process?
A: When you get that great idea that makes you feel giddy like young love. Ha, is that weird?
Q: GSMA is a nonprofit organization that helps the park. It must be rewarding work?
A: That's the thing I like best about my job. I feel like I'm using my skills and knowlege to the betterment of an amazing place. I feel like this work really matters.
Q: Your husband has an unusual job doesn't he?
A: Andy is known around Knoxville as "the trivia guy." He and a friend started a business where they go to bars and restaurants and host a trivia game where you can win prizes. They've got about 35 games per week around the area. He gets paid to ask questions, meet people, and enjoy a brew! I get jealous sometimes.
Q: Your face looks familiar. Didn't I see you in some other GSMA publications?
A: Yeah, Andy and I loaned GSMA our modeling services to display our wonderful hiking shirts (see above). Don't worry, we won't quit our day jobs!
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Answers
to Last
Month's
General
Park Quiz
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1. Renamed "Clingmans Dome" by 19th-century geographer Arnold Guyot, this highest park destination was originally called: Smoky Dome
2. Deep Creek Trail is known for the last permanent camp (located 8 miles in) of this well-known proponent for the park. It is marked by a millstone placed by a local Boy Scout troop in 1931.
Horace Kephart
3. This often overlooked destination was once the "place to be" for fashionable ladies and gents of the 19th century. As early as 1832 the vistas from this site were said to "comprise one of the best views in the U.S." Look Rock
4. GSMNP was dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt at this location on Labor Day 1940:
Newfound Gap
5. The Cherokee word "Oconaluftee" means: By the River
6. Which of the following is a native fish in the Smokies: Brook trout
7. The park preserves two old schoolhouses. Little Greenbrier School, built in 1882, is in the Metcalf Bottoms area. Beech Grove School, built at the turn of the last century is located in:
Cataloochee
8. This is the highest of the park's grassy balds: Andrews Bald
9. An inhabitant of the coniferous and high elevation forests, the red squirrel is known for being very vocal, barking and chattering. Thus its nickname: Boomer
10. There were many styles of barns in the Smokies. There was one that has garnered much debate as to its origin, though its design appears to have been well-thought out whether it was of a two-pen or four-pen design. It is the: Cantilever barn
The winner is Mac Post of Powell, TN. For being the first to answer all the questions correctly, Mr. Post has won copies of Smoky Mountain Trivia. Congratulations.
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| Have Questions? | - For questions about online purchases, click HERE and the Mail Order department will help you.
- For questions about membership, click HERE and Judy or Marti will help you.
- For questions about business membership, click HERE and Westy will help you.
- Want to volunteer in the national park for GSMA? Click HERE for details. |
| Read it on the web | - The latest Smokies Guide (the official GSMNP newspaper) is available for viewing,
reading and printing. Click HERE.
- The Bear Paw, the GSMA membership bi-annual newsletter, is ready to read, share and print by clicking HERE.
- Be sure to check our Calendar of Events page often for upcoming park activities.
- Read back issues. Archive editions of the Cub Report can be found HERE. |
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