In this issue
"Sweet Betsy" by Lisa Duff
See many more trillium varieties on Page 10 of the latest Smokies Guide,
the park's official seasonal newspaper
  • Jordan is new deputy superintendent
  • Backcountry fees survive day in court
  • Take our Smokies place name quiz
  • GSMA's first Acorn member
  • Membership for Mother's Day
  • Priority: Getting kids in public lands
  • Recommended Hike: Cucumber Gap
  • Firefly viewing tickets go on sale
  • Smoky Mountain Mystery: Salamander Ball
  • Staff Profile: Lisa Horstman
  • The making of "Sabrina," video by Gary Wilson
  • SM Recipe: Mother's Day Waffles
  • May's Branch Out programs
  • Where in the Park are We?
  • Business of the Month
  • Shop the Smokies - Support the Smokies
Take our place names quiz
meigs falls before
This month we're testing your knowledge of place names in the Smokies. Click HERE to give it a try. The first person to answer all questions correctly will win a copy of "Place Names of the Smokies."
In case you haven't heard
Perhaps you've emerged from your winter den...
The Trails of Mt LeConte
The Trails of Mt LeConte
Video by Gary Wilson

Alum Cave Trail will close Monday-Thursday starting May 1 and continuing for the next two years for trail renovations. Click on Gary Wilson's video above to learn more about the four other options for reaching Mt. Le Conte.
Cucumber Gap for late
spring wildflower finds
One Flowered Cancer Root - US Forest Service Photo

Cucumber Gap is one of the finest loops in the park. It gently ascends a grove of second-growth Tulip Trees. At the  0.3 mile mark, you will cross a wooden bridge-look to your right. Huskey Branch Cascade comes tumbling down out of a frame of Rosebay Rhododendron underneath you and out into the Little River. If you enjoy water features, this cascade makes for a great photo opportunity.
 

Hike of the Month by Marti Smith - 900 Miler, GSMA Marketing and Membership Associate. "Any day spent hiking in the Smokies is a good day."
From this point keep looking to your left, towards Little River. Look around the base of the trees lining the trail on the river side. I was fortunate enough to spot a single One Flowered Cancer Root growing at the base of a tree on April 25, 2006. This flower is in the Broom-rape family; the same as Squaw Root. It is a parasite, hence the reason it was growing at the base of a tree.

At 1.4 miles, turn right and follow this trail for 2 miles. Enjoy any treasures you find along the way until it comes to a junction with Jakes Creek Trail. Turn right. This is a steep gravel road descent for about half a mile. It then turns into a paved road, which will take you back to your vehicle at the Little River Trailhead.
Little River & Cucumber Gap Loop
Little River & Cucumber Gap Loop
Video by Valerie Polk
May's 'Branch Out' programs
invite members to explore
Kevin Burke looks toward the skies for evidence of the spring migration.

Wild edibles and feathered friends are on the agenda for May, when GSMA members are invited to hike in both North Carolina and Tennessee with experienced leaders.

Wild Edible Hike in Tennessee, Saturday, May 9 Vesna Plakanis, owner of A Walk in the Woods, will teach members how to identify wild edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms that you may find in your own yard, in nearby meadows or neighborhood woods.

Smoky Mountain Birding in North Carolina on Sunday, May 17 - Long-time birding expert Kevin Burke invites members to learn more about the migratory bird season during this program.

For complete information on these and many more "Branch Out" programs, as well as registration details, please visit us HERE.
Smoky Mountain Mystery:
What? Salamanders can dance?

On a rainy summer night in 1982, GSMNP rangers Jack Lewis and Karl Golovin were on patrol on Clingmans Dome Road. By the light of their headlights they beheld a most unusual sight: thousands of red-cheeked salamanders walking across and along the road. The rangers were so amazed they filed an official park report.

 
To this day no one has ever completely explained this phenomenal event. Red-cheeked salamanders were already somewhat mysterious because they live only in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but within our boundaries they are actually quite common.

 
Although we may never completely know what the salamanders were up to that fateful night, the event did serve as inspiration for a very popular children's book, The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball.

Ensuring the future of our country's public lands

Without exception we all understand that getting young people engaged with our country's public lands is vital to their futures - our parks and our children. In recent months, several national lands partners, including GSMA, have taken tangible steps toward supporting this effort. Here's how...


President Obama - Launched the  Every Kid in a Park initiative, which calls on public lands agencies to help get all children to visit and enjoy the outdoors and inspire a new generation of Americans to experience their country's unrivaled public lands and waters. Starting in September, every fourth-grader in the nation will receive an "Every Kid in a Park" pass that's good for free admission to all of America's federal lands and waters -- for them and their families -- for a full year. Program details are still being developed; we'll keep you updated.

 
GSMA - We created an Acorn membership level for kids through age 14. We want our young members to know they are beginning a lifelong journey when they partner with us in support of GSMNP. Our Acorn-only website is being developed now, along with other kid-friendly benefits of membership.

 
You - Many of you have accepted our offer to join our growing list of Legacy Fund donors. Members are invited to include their names on this list of people who care enough about this national park's future and future visitors to contribute to their success. Members can access this list and ways to give by logging into your account and clicking on "Smokies Insider."

Official Park Store
Shop the Smokies; Support the Smokies!


 

Firefly season is nearly here! Click HERE to get a close-up view of this season's hottest t-shrit for adults and HERE for kids. Be sure to order enough for the entire family!

Elkmont firefly viewing tickets go on sale tomorrow (April 30).
Click HERE for ticket details.

 

If you enjoy visits to this and other national park lands, you should learn more about National Park Service passes, your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Each pass covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges, as well as standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation. For more information about how and where these passes work, visit a GSMNP visitor center today to get one for your wallet.


 

New! Our legendary Great Smoky Mountains trail map is now available on waterproof, tear-resistant material. This map includes every maintained trail in the park, every backcountry campsite, mileages, backcountry reservation information, park regs, and more. In a park with 85 inches of rain per year, why would you not want to carry a waterproof map?

Business Member
of the Month

3541 Hartford Road

Hartford TN 37753

Phone: 877.642.7238

Email HERE

 

Big Creek Expeditions is a whitewater rafting company located on the Pigeon River in beautiful Hartford, TN. Big Creek Expeditions specializes in offering large groups the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains on a professionally guided whitewater rafting adventure. We offer two different rafting tours appropriate for any age and skill level. Big Creek Expeditions will coordinate both tours to accommodate the skill level of everyone in your group. The Pigeon River is the closest whitewater rafting to the Knoxville, Asheville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville area. Trips are offered from March until November depending on water levels and weather. Call toll free to reserve your spot today.

 

GSMA members receive a 25% discount. 

 

New Business Members

Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center

3230 Parkway

Email HERE

 

224 Coosa Ridge Drive

Whittier NC, 28789

Phone: 828.586.0171

Email HERE

 

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.

  

Get your business seen here!

If you own a business and want to become a GSMA Business Member and reach more than 40,000 email inboxes each month, please contact Westy Fletcher HERE.
GSMA's SOCIAL experience 
 
We're up to more than 372K FANS on Facebook! We get more "Likes" when you help. Share our posts and invite your FB friends to "Like" us on 

We have a new Twitter
Follow GSMA HERE

  Follow us on Pinterest
HERE Suggest some pins

Subscribe to find hundreds of Smoky Mountain videos from GSMA HERE
 Jordan named new
deputy superintendent


Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash announced that Clayton F. Jordan has been selected as the next Deputy Superintendent. He replaces Patty Wissinger, who passed away in June 2014. 

 

"Clay has developed strong leadership knowledge of the overall operations at the Smokies through his service as Acting Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent over the last 8 months," said Park Superintendent Cassius Cash. "Clay has been nationally recognized for his strong leadership within the resource and visitor protection leadership ranks as well as with our local partners and the employees here at the Great Smoky Mountains. I look forward to having Clay as my leadership partner as the National Park Service moves into its second century of service!" READ MORE >>> HERE 

 Judge OK's backcountry
camping fee

Tricorner Knob Shelter is found near the intersection of Balsam Mountain Trail and the Appalachian Trail in the upper northeast section of the Smokies.


 
In 2012, the National Park Service approved a $4 per-person, per-night fee for backcountry campsites and shelters in the Tennessee-North Carolina national park. Soon thereafter, the park service was sued, with plaintiffs claiming the fee violated federal law.

 

Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas Phillips ruled in late March in favor of the national park's backcountry fee, holding that federal law prohibiting an entry fee to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park does not apply to the camping fee.

 
"Based on the clear language of the statute, the court concludes that the FLREA specifically grants the NPS permission to charge an expanded amenity recreation, or the [backcountry camping fee], when it is determined that the visitor uses a specific service," Phillips wrote. READ MORE --->

 Carter Allen Kullmann, age 3, is GSMA's first Acorn member

Carter Allen Kullmann, age 3, of Parrish, FL, became our first Acorn Member in late March, after his grandmother Robin Jackson, also a GSMA member, learned about our efforts to get more young people interested in supporting this national park.

Carter, seen above with his father, Kyle, was the first to receive a free copy of "Sabrina: A Smoky Mountain Story" by Lisa Horstman as part of his membership. When children up to age 14 become Acorn members, they also receive a membership card and a fun-filled worksheet with activities designed to strengthen their knowledge of the Smokies.

"What you hold in your hand was created especially for you - a kid who cares about Great Smoky Mountains National Park," Acorns learn when they join and receive their membership card (left). "You are beginning a lifelong journey, partnering with others to preserve Great Smoky Mountains National Park for generations to come."

For more information about how your children and grandchildren can become Acorn members and how you can get your entire family involved in a Family Tree membership, click HERE.
Get the family rooted for Mother's Day, May 10th

Changes to the GSMA membership program went into effect just in time to make mom the happiest woman in the world - all you need to do to make her smile is gather everyone together and start growing your Family Tree in the Smokies.

  Mother's Day is May 10th

"When we proposed the membership changes, we did so with families in mind," said Lisa Duff, GSMA's marketing and membership director. "We heard from many of you that trips to the Smokies are a family tradition. What better way to honor that tradition than to create a family membership plan?

"For as long as I can remember, I've given my mother something beautiful rooted in life-giving soil for Mother's Day," Duff continued. "Starting a Family Tree Membership, which supports the preservation of everything that grows in the Smokies, feels like the same sort of gift to me."

Details of the new levels and Family Tree options are available HERE.
Smoky Mountain Recipe:
Mother's Day Waffles
Nothing says, "I love you, MOM!" quite like breakfast in bed. And when she sees these delicious goodies on her tray next to some OJ and a bouquet of daisies, she might just offer to do your laundry one more time.

Chocolate Waffles

Ingredients

3 TBSP unsalted butter

3 TBSP vegetable shortening

2 C Foods of the Smokies whole wheat flour

1 TBSP baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

3 TBSP sugar

3 large eggs

1 C milk

1/2 C chocolate syrup, plus more for topping

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Cooking spray

Confectioners' sugar and/or berries for topping (optional)

 

Melt the butter and shortening in a small saucepan, stirring to combine; remove from the heat and set aside. Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk the eggs, milk, chocolate syrup and vanilla in a large liquid measuring cup or a separate bowl. Whisk the egg mixture into the flour mixture until combined. (The batter will be slightly lumpy.)


 

Whisk in the butter mixture until combined. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Preheat a waffle iron and spray with cooking spray. Ladle some of the batter into the waffle iron to within an inch of the edge (1/3 to 1/2 cup batter, depending on your waffle iron); cook until crisp. Transfer the waffle to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining batter. Divide the waffles among plates. Dust with confectioners' sugar and top with berries and/or chocolate syrup. 

 

Recipe courtesy Food Network Magazine

____________________

Still hungry for more? - We've published a collection of recipes on our website exclusively for our members HERE. Be sure to log in and click on "Smokies Insider" to find all these mouth-watering delights. Then, send us photos of your friends and family enjoying what you've created HERE. Extra credit for including the Foods of the Smokies item in your photo. Who knows? You may see your photo in an upcoming Cub Report or on our Facebook page.
May wildflowers:
Mountain Laurel

Mountain laurel is one of the most abundant and beautiful shrubs in the Great Smoky Mountains. It blooms throughout the month of May on sunny, drier sites at elevations below 5,000 feet. It is sometimes confused with rhododendron, but has smaller evergreen leaves and delicate white flowers with pink stripes. Great places to enjoy mountain laurel include Laurel Creek Road (to Cades Cove), Rich Mountain Road (gravel, one-way) Cove Mountain Trail, Middle Prong Trail, and Abrams Falls Trail.

Where in the Park are We?

This month's "Where in the Park are We" photo may make a few loyal readers and Smokies hiking enthusiasts jump up and down, shouting, "I know, I know." But do you really? Are you sure??  Click HERE to read Lisa Duff's blog and learn where you'll find this view in the Smokies. 

Local business supports

park's non-profit partners


Accepting SmartBank's annual contribution in support of Great Smoky Mountains National Park are (from left) Friends of the Smokies President Jim Hart and Great Smoky Mountains Association Executive Director Terry Maddox. Making the presentation on behalf of the bank are (from right) President and CEO Billy Carroll and Chairman of the Board and Director of Business Development Bill Carroll. The contribution for 2014 totaled $24,740; the bank has given just over $97,000 since 2009.
GSMA Staff Spotlight:
Lisa Horstman


Lisa Horstman, author and illustrator of such popular children's books as "The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball" and "The Troublesome Cub," has outdone herself this time with the recent release of "Sabrina: A Great Smoky Mountains Story." Meet the author during two upcoming book signings:

- May 1 at Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, TN, from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.

- Aug. 1 at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, NC, from 11 a.m. until noon. Click HERE to view the Sabrina website.

 

Q: Where do you hail from, Ms. Horstman?

A: I grew up in Northwest Ohio, German immigrant farm country.

 

Q: So you grew up with lots of farm animals and wide open spaces?

A: Yes. We had milk cows and chickens, and my dad grew corn, soybeans, and wheat. Flat land, big sky country.

 

Q: I know that Whittle, Inc. brought you to Knoxville. What was it like working for that innovative media company?

A: It was mostly great. I'd been a freelance graphic designer in Toledo, Ohio, so Whittle Communications was my first full-time job as a publications designer. Really talented people came from all over the country to work there, and I learned so much about the editing process, working with illustrators and photographers, and art directing magazine layouts. I loved seeing how copy editors and fact checkers worked, and they were very thorough at Whittle. I also learned a lot about the illustration process since I was assigning work to some really great illustrators. I used to love seeing painted artwork come in. One time, because of a tight deadline, an illustrator Fed Ex'd his artwork while the paint was still wet! He knew how to pack it up so nothing touched the paint from inside the box.
 

Sabrina the Flying Squirrel
Sabrina the Flying Squirrel
Video by Gary Wilson


Q: What kept you in Knoxville after Whittle collapsed?

A: Whittle offered a generous severence package, which helped. Also, around the same time I'd fallen into a career of writing and illustrating children's books. My 'partner in crime,' Dave, is a television editor based in Knoxville and had a career here, so we decided to stick around. East Tennessee is a welcoming place with a lot of good-hearted people, good music, and good storytellers.

 

Eventually I started working as art director for Metro Pulse, which was a weekly Knoxville publication. Lots of former Whittle folks worked there, too. I've been very lucky to work for some really great publishers, Great Smoky Mountains Association included.

 

Q: Your 1997 smash hit, "The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball" seems to be a Cult Classic. What type of feedback do you get related to that book?

A: Is it a cult classic? How funny! Well, a lot of kids who read that book ... READ MORE HERE

 


Answers
to last month's
Bird Mnemonics
Quiz

 

  1. A whistled song with a trilled ending:  "Drink-your-teeeeeeee!"  Hint: This bird has red eyes. Eastern Towhee
  2. "Pleased, pleased, pleased to meetcha".  Hint: This bird's breeding plumage includes a bright yellow or greenish-yellow crown. Chestnut-sided Warbler
  3. "Who cooks you? Who cooks for you-all?"  Hint:  This bird has distinctive brown and white plumage. Barred Owl
  4. Nasal "Yank, yank, yank"... reminding one of the sound of a dying car battery trying its best to kick over.  Hint:  These birds walk head-first down tree trunks. White-breasted Nuthatch
  5. Song that rises and falls made up of notes separated by pauses... ""Look up..... see me?....over here.... higher."  Hint:  This bird is the most colorful of its family in North America.  Oh, alright... here's one more hint:  it has two white wing bars. Yellow-throated Vireo
  6. Plaintive whistle... "Old Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody", or "Oh, sweet Canada, Canada."  Hint:  This bird has a distinctive black and white striped head. White-throated Sparrow
  7. Repetitive notes rising and more emphatic than the last... "Teach, teach, teach, TEACH!"  Hint: This bird builds its nest on the ground. Ovenbird
  8. A loud "teakettle, teakettle, teakettle."  Hint:  This bird has a white eyebrow stripe and often cocks its long tail upwards. Carolina Wren
  9. A fast repeated whistle... "Peter, Peter, Peter!"  Hint:  A familiar sight at feeders this bird often grabs a large seed and flies off to the nearest tree where it cracks it open with repeated whacks with its sharp bill. Tufted Titmouse
  10. A thin, high-pitched whistle... "Zee, zee, zee, zoo, zay".  Hint: This bird has a black bib and a bright yellow face. Black-throated Green Warbler

 

Winner was Linda WilliamsMassachusetts. Congratulations!
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 with GSMA? Click HERE and Lisa will help you.
EXTRA!
Read all about it!
The following are all instantly available, digital, GREEN publications...

+ The all-new Spring Smokies Guide (the official GSMNP newspaper) is available for viewing, reading and printing. Click 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.
+ GSMA members can access The Bear Paw newsletter HERE and archived Recipes of the Smokies HERE. Sign in is required for both.

All purchases support the park.


Connecting today to yesterday; preserving today for tomorrow.