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In This Issue
(Click on title to go directly to story)
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GSMNP readies for increased A.T. traffic
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| | "A Walk in the Woods" (watch trailer HERE) opens in most locations Sept. 2. Are you planning to see it? |
GSMNP officials are anticipating increased interest in hiking - especially on the park's 70+ miles of Appalachian Trail - following the release of "A Walk in the Woods" on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
With this in mind, Backcountry Ranger Christine Hoyer was invited to WATE-TV recently to explain the importance of being prepared before taking your first step on any trail in the Smokies. Ranger Hoyer's advice: Do your homework, know the rules, and bring the essential gear. Watch her interview HERE.
The movie is based on Bill Bryson's best-selling novel of the same name. It tells the story of old friends who decide to hike the 2,190-mile trail, despite their inexperience and subpar physical conditioning. The book's release increased A.T. hikers by 60%.
When it comes to the right gear and maps necessary to find your way along the A.T. and other GSMNP trails, Great Smoky Mountains Association is the perfect place to start. Not only will you be prepared, but you'll support this national park's many programs and services.
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This & That Quiz
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Take our quiz for a chance to win this fabulous prize!
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If this were Jeopardy!, our monthly quiz would fall into the category of "Potpourri," as it covers all types of Smoky Mountain trivia. Be the first to answer all 10 questions correctly, and you'll earn yourself a copy of Doris Gove's Great Smoky Mountains Trivia. Good luck!
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Extreme caution essential during elk rut
For nearly 10 months each year, the elk herds in Cataloochee Valley and around Oconaluftee Visitor Center resemble docile cows in a field. Please don't misunderstand - they are wild animals and demand a high level of caution, but for the most part the only damage they cause is to backyard gardens and tasty tree leaves. Their laid back, easy way of doing things, however, changes from day to night in late August, when procreation instincts kick in and priorities change from meals to mating. Nothing - and we mean NOTHING - should ever get between a male and his females during the fall rut. Take a minute and watch this video above to learn more about how to safely view the elk at this time of year. Safety is everyone's responsibility.
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Smoky Mountain Mystery:
Why are yellow jackets so fired up every fall?
Those of you who have lived in the area for a while know that September means football, fall colors in the high country, and yellow jacket wasps. In spring and early summer, most yellow jackets are too busy being larvae or working hard to feed their colony's larvae to bother people.
But by September, yellow jacket populations are at their peak, and food in the form of flower nectar is getting scarce. For reasons not entirely understood, yellow jackets respond to this stress by stinging people...
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FREE for a day, Saturday, Sept. 19:
Mountain Farm Museum Audio Tour
In conjunction with the annual Mountain Life Festival Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Mountain the Mountain Farm Museum at Oconaluftee Visitor Center, visitors will have an opportunity to experience the music and voices of a typical family on a 19th-century farm in the Great Smokies - for FREE!
The dramatic tour was developed using oral histories and other research as a basis for the script. Professional actors and sound effect technicians were then employed to bring the words to life. Use the link below to learn more about the one-day-only free offer from GSMA.
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Time is running out!
Get in on this action TODAY!
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"Charlies Bunion" by GSMA's Gary Wilson, complete with 50% off framing by Vern Hippensteal of Gatlinburg's Craft Community, is one of a dozen items to be auctioned off at this year's annual Membership Weekend. |
GSMA members planning to attend this year's Membership Weekend Sept. 17-20 should Register Today!
The deadline is Sept. 8!
In addition to the many activities planned - including two evening meals, hikes, walks, talks and tours - members have an opportunity to become National Park VIPs ( Volunteers in Park) during a half-day seed collection event in Cades Cove. The collection of native plant and tree seeds is an essential part of the park's mission to preserve natural resources for generations to come. |
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Shop the Smokies
All purchases support this national park
This mug won't last long - Limited-edition, Made in the USA, and flying off the shelves. Our Fall 2015 pottery mug features a woodcut style illustration of white oak leaves and acorns, one of the most important and nutritious fall food sources for our park's wildlife. What a beautiful way to celebrate fall in the Smokies!
Exclusive for Members - The first of our exclusive "Get Rooted in the Smokies" pottery mugs has arrived and ready to brighten up your kitchen. Members must remember to log into your account before purchasing.
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Sorghum demos set in Cades Cove
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Sorghum Demonstrations
By Valerie Polk
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Maybe your family picks apples in a local orchard. Maybe you hunt for the perfect pumpkin to decorate the front porch. Perhaps you plan a family hay ride. If your family is looking to make lasting memories by adding a new fall tradition, why not head out to Cades Cove to watch first-hand how sorghum molasses was made back in the day.
Weather permitting, sorghum molasses making demonstrations are scheduled from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Cable Mill Historic Area in Cades Cove:
September
5-7 & 18-20
November
6-8, 11-15, 20-22 & 27-29
(Also, Sept. 19th at the Mountain Life Festival at Oconaluftee Visitor Center. See above for details.)
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'Carroll Best' CD earns prestigious bluegrass award nomination
Great Smoky Mountains Association's " Carroll Best and the White Oak String Band" has been named among the best of the year by earning an award nomination in the International Bluegrass Music Association's annual competition for "Best Liner Notes."
"Liner notes may not be the best description of the 64-page illustrated booklet that accompanies this CD," said GSMA's Steve Kemp, the CD's co-producer. "It is more like a concise but thorough history of old-time and bluegrass music as it was played in the Southern mountains."
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NEW BOOK: "Country Stores"
Country stores were so vital to community life in the Great Smoky Mountains that it could be said there really was no community until there was a store. The local store was where you picked up your mail, met your neighbors, told your news, and swapped eggs, hens, and chestnuts for salt and socks.
Join esteemed author Rose Houk as she celebrates the golden age of mountain stores in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Complete with bushels of historic photos.
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Protect our trees!
Vacation From Hell: The Horror Never Ends
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| | Little Cataloochee Baptist Church |
Hike to
Little Cataloochee
By Marti Smith
GSMA's Membership Associate
& Smoky Mountain 900 Miler
Your first mile will be an easy walk until you reach the John Jackson Hannah Cabin. John came to the Smokies in 1857 with his bride. In 1864 he updated the cabin and the building stands as you see it today. It is one of the three buildings in the park with a full standing brick chimney.
Within the next ¼ mile you'll cross Little Cataloochee Creek. Within another ¾ mile you'll see the Little Cataloochee Baptist Church on a small hill to your left. The scalloped boards on the roof trim are evidence of the skills that local artisans used in constructing this building.
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Smoky Mountain Recipe:
Pepper Relish Chicken Tacos
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 can of chicken broth
- 1/2 tsp. garlic power
- 1/4 tsp. black peppar
- 1 can of black beans
Directions:
Combine pepper relish, chicken broth, garlic powder, and black pepper in a pot. Mix until garlic powder is combined. Add the chicken and boil until chicken is cooked through and the mixture is reduced (about 20 minutes). Pull chicken out and shred it. Add back to the pot with black beans to heat back up for about 5 minutes. Combine with cheese, Spanish rice and all your favorite taco fixings in a tortilla.
Makes filling for about 8-10 tacos.
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Business of the Month Baymont Inn and Suites
1455 Acquoni Road
Cherokee NC 28719
Enjoy home-style hospitality at our Baymont Inn & Suites Cherokee Smoky Mountains hotel. Conveniently located within a short drive of Western Carolina University and Harrah's Casino, our non-smoking hotel offers plenty of choice features and amenities to help you relax.
NEW Business Members
Golfview Vacation Rentals
Wildland Trekking Company
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We are just a click away...
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Our Fall Foliage Forecast has started. Here's a sneak peek:
"Although it's only late August, the first signs of autumn are appearing here and there in the Great Smoky Mountains. Along the Appalachian Trail and on Mount Le Conte, hobblebush (a shrub) is turning a deep burgundy color. Several red maples along ..."
Members: Remember you must sign into your online account and access the "Smokies Insider" section of our website to read these reports. Not a member?
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Connecting Today to Yesterday; Preserving Today for Tomorrow
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