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 In This Issue
(Click on title to go directly to story)
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Little Tennessee River recognized
for native fish conservation
Recognizing its incredible diversity of stream life and years of efforts to conserve that diversity, the Little Tennessee River basin - much of which runs through the national park - has been designated the nation's first Native Fish Conservation Area.
The Little Tennessee River basin stretches from North Georgia, across North Carolina, and into Tennessee, and includes the Little Tennessee, Tuckasegee, Oconaluftee, Nantahala, Tellico and Cheoah Rivers, along with all their tributaries. It's home to more than 100 species of fish, and 41 aquatic animals considered rare at the federal or state level, including a handful found nowhere else in the world, such as the Citico darter, smoky madtom and Little Tennessee crayfish.
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It may be fall, but this park is GREEN
GSMNP recently unveiled some 10 new pieces of alternative fuel equipment designed to help the park leave a smaller carbon footprint and allow the public to join in the effort.
"Putting this equipment in use will help us meet our goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions from 2006 levels by 20% by 2020," said Park Superintendent Cassius Cash (in the driver's seat). "Today celebrates another step closer to achieving that goal."
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Like we said, it's fall in the Smokies
GSMA filmmaker and photographer Gary Wilson has gathered together his Top 10 favorite 'Fall in the Smokies' images, including this one of Meigs Falls, which came in at No. 10. Members will find Gary's complete list when they log into our website, click on "Smokies Insider," then on "Fall Color Report."
Not yet a member? That's an easy fix. Start HERE to join the 25,000+ other folks who have committed to supporting the Smokies.
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Think you know historic structures?
Take our quiz to find out
Many folks are familiar with the more well-known structures in the park, like those in Cades Cove, for example. Lesser-known buildings throughout the park, however, don't get frequented as much.
Find out if, with a brief description, you can locate the following buildings. The first person to answer all 10 questions correctly will win a copy of our Smoky Mountain Explorer Packet.
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Please view wildlife responsibly
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This photo was taken by Park Volunteer Warren Bielenberg using a telephoto lens.
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park wildlife biologists remind the public to allow bears to forage undisturbed on natural foods during this critical feeding period before winter hibernation. Bears depend on fall foods such as acorns and grapes to store fat reserves that enable them to survive winter. This year, these foods in the park are extremely rare leading bears to move long distances in search of food.
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Smoky Mountain Mystery:
Premature and Belated Burials
Because Halloween is coming up... Unfortunately, death was no stranger to the families who once scratched a living from the rocky ground of the Great Smoky Mountains. A trip to any park cemetery will quickly reveal that death struck most families often, and at any age.
In those days gone by, most deaths were handled without the aid of physicians, embalming, or a professional undertaker. The rule of thumb was to get the deceased into the ground within 24 hours. The other rule was to make sure the person was really dead before you buried them.
This could be more difficult than it sounds....
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A lot less scary, we promise!
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Big Brown Bats in the Smokies
- Video by Valerie Polk
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It's Bat Week in the Smokies! Bats love Great Smoky Mountains National Park for its combination of forests and streams, which provide the perfect habitat for foraging for insects. But chances are you won't see these denizens of the night, other than a split-second glance into the beam of your headlights if you happen to be driving after dark. You can meet a Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) up close and personal in this short video, filmed with bat researcher Joy O'Keefe, who has years of experience in studying bats and handling them safely.
And you can learn more about bats
This one probably won't eliminate many bugs from around your house, but it will make a nice addition to the family. Click HERE.
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| Shop the Smokies
All purchases support this national park
Just in time for the holidays! Exclusively from the Smokies, each of these holiday gift boxes includes a delightful children's story accompanied by the book's main character. "Stranger in the Woods" comes with this helpful snowman; "First Snow in the Woods" features the spotted Tiny Star; and "Venture to the Smokies" is made complete with Venture Bear. Each of these touching stories will leap off the pages for your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews when they hold these soft characters as you read to them.
Looking for a unique Smoky Mountain gift box for the grownups, too? - We've got you covered - possibly covered from head to toe in whole wheat flour if you're not careful. (LOL) This high-quality, heavy-duty gift box is packed full of our very best: stone-ground wheat flour, blackberry and strawberry preserves, apple butter, sorghum molasses, 2 trail bars, Mountain Makin's cookbook, Gristmills of the Smokies and Log Cabins of the Smokies. All purchases benefit Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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It's Turkey time!
As you plan your Thanksgiving activities this month, take minute to click on the image above and learn a little bit about the Great Smoky Mountains wild turkey. - Video by Valerie Polk
Hold the stuffing! This turkey puppet only needs your hand to come to life. A multi-textured true representation of our cherished American icon and popular park resident, this puppet's designed for use with either one hand or two. The turkey's tail proudly displays! This puppet won a National Parenting Center Seal of Approval.
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Members: Holiday cheer for your tree
Click on the image above to see the 2015 edition of what promises to be one of your family's most cherished holiday traditions. Die-cut from a beautiful piece of silver metal, this members-only, exclusive "Get Rooted in the Smokies" ornament features tiny green bear paw leaves on a luxurious white trunk. A green satin ribbon serves to affix your ornament to your tree this holiday season. It's all kept safe from season to season in a felt-lined solid green gift box.
Members: Remember to sign into your account before you add this and other items to your shopping cart to be sure you receive your discount. In addition to finding it in all visitor center locations, the 2015 GRITS ornament can be ordered from the 'Member Items' section of our online store.
Ready to join GSMA and share in the warm, fuzzy feeling membership gives you? Start HERE.
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Hike to
Deep Creek's
Waterfall Triad
By Marti Smith
GSMA's Membership Associate & Smoky Mountain 900 Miler
Deep Creek's three waterfalls are Tom Branch Falls, Indian Creek Falls, and Juney Whank Falls. The one hike that allows you to see all three is rated moderate. This is one of the few trails in the park that offers so many highlights with so little effort.
Start out by heading over to Deep Creek Campground out of Bryson City and park in the hiker parking lot at the end of the road. There you'll see the Juney Whank Falls Trail sign. Take a deep breath, because the first .3 of a mile will be the steepest part of this hike...
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Smoky Mountain Recipe:
Lemon-Maple Squash
If your typical squash recipe doesn't seem to be getting folks at your Thanksgiving table excited anymore, give this one a try. Let us know what happens.
Ingredients:
- 4 LB. butternut or calabaza squash
- 1/3 C water
- 1 Lemon
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- salt & pepper to taste
- 4 TBSP melted
Directions:
Slice squash into thick wedges and remove the seeds. Place cut-side up in a baking dish. Combine maple syrup, honey, water, the zest and juice of lemon, red pepper flakes, and a pinch each of salt and pepper; pour over the squash and dot butter. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees, then flip the squash and bake until caramelized and tender, 25 more minutes, basting halfway through. Makes 8 servings.
Recipe courtesy of Food Network Magazine; Photograph by Marcus Nilsson
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Hot Stuff - Staff dishes up winning chili
When the Swain County Chamber of Commerce asked the question: "Who has the best chili in the west?" GSMA's Swain County, NC, team leader Amanda Gomez answered: "We do!" Recruiting husband Ron and his secret chili recipe, the pair strapped on aprons and earned third-place honors in Bryson City's 25th annual Chili Cookoff and Fall Festival on Oct. 17th.
Next time you're in Bryson City, stop by and check out the trophy at our newest visitor center store location in the town's historic courthouse. You might even persuade Amanda to share a secret ingredient or two.
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Congratulations to Amanda and Ron Gomez for taking third-place chili cookoff honors in Bryson City
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Staff Spotlight: Jamie Griswold
Also from the Swain County, NC, team, this month's staff spotlights shines on assistant manager Jamie Griswold.
Q: Where do you hale from, Jamie?
A: I am originally from North Georgia and grew up near the Appalachian Trail. I lived in downtown Atlanta throughout my 20s and also spent some time living in southern Arizona while my husband was working as a travel nurse.
Q: What brought you to the Great Smoky Mountains?
A: A love of nature and the activities of the "great outdoors" brought my husband and me to western North Carolina and the Smokies. After living in Atlanta for almost 10 years we decided to make some changes. We spent weekends coming to the Nantahala Gorge for kayaking and hiking, and we decided to make Bryson City our home where we could live a simpler life.
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Business of the Month Three Jimmy's
Gatlinburg, TN
Three Jimmy's Gatlinburg restaurant and bar takes great pride in offering you the finest and freshest homemade food in all of Gatlinburg. We feel like we have the best burgers in town.
NEW Business Members
Smoky Mountain Knife Works
Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA Campground
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Our Fall Foliage Forecast
is still going strong
Members: Please sign into your online account to access the "Smokies Insider" section of our website for this report.
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The Smokies are just a click away...
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Got questions? We have answers.
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Connecting Today to Yesterday; Preserving Today for Tomorrow
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