 |
 Park hosts naturalization event
|
GSMA designs bathroom signs to influence visitor behavior
In a novel approach to persuade park visitors to keep a safe distance from animals, Great Smoky Mountains Association and the National Park Service have teamed up to produce a series of colorful and amusing signs especially for park bathrooms. The signs play off the human desire for privacy (in places like bathrooms) and urge visitors to give wildlife their space, too. The signs were designed by GSMA's own graphic artist and children's book author Lisa Horstman and production was paid for by the Association.
|
|
Retired sign up for grabs
Our retired sign (on the right) could be yours soon! Photo by Dana Murphy
Own a piece of association history -- Can you picture our recently retired Great Smoky Mountains Association logo hanging above your fireplace or surrounded by your collection of vintage national park maps or taunting you from your office wall to plan your next trip to the Smokies?
Following this week's installation of our new logo designed by GSMA graphic artist Karen Key, our retired sign, approximately 48 inches wide by 28 inches high, is being made available to the highest bidder. Bids will be accepted for two weeks only (today through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12). The winning bidder must agree to additional shipping charges estimated at $25 and will be contacted by phone on Thursday, Oct. 13, to finalize details. Click HERE to submit your bid. Proceeds from the sale of the sign will be considered a donation to the GSMA Legacy Fund. Good luck!
|
|
How much do you know about why the park's leaves turn into their glorious fall colors... or what color certain trees become in autumn?
Last month's Cherokee quiz winner: Joanna Williams, Ohio
|
As an exclusive benefit to GSMA members, the annual Fall Foliage Forecast has already begun for the 2016 fall season. This online service updated at least once a week, sometimes more often, keeps our members in the know about where to find the most beautiful displays of fall color within Great Smoky
|
| | | All GSMA members receive a free annual subscription to our award-winning Smokies Life Magazine. The latest issue should be arriving soon. | |
To access the forecast, members should log into their online account using their email and password. Once logged in, click on "Smokies Insider" to find the forecast, as well as several other members-only web features.
Every member is assigned an online account when they join GSMA; if you need to create or if you've forgotten your password, please use the "Forgot Password" link found in the login area.
If you'd like to become a member and gain access to the forecast, along with a host of other outstanding benefits, including a free subscription to Smokies Life magazine, stop in any park visitor center and talk with our sales staff, or give us a call HERE, or check our website HERE.
|
Streams & Waterfalls
of the Smokies
|
| |
Land of Falling Water
- A film by Gary Wilson
|
Click on the image above to see another short outtake from Gary Wilson's upcoming Smoky Mountain Explorer film "Land of Falling Water." In this excerpt, Gary brings us a sampling of the park's waterfalls, including the ever popular Ramsey Cascades, which, unfortunately, is currently closed to visitors due to a broken foot bridge, making Gary's film one of the only ways to see this amazing site at the present time. "Land of Falling Water" will be available on store shelves and online this fall.
|
|
|
|
Member memories to be cherished
A few thoughts resulting from 2016 Members' Weekend...
- "The best one yet!"
- "I believe the Friday night gathering along with Saturday evening helped bookend the event and made it flow very well. The organization was very good and everyone seemed to have a great time."
- "The Membership Weekend was a shining success."
- "I was very excited the event was held in Cherokee. The programs were very well put together and the location sponsors did a fantastic job."
- "Always nice to get together with like-minded folks."
- "Thanks to (Dr. Dan) Pierce, we came away with knowledge about
|
| |
Photo by Jan Loveday
|
Hazel Creek, when we knew absolutely nothing before."
- "We received more than we could have imagined. We attended our first GSMA members weekend initially to hike with Superintendent Cash. Just as valuable as making his acquaintance, were the new friendships we were able to make with others, who like us, love GSMNP."
-" This was a wonderful experience! Many thanks to GSMA for this opportunity!"
|
| |
More than 225 folks gathered for dinner Friday evening at Collins Creek Picnic Area. A ceremony to honor several members of the 100 Most Influential People in Park History followed.
|
|
Recommended October Hike
By Marti Smith
Marketing and Membership Associate
GSMNP 900 Mile Club Member
|
| |
Meigs Falls -- Photo by Gary Wilson
|
If you like mountain streams, waterfalls, and creek crossings, then this is your hike! Meigs Creek Trail is off Little River Road near "The Sinks." It's a 6.8-mile, round-trip, out-and-back hike, during which you'll cross water 18 times. So go ahead and double that to 36 total creek crossings...
|
Smoky Mountain Recipe:
Cinnamon Pumpkin Pancakes
Fall is in the air here in the Smokies, and nothing brings the season to your taste buds better than our Foods of the Smokies Pumpkin Butter! Am I right?!?
1 TBSP baking powderPinch of salt1½ C buttermilk2 eggs2 TBSP unsalted butter, melted1 tsp pure vanilla extractNonstick cooking spray, as neededICING
1½ C confectioners' sugar
3 TBSP whole milk½ tsp pure vanilla extractDIRECTIONS
1. MAKE THE FILLING: In a medium bowl, mix the butter with the brown sugar, flour, pumpkin butter, cinnamon, and salt to combine. Transfer to a medium plastic zip-top bag. Squeeze the filling down into one corner of the bag and snip the corner of the bag with scissors. Set aside.
2. MAKE THE PANCAKES: In a large bowl, whisk the flour with the baking powder and salt to combine. In a small bowl, whisk the buttermilk with the eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract to combine.
3. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
4. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Spray the hot pan with nonstick cooking spray.
5. Working in batches of 3, ladle or scoop ⅓ cup of pancake batter onto a large skillet or griddle. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Squeeze a spiral of the cinnamon filling on top of the pancakes. Continue to cook 1 to 2 minutes.
6. Flip the pancakes and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on the other side. Remove from the pan and continue with the remaining batter and cinnamon filling. Set aside.
7. MAKE THE ICING: Whisk the confectioners' sugar with the milk and vanilla extract to combine. Add additional milk in small amounts, as needed, to make the icing easy to drizzle.
8. To serve, stack three pancakes on each plate and either drizzle with the icing or serve it on the side. Makes approximately 12 pancakes.
|
Smoky Mountain Mystery:
Why is mountain-ash so abundant?
|
|
American mountain-ash berries. Photo by Bill Lea
|
Why are the American mountain-ash berries so spectacular this year when they were a no-show last? Anyone who has been in the vicinity of Clingmans Dome recently can tell you that the bright red American mountain-ash berries are out of this world right now. There are so many clumps of berries that the trees' branches can barely support them...
|
|
|
GSMNP Superintendent Cassius Cash led 22 GSMA members on our September Hike 100 Challenge. - GSMA Photo by Marti Smith
|
When we planned our October Hike 100 Challenge, we took into consideration three primary objects: 1. find a location suited for easy access during a busy time of year; 2. time it for the best chance of viewing outstanding fall foliage; 3. and estimate the return of GSMA staffer and hike leader Fran Samson, who spends her summers at Glacier National Park. As far as we know, all systems are GO for a what could be the best Hike 100 challenge yet this year.
|
|
Shop the Smokies:
Staff Recommended - Lisa says, "Wrap yourself up in the warmth of the Great Smoky Mountains. Our new super-soft fleece blanket is just the thing I'll need to keep the cold at bay on long winter nights." The outside features six black bear images sounding our park name, together with evergreens and pine cones on a background of royal plum, while the reverse is a luxurious white Sherpa fleece, both 100% polyester for ease of cleaning. Click HERE to get yours today!
NEW -- GSMA staffer Ginger Alfrey jumped at the chance to be one of the first to enhance the look of her vehicle with our new Great Smoky Mountains National Park black bear license plate. The mother and cub image by Bill Lea is printed on durable, embossed metal, meaning your show of support this national park may outlast your ride!
LAST CHANCE! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Get your official GSMNP limited-edition coffee mug before it's too late. Each year we work with the talented craftspeople at Deneen Pottery in St. Paul, MN, to create a one-of-a-kind image exclusive for the Smokies. This year they've given us a scene reminiscent of swirling fall leaves in a palette of light cream and rich chocolate. Fewer than 1,000 mugs were fired for this season, so don't delay. Order yours today!
Get a head start on your holiday shopping with our 2016-07 Holiday Catalog. There's something for everyone HERE. This digital version of our popular catalog makes finding the perfect ranger-approved gifts even easier with point-and-click shopping options on every page. And all purchases support the Smokies!
|
|
Park Partner News:
Help FOTS pick a new plate
Friends of the Smokies is looking for input on their upcoming refresh of the Tennessee state license plate, a program that has resulted in more than $8.3 million for GSMNP since it started in 1997. Everyone, not just Tennessee drivers, is encouraged to voice an opinion. Click HERE to vote for your favorite. |
|
Smokies Monthly Visitation Count
| January | 379,730
| | February | 353,532
| | March | 778,211
| | April | 859,420
| | May | 1,018,224 | | June | 1,364,138
| | July | 1,464,456
| | August | 1,193,718
|
Year-to-Date Total: 7,411,429* *Number subject to change following verification |
SmartBank gives GSMA $7,500
SmartBank's Sevier County Market Executive Bobby Castle, along with Consumer and Small Business Lender Gus Floodquist, presented a $7,500.00 check to Great Smoky Mountains Association Executive Director Laurel Rematore earlier this month. "SmartBank is thrilled to partner with GSMA whose mission of promoting environmental awareness through education, interpretation and research aligns with our own mission of protecting the greatest assets in the communities we serve," Castle said.
|
Best Western
Cades Cove Inn
The BEST WESTERN Cades Cove Inn is ideally located some 20 miles from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, on the "peaceful side" of the Smoky Mountains. This Townsend, TN, hotel is convenient to the area's most popular attractions, such as Cades Cove, Tuckaleechee Caverns and beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Enjoy a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities in the area. The Little River provides all kinds of water fun, with tubing, canoeing, kayaking and fishing. Horseback riding and more than 900 miles of maintained hiking trails are nearby.
NEW Business Members
Holiday Inn Club Vacations Gatlinburg
Smoky Mountain Resort
Camp LeConte Luxury Outdoor Resort
GSMA members receive a 10% discount on camping, not valid during holiday and October
|
|
The Smokies are just a click away...
|
|
Got questions? We've got answers.
|
|
Oops! Our October member renewal mailing went out on forms dated for September. We apologize for the confusion and will make sure all renewal dates are accurate.
|
|
|
Connecting Today to Yesterday; Preserving Today for Tomorrow
|
|
|
|
|
