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| Get on the Path to Adventure with Friends |
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Greetings!
Love is in the air for spring hiking and wildflowers here at Friends of the Smokies. We've got a last-minute, guilt-free, action-packed Valentine's Day idea for you too! Buy your best adventure buddy tickets to
 | | 2012/13 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour (Canada/USA) |
Banff Mountain Film Festival's Knoxville screening. Thanks to our host Blue Ridge Mountain Sports we will once again receive all proceeds from this amazing event (watch trailers for Banff 2013 films here). #KnoxBanff (tweet this hashtag for a chance to win tickets + dinner from the Tomato Head) is March 25th. |
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Sunny Days Ahead
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the 4th in the series of custom label wines
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| Another limited edition wine from Sugarland Cellars with label art by Robert A. Tino will debut in Gatlinburg on March 16th. As with 'Dance of the Firefly', 'Autumn Path', and 'Winter's Blessings', Sugarland Cellars will donate $5 from every bottle to Friends of the Smokies.
Join us for BBQ, live music, wine tasting and more starting at 2:00 p.m on Saturday, March 16th at Sugarland Cellars.
A few bottles of 'Winter's Blessings' remain, and they are only available at the winery in Gatlinburg.
For more information about the March 16th arrival of 'Sunny Days' visit our Events Page
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Experience Your Smokies North Carolina
|  | Experience Your Smokies (North Carolina) is a unique opportunity to get to know the park and its employees in a whole new way.
Experience Your Smokies is seeking diverse applicants from the surrounding North Carolina communities for a program this spring.
Apply Now thru February 22nd
Complete program details in Cherokee One Feather
 | | Courtesy of Sam Hobbs |
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Classic Hikes Start March 19th
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 | | Explore the NC Smokies All Year |
| Hiking with Danny Bernstein is an unforgettable experience. Give yourself a treat this spring and sign up for the March 19th trek to Deep Creek.
Danny's already scouted the hike with our AmeriCorps Outreach Associate Keith Hoffman.
Reward your senses with the roar of three waterfalls.
Reach back into history as you visit 3 cemeteries.
Relax at day's end knowing you ascended 1600' over 9 miles, and enjoyed every second of it!
For more information, contact Keith at (828) 452-0720.
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Get Ready...
Get Fit...
|  | Hike with us every Wednesday in April. We're celebrating our 15th year of this fun fundraiser that has raised more than $127,000 to help preserve and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Whether your goal is to incorporate hiking into your fitness routine or get started tackling all of the trails in the Smokies, we invite you to join former Olympian and fitness expert Missy Kane, along with volunteers and Friends of the Smokies staff members.
Space is limited, so don't miss out. Complete details for the April series are here
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Your Intro to Hiking Starts Here
|  | We're partnering with Blue Ridge Mountain Sports to bring you another Hiking 101 seminar March 20th at 6:30 p.m. in the Farragut store.
The purpose is to provide knowledge of hiking fundamentals and equipment required to build confidence and ensure safety.
The seminar is free and includes light refreshments, handouts and discussion of equipment.
 | | Development Director Sarah Weeks at Last Autumn's Hiking 101 |
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Blue Ridge Mountain Sports - Farragut
11537 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN
6:30 - 8:00 pm
Sponsored by Friends of the Smokies Get on the Trail program and Blue Ridge Mountain Sports.
For more information and to register, please call Sarah Weeks at (800) 845-5665 or email her at sarah@friendsofthesmokies.org
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Can You Read a Trail Map?
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Hiking in the Smokies 101
(TWO chances to participate in North Carolina)
February 19, 2013 Location-
Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville, NC
Time- 4-5:30 p.m.
Cost- FREE
February 28, 2013 Location- REI in south Asheville
Time- 6:30-8 p.m.
Cost- FREE
Registration- Online here at REI's website
Benefit from the knowledge and expertise of Danny Bernstein, our hiking guide for the 2013 Classic Hikes of the Smokies.who will share her trails tales and review reading a Smokies trail map, including information about entrances (in addition to Hwy 441) and facilities. There will also be a day-hike equipment demonstration by Gracia Slater, who has hiked all the trails in the Smokies - without any camping! Stick around for an update on the Smokies Trails Forever program too.
*Attendees - please bring a map of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, National Geographic whole park version is great. Friends will also have maps on hand
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P.S.- The Park isn't closed! Yes there have been some roads affected by landslides (but work is progressing) and winter weather, but your park (and its surrounding communities) is still open for business. Read more from Danny Bernstein here. Know Before You Go- In winter it's always a safe bet to call (865) 436-1200 for a weather forecast and current road conditions, or get updates on Twitter at @SmokiesRoadsNPSRead more about Park road and trail closures at the National Parks Traveler blog. |
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