Great Smoky Mountains 75th Anniversary

Homecoming Registration

jtankersley — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:24:00 GMT

Homecoming Agenda

Open House Locations

Friday/Saturday Activities

Meet The Authors Bios

Share Your Photos

Homecoming Registration

Registration Form

Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary Employee and Alumni Homecoming

April 30 - May 2, 2009

A G E N D A

Registration is required for all events and activities except the Open House.

Thursday, April 30

• 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Check-in - Sugarlands Visitor Center Training Room
• 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Open House
• 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. - Meet the Authors Reception - W. L. Mills Conference Center - Gatlinburg*
• 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Barbecue Hoedown Dinner - Gatlinburg - Twin Creeks Picnic Pavilion - Gatlinburg*

Friday, May 1

• 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. - Late Check-in - Sugarlands Visitor Center Training Room
• 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Field Programs
• 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. - Banquet and Silent Auction Gatlinburg - Park Vista Hotel*

Saturday, May 2

• 8:30 a.m. – Depart for Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center
• 11:30 a.m. – Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center Lunch and Programs*
• 1:00 p.m. – Optional hike to Cataloochee
• 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Dinner and Elk program in Cataloochee*

*Fees associated with activities to cover refreshments and meals. See registration form for costs.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Please (1) fill out the registration form and send in payment by April 1, 2009. (2) Submit your program/activities selection. You will receive a confirmation no later than April 16. Check-in will be held on Thursday morning at which time you will receive your orientation packet. Late check-in will be available at Meet the Authors reception and the Twin Creeks barbecue on Thursday and Friday morning from 8 a.m.- 10 a.m.

Programs/Social Activities – We are pleased to offer a variety of activities during the three days. Program descriptions are listed separately. We are requiring that you sign up for these programs because some of the field day activities have limitations on the number of people, particularly for the hikes. Indicate your selection(s) on the registration form.

Photos Presentation – At the Friday night banquet, we will present your memories of the Smokies. Please submit digital photos no later than April 1 and follow the instructions provided on the Share Your Photos page.

Lodging - We have procured a special rate at the following lodging facilities:

• Park Vista, $75* per night

• Edgewater at the Aquarium, $70* per night and includes bountiful, complimentary continental breakfast

• Arrowmont (dorm style, shared rooms and bathrooms), $25 per night (limited beds available).

*Rates do not include applicable taxes.

To make a reservation at the Park Vista or Edgewater at the Aquarium, call direct to hotels: Edgewater, 800 423-9582 and Park Vista 800-421-7275 by referring to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To make a reservation at Arrowmont, contact Nancy Gray at 865/436-1208; or nancy_gray@nps.gov. The lodging rates are available until March 31.

Transportation – It will be necessary to have a private vehicle during your visit. We will coordinate carpooling for some of the activities depending on participation.

REGISTRATION FORM - CLICK HERE

Contact Us

jtankersley — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:22:00 GMT

Homecoming Agenda

Open House Locations

Friday/Saturday Activities

Meet The Authors (Bios)

Share Your Photos

Homecoming Registration

Registration Form

Committee Representatives

Public Affairs
Nancy Gray • 865/436-1208 • Nancy_gray@nps.gov

Administration
Terri Wales • 865/436-1222 • Terri_wales@nps.gov

Resource Education
Susan Ross • 865/436-1256 • Susan_ross@nps.gov

Resource and Visitor Protection
Babette Collavo • 865/436-1265 • Babette_collavo@nps.gov

Resource Management and Science
Becky Nichols • 865/436-1702 • Becky_nichols@nps.gov

Facility Management
Imelda Wegwerth • 865/436-1302 • Imelda_wegwerth@nps.gov
Ben Dieterle • 865/436-1238 • Ben_dieterle@nps.gov

Partner Organizations

Great Smoky Mountains Association
Judy Collins • 865/436-7318, ext. 222 • Judy@gsmassoc.org

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
Meredith Goins • 865/448-6709 • Meredith@gsmit.org

Discover Life in America
Todd Witcher • 865/430-4757 • Todd@dlia.org

Friends of the Smokies
Holly Burcham • 865/932-4794 • Fotshb@bellsouth.net

Send Us A Message!

Program Descriptions

jtankersley — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:57:00 GMT

Homecoming Agenda

Open House Locations

Friday/Saturday Activities

Meet The Authors (Bios)

Share Your Photos

Homecoming Registration

Registration Form

Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2

Note: Please identify the programs you wish to attend on the registration form. When making your selections, take travel times into consideration from point A to point B. Programs are subject to change and participation is limited, as many of these are hikes. You may want to consider packing a lunch if you plan an all day stay in the park. Your hotel may provide boxed lunches.

FRIDAY, May 1

TENNESSEE AREA OF PARK

GREENBRIER/COSBY AREA

F01. A Nature Walk – Meander around a hemlock forest and learn about this unique forest ecosystem. A non-native insect, the hemlock woolly adelgid, was discovered in the Park in 2002. Park Forester Kris Johnson will discuss the devastation that followed and explain the Park’s program to save representative hemlock stands.

9 a.m. - Cosby Nature Trail, 1 mile loop, easy; 1 hour

F02. Scavenger Hunt - Join Kat and John LaFevre, authors of the popular hiking book series, Scavenger Hike Adventures, on a fun hiking adventure along awesome Porters Creek Trail. Follow clues to find an old barn from the 1800s, remains of an old Model T and stand inside an old “refrigerator” (springhouse). Porters Creek is also a wildflower bonanza.

10:30 a.m. - Porters Creek Trailhead in Greenbrier; 2 miles roundtrip; easy; 1.5 hours

F03. A Walk with Glenn Cardwell - Glenn is a former resident of Big Greenbrier and retired Smokies Sugarlands Visitor Center Supervisor who is now mayor of Pittman Center. Mayor Cardwell will share his insights on what it was like to live in the beautiful area of Greenbrier before it became a national park. He will lead a hike along Injun Creek to the remains of a steam engine.

1 p.m. - Greenbrier; Meet at the ranger station, 4 mile round trip, moderate, 2.5 hours

HEADQUARTERS/TWIN CREEKS AREAS

F04. State of the Park – An interesting overview of the Park and presentation on the many issues and challenges facing Park managers today. Bob Miller, the park’s spokesperson since 1989, will provide an update on the high profile projects and programs in the Park. He will spend time with participants in answering questions and having discussions about some of the changes that have occurred in the Park over the years.

9:00 a.m. - Sugarlands Visitor Center Auditorium - 1 hour

F05. Learn to Play a Dulcimer – Anne Lough is a renowned singer and musician who brings the ballads and folk songs of Appalachia to her audiences. She is accomplished on both mountain and hammered dulcimer, autoharp, and guitar. No musical experience is necessary to learn to play and enjoy this beautiful, soothing Appalachian instrument. You will learn basic melody and strumming techniques using simple folk and hymn tunes.

9:00 a.m. – Sugarlands Visitor Center Training Room, 1.5 hours

F06. Up Close Investigation of the Smokies Biodiversity – It is amazing to think there are living things all around us that have gone undetected. Over 6,000 species new to the park have been discovered through a study identify all living things. Participate in fun hands-on demonstrations on how species are collected and identified and view insects under a microscope with Discover Life in America employees at the Park’s new state of the art science and education center.

10:00 a.m. - Twin Creeks Science and Education Center, 1-2 hours

F07. Historic Observation Towers - During the logging era catastrophic forest fires were common in the Smokies. After the park was established, the CCC built fire towers on ridgetops to help spot forest fires. Charles Maynard will share his insights on this era as he leads a hike to one of the few remaining firetowers. Cove Mountain firetower is currently used as an air quality monitoring station. Charles Maynard is a professional storyteller, author, United Methodist Minister, and the former Executive Director of the Friends organization.

10:00 a.m. - Laurel Falls Trailhead, 8.25 miles, strenuous, 4-5 hours

F08. Aquatic Life Abounds in the Smokies – The splashing streams of the southern Appalachians have nurtured aquatic diversification. The Park’s streams are teeming with life and provide food sources for wildlife, including the hellbender, the largest salamander in North America. Engage in a discussion about stream habitat and observe aquatic fauna with Park Entomologist Becky Nichols. Also discussed will be discoveries of organisms from an ongoing study to identify all species, many of which were previously unknown.

10:30 a.m. - Fighting Creek Nature Trail (behind Headquarters), short walk, easy; 2 hours.

F09. History and Culture - Take a hike to one of the Civilian Conservation Corps camps along the Old Sugarlands Trail with Park Archeologist Erik Kreusch. This trail was once a wagon road giving life to the Sugarlands community, named for the sugar maples that once grew here. Several historic remains are still present and provide an opportunity to learn about the long human history spanning thousands of years—from the prehistoric Paleo Indians to early European settlement in the 1800s to the CCC in the 20th century.

1:00 p.m. - Sugarlands Visitor Center, 3.5 miles round trip, easy; 3 hours.

F10. “The Truth about Mountain Lions”– Some say that there are still mountain lions that live in the national park, but are there? Is there any concrete evidence that supports this conclusion? Dr. Don Linzey, a zoologist and ecologist and author of several books on the Smokies natural resources, will share his knowledge from years of research on this subject.

1:00 p.m. – Sugarlands Visitor Center Training Room, 1 hour

CADES COVE/TREMONT

F11. A Day with a Naturalist - Hike to Gregory Bald - Volunteer Tom Harrington is an avid hiker, nature enthusiast and expert wildflower photographer. He will lead a hike to Gregory Bald and identify beautiful wildflowers along the way. Gregory Bald is a beautiful broad grass meadow, one of two balds the Park maintains for its historic value, with excellent views. This hike is only for avid hikers.

9:00 a.m. - Cades Cove, 10 miles, strenuous, all day – Pack a lunch

F12. Geology Walk to Spruce Flats Falls – Hike to one of the Smokies beautiful falls with Ken Voorhis, Executive Director of Tremont Institute, who will also point out geologic processes along the way, such as weathering, erosion, and tectonic activity, that have and are shaping the Smoky Mountains. Explore the role that rocks and soils play in shaping an ecosystem.

9:00 a.m. - Tremont Institute, Administration Building, 2 miles, moderate, 3 hours.

F13. Cades Cove Unique Habitats – Explore some of the hidden secrets in the beautiful valley of Cades Cove with Park Botanist Janet Rock. Abrams Creek is one of the few relatively slow-moving bodies of water in the Park, creating very fertile habitats for rare fish and plant species. Canebrakes, once common throughout the Southeast, occur here in great abundance.

10:00 a.m. - Cades Cove, Abrams Falls Trailhead, easy, 2 hours

NORTH CAROLINA AREA OF PARK

OCONALUFTEE/SMOKEMONT

F014. Incredible Edibles and Medicinal Plants – Ila Hatter is an interpretive naturalist, artist, storyteller, and renowned wildcrafter with nearly 30 years experience teaching the cultural heritage of native plants. Spend some time with Ila discovering how to identify plants and trees Native Americans and early settlers used for food, medicines, and crafts while walking along the Mountain Farm Museum and Oconaluftee River.

9:00 a.m. - Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 3 hours, easy

F015. One of the Most Remarkable Frontiersman - Hike to the Carver Cemetery located in the Smokemont area with former Park Ranger Tom Robbins. One of the Park’s most remarkable residents was Aden Carver, born at Smokemont in 1844. Carver lived to be 101 years old and through the life of Carver, the Smokemont area became a thriving community, from farming to logging.

1:00 p.m. - Upper section of Smokemont Campground, Bradley Fork Trailhead; easy to moderate with short steep sections; 2 miles

CLINGMANS DOME AREA

F016. Air Pollution, Light Pollution – The Park has some of the highest levels of air pollution of any monitored unit in the National Park System. Park resources and people’s health are being impacted by the air pollutants. Protection of dark night skies is also becoming a major concern in national parks. Join Air Quality Specialist Jim Renfro at the highest air quality monitoring and research station in eastern North America where he will discuss these trends, effects, and solutions.

9:30 a.m. - Clingmans Dome, Meet at west end parking area, .5 mile one way strenuous hike to tower, 1.5 hours

F017. Climate Change and the Park's Species – The Smokies had a violent birth in slow motion; a collision of tectonic plates about 300 million years ago. The mountains are so ancient that most of their rocks contain no fossils. The orientation of the Appalachians has allowed species to migrate along the mountains during climatic shifts and consequently, ecosystems have had millions of years to diversify and thrive which explains part of the richness and variety of life here. Park Biologist Keith Langdon will discuss what we have learned thus far as to why biodiversity is so high here, and the potential for climatic change to alter the Park’s ecosystems in the future.

1:00 p.m.. - Clingmans Dome, Meet at west end parking area, 1 hour discussion

F018. Discover a Historic Survey Marker - Travel in time with Dwight McCarter, a former park ranger who was one of the Park's primary trackers of lost visitors, and Joe Kelley who assisted in rediscovering the Meigs Post high atop the Smokies. Meigs Post was probably the most important survey point used to establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This walk will take you to the histoic southern border marker of the U.S. on scenic Mt. Collins.

2:30 p.m. - Clingmans Dome, Sugarland Mountains Trailhead; 1 mile, 1.5 hours

SATURDAY, May 2

S019 – Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center – After lunch, hike (if you sign up) to Cataloochee from the Appalachian Highlands Learning Science Center to participate in the elk program. Transportation arrangements will be coordinated at check-in.

1 p.m. – Hike the McKee Branch and Bradley Fork Trails into Cataloochee; rugged and wet; moderate; 4 hours.

S020 – Elk Program in Cataloochee Valley – The experimental release of elk in Cataloochee began in 2001. Viewing the elk in this beautiful valley setting has become increasingly popular for visitors. Wildlife Biologist Kim Delozier and Joe Yarkovich will talk about the elk program and then you will have a chance to view elk in the fields. (Remember to order a boxed dinner if you want to eat with the group)

4:30/5:00 p.m. – Programs will start at Palmer Chapel in Cataloochee

Homecoming Open House

jtankersley — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:42:00 GMT

Homecoming Agenda

Open House Locations

Friday/Saturday Activities

Meet The Authors (Bios)

Share Your Photos

Homecoming Registration

Registration Form

Homecoming Open House For Great Smoky Mountains Alumni and Partners

Thursday, April 30, 2009, 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

We welcome all Great Smoky Mountains National Park Alumni and partners to join us in selected areas throughout the Park to visit your old work areas, visit with current employees and old friends, view exhibits, and enjoy some light refreshments.

Although you are welcome to visit any of the field or office areas where you may have worked, each division will host their open house as follows:

Division

Location

Activities

Contact

1) Superintendent’s Office
2) Administration
3) Resource and Visitor Protection (Rangers)
4) Resource Education (Interpretation)
5) Resource Management and Science
6) Facility Management (Maintenance)

Park Headquarters

Meet and greet current staff and old friends; exhibits; and refreshments.

Nancy Gray 865/436-1208 Nancy_gray@nps.gov

Terri Wales 865/436-1221
Terri_wales@nps.gov

Division Field Offices

Location

Activities

Contact

Resource and Visitor Protection (Rangers)

1) Little River Ranger Station

2) Oconaluftee Ranger Station

Meet and greet current staff and old friends; search and rescue vehicle displayed at Little River Ranger Station.

Babette Collavo 865/436-1265 Babette_collavo@nps.gov

Resource Education (Interpretation)

1) Sugarlands Visitor Center

2) Oconaluftee Visitor Center

3) Cades Cove Visitor Center

Meet and greet current staff and old friends; exhibits; attend scheduled programs (with approval); and refreshments.

Susan Ross 865/436-1256 Susan_ross@nps.gov

Resource Management and Science

Twin Creeks Science Center

Meet and greet current staff and old friends; exhibits; tour new facility; and refreshments.

Becky Nichols 865/436-1702 Becky_nichols@nps.gov

Facility Management (Maintenance)

1) North District (TN) Maintenance Break Room

2) Cades Cove Maintenance Break Room

3) Oconaluftee Maintenance Break Room

- Meet and greet current staff and old friends; photo boards; running power point; and refreshments.

- Historic and modern equipment on display

Imelda Wegwerth 865-436-1302 Imelda_wegwerth@nps.gov

Ben Dieterle 865/436-1238 Ben_dieterle@nps.gov

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

Tremont Welcome Center

Meet and greet current staff and old friends; development plans on display; Walker Valley Exhibit; photo scanning of your old photos; other displays; and refreshments.

Meredith Goins 865/448-6709 Meredith@gsmit.org

Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA)

GSMA Offices (behind Park Headquarters)

Meet and greet current staff and old friends; and refreshments.

Judy Collins 865/436-7318 ext. 222 Judy@gsmassoc.org

Discover Life In America (DLIA)

DLIA Office at Twin Creeks (old Botany House)

Meet and greet current staff and old friends; and refreshments.

Todd Witcher 865/430-4757 Todd@dlia.org

Share Your Photos

jtankersley — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:28:00 GMT

Homecoming Agenda

Open House Locations

Friday/Saturday Activities

Meet The Authors (Bios)

Share Your Photos

Homecoming Registration

Registration Form

Maintenance Worker Randy Wegwerth, wife Landscape Architect Imelda Wegwerth,and their daughter, Summer, enjoy some special time at the Chimney Tops Picnic Area, along with other family members - 2008

We need your photographs showing you working, living, and/or exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a special presentation at the Homecoming Banquet. You can include snapshots of your work crew, roommates, and special projects you completed.

Please send digital photographs to: web9272@msn.com.

Save your digital photographs with the lowest resolution to reduce picture size for email capability. Please caption the photos and indicate as best as you can date, location, and names of people or group in each snapshot. Volunteer Warren Bielenberg has graciously offered to create the slideshow using these photographs for reminiscing at the event.

Submit your photos by April 1, 2009.

Special thanks to Warren for his work on this project which will help make our Homecoming event even more memorable!

Smokies Alumni Homecoming

jtankersley — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:26:00 GMT

Homecoming Agenda

Open House Locations

Friday/Saturday Activities

Meet The Authors (Bios)

Share Your Photos

Homecoming Registration

Registration Form

Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary Employee and Alumni Homecoming

April 30 - May 2, 2009

Superintendent Dale Ditmanson and his staff are pleased to host this landmark Homecoming during the Park’s 75th anniversary. The Homecoming is for anyone who is currently working or has ever worked for the park—National Park Service employees, partners, volunteers, concessioners, contractors, et al—and their families. This is a social opportunity for the park family to renew acquaintances, share stores, and see the changes that have occurred over the years.

For more than 75 years, people have played an important role in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the most beloved national parks in the country. Prior to its establishment in 1934, the drive to create this special place was due to hard working supporters who had the foresight and the ingenuity to bring this park to a reality. Then it was the people who cared for these majestic mountains under park protection. During this special anniversary Great Smoky Mountains National Park wants to honor those people who, in various capacities, have helped manage this precious resource. The committee is planning a wide variety of fun activities and interesting programs and social gatherings.

A G E N D A

Thursday, April 30

• 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Official Registration Sugarlands Visitor Center Training Room
• 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Open House
• 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. - Meet the Authors Reception Gatlinburg - W. L. Mills Conference Center
• 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Barbecue Hoedown Dinner - Gatlinburg - Twin Creeks Picnic Pavilion

Friday, May 1

• 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. - Late Registration Sugarlands Visitor Center Training Room
• 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Field Programs
• 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. - Banquet and Silent Auction Gatlinburg - Park Vista Hotel

Saturday, May 2

• 11:30 a.m. – Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center Lunch and Programs
• 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. - Dinner and Elk program Cataloochee (option to drive or hike)

National Park Service Director Mary Bomar said that:

"Places are the National Park System and People are the National Park Service, and this must be a time for our people."

This is the time for those at the Smokies to celebrate their involvement.

The celebration starts out with an Open House on THURSDAY at certain locations in the park where you can visit, enjoy refreshments, and talk with your counterparts. Later that afternoon, several noted authors will be guests of honor at a Meet the Authors reception-- (many of them will also be leading field hikes on Friday.) You may purchase their works in advance from the Great Smoky Mountains Association website, www.SmokiesInformation.org, or you can purchase copies at the reception to have autographed. The authors are listed on this website with their bios.

We planned FRIDAY activities to offer a wide range of events that will be both enjoyable and informative about many aspects of the park. Register early for these activities, as some will be limited. If you plan to stay in the park all day, you will need to arrange for food and drink -- and there are a few offerings that will require appropriate outdoor clothing. Friday evening’s banquet will be grand, and includes a silent auction. We welcome a donated item from your area/park for the auction which will benefit the Great Smoky Mountains and National Park Service Employee and Alumni Associations. You can bring the item to the registration table. In addition, we hope you will contribute digital photographs of your time in the Smokies for use in a presentation at the banquet. (See the Share Your Photos instruction page.)

SATURDAY will be an all day event starting at the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center in North Carolina, located on a scenic mountaintop site (elev. ~5,000 ft. and can be cool this time of year). It is about a 1-1/2 hour drive from Gatlinburg, and well worth it! We will be coordinating carpool and transportation needs for this event during the onsite registration. We are also offering a 5-1/2 mile hike from the Center to Cataloochee Valley where we will participate in an elk program. You must let us know on the registration form if you plan to hike so we can make transportation arrangements.

We look forward to seeing everyone! Please get in touch if you have any questions.

Meet The Authors

jtankersley — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:16:00 GMT

Homecoming Agenda

Open House Locations

Friday/Saturday Activities

Meet The Authors Bios

Share Your Photos

Homecoming Registration

Registration Form

“MEET THE AUTHORS” RECEPTION – Thursday, April 30, 4 – 6 p.m.

Wayne Caldwell, an Asheville native and writer, published Cataloochee in 2007. This is a novel which tells the story of Ezra Banks, a resident of Cataloochee from the late 1800’s to the beginning of the National Park. He is now working on a sequel to Cataloochee titled Hearth Stones.

Noel C. Fisher received his Ph.D. in history from Ohio State University and has taught U.S. History at Ohio State University at Marion and Ohio Wesleyan University. He won the 1997 Peter Seaborg Award for best nonfiction book on the Civil War for War at Every Door. The Civil War in the Smokies is his account of the war in East Tennessee which may have been the most divided area of the Confederacy and where guerrilla warfare between Confederate and Union supporters was particularly fierce.

Ila Hatter is an interpretive naturalist, artist, storyteller, and wildcrafter with almost 30 years experience teaching the cultural heritage of native plants. She is the author of Roadside Rambles, a wild foods cookbook, and a video series, “Wild Edibles and Medicinals of Southern Appalachia” and “Mountain Kitchen.” Lisa Horstman, award-winning children’s author, lives and works in Knoxville. Her memorable stories and captivating illustrations have delighted children and their parents alike. Her books include The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball and The Troublesome Cub.

Rose Houk, freelance writer and editor who specializes in natural history and archeology, has served as a guide and lecturer and has written numerous books about national parks and monuments. Her works on Great Smoky Mountains National Park include Exploring the Smokies, a guidebook to help visitors get the most out of their visit to the Park, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park: The Range of Life, a picturesque tour of the Park.

Kat and John LaFevre are residents of Gatlinburg who share a lifelong love of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Kat has performed volunteer work for the Park, and John is a business consultant and professional speaker. They are avid hikers and through their book, Scavenger Hike Adventures: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, they have found a creative and fun way to share their hiking adventures with kids and adults alike.

Donald W. Linzey, a zoologist and ecologist, is Professor of Biology at Wytheville Community College in Wytheville, Virginia. He is an authority on the mammals of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its environs as he has studied the mammals of the region for over 40 years. His book, Mammals of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, was the first popular summary of information about the park’s mammals in nearly a quarter of a century. He recently completed A Natual History Guide: Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Charles Maynard, an ordained Methodist minister, popular speaker and former executive director of the Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has written a number of children’s books and national park guidebooks including Waterfalls of the Smokies, Time Well Spent, a family hiking guide to the Smokies and Going to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a picture-filled introduction to the area for the young and young at heart.

Joe Kelley began his 30-year NPS career at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He retired as superintendent from Obed Wild and Scenic River in 1994. He co-wrote, The Meigs Line, an historical fiction about an older ranger who becomes lost while attempting to walk the Hawkins/Meigs survey line. The Meigs survey line in 1797 was the southern boundary of the United States.

Dwight McCarter worked as a Maintenance employee and a Park Ranger for Great Smoky Mountains National Park for 27 years. Recognized as an expert tracker, he has been involved in many searches in the Park, and in Lost, Mr. McCarter recounts many of these incidents and shares other accounts of search and rescue missions in the Smoky Mountains. Mr. McCarter also co-wrote Mayday! Mayday! , about plane crashes and associated search and rescue missions in the Park.His newest book, The Meigs Line, was co-authored with Joe Kelley.

Daniel S. Pierce teaches in the Department of History and the Humanities Program at the University of North Carolina, Asheville, and is a contributor to The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. In The Great Smokies – From Natural Habitat to National Park, Mr. Pierce provides a comprehensive history of the impact of people on the landscape of the Smokies – from the hunting and gathering of prehistoric Indians to the air pollution and overuse by today’s visitors and neighbors.

Margaret Lynn Brown is assistant professor of history at Brevard College in North Carolina. Her work has appeared in “Southern Exposure” and “The Journal of Appalachian Studies.” In The Wild East, Ms. Brown explores the history and management of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Note: Authors have been invited to the Meet the Authors Reception and some are available only if schedule permits.

Mission 66 - The 1960's

jtankersley — Sat, 31 May 2008 05:22:00 GMT

Pre 1900's - 1920's | 1930's |1940's |1950's |1960's | 1970's |1980's |1990's | 2000's

Back to the Smokies Timeline

In 1940, the year that the park was dedicated the park played host to not only President Roosevelt on September 2, but it also saw almost million visitors throughout the year. Although that may not seem like many compared to our 9 million visitors a year that we get now, at the time it was more than any other national park in the country. The recent construction completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps throughout the park was serving this public well.

But, just over a year after the official dedication, the boys of the CCC were taken out of their homes in the Smokies in the name of protecting our country, leaving some projects incomplete. WWII also changed the amount of visitors to the park and the staffing capability of the NPS.

The funding and workforce crunch caused by the war years had lasting effects on parks all over the country, where the stress of under use and substandard maintenance capabilities caused buildings roadways and trails to deteriorate quickly. Unfortunately, even when the US withdrew from the war this problem was not immediately alleviated.

Postwar, National Parks still faced budget and manpower shortages, but unlike the war years the public visiting the National Parks was growing by leaps and bounds. By 1955 the Smokies was serving 2.5 million visitors per year with no true visitor centers, substandard roadways, and only 2 developed campgrounds. These conditions would quickly change.

In 1956, a program began that would change the status of deteriorating parks service-wide. Mission 66, approved by President Eisenhower, not only provided behind the scenes support such as staff housing and physical plants, it also created and rehabilitated structures and roadways all over the park.

Some of the most notable Mission 66 projects in the Smokies include; the Clingmans Dome Tower, the Gatlinburg Bypass and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, campgrounds at Elkmont, Deep Creek, Cades Cove, Big Creek and Cosby as well as Sugarlands Visitor Center. With these projects Mission 66 and the National Park Service sought to make the experiences of the visitors better by making things more accessible and also by spreading out visitation to widespread areas within the same park so that more people could enjoy the same park, without it really feeling busy.

North Shore Road - The 2000's

jtankersley — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:41:00 GMT

Pre 1900's - 1920's | 1930's |1940's |1950's |1960's | 1970's |1980's |1990's | 2000's

Back to the Smokies Timeline

Smokies Announces Status of North Shore Road Environmental Impact Statement

Date: May 25, 2007
Contact: Bob Miller, (865) 436-1207

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent, Dale A. Ditmanson, has announced that the National Park Service (NPS) has begun preparation of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) which was undertaken to resolve the long-standing issues regarding the proposed North Shore Road in the Swain County, NC area of the Park. As currently drafted, the FEIS will call for a monetary settlement to Swain County as the National Park Service’s Agency Preferred Alternative. The Park expects to publish a Notice of Availability of the FEIS in The Federal Register in September and then will accept public comments for a 30-day period prior to publishing a Record of Decision.

“Even though the FEIS will not be released for several months, we wanted to be responsive to the intense public interest in the status of this undertaking.” Ditmanson explained. “In most cases the National Park Service would have identified its Agency Preferred Alternative in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). In this instance we did not select a Preferred Alternative because the DEIS presented new information, specifically, much higher cost estimates for several of the alternatives, which the public had not seen before.”

According to Superintendent Ditmanson, “The National Park Service selected its Agency Preferred Alterative, in the draft FEIS, based upon an extensive review of the nearly 76,000 public comments received in response to the DEIS and analysis of the impacts of each alternative on the Park’s natural, cultural and recreational resources.

Debate over whether a 34-mile road should be constructed dates back to World War II when an agreement was signed, in 1943, between the Department of the Interior, the State of North Carolina, Swain County North Carolina, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Under terms of this “1943 Agreement”, a new road to replace NC 288, which was flooded during construction of TVA’s Fontana Dam, would be built if Congress appropriated the funding. In the 1960’s the NPS constructed approximately 7 miles of the road before abandoning the effort due to environmental impacts and engineering problems. No further federal funding was received for the road until 2001 when $16 million was appropriated to resume work on the project, triggering the current EIS process.

Mission 66 - The 1950's

jtankersley — Mon, 26 May 2008 16:32:00 GMT