October 2018
News and Happenings from
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Fun Fact About Fall in the Smokies: Our trees represent just one of the thousands of things alive in the park showing off this fall. Late-season wildflowers are still blooming, elk are getting frisky and our black bears are consuming as much food as possible in preparation for winter.
We've launched our new website
Still a few things to fix before your first purchase

Good News: We are thrilled to announce that SmokiesInformation.org is up and running with a brand new look and feel. Within our new site's pages you'll find the same great park-related highlights and stellar images you've come to expect from Great Smoky Mountains Association, along with VIP access to the very best educational merchandise available, all 100% ranger-approved.

Better News: After we've worked out a few bugs, we plan to celebrate our site launch by offering everyone a 5% discount on your first online purchase through the end of 2018. More details coming soon...

As with any technology, we expect to find and fix bugs on the site periodically, so members wishing to use your shopping discount may want to wait to hear from us before making your first purchase. A new website the size and scope of ours requires us to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. You can help us improve by sharing your experiences on the site HERE. Thanks!
Fall in love with
our park's leaves
Fall has officially arrived, and the trees in Great Smoky Mountains National Park are beginning to show off their fall colors . The colors are coming on the strongest at the highest elevations in the park. Witch-hobble leaves are turning burgundy, a smattering of dogwood trees have started to change and blackgum trees will soon be blushing red.
Credit Gary Wilson
All colors of fall are found here!
Take our foliage quiz
With fall colors on their way to the Smoky Mountains, it's time to spruce up (or perhaps  hemlock up) your tree knowledge. This month's quiz features 10 questions related to general tree facts and more specific questions related to the trees of the Smokies. 

Our quiz winner will be selected at random from all who answer the following questions correctly by October 26. Our winner will receive a copy of  Trees of the Smokies  and  Hiking Trails of the Smokies  so you can enjoy the sights and sounds of fall in the Smokies for yourself!
fall marianne garvey wells
Smoky Mountain Explorer Series
5 Films in 1 DVD/Blu-Ray collection
The first five films in Great Smoky Mountains Association's award-winning Smoky Mountain Explorer series are all wrapped up into one in this DVD and Blu-Ray compilation. Click on the image above to see our staff-picked highlights.

From Clingmans Dome with its high-elevation spruce-fir forests to Cades Cove and its rich cultural heritage... from beneath the surface of a mountain stream to atop Myrtle Point on Mount Le Conte... through spring, summer, fall and winter... The five films included in this compilation engage with breathtaking scenery, flora and fauna, and historical photographs.

Plus, a special bonus short film reflects on the devastating Chimney Tops 2 wildfire of November 2016, and follows the first year of recovery in the park. The Smoky Mountain Explorer series is narrated by Bill Landry. All purchases support the national park.
Vintage base ball comes to Cades Cove
By Craig Mortimore

Abraham Lincoln stands ready 45 feet away, intently staring at his battery mate. His black suit and stovepipe hat are uncomfortable garments for this activity, conducted in the heat of a summer afternoon. He receives a nod from his catcher and stands straight, reverses his arm in the direction of second base, and then swings it forward in an elegant underhand pitch. The ball arcs through the air descending into the welcoming hands of his battery mate.

“Well tossed!” exclaims the arbiter. A perfect strike, although no striker had been present to appraise the offering. Old Abe is not daunted by the sweat of his brow, for he is only there to offer the ceremonial first pitch of a match between two base ball clubs gathered at the Historic Ramsey House in Knoxville. “Huzzah!’ comes the cheers from players and enthusiastic rooters alike. The home team’s nine take to the field in their colorful uniforms for yet another match on the schedule of the Tennessee Association of Vintage Base Ball . (Note the historical emphasis on two words.)
Locally Grown
Things get wild at EYS
By Peyton Proffitt

On a foggy morning just off U.S. Highway 441/Newfound Gap Road, a park ranger’s truck was spotted hauling an olive green culvert to the back of Chimney Tops picnic area. A few folks had gathered to eat an early lunch and take photos of the river.

Two rangers approached the group and posed this question: “Would you like to see a bear today?”

The thrilled visitors surrounded the culvert at the rangers’ request. To their awe and delight, when the rangers opened the culvert door, a young male black bear bolted up the mountain, heading deep into the woods. 

This isn’t a typical morning in the Smokies for most visitors, but for Wildlife Management park rangers Ryan Williamson and Greg Grieco, it’s as standard as checking your daily email. During my most recent Experience Your Smokies session, my classmates and I spent an afternoon with Ryan and Greg and even traveled out into the field with them.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park wildlife management ranger Greg Grieco illustrates for visitors one way to wrangle a bear. Image by Jessica Hill with Shutterfox Photography 
New: Auto-Renew
your membership
Auto-renewal is now available for members on our website, through the mail and when you call in to renew by phone. Just check the box online or through the mail, and we'll do the rest. Getting, and STAYING, rooted in the Smokies matters.
Little Sluice of Heaven
Alum Cave Trail
By Dana Murphy

Whether you’re doing an out-and-back day trip, a car drop to incorporate more than one trail experience, or planning a night in the backcountry, at some point Alum Cave Trail falls into your lap as a must-do trail in the Smokies.

Your top priority should be to hit the trail early. Alum Cave is one of the most popular and easily accessible trails in the park, so even finding a parking spot can be challenging if you wait until later in the day to get started. Watch your footwork unloading and loading your gear, as delicate vegetation is under constant threat of being crushed in this area. 

Alum Cave Trail starts as a walk in the woods along a particularly scenic stretch of the Walker Camp Prong waterway. It takes you through a lovely mix of yellow buckeye, Eastern hemlock, rosebay rhododendron and much more. At Arch Rock, I notice that almost all hikers have smiles on their faces. How can that be?  Where else can you walk through rock?! (Read more about how this section of trail with stairs that climb through a rock came to be in  Hiking Trails of the Smokies .)
PC Bob Carr and GRSMNP
My first memory of this trail is from a hike in the winter of 1994 when I observed the destruction of a landslide from the year before. I had to safely navigate around rockslides and logjams that were so damaging to the existing trail that Smokies trail crews created a new path navigating around the damage... 


*Dry Sluice: Named for a small hollow or valley called a sluice, which has a spring-fed stream that sinks beneath the surface for several hundred yards before re-emerging. Hence, the upper part of the sluice is generally dry. - From  Place Names of the Smokies
Members came together to form a Community in
the Wilderness
Even with the threat of Hurricane Florence bearing down on us, Great Smoky Mountains Association was thrilled to host one of our largest and most successful Members Weekend events ever at Fontana Village and Marina on the park's southwest corner.

Participants enjoyed beautiful Carolina-blue skies Thursday – Saturday, with only Sunday morning activities cancelled due to potentially hazardous incoming weather.

"Thank you to all who attended this year's event," said Marketing and Membership Director Lisa Duff. "It's so nice to put names with faces, reconnect with old friends and make new ones during each year's event."

Details about next year's Members Weekend venue will be announced in the spring.
Joye Ardyn Durham
Joye Ardyn Durham
Joye Ardyn Durham
Images by Joye Ardyn Durham
Science at Sugarlands
Beetle Mania comes
to the Smokies
By Frances Figart

Did you know...? About one in every four animals on the planet is a beetle! Of the roughly 400,000 species of beetles known, some are pollinators, others recyclers –some even help to offset the effects of climate change.

“Insects are an instant connection to the wild and an extreme example of Earth’s biodiversity,” says Claire Winfrey (top right), a beetle expert and second-year Ph.D. student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. “Especially in warmer months, take some time to look in almost any type of habitat and you can find them.”

Claire will speak on behalf of beetles at 1 p.m. Friday, October 19, at the final installment of this year’s Science at Sugarlands series. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public at Sugarlands Visitor Center, 1420 Fighting Creek Gap Road, Gatlinburg.

To commemorate its 20 th anniversary and provide learning opportunities related to the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, Discover Life In America has hosted the talks for the past seven months.
DLIA Science at Sugarlands
DLIA Science at Sugarlands
Shop the Smokies!
All purchases support the national park
Smokies Life to highlight Foothills' 'Missing Link'
UPDATE: A ctive Great Smoky Mountains Association members should look in early October for your complimentary Smokies Life magazine to arrive. Due to a minor error at the printer, this issue is slightly delayed. Also, note that the next Bearpaw newsletter will be mailed this winter.

In your Smokies Life, you'll enjoy stories about the Foothills Parkway's 'Missing Link,' how this national park tracks its black bears, Discover Life in America's 20th anniversary, and a rescue story on Old Settlers Trail.

If you're not a member (YET ), you can purchase a copy at the cover price of $9.95 at all park visitor center locations. All purchases (and memberships) support the national park.
EXCLUSIVE to the Smokies: Our fall mug
features sorghum press
Made in the USA by the fine folks at Deneen Pottery, this year's exclusive Great Smoky Mountains National Park fall mug features a farmer and his trusty mule hard at work squeezing juice from sorghum cane. This detailed image captures the work and care that went into this traditional fall activity throughout the Appalachian region.
Teachers save 40% at visitor center locations
In honor of World Teacher Day on Friday, October 5, we want to remind all educators out there that our visitor center locations offer a 40% savings on most items for those of you who teach readin', ritin' and arithmetic to our next generation. Click HERE to find a list of our locations.
Toe-covering
weather
is upon us
Sweater weather is a fine idea, but how about sock weather! Great Smoky Mountains National Park's warm and cozy socks are available in men's and women's sizes and feature our iconic black bears. Find them HERE, at a park visitor centers and by calling us at 865.436.7318, Ext. 226.
Sales of all our ranger-approved products support the national park.
Move over pumpkin spice, apple crisp in a mug coming through
Leave it to Karen Key, one of Great Smoky Mountains Association's creative team members, to find another tasty use for our Deneen Pottery mugs. (We double checked to be sure these mugs are microwave safe. They are also dishwasher, oven and freezer safe.)

This new take on the traditional apple crisp recipe incorporates two Foods of the Smokies. Our whole wheat flour is used twice, while our delicious apple butter provides just the right amount of sweetness to this fall favorite.


Microwave Mug Apple Crisp

Ingredients
- 3 TBSP (1 1/2oz/45g) butter, melted
- 4 TBSP oats
- 2 TBSP chopped pecans
- 2 TBSP Foods of the Smokies whole wheat flour
- 2 TBSP brown sugar
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp of Foods of the Smokies apple butter
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 1 small apple, peeled diced
- ½ TBSP brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- In a small bowl stir in the oats, wheat flour, pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon and the salt.
- Stir in the melted butter to create the crisp topping
- Chop the apples small and toss them with the ½ tablespoon of flour, ½ tablespoon of the sugar, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of apple butter.
- Take a Microwaveable mug and fill with the apple. You can fill the mug because the apples cook down.
- Spoon the crisp mixture over the top.
- Microwave for 2- 2 ½ minutes. the apples should be bubbling and the whole thing will reduce in size. Cooking time is based on my 1200W microwave so your timing might vary.
- Carefully remove from the microwave and let stand until cool enough to eat. Be careful because it's going to be really hot at first!
- Enjoy warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Cooking time will vary greatly depending on your microwave and the width and depth of the mug
Partner News: DLIA's Salamander Ball
Salamander Ball
is set for October 5
There's still time to join Discover Life in America's annual fundraising event, the Great Smoky Mountains’ Salamander Ball, held at Zoo Knoxville Friday, October 5, from 5-9 p.m.

This family-friendly event takes its name from GSMA's Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball by Lisa Horstman and includes…
  • Local wine and beer, as well as plenty of non-alcoholic options, and tasty hors d’oeuvres catered by Holly’s Eventful Dining
  • Jazzy live music
  • A silent auction as unique as the Smokies themselves
  • Fun in the zoo’s Kids Cove
  • Science Stations for the whole family to learn about biodiversity studies in the park
  • Announcement of an incredible milestone of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory
  • A Smokies Critter Parade, with a special appearance by “Big Red,” the giant salamander!
salamander scott hotaling
National Park visitation to date
Will Great Smoky Mountains National Park retain the title of 'Most Visited National Park' in 2018? Only time will tell...

January - 320,864
February - 399,156
March - 689,235
April - 820,657
May - 985,145
June - 1,414,214
July - 1,468,273
August - 1,195,360
Total for 2018 = 7,292,904
2017 Park Visitation
through August: 7,338,125
Shop Our Lookout League
Business Partners
Partner of the Month

Townsend Gateway Inn owner Pete Girard has been supporting Great Smoky Mountains Association for several years. This pet-friendly establishment is your perfect Gateway to enjoy outdoor adventure and peaceful relaxation amid the natural splendor of every season. A host of activities awaits you, whether it is horseback riding through Cades Cove, fishing for Rainbow trout in the Little River or searching for that perfect treasure while strolling the many quaint shops Townsend has to offer.


Thank you, Pete and everyone at the Townsend Gateway Inn, for your support at the $500 Shuckstack Lookout League level.
Smokies Guide
The most recent issue of Smokies Guide , Great Smoky Mountains National Park's official park newspaper, is available to read online and can be mailed to you for free (S&H charges apply). Call 865.436.7318, Ext. 226 for mailing details.
Our talented 'Cubbies'
Great Smoky Mountains Association's Cub Report e-newsletter is published on or about the last Wednesday of each month, with the exception of January.

These talented individuals contributed to this month's issue:
Laurel Rematore, Chief Executive Officer
Lisa Duff, Cub Report Editor
Contributors this month were Frances Figart, Sarah Kirkland, Charley Mathis, Breckenridge Morgan, Craig Mortimore, Dana Murphy, Valerie Polk and Peyton Proffitt
Got questions? We've got answers
Share your thoughts on this issue
When you visit
In addition to our web store, Great Smoky Mountains Association operates 12 visitor contact stations in and around Great Smoky Mountains National Park. GSMA staff members are always available to help you find educational materials guaranteed to enhance your park experience. When you stop by, be sure to tell our team how much the Cub Report means to you!
Clingmans Dome Information Center (above) is our park's highest-elevation visitor center and GSMA-operated store.
Great Smoky Mountains Association members save up to 20% at all Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitor center stores.

Save with our card when you visit other
national parks, too.
Great Smoky Mountains Association

Connecting Today to Yesterday.
Preserving Today for Tomorrow.

865.436.7318 | Email | Website