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Leave It to Beavers Enjoy This Winter in the Mountains Safely

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Leave It to Beavers Enjoy This Winter in the Mountains Safely INDOOR ACTIVITIES—PLEASE SEE PAGE 2 THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF GREAT SMOKY MOUntAINS NATIonAL PARK v WIntER 2014-15 BILL LEA PHOTO STEVE GREER PHOTO WINTER WREN Newfound Gap Road offers visitors a glimpse of the high country. This tiny bird is famous Beavers and their dams are on the increase in the Great Smokies. for its long, loud, Enjoy This Winter in Leave it to Beavers melodious song. It is a the Mountains Safely ike elk and otter, beavers Yet even in the park’s permanent resident in the he 33-mile-long New- Typically, Newfound Gap Lwere eliminated from the lowlands, most Smoky Tfound Gap Road (U.S. Road is temporarily closed Great Smoky Mountains prior Mountain streams offer only Smokies that spends sum- 441) is the main automobile 15-20 times each winter. The to establishment of the nation- marginal beaver habitat. route through Great Smoky following signs may be post- al park in 1934. Unregulated Because of the area’s steep mers in the high elevation Mountains National Park. It ed at both ends of the road hunting and trapping, as well gradients and flash floods, crosses the crest of the Smoky informing drivers of current as agricultural practices, like- beavers can build dams only spruce-fir forest. During the Mountains at Newfound Gap restrictions: ly led to their demise. on the slowest-flowing trib- (elevation 5,046’) to connect d Chains or 4WD Required: However, during the utaries. Consequently, many colder months this wren is the towns of Gatlinburg, TN only vehicles with tire chains mid 20th century, agencies in park beavers live in dens dug and Cherokee, NC. Driving or 4WD may proceed. time is typically one hour. Tennessee and North Caro- into river banks rather than usually found at elevations d Chains Required: only At Newfound Gap, where lina reintroduced beavers to the classic lodges in beaver vehicles with chains on their the road reaches its highest rural areas in their states, and ponds. As long as the streams below 3,000 feet where it tires may proceed. in 1966 biologists confirmed maintain a steady flow, they point, temperatures are fre- d Road Closed: the road is that beavers were back in the can get by without the dam. quently 10-15° F cooler than darts about looking for closed to all vehicles. Smokies for the first time in Park visitors can see in Cherokee or Gatlinburg. In For current conditions more than a century. plenty of beaver sign along addition, the higher elevations insects in tangles of roots, call (865) 436-1200 or check The beavers’ return to certain streams, including of the park receive consid- Twitter at http://twitter.com/ the Smoky Mountains began trees gnawed and fallen by erably more precipitation undercut banks, and smokiesroadsnps. north of Fontana Lake in the beavers with their famous than the surrounding valleys. Winter hikers should be remote Eagle Creek water- “buck” teeth. Actually seeing Annually, Newfound Gap brambles. prepared for cold and wet shed. Since then beavers beavers is rare because they records over five feet of snow. conditions, even if the day have been documented all are nocturnal. Beavers fall This combination of low starts warm. Always bring around the lower elevations trees for a variety of purposes, temperatures and high pre- rain gear, hat, and gloves. of the park, including Abrams but mainly to get at the edible cipitation results in periods of Dress in layers with wool or Creek, Greenbrier, the Foot- bark. Local trees favored by hazardous driving conditions. fleece. Avoid cotton clothing hills Parkway, Little River, beavers include tuliptree, For the safety of motorists, the in winter because it loses Ravensford, the Oconaluftee river birch, black birch, syca- Park Service imposes certain insulation value when wet. River, and Deep Creek. more, and dogwood. restrictions on winter driving. indoor activities There are also plenty of indoor options for exploring the national park hen the weather calls for indoor activities, visitors to the Great Smoky Moun- Wtains still have a wide range of options for exploring the natural and cultural histories of the national park. Four quality museums with updated exhibits are locat- ed either inside the park or within five miles of its entrances. All are open year-round. Oconaluftee Visitor Center & Museum & JAMES WALKER Sugarlands Visitor Center & Museum Swain County Heritage Museum PHOTOGRAPHS BY BILL LEA, LISA DUFF LEA, LISA BILL BY PHOTOGRAPHS Sugarlands Visitor Center Swain County Visitor Center and Museum and Heritage Museum Located on U.S. 441 in Great Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Located in downtown Bryson Smoky Mountains National City, NC at the corner of Main & Park, 2 miles south of Everett Streets. Gatlinburg, TN. Great Smoky Mountains Oconaluftee Visitor Center Open 9-5, closed Open 8-4:30, Heritage Center and Museum Christmas Day closed Christmas Day Located on Hwy 73 in Townsend, TN. Located on U.S. 441 in Great Admission: Free Admission: Free Open 10-5, 12-5 on Sundays Smoky Mountains National Park, (865) 436-7318 x318 (865) 436-1291 Admission: $6 adults, $4 seniors, $4 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC. kids 6-17, free for kids 5 and under Open 8-4:30, closed Christmas Day (865) 448-0044 Admission: Free The Heritage Museum covers the Highlights include a free 20-min- (828) 497-1904 dramatic history of Swain County, NC, ute film shown on the hour and including the story of Cherokee Indian The center is located on six acres and half hour in a state-of-the-art towns like Kituwha, European-Amer- includes both indoor and outdoor Exhibits include audio recordings surround sound theater. The ican settlers eeking a living from the exhibits. Subject matter includes east of mountain folk, park artifacts, film provides an overview of the rugged Smoky Mountains, Civil War Tennessee American Indian history and video clips, 3-D maps, historic park’s natural and cultural battles, moonshiners, bear hunters, the lives of Euro-American settlers from photographs, and more.There is a history. Exhibits in the museum Fontana Dam, and the creation of the the early 1800s to the establishment of well-staffed information desk and a area use intricate re-creations national park. The museum includes Great Smoky Mountains National Park. bookstore inside as well. Outside the to spotlight the Smokies’ rich interactive exhibits just for kids as well Highlights are restored historic build- visitor center over a dozen historic habitats and diverse plant and as video presentations, a real log cabin, ings, re-creations of log cabin interiors, log buildings are preserved on the animal life. There is a well- and many mural-sized photographs and quilts and other artifacts from the Mountain Farm Museum. In addi- staffed information desk and a and artifacts. Great Smoky Mountains National Park tion, a walking and bicycling trail bookstore inside as well. Out- In the visitor center there is infor- collection. follows the river to Cherokee. side, several short trails lead to mation about hiking, rafting, sightsee- natural and historic points of ing, and riding the Smoky Mountain interest. Railroad. 2 v smokies guide, Winter 2014-15 smokies trip planner to order maps and guides: www.smokiesinformation.org accommodations pets in the park Le Conte Lodge (accessible by Pets are allowed in frontcoun- BILL LEA PHOTO trail only) provides the only try campgrounds and beside lodging in the park. Call (865) roads as long as they are 429-5704. restrained at all times. Pets For information on lodg- are not allowed on park trails, smokies guide ing outside the park: except for the Gatlinburg Bryson City 1-800-867-9246 and Oconaluftee River trails. Smokies Guide is produced Cherokee 1-800-438-1601 Dogs on these trails must be Fontana 1-800-849-2258 leashed. four times per year by Great Gatlinburg 1-800-267-7088 Smoky Mountains Asso- Maggie Valley 1-800-624-4431 road closures ciation and Great Smoky Pigeon Forge 1-800-251-9100 The following roads close for Mountains National Park. Sevierville 1-888-766-5948 the winter. Listed below are Publication dates are roughly Townsend 1-800-525-6834 the estimated 2015 opening as follows: dates. This schedule is subject to change. SPRING: March 15 Clingmans Dome—April 1 Rich Mountain—April 10 SUMMER: June 1 BILL LEA PHOTO Roaring Fork —May 1 AUTUMN: September 1 Straight Fork—April 3 WINTER: December 1 Campgrounds at Smokemont and Cades Cove are open all year. camping in the the national park special events CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Steve Kemp & Kent Cave The National Park Service The list below shows December 13, 2014 NPS COORDINATOR maintains developed camp- number of sites, elevations, Festival of Christmas Past: grounds at seven locations in fees, approximate 2015 opera- Sugarlands Visitor Center Elizabeth Dupree the park. There are no show- tion dates, and maximum RV EDITORIAL BOARD ers or hookups other than lengths. Dates are subject to December 20, 2014 Karen Ballentine circuits for special medical change. Visit www.nps.gov/ Holiday Homecoming at Coralie Bloom uses at Cades Cove, Elkmont, grsm for current information. Oconaluftee Visitor Center Lynda Doucette and Smokemont. ABRAMS CREEK 16 sites, Kristine Johnson Campsites at Elkmont, elev. 1,125’, $14, open May 22- Bicycling Cades Cove in winter. April 21-April 25, 2015 Smokemont, Cataloochee, Oct. 13, 12’ trailers Spring Wildflower Pilgrim- Terry Maddox Cosby, and Cades Cove BALSAM MOUNTAIN 46 age: parkwide Mike Maslona may be reserved. For reser- sites, elev. 5,310’, $14, open bicycling vations call 1-877-444-6777 May 22-Oct. 13, 30’ RVs Most park roads are too April 25, 2015 Contributors or contact www.recreation.
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