Winter 2016-17 BILL LEA PHOTO BILL LEA PHOTO
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INSIDE WILDFIRE! Pages 10-11 THINGS TO SEE & The Official Newspaper of Great Smoky DO Pages 4-5 Mountains National Park PARK MAP Pages 8-9 Winter 2016-17 BILL LEA PHOTO BILL LEA PHOTO NORTHERN CARDINAL Northern Cardinals are Bobcats find shelter in hollow logs, rock outcroppings, and under root- balls. Though rarely seen, bobcats are quite numerous in the Smokies. common year-round resi- Newfound Gap Road may be temporarily closed due to snow and ice. Bobcats are Phantom dents in the Great Smoky Enjoy This Winter in Mountains. They sing loudly the Mountains Safely Felines of the Smokies and frequently. One of ou don’t see them, but tains. They have plenty of prey he 33-mile-long New- 15-20 times each winter. Ythey are here. When you and few if any enemies. About their more common vocal- Tfound Gap Road (U.S. Even though driving hike, they peer from rock the only thing that will de- 441) is the main automobile conditions may seem fine outcrops and tangles of brush. press a bobcat population is a izations sounds like “what, route through Great Smoky near Gatlinburg or Cherokee, As you drive, you pass them crash in the number of rabbits, Mountains National Park. It Newfound Gap Road con- dozing on hillsides in hollow their favorite prey. But even cheer, cheer, cheer, cheer, crosses the crest of the Smoky tains very steep grades and logs and under the rootballs if rabbits are in decline, they Mountains at Newfound Gap is often coated with snow of windfall trees. This writer have plenty of other animals cheer.” Unlike most other (elevation 5,046’) to connect and ice in winter. Salt is not once watched a bobcat sitting to pounce upon, including: the towns of Gatlinburg, TN used to treat roads in the park on a boulder beside the busi- m squirrels m mice m songbirds, both males and and Cherokee, NC. Driving because it damages the plant est road in the park in broad voles m shrews m birds m time is typically one hour. and stream life that the park daylight, while scores of cars groundhogs m insects m box females are strong singers. At Newfound Gap, where was created to protect. passed unknowingly. turtles m snakes m lizards the road reaches its highest When driving on At 20-25 pounds, bobcats m opossums m white-tailed point, temperatures are fre- snow-covered roads, reduce are not small mammals, nor deer (often sick, young, quently 10-15° F cooler than your speed and avoid sudden are they scarce in the Great or carrion) m in Cherokee or Gatlinburg. In braking. Use lower gears or Smoky Mountains. But they The mountain lion is about addition, the higher eleva- brake gently when you need are incredibly stealthy. They the only wild animal that tions receive considerably to slow down. can sit motionless for hours, preys on bobcats, and it has more precipitation than the For current conditions their thick, mottled coats been extirpated from the Great surrounding valleys. Annu- call (865) 436-1200 or check blending perfectly with the Smoky Mountains. ally, Newfound Gap records Twitter at www.twitter.com/ leaf litter and vegetation. Protected as they are by over five feet of snow. smokiesroadsnps. When they do move, they the national park, bobcats are This combination of low Winter hikers should be do so soundlessly. And most doing very well here. Some temperatures and high pre- prepared for cold and wet of their activity is at dawn or biologists believe they are cipitation results in periods of conditions, even if the day dusk, a time when few people as numerous in the Smokies hazardous driving conditions. starts warm. Always bring roam the park and when light today as they were when Eu- For the safety of motorists, the rain gear, hat, and gloves. conditions make their camou- ropean-American settlers first Park Service imposes certain Dress in layers with wool or flage even more effective. arrived in the late 1700s. Of restrictions on winter driving. fleece. Avoid cotton clothing Bobcats are well adapted course that still doesn’t mean Typically, Newfound Gap in winter because it loses for life in the Smoky Moun- that you will actually see one. Road is temporarily closed insulation value when wet. winter greens these plants keep the winter woods lush and vibrant any off-season visitors to the Fraser Fir MGreat Smoky Mountains are These dense evergreens are native only surprised by how much green there is to the southern Appalachian Moun- in the winter forest. In fact, evergreen tains. In the Smokies, they are found at plants in the Smokies include every- elevations above 4,500’. For many years thing from ferns to shrubs to towering this species has been a favorite choice trees. for Christmas tree growers and buyers because the trees hold their needles and “Why We Have have a sweet, balsam scent. Evergreens” Rosebay Rhododendron from Cherokee “Rhodo” is one of the most common shrubs in the park. Its long thick leaves storyteller curl up like cigars when the weather is Freeman Owle: very cold. This action helps the plant conserve moisture. The Great Spirit made all the trees and the plants and the animals, Christmas Fern and he asked them to stay awake The common name for this fern comes and fast and pray seven nights, from the fact that it is still green at in reverence to the Creator. And Christmas time and throughout the the first night they all did, but winter. the second night some fell asleep, and the third night more dropped out, and so on. By the seventh night, only a few were still awake: the holly, the laurel, the cedar, the hemlock, and some others. And the Great Spirit, the Creator, said that they would be able to keep their hair—their leaves—all year round. And he gave them special power to be medicine for the Cherokee American Holly people. These evergreen trees are recognizable by their thick, spiny leaves and bright Red Cedar red berries. A century ago hollies were The eastern Cherokee hold popular as Christmas trees. Its very the cedar tree in particular white wood has been used to make reverence. Green twigs piano keys. from cedar trees are thrown on the fire for Pines their pleasing fragrance Six varieties of pines are native to the during special Cherokee Smokies, including the short-leaf, long- ceremonies. leaf, Table Mountain, pitch, eastern- white, and Virginia. art by Emma DuFort 2 v smokies guide, Winter 2016-17 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. five 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 2017 opening as follows: dates. This schedule is subject to change. SPRING: March 15 Clingmans Dome—April 1 Rich Mountain—April 7 SUMMER: June 1 BILL LEA PHOTO Roaring Fork —March 24 LATE SUMMER: August 10 Parson Branch—April 7 AUTUMN: September 13 Campgrounds at Smokemont and Cades Cove are open all year. WINTER: December 1 camping in the the national park special events December 10, 2016 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR The National Park Service elevations, and maximum RV Festival of Christmas Past: maintains developed camp- lengths. For current camping Steve Kemp Sugarlands Visitor Center grounds at nine locations in fees and dates of operation, NPS COORDINATOR the park. There are no show- visit www.nps.gov/grsm. December 17, 2016 Nigel Fields ers or hookups other than ABRAMS CREEK 16 sites, Holiday Homecoming at EDITORIAL BOARD circuits for special medical elev. 1,125’, 12’ trailers Oconaluftee Visitor Center Lynda Doucette uses at Cades Cove, Elkmont, BALSAM MOUNTAIN 42 Kristine Johnson and Smokemont. sites, elev. 5,310’, 30’ RVs April 11-April 15, 2017 Campsites at Elkmont, BIG CREEK 12 sites, elev. Mike Maslona Bicycling Cades Cove in winter. Spring Wildflower Pilgrim- Smokemont, Cataloochee, 1,700’, tents only Laurel Rematore age: parkwide Cosby, and Cades Cove may CADES COVE 159 sites, elev. Stephanie Sutton be reserved. For reservations 1,807’, open year-round, 35’- bicycling May 10, 2017 call 1-877-444-6777 or contact 40’ RVs Most park roads are too Start of bicycle mornings in Contributors www.recreation.gov. Sites CATALOOCHEE 27 sites, narrow and heavily traveled Cades Cove LISA HORSTMAN, may be reserved up to six elev. 2,610’, 31’ RVs. Reserva- by automobiles for safe or months in advance. Reserva- tions are required. KAREN KEY, EMMA DUFORT enjoyable bicycling. However, for rent tions are required at Cata- COSBY 157 sites, elev. 2,459’, Cades Cove Loop Road is loochee Campground. 25’ RVs an exception. This 11-mile, The Appalachian Clubhouse © 2016 Great Smoky Site occupancy is limited DEEP CREEK 92 sites, elev.