INSIDE WILD FOODS FROM THE FOREST Page 12 RANGER PROGRAMS Pages 6-7 PARK MAP Pages 8-9 The Official Newspaper of Great Smoky Mountains National Park D Autumn 2017 BILL LEA PHOTO VERNON LIX PHOTO BLACK BEARS During fall, bears depend Approximately 200 elk now live in the vicinity of the national park. heavily on acorns, hickory The Fall “Rut” Is On! nuts, and other types of Construction of the Clingmans Dome tower was completed in 1960. hard “mast” to gain weight his autumn, Smoky ber and peaks in early Octo- Mountain elk will be play- ber. Most fields frequented Major Grant Funds T for winter. If the trees ers in a courtship ritual that is by elk will be closed to the one of the great spectacles of public during the rut, but provide plentiful mast, bears Tower Rehabilitation the North American animal visitors may observe from kingdom. Mature male (bull) pulloffs or other designated hanks to a $250,000 grant funding. In honor of the Na- will not need to wander elk will compete for control areas. Approaching elk or bear Tfrom Partners in Preser- tional Park Service centennial of groups of females called closer than 50 yards is strictly vation (PIP), crews will be at last year, grants were awarded far and wide in search of “harems.” prohibited. work this fall rehabilitating to nine historic preservation Most of the time, the Male white-tailed deer the iconic Clingmans Dome projects in various national food and females will give competition between males (bucks) also have some dra- observation tower. Their tasks parks. The National Trust for will be pure showmanship— matic courtship rituals. They will include stabilizing sup- Historic Preservation and the birth to 1-3 tiny bear cubs prancing, bugling, grunting, generally stop eating during port walls at the base of the American Express Company, and other noncontact meth- the rut and will chase or lock ramp, repairing deteriorated among others, team up to pro- over the winter. If the mast ods of intimidation. At times, antlers with other bucks to sections of columns, and re- vide the PIP grants each year. however, the contests may determine dominance. Males pointing some stone masonry. The modern design of crop is poor, bears will be turn deadly serious with bulls may also be observed chasing For safety reasons the Clingmans Dome tower was using their sharp antlers to females and making bleating tower will be closed to the a radical concept when it was crossing roads and searching attack other males. sounds. public during the duration of conceived by local architect Bugling is one of the most The white-tailed deer the project, which is likely to Hubert Bebb and the NPS in for food in developed areas widely-recognized parts of rut lasts from October into last through most of the fall. the late 1950s. courtship (called the rut). January with a peak around However, visitors will still be The observation tower was more frequently. Be alert! Bulls toss back their heads and Thanksgiving. Cades Cove is allowed to hike up the 0.5 mile created to replace a wooden utter a long, loud, sonorous probably the best place in the paved trail to the top of the structure upon which visitors call that can be heard for as park to watch deer. The 11- mountain, which is the high had to climb steep stairs to much as a mile away. Bugling mile Cades Cove Loop Road point in the Smokies and the get a view above the Fraser fir is a way for bull elk to assert is open from sunrise to sunset third highest summit east of trees. That tower had fallen their dominance against rival throughout the year. the Mississippi River. Visitors into disrepair and was closed males as larger bulls usually Both deer and elk are es- on the trail should be aware in 1950. The ramp of the new have deeper, louder calls. pecially unpredictable in fall. that construction vehicles may tower was designed to mimic The best place to see elk People should never approach be headed up or down the the grade of the trail leading during the rut is Cataloochee or attempt to feed them. Use route. to the mountaintop and allows Valley or in the vicinity of binoculars and cameras with Great Smoky Mountains access by strollers and per- Oconaluftee Visitor Center. telephoto lenses to observe National Park competed with sons unable to climb multiple The elk rut begins in Septem- their activities. 20 other parks for the Partners flights of stairs. smokies trip planner to order maps and guides: www.SmokiesInformation.org accommodations pets in the park LeConte 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. Cherokee 1-828-788-0034 Smokies Guide is produced Dogs on these trails must be Fontana 1-800-849-2258 leashed. four times per year by Great Gatlinburg 1-800-588-1817 Smoky Mountains Asso- Maggie Valley 1-800-624-4431 picnic areas ciation and Great Smoky Pigeon Forge 1-855-716-6199 Please see pages 8-9 for loca- Sevierville 1-888-889-7415 Mountains National Park. tions of picnic areas. All have Townsend 1-800-525-6834 Publication dates are roughly charcoal grills for cooking. as follows: Cades Cove, Deep Creek, Greenbrier, and Metcalf SPRING: March 15 Bottoms are open year-round. Heintooga closes October 9. SUMMER: June 1 Big Creek, Collins Creek, and AUTUMN: September 15 Nine campgrounds will be open in the national park this fall. Cosby close on October 29. WINTER: December 1 ANN KRESSIG PHOTO MARY Chimneys closes November camping in the the national park 26. Look Rock will not open CONTRIBUTING EDITOR this year. Steve Kemp The National Park Service The list below shows special events NPS COORDINATOR maintains developed camp- number of sites, elevations, grounds at nine locations in daily fees, approximate 2017 Nigel Fields December 9 the park. There are no operation dates, and maxi- Festival of Christmas Past EDITORIAL BOARD showers or hookups. Circuits mum RV lengths. Visit www. Sugarlands Visitor Center Joy Absher for special medical devices nps.gov/grsm for current Lynda Doucette are available at Cades Cove, information. December 16 Elkmont, and Smokemont. ABRAMS CREEK 16 sites, Kristine Johnson Bicycle and pedestrian morning Holiday Homecoming Campsites at Elkmont, elev. 1,125’, $14, open May 26- Mike Maslona on Cades Cove Loop Road. Oconaluftee Visitor Center Smokemont, Cataloochee, Oct. 9, 12’ trailers Laurel Rematore Cosby, and Cades Cove BALSAM MOUNTAIN 42 bicycling visitor centers CONTRIBUTORS may be reserved. For reser- sites, elev. 5,310’, $14, open Lisa Horstman, Karen Key, vations call 1-877-444-6777 May 26-Oct. 9, 30’ RVs Most park roads are too Sugarlands—Sept. & Oct.: 8-6; Emma Dufort or contact www.recreation. BIG CREEK 12 sites, elev. narrow and heavily traveled Nov. 8-5. Oconaluftee—Sept. gov. Sites may be reserved 1,700’, $14, open April 14-Oct. by automobiles for safe or & Oct.: 9-6; Nov. 9-5. Cades © 2017 Great Smoky up to six months in advance. 29, tents only enjoyable bicycling. However, Cove—Sept. & Oct.: 9-6:30; Reservations are required at CADES COVE 159 sites, elev. Mountains Association Cades Cove Loop Road is Nov. 9-5:30. Cataloochee Campground. 1,807’, $17-$20, open year- an exception. This 11-mile, Clingmans Dome—Sept. & Other park campgrounds are round, 35’-40’ RVs one-way, paved road pro- Oct.: 10-6; Nov. 9:30-5. GSMA first-come, first-served. CATALOOCHEE 27 sites, vides bicyclists with excellent P.O. Box 130 Site occupancy is limited elev. 2,610’, $20, open opportunities for viewing facility rentals Gatlinburg, TN 37738 to six people and two vehicles April 7-Oct. 29, reservations wildlife and historic sites. The Appalachian Clubhouse (a trailer = 1 vehicle). The required, 31’ RVs Helmets are required for and Spence Cabin, both maximum stay is 14 days. COSBY 157 sites, elev. 2,459’, persons age 16 and under and located near Elkmont Camp- Special camping sites for $14, April 14-Oct. 29, 25’ RVs are strongly recommended for ground, can be rented for large groups are available sea- DEEP CREEK 92 sites, elev. all bicyclists. daytime events from spring sonally at Big Creek, Cades 1,800’, $17, open April 14-Oct. From mid-May through through fall. Contact www. Cove, Cataloochee, Cosby, 29, 26’ RVs mid-Sept., on Wednesday recreation.gov. Deep Creek, Elkmont, and ELKMONT 220 sites, elev. and Saturday mornings, only printed on recycled paper Smokemont. Group sites must 2,150’, $17-$23, open March bicycles and pedestrians are other services be reserved. Call 1-877-444- 10-Nov. 26, 32’-35’ RVs allowed on Cades Cove Loop 6777 or contact www.recre- LOOK ROCK Closed Road. Bicycles may be rented There are no gas stations, ation.gov. Group sites may SMOKEMONT 142 sites, elev. at the Cades Cove Camp- showers, or restaurants in the be reserved up to one year in 2,198’, $17-$20, open year- ground store next to Cades national park. Mt. LeConte advance. round, 35’-40’ RVs. Cove Campground. Lodge is the only lodging. 2 d smokies guide, Fall 2017 park information for additional information, visit www.nps.gov/grsm Gatlinburg, TN elev.