Tag: north carolina

November 2024 Friends of the Smokies Newsletter

November 5, 2024

by Jim Matheny Hello, Friends! To have this monthly newsletter delivered directly to your inbox, please sign up! We want[…]

Meet the Trails Forever Hike Advisory Team

June 25, 2024

Meet our hike advisory team! These volunteers make the Trails Forever Hikes happen by helping lead and sweep the hikes.[…]

2019 Classic Hikes of the Smokies

January 12, 2019

by Julie Dodd Start planning now to join the 2019 Classic Hikes of the Smokies. The hikes are each Tuesday[…]

Snow changes December Classic Hike destination

December 21, 2018

by Julie Dodd Snow closed US 441 through the Smokies, but that didn’t keep FOTS hikers from getting in a[…]

GSMNP high school internship program provides career insights and inspiration

September 15, 2018

Stuart Hemmer-Skidmore, a senior at the School of Inquiry and Life Sciences in Asheville, NC, participated in the Great Smoky[…]

“Everybody’s National Parks” explores the Smokies

May 9, 2018

Everybody’s National Parks is a podcast dedicated to family adventure in our national parks and a few weeks ago, I[…]

2018 Classic Hikes of the Smokies

February 16, 2018

by Julie Dodd The Classic Hikes of the Smokies series, starting its eighth year, offers a way to hike trails[…]

5 Things to Do If Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Shut Down

January 19, 2018

Updated: Monday, January 22, 11:00am Please understand that if you visit GSMNP during a government shut down, services will be[…]

November Classic Hike includes tunnel on ‘Road to Nowhere’

December 1, 2017

The November Classic Hike of the Smokies was led by Gracia Slater, who lacks just three short hikes to complete[…]

The park needs you this Giving Tuesday

November 21, 2017

By now I’m sure you’ve heard of Giving Tuesday in the news or on social media. Following Black Friday and[…]

FOTS hikers explore historic Lakeshore Trail area

November 9, 2017

by Julie Dodd Friends of the Smokies hikers had the opportunity to explore trails in the Fontana Lake area and[…]

Parks as Classrooms helps students discover GSMNP, develop appreciation for Park

October 18, 2017

by Julie Dodd Helping elementary, middle school and high school students who live in counties near the Great Smoky Mountains[…]

GSMNP high school summer internship provides life changing experience

July 31, 2017

by Bryce Trull Blount County High School Five Tennessee high school students participated in a four-week summer internship that focuses[…]

Volunteer with Friends of the Smokies events to support GSMNP

July 7, 2017

by Julie Dodd Volunteer to help Friends of the Smokies at two upcoming fundraising events that will support the Great[…]

Great views from Charlies Bunion highlight June Classic Hike

June 27, 2017

Steve Winchester was the hike leader for the June Classic Hike of the Smokies. Steve and his wife, Judy, both[…]

Mingus Creek Trail launches 2017 Classic Hikes of the Smokies

April 1, 2017

by Julie Dodd A hike on the Mingus Creek Trail launched the 2017 Classic Hikes of the Smokies. Thirty-two hikers[…]

Classic Hikes of Smokies 2017 schedule

February 21, 2017

by Julie Dodd The Classic Hikes of the Smokies 2017 hiking season begins on March 14 March 28, with a hike[…]

Giving Thanks and #GivingTuesday

November 23, 2016

This time of year, we can’t help but be reminded of all the wonderful things we have to be thankful[…]

Noland Creek Trail — November’s Classic Hike

November 18, 2016

by Julie Dodd The November Classic Hike of the Smokies was on a beautiful fall day — ten miles on[…]

Classic Hikes of Smokies help hikers add miles toward Hike 100 Challenge

October 25, 2016

by Julie Dodd Hikers can add 10 miles toward the Hike 100 Challenge by joining the Friends of the Smokies Classic[…]

Summer interns value GSMNP experiences

August 30, 2016

by Linden Jones Rising Junior at Asheville School Asheville, North Carolina Our six weeks in the Smokies were eye opening.[…]

Celebrating 100 Years of America’s Best Idea

August 25, 2016

When President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act on August 25, 1916, there were only 35 national parks in[…]

Interns help maintain cemeteries in GSMNP

August 22, 2016

by Laura Booth GSMNP Intern Warren Wilson College student Graduate of Swain County High School, Bryson, NC As my internship[…]

Wildland firefighting requires physical fitness & teamwork

August 18, 2016

by Matthew Sullivan GSMNP Intern Cape Fear High School (Fayettesville, NC) graduate Student in the Oconaluftee Job Corps Center, Cherokee,[…]

Summer internship program offers opportunity to explore GSMNP and NPS career options

August 5, 2016

by Hannah Ensley GSMNP Intern Senior at Pisgah High School — Canton, North Carolina If you live in the Eastern[…]

Classic Hikes of the Smokies – Charlies Bunion and Mt. Sterling

July 25, 2016

by Julie Dodd Hikers of the Classic Hikes of the Smokies for June and July added 15.4 miles toward the[…]

Clingmans Dome Restoration: What’s it all about?

June 17, 2016

For the last few weeks, we’ve been pushing you all to vote for Clingmans Dome in a grant competition hosted[…]

Welcome to the team, Marielle!

June 6, 2016

As you may know from our previous blog posts, we have had some exciting staffing changes in our North Carolina[…]

Hyatt Ridge Trail provides challenge

May 23, 2016

by Julie Dodd Challenge was the key theme for the May Classic Hike of the Smokies to Hyatt Ridge. The hike[…]

Little Cataloochee Trail: March’s Classic Hike of the Smokies

April 6, 2016

by Julie Dodd The Classic Hike of the Smokies hikers logged 6.6 miles on the Little Cataloochee Trail on March 8,[…]

Spring is a time for new beginnings…

March 28, 2016

It’s not too often that our small organization has staffing changes, but we have some happy and sad news to[…]

Asheville’s Give!Local Guide

November 18, 2015

This year, we are excited to participate in Mountain Xpress’ Give!Local Guide, Asheville’s easiest path to year-end giving. Mountain Xpress[…]

GSMNP Adds DC Fast-Charging to Green Alternatives

October 1, 2015

Superintendent Cassius Cash joined representatives from East TN Clean Fuels Coalition, Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition, US Dept of[…]

High school interns learn about GSMNP wildlife, staff and programs

September 8, 2015

by Martina Junod Rising Senior, William Blount High School – Maryville, Tenn. The six weeks of the internship for high[…]

Gone Fishing with Experience Your Smokies

September 5, 2015

The forecast had been calling for rain on Thursday the whole week running up to our second Experience Your Smokies[…]

Gran Fondo Asheville raises over $53,000 for Great Smoky Mountains National Park

September 1, 2015

The 2015 Gran Fondo Asheville attracted more than 390 cyclists and raised over $53,000 for the Great Smoky Mountains National[…]

Dragonfly Mercury Project — research initiative for GSMNP high school interns

July 28, 2015

by Bella Weeks Rising Senior Jackson County Early College –  Sylva, North Carolina During the Summer Internship with Great Smoky Mountains[…]

GSMNP Summer Internship Program provides learning opportunities for high school students

July 14, 2015

by Kyra Mehaffey Rising Senior Pisgah High School – Canton, North Carolina High school students scrambled to get their applications[…]

5 Summer Hikes You’ll Love

July 8, 2015

By Holly Scott Jones, Marketing Director Summer is the perfect time to take a hike! From beginners to expert backpackers,[…]

86th Anniversary of the “Goodwill Tour”

June 9, 2015

On June 9, 1929, staff from the Knoxville News Sentinel​ and the Asheville Citizen-Times​ met on top of Clingmans Dome[…]

#FindYourPark Contest Winners

May 5, 2015

For National Park Week (April 18-26), we wanted to celebrate Great Smoky Mountains National Park and this year’s theme, Find Your[…]

Parks as Classrooms program benefits students, teachers, scientists and GSMNP

April 29, 2015

by Julie Dodd For the students, they are trying out the scientific method in the field – analyzing plants for[…]

Group hikes and hiking workshop provide support for Smokies hiking

March 24, 2015

by Julie Dodd Now is a great time of year for hiking in the Smokies. If you are new to[…]

800,010 reasons to get a Friends license plate

March 10, 2015

by Brent McDaniel In North Carolina and Tennessee, you see specialty license plates all the time while driving down the[…]

Making It Clear: Understanding Water Quality Research

January 6, 2015

Friends of the Smokies has already contributed more than $600,000 to support water quality monitoring in Great Smoky Mountains National[…]

Restoring trails and supporting wildlife — FOTS highlights in 2014

December 30, 2014

by Julie Dodd This post shares highlights of some of the Friends of the Smokies projects for the Great Smoky[…]

Gran Fondo Asheville 2014

September 11, 2014

The first ever Gran Fondo Asheville was held on Sunday, Sept. 7, and it was a huge success, raising over[…]

2014 Friends Across the Mountains Telethon

August 26, 2014

Thank you again for your outpouring of support for our 20th Annual Friends Across the Mountains Telethon. Because of your[…]

Welcome our newest Friend, Anna Lee Zanetti

August 20, 2014

Friends of the Smokies is pleased to welcome another addition to its staff, Anna Lee Zanetti as the new Outreach &[…]

A Special “Thank You” to Holly Scott

August 12, 2014

Hello Friends, While we normally share scenic photos, hiking trails, and great stories from the park on our blog, I’d[…]

Ice on the Appalachian Trail vs. Spring flowers in Cades Cove = Smokies Surprises

March 19, 2014

by Holly Scott, Marketing Director When last week’s blog post debuted on Wednesday at 6 a.m., it was 60+ degrees[…]

Camping in the Smokies Today (Oct. 16) – What You Need to Know

October 16, 2013

by Holly Scott, Marketing Director Camping in the Smokies Today (Oct. 16th) – Edited This post was written on October[…]

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Open Again

by Holly Scott, Marketing Director Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopened at 8 a.m. today (Oct. 16). That’s right, Cades[…]

UPDATED-5 Alternative Hikes for Fall Fun Near the Smokies

October 10, 2013

by Holly Scott, Marketing Director Week 2 of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Shutdown Oops. According to Bryson City, I’m[…]

5 Things You Can Do While Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Shutdown

October 2, 2013

By Holly Scott, Marketing Director As you may have heard, due to the government shut-down, Great Smoky Mountains National Park[…]

Smoky Mountains Parks as Classrooms Program

August 8, 2013

by Holly Scott Friends of the Smokies, Marketing Director More than 20,000 kids every year get to go to school[…]

Get Your Banff On in Knoxville

February 27, 2013

by Holly Scott Friends of the Smokies Marketing Director Four years ago on a warm spring evening, my colleague Sarah[…]

The Impact of Your “Friends”

February 8, 2013

by Meridith Powell, Board of Directors, Friends of the Smokies Today, I had a great reminder of why Friends of[…]