Smoky Mountain Hemlock Trees

Smoky Mountain Hemlock Trees are receiving a lifeline.

Horticulturists hope a new hybrid hemlock will prove resistant to the hemlock woolly adelgid which has decimated the broadleaf evergreens for more than 25 years.  

The majestic trees, which serve as green sentinels in the Great Smoky Mountains punctuating the summer mountains scenery with dark green foliage and offering a welcome contrast to leafless trees in the winter, have been slowly dying in the mountains for 25 years.

Continue reading…

Smoky Mountain Planetary Conjunction Junction

Smoky Mountain Planetary Conjunction Junction has stargazers heads in the sky!

Skywatchers are in for an early Christmas treat. The alignment of Saturn and Jupiter, popularly as the “Christmas Star,” is an especially vibrant planetary conjunction easily visible in the evening sky over the next two weeks as the bright planets come together, culminating on the night of Dec. 21, 2020.

Continue reading…

Dolly Parton Corona Virus Cure Donation

Dolly Parton Corona Virus Cure Donation. Smoky Mountain icon, Dolly Parton helps fund a corona virus vaccine.

A $1 million donation by Sevierville’s favorite daughter, Dolly Parton, was instrumental in assisting the development of the Moderna vaccine, which according to a company spokesperson appears to be 94.5’% effective. The vaccine was created, in part, by the donation that Parton pledged to Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Education Center in April. 

Parton was quoted crediting her longtime friend, Dr. Najo Abumrad, who is involved in research at the prestigious university, with telling her about the exciting work going at the school. Motivated by the project, Parton tweeted in April,” I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt toward that research and encourage people that can afford it to make donations.”

Continue reading…

Trillium Gap Trail Opens

Trillium Gap Trail Opens after two years of rehabilitation.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials celebrated the completion of a two-year Trillium Gap trail project on Tuesday, November 10, 2020. The 6.7-mile Trillium Gap Trail is one of the most popular trails in the park leading hikers to Grotto Falls and Mt. Le Conte. The trail reopened a few days ahead of schedule following work completed by the park’s Trails Forever crew, American Conservation Experience Conservation Corps, and volunteers.  

Continue reading…