Appalachian Trail Thru Hikers Asked To Postpone Thru-Hikes

Appalachian Trail Thru Hikers Asked To Postpone Thru-Hikes. Late winter and early spring is the time for a mass human migration known as Appalachian Trail thru-hike season. Hundreds of hearty souls begin their 2,160 mile odyssey on a lonely mountain in Georgia called Springer. Hikers will usually hike South to North and will traverse fourteen states. The northern terminus of the AT is a foreboding island in the sky called Mount Katahdin, Maine.

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Great Smoky Mountain National Park Visitor Centers Close

Great Smoky Mountain National Park Visitor Centers Close March 17, 2020. The closures are in response to efforts to inhibit the spread of the COVID – 19 (Corona) virus. The closures include the Sugarlands, Oconaluftee and Cades Cove Visitors Centers until further notice.

Great Smoky National Park officials are heeding guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. The facilities are being shuttered to ensure the safety of park staff and visitors.

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Smoky Mountain Region Coronavirus Closings

Smoky Mountain Region Coronavirus Closings as of March 16, 2020. As the nation and the world brace for the effects of the COVID-19 virus the Smoky Mountain region is taking measures to protect the public. Many major events and gatherings are being cancelled or postponed as concerns grow in East Tennessee. Officials are urging large gatherings be put on hold as the number of confirmed cases in the United State continue to rise. Large group gatherings are believed to increase the chance of infection and should be avoided.

The following businesses and events will be closed, cancelled or postponed.

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Park Recruits Trail Volunteers

Park Recruits Trail Volunteers. Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses over 500,000 square miles and boasts 848 miles of maintained hiking trails. Volunteers are being recruited to “adopt a trail.” Participants will be asked to hike a single designated trail a minimum of four times a year and submit a report on their findings.

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Great Smoky Mountains Considers Cades Cove Car Ban Changes

Great Smoky Mountains Considers Cades Cove Car Ban Changes. The scenic valley of Cades Cove is traditionally closed to motor vehicles until 10 a.m. on Wednesday and Saturday, May thru September. Park officials are inviting public comment on changing this process to a pilot study for 2020 to close vehicle access all day each Wednesday, May thru September.

Officials are inviting public comment through Friday, March 27, 2020. This is your chance to publicly ponder for posterity and give them your two cents.

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