David Dinwiddie, a man known for loving the Smokies and helping others on the AT, took a backpack trip last year that nearly ended his life. On December 19, 2005 he was trekking near Pack's Corner when strong winds blew him over and tangled his backpack in tree limbs. For four days and four nights Dinwiddie laid where he fell, in two feet of snow, feeding on anything in reach. Unfortunately the only edible objects were snow, mud, and balsam needles. Eventually he was rescued after other hikers came across him and informed park rangers of his location.
Almost a year to the date later he went back out to the Mountains he loved. Determined not to let this incident deter him from hiking, he went out to show he could overcome what he went through.
This happening shows that an experienced hiker can run into trouble while hiking on the AT. No matter what your knowledge and familiarity is of the woods, danger can occur. Always be sure that someone knows where you are going when you head out into the wild. This can help prevent serious injury or death if an accident like this is to occur.
David Dinwiddie suffered serious frostbite from his time on the Mountain that day. Because of the conditions he was in, he lost two of his toes. One thing he didn't lose was his love for the outdoors and determination to get out and hike the AT.
There are many things to be aware of while on the Appalachian Trail. At Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area one of those things to be aware of are hunters, or at least this guy. A deer decoy operation was in place at the southern end of the park. A hunter came to one of the decoys in his truck, stopped his pickup, and immediately shot at a white-tail deer from inside his vehicle (again this was a decoy deer.) Upon further investigation rangers found that in addition to the illegal hunting, the man was driving on a suspended license, had open containers of alcohol in the truck, and was intoxicated enough to fail a breathalyzer test.
Needless to say, he was charged with numerous violations.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park Ranger Rick Brown rappelled 70 feet into a sink hole to rescue a lost dog. The owner of the canine was found and said that the dog had been missing for 16 days. Read the complete story here.
If you were to go scuba diving in Fontana Lake, at the bottom you would find North Carolina State Highway 288, a road that use to lead from Bryson City to Swain County. This road was submerged by water around 1944 because of the Fontana Reservoir, a Dam that was built to help supply electricity to fuel World War II's efforts.
When Fontana Dam was built TVA, the State of NC, Swain County, and the Untied States Department of Interior (National Park Services) came to an agreement known as the Agreement of 1943.
This agreement states that Highway 288 would be replaced at a later date since it could not replace it during the current time of war.
Upon reading this document you will find that the goal was to have a road that goes around the "Park," to replace the underwater road. Now, 62 years later, there is a road that already borders the park, it is NC 28. Although this road is not directly on the border of the park it still allows transportation from Fontana to Bryson. Even though this road exists, discussion and planning are beginning again to see if the road should be built.
Honestly my gut tells me that having a new road would have too many environmental problems and ruin too many people's love for the secluded Smoky Mountains. When I research the possible solutions though, I can see positives to both sides. I am torn on the situation. With discussion of those who live in the area they seem torn as well.
I remember one thing though that steers me towards the view I will probably take after all the factors have been weighed. And that is if a road is to be built, that will create irreversible damage to the Great Smoky National Forest.
Click here to see a short video on campsite 90, a place that would be ruined by the NSR.
