|
|
     |
|
|
|
|||
|
||||
| 1:24,000 Scale USGS quadrangle maps of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - sent to you on CD-ROM. $18.95 |
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited of our National Park system! Is it because of the magnificence? Or is it because the four distinct seasons are truly enjoyed by every one that visits this magical place? World renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, and the depth and integrity of its wilderness sanctuary, the park attracts over nine million visitors each year .Mother nature empties her paint bucket on the trees each Fall in the mountains. Foliage reaches peak color at the higher elevations first two weeks in October.
Fall officially begins September 23 and, though it's a little early to know for sure, foliage should put on quite a show this year. Though it has been dry lately, usually a negative when it comes to fall color, the next few weeks will determine just how much color we will have. You can enjoy these amazing colors over the vast 500,000 acres area (in your car) or, take a hike. Wow, there are 800+ miles of hiking trails. They range from easy to difficult and provide half hour walks to week-long backpacking trips. The Appalachian Trail runs for 70 miles along the Park's top ridge. Please keep in mind that Pets are not allowed on any trails except for the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. Elevation plays a key role in determining when the fall spectacle occurs. At the highest elevations--4,500 to 6,000 feet--colors can begin turning in mid-September, when the yellow birch, American beech, and mountain maple begin to turn. One of our favorite hikes is the Alum Cave Trail. The trail continues to Mt. Le Conte, and its beautiful viewpoints. Are you looking for a hiking map, trail map, road map of the Great Smoky Mountains? (see below). Roundtrip distance from the parking to Le Conte is 10 miles. This trail can be icy in winter. This is a 4.4 mile roundtrip hike, rated moderate. It includes Arch Rock, a natural arch, Inspiration Point, and the Alum Cave Bluff. Inspiration Point offers a spectacular view of the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River's upper basin. Waterfalls embellish most every stream in the Smokies. Only one waterfall, Meigs Falls, is evident from the road. It is 12.9 miles west of the Sugarlands Visitor Center, near the Townsend Wye. All others involve hiking, and range from easy to exhausting. There are 10 campgrounds in the park and over 1,500 types of plants. During the latter two weeks of October, colors peak in the lower elevations. Some pockets of good color remain into early November. Don’t forget the Appalachian Trail, waterfalls, wildlife, and wildflowers. If you enjoy biking, each Wednesday and Saturday morning from May through September, the Cades Cove loop road is closed to motor vehicles until 10:00 AM for the benefit of walkers and bicyclers. If you don't have your own, bicycle rentals are available at the Cades Cove store.
The black bear symbolizes the invaluable wilderness qualities of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But bears are dying unnecessarily due to improper disposal of garbage or illegal feeding by visitors. A fed bear is a dead bear. Perhaps no other animals have so excited the human imagination as bears. Bear folklore is confusing because it is based on caricatures, with Teddy Bears and the kindly Smoky on one hand and ferocious magazine cover drawings on the other. The greatest misconception about black bears is that they are likely to attack people in defense of cubs. They are highly unlikely to do this. A bear’s remarkable sense of smell may lead it to human foods, such as a picnicker’s cooler, garbage left in the open, or food scraps thrown on the ground or left in the grill.
The park is open year-round. Visitor centers at Sugarlands and Oconaluftee are open all year, except Christmas Day. The Cades Cove Visitor Center has limited hours during the winter. To fish in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you need a valid Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license. Licenses are not available in the Park, but can be obtained from sources in the towns adjacent to the Park. Non-residents 3-day. Springtime in the Smokies is an rickety time for both temperature and precipitation. It can be sunny and mild one day - then snow the next. By mid-June it will be hot and humid. Drink plenty of fluids. If hiking, carry water with you - do not drink from streams, no matter how fresh and clear it appears. Afternoons are often accompanied by thunderstorms. Temperature drops combined with altitude can mean a 10-degree difference in temperature. By September, the days are mild and the nights cool and crisp. Light snows can occur at higher elevations. However, it's these very cool nights that change the chemistry in deciduous foliage to create autumn's color extravaganza!
We can send to you, a CD-ROM containing a complete mosaic map of the entire National Park. The data set depicts a digital scan of the actual detailed United States Geological Survey (USGS) paper maps. The geographic area portrayed on an actual physical paper product produced by the USGS - the 24K series of maps. These USGS maps are often used as reference maps for field or office work and define a specific piece of geography. The map show contours, communities, vegetation, lakes, rivers, trails, roads and other spatial features. Place OrderThe cost is $18.95.
Note: If you wish, download the free computer program for viewing the maps. A Hyperlink is provided on the CD-ROM to facilitate the download of the free viewer . Options exist for both Windows and Apple / Macintosh systems. For Windows 95, 98, NT 4, 2000, XP, XP Pro
For Macintosh OS 9.x (latest version available)Other Macintosh OS X Plug-ins
"Thanks for the map guys, it is great. I printed some maps on waterproof paper and they are perfect." Ted S.- Bozman, MT "Downloading the free viewer was easy. Its a great application to view the maps you sent. We hiked in the Crazy Mountains and the maps let us plan our trip! thank you. Julie B. - Madison Wisconsin "The price is right and so are the maps... less than what I paid for some lingerie for my wife. The maps are actually more sexy." Cal T. St Cloud Minnesota. "Thanks for sending the CD-ROM so fast - The quad maps are wonderful. Its nice to see the entire area without any map seams. Its good to know there are trusting folks like you. Thanks!" Cally S. Chicago, IL "You guys are quick. Thanks for the fast turn-around. Its nice to view this area as a seamless map as opposed to looking at a bunch of paper Topographic maps on the table. Thank you mucho!" Kim T. Boston, MA
|
||
|
