Latest 2013 Great Smoky Mountains Fall Leaf Color Peak and the Start and End of Fall Color

If you look carefully you will see it. It's happening all around Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and in a few places in Sevierville too. They won't be ready to be turned on for a while, but when they do, boy will they shine!

What am I talking about? The Christmas Winterfest in the Smokies lights of course and you know what it means when they start putting up the Christmas lights in the Smoky Mountains? Fall color is right around the corner!

So far we are having what many feel is one of the nicest later summers and early falls in decades and they few days of rain we have gotten are just what the trees and bushes need to show off the most brilliant fall colors possible.

Temperature highs are still in the mid to low 70's during the days and the upper 50's to 60's which are ideal with the bright sunny days. This current trend will allow leaves to produce the most sugar and staying power for the brightest reds and oranges.

Early predictions for fall color in 2013 are very good and seem to be getting better by the day. The temperature drops have been consistent and steady and huge swings upward which would stress the leaves more have just not happened yet.

This year's Smoky Mountain acorn mast crop is also fairly sub-par, especially in white oaks. Combine this with a very good apple crop and all indications are for a long and brilliant fall peak leaf season for 2013.

So what will be peak fall color for the Great Smoky Mountains this year? Going by the spring wild flowers, bird and insect movement and the elk rut which was about a week late, it looks as though depending on elevation peak will fall from the early part of the last week in October for the valleys and as early as the 2nd week of October from 3,000 to 4,500 feet, sooner for up to 6,000 feet. Above that there is not really any color as you are in more fir environment which stays green year round.

While with a very damp Spring and Summer is behind us, current long term predictions are for an average fall precipitation and potentially cooler than normal temperatures. My opinion is it is just too soon to call it.

Some minor leaf color changes can already be observed at 1,500 feet and higher, dogwoods and sourwoods getting a burgundy to flame red color in a few branches above 3,000 feet today and lighting of the deep greens can be observed on Cove Mountain in Wears Valley, Some spots on Bluff Mountain, Shields Mountain near Dollywood, Mount LeConte and just below the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

I just returned from the Blue Ridge Parkway all the way to Mount Mitchell and so far a few bushes in the highest elevations are showing of color but we are a week or more away from brilliant color covering large swathes on Grape Yard Ridge, Looking Glass and the Balsam Mountain area which looks even further away.

Cades Cove and Roaring Fork are also showing no lighting and real fall color yet however there are a few spots high up on Rich Mountain Road the unimproved road between Cades Cove Loop Road and Townsend Tennessee.

You are sure to find nice color from the 1st week in October, great colors the second week and breathtaking the 3 and 4th week. Expect some color to still be good through the first week in November in areas such as Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. If conditions continue, it is possible there can be great fall color in some place for 2013 as late as the second week in November. It has happened before and so far the conditions are good for long staying color.

Wilderness Wildlife Week Day 8 Schedule for Saturday, January 19 2013 in Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains

Sadly, today is day 8 of Wilderness Wildlife Week, the last day of this awesome program taking place in the Pigeon Forge Great Smoky Mountains. While many roads are still closed in the Great Smoky Mountains national park cancelling many of today's guided hikes, there still promises to be a good time to be had by all here at the Music Road Hotel and convention center.

Today like all the others days of the Wilderness Wildlife Week will be filled with fun like the kids Safari, Music such as the Old Time Music Concert performed by the Boogertown Gap band, history as such as The Life of Tom Sparks as told by Larry Sparks, crafts such as basket making and of course the various photography classes being given today.

• 9:00am - 10:00am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Take a Liken’ to Lichens. Presented by: Kris Light leading an outdoor expedition to locate lichens in their natural habitats. and taking place in the Dobro Room and outdoors. Must pre-register at Information Desk, Limit 25.
• 9:00am - 10:00am: The Appalachian Trail: An Entertaining Adventure Video Presentation. Presented by: Jeff Alt and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 9:00am - 10:00am: ProShowGold: Taking Your Photos and Videos to the Next Level: Harry Dunn and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 9:00am - 1:00pm: Photography Workshop. Presented by: Kendall Chiles, Don McGowan and Warren Bedell and taking place in the Violin Room
• 9:30am - 10:30am: Discovering the Cumberlands Video Presentation. Presented by: Stuart Carroll and taking place in the Harp Room
• 10:15am - 11:15am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Kids Program. Get Your Kids Hiking: How to Start Them Young and Keep It Fun. Presented by: Jeff Alt and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 10:30am - 11:30am: Sanctuary: Meditations From Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: J. Greg Johnson and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 10:30am - Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: What Separates a Snapshot from a Fine Photograph and How They Are Judged. Presented by: Douglas Hubbard and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 11:00am - Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Life in Cades Cove Panel Discussion. Presented by: Ruth Caughron Davis, Lois Caughron and Dorothy Gregory Sutton and taking place in the Harp Room
• 11:30am - 12:30pm: Kids Program. Silly Safari Show. Presented by: Amazon John and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• Noon - 1:00pm: Wild Hog Management: Are We Too Late? Presented by: David Whitehead and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 12:30pm - 1:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: The ABCs of Bird Photography. Presented by: Weldon Lee and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Cades Cove: Sacrifice to Preservation Video Presentation. Presented by: Kate Marshall and taking place in the Harp Room
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: O! Possum. Presented by: Lynne McCoy and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Litter Clean Up Event: Keep Sevier Beautiful and taking place in the Breakfast Room. Help participate in an organized clean up outside around Music Road Hotel and Convention Center and learn about litter in Tennessee. Dress for being outdoors!
• 1:30pm - 2:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Kids Program. Children’s Sing-A-Long. Presented by: Tony Thomas and Judy Carson and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 1:30pm - 2:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Turn Your Photography into Art. Presented by: Karen Jones and taking place in the Violin Room
• 2:00pm - 4:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Lightroom 4: Come Take a Test Drive. Presented by: Colby McLemore and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 2:15pm - 3:15pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: More About Life in Cades Cove Panel Discussion. Presented by: Bernard Myers, Judy Myers Johns and Vera Myers and taking place in the Harp Room
• 2:30pm - 3:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Family Fun in the Smokies. Presented by: Katy Koontz and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 2:30pm - 5:30pm: Basket Making. Must pre-register at Information Desk, Limit 10. Presented by: Theresa Tyler and taking place in the Breakfast Room
• 3:00pm - 4:30pm: Old Time Music Concert. Presented by: Boogertown Gap and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 3:00pm - 5:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Trial and Error - Fast Track to AHA! Photos in the Digital Age. Presented by: Paul Hassell and taking place in the Violin Room
• 3:00pm - 6:00pm: Photography Contest Pickup in the Cello Room
• 3:30pm - 4:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: The Life of Tom Sparks. Presented by: Larry Sparks and taking place in the Harp Room
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: A Year in the Life of a Bear. Presented by: David Whitehead and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 4:30pm - 5:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: In Search of the Winning Image. Presented by: Weldon Lee and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 5:00pm - 6:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Kids Program Ages 6 - 12. Limit 30 and you must pre-register at Information Desk. The Red-Headed Boogertown Bunch: A Tall Tale of the Mountains. Presented by: Mary Phillips and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 5:30pm - 7:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Crossfire Image Critiquing: Colby McLemore and Ron Plasencia and taking place in the Violin Room
• 6:00pm - 7:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Building Slideshows with Your Images: Dale Knight and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 7:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Ride for the Brand Video Presentation: How Does a Cowboy Fit Into Nature? presented by: Ken Jenkins taking place in the Dobro/Harp Rooms

Remember, if you didn't make it to Wilderness Wildlife Week this year, there is always next year as this wildly popular program in the Smokies is not going to go away, so be sure to plan your winter vacation in the Smoky Mountains around this great event! Don't forget to use your discount code when renting a cabin!

Wilderness Wildlife Week Day 7 Schedule for Friday, January 18 2013 in Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains

Day 7 is the second to last day of this years Wilderness Wildlife Week program for 2013 and the winter storm which rolling into the Smokies last night has closed virtually every road in the Great Smoky Mountains national park and unless some open very shortly, sadly there will be no guided hikes today.

Though the weather is lousy right now along the Pigeon Forge Parkway, it is clear enough to be bale to make the trip to the convention center to enjoy the all the Wilderness Wildlife Week programs going on today as log as the road where you are spending the night are clear.

This is why we always suggest staying in premium accommodations where even if you rae trapped, would you rather be stuck in a hotel room with nothing to do but watch TV, or watch TV in your own living room, play pool in your own game room, surf the web with free WIFI and then go outside and take in the winter beauty with a great view while soaking in your hot tub? I thought so!

• 8:00am - 11:00am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Famous Searches/Rescues of the Great Smoky Mountains. Presented by: Joe Kelley, Bob Swabe, Judy Wasak and Joey Holt and taking place in the Harp Room
• 8:30am - 9:30am: Kids Program. Animal Olympics. Must pre-register at Information Desk, Limit 25. Presented by: Mike Meldrum and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 8:30am - 10:00am: Bird Songs of the Smokies. Presented by: Mark A. Dunaway and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 9:00am - 10:00am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Saving the Eastern Hemlock. Presented by: Stuart Carroll and taking place in the Violin Room
• 10:00am - 11:00am: Kids Program. Let’s Make Music: Children’s Workshop. Presented by: Tony Thomas and Judy Carson and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 10:00am - 11:00am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Conservation Efforts at Pogue Creek State Natural Area. Presented by: Travis Bow and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 10:15am - 11:15am: Do It Yourself: Building a Backyard Bird Habitat. Presented by: Mark A. Dunaway and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 10:30am - 11:30am: Bringing Bluebirds to Your Yard Video Presentation. Presented by: Steve Garr and taking place in the Violin Room
• 11:30am - 12:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Tennessee State Natural Areas 101 Video Presentation. Presented by: Robin Wooten as she presents Tennessee’s 82 natural areas and the ones most accessible to nature lovers. Takes place in the Dobro Room
• 11:30am - 12:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: The Birds and Bees of Wildflowers. Presented by: Kris Light and taking place in the Harp Room
• 11:30am - 12:30pm: Kids Program. Silly Safari Show. Presented by: Amazon John and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 11:45am - 12:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Discovering New Species in the Smokies: 922 and Counting! Presented by Todd Witcher and taking place in the Guitar Room
• Noon - 1:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Journey on the French Way, Spain, 2011. Presented by: Olga Pader and taking place in the Violin Room
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Civil War in the West, 1864. Presented by: Jack Carman and taking place in the Harp Room
• 1:00pm - 2:30pm: Our National Parks: America’s Best Idea Video Presentation. Presented by: Chuck Summers and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 1:00pm - 2:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Advanced SLR Flower Photography. Presented by: Robert Hutson and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 1:00pm - 2:30pm: Learn Clawhammer Banjo, Workshop Two. Must have attended Thursday workshop and bring own five (5) string banjo tuned in the key of G and you must pre-register at Information Desk as there is a limit of 10 people. Presented by: Boogertown Gap and taking place in the Breakfast Room
• 1:30pm - 2:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Kids Program and you must pre-register at Information Desk, Limit 30. Fred the Fish: Keep Sevierville Beautiful and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 2:00pm - 3:00pm: The Amazing Diversity of Fall Creek Falls State Park Video Presentation. Presented by: Stuart Carroll and taking place in the Violin Room
• 2:30pm - 4:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: They Road into History. Presented by: Kathy Gwinn who will cover the development of America’s earliest transportation routes, as well as why they were made and who used them. Takes place in the Harp Room
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm: Lakes, Lighthouses and Landscapes of the North Woods. Presented by: Kendall Chiles and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: My African Adventure with Earthwatch. Presented by: Kathy Sherrard and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 3:00pm - 5:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Basic Watercolor. Must pre-register at Information Desk, Limit of 12. Presented by: Louise Bales and taking place in the Breakfast Room
• 3:30pm - 4:30pm: Challenger Opens Doors. Presented by: Bob Hatcher in the Violin/Guitar Rooms
• 4:00pm - 5:30pm: Walking in the Beauty of the Natural World Video Presentation. Presented by: Don McGowan and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 4:30pm - 5:00pm: Birds of Prey - Live Eagles! Presented by: American Eagle Foundation taking place in the Violin/Guitar Rooms
• 4:30pm - 5:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Wicked Weeds: Deadly Weeds and Their History. Presented by: Theresa Williams and Elizabeth Ballard and taking place in the Harp Room
• 4:30pm - 5:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Using Alternative Photo Editing Programs. Presented by: Dale Knight and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 5:30pm - 6:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: My Favorite Smoky Mountain Birds Video Presentation. Presented by: Dr. Fred Alsop and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 5:30pm - 6:30pm: Quill Pens and Handmade Inks: Adults and Children ages 12+. Limit 15 and you must pre-register at Information Desk. Presented by Pat K. Thomas and taking place in the Breakfast Room
• 5:30pm - 7:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Lords of Nature: Life in a Land of Great Predators: Cougar Rewilding Foundation Video Presentation with Panel Discussion(Panel Discussion with Christopher Spatz, Ben Shrader, Dr. John Laundre, Dr. Ron Sutherland and Helen McGinnis) and taking place in the Violin Room
• 6:15pm - 7:15pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Trekking Planet Earth in Search of Wildlife Video Presentation. Presented by: Weldon Lee taking place in the Dobro/Harp Rooms
• 7:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: The Living Desert Video Presentation. Presented by: Chuck Summers taking place in the Dobro/Harp Rooms
• 7:30pm: Slow Jam: Bring Your Own Instrument or Simply Plan to Enjoy and Listen. Presented by: Tony Thomas and Judy Carson and taking place in the Guitar Room

Next year Wilderness Wildlife week will be taking place later in the month so we hope these weather issues won't occur again.

Wilderness Wildlife Week Day 6 Schedule for Thursday, January 17 2013 in Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains

As day 6 of Wilderness Wildlife Week is about to start in Pigeon Forge, many roads within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park still remain closed due to high water. Fortunately, none of these closures should affect any of the guided hikes today.

Today is yet another jam packed day with great Wilderness Wildlife Week calluses and demonstrations and the top 3 we recommend today are: Wendell Liemohn disusing Three Must Considerations for Hiking Safety, Black Bear Management in Great Smoky Mountains National Park presented by park ranger Bill Stiver and Old Hymns and Songs of Faith presented by the Whaley Family Singers.

A winter storm warning is in effect so you may get a chance to see some more white stuff high up top on the Great Smoky Mountains!

• 8:00am - 11:00am: Introduction to Tracking People in the Outdoors. Presented by: Joe Kelley and taking place in the Harp Room
• 8:30am - 9:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Pack a Wagon for the journey west to the Smokies and must make the hard decision of what to take and what to leave behind. Presented by: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center and taking place in the Violin Room
• 8:30am - 9:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Three Must Considerations for Hiking Safety. Presented by: Wendell Liemohn and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 9:00am - 9:30am: Water Quality and Its Effects on the Biota and People of Our Area. Presented by: Matt Kulp and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 9:30am - 10:30am: Nature Recording in the Smokies. Presented by: Mark A. Dunaway and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 10:00am - 11:00am: Arches Along the Way: A Presentation of Arches and Natural Bridges Along Tennessee’s Trails. Presented by: Keith Garnes and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 10:00am - 11:00am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: The People Who Shaped Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: Bill Deitzer and taking place in the Violin Room
• 10:00am - 11:30am: Wolves of Bays Mountain. Presented by: Rhonda and Rick Goins and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 11:00am - Noon: Flying Bullets and the Resplendent Badge. Presented by: Ersa Rhea Noland Smith as she shares riveting stories about her father Sheriff Ray C. Noland’s years in office in Sevier County. Takes place in the Ukulele Room
• 11:30am - 12:30pm: Kids Program. Photography for Kids and Parents. Presented by: Jim Eastin and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 11:30am - 12:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: America’s Newest Long Distance Trail: The Great Eastern Trail. Presented by: Warren Devine and taking place in the Harp Room
• 11:30am - 1:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Journey on the Camino Primitivo, Spain, 2010: Olga Pader and taking place in the Violin Room
• Noon - 1:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: What Separates a Snapshot from a Fine Photograph and How They Are Judged: Douglas Hubbard and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 12:30pm - 1:30pm: The Story of Appalachian Bear Rescue: Who We Are: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: Orioles: Spring and Summer Video Presentation: Regina Garr and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 1:00pm - 2:30pm: Civil War in the West, 1863: Jack Carman and taking place in the Harp Room
• 1:00pm - 2:30pm: Learn Clawhammer Banjo, Workshop One. Presented by Boogertown Gap. Must bring own five (5) string banjo tuned in the key of G and since there is a limit of 10, pre-register at Information Desk. Takes place in the Breakfast Room
• 1:30pm - 2:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: European Explorations Video Presentation. Presented by: Sharon and Brad Cottrell and taking place in the Violin Room. Join them as they present photos from 21 European countries taken over a 91-day trip to Europe using 28 different modes of transportation.
• 2:00pm - 3:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Lost Attractions of Sevier County. Presented by: Tim Hollis and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 2:00pm - 3:00pm: Kids Program. Wild Wonders. Presented by: Knoxville Zoo's Animals in Action Show and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 2:30pm - 3:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Point and Shoot Flower Photography. Presented by: Robert Hutson and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Anchors Aweigh in the Great Smoky Mountains. Presented by: Tom Harrington and taking place in the Harp Room
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Wildlife on White: The Story Behind the Global "Meet Your Neighbors" Project: Paul Hassell and taking place in the Violin Room
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Kids Program. Limit 20. Must pre-register at Information Desk. Learning About Black Bears. Presented by: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard and taking place in the Breakfast Room
• 3:30pm - 4:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Cool Gadgets for Tech Savvy Hikers. Presented by: Jim Richards and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 3:30pm - 5:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Memories of the Old Country Store. Presented by: Kathy Gwinn and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 4:30pm - 5:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Special Places, Special Creatures. Presented by: Joel and Kathy Zachry and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 4:30pm - 5:30pm: Black Bear Management in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: Bill Stiver and taking place in the Harp Room
• 4:30pm - 5:30pm: Old Time Hymns. Presented by: Don Huskey, Marcia Huskey Nelson and Roger Helton and taking place in the Violin Room
• 4:30pm - 5:30pm: Kids Program. Whooo Did This? Fascinating Owls. Must pre-register at Information Desk, Limit 20. Presented by: Lynne McCoy and taking place in the Breakfast Room
• 5:00pm - 7:00pm: My Experience Through-Hiking the Appalachian Trail Video Presentation. Presented by: Bert Kunze and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 5:30pm - 6:30pm: Bears, Boars and Bulls: A Wild Life in the Smokies! Presented by: Kim Delozier and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 6:00pm - 7:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Rocky Mountain High: Life on the Edge Video Presentation. Presented by: Weldon Lee taking place in the Dobro/Harp Rooms
• 6:00pm - 7:00pm: Old Hymns and Songs of Faith. Presented by: Whaley Family Singers and taking place in the Violin Room
• 6:00pm: Saturday Hike Signups taking place at the Holiday Inn Express
• 7:15pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Spiritual Lessons from Nature. Presented by: Chuck Summers and Ken Jenkins taking place in the Dobro/Harp Rooms
• 7:30pm: Slow Jam: Bring Your Own Instrument or Simply Plan to Enjoy and Listen. Presented by: Tony Thomas and Judy Carson and taking place in the Guitar Room

Wilderness Wildlife Week Day 5 Schedule for Wednesday, January 16 2013 in Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains

As day 5 of Wilderness Wildlife Week begins, the effects of the past few days rain has forced the cancellation of some of the guided hikes and bus trips into Cades Cove, but there is still plenty to see and do inside the Music Road Hotel and Convention center where lost of demonstrations and classes take place.

Now that the rain is going to slow down, a winter storm watch is in effect until 10 pm tomorrow night so expect to be able to see some snow high up on the peaks in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Programs to try not to miss today will be Volunteering in Great Smoky Mountains National Park which will be presented by Christine Hoyer the new volunteer coordinator, Creative Photo Editing Made Easy presented by Richard Iceland and The Story of Pittman Center presented by former park ranger and Mayor Glenn Cardwell.

• 9:00am - 10:00am: The Art of Dowsing: Do You Have the Gift? Presented by: Charlie Monday and taking place in the Harp Room. Limit of 30 so you must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 9:00am - 10:00am: Returning the Whooping Crane as a Nesting Species in the United States. Presented by: Ken Dubke and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 9:00am - 10:30am: Civil War in the West, 1862. Presented by: Jack Carman and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 9:30am - 10:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Mountain Chores. Participants have an opportunity to experience how families took care of the home place. Chores include gathering wood, collecting eggs and sweeping the cabin floor. Come dressed to "work"! Presented by: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 9:30am - 10:30am: Energy, Effort and Passion: Volunteering in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: Christine Hoyer and taking place in the Violin Room
• 10:30am - 11:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: "Heavens to Betsy" It’s a Whole "Kit and Kaboodle" of Expressions Bound to Make You "Crack a Smile". Presented by: Kathy Gwinnand taking place in the Harp Room
• 10:30am - 11:30am: Selective Bird Feeding Video Presentation. Presented by: Regina Garr and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 11:00am - Noon: The Spirits of Cades Cove Video Presentation. Presented by: Mike Meldrum and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 11:00am - Noon: Carolina Bluegrass Boys and Appalachian Cloggers taking place in the Violin/Guitar Rooms
• Noon - 1:00pm: Wildflowers of Tennessee Video Presentation. Presented by: Jack Carman and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 12:30pm - 1:30pm: Learn to Play the Spoons and Washtub Bass. Presented by: Boogertown Gap and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: Air Quality Update at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: Jim Renfro and taking place in the Harp Room
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Old Time Banjo and Fiddle. Presented by: Roger Helton and taking place in the Violin Room
• 1:00pm - 3:00pm: Creative Photo Editing Made Easy. Presented by: Richard Iceland and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 1:00pm - 3:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: History of Pigeon Forge Bus Tour. Presented by: Jane Scott. Limit 20 and you must Pre-register at Information Desk and meet at Information Desk at 12:50pm.
• 1:00pm - 3:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Carving a Dogwood Friendship Spoon, Session Two. Presented by: Don Taylor and taking place in the Breakfast Room. Must sign up and attend both sessions and pre-register at Information Desk.
• 1:30pm - 2:30pm: The Art of Dowsing: Do You Have the Gift? Presented by: Charlie Monday and taking place in the Ukulele Room. Limit of 30 so you must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 2:00pm - 3:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: The Story of Pittman Center. Presented by: Glenn Cardwell and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 2:30pm - 3:30pm: Putting the Pigeon Back in Pigeon Forge. Presented by: Paul James and taking place in the Harp Room
• 2:30pm - 3:30pm: The Music of Appalachia: Past and Present. Presented by: Lost Mill String Band and taking place in the Violin Room
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm: A Ranger Family’s Recollections. Presented by: Joe Kelley with his sons Nelson, Kevin and Travis Kelley and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 3:30pm - 4:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Images and History of Sevierville. Take a step back in time as Carroll discusses the history of Sevierville. Presented by: Carroll McMahan and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Watching Wandering Wildlife. Presented by: W.C. and Glenna Julian and taking place in the Harp Room
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: Songs of the Carter Family. Presented by: Tony Thomas and Judy Carson and taking place in the Violin Room
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Playing Music by Ear. Presented by: Tim Simek and taking place in the Breakfast Room. Must bring own instruments and pre-register at Information Desk. Limit of 20 people.
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Mock Trial from the Past: Sevier County High School students will reenact a local trial from Sevier County’s past to illustrate how the judicial system worked in early courthouse history while the case will portray those of that bygone era. Taking place in the Guitar Room
• 4:30pm - 5:30pm: Wild Ones Among Us. Presented by: Lynne McCoy and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 5:00pm - 6:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Vintage Views Video Presentation: A Collection of Old Film and Photos from Around the Great Smoky Mountains area. Presented by: Kevin Tierney and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 5:30pm - 6:30pm: Carolina Bluegrass Boys and Appalachian Cloggers taking place in the Violin/Guitar Rooms
• 5:30pm - 6:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Kids Program. Must pre-register at Information Desk, Limit 25. The Blue and the Grey: Learn About Life as a Soldier During the Civil War. Presented by: Mike Meldrum and taking place in the Breakfast Room
• 6:00pm: Friday Hike Signups taking place at the Holiday Inn Express
• 6:30pm - 7:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Let’s Meander: Continuing the Meanderings of a Silly Man. Presented by: Doug Mills taking place in the Dobro/Harp/Ukulele Rooms
• 7:45pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Appalachian Tales and Heartland Adventures. Presented by: Bill Landry taking place in the Dobro/Harp/Ukulele Rooms

Wilderness Wildlife Week Day 4 Schedule for Tuesday, January 15 2013 in Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains

It is now day 4 of the Smoky Mountains Wilderness Wildlife Week taking place in Pigeon Forge Tennessee and boy is there a packed schedule, although the weather and road conditions are not cooperating so some of the hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains national park may have to be cancelled.

For example, as per the Great Smoky Mountains national park twitter feed @GSMNP, Upper Tremont Road is closed to all traffic due to high water as well as Sparks Lane and Forge Creek Road in Cades Cove.

Even if you can only stay inside today, today is a great day to be inside in the Smokies as Wilderness Wildlife Week continues is the Music Road Hotel and Convention Center.

• 8:30am - 9:30am: Green Power Switch / Generation Partners: Lucas Harkleroad and taking place in the Harp Room
• 9:00am - 9:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Wiley Oakley Portrayal. Presented by: Tyler W. King who will share his love of mountain heritage through the stories of Smoky Mountain Guide, Wiley Oakley. Taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 9:00am - 10:00am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: The Good News! 40 Years with Tennessee Nesting Osprey. Presented by: Ken Dubke and taking place in the Violin Room
• 9:30am - 10:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: 2012 Grand Canyon Rim to Rim. Presented by: Bill Deitzer and Bob Turney and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 9:30am - 10:30am: Mountain Marvels: Waterfalls of the Southern Appalachians Slide Presentation (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky). Presented by: Bill Carter and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 10:00am - 11:00am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: It’s Puppy Time: Bays Mountain Cubs. Presented by: Rhonda and Rick Goins and taking place in the Harp Room
• 10:00am - 11:00am: Mr. Herbert Clabo Tells Stories of Old Gatlinburg. Presented by: Herbert Clabo with Veta King and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 10:30am - 11:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: The Garden Unseen Video Presentation. Presented by: Dr. Alan S. Heilman and taking place in the Violin Room
• 11:00am - Noon: Kids Program. Wild World of Animals. Presented by: Knoxville Zoo's Zoomobileand taking place in the Dobro Room
• 11:00am - 1:00pm: Digital and Film Photography: How to Shoot Like a Pro: Richard Iceland and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 11:30am - 12:30pm: The Art of Dowsing: Do You Have the Gift?. Presented by: Charlie Monday and taking place in the Harp Room. Since there is a limit of 30, you must pre-register at Information Desk.
• Noon - 1:00pm: Meditations on Nature. Presented by: Phylis Rollins and taking place in the Violin Room
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Meet Some of East Tennessee’s Most Famous Residents. Presented by: Maranda and Elisa Vandergriff and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Old Time Dessert Tasting Event. Lifelong residents of the Great Smoky Mountains area will prepare some of their favorite old time family desserts for guests to sample including cobblers, stack cakes, pies, molasses cookies and more!Presented by: Veta King and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 1:00pm - 3:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Carving a Dogwood Friendship Spoon, Session One. Presented by: Don Taylor and taking place in the Breakfast Room. You must pre-register at Information Desk as there is a limit and 10 and you must sign up and attend both sessions. All registrants must bring own sharpened woodcarving tools.
• 1:30pm - 2:30pm: Leave No Trace: The Rules and Regulations of Backpacking and Leave No Trace Guidelines. Presented by: Mike Braun and Pamela Rodgers and taking place in the Harp Room
• 1:30pm - 2:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: 60 Years of Fun at Bays Mountain. Presented by: Joe Taft and David Taylor and taking place in the Violin Room
• 1:30pm - 2:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: National Wildlife Refuges in Tennessee. Presented by: Jim Wigginton and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 2:30pm - 3:30pm: Civil War in the West, 1861. Presented by: Jack Carman and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 2:30pm - 3:30pm: The Trail of Tears and the Cherokee in the Great Smoky Mountains (Before and After the Removal). Presented by: Jon Elder and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: How to Get Eaten by a Bear. Presented by: Joel and Kathy Zachry and taking place in the Harp Room
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm: Identifying Local Birds of Prey. Presented by: Stephen Lyn Bales and taking place in the Violin Room
• 3:30pm - 4:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program for Adults and ages 12+ only: Intro to Beginning Bluegrass Dancing. Presented by: Jack and Doris Parton and taking place in the Guitar Room. You must pre-register at Information Desk as there is a Limit of 40.
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Growing Mealworms for Backyard Birds Video Presentation. Presented by: Steve Garr and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: The Iron Works and the Forge - Pigeon Forge’s Namesake. Presented by: Jerry Wear who will discuss the manufacturing of iron in Pigeon Forge around 1820. Takes place in the Ukulele Room.
• 4:00pm - 5:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Intermediate / Advanced Mountain Dulcimer. Presented by: Tim Simek and taking place in the Breakfast Room. You must bring own instruments and pre-register at Information Desk nice there is a limit of 10.
• 4:30pm - 5:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Guarding the President: NPS Special Events Team, 1970s. Presented by: Joe Kelley and taking place in the Harp Room
• 5:30pm - 6:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Photographic Fundamentals: From Composition to Proper Exposure and Everything in Between. Presented by: Daniel Dempster and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 6:00pm: Thursday Hike Signups taking place at the Holiday Inn Express
• 7:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: America’s Favorite Drive: The Blue Ridge Parkway. Presented by: Charles Maynard - taking place in the Dobro/Harp Rooms

APPALACHIAFEST!
A Free Musical Celebration of Our Heritage! Taking place in the Violin/Guitar Rooms

• 5:00pm - 6:30pm: Smoky Mountain Inhabitants and Their Music presented by the Boogertown Gap
• 6:45pm - 7:45pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Of Home and Hearth presented by Hills-N-Hollows
• 8:00pm: Carolina Bluegrass Boys with clogging from the Appalachian Cloggers. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun!

Wilderness Wildlife Week Day 3 Schedule for January 14 2013 in Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains

As day 3 of Wilderness Wildlife Week starts, many of us are looking to the skies as though the past few days were unseasonably warm, today an aerial flood watch is in effect which could be an issue for some of the free guided hikes today in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Even if you decide not to hike, or the hike is called off, there is lost to see and so inside in the comfort of the Music Row Hotel when the free demonstrations and classes take place.

Some of the Wilderness Wildlife week classes we strongly recommend today are: Black Bear Ecology presented by Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard, taking better wildflower pictures presented by Bob Stephenson, and the Burns of Cades Cove Video Presentation presented by Alice Beers a local passionate about Cades Cove. If you visit Cades Cove often, you have seen Alice filming bear, deer and other wildlife.

• 9:00am - 10:00am: Wonderful Waterfalls of Tennessee Slide Presentation. Presented by: Bill Carter and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 9:00am - Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Printing Your Photography and Artwork. Presented by: Dick Ensing and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 9:30am - 10:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: 10 Hints for Creating a Successful Backyard Habitat - Advice from a Lifetime Master Gardener. Presented by: Dr. Leo Lubke and Linda Lubke and taking place in the Harp Room but you must pre-register at Information Desk as there is a Limit 25.
• 10:00am - 11:00am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: The Civilian Conservation Corps: FDR’s "Tree Army". Presented by: Bill Deitzer who will discuss the legacy of this corps of young men from the 1930s who built several of America’s national parks, including Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Parks. Takes place in the Dobro Room
• 10:00am - 11:00am: Hosting Hummingbirds Video Presentation. Presented by: Regina Garr and taking place in the Violin Room
• 10:30am - Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: By George, What A Family!. Presented by: Kathy Gwinn and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 11:30am - 12:30pm: Learn to Play Washboard and Washtub Base. Presented by: Boogertown Gap and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 11:30am - 12:30pm: Black Bear Ecology. Presented by: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard and taking place in the Harp Room
• 11:30am - 12:30pm: Wildflowers of the Smokies Video Presentation. Presented by: Jack Carman and taking place in the Violin Room
• 12:30pm - 1:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: The Story of Greenbrier Cove. Presented by: Glenn Cardwell and taking place in the Ukulele Room (highly recommended)
• 12:30pm - 2:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Prescribed Burns of Cades Cove Video Presentation. Presented by: Alice Beers and taking place in the Guitar Room (highly recommended)
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Old Time Music and Instruments. Presented by: Roger Helton and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Invasive Exotic Plants: Making Intelligent Landscaping Choices. Presented by: Kristine Johnson and taking place in the Harp Room
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: Bird’s the Word: Bird Stories, Songs, Lore and Natural History. Presented by: Doug Elliott and taking place in the Violin Room
• 1:00pm - 2:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Beginning Hammer Dulcimer. Presented by: Tim Simek. Must bring own instruments and pre-register at the Information Desk as there is a Limit of 10 people. Takes place in the Breakfast Room
• 2:30pm - 3:30pm: Introduction to the Autoharp: Tony Thomas and Judy Carson and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 2:30pm - 3:30pm: Wild Hog Management in the Great Smoky Mountains. Presented by: Jay Carr and taking place in the Harp Room
• 2:30pm - 3:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Goldfinches and Cardinals: Bring Some Color to Your Bird Feeders. Presented by: Steve Garr and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 2:30pm - 3:30pm: John James Audubon’s "The Birds of America". Presented by: Stephen Lyn Bales and taking place in the Violin Room
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm: Tennessee Butterflies and How to Raise Them. Presented by: Lois English and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 3:00pm - 6:00pm: Basket Making. Presented by: Theresa Tyler and taking place in the Breakfast Room. As there is a limit of 10 you must pre-register at the Information Desk
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Broken Lives in a Broken County: The Civil War in Cocke County. Presented by: J. Duay O’Neil and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: The Makin’s of Granny. Presented by: Theresa Williams who will tell of her experiences playing Granny Lydia in the Store Britches play. Takes place in the Harp Room
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: Ranger Recollections. Presented by: Joe Kelley and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Being Bear Smart Video Presentation. Presented by: Kate Marshall and taking place in the Violin Room
• 4:30pm - 5:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: What’s in My Pack?: The Fundamentals of Lightweight Backpacking. Presented by: NOC Gatlinburg and Backpacking Light and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 5:30pm - 6:30pm: Of Ginseng, Golden Apples and the Rainbow Fish: Ancient Tales and a Modern Mythic Adventure. Presented by: Doug Elliott and taking place in the Dobro/Harp Rooms
• 5:30pm - 6:30pm: Be Careful Out There: Hazards in the Outdoors. Presented by: Joe Taft and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 5:30pm - 6:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Taking Better Wildflower Pictures. Presented by: Bob Stephenson and taking place in the Violin Room
• 6:00pm: Wednesday Hike Signups taking place at the Holiday Inn Express
• 6:00pm - 7:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Appalachian Mountain Beauty and Scottish Highland Video Presentation Tour. Presented by: Daniel and Denise Dempster and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 7:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: And Heaven and Nature Sing. Presented by: Ken Jenkins, Judy Felts and Friends taking place in the Dobro/Harp/Ukulele Rooms

Day 2 Sunday Schedule for 2013 Wilderness Wildlife Week in the Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains

Day 1 of the Wilderness Wildlife Week was a huge success with a large attendance helped by the fact that the weather didn't prevent anyone form coming as it had in years past.

Todays program will all also take place at Music Road Hotel and Convention Center at 303 Henderson Chapel Road in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The information desk will be open from 7:00am to 9:00pm, the Vendor and Exhibit Hall from 9:00am to 6:00pm and you can see the Photography Exhibit in the Cello Room from 9:00am until 6:00pm.

Wilderness Wildlife Week Program Day 2 Sunday Jan 13th 2013

• 9:00am - 10:00am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Nature Photography: From the Mountains to the Sea. Presented by: Tom and Pat Cory and taking place in the Dobro Room.
• 9:00am - 10:00am: Sunday Morning Sing-A-Long. Presented by: Tony Thomas and taking place in the Violin Room
• 9:00am - 11:00am: World Class Stream Smallmouth Bass. Presented by: Greg Ward and taking place in the Harp Room
• 9:30am - 10:30am: Marking Time: A Guide to Historical Markers in East Tennessee. Presented by: Fred Brown and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 9:30am - 10:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: A Smokies Murder Mystery: "Murder at the Jumpoff". Presented by: Jenny Bennett and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 10:30am - 11:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Learning to See Photographically. Presented by: Bill Fortney and taking place in the Dobro Room
• 10:30am - 11:30am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Amazing Bears. Presented by: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard and taking place in the Violin Room. Strongly suggest this program!
• 11:00am - Noon: Across the Alps: Italy to Austria Video Presentation. Presented by: Peter and Gudrun Seifert and taking place in the Ukulele Room.
• 11:00am - Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Seasons on the Trail: Hiking Through Nature’s Bounty. Presented by: Ila Hatter and taking place in the Guitar Room.
• 11:30am - 12:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Native Trees, Shrubs and Vines of the Southern Appalachians. Presented by: Leon Bates and taking place in the Harp Room.
• 12:30pm - 1:30pm: Groundhogology: Of Whistlepigs and World Politics. Presented by: Doug Elliott and taking place in the Dobro Room. Doug tells through traditional songs, mountain dialects and lively harmonica riffs how groundhogs have been a source of food, clothing, medicine and music for Appalachian folks for generations.
• 12:30pm - 1:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Chickadee the Bringer of Truth. Presented by: Stephen Lyn Bales will discuss 20 plants and animals important to the Native Americans of the Tennessee Valley. Takes place in the Ukulele Room.
• 12:30pm - 1:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Kids Program: Kiddin’ Around: A Concert for Kids of All Ages. Presented by: Lost Mill String Band and taking place in the Violin Room
• 1:00pm - 1:45pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Smoky Mountain Llama Treks and Hiking with Llamas in the Smokies. Presented by: Steve Garrett and taking place in the Harp Room
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Africa: A Wildlife Photographer’s Dream Trip. Presented by: Harry Dunn and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 1:00pm - 3:30pm: Casting a Fly Rod. Presented by: Greg Ward and taking place in the Breakfast Room. Bring your own rod if possible.
• 2:00pm - 3:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Smoky Mountain Bears, Whitetails and Wildflowers Video Presentation. Presented by: Kate Marshall and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 2:00pm - 3:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Preaching the Glory Down. Presented by: Hills-N-Hollows and taking place in the Violin Room
• 2:00pm - 3:30pm: Old Harp Singing. A group of area shaped-note singers will sing traditional songs which were taught in music schools in the early 1900s in the Great Smoky Mountains area. Presented by: David Sarten in the Dobro/Harp Rooms
• 3:00pm - 4:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen. Presented by: Rosemary Deitzer and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 3:30pm - 4:30pm: Climb Every Mountain, Ford Every Stream. Presented by: Carroll McMahan with Stan Creswell, Frank Maples, Coppley Vickers and John Cotter and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 3:30pm - 4:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Smoky Mountain Ballads, Part Two. Presented by: Boogertown Gap and taking place in the Violin Room.
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Advanced Possumology: Songs, Stories, Lore and More About the Possum. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Dobro/Harp Rooms
• 4:00pm - 5:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Kids Program. Learning About Black Bears: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard and taking place in the Breakfast Room but you must pre-register at Information Desk as there is a Limit 20.
• 4:30pm - 5:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Characters Met While Hiking the Appalachian Trail. Presented by: Joel and Kathy Zachry and taking place in the Guitar Room
• 5:00pm - 6:00pm: The Walker Sisters of Little Greenbrier. Presented by: Robin Goddard and taking place in the Ukulele Room
• 5:00pm - 6:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Explorers of the Smokies in the 1920s. Presented by: Paul James and taking place in the Violin Room
• 5:30pm - 6:30pm: Kids Program Ages 8 - 12. Quill Pens and Homemade Ink. Presented by: Pat K. Thomas and taking place in the Breakfast Room. Since there is a limit of 15, you must pre-register at Information Desk
• 5:30pm - 6:30pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Old Time String Band and The Sound of Days Gone. Presented by: Tony Thomas and Friends in the Dobro/Harp Rooms
• 6:00pm: Tuesday Hike Signups at the Holiday Inn Express
• 6:00pm-6:45pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Knoxville Tennessee Pastor a Titanic Hero taking place in the Guitar Room
• 7:00pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program: Being Open to New Beauty. Presented by: Ken Jenkins in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 7:30pm: Slow Jam: Bring Your Own Instrument or Simply Plan to Enjoy and Listen. Presented by: Tony Thomas and Judy Carson and taking place in the Guitar Room

Want to stay longer than your original cabin rental reservation so you can stay longer? Ask about a last minute discount and adding onto your original stay!

Wilderness Wildlife Week Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains Schedule for 2013

Every year one the most popular events that takes during Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge are the guided hikes that take place in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

These guided hikes fill up fast and you must preregister at the Music Road Hotel and Convention Center the day before hand and the number of hikers permitted may change due to availability of transportation. Hike may also be cancelled due to bad weather.

Sunday, January 13, 2013 Wilderness Wildlife Week Guided Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• 6:00am - Noon Cades Cove Photo Trek led by Dempster via Bus (Easy)
• 7:30am - 2:00pm Original Road to Walker Sisters led by Snyder: 5 miles long rated Moderate Strenuous
• 7:30am - 4:30pm Little River/Goshen Prong/Cucumber Gap led by Owen: 9.5 miles long rated Moderate Strenuous
• 8:00am - 4:00pm A.T. / Road Prong led by Lloyd: 7.2 miles long rated Moderate Strenuous
• 9:30am - 4:30pm Middle Prong led by Teague: 7 miles long rated Moderate
• 10:00am - 5:00pm Albright Grove led by McFarland: 7.5 miles long rated Moderate
• 6:00pm - 9:00pm Owl Prowl led by Garr via Bus (Easy)

Monday, January 14, 2013 Wilderness Wildlife Week Guided Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• 7:00am - 1:00pm History of Cades Cove led by Iceland via Bus (Easy)
• 7:00am - 3:00pm Finley Cane / West Prong led by Luckett: 6 miles long rated Easy Moderate
• 8:00am - 3:30pm Greenbrier - Off Trail led by McFarland: 8 miles long rated Moderate Strenuous
• 8:00am - 5:00pm Rhododendron Creek led by Duncan: 7 miles long rated Moderate Strenuous
• 8:30am - 4:00pm White Oak Sinks led by Domingue: 5 miles long rated Easy Moderate
• 8:30am - 4:00pm School House Gap led by Zachry: 5 miles long rated Moderate
• 10:00am - 4:00pm Huskey Gap / Sugarland Mountain led by Owen: 5.1 miles long rated Moderate Strenuous
• 6:00pm - 9:00pm Owl Prowl led by Garr via Bus (Easy)

Tuesday, January 15, 2013 Wilderness Wildlife Week Guided Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• 7:30am - 4:00pm Mt. Cammerer led by Maynard: 11 miles long rated Strenuous
• 7:30am - 4:30pm Meigs Mountain / Lumber Ridge led by Owen: 10.8 miles long rated Moderate Strenuous
• 8:30am - 2:30pm Cades Cove led by Snyder via Bus (Easy)
• 10:00am - 2:00pm Injun Creek led by Cardwell: 2 miles long rated Easy
• 10:00am - 3:30pm Jakes Creek / Avent Cabin led by Jenkins: 3 miles long rated Easy Moderate
• 10:00am - 3:30pm Little River led by McFarland: 6 miles long rated Easy Moderate

Wednesday, January 16, 2013 Wilderness Wildlife Week Guided Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• 7:00am - Noon Cades Cove Photo Shoot led by McLemore via Bus rated Easy Moderate
• 7:30am – 1:00pm Abrams Falls led by Owen: 5 miles long rated Easy
• 7:30am - 5:00pm Blanket Mountain led by Doughty: 8 miles long rated Strenuous
• 8:00am - 5:30pm Albright Grove led by Voorhis: 7 miles long rated Moderate
• 8:30am - 1:00pm Elkmont Historic District led by Dietzer: 4 miles long rated Easy
• 8:30am - 3:00pm Old Sugarlands Trail led by McFarland: 6.5 miles long rated Moderate
• 10:00am - 4:00pm Llama Hike led by Garrett: 4 miles long rated Easy Moderate
• 11:30am - 5:30pm Bus Tour of Cades Cove led by Harrington via Bus rated Easy

Thursday, January 17, 2013 Wilderness Wildlife Week Guided Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• 7:30 am – 3:00 pm Laurel Falls/Little Greenbrier led by Domingue: 7.4 miles long rated Moderate
• 8:00am - 2:00pm Rainbow Falls led by McFarland: 6 miles long rated Moderate
• 9:00am - 3:00pm Round Top - Off Trail led by Snyder: 3.5 miles long rated Easy
• 10:00am -1:30pm Old Elkmont Town led by Cardwell: 1 mile long rated Easy
• 10:00am - 3:30pm Cucumber Gap / Little River led by Luckett: 6 miles long rated Easy Moderate
• 6:00pm - 9:00pm Owl Prowl led by Garr via Bus (Easy)

Friday, January 18, 2013 Wilderness Wildlife Week Guided Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• 7:00am - Noon Cades Cove Photo Shoot McLemore via Bus rated Easy Moderate
• 8:00am - 2:30pm Meigs Mountain. - Off Trail led by Snyder: 5 miles long rated Moderate
• 8:00am - 4:00pm Little River / Huskey Gap led by Zachry: 6.8 miles long rated Moderate
• 8:00am - 5:30pm Miry Ridge led by Whitted: 8.4 miles long rated Moderate Strenuous
• 10:00am - 5:00pm Barnes Sisters led by Duncan: 5 miles long rated Moderate Strenuous
• 10:00am - 5:00pm Llama Hike led by Garrett: 4 miles long rated Easy Moderate
• 6:00pm - 9:00pm Owl Prowl led by Garr via Bus (Easy)

Saturday, January 19, 2013 Wilderness Wildlife Week Guided Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• 8:00am - 3:30pm Birding in Cades Cove led by Alsop: 3 miles long rated Easy Moderate
• 10:00am - 4:30pm Albright Grove led by Maynard: 7 miles long rated Moderate
• 10:15am - 2:30pm Bus Tour to Cosby led by Cardwell via Bus (Easy)

Nothing better after a long hike than some private time in your cabins hot tub!