Day 2 of Wilderness Wildlife Week In the Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains.

Wilderness Wildlife Week day 2 is another fun filled exciting day of activities, guided hikes and classes about the Great Smoky Mountains and a little snow won't spoil the fun - as a matter of fact the picture perfect beauty of a snow dusted Smoky Mountains is just what photographers have been waiting for!

Feedback from those that attended Wilderness Wildlife Week yesterday has been extremely positive and it seems that each year it just keeps getting better! A suggestion is that you may want to pack in a lunch today and especially tomorrow and Tuesday, as the road will be a little worse with all the new snow we are expecting the next 48 hours.

As if you cannot get enough, today there will be 2 programs on Black Bear that live in the Smokies and some great slide shows and photography programs on this day 2 of the 21st Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge Tennessee.

• NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK SPECIAL PHOTO EXHIBIT: Pigeon Forge Fifty Years of Progress in the Cello Room 9:00 am- 6:00 pm.
• 8:30 am - 10:30 am Stocked Trout Stream Fishing. Presented by: Greg Ward in the Guitar Room.
• 9:00 am - 10:00 am Sunday Morning Singing. Presented by: Tony Thomas in the Dobro Room.
• 9:00 am - 10:00 am NEW pm: Bear Ecology. Presented by: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard in the Harp Room.
• 9:00 am -10:00 am Wildflowers of the Southern Highlands. Presented by: Jack Carman in the Violin Room.
• 9:30 am -10:30 am: Marking Time: A Guide to the Historical Markers in East Tennessee. Presented by: Fred Brown in the Ukelele Room.
• 10:30 am -11:30 am: NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: The Discovery of the Gray Fossil Site. Presented by: Harry Moore in the Dobro Room.
• 10:30 am -11:30 am Images of Light: Slide Presentation. Presented by: Tom and Pat Cory in the Harp Room.
• 10:30 am - 12:00 pm: NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: A Hiker's Guide to Wild Food and Medicine. Presented by: Ila Hatter in the Violin Room.
• 11:00 am - 12:00 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Improving Your Photography. Presented by: Bill Fortney in the Guitar Room.
• 11:00 am - 12:00 pm UPDATED WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Civil War in the Mountains. Presented by: A. Christine Tipton in the Ukelele Room.
• 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Nature Writing Workshop: Putting your outdoor experiences into words. Presented by: Jeff Rennicke in the Dobro/Harp.
• 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Long Live John Barleycorn- Of Lawns, Weeds and Wheat Fields: Song and Stories. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Violin Room.
• 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Digital Technician: Slide presentation. Presented by: Bill Fortney in the Guitar Room.
• 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Butterflies: How to Attract Them. Presented by: Lois English and W.C. and Glenna Julian in the Ukelele Room.
• 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm KIDS TRACK WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Kiddin Around: Hands On Introduction to Mountain Music and Instruments. Presented by: Lost Mill String Band in the Breakfast Room. Limit 20 and you must preregister at Information Desk. Parents are encouraged to accompany kids.
• 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Whistle over the Mountains: Story of Elkmont Logging Days. Presented by: Jim Thurston in the Harp Room.
• 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Old Harp Shaped Note Singing: A group of People from Sevier County sing the way their ancestors did early in the last century. Presented by: David Sarten in the Violin Room.
• 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm UPDATED WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Sanctuary in the Smokies: Photographs and Readings from "Sanctuary: Meditations from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: J. Greg Johnson in the Guitar Room.
• 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Cardinal's: Everyone's Favorite Red Bird. Presented by: Steve Garr in the Dobro Room.
• 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Hens, Hives and Herbs: History and Life in the 1940's: W.C. and Glenna Julian and Donna Stinett in the Ukelele Room.
• 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm World Class Smallmouth Bass: Greg Ward in the Breakfast Room.
• 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm NEW KIDS TRACK WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Batteries Not Included Fun with Games and Toys. Presented by: Mike Meldrum in the Harp Room.
• 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Weeds for Your Needs-Useful Wild Plants: Songs and Stories. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Dobro Room.
• 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm NEW KIDS TRACK WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Children's Sing-Along: Adults welcome. Presented by: Tony Thomas in the Violin Room.
• 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Switzerland Hiking Photo Tour. Presented by: Shannon Harris in the Ukelele Room.
• 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Tales From Two Smokies Trail Completers. Presented by: Bill Deitzer and Tommy Small in the Guitar Room.
• 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: "Encounters - More on Bears" . Presented by: Joel and Kathy Zachry in the Guitar Room.
• 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Ken Jenkins Program in the Dobro/Harp room.
• 6:00 pm Tuesday hike sign ups Holiday Inn Express across the street.
• 7:45 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Growing Up Wild: Connecting Kids with the Great Outdoors: The joys, frustrations, and challenges of raising a NEW generation of young people who understand, enjoy, and feel connected to the natural world around them. Presented by: Jeff Rennicke in the Dobro/Harp room.

A picture perfect winter vacation in the Smokies, a great gathering of people for free and a great deal on cabin rentals, why aren't you here?

The 21st Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week starts today in Pigeon Forge Tennessee

The hottest ticket is the Great Smoky Mountains is at one of the free classes, lectures, activities or on the bus to one of the many guided hikes on the 21st Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week.

Some of these events that run from January 8th - 15th, 2011 will be standing room only and for good reason: the best of the best will be presenting, guiding and performing and everything taking place at the Wilderness Wildlife Week is free!

This year's Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week will take place again as it has for years at the Music Road Hotel and Convention Center a block off the parkway in Pigeon Forge Tennessee.

What is new is that the location to sign up for any one of the more than 50 guided hikes taking place in the Great Smoky Mountains national park will be held at Holiday Inn Express across the street from Music Road Hotel & Convention Center.

This year’s hikes will have the added challenge of plenty of fresh snow. It is very likely that some of the hikes will be canceled or alternate hikes will be made as roads such as Newfound Gap Road between Gatlinburg and Cherokee are closed right now due to snow and ice and there is presently no access to Greenbrier and Cades Cove.

With the inclement weather, some of the lectures may have to be postponed, canceled or speaker may have to be substituted, but no matter what, if you love nature, photography, history, music, crafts, hiking or great stories, there is something for every one of all ages at this year’s 21st Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week Pigeon Forge Tennessee.

The Information Desk at the convention center is open from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm and the Exhibit Hall is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.

Saturday January 8th, 2011 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule:

• 8:00 am - 11:00 am Learn to Use a Map and Compass. Presented by: Terry and Lavalla Edgington in the Ukelele Room. Limit 50 that must preregister at Information Desk.
• 7:00 am - 9:00 pm The Information Desk is open.
• 9:00 am - 10:00 am Rock Formations of the Smokies: Geological Past of Smoky Mountains. Presented by: Harry Moore in the Dobro Room.
• 9:00 am - 10:00 am NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Photoshop for the Nature Photographer Presented by: Larry Perry in the Violin Room.
• 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Nature Photography Workshop. Presented by: Kendall Chiles, Tom and Pat Cory and Harold Stinnette in the Guitar Room.
• 9:00 am - 11:30 am Fly Fishing in the Smokies Presented by: Greg Ward in the Harp Room.
• 9:00 am - 1:00 PM: Photo Exhibit Entry and Set Up - (Entry form must be submitted with photo) in the Cello Room.
• 10:30 am - 11:30 am Discovering October Roads: View Fall Colors of East Tennessee. Presented by: Fred Brown and Harry Moore in the Dobro Room.
• 10:30 am - 11:30 am Introduction to the Acoustic Guitar. Presented by: Tony Thomas in the Violin Room.
• 11:30 am Sunday hike sign ups at Holiday Inn Express across the street from the convention center.
• 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Groundhogology: Songs and Tales. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Dobro Room.
• 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Update on Searching for Panthers in the Smokies. Presented by: Dr. Don Linzey in the Ukelele Room.
• 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm KIDS TRACK: Animal Olympics: Comparing Human Senses and Abilities to Those of Wild Animals, Interactive. Presented by: Ann Schlichting in the Harp Room. Limit 30 Children: Must Preregister at Information Desk.
• 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm KIDS TRACK: Learn About Bears Through Hands-ON- Activities. Presented by: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard in the Breakfast Room. Limit 20: Kindergarten-6th Grade: Must Preregister at Information Desk.
• 1:30 am - 2:30 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Weather Signs: Learning How to "Read the Signs" for Changes in Weather for Hiking and Camping. Presented by: Ila Hatter in the Violin/Guitar Room .1:30 pm -2:30 pm Serpent Handlers: Serpent Handling Religion in Appalachia. Presented by: Fred Brown in the Dobro Room.
• 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Grand Canyon Adventure, North to South, East to West, Top to Bottom a View for Everyone. Presented by: Bill Deitzer and Bob Turney in the Harp Room.
• 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Avent Cabin: The Inhabitants, Heritage and Folklore of a Historic Smoky Mountain Cabin Near Elkmont. Presented by: Carroll McMahan in the Ukelele Room.
• 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Sunday Morning at "Moon"- Shine Missionary Baptist Church: Stories and Songs. Presented by: Mike and Kathy Gwinn in the Dobro Room.
• 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: National History Day Students: Talented Local Students Share Their Knowledge of How to Document Your Local History. Presented by: Sabrina Gray in the Violin Room.
• 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Hands On History: Make a Quill Pen with Instructions and Materials to Make a Quill Pen. Presented by: Pat Thomas in the Breakfast Room. Limit 12 which must preregister at Information Desk.
• 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm Fly Casting. Presented by: Greg Ward in the Guitar Room.
• 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm UPDATE: Civil War in the Mountains. Presented by: A. Christine Tipton in the Ukelele Room.
• 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Waterton Lakes, Canada to Alaska and Return: A Photographic Travel Log. Presented by: Bob and Gloria Epperson in the Harp Room.
• 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm Ballads of the Great Smoky Mountains. Presented by: Boogertown Gap Band in the Violin Room.
• 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: KIDS TRACK: Booger a Tall Tale of the Mountains: Story Reading and Nature Program for Children and Adults: Wildflower Project. Presented by: Mary Phillips in the Breakfast Room. Limit: 25 Children ages 6-12 and 15 Adults. Must Preregister at Information Desk.
• 5:45 pm - 6:45 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Wildwoods Wisdom: Exploring Our Spiritual Connection to Nature. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Dobro/Harp room.
• 6:00 pm: Monday hike sign ups - Holiday Inn Express
• 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm Wilderness Wildlife Week Opening Comments. Presented by: Terry Maddox, Executive Director of Great Smoky Mountains Association: Jim Hart, Director of Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Dale Ditmanson, Superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Dobro/Harp room.
• 7:30 pm: Opening remarks. Presented by: Ken Jenkins in the Dobro/Harp room.
• 7:45 pm: NEW: Keynote Program. "With NEW Eyes: Finding a Sense of Place in Nature": This presentation is composed of beautiful original photography and intriguing stories, Jeff takes us along a journey to some of the most beautiful places on earth and helps the listener find their own sense of a place close to home. Presented by: Jeff Rennicke in the Dobro/Harp room.

Day 2 of the 2010 Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule

Day 1 of the 2010 Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge was a huge success even though it was quite cold in the Smokies and day 2 has just as much excitement and great indoor activities to keep you out of the bad weather.

Latter on during the week as the temperature climbs back to the normal mild winter weather we have here in the Smokies you will want to take advantage of the free guided hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains national park during Wilderness Wildlife Week. Did we mention all the great fun and activities during Wilderness Wildlife Week are free? They sure are!

If you are like me there are more will often be more than one activity taking place that you like and you will have a hard time choosing what you want to attend. Of special note will be the bear lecture today by Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard, the Close Up and Macro Photography Workshop with Andrea Shetley and the Whistle over the Mountains program about logging in the Smokies.

No matter what lectures or demonstrations you attend during Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge Tennessee, you will have a great time at the right price. Since the weather will be getting better, you can sign up for guided hikes on Tuesday by 6:00 pm in the Guitar Room.

Wilderness Wildlife Week Schedule for January 10th, 2010

• 7:00 am - 9:00 pm The Information Desk is open.


• 8:30 am - 10:30 am Stream Stocked Trout Fishing. Presented by: Greg Ward - In the Ukelele Room.


• 9:00 am - 10:00 am Sunday Morning Singing. Presented by: Tony Thomas - In the Dobro Room.


• 9:30 am - 11:00 am NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Hikers Guide to Wild Food and Medicine - Illustrated talk on "trail nibbles," wild foods and seasonings, and trail medicine. Presented by: Ila Hatter - In the Violin/Guitar Room.


• 10:00 am - 11:00 am NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: The Joy of Photography. Presented by: Tom and Pat Cory - In the Harp Room.


• 10:30 am - 11:30 am KIDS TRACK: Wild Ones Among Us - Meet Them! Presented by: Lynn McCoy - In the Dobro Room.


• 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Civil War in the Mountains. Presented by: A. Christine Tipton - In the Ukelele Room.


• 11:30 am - 12:30 pm If You Were a Bear. Presented by: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard - In the Violin Room.


• 11:30 am - 12:45 pm Identifying Local Birds of Prey. Presented by: Stephen Lyn Bales - In the Guitar Room.


• 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Cherokee Stories. Presented by: Lloyd Arneach - In the Dobro Room.


• 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Learn to Play the Harmonica in the Key of "C". Presented by: Tony Thomas - In the Harp Room.


• 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Birds the Word - Celebrating our fine-feathered friends in story and song. . Presented by: Doug Elliott - In the Violin Room.


• 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm All About Raptors. Presented by: Katie Cottrell and Kathy Strunk - In the Guitar Room.


• 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm The Art of Photography and Image Enhancement. Presented by: Pat Gordy and Ron Plasencia - In the Ukelele Room.


• 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Close Up and Macro Photography Workshop. Presented by: Andrea Shetley - Room: Music Road Hotel Breakfast Room. (Limit 15 students. Pre-registration at the Information Desk required the day of the workshop.)


• 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: A Tribute to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Hills N' Hollows Mountain Music and Storytelling. Presented by: Mike and Kathy Gwinn - In the Dobro Room.


• 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm The Walker Sisters of Little Greenbrier. Presented by: Arthur McDade - In the Harp Room.


• 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm Old Harp Shaped Note Singing - East TN shaped note singers sing traditional hymns that were used in old time singing schools around Great Smoky Mountains region. Presented by: Old Harp Singings in Blount, Sevier and Knox Counties. Conducted by David Sarten - In the Violin Room.


• 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Fly Casting. Presented by: Greg Ward - In the Guitar Room.


• 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Wildflowers of the Southern Highlands. Presented by: Jack Carman - In the Ukelele Room.


• 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm KIDS TRACK: Learn About Bears through Activities. Presented by: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard - In the Music Road Hotel Breakfast Room. (Limit 20 students. Pre-registration at Information Desk required.)


• 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Long Live John Barleycorn - Of lawns, weeds, and wheat fields. Presented by: Doug Elliott - In the Dobro Room.


• 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Water Sources to Attract Song Birds. Presented by: Regina Garr - In the Harp Room.


• 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Whistle Over the Mountains - Updated presentation of Bill Hook's slide-show on logging in the Smokies, originally presented at Elkmont Campground. Presented by: Jim Thurston - In the Ukelele Room.


• 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Sanctuary - Meditations from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Stories, Descriptions, and Photos. Presented by: Greg Johnson - In the Violin Room.


• 4:45 pm - 5:45 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: My Ordeal as a Lost Hiker. Presented by: Morgan and Matthew Briggs - In the Guitar Room.


• 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Coal Mining Days in Story and Song. Presented by: Tony Thomas - In the Violin Room.


• 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm NEW WILDERNESS WILDLIFE WEEK PROGRAM: Blue Ridge Journey. Presented by: Charles Maynard - In the Dobro/Harp room.


• 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm Bears We've Met - Stories of Encounters. Presented by: Joel and Kathy Zachry - In the Violin Room.