Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge Tennessee Schedule for Day 1 Saturday, January 7th, 2012

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High up on the peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains there is still some snow and this weekend is the start of the 22nd annual Wilderness Wildlife Week. This means if you are planning on taking one of the free guided hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains national park, make sure to pack boots!

Wilderness Wildlife Week is a free week long event that takes place in Pigeon Forge Tennessee consisting of exhibits, demonstrations, musical performances and guided hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Since the quality of the performances and lectures is so high and amazing popular for people interested in music, photography, nature, travel, hiking, camping, fishing, history, storytelling and more, this event is not being promoted very much as it is generally filled to capacity.

Last year's unusually rough winter weather during Wilderness Wildlife Week meant that some guided hikes were cancelled and a few presenters were unable to show up due to closed roads. So far it looks a though the weather in the Smokies is going to cooperate as the next week looks seasonable warm.

Music Road Hotel and Convention Center is where all of the classes, performances and lectures will take place. The Music Road Hotel and Convention Center is located at: 303 Henderson Chapel Road in Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.

Since Wilderness Wildlife Week is so wildly popular with hikers, the guided hikes require that you preregister the day before the hike right across the street from Music Road Hotel and Convention Center is the Holiday Inn Express.

Information Desk is open from 7:00 am – 9:00 pm and the Vendor/Exhibit Hall is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.

• 8:00 am – 11:00 am: Learn to Use Map and Compass. Presented by: Terry and LaValla Edgington in the Harp Room. Limit 40. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 8:30 am – 10:30 am: Fly Fishing in the Smokies. Presented by: Greg Ward in the Violin Room.
• 9:00 am – 1:00 pm: Nature Photography Workshop. Presented by: Kendall Chiles, Tom and Pat Cory, Danny Dempster and Harold Stinnette in the Guitar Room.
• 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 – 1:00 pm: Photo Exhibit Entry and Setup in the Cello Room (An entry form must be submitted with each photo entered.)
• 10:00 am – 11:15 am:: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Cades Cove Teachers. Presented by: Dorothy Gregory Sutton in the Ukelele 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.
• 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Beginning Mountain Dulcimer. Presented by: Deby Libby, Ginny Cliett and Linda Smith in the Violin Room. Limit 25. Must pre-register at Information Desk. Limited number of dulcimers available. Observers are welcome.
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Straight from the Horse’s Mouth: A Hysterical History of Words. Presented by: Kathy Gwinn in the Harp Room.
• 11:30 am – 12:45 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. War within the Family: Civil War Gregorys. Presented by: Mary Greggory in the Ukelele Room.
• 11:30 am: Sunday Hike Sign ups at Holiday Inn Express
• Noon – 1:00 pm: Introduction to the Autoharp. Presented by: Tony Thomas and Judy Carson in the Dobro Room
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Margaret Stevenson: The Walkingest Woman in the Smokies. The Story of the First Lady to Complete All 800 Miles of Maintained Hiking Trails in the Smokies. Presented by: Bill Deitzer in the Harp Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Everybody’s Fishin’: A Cross-Cultural Fishing Extravaganza Celebrating Fish Fisherpersons and Other Wonderful, Watery Critters. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Violin Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Kids Track Kindergarten – 5th Grade Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Learn About Bears Through Hands-On Activities. Presented by: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard from the ABR in the Breakfast Room. Limit 20. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: The Serpent Handlers. Presented by: Fred Brown in the Dobro Room.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Searching for Panthers in the Smokies. Presented by: Dr. Don Linzey in the Guitar Room.
• 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Cades Cove Photos and Photographers. Presented by: Missy Tipton Green in the Ukelele Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: The Discovery of the Gray Fossil Site. Presented by: Harry Moore in the Harp Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Civil War in the Mountains. Presented by: Chris Tipton in the Violin Room.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: National History Day Students: Talented Local Students Share Their Knowledge of How to Document Your Local History. Presented by: Sabrina Gray in the Dobro Room.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. The Upland Chronicles: Vibrant Local History and Heritage of Sevier County’s Past. Presented by: Carroll McMahan in the Guitar Room.
• 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Fly Casting. Presented by: Greg Ward in the Breakfast Room.
• 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program .Uncle Noah and Sarah Brown Burchfield. Presented by: Larry Sparks and Judy Myers Johns in the Ukelele Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Out of the Dark: A True History of the White Caps and Blue Bills: At Last This Long Repressed History of Outrageous Depravity and Unsurpassed Heroism in This Region’s History Can Be Talked About in Public. Presented by: Don Williams in the Harp Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. A Tennessee Music Sampler: Stories and Songs. Presented by: Hills-N-Hollows in the Violin Room.
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. The 1500 Year Old Silver Bible: A Chronicle of the Emotional History of the Earliest German/Gothic (and Perhaps English) Language Document, Including Its Translation, Disappearance and the Miraculous Rediscovery of This Piece of Christian History. Presented by: Peter and Gudrun Seifert in the Guitar Room.
• 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Woodslore and Wildwoods Wisdom: Celebrating the Natural World Through Stories, Songs and Lore. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Dobro Room.
• 6:00 pm: Monday Hike Sign ups – Holiday Inn Express.
• 6:45 pm: Bagpipe Performance. Presented by: Charles Smith in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Wilderness Wildlife Week Opening Comments: Terry Maddox, Executive Director of Great Smoky Mountains Association; Jim Hart, Director of Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Dale Ditmanson, Superintendent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 7:30 pm: Opening Remarks. Presented by: Ken Jenkins in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 7:45 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Wolves 2011: Update on Ecology and Politics in the Upper Midwest. Presented by: Peggy Callahan in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.

Day 2 of Wilderness Wildlife Week schedule for Sunday, January 8th, 2012 taking place in Pigeon Forge Tennessee

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If day 2 of Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge goes as well as opening day yesterday, this will be the best Wilderness Wildlife Week ever. Attendance is high, the weather is cooperative and the presentations better than ever.

The Nature Photography Workshop is always a huge draw and yesterday was no exception. People remarked how even though they attend every year, there is always something to learn from the masters.

Though you can't do every class presented and every free guided hike, some of the don not miss events today will be the Old Harp Shaped Note Singing, Echoes of Cataloochee and Elk, A Journey Into the Smokies in Words and Photographs and Wildwoods Wisdom.

Information Desk is open from 7:00 am – 9:00 pm and the Vendor/Exhibit Hall is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. The Cello Room Photography Exhibit is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.

Here is the rest of todays Wilderness Wildlife Week event schedule:

• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: Sunday Morning Sing-Along. Presented by: Tony Thomas 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.
• 9:30 am – 12 Noon: Stream Stocked Trout Fishing. Presented by: Greg Ward in the Guitar Room.
• 10:00 am – 11:00 am: You and Me: Coexisting with Bears. Presented by: Anne Allison and Kathy Sherrard in the Harp Room.
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am: Wildflowers of the Smokies. Presented by: Jack Carman in the Violin Room.
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Classic Cinema Clips of Sevierville. Presented by: Carroll McMahan in the Dobro Room.
• 11:00 am – Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Photographing with Emotion: Land, Sea and Skies. Presented by: Tom and Pat Cory in the Ukelele Room.
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Echoes of the Smokies: Formation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: Wilma Durpo in the Harp Room.
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Bird’s the Word: Bird Stories, Lore, Songs and Natural History. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Dobro Room.
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Hiking Through the Dolomites. Presented by: Peter and Gudrun Seifert in the Ukelele Room.
• 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Echoes of the Smokies: Echoes of Cataloochee and Elk. Presented by: Wilma Durpo in the Harp Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: A Wildlife Habitat for Every Season. Presented by: Regina Garr in the Violin Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. The Civil War in Tennessee, 1861-1862: A Sesquicentennial Commemoration. Presented by: Chris Tipton in the Guitar Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Hands-On History: Let’s Make A Quill Pen: Instructions and Materials to Make a Quill Pen. Presented by: Pat K. Thomas in the Breakfast Room. Limit 10 Adults. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Climb Every Mountain, Ford Every Stream. Presented by: Carroll McMahan in the Ukelele Room. A panel discussion featuring Frank Maples, Stan Creswell, and Coppley Vickers who have hiked every trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Old Harp Shaped Note Singing: A Group of People from Sevier County Sing the Way Their Ancestors Sang Early in the Last Century. Presented by: David Sarten, Leader in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Then Sings My Soul - Hymns of Faith. Presented by: Hills-N-Hollows in the Violin Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Sanctuary in the Smokies: A Journey Into the Smokies in Words and Photographs. Presented by: J. Greg Johnson in the Guitar Room.
• 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: World-Class Stream Smallmouth Bass. Presented by: Greg Ward in the Breakfast Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Wildwoods Wisdom. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Walker Sisters of Little Greenbrier. Presented by: Robin Goddard in the Ukelele Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Old Time Music Concert. Presented by: Boogertown Gap in the Violin Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. More Tales from Two Smokies Trail Completers. Presented by: Bill Deitzer and Tommy Small in the Guitar Room. This program features the stories and experiences of Bill’s first time completing all the trails of the Smokies in 2005 as well as Tommy’s from the six times he has completed all the trails.
• 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Watching and Being Watched. Presented by: Ken Jenkins in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Special Places, Special Creatures. Presented by: Joel and Kathy Zachry – Violin/Guitar Rooms.
• 6:00 pm: Tuesday Hike Sign ups – Holiday Inn Express.
• 6:45 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Keynote Program: Predator Paradox: Conflict and Conflict Resolution in Modern America. Presented by: Peggy Callahan in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 7:30 pm: Slow Jam: Bring Your Own Instrument or Simply Plan to Enjoy and Listen. Presented by: Tony Thomas in the Guitar Room.

Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge Tennessee Smokies schedule for Day 3 Monday, January 9th, 2012

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Day 2 of the Smoky Mountains Wilderness Wildlife Week was a huge hit yesterday in Pigeon Forge and the schedule for day 3 has even more new programs and experts presenting their topics of expertise.

Among today’s lectures are some heavy hitters from the staff of the Great Smoky Mountains national park: Mike Meldrum from the Cades Cove district will discuss Bear Facts, the Ethics of Leaving No Trace in the Outdoors, and Down by the Old Mill Stream. Tom Harrington also from the Cades Cove district will present Up and Down the Valley: Cades Cove: Learn About the People of Cades Cove From the Early 1830's to the Early 1900's.

The national parks resident elk biologist Joe Yarkovich will give a lecture on Elk in the Smokies: A Decade of Learning and the from the parks fishery division Matt Kulp will discuss Acid Rain Impacts on Smokies Streams.

Everyone loves the Smoky Mountains 1,500 plus black bears and head of wildlife in the GSMNP Bill Stiver will make his informative Black Bear Management in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park lecture today to what should be a packed house.

All of these presenters form the park have tremendous experience in their fields and be sure to ask them any questions you may have as they all love sharing their knowledge.

Information Desk is open from 7:00 am – 9:00 pm and the Vendor/Exhibit Hall is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. The Cello Room Photography Exhibit is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.

The following is the complete schedule for day 3 of Wilderness Wildlife Week:

• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: Circle of Life: The Bear Facts. Presented by: Mike Meldrum in the Guitar Room.
• 9:00 am – 10:30 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Where Wood We Be Without A Tree? Historic Trees of America. Presented by: Kathy Gwinn in the Harp Room.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: Wildflowers of Tennessee. Presented by: Jack Carman in the Ukelele Room.
• 10:00 am – 11:00 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Newfoundland: A Photographic Tour of an Island Wonderland. Presented by: Harry Dunn in the Dobro Room.
• 10:00 am – 11:00 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Master Gardner Program Helps to Create Wildlife-Friendly Gardens and Landscapes. Presented by: Dr. Leo Lubke in the Violin Room.
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am: Leave No Trace: Presenting the Ethics of Leaving No Trace in the Outdoors. Presented by: Mike Braun and Pamela Rodgers in the Guitar Room.
• 11:00 am – Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Tennessee Butterflies and How to Raise Them. Presented by: Lois English and WC and Glenna Julian in the Harp Room.
• 11:00 am – Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Up and Down the Valley: Cades Cove: Learn About the People of Cades Cove From the Early 1830's to the Early 1900's. Presented by: Tom Harrington in the Ukelele Room.
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Wonderful Waterfalls of Tennessee. Presented by: Bill Carter in the Dobro Room.
• 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Down By the Old Mill Stream. Presented by: Mike Meldrum in the Violin Room.
• 1:00 pm- 2:00 pm: Of Ginseng, Golden Apples and the Rainbow Fish: Ancient Tales and Mountain Treasures. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Dobro Room.
• 1:00 pm- 2:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Hiking and Camping with Your Pet. Presented by: Jim Richards and Thomas Horsch in the Harp Room.
• 1:00 pm- 2:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Acid Rain Impacts on Smokies Streams. Presented by: Matt Kulp in the Ukelele Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Orioles: Spring and Summer! Presented by: Steve Garr in the Guitar Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. HANDS-ON! Whooo Did This? Fascinating Owls: Natural History of Owls With Live Owls and Dissection of Owl Pellets, Examination of Feathers and Owls in Rehabilitation. Presented by: Lynne McCoy in the Breakfast Room. Limit 15. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Old Time Music. Presented by: Roger Helton in the Violin Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Mountain Marvels - Waterfalls of the Southern Appalachians: The Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and Kentucky. Presented by: Bill Carter in the Dobro Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Elk in the Smokies: A Decade of Learning. Presented by: Joe Yarkovich in the Harp Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Black Bear Management in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: Bill Stiver in the Ukelele Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Wing Things: See how many dragonflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators are in our gardens and how to attract them. Presented by WC and Glenna Julian and Lois English in the Guitar Room.
• 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Basket Making. Presented by: Theresa Tyler in the Breakfast Room. Limit 12. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Ballads of the Great Smoky Mountains and the Vicinity. Presented by: Boogertown Gap in the Violin Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Civil War Period Music. Presented by: Tony Thomas in the Dobro Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Ranger Recollections. Presented by: Joe Kelley in the Harp Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Appalachian Bear Rescue: Who We Are and What We Do. Presented by: Lisa Stewart in the Ukelele Room.
• 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Backpacking: How to Get Started and Hike Safety. Presented by: Mike Braun, Pamela Rodgers and Bill Deitzer in the Guitar Room.
• 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Weeds for Your Needs: Useful Wild Plants. Presented by: Doug Elliott in the Violin Room.
• 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. America Sings: Folk Songs of America. Presented by: Hills-N-Hollows in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 6:00 pm: Wednesday Hike Sign ups – Holiday Inn Express.
• 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Hiking LeConte: A History. Presented by: Charles Maynard in the Violin/Guitar Rooms.
• 7:45 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. And Heaven and Nature Sing. Presented by: Ken Jenkins and Judy Felts in the Dobro/Harp/Ukelele Rooms.

Pigeon Forge Tennessee Wilderness Wildlife Week in Smokies Day 4 schedule for Monday, January 10th, 2012

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The doors will open in a few minutes for day 4 of the Pigeon Forge Tennessee Wilderness Wildlife Week and it will be another packed show in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Yesterdays some sporadic light rain fell on some of the hikers along the guided walks in the Great Smoky Mountains national park, but none were deterred. Today will be another mild day so any of you that signed up early enough yesterday will have a great hike in the park.

Bear and elk were on everyone's mind yesterday at the Wilderness Wildlife Week thanks to some great lectures and today, today among other interesting topics will be wild boar and lots of programs the kids will love.

Information Desk is open from 7:00 am – 9:00 pm and the Vendor/Exhibit Hall is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. The Cello Room Photography Exhibit is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.

• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: Returning the Osprey to Nest in Tennessee. Presented by: Ken Dubke in the Harp Room.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: Woodpeckers: Nature’s Home builders. Presented by: Regina Garr in the Dobro Room.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Echoes of the Smokies: Epic of Elkmont. Presented by: Wilma Durpo in the Violin Room.
• 9:30 am – 10:30 am: Green Power Switch/Generation Partners. Presented by: Lucas Harkleroad in the Guitar Room.
• 10:00 am – 11:00 am: Meet Mr. Herbert Clabo. Presented by: Herb Clabo and Veta King in the Ukelele Room. Hear Mr. Clabo tell of near one hundred years of living in the Great Smoky Mountains or right in its back door.
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. The Hidden Garden III: Learn the See. Presented by: Dr. Alan S. Heilman in the Harp Room.
• 10:45 am – 11:45 am: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Echoes of the Smokies: Spirit of the Black Bear. Presented by: Wilma Durpo in the Violin Room.
• 11:00 am – Noon: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Introduction to Old Time Banjo. Presented by: Roger Helton (Bring Your Own Banjo) in the Dobro Room.
• 11:00 am – Noon: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Wild World of Animals. Presented by: Knoxville Zoomobile in the Guitar Room.
• Noon – 1:00 pm: From Corn fields to Condos: Pigeon Forge’s History From 1917 – 2011. Presented by: Veta King and Pigeon Forge City Officials in the Ukelele Room.
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: The Art of Dowsing: Do You Have the Gift? Presented by: Charlie Monday in the Harp Room. Limit 30. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Kids Track Wilderness Wildlife Week Program Ages 5 - 12. Animal Olympics: Comparing Human Senses and Abilities to Those of Wild Animals. Presented by: Mike Meldrum in the Violin Room. Limit 30. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Creative Photography with Any Camera. Presented by: Richard Iceland in the Guitar Room.
• 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Coal Mining Days in Story and Song. Presented by: Tony Thomas in the Dobro Room.
• 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Wood Carving Boots. Presented by: Don Taylor in the Breakfast Room. Limit 12. Must pre-register at Information Desk and bring own sharpened woodcarving tools.
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Early Pigeon Forge Settlement. Presented by: Jerry Wear in the Ukelele Room who will share stories based on family history and extensive research of the area. Mr. Jerry Wear is a descendent of Col. Samuel Wear who built the first white settlement home and fort in Pigeon Forge.
• 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Wild Ones Among Us. Presented by: Lynne McCoy in the Harp Room.
• 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm: Air Quality Update of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Presented by: Jim Renfro in the Violin Room.
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Alligators, Bears and Wolves: An Overview of Eastern North Carolina National Refuges and the Management of the Big 3 Critters of the Area. Presented by: Jim Wigginton in the Dobro Room.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Meet Aunt Lydia Kear Whaley. Presented by: Ruth Miller in the Ukelele Room. Ms. Ruth Miller is a local with a love for history, brings Aunt Lydia to life in a character presentation as she portrays this beloved, spirited woman of the Great Smoky Mountains.
• 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Three Considerations for Hiking Safety. Presented by: Wendell Liemohn in the Guitar Room.
• 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Pig Tales. Presented by: Rick Varner in the Harp Room.
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Noted and Peculiar Court Cases of Earlier Times: Tales of Early Justice of the Peace Courts and Unusual County Court Cases of the Past. Presented by: Sevier County Circuit Court Judge, the Honorable Rex Henry Ogle and attorneys Mr. John B. Waters, Jr. and Mr. Jerry McCarter with Veta King, Moderator in the Ukelele Room.
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Meigs Post: The Survey Line Through the Great Smokies. Presented by: Joe Kelley in the Dobro Room. He will share stories and adventures from his book with Dwight McCarter.
• 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Let’s Sketch A Bird. Presented by: Louise Bales in the Breakfast Room. Adults and ages 12+ only. Limit 20. Must pre-register at Information Desk.
• 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Smoky Mountain Field School: Explore, Learn and Enjoy. Presented by: Joel and Kathy Zachry in the Dobro/Harp Rooms.
• 7:30 pm: New Wilderness Wildlife Week Program. Vintage Views of Gatlinburg, the Smokies and Their Inhabitants: Lucinda Oakley Ogle. Presented by: Kevin Tierney in the Dobro/Harp Rooms. Kevin Tierney’s Vintage Views film series captures the spirit of iconic figures and places of Gatlinburg and the Smokies by means of home video footage donated by area residents. This film chronicles the experiences of Lucinda Oakley Ogle.
• 6:00 pm: Thursday Hike Sign ups – Holiday Inn Express.

APPALACHIAFEST!
A FREE Musical Celebration of Our Heritage! In the Violin/Guitar Rooms.

• 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Great Smoky Mountains Settlers and Their Music. Presented by Boogertown Gap.
• 7:00 pm – 7:20 pm: Tony Thomas
• 7:45 pm Carolina Bluegrass Boys
• Clogging with the Appalachian Cloggers. Attendees welcome to join in the fun!

Fall Peak Leaf Season Best Color Dates for 2012 in Great Smoky Mountains Tennessee

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Fall is the time in the Smokies when the trees leaves change to outrageous colors and the carpet of brilliant colors climbs up more than 6,000 feet to the tops of the Great Smoky Mountains where a bright red leaf may be next to a yellow leaf and even a green leaf and this year looks like the best leaf season to be in many years.

Peak leaf season for 2012 in the Smokies will be starting this week for the high elevations and the leaf peepers will be able to see brilliant leaf colors in the high tops of the Smokies for at least 2 weeks at which time the fall peak color will be great and just starting in elevations of around 2,500 feet in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Tennessee.

All of the pictures in this story about peak leaf season in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have been taken in the past few days from places down by the city of Gatlinburg all the way up to the Newfound Gap parking area and in-between. As you can see, the bright fall leaf colors are already starting to happen in the Smokies.

In the mid elevations of the Smoky Mountains where you will find most cabin rentals and scenic lookouts the best fall colors in general will be the second and third week of October 2012. Hardwoods, which show the most brilliant reds and maroons, will be peaking 3rd week in October and the peak leaf season should end around the last week in October.

These estimations of peak fall colors in the Smokies are from air and soil temperature and moisture readings that show that unless the weather patterns change drastically, we should have long leaf duration meaning trees will hold their leaves longer.

What we are hoping for here in the Smokies, particular around the lower elevations in Gatlinburg, Wears Valley and Pigeon Forge is that we continue to get some light rain as we have had in the past few nights to keep the plants well hydrated so that the leaves will stay up and a sharp cold front comes in or we have some very clear nights with temps dipping into the 40's to make the red colors in the leaves pop.

Our leaf season did not get an early start because our weather has just been too nice during the daytime and with less cloud clover and warmer temperatures even high up in the Smoky Mountains the plants internal clocks think it is still late summer and are not shutting down the leaves for fall and turning off chlorophyll production which keeps them green.

Based upon the present long range Smokies Weather reports the light rain of the past few days with slightly cooler temperatures and the upcoming light rain with overcast skies the color should kick in just slightly past normal, but the good news is also that all indications are for one of the brightest and best fall leaf seasons in years.

The Smokies can use another great leaf season as we suffered a few duds where heat stressed and dehydrated trees and bushes dropped leaves quickly during heavy winds that came with fall thunderstorms. The good news is that there are so many different trees in the Smokies that peak at different times so that even these "bad leaf seasons" were still better than most other leaf seasons in the US.

So what will be the best weekend exact day of peak leaf season to see the fall colors in the Smoky Mountains? It all depends on where you want to look at leaves, but be assured; you will have great leaf color for the next 4 weekends with the best fall colors the second and third week of October from most of the Smokies and even some left the first week of November.

What we are waiting for to set peak color in motion is our first heavy frost that will be in higher elevations before the mid and lower ones. We also have 8 of the next 24 days predicted to have rain - none of which are on weekends and that will really help keep the leaves up longer and the colors brighter.

No matter what time you come to the Smokies between now and the end of the first week in November you will be able to see fall colors depending on where you are willing to look and the best peak colors will be from mid to late October for most of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Enjoy your leaf peeping this fall in the Tennessee Smokies!

More About Peak Leaf Season in the Great Smoky Mountains:

• Peak Leaf Season Dates For Fall of 2012
• Smoky Mountains Fall Color Season: Where and When To See the Best Leaves In 2010

Garden benches

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I love gardens, I love to see the plants, the colors of the flowers; recently I buy a solar fountain, it’s perfect to refresh in the summertime my garden and the birds love it, I love the sound of the water, but most of all I love that it is electricity-free. Now I’m looking for concrete garden benches, they are perfect for any garden, courtyard or patio, is a beautiful outdoor furniture. Concrete garden benches can stand up against the weather and the elements of mother nature year after year for maximum use and enjoyment.

Ancient Egypt world

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I love to read things about ancient Egypt world, I like to read ancient civilization and Egyptology articles, and recently with a simple google search I found an interesting website with a beautiful design, the website is called discoveringegypt.com; this website is presented in an appealing way, there is a lot of information on the website that would be perfect for homework, here you will find lots of Egyptian stuff on it. On the main page there is small text that introduces you to some of the topics like Egyptian Kings and Queens, Hieroglyphics, Rebuilding Temples, Pyramids and Temples, eCard and Egyptian Numerals. You can start your journey just looking at the side menu on the left, you have a lot of stuff to discover, for example, you might also find the Mummification section, is a very interesting section. There are games and quizzes that you can play, e-cards and free desktop backgrounds. Check out the top ten video assortment; the videos are divided by the Egyptologist/Historian/Archaeologist. Have fun discovering the ancient Egypt world from this website!
Website: discoveringegypt Posted in: Egypt