Smoky Mountains Resources

Welcome, hikers!  

…or soon to be hikers!

Whether you have been trekking for years, or are doing research for your new adventure, I hope that you will find some useful information from this life-long learner who has gained wisdom from positive experiences and transformational mistakes. 🙂

My love of nature was instilled in me as a child, and it has grown on my life’s journey. My first major hike (in my opinion) was to LeConte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with colleagues and dear friends in 2010. Lauren and Debbie are independent hikers, and they began sharing their knowledge with me. Isn’t that how we continue to grow as human beings? I appreciate their generosity in friendship and wisdom that we still share today. I have hiked to the Lodge at least once a year since then, and have trekked the five main trails that lead there.

Love for the National Park has only grown since that first “big” hike, as I was blessed with the opportunity of serving as a Teacher Ranger in the TRT and TIP programs. These experiences opened my eyes to the depth of research and programs in the Park, and inspired a new appreciation for all things Smokies. I enlisted as a VIP (Volunteer in Park) in 2014 and have served in different capacities since that time. I have also led hiking small groups at my church, New Hope, in Kodak, Tennessee and often have 'hiking buddies' join me on adventures -- including my two grandkids! :)

Whether I am hiking a new trail, or an “old familiar friend,"

I continue to learn and stand in awe at the complexity and beauty of creation.

Leave No Trace

Some important things to remember whether you are a novice or a veteran hiker are basic principles to protect and preserve the environment you are visiting. Remembering that it is a biosphere–an ecological system–where every living thing is important and has a purpose is crucial. We are guests in the territory, and respecting the locals (from moss, rocks, and leaf litter to salamanders and bears) is vital for protecting the environment we know and love!

Find the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace here