Almost Over!

My limited time as a writer of blog posts is nearing its terminus! With only one day left to raise money for the Friends of the Smokies, our partnering nonprofit organization, I figured I would share this blog about all the other bloggers out there who intrigue all us readers with such fascinating stories.

Writing a blog is an easy task, the hard part is getting people to read it and maintain an interest across a variety of topics and times! I’ve seen this as a struggle by trying to keep this blog centered around our main goal, raising money for the Smoky Mountains, while also trying to put together something that would be intriguing to a passerby of this site. I now see a new appreciation for those of you are able to create passionate articles that peak interest every single day!

Anyway, I am looking for some stories now to cap off my time in working with the Smoky mountains. To anyone who has read this blog our any of my previous posts, comment what your favorite Smokies memory is. It can be as simple as a favorite trail you hiked when you were five years old. Whatever it may be, leave a comment and help us spread our memories to anyone who hasn’t yet been able to experience the magic that is Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

My favorite memory comes from a time nearly ten years ago, my first time ever being in the Smoky Mountains. I came with my family and the families of my three best friends. After we had our picnic in one of the great recreational areas of the park, we all went and started walking along the rock in one of the streams. At first it seemed like such a small detail to an otherwise very grand vacation, but as the years have passed and memories have faded, one of the most vivid scenes I carry with me are those four hours we all spent playing around in a creek after a picnic. Please share your memories, we’re very interested in seeing what stands out most to people!

As always, please check out our campaign site and donate to Vols for the Smokies!!

Making the most of the Smokies

Hello all! We are in the final week of the time to donate to our campaign to benefit the Friends of the Smokies! As we reach the finish line to our project we hope to finish strong and make this our most productive week yet. This last week will be filled with awesome tidbits about the Smoky Mountains National Park and of course a final update on how much you all have helped us raise for this great cause!

Today I am going to discuss how to make the most out of a day trip up to the Smokies. The most important step in taking advantage of this beautiful area is to make a plan before you go. It’s important to do your research before heading into the park to maximize all e available hiking and exploring time on the trails! Create an itinerary with help from this site, and don’t forget to plan for lunch!

Another important step in maximizing your Smokies experience is to dress for all elements. This may go without saying, but as the elevation increases, the weather becomes much less predictable! The best way to combat all the crazy elements is to be prepared for even the worst of elements. I always come ready with different layers of clothing in my car as well as some waterproof attire just in case the rain pops out of nowhere.

The final step to making the most out of a Smokies adventure is to bring your favorite people! No hike is the same without your best pals or the fun relatives to hang out with. Everyone knows the best part about reaching that summit or waterfall at the end of the trail is taking the ultimate selfie to capture the moment forever! I hope you have enjoyed this blog edition take some time to make the most out of your next trip to the Smokies.

As always, please check out our campaign to help make the Smokies the best they can be!

Vols for the Smokies