Closed captioning is available for this video by clicking the caption button in the lower right-hand corner of the video controls. ]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/the-elk-rut-in-cataloochee-is-now/feed/ 6 http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/scenes-of-summer/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/scenes-of-summer/#comments Sat, 26 Jun 2010 03:25:47 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=1739   The park is a busy place in the summer. Life abounds and park visitation soars. Native shrubs and wildflowers make a beautiful show. Waterfalls and streams cool the warm summer air. Enjoy the start of summer with this scenic trip to Cataloochee and the music of Bill Mize. Click here to watch!

Closed captioning is available for this video by clicking the caption button in the lower right-hand corner of the video controls. ]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/scenes-of-summer/feed/ 0 http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/a-year-in-the-smokies-2009/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/a-year-in-the-smokies-2009/#comments Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:50:17 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=1505   Experience a year’s worth of Smokies moments in this short film. Take a look back to the many places 2009 has taken our video blog. Click here or on the photo to see it all.

Closed captioning is available for this video by clicking the caption button in the lower right-hand corner of the video controls. ]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/a-year-in-the-smokies-2009/feed/ 4 http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/fun-time-for-elk-in-oconaluftee/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/fun-time-for-elk-in-oconaluftee/#comments Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:24:45 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=1401   Elk like to have fun in the park, too! These fine fellows were seen frolicking near Oconaluftee Visitor Center recently. Click here or on the photo and see if you can find the two elk in the background trying to steal the scene.
]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/fun-time-for-elk-in-oconaluftee/feed/ 1 http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/an-autumn-postcard-featuring-elk/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/an-autumn-postcard-featuring-elk/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:18:30 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=1360   Images of the season, from elk to mountains painted in fall color! Click here or on the photo to view the video. ]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/an-autumn-postcard-featuring-elk/feed/ 3 http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/elk-watching-in-cataloochee/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/elk-watching-in-cataloochee/#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:54:58 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=1330   Elk bulls are bugling, fighting, and finding every way they can to display dominance during the breeding season that is happening right now. Click here or on the photo to get a sneak peak of elk activity in Cataloochee.

Closed captioning is available for this video by clicking the caption button in the lower right-hand corner of the video controls. ]]> http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/elk-watching-in-cataloochee/feed/ 1 http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/elk-corps-volunteers-sought/ http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/elk-corps-volunteers-sought/#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:31:57 +0000 admin http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/blog/?p=567 The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Volunteers-in-Parks program is currently enlisting volunteers to assist with the experimental elk reintroduction project in Cataloochee Valley, N.C.

The “Elk Bugle Corps” program was created in 2007 to assist rangers with providing visitor information on responsible elk viewing practices and elk behavior and to help with parking and traffic management. “Last year, the Corps included 58 volunteers from around the area. They donated over 5,000 hours of service and spoke with over 60,000 visitors who came to see the elk. Many of these volunteers are returning, some for their third year, but the volunteer program has room to grow,” said Mark LaShell, Cataloochee Park Ranger. The Park’s goal is to recruit and train a new cadre of volunteers who can commit to volunteering on a regular, recurring basis.

Each volunteer is being asked to work at least two scheduled, four hour shifts per month starting the last week in May through November. This target period is during high visitor use from late spring during the calving season through the end of fall color season after the elk mating period.

The program’s greatest need is for volunteers to work the afternoon shifts which will run from approximately 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. through the summer. “Although the elk are not as active at this time of day, Cataloochee Valley is still relatively busy and the volunteers have the opportunity to spend more time with individual visitors,” said LaShell.

The volunteers spend their time roving the valley and in past years, Bugle Corps volunteers used a gas-fueled ATV to shuttle around the valley. A zero-emissions neighborhood electric vehicle that was provided through a grant from the North Carolina Solar Center at North Carolina State University, combined with a donation by the Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is now used by the volunteers. “The environmentally friendly vehicle fits the needs of the Elk Bugle Corps perfectly,” he said.

LaShell commented, “We feel the program is a win-win situation. We continue to receive positive feedback from the Cataloochee volunteers who enjoy working is such a beautiful mountain valley and from visitors who receive a better experience having these volunteers to interact with in an otherwise remote area with no personal services.”

For persons interested, an informational meeting and new volunteer training session will be held in Cataloochee Valley at the Palmer Barn on Tuesday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Potential volunteers are asked to RSVP to Ranger LaShell at 828/269-3161. If attending the training session, participants should also bring a bag lunch.