How to help the victims of Hurricane Helene during Christmas

Before jumping into the main point of my post, I'm writing this because it feels like the media has forgotten the victims of Hurricane Helene, especially those who live in North Carolina. The situation on the ground is far worse than you probably think. I don't know the numbers, but there are still many people living in tents, and winter is already moving into the mountains. If you're not aware of how bad things are, I would encourage you to do a little snooping on social media, and listen to the testimony of those who have been impacted.

Last week I ran into a Twitter post that provided a great idea for helping the victims of Hurricane Helene during the upcoming Christmas season. That is; by doing as much of your online Christmas shopping as possible by purchasing from small businesses in hurricane-ravaged areas. This post picks-up on that theme by focusing on businesses in areas that felt the greatest impact during the late-September storm, namely Western North Carolina. In particular, I focused on businesses that I thought hikers and outdoor enthusiasts would be most interested in. I also provided links to lists of currently open businesses so that you can find gifts from a broader universe of stores. Many of these businesses have sustained damage or have completely lost their physical store fronts, but were able to maintain their online stores. Businesses that managed to escape damage have also been greatly impacted, as tourism to the region has been shaprly curtailed. As a result, many of these business owners are in dire straight right now. All of them, I asure you, would greatly appreciate your business!

In addition to the links below, you should note that many lodging, attractions, wineries and restaurants are currently open. They desperately could use your business as well. Not just for the owners, but their employees as well. Moreover, any money spent at any business in the area helps to circulate much needed cash thoughout the community.

The Twitter posts that I saw are using these hashtags to get the word out, if you wish to help in that way: #ShopWNC / #ShopAsheville / #ShopHurricaneHelene

Each of the local businesses listed below I believe are open for online shopping:


Hiking, outdoor gear shops and local manufacturers

Mast General Store is a local institution originally out of Asheville: https://www.mastgeneralstore.com/

Regear Outdoors: https://regearnc.com/

Though the store was closed as of 10/18, Headwaters Outfitters stated in a newspaper article "In the meantime, you can shop the outdoor shop’s online store (send a note saying “Ship when the time is right”, Headwater recommends) or purchase a gift card for a future trip." https://shopheadwatersoutdoors.com/

Diamond Brand Gear: https://www.diamondbrandgear.com/

Eagles Nest Outfitters: https://eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com/

Astral Designs: https://astraldesigns.com/

This is Jen Pharr Davis's business - a legendary hiker. She has an online store, but she's also currently offering guided hikes: https://blueridgehikingco.com/

This Marshall, NC bike shop was completely devastated, but they're still selling a few cycling related items: https://www.oyb-nc.com/merch


Goodies and Gifts

What hikers don't like a little something sweet after a long hike? Many offerings here, all would also make great gift items:

French Broad Chocolate: https://www.frenchbroadchocolates.com/

The Chocolate Fetish: https://www.chocolatefetish.com/

The Dillsboro Chocolate Factory: https://www.dillsborochocolate.com/

Cold Mountain Toffee: https://www.coldmountaintoffee.com/

Ashe County Cheese: https://www.ashecountycheese.com/

Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn: https://poppyhandcraftedpopcorn.com/


Breweries

And seriously, what hikers don't like beer?!? If you're in their distribution region, check out the beers from these WNC breweries next time you're in a grocery store, liquor store, bar or restaurant. You can also support them by purchasing merchandise and gift cards from their online stores. There are dozens of breweries in the impacted region, many completely wiped out, however, these were the few that I could confirm that have regional distribution of their beers. There are likely many more, especially for those who live in North Carolina:

Highland Brewing is one of the finest craft breweries around, IMHO. Normally, I'm not a fan of winter ales or spiced beers, but their Cold Mountain is outstanding if you're looking for something for the holiday spirit! https://highlandbrewing.com/hurricane-helene-response/

Catawba Brewing Company: https://www.catawbabrewing.com/

Hi-Wire Brewing: https://hiwirebrewing.com/

Appalachian Mountain Brewing: https://www.amb.beer/


Weekend Getaways

Southern Living published an article last week that lays out 13 towns in the hurricane's path that are currently welcoming guests. The article includes information on things to do in each area.

Yes!! There are still a lot of trails open in WNC. All of the trails on the TN side of the Great Smoky Mountains are open as well.

The Nantahala Outdoor Center is currently offering fully guided trips, rentals, zip lines, and aerials. Their Outfitter’s Store, Lodging, and the Rivers End Restaurant are open for business as well. https://noc.com/noc-operations-updates/

The world-famous Biltmore in Asheville has also reopened: https://www.biltmore.com/things-to-do/events/christmas/

Tuckaseegee Fly Shop: https://www.tuckflyshop.com/


There are many other businesses open in the area. You can check on the following websites in some of the hardest hit areas to see what's open. Any and all of them would greatly appreciate your business!

General info:

https://www.exploreasheville.com/article/heres-what-reopened-asheville-buncombe-county-post-hurricane-helene

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive/c5-around-town/c5-development/article293591474.html

Marshall & Hot Springs:

https://madisoncounty-nc.com/business-directory/

https://www.shopwnc.com/business-listings/hot-springs

https://www.shopwnc.com/business-listings/marshall

Swannanoa, Maggie Valley and Waynesville:

https://www.shopwnc.com/business-listings/maggie-valley

https://www.shopwnc.com/business-listings/waynesville

https://visithaywood.com/blog/haywood-county-business-updates-closures-post-hurricane-helene/

Chimney Rock & Lake Lure:

https://www.shopwnc.com/business-listings/lake-lure

Erwin, TN:

https://realwildunicoicounty.com/downtown/

https://unicoicounty.org/directory/


Other ways to help:

Samaritan's Purse - is still on the ground and doing wonderful work: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/pray-for-those-in-helenes-path/

Checkout the "Together We Rise T-Shirt" Proceeds go towards supporting Hurricane Helene relief: https://fuelgoods.com/products/together-we-rise-t-shirt-supporting-hurricane-helene-relief

DeFeet's Aireator 6" MTN Strong cycling socks. Proceeds also go towards supporting Hurricane Helene relief: https://defeet.com/products/aireator-6-mtn-strong

There are many other organizations on the ground that are doing great work. Before donating, however, I would highly encourage you to do a little homework first to make sure that as much of your donation is going towards the mission as possible, and not feeding a bloated bureaucracy. Unfortunately, there are many "charities" out there who are paying enourmous salaries to their boards of directors and management teams.



              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Grand Teton National Park on pace to see busiest year since 2021

Grand Teton National Park hosted more than 3.5 million recreation visits between January and October, already making 2024 the second busiest year on record. The busiest year on record is 2021, with almost 3.9 million recreation visits for the entire year. Four of the last ten months have been the second busiest months.

“Even though the year isn’t over yet, the data shows us that Grand Teton National Park continues to resonate with millions of visitors,” said Superintendent Chip Jenkins. “As visitation trends change, we will need to figure out how to respond to and manage those changes for the good of visitors, park resources, and our local communities.”

When and how people visit the park continues to change. Some of the largest increases in recreation visits occurred during the shoulder seasons, including April, May, and October. Arrivals increased at the Moose Entrance while wildfires affected U.S. Highway 26/287 east of the park. And more visitors hit the trails this summer than ever before. Trail use increased by about 16% compared to 10 years ago and by about 4% compared to five years ago.

In an effort to better understand changing visitation and how people use the park, we asked the public over the summer for their input about desired conditions and visitor experiences. Park staff are reviewing and analyzing the comments and will use that information to ensure visitors continue to have high-quality experiences in the park.

Visitation figures are a valuable tool used by the NPS to manage public enjoyment of Grand Teton National Park while monitoring resource conditions and the quality of the visitor experience. The NPS Stats website has more information about visitation statistics at Grand Teton and all national parks.

Seven Great Reasons to Visit Glacier National Park

Fully realizing this may sound a little over-the-top, but every person living in this country should visit Glacier National Park at least once in their life. It will forever change them. John Muir once said of Glacier:

"Give a month at least to this precious reserve. The time will not be taken from the sum of your life. Instead of shortening, it will indefinitely lengthen it and make you truly immortal. Nevermore will time seem short or long, and cares will never again fall heavily on you, but gently and kindly as gifts from heaven."

I know I can’t, but I'm pretty sure there aren’t too many people that can sum-up the Glacier experience better than Muir. Here are just a few of the reasons why I think Glacier is so special:

Unparalleled Beauty
In my humble opinion, Glacier National Park is by far the most beautiful park I’ve ever been to. This includes almost every major national park in the lower 48. As a disclaimer, I should note that I haven’t had a chance to explore the interior of Alaska….yet. Having said that, my love affair with this park began immediately the first time I laid eyes on it. To be precise, it was during the drive from Browning along Highway 2 as we approached the East Glacier/Two Medicine area. My love and awe for the park has grown after each subsequent visit. At every turn on any road or trail is one spectacular scene after another. In fact, there are no bad or boring hikes. Photographers could spend a lifetime here taking photos of scenes that normally show up in Backpacker Magazine or National Geographic. One of the most famous photo locations in the entire National Park System is at a spot known as Wild Goose Island Overlook. You may recognize the scene in theis photo:

Glaciers
Most people assume that Glacier received its name as a result of the 25 glaciers located within the park. However, the park was actually given its name due to the rugged mountains that were carved by massive glaciers during the most recent ice ages. Fortunately for hikers, a few of these can be reached by trail. Some of the most popular hikes for enjoying front row views of glaciers include Iceberg Lake and Grinnell Glacier.

The Highline Trail
The Highline Trail from Logan Pass is widely recognized as one of the best hikes in the park, if not the entire National Park System. At every step, and every turn, hikers will enjoy spectacular scenery as they traverse along the Continental Divide. The exceptionally beautiful views, the excellent opportunities for spotting wildlife, and the wildflowers all combine to make this a hike you'll remember the rest of your life. If you can make it past the narrow ledge section near the trailhead you’ll have the option of traveling to Haystack Pass, Granite Park Chalet, or making the one-way hike to “The Loop”. You'll also have the option of taking the steep spur trail up to Grinnell Glacier Overlook.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road
The famous Going-to-the-Sun Road is the only road to cross Glacier National Park from east to west. The epic route transports visitors through some of the most spectacular scenery the park has to offer. This engineering marvel spans more than 50 miles across the park's interior, takes passengers over the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, and treats visitors to some of the grandest sights in the Rocky Mountains. Along its course the road passes glacial lakes and cedar forests in the lower valleys, as well as windswept alpine meadows and sweeping mountain vistas atop the 6646-foot pass.

Several scenic viewpoints and pullouts along the way provide motorists with ample opportunities to stop for extended views and photographs. Once at Logan Pass be sure to visit Hidden Lake Overlook, a relatively easy hike that takes hikers across the Continental Divide just above the Logan Pass Visitor Center.

Some drivers (and passengers) might be a little intimidated by the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Portions of it hug the mountainside as it traverses over steep drop-offs and steers through tight curves. If this gives you any pause, you may want to consider letting the drivers of the iconic Red "jammer" Buses take you across the mountains.

Wildlife
Outside of Yellowstone, Glacier National Park is arguably the best park for spotting and viewing wildlife. Although wildlife are frequently spotted along the road, a venture into the wilderness is likely to bring better results. Trails such as Iceberg Lake, Ptarmigan Tunnel, Grinnell Glacier and Swiftcurrent Pass are excellent choices if you wish to see a grizzly or black bear. Bullhead Lake, the Swiftcurrent Nature Trail, Dawson Pass and Cobalt Lake are all great choices for spotting moose. For bighorn sheep, check out Grinnell Glacier, Dawson Pass or the Highline Trail. For the best opportunities to possibly spot a mountain goat, check out Hidden Lake Overlook, the Highline Trail or Piegan Pass.

History, Culture and Ambiance
The Glacier experience is unlike any other national park. This is due in large part to its living history. Park visitors can still enjoy the magnificent grand lodges, backcountry chalets and trails that were built by the Great Northern Railway shortly after the turn of the 20th century. You can also relax and take in the sights in one of the historic boats that still ply the waters of Glacier's lakes. Another tradition from Glacier's bygone era are its famous Red Busses, which have been used as transportation since 1914. Visitors can take a step back in time by touring the park in one of these vehicles, each of which were built between 1936 and 1939. For unparalleled ambiance, there's absolutely nothing better than sipping a huckleberry beer on the back porch of the Many Glacier Hotel and soaking-in the profound beauty of Swiftcurrent Lake and the mountains that surround it. In many respects, and with maybe a little imaginaton, visitors can still enjoy a similar experience park visitors had in the past.

Backcountry Chalets
2024 marked the 110th anniversary of the Sperry and Granite Park Chalets. Both backcountry chalets were built in 1914 during a period when the Great Northern Railway was promoting Glacier National Park under the "See America First" campaign. Today the two backcountry chalets offer hikers the opportunity to trek to an overnight backcountry destination without being bogged down with a bunch of camping gear.

Perched at an elevation of more than 6500 feet, the Sperry Chalet sits high atop a rock ledge that offers visitors commanding views of majestic mountain peaks, waterfalls, as well as Lake McDonald in the valley far below. The Granite Park Chalet rests just below Swiftcurrent Pass, along the edge of a sub-alpine meadow that offers commanding views of Heavens Peak and the McDonald Valley. Day hikers and overnight guests commonly reach this chalet by one of three trails: the Highline Trail, the Granite Park Trail or the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail out of Many Glacier. Day hikers may want to note that Sperry Chalet also sells hot lunches.

With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout the park, hiking is the absolute best way to see Glacier National Park. In addition to the hikes listed above, the park offers a variety of other outstanding hikes. If you do plan to visit Glacier this year, please note that our hiking website also offers a wide variety of accommodation listings as well as other things to do to help with all your vacation planning.



                *******************************************************************************

Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout this vast park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Glacier National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Glacier:

Glacier National Park VUM Plan Meeting

Glacier National Park is asking for your input to help envision the future of how visitors access and travel in the park.

The National Park Service (NPS) mission calls for Glacier National Park to provide the best possible access to meaningful and enjoyable experiences while preserving the resources that make Glacier special. In recent years, achieving that mission has become more complex due to growth in visitation and changing use patterns, experienced not only in the park but in northwestern Montana, generally.

The goal of this process is to identify strategies that will holistically manage visitor access and travel to alleviate vehicular and pedestrian congestion. These strategies will preserve what makes the park special and maintain the unique character of different areas of the park. The plan will assess a variety of ways to improve park experiences and resource protection, including enhancing shuttle services, implementing reservation systems, and pursuing other strategies that would be applied in a fair and equitable way. A long-term plan would ensure that park operations and infrastructure remain sustainable for generations to come. This plan is needed to address the following issues:

- traffic congestion and visitor movement challenges
- road and valley closures as a result of traffic congestion
- staff capacity and visitor use impacts on park operations
- visitor use impacts on natural and cultural resources
- impacts on the quality of visitor experience at key destinations

As part of this process, Glacier National Park will be hosting a virtual public meeting tomorrow, from 5pm - 6:30pm. There will be a short presentation at the beginning of the meeting by NPS staff on long-term visitor use management and transportation planning followed by an opportunity for questions and answers. The goal of this process is to identify strategies that will holistically manage visitor access and travel to alleviate vehicular and pedestrian congestion for visitors from both near and far. These strategies will preserve what makes the park special and maintain the unique character of different areas of the park.

There will be several other meetings over the next couple of weeks as well. For more information, please visit: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectId=126808



              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Pile burns planned in Grand Teton National Park

Starting this week, Teton Interagency Fire crews will burn piles created from fuel reduction projects in Grand Teton National Park. Firefighters have focused on fuel reduction efforts in developed areas to reduce wildfire risk, and pile burning is the last step in the thinning process.

Fuel reduction includes thinning and removing lower limbs from trees and the removal of dead wood and brush from the forest floor. Firefighters then place the wood and brush into pyramid-shaped piles and let them cure for a year before burning them. Firefighters will burn the piles under low fire behavior conditions resulting from wet weather and snow accumulation. Smoke may be visible from these piles during the day of ignition and may linger in the area for a few days.

Fuel reduction burns are planned near the following locations:

* Bar BC Ranch

* Colter Bay

* Elk Ranch Flats

* Beaver Creek

* Grassy Island

It is difficult to predict exactly when the burning will occur because reduction piles are only ignited under certain conditions, including favorable smoke dispersal and weather conditions that limit the chance of fire spread. Fire managers may continue pile burning over the next several months as weather conditions allow.

Public and firefighter safety is always the priority in all burn operations. Fire management staff will monitor the piles to assure complete combustion and consumption of all fuels and to assess conditions. If smoke lingers, signs will be posted along roadsides to remind drivers to use headlights for safer travel.



              ************************************************************************************

Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com