Smokies urge careful prep

Great Smoky Mountains National Park told visitors to plan carefully after rangers handled an unusually high number of emergencies in March. (nps.gov) The park said on April 2 that rangers responded in March to 18 backcountry search-and-rescue incidents, 15 front-country emergency medical calls, and five backcountry 911 calls that were resolved by phone. Two rescues required Tennessee Army National Guard hoist extractions, four involved technical rope rescues, and four patients were flown out by University of Tennessee Medical Center Life Flight. (nps.gov) Park officials said rescue “is not a certainty” and told hikers to research routes, carry water, warm layers, rain gear, food, a map, and a flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries. The same advisory told visitors to share their plans, watch the weather, and turn back if a hike becomes unsafe or harder than expected. (nps.gov) The warning came as spring traffic builds in the nation’s most visited national park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park says parking areas at popular trailheads often fill early, and illegally parked vehicles can be ticketed or towed. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2) Spring also brings fast-changing mountain weather. The park says temperatures can differ by 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit between low elevations and peaks, and sunny skies can turn into snow flurries within hours at higher elevations. (nps.gov) Trail conditions add another layer of risk. The park’s hiking guidance says visitors should expect swollen streams, washed-out bridges, downed trees, erosion, and limited cell service across more than 800 miles of trails. (nps.gov) Some routes are already under caution or closure notices. The park’s current alerts page lists storm damage in parts of Cataloochee and Big Creek, including washed-out trail sections, missing foot logs, landslides, and closures beyond Mouse Creek Falls on Big Creek Trail. (nps.gov) Rangers also pointed to crowding at access points as a planning issue, not just a convenience problem. The park said visitors should have a backup destination ready in case the first trailhead or parking area is full. (nps.gov) For emergencies, the park says visitors should call 911 and state their location clearly; if there is no cell service, one person should go for help. The message from the April 2 advisory was blunt: in the Smokies, preparation starts before the hike does. (nps.gov)