djZX12
Expert Class
Posts: 131
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posted April 27, 2002 04:14 AM
Maggie Valley Snake Pit...
Anybody stopped there while at the Gap?? We went to Maggie Valley in the late 1980s on the way back from seeing our son is Statesville. We were in the car, I hadn't heard of Deals Gap at the time.
We stopped at a gift store in maggie valley and out back they had a little zoo. It was run by the state forestry dept. I can't remember the name of the zoo, but it was very interesting.
I saw for the first time in my life a Whip snake. They also had a pit, made out of cement blocks in the shape of a basement. In the pit they had all the poisionous snakes from the area.
The Forest Ranger climbed down in there with them and explained about the snakes. They had Rattle Snakes, Copperheads and Cotton Mouths all looking at him and us. Several of the snakes would try to climb the wall of the pit, but could only go about 1/2 of their body length up the wall before falling back down.
An interesting note, the Ranger said, all snakes like water and a rattlesnake with a wet tail makes no noise when rattling. It will only rattle when dry.
I just thought someone might like to check it out, although tent campers or cabin dwellers might not have to go that far to see the snakes of this area. 
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Have a Nice Day !!
  
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted April 27, 2002 05:07 AM
Yep....
Been there a couple times Dj. Pulled off the BRP to get fuel and some grub there one year. Thought it was kind of a neat place so I took my wife over there in May of 2000. We were riding the BRP on my 11 and stopped there for lunch.
Never saw the snake pit though, and kinda glad. It's a pretty neat little town, scenery is great. There is a tower there that you can go up in to take pictures or just to check out the view. I could see well enough from the ground. I did go up in the tower on Mount Mitchell though, (highest elevation in the eastern part of the country)and that was pretty cool.
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What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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djZX12
Expert Class
Posts: 131
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posted April 27, 2002 05:21 AM
Ninjaman, I walked the path to the top of Clingman's Dome on that trip too. It was quite a hike, with little air. Had rest benches along the way about every 100 feet. Got to the top and it was all fog, couldn't see a thing. But at least I did it, I would never be able to do it again.
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Have a Nice Day !!
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ROCKET J
Zone Head
Goes to water over a dummy!!!
Posts: 602
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posted April 27, 2002 05:58 AM
When you get to the top of Clingman's Dome...
What you can see is that disease is attacking so many of the trees around there. Something from up north, I think the sign said. Looks bad.
Rocket
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If I get any smarter, my head will explode!
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted April 27, 2002 06:08 AM
An Idea
I've never done the Clingman's Dome thing. Wonder if I could get a Trials bike and give it a go.
Hey it beats walking!!!!!!!! 
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What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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slug
Pro
Out in search of my mind...
Posts: 1433
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posted April 27, 2002 06:35 PM
heh regular bike prolly make it fine as long as you don't run over grandma and granpaw
supposedly it is a bug that kills the trees, apparently in georgia they clearcut 30ft wide swath to prevent spread, as the bug is flightles and can only glide.
   
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mach111
Novice Class
Posts: 81
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posted April 29, 2002 02:24 AM
The smoky mountains are awesome and one of the best riding places on the east coast.Cherokee is cool too,they have a bike rally once a year.I think its mostly hogs,been awhile since i have been.
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