The internship

For three months, I'll be interning at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as an educational intern. I got the position by applying through the Student Conservation Association, and you can read the full position description on the SCA website.

The largest expanse of wilderness east of the Mississippi River, located on the Tennessee/North Carolina border, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park and is an ancient heavily forested mountain complex that forms one of the most spectacular areas of the southern Appalachian mountains. Great Smoky Mountains boasts 900 miles of hiking trails, and is prime habitat for black bears, turkey, snakes, deer and other wildlife. Hiking, fishing and sight seeing are the most common forms of recreation for the visiting public.

You will work within walking distance of Sugarlands Visitor Center, the most visited of all the entrance stations to the park. Sugarlands is located two miles from Gatlinburg, TN which is also the nearest town for restaurants, groceries and other amusements. A two mile walking/biking trail is accessible to town, however the town itself stretches out several miles to reach all amenities.

The road trip

Since I have to have my car down there, I'll be road tripping it Lone Ranger style across the country in a nice, indirect "L" route which will effectively maximize my party times, free accomodations, and inefficiency.

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