Guided hike to high-elevation

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is offering a guided hike to Andrews Bald, a high-elevation grassy bald, on Sunday, Oct. 16, and will start at 11 a.m. from the Clingmans Dome parking area.  Participants will meet the ranger at the bulletin board, located at the west end of the parking area.Andrews Bald is one of the few remaining high-elevation grassy balds, or meadows, in the Smoky Mountains. At 5,820 feet, Andrews Bald is the highest grassy bald in the park and is the most accessible with a one-way hike of less than two miles.Scientists are still unsure as to the origins of the balds in southern Appalachia, but do know they were historically used for summer grazing of livestock. Although the forest has reclaimed some of the balds and has reduced the size of others since the creation of the Park in the 1930s, Andrews is one of two grassy balds that the park maintains at their current sizes.The round-trip hike is 3.6 miles with an elevation change of about 800 feet. Although the hike is rated moderate, there are some steep sections and portions of the trail are very rocky so participants should wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots. They should have water and may also want to pack a lunch or snack to eat once the group reaches the bald.Because weather in the Smoky Mountains can be unpredictable, particularly at the higher elevations, a light jacket and rain gear are also recommended.  The guided portion of the hike will end at Andrews Bald so participants can return to the parking area at their own pace. The Clingmans Dome parking area is about a 45-minute drive from either the Gatlinburg or Cherokee, N.C., entrance to the park.  For more information call the Oconaluftee Visitor Center at (828) 497-1904.