A podcast about water safety might sound like a project from a park located on the beach rather than in the mountains, but there are good reasons for a new free video offered by the Great Smoky Mountains Association. Water Safety and Day Hiking has some good tips for everyone who enjoys the out-of-doors.

There's no doubt water has a powerful attraction for most of us, whether it's found in a majestic waterfall, a sparkling mountain stream or a cool, inviting river on a hot summer day. Sometimes we're content to enjoy the view, but in many cases, park visitors want—or need—to get their feet wet, and that sometimes creates an unexpected challenge.

Water crossings are a fact of life for many hikers in the Smokies and many other parks, but the combination of slippery rocks, an uneven river bottom and the sometimes surprising power of moving water can turn what looks like a simple wade across a creek into a misadventure.

"Hiking in the Smokies is not inherently dangerous, but there are incidents that can be prevented if people understand the potential risks that may occur in certain circumstances, particularly around streams and waterfalls,” said Cathleen Cook, Chief of Resource Education. “Understanding what the risks are in advance and how to prepare to avoid them will provide visitors with the information they need to make responsible and common-sense decisions when recreating in these natural settings,” she continued.

Water Safety and Day Hiking is part of the recently launched program “Reward Yourself - Hike the Smokies Challenge.” The four-minute video podcast developed by Great Smoky Mountains Association "showcases the beautiful water resources in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and provides tips on safe water practices while hiking in the Park."

“We hope that this video will be another tool to help visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience in the Park’s backcountry," Cook said.

There are plenty of connections between hiking and water safety. A park spokesman noted, "The Park’s backcountry is managed as a natural area where the forces of nature can create unexpected situations. Most of the Park’s trails involve stream crossings; many are bridged but others are not. When crossing streams, a simple matter of wearing sturdy, water proof hiking shoes and using a hiking stick can help prevent slipping on rocks. The video points out that these beautiful, inviting streams can be dangerous at times. They can become extremely hazardous after a heavy rainstorm; therefore it is not recommended to try and cross swiftly moving streams."

The video also highlights some of the hazards of recreating around waterfalls. "The Park has some of the most beautiful waterfalls, and understandably these attract visitors. But, there have been several fatalities and numerous serious injuries at these locations. Mainly these accidents are associated with people climbing on slippery moss-covered rocks or swimming in pools at the base of the falls with powerful undercurrents that will pull swimmers under."

Park staff members encourage all visitors to begin a Smokies experience by viewing all three podcasts, which were designed to encourage visitors to get outdoors and exercise, but also to promote safe practices. The first podcast developed for this program, Day Hiking in the Smokies: Expect the Unexpected, is a 5-minute video on weather and how to prepare and respond to potential weather extremes and the mountainous terrain.

The second podcast is a 6-minute video on Day Hiking and Wildlife, informing the viewer of wildlife behavior, particularly black bears, and the appropriate responses and regulations to be followed by Park visitors.

Water Safety and Day Hiking is the third, and newest, in the series. You can view all three podcasts on the Hike the Smokies Challenge website, which is sponsored by the Great Smoky Mountains Association. The Association’s website also has an online bookstore which sells maps and trail guides and even first time starter kits, Park explorer kits, and backcountry hiker kits.

If you're in the park, you can stop at a visitor center to get the latest, most up-to-date information and pick up a Reward Yourself – Hike the Smokies Challenge pocket-sized booklet for $1.00. These booklets are available to help hikers keep a record of trail mileage. When a person has hiked 100 miles, 250 miles, and 500 miles, he/she can bring their mileage record to one of the three visitor centers to receive a mileage pin and be recorded in the “Hike the Smokies” 2010 web records. The "challenge" aspect of the program is simply for hikers to keep track and record the mileage from each trail excursion, even if it is the same trail day after day.

The "Hike the Smokies Challenge" project was a cooperative effort by the park and the Great Smoky Mountains Association; funding help came from the National Park Foundation and The Coca-Cola Foundation, so this is a fine example of ways private dollars can help park educational programs.