Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
2190 results for "smoky mountains"
When Great Smoky Mountains National Park lost a quarter of its staff, volunteers stepped up to keep America's busiest park running smoothly. Their efforts show how communities can rally to protect the places they love.
A volunteer group of retirees is documenting every living species in the Great Smoky Mountains, discovering rare lichens and fungi that scientists didn't know existed in the park. Their work is creating a complete biodiversity inventory while showing how everyday people can contribute to important scientific discoveries.
A volunteer group dubbed GRISLD is quietly documenting every living thing in America's most biodiverse national park, discovering over 1,000 species new to science. Their work matters more than ever as climate change reshapes mountain ecosystems.
A Tennessee National Guard helicopter crew plucked an injured hiker from a remote mountain trail and delivered them to a hospital in just 90 minutes. The swift rescue showcased how elite military teams serve their communities during emergencies.
A sport that combines climbing mountains and skiing downhill just made its Olympic debut in Italy. Ski mountaineering, called "skimo," is the first entirely new Winter Olympics event in over two decades.
Shawnee Mountain turned pink for the 10th year running, rallying the community around cancer survivors and patients. The annual Paint the Mountain Pink fundraiser brought skiers, snowboarders, and supporters together for a cause that's touched countless lives.
A mountain lion that wandered into a Santa Monica residential area was successfully tranquilized and relocated by wildlife experts on Friday, marking a hopeful outcome after a similar 2012 incident ended tragically. The healthy animal will be evaluated and returned to safer habitat, while conservationists work to protect the region's small but resilient mountain lion population.
%2Ffile%2Fattachments%2Forphans%2F20260218_172147_474465.jpg)
Scientists are using stoneflies and tadpoles to monitor Table Mountain's hidden rivers. The ancient mountain works like a giant sponge, slowly filtering water that feeds Cape Town long after the rain stops.
Two unprepared hikers walked away alive after one plunged 400 meters down an icy mountain gully in Poland's Tatra Mountains. Twenty rescuers used drones and thermal imaging to locate and save both men in a dramatic nine-hour nighttime operation.
Rangers at Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park just welcomed a new baby mountain gorilla, marking another win in one of conservation's greatest comeback stories. The global mountain gorilla population has grown from near extinction to over 1,000 individuals today.
A brand new winter sport thrilled nearly sold-out crowds at the 2026 Winter Olympics as ski mountaineering made its historic debut in blizzard conditions. Switzerland and Spain claimed the first-ever gold medals in a sport that combines uphill sprinting, mountain climbing, and downhill skiing into one heart-pounding race.
A young climber combined her lifelong training in classical Indian dance with mountaineering by performing Bharatanatyam at Everest Base Camp as a prayer before her ascent. The deeply personal moment has touched thousands online who saw it as a beautiful blend of art and adventure.
A vanished ocean shaped Central Asia's mountains millions of years ago, long before the Himalayas rose. New research reveals how ancient tectonic forces created dramatic landscapes that dinosaurs once roamed.
The beloved Tennessee theme park just made it easier for electric vehicle owners to visit one of America's most popular destinations. Dollywood installed 14 new EV charging stations plus 10 solar-powered charging umbrellas near Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Mountain gorillas are making an extraordinary comeback, rebounding from near extinction to over 1,000 individuals. This rare conservation win shows what's possible when science, protection, and community work together.
A 66-year-old hiker who fell on a remote New Hampshire trail was airlifted to safety after spending a night in the mountains. The successful rescue showcases the quick response of emergency teams in challenging terrain.
Just a few occasional visits from mountain lions transformed an entire suburban nature preserve near San Francisco. The surprising discovery shows that powerful ecological changes can happen in small protected areas, not just vast wilderness.
A brand new winter sport captivated crowds as ski mountaineering made its first-ever Olympic appearance Thursday. Athletes sprinted uphill on skis through heavy snow in Italy, creating history and thrilling sold-out crowds.
%2Ffile%2Fattachments%2Forphans%2FNightmountain_994831.jpg)
South Africa's iconic Table Mountain is being recognized as a rights-bearing entity under law, not property to exploit. Environmental lawyer Cormac Cullinan is leading the quest to shift how humans relate to nature through legal frameworks.
Mountain gorillas in Central Africa have climbed from fewer than 300 individuals in the 1980s to over 1,000 today. This remarkable recovery marks one of conservation's greatest success stories.
Showing 20 of 2190