Into the Mist: Tales of Death Disaster, Mishaps and Misdeeds, Misfortune and Mayhem in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

by David Brill

These beautiful, mist-shrouded mountains can and often do turn deadly. Into the Mist depicts men and women in extreme situations, struggling to survive against brutal and often deadly adversity. In the book’s 13 chapters, readers will experience another side of the Smokies wilderness. Piece together the events leading to a tragic encounter between an elementary school teacher and two black bears in the park’s backcountry. Share in the heroic response of the park’s rangers in the face of brutal weather events, including the March 1993 Storm of the Century, when teams successfully rescued hundreds of stranded visitors. Experience a lone hiker’s final moments as he succumbed to the bitter cold. Learn how the body of a murdered Jane Doe discovered in a park stream led to a cross-country hunt for her killer. Read these and many more harrowing tales of incidents in the park. Includes a comprehensive appendix of Great Smoky Mountains National Park deaths from 1931 to 2016, listing the park’s leading causes of death and most dangerous places. Published by Smokies Life.

263 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2025