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Death in the Great Smoky Mountains: Stories of Accidents and Foolhardiness in the Most Popular Park
It's no surprise that fatalities occur every year in Great Smalloky Mountains National Park due to the sheer number of visitors--more than ten million annually! In these cautionary tales, Bradley recounts deaths and other unfortunate incidents that have resulted from accidents and human folly, including bear attacks, swift water disasters, and mysterious disappearances. Armchair travelers and park visitors alike will be fascinated by the dangers lurking in America's most visited national park and will be better informed about what to do and what not to do the next time they enter its gates.
216 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 22, 2019
I was unaware that there was an entire subgenre of writing that dealt with death and injury and foolishness in America's national park until reading this book. To be sure, I have previously read Death In Yellowstone [1], which is a stellar example of this book, but for me, it takes more than one book for there to be a body of literature, as one book without any imitators or competitors is simply an isolate. This is a good book on its own terms, if you like reading about bad decisions that frequently lead to death, even if there are few overall such cases when one looks at how long the Smoky Mountain National Park has existed and how many people go there on a regular basis. I have been there myself and been in a snowball fight with some fellow members of my high school orchestra when we went to Gatlinburg for a music competition, and thankfully our shenanigans did not make this book, though that of some young people who were not quite as skilled at hiking as they had thought did make the cut.
This short book of less than 200 pages is divided into fourteen chapters that tell a variety of stories about people who came to grief in terms of death or injury in the area of the Smoky Mountain National Park. After a short introduction, this book begins with the sad story of Jasper Mellinger, who was apparently murdered by poachers before the park even opened (1), and then a chapter on a longtime mystery about a man named Edward McKinley (2). After that is a story of people who survived World War II but not the mountains (3), and then a story of survival against the odds in the park (4). After that the author discusses the disappearance of Dennis Martin (5) and then gives the advice that one cannot fight with mother nature and win (6). There is a discussion on how common sense saves lives (7) and advice on staying together to stay out of trouble (8), before some sad stories of people who vanished without a trace (9) or were murdered (10) in the park. After that the author provides advice on not overestimating one's abilities (11) as well as a discussion on the disaster averted that was the blizzard of '93 (12). After that there is a chapter on a fatal bear attack (13) as well as deadly winds, waters, and drivers (14) in the park.
Since this is the second book of what appears to be an unofficial series that I have read, it has given me some idea of what other books would look like. It is likely that every National Park has at least some stories of death and injury relating to either crime or folly or accident. One can imagine, for example, reading about falls from the beautiful heights in Zion National Park or explorations gone awry in Glacier National Park or close encounters with alligators or hurricanes in the Everglades. And perhaps such books exist, in which case there is a body of literature that deals with our national parks and how places people go to for vacation end up being places of peril because of the dangers of those patches of creation themselves or because of human folly and malice. Indeed, this book is a highly melancholy one, even as it provides the author a chance to dispense wisdom and counsel about how to avoid the dangers of the Smoky Mountain National Park, which are dangers shared in general for mountainous areas, with snow, winds, and bears high among them.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2019...
This short book of less than 200 pages is divided into fourteen chapters that tell a variety of stories about people who came to grief in terms of death or injury in the area of the Smoky Mountain National Park. After a short introduction, this book begins with the sad story of Jasper Mellinger, who was apparently murdered by poachers before the park even opened (1), and then a chapter on a longtime mystery about a man named Edward McKinley (2). After that is a story of people who survived World War II but not the mountains (3), and then a story of survival against the odds in the park (4). After that the author discusses the disappearance of Dennis Martin (5) and then gives the advice that one cannot fight with mother nature and win (6). There is a discussion on how common sense saves lives (7) and advice on staying together to stay out of trouble (8), before some sad stories of people who vanished without a trace (9) or were murdered (10) in the park. After that the author provides advice on not overestimating one's abilities (11) as well as a discussion on the disaster averted that was the blizzard of '93 (12). After that there is a chapter on a fatal bear attack (13) as well as deadly winds, waters, and drivers (14) in the park.
Since this is the second book of what appears to be an unofficial series that I have read, it has given me some idea of what other books would look like. It is likely that every National Park has at least some stories of death and injury relating to either crime or folly or accident. One can imagine, for example, reading about falls from the beautiful heights in Zion National Park or explorations gone awry in Glacier National Park or close encounters with alligators or hurricanes in the Everglades. And perhaps such books exist, in which case there is a body of literature that deals with our national parks and how places people go to for vacation end up being places of peril because of the dangers of those patches of creation themselves or because of human folly and malice. Indeed, this book is a highly melancholy one, even as it provides the author a chance to dispense wisdom and counsel about how to avoid the dangers of the Smoky Mountain National Park, which are dangers shared in general for mountainous areas, with snow, winds, and bears high among them.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2019...
February 13, 2019
Filled with Compelling Stories, not Statistics
This is another great book in the Death in the National Parks series. While author Randi Minetor has written a number of them, this edition by author Michael Bradley is equally compelling. Rather than just list names and reasons, this book gives the compelling stories of those who lost their lives and several who were fortunate enough to be rescued. An excellent storyteller, you feel as if you have met all the participants. There is also an interesting connection regarding Captain Chesley Sulllenberger and a relative readers will find interesting. I found this book hard to put down. An excellent addition to the series in a slightly different format. A thought provoking read.
This is another great book in the Death in the National Parks series. While author Randi Minetor has written a number of them, this edition by author Michael Bradley is equally compelling. Rather than just list names and reasons, this book gives the compelling stories of those who lost their lives and several who were fortunate enough to be rescued. An excellent storyteller, you feel as if you have met all the participants. There is also an interesting connection regarding Captain Chesley Sulllenberger and a relative readers will find interesting. I found this book hard to put down. An excellent addition to the series in a slightly different format. A thought provoking read.
April 11, 2023
A quick but interesting read. Stories are more or less grouped in themed chapters. Most are appropriately cautionary tales of foolishness or arrogance but there are some who just had horrid luck, and a few murders. This is balanced by tales of both foolish and wise visitors who survived through skill and/or luck. Also tales of folks who simply walked in and vanished. The rangers must have incredible patience at this park.
May 11, 2018
Pretty good; some good information on what went well, what didn't, and what you can and cannot do to improve your odds of surviving. A map of the road, creeks, and other major locations listed would have been useful
May 30, 2018
Interesting
This was interesting, but pretty basic. The authors style was "head on" pretty much to the point. I would have liked a little more back story. This reminded me of reading a text book. At times it seemed to be very hurried.
This was interesting, but pretty basic. The authors style was "head on" pretty much to the point. I would have liked a little more back story. This reminded me of reading a text book. At times it seemed to be very hurried.
July 2, 2018
Amazing stories related to the history of the national park. Especially interesting if you're familiar with the park and some of the specific areas contained in the stories. Covers the full history from the very early days to the most current at the time the book was published.
September 24, 2024
I loved this book! I am a big fan of mystery and murder and unsolved cases as well. It always seems better when they are closer to home! I visit the great Smoky mountains regularly as well. I recommend you read this book if those topics intrigue you! 🤍
January 1, 2025
Fascinating read for those who are frequent visitors to the Smokies (particularly the Gatlinburg area), as it’s fun to visualize the area. Consists of quick little stories, making it an easy read. A little repetitive in describing the landscape from story to story, but overall a good choice!
July 8, 2025
I started reading this before a trip to the Smokies and continued reading it while I was there. I love reading about places as I'm visiting them, and this one was perfect for my love of true crime and mysteries.
July 13, 2018
Not as interesting to me as the western parks, like Zion, Glacier, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon.
October 3, 2018
Very interesting and informative. A must-read for hikers.
June 12, 2022
My second book by Bradley, this one was gloomier with death and loss in every chapter. One brief story summarizes the death of a guy I knew. At least one detail in that account is inaccurate.
November 29, 2023
Not the best written book, but clearly the author loves the Smokies. I love the Smokies too, so I enjoy reading about the trails (though in a sad way).
April 16, 2018
An interesting read in the sub-sub-sub-genre of books that catalog the various ways people have died in national parks. Not nearly as thorough as Death in Yellowstone, though I get why that would make for an incredibly long and tedious book, and probably couldn't really be complete in any event. I've actually been to this park, several times, so that helped me visualize what was going on.
January 3, 2017
reflections: I live in the foothills of the Smokies. Our local news tells about an accident there. Most recently, fires destroyed thousands of acres and killed at least 14 people in the area.
Here's one of the my favorite stories from the book: There's a connection between Sully Sullenberger (the hero in the movie Sully) and a plane crash in the Smokies. A Dr. Samuel Sullenberger crashed his bright yellow Piper on TOP of a tree in the Smokies November 2, 1955. Branches cushioned the impact -- the prop and windows were not even broken. Searchers could not find his plane; so he climbed down and walked downstream. He had an encounter with a mama bear on Nov. 5 which gave him a gash across his belly. He finally found a ranger station that afternoon.
The connection between Dr. S. and Sully? The year before that crash, Dr. S. visited his cousin in Denison, TX. and met his cousin's 3-year-old son Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger!
My favorite line in the book, "Good aviation luck seems to follow the family."
Giving this 4 stars because I would have liked photos and maps in the book. Some of the author's writing was repetitive.
Here's one of the my favorite stories from the book: There's a connection between Sully Sullenberger (the hero in the movie Sully) and a plane crash in the Smokies. A Dr. Samuel Sullenberger crashed his bright yellow Piper on TOP of a tree in the Smokies November 2, 1955. Branches cushioned the impact -- the prop and windows were not even broken. Searchers could not find his plane; so he climbed down and walked downstream. He had an encounter with a mama bear on Nov. 5 which gave him a gash across his belly. He finally found a ranger station that afternoon.
The connection between Dr. S. and Sully? The year before that crash, Dr. S. visited his cousin in Denison, TX. and met his cousin's 3-year-old son Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger!
My favorite line in the book, "Good aviation luck seems to follow the family."
Giving this 4 stars because I would have liked photos and maps in the book. Some of the author's writing was repetitive.
April 18, 2017
Quick, easy, informative, fascinating read. Well-researched. Kudos to the author. Finishing the book made me equal parts want to head for the Smokey Mountains ASAP and half want to avoid them at all costs.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews