Big Creek: A Closer Look at a National Park

by Dinata Misovec

Experience the “Other Side” of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park We think of our national parks as wild, peaceful places, where you can “get away” from the hustle of civilization. But if you've ever experienced a traffic jam as you try to drive to your favorite trail head or campsite, you know the “idea” of the parks doesn’t always mesh with reality. What really happens in the day-to-day upkeep of a national park? Retired couple Andy and Dinata Misovec are part of the backbone of National Parks—the volunteer corp. The Misovecs help practically every year at the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. As campground hosts, what they find is sometimes shocking, oftentimes hilarious, yet they always manage to come away still feeling the wonder of nature that any American National Park will instill in any visitor who cares to look. Part journal, part thoughtful essays, Big a Closer Look at a National Park will show you why those traffic jams sometimes happen. But through broken bones, bee stings, snakes, and loose dogs, you will come away with a greater appreciation of what the National Parks mean to us as a nation.

216 pages, Paperback

Published May 22, 2017

Reviews

[Millie Thom]

Big Creek is a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable non-fiction written by author, Dinata Misovec. Presented in the form of a journal/diary, the book gives readers valuable and sometimes humorous insight into some of the everyday events and ‘behind the scenes’ workings of a national park in the United States. Dinata and her husband, Andy, have spent many seasons since 2010 working as campground volunteers at Big Creek and their joy at returning each year is evident.
For readers from outside the U.S. (like myself) I’ll just say that Big Creek is one of the many creeks of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern USA. In the words of the author, ‘Big Creek is a beautiful, if not extraordinary, landscape in the Appalachian mountain range’. Dinata also tells us that ‘Big Creek itself can be seen tumbling down the mountains’. This book is full of descriptions to take the breath away, some of the incredible flora and fauna, others relating to the very variable weather in the park. I particularly liked the description of the thunderstorm that ‘echoed off the mountainsides, trees glistening in the morning sun’.
The book starts with a brief prologue explaining how Dinata and Andy came to be campground hosts at the Great Smokies, followed by a few statistics comparing size and visitor numbers of this national park to others in the U.S. I was surprised to read that the Great Smoky National Park is the most visited park in the U.S. We also learn that it was home to the Cherokee until the arrival of Europeans in the 1700s.
The journal starts with the couple’s first experiences as volunteers in 2010, when Dinata happily describes herself and Andy as ‘green’. Readers are given an ‘insider’s’ view of everyday life in the park. There are many messages from ‘Dispatch’ and we see how the employees capably respond to reported incidents, some of which are alarming and/or life-threatening to the visitors involved, others that turn out to be amusing. Incidents can involve anything from missing persons, broken bones, swimming, diving or kayaking accidents, loose dogs, bears entering camps for food or even occasional bear, snake or coyote attacks, traffic accidents or jams, to outright fights and brawls, vandalism to the landscape or wildlife, or even domestic or alcohol-fuelled disputes that get out of hand.
The author stresses how every worker – from park rangers to maintenance men, cleaning staff and volunteers – has a vital role to play in the smooth and efficient running of the park, while at the same time helping to protect this incredible landscape and its wildlife from damage by the thousands of visitors and their cars.
We meet some wonderful and colourful characters, including the memorable and opinionated maintenance man, Spence, with his east Tennessee ‘hillbilly accent’. It is lovely to see how Dinata and Andy became so close to many of the staff and I love the scenes where some of them 'just happen' to appear as Dinata takes a delicious pie or cake from the oven in their motorhome. We also hear some interesting, sometimes funny, little anecdotes during these little gatherings – some of which are suddenly interrupted by a call for action from Dispatch.
All in all, this book is a great read for anyone thinking of visiting a national park. Not only is very well written and entertaining, it gives valuable insight into the hard work and essential teamwork of the many determined staff who keep Big Creek safe and beautiful for everyone to enjoy.

[Robin R]

This book is a wonderful way to get some insights into the behind-the-scenes workings of a National Park, particularly the most visited of all our National Parks! The many vignettes are fascinating, and the insights and observations about how human nature interacts with Mother Nature will make you laugh and cry. We get to know some of the fine professionals and volunteers who make our Parks such a great place to visit, and they are the true gems. I could not put the book down – if you love your National Parks, this is a MUST READ!

[Rick]

Wonderful memoir from a woman who volunteered as campsite host for several years at Big Creek in the GSMNP. We hike there often so it was enjoyable to read about this special place with which we are familiar. Some stories were sad. Some made me angry. Some were hilarious. Some were inspiring.

I enjoyed meeting the rangers and other staff with whom she lived and worked. Her technique of including GSMNP radio chatter as part of her memoir was effective and intriguing.

[Kristina Plaas]

I laughed, I groaned, I understood exactly where Dinata was coming from. this book is a heartwarming view into the life of a volunteer in a National Park. I enjoyed this book very much.