I found this interesting. It's a survey of the number and cause of deaths in all US National Parks (except the newest one) over the last 10 years.

outforia.com/danger-parks/

The deadliest overall is the Grand Canyon, with by far the most medical (heart attacks trying to hike out?) and lots of environmental (heat stroke?), second to Denali (opposite of heat stroke?).
The most likely way to die is by falling. Yosemite has a big lead here with 45 - enough to get it #2 overall. Way behind in the 20's are GC, SEKI, Zion, and the Tetons.
GSMNP is #3 overall, thanks to lots and lots of fatal car accidents, almost 3X as many as the second in that category, Death Valley (what is there to hit in DV??).
The third most likely way to die is "undetermined". Not sure what that is. I guess sometimes they don't bother asking the dead person what they died of.
SEKI, Yellowstone, Denali, Mt Rainier and RMNP round out the top 8.

BTW, for all of you worried about being killed by wild animals, they…

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Not on the AT, but close. Wondering if anyone knows of this place?

Just saw this story on Atlas Obscura.

It seems there was a plan to build a road all the way across the southern end of GSMNP along the north side of Fontana Lake as part of the deal to build Fontana Dam back in the 40s. Only about 7 miles of road was built from Bryson City into the park where it goes through a half mile tunnel and the dead ends. Curious.

Wow another long trail for New York. The Empire State Trail completed in December 2020 is 750 miles, and can take you from NYC to Canada.

www-travelandleisure-com.cdn.a…pleted-new-york-to-canada

I don't know what the usual MLK group is doing this weekend. Kathy and I are putting our packs together for our very own MLK, 2 night trip to Harriman State Park. We don't have a plan for which trails or places to camp we'll use, that'll be decided on the fly.