GATLINBURG, Tenn. — A tradition in the Great Smoky Mountains marked its 50th anniversary Tuesday when a red Poinsettia was delivered to the national park's headquarters. It's a tradition meant to express gratitude for rangers who rescued then-15-year-old Eric Johnson and his friend after they were caught up in a blizzard.
Johnson and his friend were on day four of hiking the Appalachian Trail in 1974 after they were dropped off on Thanksgiving day. He said the blizzard packed snow up to their waists. The two could only less than a quarter-mile every hour.
Park rangers searched for them over two days, and on Dec. 3 a helicopter pilot spotted a bright red backpack. A military helicopter was then called to rescue them. The following year Eric's mother, Wanneta Johnson, began delivering red Poinsettias to the national park headquarters to thank her son's rescuers.
“Every year after that, in gratitude for the National Park Service, my mom has delivered a poinsettia to the ranger station here," Eric said.
She died in 2020 and Eric continued the tradition. He also continued hiking.