Sierra Club Backpack At Mount Mitchell

This weekend I went on a Sierra Club backpack at Mount Mitchell. The backpack included a trip to the summits of the two tallest Mountains East of the Mississippi (Mitchell and Mount Craig) and another 6,000 footers (Big Tom). It was a good two days out and I will write more about it this week...

A Big Thank You To Trail Workers

I just wanted to write a quick blog to thank those that work on the trails that we hikers enjoy. When I was at Roan Highlands on Thursday I ran into members of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) and the Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club (EHCC) working on the Appalachian Trail (AT) at Jane Bald. It is the work of clubs like (EHCC) and the (SAHC) that keep maintenance on the AT and other trails and help protect the mountains from all sorts of threats. I have done some trail work myself, so I know the commitment these people put in.

I just want to add that people don't make it easy. One of the things they were doing was blocking a cut trail. Other things are picking up trash and getting rid of graffiti. I don't know what people are thinking as I saw that someone had spray painted on some of the oldest boulders in North America. One good thing those rocks will outlive their paint job. So, if you are on the trail and see these hard-working volunteers, give them a big thank you...

No Rhododendrons, But A Beautiful Day On The Roans & Gray's Lilies To Boot

I was going to go to the Roan Highlands for a backpack last weekend, but the weather got in the way. So, Thursday I went to Carvers Gap looking for Rhododendrons (Catawbas to be excited) but instead found another surprise...Gray's Lilies.
I had a feeling when I got to the visitors center at Roan Mountain State Park that I might be too late for Catawba Rhododendrons as I encountered the Rosebay variety, which usually blooms when their purple cousins have passed up high. When I got to Carvers Gap my fears had been realized...no Rhododendron blooms. I have been at Carvers Gap and seen some stragglers even into July, but today none (I have added pictures to show the difference between 2016 & now)!

Then I overheard some people talking and then saw a sign... Gray's Lilies. These rare beauties that only appear at high elevations in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia and were discovered on Roan Mountain in the late 19th Century. They bloom in early to mid-summer and with all my trips to the Roans I have only seen a couple once back in July of 2014. However, today I didn't see just one or two but a bunch. So, it more than made up for the lack of Rhododendrons. What is funny was there were a few Flame Azaleas hanging on.

The other thing that made this trip more than worth it was the weather. Comfortable temperatures, cool breeze, and brilliant views it was a big difference from my last trip here in April and how it was when I got back to Johnson City.  

On my way out I discovered something new at the state park. Across from the park headquarters was a conference center I didn't know was there. However, the coolest thing was the aviary with two Barred Owls, Capano and Shiloh. Also, a Great Horned Owl named Sunshine...cool.
Once again it was a great day on the Roans...

Getting Lost At Bays Mountain Park

As the old saying goes, "if you don't have anything good to say don't say nothing." So, I am not going to say too much about my hike at Bays Mountain on Sunday. Let just say the map isn't great and the trails are not marked at all in the bottom half of the park part of the park. Oh, trail maintenance isn't any better. Well, here are some pictures...lost on the trail.