May...the last month of Spring is also one of the best months for wildflowers. It rivals April for the top month as a number of my favorites shine in May. From Flame Azalea to Pink Lady Slippers and my number one... Mountain Laurel (that is why it's the cover and bottom photo) they and many others make the fifth month a contender for the top spot. So, with that here are the Wildflowers of May 2021...
Rich Mountain, Pisgah National Forest (05-01 & 02)
What do you get when you combine Sun, hiking, a fire pit, gear testing, and a couch...a fun Wolf Pack Weekend at the Cabin.
If I haven't said the Wolf Pack is made up of the Wood Booger (me), Lester, and our leader Bax (while offered, Pete has rejected membership). Well, this weekend I took them over to the Cabin in Virginia. The reason, there was a wedding at St. Clair this weekend. If you know the boys, Lester would have been barking terrified and Bax would also be barking for the opposite reason (especially at kids).
Wedding at St. Clair
So, I loaded them up and headed to Fort for the weekend. For Lester the weekend was spent mostly on the couch, boy he does love the couch. He did, however, take two hikes on his own, but before long he was back ready to get back to his couch.
Cows
Bax & Lester
Lester outside...
...but where he was most of the weekend
Bax on the other hand went hike out with me on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This also made Pete happy. Also, I discovered bunches of Bear Corn (some even eaten by the Bear seen below on sign photos) so, I am changing the names of the knobs from Russell and Robert Knobs to Little Bear Corn and Bear Corn Knobs.
Bax on the Friday hike
Bax on Saturday
Bax & Meadow
Little Bear Corn Knob (T) & Bear Corn Knob (B)
Why the change...summits full of Bear Corn
Bax's Sunday Funday
Bax & I on all three days
He got a little hot on Saturday because it was humid and it didn't take long for it to get really steamy. By afternoon the temperature topped out at 90 degrees and because of this, I had to wait before cooking my dinner. When I finally got to building a fire I got to try out my new foldable campfire grill. I cooked my lamb and potatoes on it. It worked really good. After that, I put the fire pit over my campfire (the grill wouldn't fit over the half-barrel)
Plane watching
My new camp grill was a success
My fire without & the with cover
Friday (T) & Saturday sundown (B)
That wasn't all on Friday we had a visitor. No, it wasn't a bear he had been there and knocked the bird feeder down. The little visitor was a Striped Skunk. It was a pretty one with the whole top was white. It was digging in the yard for something. He was out there for hours, I had to run him off before letting the pack out at bedtime.
Saw a lot of bear sign, but the feeder survived
Beautiful Striped Skunk
Lester got to lay on the couch, Bax got to do Bax stuff and it all was a drama-free weekend for the Wolf Pack.
I know my loyal followers have been longing for something from the Hiking Machine...DADDY! Well, on this weekend I didn't get left behind hiking in Virginia. Last weekend I was left behind by the Lummox...what a asshole! I made sure I was on the bag and ready to go this time. I didn't even car that the Lummox was accompanied by two slobbering dogs. Well, Bax needs water so I am out...BITCHES!
Now and then something comes along that requires a rant. Most times it seems to involve trash at some of my favorite spots, but not this time. This rant is about people not respecting signs that are there to protect habitat in some of the Southern Appalachians. I have seen signs at other places, but this blog will focus on the site of my latest camping trip Max Patch.
My latest trip to Max Patch
If you have ever been to what I affectionally call "the Patch" this spectacular spot also has another nickname..." the Grandstand of the Smokies." The reason for this is incredible views into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. But this is just one part of this vista as it has 360 degree views. So, being such a wonderful place means it is popular, very popular. I blogged about this last September of how people abuse this mountain. While this one isn't as much about trashing the mountain it is still a problem that is damaging to Max Patch. This is people not paying attention to the signs of closed trails on the mountain.
Why "the Patch" is the Grandstand of the Smokies
Since my first visit there had always been three trails to the top. The two that made up the loop and the one straight up. But even back in 2013 they were trying to get people to stop using the most direct route because there was a sign on the old information kiosk. However, the US Forest Service (USFS) and the Carolina Mountain Club (CMC) got more determined. Because when I came back in 2019, the trails that went left and right at the trailhead were still open and even had new signs. However, the one that went straight to the summit had been closed. It had a sign that said as much but in addition, a wooden fence had been put up where it started up.
The middle trail pre-2018
The fence blocking the middle trail
The loop trail pre-2018
Those trails today
On the new information kiosk, it told of the changes and to only hike on blue or white blazed (Appalachian Trail). It is pretty clear of what the USFS and CMC. However, a lot of people who come to the mountain didn't get the message. I mean I saw plenty of people going up and down this way. I guess either people can't read or just don't care. But I did witness people look at the sign and say "well there's a trail here." I said something, but they just ignored me...I am going to go with example two.
Where I was ignored
People on the summit & coming down...the middle trail
This wasn't the only place on the mountain. Near my day two campsite. there is a sign that says not to go straight up to the summit, but just take the little extra time to go up to the AT to the summit. However, that didn't stop the parade up this closed section to the summit. I mean some people even camped on the other side of the fence. I think there is more trails to the summit since the fence and sign went up. Oh, to the left of my tent there is another sign because of another trail they are trying to close and a couple went past me (I was watching the sunset) past the sign and down.
From my campsite in 2013 & 2021
It's obvious the sign isn't working
People went down here...
...& out here (closed)
Max Patch isn't alone I have seen in places like the Roan highlands where there are signs that a large number just ignore. The signs are there for a reason I mean one at Max Patch was a carved wood one (that is funny). So, the moral of the story if there is a sign it is there for a reason ..
Signs on Jane Bald & the speical one on Max Patch (below)
