Spring Beauty on the Appalachian Trail

I don't know how much of the Appalachian Trail I'll hike in my lifetime, but I figured I had to start somewhere.

Most of the hikers I met on the AT are hard core - one asked me if I was on my way to Maine.  I told him I'd like to be but I didn't think 24 ounces of water would get me there.  The AT passes through 14 states and was one of the major undertakings of the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps.

Bluets

I didn't get very far...maybe a half mile in heading toward Maine from the Newfound Gap parking lot before I turned back.  I was only there to find a few new wildflowers I wasn't seeing at the lower elevations.

Spring Beauty

I turned around so quickly because it didn't take long for the wildflowers to peter out and some really rugged trail to set in.

I did jog across Newfound Gap Road before returning to my car to check out what was on the other side...kind of like the chicken who crossed the road, maybe?  Apparently this is the only place for 70 miles where the trail crosses a road.  Better have packed wisely, my hiking friends!

Trout Lily

Besides the great view in the first few feet there wasn't much else to see.  The trail looked like something I'd enjoy a little later in the year and I've made a note to have Wayne drop me off on another visit so I can hike the 7.9 mile stretch to Clingman's Dome.  Maybe we'll have hiking buddies by then who will even want to join us and we can do a shuttle and all go.  Any takers?

Charmed at Chimneys

This post is going to be short and sweet, like the Cove Hardwood Trail at Chimneys Picnic Area.  (Not like me, I'm short and somewhat ornery.)

When I pulled in to the loop for Chimneys Picnic Area the other day I was stunned by the display of White Trillium.  They are everywhere!  The 3/4 mile nature trail is a little steep in spots, but definitely easy enough for anyone to tackle and filled to the brim with wildflowers.

lots of cute Rue Anemone

When I first started the trail I thought the pink Trillium I was seeing might be another variety, but further reading informed me that the petals turn pink with age, informing pollinators that pollination has already occurred.  Is that cool or what?

I almost missed the Fringed Phacelia tucked in amongst the Triliums. This bloom also apparently fades to purple as it ages.

I stopped at Chimneys on my way back from Newfound Gap and a quick jaunt on the Appalachian Trail which I'll tell you about next time!

Our Little Secret

When Mom and I were at the Sugarlands Visitor Center the other day the ranger told me about a service road behind the dump station across the road that was full of wildflowers.  Mom didn't want to go, but I parked off to the side and went in for a stroll.

Foamflower

If you're looking for wildflowers, this place is an easy to access jackpot!  I saw every flower that I saw on Hen Wallow Falls without having to climb a mountain.  Not that I regret that hike, the waterfall shoot in the rain was a great experience.

Toothwort

Everything was shimmering with water droplets and so healthy looking next to the creek.  Sweet White and Yellow Trillium carpeted both sides of the trail.

Yellow Trillium

My eyes even caught sight of this cute little snail as I was walking around looking for Jack in the Pulpit.

I didn't find the Jack, but I did find the Crested Dwarf Iris just when I was getting ready to turn back around.

Crested Dwarf Iris

The trail kept going but Mom was waiting so I had to turn back.  But yesterday afternoon I drove back over there after tending to my allergies.

First May Apple sighting of the year

Right where I parked the car I spotted some May Apple and Showy Orchis blooming.

Showy Orchis

I don't know what flower the one below is, but a bee sampled it and it was the only around.

I wasn't even technically on the trail yet and I heard a sound off in the undergrowth.  A couple of turkeys were enjoying the tourist-free area too.

That wasn't my only wildlife sighting.  On this trail and also on Curry Mountain I heard the sound of tiny newly emerged grasshopper nymphs pinging off the crackly leaf litter.  Check out the eyes on this fella.  Anyone who knows anything about grasshoppers at this stage please comment and educate me!

I also spotted the Canadian Violet, easily identified due to its unusual height.

A little further in on this short trail I spied a Swallowtail that I've seen a few times in the area.

The trail is slightly overgrown, but not so bad this early in the year.  There were a few blowdowns, but nothing that seriously impeded progress.

I also saw tons of Beaked Violet.

And after a couple of creek crossings I even spotted ONE Jack in the Pulpit.

Finding a spot to get a picture of my little hiking buddy was tricky, but I eventually found a spot I thought a monkey would love.

Curry Mountain Trail Bear Encounter

Last night I got a text from Sharon saying that she was going on a hike with Gene and Judi on Curry Mountain Trail and that I was welcome to come along.  Gene and Judi used to have a travel blog as well so I was eager to meet two more people who share my love of travel and hiking.

Before we even got on the trail I saw a few new-to-me wildflowers just walking from the Metcalf Bottoms parking lot to the trailhead.

Hairy Buttercup

Robin's Plaintain

And while we didn't come up with names for everything, Gene and Judi were a wealth of information when it came to helping me identify plants.

Gene consults "Wildflowers of the Smokies"

Rue Anemone

Sweet Shrub

The trail ascended pretty quickly in the first mile but got a little easier after that.  Judi set a pretty good pace on the hike, but stopped often to point things out to both myself and Sharon.

Cabbage White Butterfly on Star Chickweed blossom

Sharon said Judi likely picked this hike because it's the only trail she's seen a bear on.  We told her to keep a look out for us while we watched our feet on the trail.  Good thing we were, because there was some pretty fresh bear scat on that trail and it wouldn't have been nice to step in!

Gene and I brought up the rear most of the time, me because of the camera and Gene because he's dealing with some plantar fascitis issues.  We traded horror stories and remedies...I won't bore you with foot issues this time, we have more interesting things to talk about!

Crested Dwarf Iris in the middle of the trail

Often Gene would drop behind to trim nuisance branches.  I thought bringing a light saw along was pretty neat and might suggest it to Santa for Wayne this year.

I got pretty excited when I spotted the Squaw Root by myself.

It was so warm in the sun on the trail that I told them it felt like Wisconsin in June.  When Judi and Sharon kept surging on ahead I yelled out for them to let us know when they spotted that bear.  

Around the 2.5 mile mark I decided to turn around and head back down. My allergies have been acting up the last few days and the pollen was so high my eyes were starting to burn and itch.  I told my hiking companions that they'd probably see that bear with my luck, but they said I'd be more likely to see a bear hiking alone.

On my way down I kept my camera ready just in case, and kept an eye out for that fresh scat as well.  Not long after I passed it I came around a bend.....

Mama Bear was just as startled to see me as I was to see her!  She grunted and her two cubs each ran up a different tree.  She moved to stand guard under one of the trees and that increased her distance to about 40 feet so I snapped a few photos.

Baby Bear closest to me scampering up the tree

I thought I was noisy on my way down the mountain, snapping twigs, tripping over rocks, crunching through leaves.  Either I'm quieter than I thought or Mama was distracted.

Two cuties for the price of one

I snapped all the shots in about 30 seconds and then gave Mama the room she needed by starting to move slowly down the trail.

Baby Bear #2 keeping an eye on me

As soon as I was a safer distance away I texted Sharon and let her know about my bear encounter.

Baby Bear #1 waiting for the all clear from Mama

That was a lot of excitement and it wasn't even noon yet!  I took another short hike on an old service road near Sugarlands Visitor Center later in the afternoon and met some more wildlife...but I'll save that for next time.