Smoky Mountains

Wally Roberts, K.S.N.H. President, led an exciting extended field trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park April 4th through the 8th. Thirty Five members enjoyed the fellowship and activities provided by Wally and Ben Begley, environmental instructor of the Pine Mountain Settlement School and Mother Nature cooperated during most of the scheduled events.
On Monday morning, two groups were formed, one going to Albrights Grove, led by Ben and the other led by Wally down Old Sugarlands Trail from Cherokee Orchard.
The Albright Grove trip, led by Ben, was a 7 mile round trip.
The Albright Grove of poplar and hemlock escaped the lumbermen's axes and today is one of the finest examples of virgin forest in the Smokies and many of America's record trees are located there. It was named after Horace M. Albright, second director of the National Park Service, who played a significant role in the establishment of this park. He also was responsible for blocking a highway along the Smokies Crest where the A.T. now runs. Strolling through the Albright Grove, one experiences a feeling of peace and reverence. The grove must be visited to be appreciated. It is truly a deep green wood.
The Old Sugarlands Trail hike began at Cherokee Orchard and descended 3.9 miles gradually to the main visitors center. Many wildflowers were seen along the trail including white trillium, rue anemone, trout lily, schrub yellow root and many others.
Tuesday activity was a trip to Cades Cove. Cades Cove is a look into the past. Preserved homes, churches, and a working mill highlight the 11-mile loop road. Wildlife abounds around the cove and sightings of deer, wild turkeys, ground hogs, raccoons, bears, and red wolves occur. Beautiful mountain vistas climb from the valley floor to the sky. Situated in a limestone window, the result an over-thrust fault caused by the collision between North America and Africa about 350 million years ago and erosion, Cades Cove provides fertile habitat. Settlers first came to the cove in 1819, and farmed this land until the Park formed in the 1930s. The group was treated by seeing a rather large black ratsnake coming down a tree from 60 feet above, nesting bluebirds in a natural cavity and a American bittern in the oxbow marsh area.

On Wednesday, the group continued their explorations with a trip to Porters Flat in the Greenbrier section of the park. The first part of the trail climbs gradually on a gated jeep trail with bloodroot and slopes of trillium being seen. After crossing a foot-log bridge the flower garden starts. Dutchman's breeches, trout lilies, dwarf ginseng, trillium, hepatica (white, pink and blue) and fringed phacelia covered the ground. Birds that were observed were yellow throated, black throated green and black and white warblers. Also seen was the solitary vireo blue-gray gnatcatcher To many, this was the highlight of the trip. The hike ended at Fern Falls where most had a delightful lunch in a splendid setting of this tumbling falls.

That night there was an added treat. The group ventured to Indian Gap at night-fall to listen to the call of the Northern Saw-whet Owl. After sundown, the call was heard off at a distance. The weather conditions were not favorable, for it was a cloudy night and there was a slight breeze. But, even under these conditions, the owl was heard.

Comments from Participants:

One of the most astounding arrays at wildflowers in the Smokies this time of year can be found at the start at the Chestnut Top Lead Trail near the Townsend Y. Steep rocky slopes border the trail, their mantle of green velvet beconing the observer up the steep incline. The moist slopes host bishops cap, squirrel corn, maiden hair fern and more in every crevice. Three varieties of toothwort, yellow trillium, wild parsnip, and purple cress are but a few of the 40+ varieties in bloom as the trail continues to rise, gradually becoming drier, with fire pink visible as the trail nears the top of the ridge. High above the Little River Gorge, the down hill side offers erect trillium, Purple phacelia and blue phiox. The beauty of this trail with -the great variety of flowers in bloom make this trail one of the highlights of the spring.

Margie Conard KSNH