Reflections Of The Smokies
As A Ridgerunner on The AT here in the Smokies I get to see some awesome stuff. And here's one of them. Look at the size of this Earth Worm!!!! I estimated it to be about 14 inches long. That's a crazy big Worm !!!
Giant Earth Worm On The AT
Here's a little bit of what I have been into this week.
Another rainy week on the AT here in our beautiful
Smokies! This week we got some nice soft soaking rains as well as some hard
Thunderstorms. The flowers are really coming in nice up high. The bees are
really working the Red Bee balm and Filmy Angelica. I hauled in a lot of trash
this week! Eleven and a half pounds. It was a damp but beautiful week on the
Appalachian Trail here in our Smoky Mountains.
Day One : Clingmans Dome to Silers Bald Shelter.
Thunderstorms made for a short day hiking but I was still able to spend a lot of
time with day hikers. The flowers on Mt. Buckley really put on a show in the
rain and clouds. The rain has the spring at Silers Bald running good.
Day Two : Silers Bald out to Briar Knob and back to
Derrick Knob for the evening. It was another day that saw some heavy rain!
Word did come across thunderhead Mountain that some beautiful Trail Maintenance
was going on in the Spence Field area. Way to go Stu! There was a bunch of
fresh damage from the Hogs all around Derrick Knob.
Day Three : Derrick Knob to Mt. Buckley and back to
Double Springs Gap Shelter. It was a really foggy day with scattered showers
along the way. There was more fresh hog sign between Silers and Derrick and
between Silers and Double Springs. The Hog Hunters will have a time when they
get back out here! It was disappointing to find so much trash at all the
shelters this week. Thankfully a hiker carried out a large cotton sleeping bag
for me. Thanks Scott!
Day Four : Double Springs Gap To Mt. Collins Shelter.
What a beautiful sight all the flowers are across Mt. Buckley and Clingmans
Dome! Despite the gray skies and rain I still saw some hikers today! I crossed
Clingmans Dome a little early for the crowds though. I was disappointed to see
some food left in the Mt. Colins Shelter. But despite the trash there was still
no sign of the bear.
Day Five : Mt. Collins to Newfound Gap. It was a cool
morning with a misting rain and a perfect time for a quiet hike. The spiderwebs
were hanging full of bright water drops and the fog lay in close to the trail.
It was a peaceful end to a nice week.
Nothing We Make Is As Vivid As The Colors In Nature
Bees Getting Drunk On the Filmy Angelica
I hope to see you on the trail soon!
Comments
Tom thomas
07/18/2011 10:04pm
Hi Doug! I always enjoy reading about your adventures. Keep up the good work.
millie
07/20/2011 4:58pm
Hello Doug!!! You are the best!! Loving the new photos!!!
Connie Houk
07/21/2011 8:36am
Hey Doug! That one section of the AT is the only place I have seen those long earth worms. I was amazed at the length...didn't know they grew that long! Your pictures make me want to join you! Have a great week!
