APPALACHIAN SPRING

The Beauty of Spring Wildflowers
     Posting some of the beautiful wildflowers that are now in full bloom on the AT.  There are many more throughout the Great Smoky Mountains but the photos here are some of the ones on my section between Fontana Dam Trailhead and Spence Field.


Yellow Trillium

Pink Lady Slippers

Phacelia and Violets

Painted Trillium

Fringed Phacelia

Dwarf Iris

Wild Geranium

Large Flower (White) Trillium

Enjoy & Keep Hiking,
Carl Goodman, ATRR
aka KY Greybeard
GA/ME '99
PCT 2008



PRINCESS OF THE WOODS

5/12/2015
     Flowers in the Smokies are varied and plentiful.  I am often asked about different flowers by hikers.  I look forward all the varieties but especially the LADY SLIPPERS which are poking out of the ground and some days from full bloom.
     I have found several locations for the Pink ones, with 50 or more in one particular area, 100 feet north of the "Throne" and about halfway to Shuckstack from Fontana Trailhead.
     The larger, showier YELLOW Slippers I have found are in only one place and never more than 2 blooms.  The YELLOW ones are about 1 week later than the Pink and should be in bloom with two weeks.

 

Ah!  May 10, 2015. 

It is 15" tall, and in all it's glory -

PRINCESS OF THE WOODS

Our one lone

 YELLOW Lady Slipper



 

"WARRANTIES"

5/11/2015
LEKI Trekking Poles
     Many years ago, I replaced my old "ski poles" with Leki Trekking Poles. My current pair of Titanium poles have been the length of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and thousands of miles on the Appalachian Trail (AT) while working as a Ridgerunner in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Recently, I noticed split sections made collapsing the poles difficult.
     I contacted Leki via the Leki website and, after receiving new middle and lower sections, I am pleased to be using my poles again just like they were brand new.
     I recall on my AT thru-hike in '99, a fellow hiker bent a pole in a stream and after reaching Leki Company by phone, he had a replacement pole at the next local Post Office.
      I appreciate excellent gear and companies who stand by their product warranties.
"MY NEW DIRTY GIRLS"
     With the weather warming up, I wanted to replace my 'heavy' gaiters with lighter weight ones.  So I decided to order a set of "DIRTY GIRLS".  Now, I purchased an Olive Green pair, but the colors and patterns are endless.
     I am even more pleased with them than I expected and after several trips, they are better than anything I have used.  The Velcro strip has adhered perfectly to my Merrill's, both pair.  I am not sure it was necessary, but I cut the Velcro one-half inch longer than the part sewed to the Gaiters and there is plenty left over for additional shoes.
     The quick response I got when I needed them was so helpful since I am on the trail daily.  No wonder so many thru-hikers are wearing DIRTY GIRL GAITERS.
Keep hiking,
Carl Goodman, aka KY Greybeard
GA/ME '99, PCT '08
ATC RR