Fire, Rain and Rosebud Orchids on the AT

This spring has handed us plenty of weather extremes over the past few weeks. Bernie and I left the house early on a Sunday morning, hoping to log a few miles and dodge the rain. We headed for a favorite trail, with a steady uphill climb that passes through a Read more…

A Bounty of Native Orchids and Wildflowers: Big Ivy in June

Big Ivy trails are worth revisiting to capture the full spectrum of wildflowers blooming between early and late spring. Every section of this trail in the Appalachian Ranger District showcases wildflowers that are either winding down and setting seed, or beginning their transformation to full bloom. Finding native orchids is Read more…

Hot on the Trail to Damascus: Appalachian Trail in TN

Despite unseasonably warm temperatures for camping and hiking, we departed on Friday afternoon for the Appalachian Trail near Damascus, VA, close to the border of TN and NC. We camped off a gravel road intersecting the trail, built a fire to ward off the insects and settled in for the Read more…