Hiking in Rime Ice: Allen Gap on the AT

The first weekend of January brought cold temperatures, along with rain or snow, depending on the elevation. Our destination was towards the Spring Mountain Shelter, starting at Allen Gap on the Appalachian Trail. Due to my foot injury, I was alternately frustrated and positive about my ability- and limitations- to hike six miles.The positive was that we were greeted by a gorgeous, brisk day, with feathered white clouds scuttling across deep blue skies. As we began our trek, it was 28 degrees, with winds sweeping through the gaps, snow on the trail, and rime ice gilding the trees at higher elevations.

Heartleaf ginger (Hexastylis shuttleworthii) is an evergreen that holds the promise of spring throughout winter. Their waxy, veined leaves are a noticeable spot of greenery regardless of the season. In contrast to galax leaves, heartleaf ginger does not turn a reddish-bronze hue with exposure to sunlight. You must carefully remove the leaf litter to view the spring flowers. They begin as green buds, and progress to deep pink and purple speckled urn-shaped blooms. I have spent many hours in pursuit of these beauties!

As we progressed up the trail, there was more snow, especially on the north facing slopes. The temperatures were tolerable in the sun, and in the absence of wind. But the combination of wind and shade made us move more quickly towards our destination! https://hikescape.org/shelton-laurel-backcountry-jerry-miller-trail/

Lichens are a unique combination of fungi and algae that grow on trees, rocks or ground. Lichens are fascinating, both in their diversity and physiology. This lichen, Smooth Lungwort, has beautiful, spreading lobes, with a series of small , flattened red cups scattered across its surface.

Rime ice, baby!

We continued to climb, with rime ice coating all the surfaces on the trail. The trees were frosted with coarse sugar crystals, highlighted against the deep blue hue of the sky, and sparkling in the sun. We stopped to refuel and take in the stark, silent beauty of the icy landscape. It didn’t take long for the bone-chilling cold to set in once we were no longer on the move and gaining elevation. We donned our puffys for additional warmth and decided to head back.

Another feature of the winter landscape is the dried blooms of herbaceous perennials that are hardy enough to withstand the accumulation of snow and rime ice. Want to know more about rime ice? https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/11/15/heres-how-a-gorgeous-display-of-hoar-frost-coated-shenandoah-national-park/

The clouds began to dissipate as we picked our way carefully down the trail to avoid slipping. Off in the distance, the sky gave us a glimpse of the snow and ice covering the mountains.

The hike from Allen Gap marked another trek through a stunning but harsh winter landscape, accentuated by fresh snowfall, and branches adorned with the heavy jewelry of winter ice. This hike reminds me of the song “Turn, Turn, Turn” by the Byrds: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven”. Peace out, y’all- I hope you get out there and get in touch with nature!