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 night. As much as I love backpacking, the iKamper is awesome!

Memorial Day weekend is a time to remember our fallen soldiers and to look forward to three potential days for hiking and a focus on nature.

Morning has broken…

It was a gorgeous morning for a hike, with eye-popping shades of green in the canopy and covering the ground.

I always struggle to eat enough early morning calories to fuel a strenuous hike, but I was stoked to explore this trail. I am exceptionally grateful to have a life partner who truly appreciates nature, and shares (and sometimes tolerates) my geeky obsession with wildflowers.

Here’s an odd photo of orange rust fungus, which spreads by spores and stunts the growth of a variety of plants. It such a contrast on these bright green leaves. Truthfully, it is hard to love something that exacts such a toll on plants!

Honing in on wildflowers

As we embarked on this section of the Appalachian Trail, we spotted large groups of speckled Clinton’s lily, which is always exciting. Clinton’s lily- or specked wood lily- is an indicator species for orchids. Their tiny, dark pink or purple-flecked petals and sepals sit in a group (or umbel) of flowers, atop a single stalk that rise above 3-5 basal leaves edged with fine hairs.

Throughout the day, we continued to spot large stands of Clinton’s lilies, many of which were past their prime bloom.

The trail was also marked by flame azalea, in varying shades of deep yellow to dark orange, a striking contrast against the backdrop of blue skies.

Bowman’s Root or Indian physic (Gillenia trifoliata) is commonly found in rich woods along the Appalachian Trail. A member of the rose family, it is a staple of spring wildflowers in the Southern Appalachians.

Orchidaceae

Another delight was the presence of Pink Lady’s Slipper, often obscured by the understory as spring progresses. Fortunately, this orchid is easily seen in areas with recent wildfire activity and little ground cover. In talking with several thru-hikers, a few of them had noticed the presence of these native orchids.

Interested in learning more about native orchids? Check out these resources: https://www.uncpress.org/book/9781469620350/native-orchids-of-the-southern-appalachian-mountains/

https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Orchids-South-Carolina-Popular/dp/1570035660

On our return journey, we encountered St. Paul, from Winnipeg, who was slackpacking. St. Paul was practically dancing down the trail without his heavy pack! He is doing the Appalachian Trail in four sections and told us that it would be the first time in history that St. Paul would enter Damascus, a scant 8 miles ahead. You can follow him on Instagram at #hikingtodamascus

There are so many delights to be found on the Appalachian Trail, and this day was no exception. Sometimes I find it miraculous to tick off the miles when there are so many distractions!

This image demonstrates the progression of spring wildflowers. Waterleaf is marked by gorgeously patterned leaves in the spring, giving way to lovely purple bell-shaped flowers with protruding stamens. As they mature, the leaf patterns fade and the flowers reach their full glory.

It was another memorable day, despite chigger bites and the heat. We are so very lucky to have the Appalachian Trail as an easily accessible landmark within our Southern Appalachians. Peace out, y’all! I hope all your trail experiences bring you joy, knowledge and the spirit of adventure!