A few weeks ago, we re-visited Mt. Mitchell to enjoy the long-range views and show our out-of-town friends the highest peaks in the Eastern US. Upon arrival, it was in the high 40s and windy, but abundant sunshine and hiking would generate some heat. Our goal was to find more wildflowers and native orchids near Mt. Mitchell. Mt. Mitchell is one of many peaks above 6,000 feet in the Southern Appalachians.
Mt. Mitchell flora
Mt. Mitchell has an interesting history. It was the first North Carolina state park, established in 1915, and surrounded by national forest. Mt. Mitchell has a rich history of botanical exploration that began in the late 1700’s. Notable botanists including Frenchman Andre Michaux, and Englishman John Fraser, both of whom named and collected a number of plant species in the Black Mountains. This site provides information about the history of Mt. Mitchell: https://www.ncparks.gov/mount-mitchell-state-park/history
Mt. Mitchell was designated as a United Nations Biosphere Reserve in 1993; across the globe, there are 686 reserves in 122 countries. UN Biosphere reserves promote conservation, sustainable development, and ecological research. http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/main-characteristics/.
Starting out on our Mt. Mitchell hike, we strung together 3 different trails to get in six miles. Our reward was seeing Small Purple-Fringed Orchid in the early phases of its bloom cycle. The wind, however, had other plans- it was far too strong for any photographs.
Old Mitchell Trail
We began our hike on the Old Mitchell Trail, en route to the Commissary Trail. Our hope was to avoid the wind and find more orchids and other wildflowers. The Old Mitchell trail was littered with the brilliant pink flowers of the Catawba rhododendron, strewn underfoot like a welcoming carpet.
Commissary Trail
In the second leg on the Commissary Trail, Bernie spotted a few stands of Small Purple-Fringed Orchids. Thankfully, these were not wildly pitching about in the wind. Most of them were just beginning to bloom. A few weeks prior, I had found these same orchids in Big Ivy, which is just below Mt. Mitchell: https://hikescape.org/a-bounty-of-native-orchids-and-wildflowers-big-ivy-in-june/
I love how this image shows the progression of the blooms from the bottom to the top of the raceme.
We were somewhat sheltered from the wind, with lovely views to the east. Otherwise, I would not have been able to capture any images of the Purple Fringed orchids.
Camp Alice
The third leg of our hike began at the creek crossing, where we turned onto the Camp Alice trail and climbed back up, skirting along the scarp towards Mt. Mitchell. The fragrant scent of the red spruce perfumed the clean, fresh air. It was calm and quiet, showcasing the Southern Appalachians area that is home to six of the ten highest peaks in the eastern US.
I am reading Richard Fortey’s book The Wood for the Trees: One Man’s Long View of Natural. He writes beautifully, chronicling his land and the natural environment surrounding the Chiltern Hills of southern Oxfordshire, England. He includes a quote from a farmer named A.G. Street:
“The majesty of the wood remains unaltered. As I wander slowly through it, the terrific importance of my trouble seemed to fade away. The peace of the wood and the comfort of the still trees soon iron out the creases in my soul.”
Deep Gap
Next on our journey is the Deep Gap trail. Just below the peak of Mt. Mitchell, the Deep Gap leads toward Mt. Craig, the second highest peak in the east at 6,648 feet. The Deep Gap trail includes a series of 6,000 foot plus peaks that follow the crest of the Black Mountains. Spruce-fir forest and heath bald are among the plant communities found here.
It was time for refreshment and rejuvenation, and we enjoyed lunch in the picnic area overlooking long- range western views. Another visitor was the Elder Borer, whose larvae feeds off of elderberry. It is so distinctive, with its iridescent colors horizontally segmented across the thorax and abdomen.
Rare plants
In 2016, I came across what I think was Trailing Wolfsbane (Aconitum reclinatum) on this trail. While the flower identification match is perfect, the palmate leaves of Trailing Wolfsbane were not present, or they were hidden by other foliage. Trailing Wolfsbane is a member of the Buttercup family that includes larkspur and columbine.
Here is the (presumed) Trailing Wolfsbane found in 2016:
There is a 1994 archive publication that describes the management plan for Mt. Mitchell, and different plant species found there. It states that Trailing Wolfsbane has not been found in Mt. Mitchell State Park since 1991. A more recent publication of the NC Heritage Program indicates that Trailing Wolfsbane is considered “significantly rare” throughout its range.
Unfortunately, I didn’t see anything resembling Trailing Wolfsbane on this hike. Since there are extremely fragile habitats around Mt. Craig and Big Tom, I didn’t want to risk disturbing other plants by going off trail.
Deep Gap lilies
Along the Deep Gap Trail, Blue Bead Lily (Clintonia borealis) was in bloom. This is a prolific lily that is only found at higher elevations in the Southern Appalachians. It clearly thrives here, and I was happy to see this lily marking the transition to summer solstice. There is another Clinton’s lily, Clintonia umbellata, that is more common at lower elevations. While the blooms of the two species are very different, the leaves are similar. You can identify the the Blue Bead lily by the absence fine hairs on the leaf margins. https://hikescape.org/southern-appalachian-spring-hiking/
Finally, we retraced our steps on the Deep Gap trail, and ascended the short path to the top of Mt. Mitchell. I was particularly grateful for the warmth of the late afternoon, the variety of wildflowers, and the panoramic views of the surrounding Southern Appalachians.
I hope you will join us for future posts, as there are more North Carolina native orchids upcoming, along with the gorgeous plant habitats of thePacific Northwest. Happy Trails, everyone!
