The Great Smoky Mountains

The Great Smoky Mountains, located on the border of the states of North Carolina and Tennessee, are among the highest mountains of the Appalachian range, with peaks rising to more than 6600 feet. It may not be Tibet, but for eastern North America, these are high mountains. The region is quite lush, and in fact could almost be termed a temperate rain forest. In all, it receives about 90 inches of rain per year. Clouds and mist often shroud the peaks, and hence they are called "the Smokies."

I visited the Smokies for the first time in May of 1997. The weather was wet and cool, and on the whole the hiking was excellent. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers numerous trails leading to high peaks, waterfalls, and other destinations. Virtually all of the trails pass through exceedingly lush forests, where the flora crowds the path in rich diversity. Like most of the Appalachian range, the Smokies were heavily logged as European settlers moved westward across the continent, and the forests here have regrown since the area was logged out. However, there still remain a few stretches of virgin forest, where mighty hardwood trees still stand in unchallenged splendor. These woodlands seem timeless, their silence broken only by the rush of water and the cries of birds. Looking down among the ferns and mosses, one will now and then see a delightful patch of shamrocks -- quite a contrast with the hardwood giants above.

The Smokies also enjoy a rich variety of animal life. As one hikes through the forests, one may encounter deer, black bear, birds of all descriptions, racoons, snakes, and so forth. However, perhaps the most remarkable creatures to be found are the many amphibian species in the park. The Smokies boast a greater number of species of salamanders than any comparably sized area on earth. Turn over a rock or log and you are likely to spot one or more. (More to come....)

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Copyright © 1997 Scott Carr

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