Cades Cove from Gregory Bald

a profusion of Rhododendron calendulaceum on Gregory Bald

Azaleas on Parsons Bald

More Azaleas on the Wolf Ridge Trail.

Signpost near campsite thirteen...

I don't know this one. The little clusters of flowers looked like claws.

We hiked from the Twenty Mile Ranger Station on Saturday 06/24 to Gregory Bald by the Wolf ridge Trail and returned by the Long Hungy Ridge Trail. 15 miles total. This was one of the azaleas on the way up.

Campsite Thirteen on the Wolf Ridge Trail GSM (Great Smokey Mountains)

Flame Azalea on Bald Mtn

The towers of Camp Creek Bald are visible in the background.

clouds over Bald Mtn

Blackstack Cliffs from Bald Mtn

Flame Azalea between Indian Grave Gap and Beauty Spot

Rich Mtn Firetower

Sunlight in the ferns near the top of Rich Mtn.

...slime mold?

Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)

Morning Mist in Allen Gap

No chance of me getting a ticket any time soon.

06/03/06 2:04 PM

Eastern Turkey Beard or Beargrass (xerophyllum asphodeloides)

Fire-control practices have helped make them hard to find in some areas. In the absence of a fire, relatively few turkey beard plants produce flowers each year. The National Geographic reports that after a fire, however, they need only a year to recover before blooming.

06/03/06 01:38 PM

June 3rd 9:57 AM

Shelton Memorial Area on the AT

Trail Snail

June 3rd 9:09 AM

June 3rd 8:52 AM

Galax rotundifolia

Flame Azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) above Allen Gap

Areus - Former gymnast from Lithuania. He hiked the entire Smokies in just 4 days and roasted his first marshmellows with us at Flint Gap Shelter.

Towers on Camp Creek Bald (on left) and Blackstack Cliffs (center)

Cousin Benjamin enjoying the view from Blackstack Cliffs...

(12:46PM 06/02)

(12:45PM 06/02)

View of Big Butt (on left) over Devil's Fork Gap from old orchard (12:37PM 06/02)

apple tree from old abandoned orchard (12:34 06/02)