Bonnaroo and Blooms

These last few weeks have been busy with working real jobs though seven days in Manchester TN working was at least always interesting. This is the second year I've worked this festival and am glad I didn't have to live in a primitive camp the whole week. I shared a camper in the VIP section where we were working, w/ someone else.
These pictures are from the first couple of days in which there was some rain though after these storms there was none for the duration.
The rodo's were seen on the Rich Mountain trail last week and there were bunches of them however many were scorched from the drying soil and intense heat.
A week after the 'roo I worked several days on a benefit concert;
'Nashville Rising', in Nashville for flood recovery efforts and it was really cool!
I'm hoping to send some pictures and reviews on Government Canyon State Park in San Antonio TX, in the next few days while I'm out there visitng some friends. Peace.

Bears Along The Way

After the recent incident on Laurel Falls Trail where a bear had to be shot because it had been fed by humans and began to associate humans with a free meal, several VIP rangers have begun patrolling the route to keep the bears safe from humans. Today as the "Deputy Assistant to the not so junior Ranger's, Ranger Fife", took these photos of one of the deceased bears siblings as it fed on a cherry tree. Folks feeding bears is stupid for your own safety and deadly, unfortunately to often for the bear. Enjoy these magnificent creatures fro a distance.

Weekend Walks

These pictures are from several hikes taken with a friend over the holiday weekend. Hikes which included a short 2 mile RT up Curry Mountain trail to fill some time before dinner on Saturday, an approximate 6 mile RT up Rich Mountain trail to Cerulean Knob 3665', and on Monday what turned out to be approx. 4.5 miles along West Prong trail and the loop to campsite #18.










There were some folks camping in the un-official site across the bridge and to the left at #18. While some others had left their garbage scattered around site 'B' w/ more hanging in a plastic bag for others to take out. We picked up a gallon milk jug and other stuff laying around this site, put it in the hanging bag and called it in to the Backcountry office later. On the walk out I collected a plastic bottle, a straw and some plastic wrappers thrown away by others and was grateful enough to enjoy the walk with a friend. Peace

Sleeping Bear

Yesterday I walked up Rich mountain trail and once at the top turned to the right onto Indian Grave Gap. I got about 10 minutes down that way and felt the need to stop and listen for a bit. While stopped I scanned the trail in front and reviewed the mountainside the trail had carried me above which was now visible due to the bend in the route. Initially I saw nothing yet I continued the reconnaissance of my surroundings and moved along the trail a few steps when there in woods about 30 yards in front of me and maybe 10 yards off the trail was what appeared to be a bear. My initial thoughts were it's sleeping...no it would have heard me...no the trail is quiet with the recent rain showers...no look how its laying , looks dead to me! Hmmmm? is it breathing? yes it sorta looks like it is...maybe not. I again made a quick review of the surroundings for other bears.









Then the indecision began (lol). Should I stay or should I go? I had taken a picture thinking it may be evidence for something if the animal was desceased and quietly began to continue along the trail. At the closest point I knelt and got a good view of the bear and took another picture pretty sure, looking at it's completely motionless body and partially opened mouth, that it was a "gonner".
In moving the last time up the trail I must have gotten up wind of the bear because its head popped up and quickly scanned around it's position. Once it got a fix on me it began moving down the mountain stopping at a large fallen tree to monitor my move. Which hadn't happened yet.
When it showed life I said to myself, "Oh sh_t!", followed by speaking aloud to the bear that "I was just leaving and sorry to wake you up", and I repeated this several times. I did leave and was sorry for disturbing it's rest. A few minutes later as I headed back to Rich Mtn. trail and saw a cub possibly a yearling, down along the side of the mountain.
Now what did I learn. First and most importantly when I find I'm approaching a bear stop and go the opposite direction while talking in a non-threatening way and calmly making my presence known to the bear. Second. If I must proceed and this bear is not moving be patient, back up some more and call out to this large extremely fast omnivore and see if it responds before assuming it's dead. The spirit's of the forest and luck allowed this learning without consequence though it is my responsibility to heed these lessons and not wake the sleeping bear. Peace

Fireflys at Elkmont and Shuttle Schedules

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced that the Elkmont entrance road will be closed to motor vehicles and pedestrian use every night from 5:00 p.m. until midnight, June 5-13, except to registered campers staying at the Elkmont Campground. The closure is to accommodate transportation service for visitors planning to spend the evening viewing the natural-occurring, synchronous firefly beetles at Elkmont. Visitors are prohibited from bringing coolers, alcoholic beverages, or their pets. The City of Gatlinburg, in partnership with the Park, will provide the trolleys for this activity. The trolley service, coinciding with the expected peak flashing period, will be the sole transportation mode for visitor access during this period; no private vehicles will be allowed to enter Elkmont. For safety purposes, restrictions will be in place to prohibit motor vehicles from parking along roadsides, pullouts, or any other areas besides at the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking area for the purposes of viewing fireflies at Elkmont. Only those visitors parking at the visitor center will be allowed to ride the trolleys. Because of safety concerns, visitors will not be allowed to walk the Elkmont entrance road. The trolleys will begin picking up visitors from the Sugarlands Visitor Center RV/bus parking area at 7 p.m. The trolleys will run continually until the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking area is full or until 9 p.m., whichever comes first. The last trolley to return visitors from Elkmont to the Sugarlands Visitor Center is scheduled at 11 p.m. The cost will be $1 round trip per person as in previous years. For those riding the trolleys, it is recommended that visitors bring flashlights with red cellophane covers to reduce white light. Visitors can bring lawn chairs, and carry food and water in backpacks which can fit on their laps in the trolleys; there are no services available at the site. Visitors are prohibited from bringing coolers, alcoholic beverages, or their pets.

Curry Mountain Trail

This trail head lies just across the street from the east end of Metcalf Bottoms and would be considered moderate to difficult over its 3.3 mile length depending on your condition. The Curry Mountain trail can seem imposing when one starts the walk and over the first mile there is a considerable climb however it eventually mellows with a broken pattern of declines, flat spots and a general incline over the next two plus miles.
I found the trail clear and wide and after the first mile or so I began to have some great views to the east framed often with pink and white Mountain Laurels. These Mountain laurels were scattered on both sides of the trail, sometimes quite thick, over the next two miles.










The Curry Mountain trail parallels the Little River road more or less for the first mile and thus there was audible traffic noise for about 30 minutes into this walk.
Each time I've walked this trail I've enjoyed it especially after the first mile or more traveling in the direction chosen today. At the 3.3 mile mark it intersects with the Meigs Mountain trail which to the left will take you by campsite #20 on the way to Elkmont, or to the right and a short distance to campsite #19 before continuing on to Tremont.

Quiet Time In White Oak Sinks

This afternoons walk was really peaceful and quiet with mostly clear blue skys as I began with patches of thunderstorms speckled around the region. Clouds and a few rain drops as I completed my hike. There were no other human visitors present and little sign that anyone had been there in the last few hours. Though the wear on the small trails indicates traffic has been heavy this spring with new routes made in the last few months. I saw flowers and a running bear as I explored this area again. Peace