Smoky Mtn National Park

NewYankeeSawmill · June 16, 2024, 08:57:43 PM

Hiked the Chimney Tops Trail this morning to beat the heat. There were a couple interesting sights.
https://smokymountains.com/park/hikes/chimney-tops-trail

This burl was about 4 feet across, towards the head of the trail.

A little further up there was a recent blow-down they had to cut out. Log was absolutely massive. That water bottle is the 24-oz variety, not the little 8-oz.

Trying to calculate the boardfeet....

Stump looks like it might have been rotten?

It was a strenuous hike, but the view was nice. You could see how quickly the forest is recovering from the fires.

Found this along the way and collected a few of the berries. The birds were busy working them, so I was going to try to germinate some. Any ideas? Started popping up once we got about 4000 ft elevation.

doc henderson · June 16, 2024, 09:07:36 PM

Nice!

Don P · June 16, 2024, 09:19:16 PM

Try sumac, it maybe a staghorn that has been hammered by the birds, seems a bit early

Southside · June 16, 2024, 10:11:47 PM

Seems a lot is early this year. Just walked in from pulling a bunch of nightshade that was flowering and that's definitely early.

Otis1 · June 16, 2024, 10:16:15 PM

Looks like it might be an elderberry to me.

doc henderson · June 16, 2024, 10:42:37 PM

at first I thought you had cut down the burl tree in a national park!.

NewYankeeSawmill · June 17, 2024, 05:53:35 AM

Quote from: doc henderson on June 16, 2024, 10:42:37 PMat first I thought you had cut down the burl tree in a national park!.

LMAO!!!!
I got big one's, but they ain't that big!

Machinebuilder · June 17, 2024, 07:57:39 AM

If you want to see big trees the easiest place is Joyce Kilmer Forest.
Take the Cherohala Skyway to NC, turn Left and follow the signs.

It's always several degrees cooler there which is nice in this miserable weather

NewYankeeSawmill · June 17, 2024, 10:31:30 AM

Quote from: Machinebuilder on June 17, 2024, 07:57:39 AMIt's always several degrees cooler there which is nice in this miserable weather

! We left the house in Kingston at 7:00 to make it there early enough. Told the kids no way in %&@! is your fat old man hiking down the mountain in the afternoon!

Machinebuilder · June 17, 2024, 06:09:02 PM

I tell people there is no way i am going to Gatlinburg/pigeon Forge.

there is some nice hiking closer to Kingston, check out the Obed senic river area and the trial that follows the edge of the plateu (the name slips my mind)

The Big south Fork also has a lot of good trails and several arches to hike to.

NewYankeeSawmill · June 18, 2024, 06:10:20 AM

Thanks @Machinebuilder ! We were introduced to some nice hikes when my oldest was in troop 101. Frozen Head is honestly one of our favorites! My BIL is building a place in/near Big South Fork, but I haven't heard of the trail on the Obed... been looking for a good fishing spot on that river, I'll have to check it out!

Magicman · June 18, 2024, 06:57:37 AM

I love the Cherohala Skyway, and yes, I have driven the "Tail" several times. The first time in a motorhome, not knowing what it was. Several bikes tested their passing skills.

This was in the F250:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjiXCadEtlU&t=233s

NewYankeeSawmill · June 18, 2024, 07:51:54 AM

Quote from: Magicman on June 18, 2024, 06:57:37 AMI love the Cherohala Skyway, and yes, I have driven the "Tail" several times. The first time in a motorhome, not knowing what it was. Several bikes tested their passing skills.

, that's awesome! Made my first and only trip down it towing a pop-up camper in a Toyota Minivan.... With New York Plates.

When I say I DGAF, I mean it....