Great Smoky Mountains National Park, page 6
Morgan looked at her parents. “Something’s on me again!” she yelled.
Morgan got up and put on her shoes. She wobbled toward Mom, Dad, and the Ridge Runner.
Mom took Morgan’s hand. “Let me take a look.”
They walked to a private place outside the shelter. “Where is it?” Mom inquired.
Morgan lifted her arm. “In here.”
Mom took a closer look. “Yep!” she exclaimed.
“It’s another one, right?” Morgan asked nervously.
“I’m afraid so.”
Mom dashed back to the shelter and grabbed her first-aid kit. Then she carefully removed the swollen tick from Morgan. They walked back and joined the others.
“Did you get it?” the Ridge Runner asked.
“Yes,” Mom replied.
“Okay,” the Ridge Runner said. “Let me know how you would like me to proceed.”
The Parkers hung out for a while and ate breakfast. Morgan had a packet of oatmeal. “I’m actually a little hungry,” she realized.
After breakfast, Morgan put on her backpack.
“What are you doing?” Mom asked.
“I want to see if I can carry this while hiking.”
Morgan walked back and forth in the shelter with the pack on. “I don’t feel 100 percent,” Morgan announced, “but I think I can hike.”
Dad looked at Morgan. “Okay,” he agreed. Then he glanced at the Ridge Runner.
“I’ll alert the trail patrol at Tricorner Knob to check on you,” the Ridge Runner said. “She’ll also be able to get a medic up there if necessary.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Dad responded.
Mom stuffed Morgan’s sleeping bag into her own pack and handed the air mattress to Dad. James took one of Morgan’s water bottles.
Dad put his arm around Morgan. “Personally, I don’t know if I’d be hiking today if I were in your shoes. I think you’re rather remarkable.”
Morgan smiled. “Well, let’s go then!”
The Parkers hit the trail at 10:00 a.m. The air was fresh and cool after the rain, and the sky was a powder blue.
They hiked on, skirting the summit of Mount Sequoyah. James walked next to Morgan and watched for insects and salamanders along the trail.
Soon they came to a small rock outcropping.
James looked at a metal circle embedded in the rock. 5,849 feet was inscribed on it. “Is that our elevation?”
“That’s right,” Dad answered. “And if I remember correctly, this is the high mark on the trail today, as well as the halfway point.”
Dad looked at Morgan and James and Mom. “Let’s rest and have some lunch here, okay?”
Mom and Dad started pulling out food. “Can I have one of those apples?” Morgan asked.
After eating, Morgan stood up. She slowly put on her backpack, then addressed her family. “I think I can take on more weight now.”
“It’s okay, all our packs are getting lighter with the food we’ve eaten,” Mom answered. “How do you feel?”
“Better,” Morgan answered. “What do you think I had?”
“I’m not sure,” Dad answered. “Maybe the flu. But whatever it was, it seems to be going away.”
The Parkers continued trudging along.
Just before the Balsam Mountain junction, a short side path led to the Tricorner Knob shelter.
Morgan, James, Mom, and Dad took the trail. Tricorner Knob shelter was a bit more modern looking than the other shelters where they’d stayed. It had a fire ring and a tarp that could be rolled down to keep out the weather. A water pipe and the privy were nearby.
The Parkers set up, again putting their gear in the lower right-hand corner of the sleeping area.
After dinner, Morgan, James, Mom, and Dad played some cards. They watched the sky slowly darken over the quiet forest.
Mom and Dad cleaned up while Morgan got into bed. James pulled out his journal.
This is James Parker reporting.
Morgan is getting better now. what a relief. We didn’t know what we were going to have to do to get her out of here.
By the time we get back to our car tomorrow we’ll have completed a twenty-six-mile backpack. Most of it will be on the Appalachian Trail. But there’s so much more of this trail to hike on. I can’t believe it goes all the way from Georgia to Maine. Dad says it takes about five to six months to do. Morgan and I are already talking about covering the whole trail sometime. Maybe when we’re in college.
But at the same time, as Mom says, “There’s so much to see in such a short distance.” More than anything else, I think Mom means the bugs and insects.
She studied botany in college. But after visiting here, she keeps talking about entomology. And I can see why, with the stuff we’re seeing. I love those macaroni-and-cheese-colored centipedes!
Anyway, it’s nearly dark now and everyone’s piling into bed. So I better join them…
Reporting from the Smokies,
James Parker
James put his journal away and got into his sleeping bag. He propped his head up and looked outside. The last bit of evening light silhouetted the forest. Then, slowly, all became dark.
“Goodnight, everyone,” Dad said.
“Goodnight,” Morgan replied.
12
Early the next morning, the Parkers woke to clear skies.
Dad looked at Morgan, who was sleeping next to Mom and James, then he got up out of his sleeping bag and prepared breakfast.
A few minutes later, Morgan joined him. “How are you doing, sunshine?” he asked.
Morgan looked at the shelter and at the morning sunlight filtering through the trees. “Much better,” she reported. “A couple of days ago, I wanted nothing else but to be back home in bed. Now I wish we had more time to see the park.”
“That’s great to hear,” Dad replied. “I’m completely relieved.”
“Me too,” Morgan added.
The first part of the day the trail skirted up the flank of Mount Guyot. Morgan, James, Mom, and Dad were back in the high country of the Smokies.
Mom noticed the trees. “We’re surrounded by a subalpine forest again,” she reported. “I wonder what the elevation is here.”
“We’re going to have to get an altimeter to carry with us on our hikes,” Dad said. “But I bet close to 6,000 feet.”
Once they passed Mount Guyot, the trail began a long, steady descent. James noticed that far below, tiny-looking clearings and homes lay beyond the park border. “They’re way down there,” he commented.
“It’s nice to see signs of civilization,” Mom added. “But I’m going to miss camping in the wilderness.”
A while later, the Parkers met up with the Snake Den Ridge Trail junction and took it. They walked farther and farther down. “I’m glad we’re not going up this,” Morgan said.
James looked at the trees surrounding the trail. “Hey, there aren’t any more white stripes. They must only mark the AT Trail.”
The rocky, wet trail was more treacherous than hiking along the ridge. Morgan, James, Mom, and Dad carefully walked down the steep path.
The trail continued zigzagging briskly down. Morgan stopped and pulled out her camera. “Look at this weird fungus on the tree!” The unusual growth was golden yellow and white.
James came over to look. “I think it sort of looks like a scrambled egg,” he said.
Then they approached a grove of rhododendron in full bloom. “There are some more of our purple flowers,” Mom announced.
Later, the Parkers stopped and admired some shrubs with bright orange flowers. “Flaming azalea,” Mom said. “You know, this whole park is like a garden nursery.”
They continued on. Soon, the forest became dark and dense again. “We’re back in the lowlands,” Mom acknowledged.
The trail was now accompanied by the sound of water.
“Salamanders!” James called out.
The Parkers came to a boulder-strewn stream crossing. “This is a good place to filter up and have some snacks,” Dad suggested.
James was the first one to haul off his pack. Then he hopped over to the gurgling stream. “Hey, salamanders, where are you?” he whispered.
ONE PARK, FIVE FORESTS
There are five distinct forest types in the Smokies.The type of forest in each area is determined by elevation, moisture, soil type, and amount of sun hitting the slope.
Spruce-Fir Forest: The most easily identified forest type in the Smokies. Evergreen trees of Fraser fir and red spruce are typically on the highest peaks, above 4,500 feet. Often called the Canadian zone because this type of forest is usually found in Canada.
Northern Hardwood Forest: Dominated by American beech and yellow birch trees. This forest type is referred to as North Woods because forests like this are often found in New England and the Great Lakes. Elevations of this forest are 4,500 to 6,000 feet.
Cove Hardwood: The most diverse forest in the Smokies. If the forest wasn’t logged in the past, there are a huge variety of trees including tulip tree, buckeye, basswood, silver bell, hemlock, sugar maple, and black cherry. These forests are typically below 4,500 feet.
Hemlock Forest: Typically found near stream and shady areas below 4,000 feet. Some of these forests are known to have huge eastern hemlock trees. Rhododendron are also found in this area.
Pine and Oak Forests: These forests are often on drier, exposed ridges. Fires are more common in these areas. Trees of this forest include oaks, pines, and mountain laurels.
“There’s one!” he exclaimed.
Morgan came over to look with James.
Mom gazed at the dense tangle of trees overhead. “I like these lower forests much more,” she announced. “It’s nice and shady down here.”
After their break, the Parkers continued to wind their way down. Soon, the trail merged with a gravel road. “We’re getting close,” Dad said.
They passed another cemetery. James, Morgan, Mom, and Dad walked to the edge of it.
Morgan recalled her dream. “Cemeteries and tombstones make me nervous.”
“Let’s keep going, then,” Dad said.
The trail was level now, and followed another gurgling Smokies stream.
“There’s a tent up ahead!” Morgan noticed.
They entered the campground. The Parkers found a campsite and set down their packs.
Mom sighed. “It’s such a relief to take that off.”
“I’ll be right back,” Dad said.
Dad walked off, but was back with the car a few minutes later. He found his family sprawled out on the benches and table at the campsite, barefoot and staring at the trees above.
Dad surveyed the scene. “I think I’ll join you,” he said, then limped over and lay down on the picnic table bench. “Now, that was a great hike!” he announced.
After dinner, Dad made some popcorn. The Parkers sat around and indulged.
“It’s our last night in the Smokies,” Morgan realized. “Just thinking of that makes me sad.”
James sat up. “Mom, can you read the last page of Great-Grandpa’s journal?”
“An excellent idea,” Mom agreed. She fished through her pack, found her grandfather’s journal, and opened it to the last entry. Mom quickly scanned the words. “Hmm, that’s interesting.”
“What?” Morgan asked.
“Well, this journal entry is dated years later—1955. But I’ll read it anyway.”
Max Davis here.
I just spent several hours working in the garden of my San Luis Obispo, California, home…
Mom stopped reading and looked up at her family. “I guess this last section isn’t about the Smokies.”
“Go on and read it anyway,” Dad said.
I’ve just finished planting several shrubs in the side yard. I can’t wait to see them when they’re full grown. It’s a little memorial garden for my days in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Mom paused for a few seconds. “He’s talking about the plants in our yard,” Mom realized. “Grandpa was always so into gardening when he lived there.”
“Please go on,” James begged.
I planted some rhododendron. They grow abundantly in the Smokies.
I hope they do well here too.
So, if you’ve found this journal tucked away in my home and you’ve read these pages, now you know what I’ve planted and why I planted them. Please treat my memorial garden well.
Sincerely,
Max Davis
Mom took a deep breath and looked away.
Morgan looked at Mom. “You have tears in your eyes,” Morgan said.
Dad put his arm around Mom and held her close.
“I guess Grandpa wanted someone to read his journal,” Mom said. “I’m sure glad we did.”
The Parkers sat quietly in their campsite with the campfire crackling away. The night sky slowly enveloped everything around them. Then, after a period of long silence, James slowly stood up. “I’ll be right back.”
James grabbed his flashlight and walked away. A few minutes later, he returned to his family. Morgan, Dad, and Mom were all sitting in the exact same spot, staring off into the dark woods.
James broke the silence. “Guess what?” he announced. “Those moths are still there.”
Dad looked up. “Really? This time I want to see them.”
“Me too,” Mom said.
All four of the Parkers trekked over to the bathrooms. Mom and Morgan went into the women’s room, James and Dad into the men’s.
A few minutes later they met outside to tell each other what they saw and to exchange the camera. After that, they met back at camp.
With her family gathered around, Morgan flipped through pictures on the digital camera.
“I wonder if they were the same moths as last time,” Morgan said.
“I don’t know,” James said, “but I really like that little peach-colored one with the red antennas. It’s my favorite.”
“You know what?” Dad said. “Let’s buy an identification booklet at the visitor center on our way out. That way we’ll know their names.”
13
Dad flipped over pancakes on the camp stove, then looked at his tired family. “It’s nice to sleep in for a change, isn’t it?” he asked.
Morgan, Mom, and James nodded in agreement.
“Our flight isn’t until tomorrow morning,” Dad recalled. “And it’s about four hours back to Nashville. So if we drive through the park today and do a little more sightseeing, we’ll still make it to our hotel at a decent hour tonight.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Mom agreed.
The Parkers took Highway 321 west of Cosby. Once they passed through Gatlinburg, the Parkers stopped at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. They watched a movie about the park, chatted with a ranger about ticks at the information station, and walked around the museum. James stopped and stared at the massive hellbender on display. The incredibly large salamander was rusty brown with black dots. It had a flat head, a paddlelike tail, and little eyes.
Dad came up to James. “How would you like to run into one of those in a Smokies stream?”
James looked at Dad. “It would be way cool!”
Afterward, they drove west along Little River Road.
Dad turned the car north at a junction, and soon they reached the turnoff to Little Greenbrier School. Dad drove up the dirt road to the historic schoolhouse and parked the car there.
After exploring the school, the Parkers walked up to a gate blocking a gravel road. A sign there read Walker Cabin 1.1 miles.
“This is it!” Dad announced.
The Parkers walked silently up the road. I wonder if this is the same trail the Walker sisters took to school every day, Morgan thought.
“You know,” Mom recalled, “the ranger mentioned that there used to be a sign near the school encouraging people to visit the Walker sisters. They would even make gifts for the tourists who came.”
“That’s what they did for Great-Grandpa, they gave him a gift!” Morgan said.
They continued walking, crossing a small stream along the way. The Parkers turned a bend in the trail and forged ahead. Soon there was a clearing. Right in the middle of it was an old rustic cabin.
Once at the Walker sisters’ cabin, Morgan, James, Mom, and Dad wandered around.
Mom walked into the yard. She noticed patterns of rocks and plants that indicated where a garden had once been. “This yucca and cedar certainly don’t look native,” she said, “and neither do these old hedges.”
Dad walked over to the shed. Old rusty tools were hanging near a workbench. Then Dad wandered to the springhouse. He noticed a man-made rock waterway that channeled right under the structure. “Ingenious,” Dad muttered. “Water directed for refrigeration, just like Grandpa said.”
James looked up at the rock chimney, then stepped onto the porch. He put his foot on a wooden bench to test how sturdy it was. A moment later, James went into the cabin. He passed by Morgan and found the stairs to the loft. James climbed the stairs and explored the second story of the home.
Morgan walked slowly around the cabin’s main floor. She noticed remnant pieces of magazine and newspaper clippings used for wallpaper. Morgan took a close look at some of the torn and faded clippings, but they were too old to read. She saw an old dishpan, and there were nails for hanging utensils. Then she meandered over to the fireplace.
“I can totally picture the Walker sisters living here,” Morgan said out loud. And in many ways, I already have, she realized.
Morgan explored some more. She looked through the windows of the cabin and saw her parents outside. James was now out there too. He was peering underneath some rocks and boxwood bushes.
Morgan strolled back into the living room.
She stared at the fireplace, imagining a warm, crackling fire. Then Morgan pictured the whole cabin full of life. There were antique rocking chairs, a stove, various cooking utensils, and a pad of paper. A rifle was resting against the wall. Morgan added the five Walker sisters to the scene.
