Smoky Mountains Trail Map

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At just over 1.3 miles from the trailhead, hikers will eventually reach ArchRock, the first major landmark along the trail. The arch was formed by freezing and thawing, which eroded the softer rock from underneath the hard rock. The trail goes under the arch and follows steps, which have been etched into the stone path, exiting at the top. Beyond Arch Rock, the trail ascends in the direction of Alum Cave. Look for Anakeesta Ridge to the left. About two miles in, hikers will reach Inspiration Point, a heath bald offeringviews of Little Duck Hawk Ridge to the west and Myrtle Point to the northeast. The Eye of the Needle, a hole in the rock near the top of Little Duck Hawk Ridge, can also be seen from here. Walk another fifth of amile to arrive at Alum Cave, which is more of a concave bluff than a cave. In the warmer months, water drips from the ledges above (in the winter, be aware these form large icicles instead).

The Epsom Salts Manufacturing Company was established at Alum Cave in 1838. Until its sale in 1854, the company mined epsom salt from the cave, which was used by mountain inhabitants to dye homespun clothing a rust color. During the Civil War, the Confederate Army mined saltpeter from this cave, which was used in the manufacture of gunpowder. Just past Alum Cave is Gracie’s Pulpit, a landmark named after Gracie McNichol who scaled Mt.LeConte more than 240 times, with the final climb taking place on her 92nd birthday. Another two-fifths of a milein, hikers will find themselves halfway to the LeConte Lodge, where rustic sleep quarters await, complete with breakfast in the morning to get you on your way again. Rates and reservations are available online.

Above Gracie’s Pulpit, the trail continues along a cliff face. Over the next two miles, you will pass narrow rock ledges, with cable handrails to steady you along the way.

Mt. LeConte is the third highest peak in the Smokies, but from its base is considered the tallest mountain in the Eastern US, rising 5,301 feet from its base near Gatlinburg.

At just over 1.3 miles from the trailhead, hikers will reach Arch Rock, the first prominent landmark along the trail. The arch was formed by freezing and thawing, which eroded away the softer rock from underneath the harder rock. The trail actually goes under the arch and requires a climb of several steps etched into the stone before exiting at the top.

Biological diversity

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known to be the most biologically diverse in the entire National Park system. This biodiversity is in part a result of its past as a refuge for animals and plants migrating south away from glaciers. It can also be attributed to its mild, rainy climate. Scientists have identified 20,000 different species of plants and animals in the park and think that as many as 100,000 other species may have yet to be identified.

The vast majority of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is covered with forest—almost 95%. A quarter of that forest is considered old growth, which is a mature, mostly undisturbed forest with trees that are hundreds of years old. There are four different types of forest within the park: Spruce-fir forests, Northern Hardwood forests, Hemlock forests, and Pine-andOak forests. Spruce-fir forests are found at the highest elevations in the park some 4,500 feet above sea level and are a boreal forest. These forests are similar to those that can be found in Maine and Canada.

Northern Hardwood forests are indicated by American beech, birch, and maple trees and grow mostly in the middle to upper elevations of the park. This is the forest type that creates the beautiful fall colors for which the Appalachians are famous.

Hemlock forests grow in shady places often in almost pure stands. They are an ecologically important species, but unfortunately their existence is threatened by the hemlock woolly adelgid, a tiny non-native insect. Pine and oak forests grow best in the drier parts of the park where steep slopes allow the soil to drain quickly. Forest fires are an important of the natural system in this forest type.

Wildlife

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to

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From page 18 more than 200 birdspecies, 67native fish species, 65 different mammal species, and over 80 species of reptile and amphibians. Probably most notable among those mammal species, and the symbol of the park, isthe black bear. There are about 1,500 black bears living in the park. These bears mostly eat berries and nuts with insects and animal carrion constituting a much smaller part of their diet. In the summer male black bears weigh onaverage about 250 pounds and female bears around 100, butin the fall, when bears are preparing for hibernation, bears over 600 pounds have been documented. Other mammal species of particular interest include elk and North river otters. Both species were recently reintroduced to the park after being wiped out.Before being reintroduced, elk had last been seen in the Southern Appalachians in the early 1800s.

If you happen to hike in the winter months, remember to look for LeConte’s Sparrow. The bird is sosecretive that it was nearly 100 years after it was first described in 1790 that the first nest was found. It breeds in central Canada and adjoining northern states, and winters in the southern states from South Carolina to Texas.

LeConte’s Sparrow is a beautiful butsecretive sparrow that is a regular, but rare seen winter resident in Tennessee. It is found in grassy, weedy fields, espe- cially fields with Panicum grass, and when persistently flushed by an observer, it will run along the ground and eventually hop up on an exposed perch for a moment.

The LeConte’s Sparrow is distinct with, as sparrows go, a buffy-orange face and chest, a white crownstripe, chestnut streaks on the back of the neck, and black streaks on the sides, which occasionally across the chest. The male and female look the same. Although encounters with bears are uncommon, and attacks are especially rare, their shared presence in the park system is worth consideration. Bear spray may be carried by hikers within Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the strict purpose of protection against bodily harm from aggressive wildlife. The spray does not work as a deterrent when applied to tents, foods, packs, or equipment, and only works in the face of a charging animal. Bear pepper spray is a chemical formula of 1% to 2% capsaicin and related capsaicinoids. When purchasing bear pepper spray, or bear mace, remember that it is federally required to be labeled as “Bear Spray,” and will be indicated on the label that it is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. Call the Backcountry Information Office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (865) 436-1297 for information when planning your hiking orbackpacking trip.

Open-Air Coach cars are great for picture-taking and “experiencing” the ride and scenery. Ticket price is $96/adult and $75/child (2-12).

All classes of excursion tickets include free admission to the Smoky Mountain Lionel Train Museum before boarding the train. The museum boasts a collection of 7,000 Lionel engines, cars and accessories,and an impressiveoperatinglayoutandchildren’sactivity center.

AS SEEN IN THE MOVIES …

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad has become a favoriteoffilmproducersovertheyears.Thetrain wreck scene in the 1993 movie, The Fugitive, starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, wasfilmed along the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. The railroad was used in the filming of the 1996 comedy, My Fellow Americans, starring Jack Lemmon and James Gardner, when they stumble onto a charter train full of UNC-Chapel Hill fans headed for the NCAA Final Four. Train scenes in the 1998 movie, Forces of Nature, starring Ben Affleck and SandraBullock, were also filmed on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.

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From page 21

Transportation And Parking

Bryson City is a laid-back, non-touristy town of 1,300 with more stop signs than stoplights. It is an easily stroll-able town with local bookstores, arts and crafts galleries with working artisans, a bike shop, two fly fishing shops, a fly-fishing museum, an historical museum, an aquarium, a scenic train, two breweries, and a surprising variety of restaurants. Bryson City is only 10 miles from the famous Cherokee Indian Reservation. [Information on lodging in the Bryson City area isavailable on your confirmation form .

Passengers have three options for arrival at the Bryson City Train Depot: They may either ride a chartered tour bus out of Kingsport or Johnson City, TN, or drive directly to Bryson City, NC, if that is more convenient. Please select point of departure location on the order form when purchasing tickets. NOTE: Free parking is provided both in Kingsport, Johnson City and Bryson City.

Schedule for passengers driving directly to Bryson City, NC

Train departs Bryson City 12:01 p.m.

Train arrives back in Bryson City 4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Schedule for passengers riding motor coach from Kingsport, TN

Motor coach departs Kingsport, TN 7:00 a.m.

Train departs Bryson City 12:01 p.m.

Train arrives back in Bryson City 4:15 p.m. - 4:45p.m.

Arrive back in Kingsport, TN 8:00 p.m.

Schedule for passengers riding motor coach from Johnson City, TN

Motor coach departs Johnson City, TN 7:30 a.m.

Train departs Bryson City 12:01 p.m.

Train arrives back in Bryson City 4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Arrive back in Johnson City 7:30 p.m.

Tickets and pre-purchased meals must beordered online by credit card at www.wataugavalleynrhs. org/. Click on the EXCURSIONS link

Questions about the trip? Go to www.wataugavalleynrhs.org, or email wataugavalley@gmail.com.