Spring is almost here
Sunday, 18. March 2007, 12:49:40
We've had an incredibly warm early spring, with temperatures near the 80s this past week. I haven't been able to hike for several weeks, but expect that this next week there will be wildflowers beginning to bloom in the Smokies. In my yard, I already have hepatica blooming (one of the earliest flowers to bloom) and wild phlox, bloodroot, Virginia bluebells, and yellow trillium in bud (I have pictures of all of these in my book, Day Hiker's Guide to all the Trails in the Smoky Mountains).The best trail to see the first wildflowers blooming in the Smoky Mountains is Chestnut Top, where there is a sunny bank along about the first 1/4 mile of the trail. The trailhead begins directly across from the parking lot at the Townsend "Y" in Townsend, TN. I'll be posting more pictures and trail descriptions starting this Wednesday.
