Thickets of rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense), interspersed among oak, hickory, and other hardwoods, contrast and grace the AT with vibrant color.
Like tiny lighthouses, one-and-one-half by five-inch white blazes guide AT hikers for its 2,197 miles (3,536 kilometers).
This attention-grabbing passageway on Apple Orchard Mountain is known affectionately as the “Guillotine.”
Rising early on the AT has its rewards, such as this sunrise view from rock outcrops south of Daleville.
U.S. Geological Survey benchmarks, like the one flanked by the author’s battered boots, officially pinpoint the path of the Appalachian Trail (AT).
Who erected this stone obelisk beside the AT? And why? Such unexpected finds are occasions to pause, reflect, admire, and wonder.
Rice Field Shelter on Peters Mountain is of classic construction: three-sided with log walls. The steps facilitate crossing a fence along a property boundary.
Fire pink (Silene virginica) is common on rocky slopes, and its principal pollinator is the ruby-throated hummingbird.
In addition to offering stunning views and unusual rock formations, the spur trail to Kelly Knob delights with flowering vegetation, including (foreground) mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and (background) wild azaleas (Rhododendron calendulaceum) in flaming orange.
