home www.wncnaturally.com
email scott@wncnaturally.com

Well it seems that I have started the slow process of waking up from my yearly hibernation! I've actually not been asleep, but during the winter months I don't do many programs, but do try to get out and do some backpacking and hiking.

In November I went, with some friends, down to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and we walked (extremely uphill) to a spot called Hangover where we camped. From Hangover, which is just off the Naked Ground trail you can see the entire Great Smoky Mountain National Park!! The view is really something.

Then in January we went to the Estatoe Creek Heritage Preserve which is located between Rosman, NC and Pickens, SC. The walk down into the gorge is steep, but short and the campsite is as pretty as any place I've ever camped. We found a sad sight, the Hemlock Adelgid is now in the trees here, a development within the last year!
On a more positive note we were camped beside Estatoe Creek, which is gorgeous and feeds into a cleft in the rock which is only two feet or so wide - I call that spot the Estatoe Slot.

This time of year provides us with a chance to enjoy a different face of nature. Some plants still have last years fruit in evidence - Partridgeberry is one of these. Vines of all sorts are clearly exposed to view, as are the barks of various trees. Some of my favorite barks are Black Cherry, Dogwood, Persimmon and Sourwood. So look around whatever time of year it is!! There is always something interesting, beautiful, and thought provoking to see.

My spring and summer calendar is starting to take shape so be sure to check out the schedule page, and as always if you'd like to arrange a slide program or a walk for your group you'll find contact information at the bottom of this page.