Escape to the Mountains
Congaree was wonderful; however, after five months of flat, homogeneous land, I yearned for the mountains. The mountains are home. I missed the northern hardwoods, spring ephemerals, and trout streams. Hell, I even missed the rocks and Ericaceous species that I so often complained about. Springtime of the coastal lowland simply isn’t the striking rebirth that we see at more northern latitudes or higher elevations.
April may be considered the “off-season” for visiting our national parks. Only the hardy folks come out to enjoy nature in its rawest form – early spring. Among those ranks, I enjoy the appeal of having the place almost all to myself. What may look like a lifeless, cold, and wet landscape is actually the beginnings of a rebirth. The Great Smoky Mountains was not only going to renew my spirit but would also open my eyes to the great divide in our country. Continue reading “Great Smoky Mountains National Park”