This is a night hike on Porters Creek Trail. I specifically signed up for this one since my friend Doris was leading but she was unable to make it. We are led by veteran leaders "Fern" Dee, Alaska guides Scott and Annette and "Batman" Gary. Starting out in daylight, we have no trouble walking up the trail.
One of the Pilgrims had photos of the Messner Barn and Smoky Mountain Hiking Club cabin in earlier years. There were some photos of hikers in the cabin back in the day. The metal cot bunks are still in there.
It was getting dark about this time although the photos still collect enough light to not make it look so. Once it is dark, Dee gives us instructions - don't use white light, just red on the hike back. Black lights are passed around. Batman Gary gets out his ultrasound detector, also known as the "bat thingy". Despite all the detectors and specialty lights, we don't see or detect anything.
Walking back, fireflies put on their show and finally we see a brilliantly yellow centipede in black light. Wow, it shone like neon.
The following night, we went to Sugarlands after dark and searched with black lights. We saw lichen which glowed orange on a tree and about a dozen of the neon yellow centipedes, all gathered in one spot.
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