Where else do you see Indian paintbrushes?
Our leader and guide is Rob who grew up at the base of the mountain. He has been coming here all his life. We bumped our way to the top in two vehicles. It seemed worse than the last trip up here but maybe I'm not remembering right. It had rained all night so we were walking in water many places. The rain also filled the pond by the Edwards cabin. That pond feeds the stream that flows over the side of the cliff near the cabin. I've heard that waterfall each visit but have never seen it.
Three Top Mountain is the center of the background. I'm told there are 3 prominent (high) peaks and 8 others for a total of 11.
Golden Alexander
This plant and flower resembles an European herb popular during medieval times called Alexander or sometimes parsley of Alexandria. Both are in the carrot-parsley family.
In his search for Spreading avens, Matt spotted this cute clump of Roan Mountain bluets. We are at 4400 feet which is generally lower than where these are normally found.
Doesn't this look like a lichen in a concentric pattern on a rock? Commonly called Concentric Boulder lichen.
The Edwards family has retained the right to use this cabin for 100 years from the date of the Nature Conservancy's property purchase in 1978. The original purchase was for 701 acres. TNC has continued to add land and now holds over 3900 acres.
Eft's alternate walking pattern.
The only one that still had some nice color.
