Damascus Virginia once again hosted a three day festival of Appalachian Trail experiences.
This is the place to check out the latest in ultra-lite hiking tents and hammocks. All these were displayed along the Appalachian Trail that runs through the park in Damascus.
And there were evening slideshows, thru-hiker talks, music, dancing and sharing AT experiences in general.

Here is Ed Speer of Speer Hammocks discussing hammock camping with some AT hikers. Interested hikers were checking out the many subtle variations of hammock design and accessories.

In addition to hiking equipment vendors, there were hordes of food vendors and craft tents.
Deep fried Oreo cookies anyone?
You need to get your energy boosted for the inter-active parade at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.

I don’t know who started it or when, but there is tradition of water balloons and squirt guns from both paraders and parade watchers.
It has usually been hikers in the parade versus the hikers not in the parade in the water-balloon and squirt gun battles.
But the excitement is contagious and cannot be contained.  Everyone, fire trucks, beauty queens and classic cars got at least sprinkled while parading through town.

The big battle was the hikers. I mean we are talking about massive roof top ambushes and pint-sized assaults from knee level.  I’m glad it was a warm and sunny day on Saturday.

This guy was an experienced Trail Days parader.

Why take a puny squirt gun for a parade all the way through town. You will empty it in the first block. Then you are just a target like everyone else.  Why not take five gallons in a pressurized long-range squirting banjo?

Mark your calendar and your Appalachian Trail maps for the 2010 Trail Days, Damascus VA.

Friends of Roan Mountain host the Spring Naturalists Rally.

Time for decision. There are so many really interesting “classes” to participate in and not enough time to do them all.

Which ones to choose?

While camping in Virginia on an exceptionally warm weekend , I recorded some “night sounds”.

Here they are.

Now check out this really cool site that has audio clips that identify frog sounds: Leaps.org

I think I recorded Spring Peeper and Upland Chorus frogs. What do you think?

Of course the Leaps identification page has recordings from Tennessee and my recordings were of Piedmont Virginia.  Regional dialects may apply.

I was given a pair of aluminum, adjustable trekking poles last year.  They stayed in the Jeep. Each time I went hiking I would remember them when I was too far along the trail to go back to get them.

This time I remembered them before the hike to top of Roan Mountain in January. Roan Mountain is on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, elevation 6,285 feet.

There had been snow the week before. There had been hikers and cross-country skiers on the Appalachian Trail too.  The snow had been packed down and partly melted and refrozen. The result was crushed ice.

Testing the conditions at the trail head I discovered that walking uphill on crushed ice was not easy. Each foot plant was unsure. Each push off was uncertain.  It made for some slower than expected going.

This is when I remembered the trekking poles.Trekking poles look similar to ski poles. They have a molded handle with wrist strap at one end and a sharp tip with a basket at the other end. The big difference is that the middle part is adjustable. I found this was really useful.

Compared to the gloves and multiple layers of clothing, the poles hardly weighed anything. These light aluminum poles are feather light. The molded cork grips are a natural fit to my gloved hand.

After some experimenting with the adjustable heights, I was on the trail.  Not exactly swiftly but surely.

Each foot was placed steadily and much more confidently.  The poles provided a sure balance and helped to check for ice hidden under the snow. I never fell. My foot did slip several times, but my stability was saved by the trekking poles. I never hit the ground.

I can now recommend these light, collapsible poles. They pack easily and they hardly weigh anything. They give excellent aid on the uncertain footing. Maybe I’ll move them to the day pack.

I’m still not convinced that they help take weight off of your feet while you are hiking, like the advertisements say, but when you are on a slippery slope they can sure save you from some painful souvenirs.

Hello,

Spring is upon us here in East Tennessee. What happened to winter?  I blinked and missed it. I wonder it it is too late to harvest ramps?

 This link is to the Friends Of Roan Mountain.

Their Spring Naturalist Rally is May 2 – 3 – 4, Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday.  (No, it is NOT a clothing optional kind of thing.)

Friends of Roan Mountain

It is the best bargain in the outdoors!

Weekend activity fee: - $ 4.00

If you want to include the dinner and program: Socialization of Gray Wolves  – $ 8.75.

Dinner and a show for under $ 13.00 ! That is just the Friday schedule.

Saturday has 22 options in classes and feild trips. The full day including meals – $ 13.75.

The 6,285 ft high Roan Mountain is on the North Carolina – Tennessee border.

From Boone NC -about an hour west on

From Johnson City TN – about an hour east.

From Ashville NC – about an hour and a half north.

I’ll see you there.

Ken

P.S. – Also if you are going to be around the Smoky Mouintains, check out these easy vacation ideas: Smoky Mouintain Field School.

Have a great day in the mountains!