Flame azaleas at peak on Gregory Bald

Flame azaleas at peak on Gregory Bald

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

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Tom Harrington, a volunteer for the Great Smoky Mountains who provides regular wildflower updates for the Great Smoky Mountains Association, is reporting that the flame azaleas atop Gregory Bald are at their peak.

Here's the statement from his report posted today:

"Flame azaleas are at peak on Gregory Bald. The best blooms will last about another week (due to intense heat)."

Mr. Harrington is also reporting seeing the following flowers in bloom on the Gregory Ridge Trail: Rosebay Rhododendron, Galax, Wild Hydrangea, Indian Pipe, Blue Eye Grass (1), Sweet Shrub, Canadian Violet, Prostrate Bluet, Starry Campion, Hawkweed, and Pipsissewa.

For more information on hiking the Gregory Ridge Trail to Gregory Bald, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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Flame Azaleas on Gregory Bald near peak bloom

Flame Azaleas on Gregory Bald near peak bloom

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

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Tom Harrington, a volunteer for the Great Smoky Mountains, made the trek up to Gregory Bald yesterday to observe the status of the Flame Azalea blooms at the summit.

Here’s his report as posted on the Great Smoky Mountains Association website:

“Blooms very close to peak if not at peak. About 65% of the shrubs are covered with blooms with a few buds. There are a number of shrubs on the side facing Cades Cove that are not blooming yet. White Flame Azaleas have not started blooming yet. Well worth the trip to the bald.”

As noted in the previous post, the Parson Branch Road has been temporarily closed as a result of mud. This will impact anyone wishing to hike the Gregory Bald Trail. Until the road is reopened ("tentatively scheduled to reopen on June 17"), hikers will need to take the Gregory Ridge Trail to reach Gregory Bald.

For more information on hiking the Gregory Ridge Trail to the summit of Gregory Bald, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Strange noise on Gregory Bald

Strange noise on Gregory Bald

Monday, August 4, 2008

4 comments

I’ve been meaning to ask this question for some time. I was hoping someone might have an answer for me.

I was up on Gregory Bald last month when I heard a loud pounding. Actually it sounded like someone was hammering on aluminum siding. I heard this noise just as we emerged from the woods coming up from the Gregory Ridge Trail. The sound came from the left side of the trail, which would be due south, and it sounded like it was 75 to 100 yards away. I figured once I was out in the open I would be able to see where the commotion was coming from, but I didn’t see anything, nor did I see any trails heading in that direction. My next thought was that the sound was coming from a backcountry shelter. However, according to the map, the shelter was about a half mile from where I was and in a different direction (due west) from where the sound was coming from.

Does anyone have any possible suggestions on what this may have been?

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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