Great Smoky Mountains Backwoods

Originally a southeastern species, indigenous to the Smoky Mountains, the red-bellied woodpecker has extended its range into New England. It lives in forests and backyards. It eats insects and fruits. Both males and females work to dig a nesting cavity five to seventy feet above the ground in a tree, utility pole, or building. It has zebra-like stripes on its back and grows to about nine inches. The male has more red on his head.

Female Red Bellied Woodpecker cleans it's bill after devouring suet in the feeders at the outofyourway cabin GreatSmoky.com

Cougar in the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains

Ray, I stumbled onto your site and was so happy to find someone else who has seen a cougar in the Smokies. Years ago I was coming back across the mountain and just to the G-burg side of the Clingman's Dome parking lot, a cougar leaped across the road in front of our car.

Cougar or Mountain Lion live in the Great Smoky Mountains. I personally saw one in 1986, and there are reports of deer and llama kills.

Probably @ 8 feet from nose to tail and bounded about twice to completely clear the two lanes. People said we didn't know what we saw but we sure did. Happy to know someone else has witnessed the beauty of one of these big cats other than me! Mike

Cougar at Alum Rock Park with Picture

I was hiking alone August 17 on the Balsam Mountain Trail. I was hiking down from the AT and had passed the trail split. A cougar walked across the trail about 35 feet down from me. I reported it to the ranger on Sunday. I had a can of bear spray and picked up a rock just in case. None of this was necessary since the cougar did not pay any attention to me. (unsigned)

LeConte Trail

The image to the right is the trail headed up Mt. LeConte at Alum Cave Bluffs parking area. Soon, wildflowers and lightening bugs will become alive for the season, offering everyone the chance to visit the wilderness areas and experience the Great Smoky Mountains in full bloom. Wildflower walks will be best between April 10th and 20th in lower elevations then climbing up the mountain thereafter. Late May and June is the time to find Mountain Laurel and Rhododendron.


	THE PARK: With 10 million visitors yearly, this most-visited national park protects a delicate ecosystem of rare plants and wildlife as well as structures representing traditional Appalachian culture.

Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.

More detailed information on biosphere reserves to be found here.

In the UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory you will find information on all the biosphere reserves, using the following links:

Appalachian Trail Conference News

Little Blue Heron

The many streams of the Great Smoky Mountains offer environmental ecosystems for the Great Blue Heron as well as the Little Blue Heron.

Great blue heron Ardea herodias

Little blue heron Egretta caerulea

Hickory Wind is the location of the design office of www.greatsmoky.com . It is in a hickory gap covered with scaly bark hickory trees. In late summer and fall, the hickory nuts sound like a shotgun being discharged as they plummet onto the tin roof. The picture is an older one. A new porch was added just after this pic was taken. There will be a new picture taken this spring.

Ray's Lionel® Model Train 1945-2011

The WordPress logo to the left will direct you to the new blog from Great Smoky Backwoods.

Ray Flowers

At The Great Smoky Backwoods Blog there are links to maps, weather, trail suggestions, and much more. Trail food might be of interest to some and a calendar good for many. Click on the "W"

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