Changing Forest

5/31/2011

Living on top of Mt. Leconte offers many different opportunities to explore the mountain. One thing Chris and I have noticed in our explorations is the ever changing forest floor. The snow and wind cause all kinds of trees to come crashing down. The more blow downs there are, the more sun light comes through. This changes the forest floor in so many ways. There are views that were not there before, seedlings that start sprouting up, and more moss and ferns where they were not before.
It is nice to see where there are so many dead trees springs new life. Yesterday was good day for exploring. The rain held off and offered a nice 68 degree day. We are still soaking up the sun. Blue skies up top this morning. We have to take while we can get it. Summer brings in the usual afternoon showers.

Donnie R

5/31/2011 02:18:26 am

Enjoyed my yearly trek up to Leconte on Sunday...beautiful weather ! Got to talk to Chris for a bit...says you guys been doing this for 8 yrs. and he hopes for another 8. Thanx Chris for taking the time to tell me a bit about life on the mtn. Next goal of mine is to actually stay for a night :)

Mary S

5/31/2011 03:50:53 am

My husband and I hiked up Sunday and noticed all the trees that seemed to have been blown down. The weather was great that day plus we purchased our T-shirts!Thanks for all you do everyday-I enjoy looking at the beautiful pictures.

newbie hiker

5/31/2011 05:02:52 am

thinking of hiking leconte this summer. never done anything so ambitious and i have an unusual and embarrassing question: what happens if you are half-way up the mountain and have to go #2? any recommendations or advice?

Will

5/31/2011 05:08:11 am

Talk about changing the forest floor... :-)

Sarah Smile

5/31/2011 05:19:56 am

@ Newbie Hiker: Don't be embarrassed. That's actually a very good question, and more people need to be educated on the art and environmental responsibilities of making poo in the woods. Afew basic rules are-- (1) You will eventually have to make poo if you spend much time in the outdoors. (2) Go far off the trail and stay at least 25 yds away from any water source to prevent runoff fecal pollution. (3) Either bring a heavy duty ziploc to pack it out (you packed it in) or dig a trench/hole. Never leave your log to lay the way it came to rest on the ground. With all that said, there are a number of various techniques that you can employ to make this an enjoyable experience rather than something to dread. You can see some of these techniques in books or even on youtube.

High On LeConte

5/31/2011 05:20:18 am

Hi Newbie,
here is a link to a site that will help you out with that question and how to dispose of food and other garbage as well. Hope it helps

http://www.leavenotracedude.com/waste-disposal.shtml

Gerry

5/31/2011 05:27:10 am

A good book is "How to S*** in the Woods". Educational and humerous too.

Tony

5/31/2011 05:52:52 am

Using a good tree is my preferred method. You face the tree, grab it with both hands, bend your knees into a squat, then let'r go. Or, you can squat with your back resting against the tree. Either way practice before you poop. You don't want to be trying to figure all this out when it's go time. And one more thing. Take one leg out of your pants. Otherwise they may be in the drop zone.

Tony Ga

5/31/2011 05:56:08 am

Didn't know we had so many experts...LOL!!!

annonymous

5/31/2011 05:58:55 am

My best advice is to eat a lot of cheese the day before you go hiking. But just in case that does not block your normal function, take along a few diaper wipes in a baggie.

Juanita

5/31/2011 06:27:01 am

Great Sonya Henning's tutu, I can't believe what I'm reading here! Shouldn't this be a private matter? On the other hand it is informative and useful... especially since I ALWAYS have my daily constitutional right after lunch. I suppose I should put a roll of Charmin 3-ply in my backpack for my trip in a couple weeks. LOL! See everyone soon!

Juanita

5/31/2011 06:38:04 am

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to "stock the pond with brown trout" if you have an artificial hip? I'm not as agile and limber as I once was. Oh Frank will never believe me when I tell him this! LOL!

DCM

5/31/2011 06:50:23 am

Juanita,
As an older (and large) woman, I'm not built for grabbing onto trees either. Look for a place to sit and rest. A downed tree with a fork in it or a large rock with a split is what I look for. Use your imagination to figure out the rest. Careful though because tree bark and rocks can be abrasive on your bum.

Shari

5/31/2011 07:16:31 am

OK...you all just got me in trouble...I'm reading this at work and could not keep from laughing out loud!!

Russell

5/31/2011 07:26:50 am

Wait to grunt til you get to the top if you can. They have a legit sit-down facility.

Jenny

5/31/2011 07:42:07 am

Sarah Smile- You forgot rule #4. Never, ever leave home without some TP in your pack. Mother nature provides some so-so alternatives, but none compare, as Juanita said it, to charmin ultra-soft. Leaves and pine cones can give you a rash and make for uncomfortable hiking afterwards. Plus, TP is a good fire starter if you need.

Ben in NC

5/31/2011 08:12:02 am

Amen Jenny. My girlfriend was caught unprepared once when we were in the Smokies. Rather than make a messy situation worse with leaves, she used her hiking socks to clean up. They did the trick, but she suffered blisters (on her feet) as a result. TP is always at the top of the gear list.

Jimbo

5/31/2011 08:21:38 am

And please do everybody a favor. Be sure to move well off the trail before commencing to hang a rat. I've walked up on a few people on the trail who are in plain sight. What do you say when you encounter this situation? What can you say? There's nothing more unsightly or awkward than walking up on somebody in mid-process.

Ben in NC

5/31/2011 08:27:43 am

Point of clarification: My girfriend did not put her socks back on. She got blisters because she was not wearing socks.

Frank

5/31/2011 08:45:14 am

It's been a crappy day on this blog.

Tony Ga

5/31/2011 09:47:36 am

Ben in NC, glad to know she didn't put it back on,LOL. This has been a very entertaining blog today. Guess I'm easily entertained.

PAM

5/31/2011 12:19:37 pm

hang a rat????????????????

Pam

5/31/2011 12:22:39 pm

Hmmmmmm......gotta go

Ken T

5/31/2011 01:16:40 pm

Great day on the blog....haven't laughed so much in a while. I have an artifical hip joint-20 yrs. In African bush tracking buffalo...#2 pain, run behind baobab tree....finish, jump up.....dislocate hip! 1 day to get out of bush, 1 day to another country to put it back and 1 day to get back to camp- by med-jet. Second time that I dislocated hip while hunting - Harriett threatened to kill me. I am very CAREFUL doing #2 in the woods.

Tony Ga

5/31/2011 01:28:59 pm

I bet Ms. Allyson has had a good laugh today.

Ryan

6/1/2011 04:05:03 am

Hi Newbie, After reading everyone's advice, it comes down to this. Always bet on the horse that takes a dump before it goes into the gate for a race. After all, don't we try to keep our backpacks as lite as possible. You should do the same with your body. Get up early and drink lots of coffee.There are facilities at most of the trailheads now. P.S. But just incase, don't forget the TP.

Juanita

6/1/2011 04:32:31 am

Thank you everyone for your helpful and disgustingly entertaining comments. Special thanks to DCM for her advice and also to Tony for suggesting I practice before it becomes necessary-- which I did this morning after my second cup of coffee. Yep! LOL! I went out early and made my through the backyard and into the woods. I could not find a tree or rock like DCM described, but I did find a suitable fallen tree to perch my old saggy bottom over and give it the old college try. After some apprehension, I was able to relax and... Success! LOL! I actually enjoyed the whole experience. My hip was OK and I might do it again soon just for a hoot! I only hope none of my neighbors were able to see what was going on early this morning in the woods. Frank thinks I'm a nut. LOL!

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