Visiting The Smoky Mountains...

At the beginning of the month, Bud and I visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park to talk about a research project we would like to do there and look at some potential sites.  Driving through Gatlinburg, we were astounded at the damage caused by the wildfires this past fall on the park lands, but even more so the damage in downtown Gatlinburg itself! 

Like so many others, I followed the news stories as the fires were ongoing, but it is very different to visit.  People all around town are actively picking up the pieces and rebuilding.  These were devastating fires, a tragic reminder that we must be vigilant stewards of the environment we live in and ever aware of local climate conditions.

 Only the foundation and chimney remain of a house near downtown Gatlinburg.

  Fire damage in some of the hemlock forest on park land.

Our trip was productive and despite the damage caused by wildfires, there are still good sites with surviving hemlock where we can do the proposed research. We also got to see some of the largest living hemlock trees that I have personally had the pleasure of seeing.  These beauties were over 100 feet tall!  The foresters at GSMNP have treated over 250,000 hemlock trees!  Obviously, they are working hard to preserve this vital tree species. 

A mature hemlock stand at GSMNP.

On the way back to Asheville we had this view of the park.  Yes folks, despite the warm temperatures, it is still winter.  The lighter color along the mountaintops is indeed ice.

 A view of GSMNP from the Foothills Parkway.

Coming soon ...

I recently had the distinct pleasure of introducing the Untamed Science film crew to some of our hemlock sites and research.  You may remember a fire video I shared on a previous post.  That was them.  Most recently, Untamed Science did this excellent short on the USFS Hydrological Lab at Coweeta.  Now, Rob and Trenton are making a film about invasive pests of southern forests and will be relating the loathsome tale of how hemlock woolly adelgid is reshaping our forests.

 Trenton mounting a Gopro camera to one of the vehicles.

Our first stop was to meet Dr. Pat Parkman who runs the beneficial insects laboratory at UT-Knoxville.  I showed the guys some hemlock habitat on our way through the mountains to TN, then we got the full tour of his facility including a primer on beetle life cycles.

Dr. Parkman sketches out the Laricobius life cycle for Rob.

We only had 2 full days with the crew and oh so much to show and tell.  Our cooperators from CAMCORE, Dr. Robert Jetton and Andy Whittier, met up with us at Dupont S.F. where we talked about cone collection and seed conservation.  I am especially hoping the tree climbing shots make it into the film.  You will also see gripping interviews with Forest Service scientists including our very own Dr. Bud Mayfield, who will educate us on hemlock conservation efforts.

Trust me you are not going to want to miss this...