20 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 
reading about the region, such as pre-Cambrian, archaic, metamorphic, 
etc., etc. The formation of which the Smokies are literally the “high 
spot” begins north of the mighty St. Lawrence in Labrador and continues 
southwesterly across the United States to Alabama. 
The southern Appalachian system affects portions of nine states— 
Maryland, North and South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, Ken- 
tucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. In this vast area, approximately 
650 miles in length, are living between 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 pure 
descent, English-speaking Americans, a great majority of whom are still 
without school facilities; consequently there is a very high percentage of 
illiteracy. Many of the mountain people are ignorant of trains, cities, 
and the many small comforts that are the common environment of even 
poor people outside the mountains. 
To anyone who has the slightest interest in things out-of-doors, the 
Smokies are a constant delight, for the unexpected in plant, animal and 
bird life is quite liable to appear at any time and place. In 1920 I was 
persuaded to make my first mountain climb. At that time the ascent 
of any of the high peaks was a real adventure, as there were no well- 
defined trails. Starting out early one morning, without knowledge of 
the time required for the ascent, not knowing “how fur hit might be” 
or what food to take along, the climbing of Rocky Spur (approximately 
6,000 feet altitude) was a real experience and one never to be forgotten. 
Strangely enough, after 13 years have elapsed, Rocky Spur remains one 
of the least known of the high peaks in the vicinity of Gatlinburg, largely 
because of the difficulty of the climb. Next Summer it is planned to 
make it accessible over a fine horseback trail. 
‘The popular climb for the tourist is to the top of Leconte (6,593 
feet), where there is a shelter house and where are open tops from which 
magnificent sunset and sunrise views may be enjoyed. One needs to 
revise conceptions of the size of trees in the Smokies, for almost all species 
grow to oversize girth and height. 
A well known Chicago botanist in April, 1927, was repeatedly heard 
to say: “It looks like Halesia-Silver Bell, but it’s too large;” or, “It looks 
like Hercules Club, or Dogwood, but they are too large.” 
Because of the extreme age of the deeply eroded valleys, there is fre- 
quently a marked difference in plant associations, each valley having its 
own attractions, based on soil, north or south exposure, or by reason of 
plant migrations that have reached one valley and possibly not its imme- 
diate neighbor valley. 
Each season in the Smokies has its individual attractions. The 
Spring floral display is bewildering in its variety and beauty. Then all 
through the Summer there is a succession of flowers and wild fruits, many 
