A grand gorge
Somewhere in the deep reaches of Sugar and/or Grandfather Mountains, seeps, rivulets and trickles begin to mingle and grow and slide over the hard rocks coalescing into the headwaters of the Linville River. The river slips over the rocks and begins a 2,000-foot...
It’s in the wind
I was outside with Maddie (6) the other afternoon and there was a gentle breeze. “Daddy, doesn’t it smell like autumn?” she asked. And it did. In fact, I had just had the same sensation only didn’t mention it because what would a six-year-old know? Obviously much more...
Stoked for storks
As we started over the bridge on the Isle of Palms Connector, I noticed a line of large black and white birds through the pine trees. “Gourd heads,” I must have said out loud, because my wife said, “what?” “Wood storks,” I said pointing to the undulating line of five...
Onward and upward
Last week I wrote about the dark subterranean part of our little family adventure, which was a visit to Linville Caverns – see http://www.smokymountainnews.com/outdoors/item/8139-from-the-darkness-to-the-light-%E2%80%93-literally. From the dark caverns of Linville we...
From the darkness to the light – literally
Legend has it that curious fishermen watching trout seemingly disappear into Humpback Mountain back in 1822 discovered an entrance into what is now known as Linville Caverns. Henry E. Colton of eastern North Carolina and once a state geologist for the state of...
Coping with gray treefrogs
The call of, “Come see! A frog!” is one oft repeated in the Hendershot household from spring through fall as toads go by both names – toad and/or frog. So the other morning when Izzy called to, ”Come see this frog!” I was expecting another toad. But when I walked to...