A N D R E W S   B A L D

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
North Carolina/Tennessee Border

Things slightly improve view-wise. But, it's still not very inspiring. That big hill over yonder, that must be Andrews Bald? It doesn't look very bald. Rogaine for forests, is there such a thing?

Any and all views quickly disappear as the forest swallows me whole. God, this is really boring. I slog along, coaxed into a near state of comatose from the lackluster scenery. Wooo Hooo! This wakes me up, only 0.7 miles to go.

After a bit more hiking I finally reach Andrews Bald. It's not quite bald here, but certainly more sparse compared to all my earlier vegetative encounters.

Supporting a unique community of plants and animals, the grassy balds of the Southern Appalachians where maintained by resident elk and bison, then later by livestock. Creation of the park halted all grazing on the balds and since then, trees and shrubs have slowly repopulated the area.

I stumble upon two folks who are enjoying the bald. I wonder, are they grazing? If so, should I go over there and tell them such activity is strictly prohibited? Oh heck, I'll just leave them to their fun.