Exploring Southern Appalachian Forests

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336 pp., 6 x 9, 14 drawings, 49 halftones, 31 maps, 1 table, glossary, bibl., index

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4696-1820-3
Published: September 2014
E-book EPUB ISBN: 978-1-4696-1821-0
Published: September 2014
E-book PDF ISBN: 979-8-8908-4230-5
Published: September 2014

Southern Gateways Guides

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This unique hiking guide to the southern Appalachian mountains leads readers to explore the rich forest ecosystems and other natural communities visitors encounter along the trail. Drawing on years of experience guiding forest walks throughout the region, Steph Jeffries and Tom Wentworth invite hikers and nature lovers to see their surroundings in new ways. Readers will learn to decipher clues from the tree canopies, forest floor, and other natural features to appreciate more fully the environmental factors that make the southern Appalachians home to an amazing biodiversity.

These thirty popular hikes in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia range from short walks along Blue Ridge Parkway pull-offs to longer day trips in the region's backcountry. Offering spectacular mountain scenery and natural wildflower gardens, these trails are the perfect place to gain a new appreciation for the natural communities of the region.

Features include

* A summary including distance, difficulty, and GPS coordinates for each hike

* A narrative description of each hike, including the unique natural features waiting to be discovered

* Detailed instructions to keep you on the trail

* Best seasons to go for wildflower and foliage views

* Contact information for each area

* Photos and maps to orient you

* An illustrated guide to southern Appalachia's most common trees and shrubs, including tips on identification

About the Authors

Stephanie B. Jeffries is Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University.
For more information about Stephanie B. Jeffries, visit the Author Page.

Thomas R. Wentworth is Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor of Plant and Microbial Biology at North Carolina State University.
For more information about Thomas R. Wentworth, visit the Author Page.

Reviews

"Reading this book is like going on a series of hikes with the authors, and learning how to see the forests of the southern Appalachians through their eyes. Steph Jeffries and Tom Wentworth are wonderful tour guides--pointing out interesting sights, suggesting unique things to look out for, offering helpful wayfaring tips, and sharing their years of experience and intimate knowledge of these forests and trails."--Mary-Russell Roberson, author of Exploring the Geology of the Carolinas: A Field Guide to Favorite Places from Chimney Rock to Charleston