Page 96 - USA ROAD TRIP SUMMER of 2000

We explored talus slopes, a very small creek (they are undergoing

a three year drought), an old cemetery from the pioneer days
(earliest grave of a man named James Dean born in 1796), and a

few overlooks.

We were further saddened to see the numbers of dead Oak trees.

They are being killed by the gypsy moth that got into the USA from
Asia. It has no natural enemies here. And to cap it all off, the

woolly aphid is attacking the hemlocks. Will there be any hard
woods left standing? As the majority of dead trees are scattered

about, there are no areas of blight. In their literature, the Park
Service is trying to put the best face on things by telling us that

the dead crown of the forest will allow more sunlight onto the

forest floor allowing other species to thrive. Only time will tell.

We saw another bear this evening. It had strayed too close to the
lodge and the Rangers were trying to chase it back into the more

distant woods. They were doing so in golf carts. Quite a sight! The
bear left just as a lady strolled by with her tiny poodle on a leash

entirely unaware of the presence of the possibility of her loved
one becoming dinner for Ursus Americanus.

Though they deny any Lime Disease in the Park, they give hints on
how to avoid ticks. With all the deer around, we decided to be

very diligent in tick prevention. Among the top three instructions
is the wearing of light colored clothes (“The better to see you

with, my dear”). As we only had one pair of light colored pants
and shirt with us, we have worn the same clothes for two days

and will probably sweat on the trails in these tomorrow as well.
Pat would be horrified and disown us immediately.

96