BREVARD C O L L E C E
Disvovcr Urcyitid
fiiM.OYer YfUtrscU CLARION
Environment
The Bartram Trail
by Nathan Jerkins, staff writer
Those interested in a challenging and gorgeous
hike should try the Bartram Trail. This trail runs
through North Carolina and northern Georgia as it
attennpts to retrace the steps of famed naturalist
William Bartram.
Having completed the forty mile section in
Georgia and shorter sections in North Carolina, I
recommend this trail to experienced hikers who are
tired of fighting the crowds at some of their favorite
spots. During my last trip we only encountered one
other hiker on the three day trip.
The Bartram Trail is ranked as most difficult on
the maps and contains lots of up and down hiking
and few places to camp near water. It is a strenuous
hike when carrying a full backpack. But the trail pays
off by delivering some of the best views of the
Appalachian Mountains on any trail, especially during
the fall season. As leaves slowly give way to the
amazing panoramic views, one can imagine the
wilderness as perhaps Bartram saw it.
In Georgia, the trail begins on the Chatooga
River, which forms a natural border between Georgia
and South Carolina, and terminates near Scaly
Mountain, just south of Highlands. Here it is marked
by diamond-shaped yellow blazes, and while it does
have many intersections and turns, the trail is very
well marked. On this section the trail crosses over
Rabun Bald, the second highest mountain in
Georgia. The trail also parallels the Chatooga on
some of its flatter sections. Many scenes for the
movie Deliverance were filmed on the Chatooga.
In North Carolina, the section I hiked began at
Wallace Branch and ended at Nantahala Lake. This
part of the trail was very steep and gained elevation
quickly through the forest. The peak of this section is
Wayah Bald, where an old, stone fire tower sits.
Also, for about a mile and a half the Appalachian
Is King’s Creek Healthy?
by Laura Roop, staff writer
Dr. Mary Ellen Brown’s Studies in
Environmental Literature class, along with many
other environmentally related courses, have been
observing King’s Creek on the Brevard College
campus over the years. With the help of the
organization Clean Water for North Carolina
(CWFNC), the students in the class this semester
were able to measure the overall health of the
creek by recognizing certain physical and
environmental characteristics.
Vegetation is important along the sides of
streams to help shade and keep temperatures from
getting too hot. Most aquatic life is only tolerant to a
certain range of temperatures, and any extreme
variations in heat could lead to disruption in the
delicate ecosystem. Most of these organisms
prefer cool, clean water that is rich in oxygen. As
water temperature rises, oxygen could fall to
dangerously low levels.
Vegetation also plays a key role in helping to
prevent erosion. Severely eroded banks add
11/24/2003 http://www.brevard.edu/clarion/environment.asp