Land of Christmas Trees

This view from the trail to Charlie's Bunion in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is typical of what one sees along the AT at about 6000 feet elevation. You can see mountains covered with evergreen trees known as Frazier Fir. These trees are native to the area and are under attack from an insect invader from China known as the Wooly Adalgid. Evidence of this battle can be seen in the grey trunks punctuating the hillside among the green trees still living. The Park Rangers are waging war with the pests in hopes of saving the remaining trees from certain destruction, but their efforts are being hindered by the remoteness and vastness of the forest.