Just added Three Ridges in VA: http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock ... idges.html[url][/url]

Bob Smith wrote:

Last time I was there (three years ago), I couldn't find a single living hemlock. Official count is that well over 90% of the hemlocks in Shenandoah are dead, including all of the old growth groves.

I've been curious about what trees are going to move into the areas where hemlocks once stood. Guess it will be some more years before we know that.

And e-doc responded:

High elevation hardwoods; beech, yellow birch, ash, and cherry.

The hemlocks were mostly in ravines and on north-facing slopes, so e-doc may be a bit off. Beech is more common on low-land, poor-soil sites. I don't think there is much yellow birch in the park; more sweet birch (which is filling in). I can't say that I have seen that much ash either. Cherry will definitely be part of the mix. Tulip poplar is the first replacement. White pine will probably also fill in, because it also likes the cold environment that hemlock does. The typical oak-hickory mix will also eventually be part of the replacement.

By the way, there are some small hemlocks left in many places and there is even an old, stunted one at the top of Robertson Mountain. But the loss is still very disturbing; I've got a photo of a cut-through blowdown on the Corbin Hollow Trail that was about 15 years old when the Decalaration of Independence was signed. Unlike the chestnut trees, the hemlocks rot very quickly, so before too long there will be no evidence of their existence.

Just added a new trip report (haven't done one in ages).

The Brown Geyser:

http://www.summitpost.org/trip-report/2 ... eyser.html

I just added a post for The South Mountains as a range:

http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.p ... irm_post=7

I haven't done one of these before but I tried my hand at an album of Highland County, Virginia

Just added a page co-owned by WoundedKnee: Bluff Mountain (Ashe County):

http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock ... unty-.html

I just added Mount Jefferson. We're getting a lot of the amphibolite mountains, now. Hopefully Shannon will add Snake Mountain.

http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock ... erson.html

New TR from Rasgoat:
Breaking Trail on Whiteface

One of the New England Highest Hundred, Big Jay, Northern Vermont.

http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock ... g-jay.html

Another New England Highest Hundred, Mendon Peak (Vermont).

http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock ... -peak.html

I love your name. Back in the day, when I did parts of the AT, I called myself "blisterheel".

Dripping Spring Mtn

Peat Mtn

Great Falls rock-climbing area, with some new Rock pages added too.

Microdome, a climbing crag at Great Falls: http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/283331/Microdome-Great-Falls-Park-VA.html