Move immediately and quickly away. You can be stupid in both places. I focused this article on the Mother Nature aided possibilities for death on the Appalachian Trail, and specifically in the 100 Mile Wilderness. Elk have been reintroduced to the region over the years in parts of North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Rollings hills, lush foliage, scenery for days. 5. If not observed, their distinctive bugling can sometimes be heard. Most of these species are spring and summer bloomers but goldenrod, Queen Anne’s lace, wood sorrel and aster can be found in the fall and, occasionally, into early winter. The Massasauga rattlesnake inhabits New York and Pennsylvania. It came and went, and I climbed onto the granite peak. They are located in Monson, ME, at the southern end of the 100 mile wilderness. As a youth, he moved with his You can die in both places. Laurel, jack-in-the-pulpit, columbine, trillium and bog laurel cover some hillsides and wild sarsaparilla grows in dry, open woods. We don’t have stats on deaths for the 100 Mile Wilderness, Appalachian Trail, or Maine. I know that the Federal official statement does not acknowledge this, but those of us who live in the mountains have seen them close up. Don’t mess with lightning. 5 Ways to Spot Dangerous People on the AT, Doctor Grumpy's Ten Tips for AT Thru-Hikers, If These People Can Hike the AT, So Can You, The A.T. Guide by David "AWOL" Miller (2015 Edition), Google Maps is Mapping Hiking Trails with a 50 Pound Backpack, Doctor Grumpy's 7 Ways the AT Will Change in 10 Years, Great Smoky Mountains is the Most Popular National Park, Filming Locations for A Walk in the Woods with Robert Redford. Support Adventure Possible. Weighing in at 1,000 pounds or more, these large animals roam deep woods and wetland areas from Massachusetts into Canada. Your backpack fills with water, and with water weighing 8 lbs/gallon, your forty pound pack suddenly weighs over a hundred. There’s no question about it. Scientists believe the actual number is five or six times that number. Lots of planning involved, but looking forward to each and every mile. ($4.99), Our family has adopted an approach to modern life that builds adventure into life's trajectory. Falling-  Hiking the 100 Mile Wilderness involves climbing steep mountains, crossing slippery swamps, and scrambling across boulders. You’re squirming in the muddy water, trying to unclip your pack, but you’re pinned in the water and you drown. The research and perspectives above are generally about the risks of the 100 Mile Wilderness. Mountain vistas and impressive coloration draw human visitors to the parkway, named for the Blue Ridge Mountains it traverses. Thanks for reaching out. Deaths caused by head injury have been reported on the Appalachian Trail, and unfortunately it’s hard to prevent such accidents. It’s really good to read these tips. Clean rooms, welcome showers, friendly staff, awesome food (and lots of it! I live in Maine, so I’m use to the always changing weather and the hungry mosquito’s and black flies. Cecil replies: I hope not, because the Ozarks and the setting of James Dickey’s 1970 novel Deliverance, source of the 1972 movie, are two different places.Much of the action in Deliverance takes place along the fictional Cahulawassee River, generally thought to be based in large part on the Chattooga River, which forms a length of the hilly border between Georgia and South Carolina. Based on the actual adventure and transformation of Mark Kelley, publisher of this website, who struggled mightily on his hike through the rugged and remote 100 Mile Wilderness on the Appalachian Trail. Timber rattlesnakes are found from Georgia to Maine, but again, rarely spotted north of Massachusetts. Agreed on the Mountain Lions. So I take it that you have never been to either the Rockies or the Appalachians. Should you get bit on the trail where access to a hospital may not be feasible, the advice is to stay calm, find shelter and warmth, expect to be sick, and call or send for help. With 255 different species identified, it would be difficult to list all the birds in the Appalachians. If you were off the trail and bitten by a poisonous snake, the advice would be to get to a hospital. Daniel Boone, early American frontiersman and legendary hero who helped blaze a trail through Cumberland Gap, a notch in the Appalachian Mountains near the juncture of Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains some of the largest tracts of wilderness in the East and is a critical sanctuary for a wide variety of animals. Forests are described as mixed deciduous with oaks and hickories the most common species of tree found in the Appalachians. The same is true for bobcats and coyotes, although beaver are also in abundance and are reported periodically by visitors. Here is another instance how drowning could play out. A smattering of maples and beech are also in the mix. I plan on starting my thru- hike June 1st 2016. If you do surprise one of these poisonous snakes, do not freeze. thru other hikers and drivers on the logging roads. I know that the Federal official statement does not acknowledge this, but those of us who live in the mountains have seen them close up. January 6, 2018 at 7:59 pm. More rare species include fox, porcupine, mink and muskrat. It is fantastic, and super duper hot. True, there have been a handful of murders on the Appalachian Trail over the decades. In case of contact, wash the area immediately in soap and water. Their boarding house is incredible! Planning for the hike certainly promotes success. Drowning in the Swamp – Drowning is a serious and often overlooked danger that can kill you while backpacking, so I figured I’d hit it twice. For crossing the rivers, you also need to think through footwear. In the 100 Mile Wilderness, you will get wet. Amazon Top 20 Best Seller for Adventure Travel eBooks. I went to Death Valley last year. Given you’re experience in Maine, you’ll be well aware of the bugs and swamps waiting for you in the 100 mile wilderness. But I would bet money that the odds of being struck by lightning dramatically increase when you’re standing atop a mountain ridge line above tree line, when you are the tallest thing by five feet for one hundred yards in either direction. I’m planning on June 22, 2016. it’s not that bad at all, we did it in 5 or 6 days, the sign is a little dramatic. Exposure– The 100 Mile Wilderness, like the rest of Northern Maine, has basically two seasons: summer and winter. Black bear are also plentiful but they are shy and tough to find.