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Michael L. Simpson reshared this.


Well played, Time, well played.

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The wild ponies of the Grayson Highlands


When I show this picture to people, many get worried about the health/condition of the colt on the ground. No worries--I lingered and watched a while and the colt did get up and do coltish stuff...

One of the gems of the AT are the wild ponies of the Grayson Highlands in southern Virgina. They are not true natives of these highlands. They were released here in the early-to-mid 1970s to control vegetation on the mountain balds. It's a tricky thing introducing something new into an ecosystem. From blight carrying Asian Chestnut trees to cudzu, there have often been disasters. But the ponies are here now and are part of this ecosystem as it now exists. It's one of the highlights of any AT hike to spend a day with the wild ponies.

Ponies of the Grayson Highlands


Michael L. Simpson reshared this.


Given that the US is experiencing a potential data breach that would affect the entire population, now would be a good time to lock your credit.

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Thoughts on music in the twilight of careers


I saw Livingston Taylor and Al Stewart in concert last night. I was never much of a fan of either back in the day. Yet, I've come to enjoy seeing performers in their twilight....The Eagles a couple of years ago, Los Lobos at the Big Ears festival, Arlo Guthrie several times....except for Arlo, was never much of fan of any. But when you see them during this time in their cycle, you are not in some giant arena or stadium....you're usually in some intimate little venue (in my case one of those early 20th century US theatre houses).....and these performers are there mostly for their love of the music and performing...no longer chasing fame and fortune.
in reply to Michael L. Simpson

My husband and I saw Judas Priest last summer. My husband was so giddy. They were the first big concert he went to decades ago. I have to say, Rob Halford is still belting out the songs in his seventies.
The best part of the show for me was the multiple generations that were there to see it. We had a family sitting next to us that was 3 generations, all of them metal heads.
in reply to marimini

My son and I were multi-generational audience members at our local show. Rob Halford's voice is easily the best of any of the older acts I've seen. And he had the confidence to still be rocking the leather chaps and showing some skin at his age! I really enjoyed that one.


My Photos from the port of the AT from Roan Mnt TN to the VA state line


After 200+ miles of going in and out of TN and NC, you leave NC for good (NoBo) and travel about 70-80 miles all in Tennessee. The higher mountains are on the TN-NC border, so these mountains are a little lower. My biggest memories of this section involve water. Rivers, one of the most beautiful big waterfalls on the AT (Laurel Falls), Wautaga Lake, and several smaller waterfalls. I spent the night at the Vandeventer Shelter that sits at about 3600 feet and has a beautiful view of Wautaga Lake in the valley below. This shelter has a dark history as Janice Balza, a 22-year-old thru-hiker from Madison, Wisconsin was murdered there in April of 1975. My sense is that you are safer on the trail than you are in most US cities....but just like in the cities, the most dangerous animals on the trail walk on 2 legs.

flic.kr/s/aHBqjBZBzr

in reply to Michael L. Simpson

So, só beautiful, breathtaking.... It's horrifying there are also some kind of two-legged creatures who doesn't give a damn and say environmental disasters are just hoaxes...What, if this stunning nature is about to become just a memory... 😢I fear for the next generations...


Interested in starting an Appalachian Trail Group


!New To Friendica
Does one already exist? If not....any advice on how to start one? Only my 5th day on Friendica....am I getting ahead of myself by trying to start a group?

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in reply to Michael L. Simpson

Hey Michael... I found this here at Friendica. Maybe you can contact them and share things.
bytesde.com/755349/ It's German, but think they understand English well enough😏

New To Friendica reshared this.

in reply to Michael L. Simpson

Is there a lemmy group? Or a mastodon group? I follow running groups on each here on Friendica. Works well.

BUT, it would be great to have a Friendica group as well.

New To Friendica reshared this.



Just loaded another album of Appalachain Trail Pictures on Flickr


These are from the section of the AT that goes from the Northeastern boundary of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park to just south of the town of Roam Mountain, Tennessee. This is a 150+ mile part of the trail, and it has been one of my favorites. There are some spectacular places here -- Max Patch, Beauty Spot, Big Bald, and the interestingly named Big Butt Mountain for example. But the highlights of this section are the Roan Highlands, where you crossover the last 6000 footers until you get to the mighty White Mountains in New Hampshire (assuming you're a north bounder (NoBo)). If you have any interest, I hope you'll drop by.

flic.kr/s/aHBqjBZnfu

in reply to Michael L. Simpson

Thank you for posting these. I look forward to perusing them. Do you know if there are any AT groups on Friendica? I'm a FB refugee and still trying to figure this place out.
in reply to Mike Habeck

I am brand new myself. Several good AT groups on FB, but I'm not even sure how to search for groups on Friendica yet. Getting free of FB is my aspiration...there are some struggles in making that a reality. But I appreciate the info on your webpage about alternatives to the billionaires...
in reply to Mike Habeck

crazy idea....maybe we could start an AT group on Friendica.....?
in reply to Michael L. Simpson

I would love to try that. Sign me up if you can figure out how and I'll let you know if I learn anything. I thought I found some instructions but they didn't work for me.
in reply to Mike Habeck

I found a group called New to Friendica....I posted a plea for help there....I'll let you know if I get a response


Take time for the little creatures


People always want to ask me about bears. In 1600 miles of AT hiking, I've seen 6 black bears. I was glad for the experience, but I've come to appreciate the little creatures even more. They skirt around quietly...often unnoticed....adding color and beauty while taking almost nothing in return. Make some time for the little creatures....
in reply to Michael L. Simpson

Little creatures, little plants, moss, mushrooms.... So much to arouse awe...Your picture is beautiful! My picture is made in the woods nearby, The Latin name is Calocera viscosa, in my country it's called "kleverig koraalzwammetje '' .
in reply to Wilhelmina58

So much amazing diversity in mushrooms....I have so many pictures of mushrooms that have caught my attention. Thank you for sharing!
in reply to Michael L. Simpson

Nice! I've managed to section from Springer to Burke's Garden over the years, and chose my trail name Not So Fast as a reminder to slow down and pay attention to everything - wildflowers, insects, fungi. There's always something interesting to look at!

PS. I'm at 3 bears in about 575 AT overnight miles, plus 5 bears on a15 mile dayhike in Shenandoah. That was a bit much!

in reply to Mike Habeck

Burke's Garden...what a nice place. I overnighted at the Chesnut Knob Shelter overlooking Burke's Garden. 5 bears in one day....wow....of the 6 I've seen, only saw 2 together. Two cubs....and since I did not know where mama might be, I moved on in a hurry. My trail name is Celtic
in reply to Mike Habeck

P.S. You have the triple crown coming up soon. Here's my picture from one of the three -- McAfee Knob

in reply to Michael L. Simpson

Such a beautiful turn in a tragic event. "Take a pebble to the end of the hike"... This touches me, these shoes and their owner didn't make the physical trip to an end, but certainly they do it in a kind of spiritual way. Those pebbles tell a story... 🙏
This entry was edited (2 months ago)
in reply to Wilhelmina58

carrying his pebble with me has made me feel as if I'm on a mission....
in reply to Michael L. Simpson

I can imagine this feeling of you so very well, it's not IF you're on a mission, you simply are. And all the other pebble-bearers too. The small rock represents the man who is carried further. This is so touching...
in reply to Wilhelmina58

BTW, I had to use Google translate, but I learned of your interest in the Celts. My trail name is Celtic....mostly because of the more modern music known as Celtic music, but also because I feel some connection to the Celtic reverence for nature
in reply to Michael L. Simpson

I used to tell people I'm born Dutch, but my spirit is obviously Celtic. As a youngster, I already had that strong connection with them, loved and still love their culture, art, music, spirituality , and their way of living with nature. Somehow, somewhere, I must have had ancestors between the Celts😄
in reply to Wilhelmina58

@Wilhelmina58
As a child I had an enormous fascination for the Pleiades constellation. Now still searching for the meaning of all this.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebra_…

@molelect

in reply to Nico Geelen

Once touched by these feelings, one cannot do anything but searching for answers. It's like a distant voice is calling, but you don't know where to look...To hear and understand this voice, you need to come closer to the source. Whether this is within ourselves or somewhere outside... Philosophical stuff♥️


All my pictures from the Appalachain Trail


I'm in the process of moving all of my pictures from the Appalachian Trail from Facebook to Flickr. This will take a while, but I have most of Georgia there now, and will be moving photos from the other 13 states to Flickr over the next few weeks. If you have any interest in these photos, please visit me here:
flickr.com/photos/at_celtic_mi…


in reply to Michael L. Simpson

It's a learning experience, we're in this together. Glad you made it here! I'm in the Desert SW USA, personally.