Some hikes are remembered for waterfalls or sweeping overlooks. Others are remembered because nature reminds you who’s really in charge.

My latest walk along the Lower Mount Cammerer Trail, from the trailhead to Campsite 35, was one of the quieter summer hikes of the season. Many of the wildflowers have already faded, but the trail still offered beautiful mountain views and one unforgettable wildlife encounter.

About two miles from the trailhead, I came across a timber rattlesnake stretched across the trail. The best response was to give it plenty of room, admire it from a safe distance and let it continue on its way. Encounters like this are part of hiking in the Smokies and a reminder to stay alert while enjoying the backcountry.

The view from Lower Mount Cammerer made every uphill step worthwhile. While flowers were limited this week, the trail still had plenty to appreciate.

Wildflowers observed:

  • Black Cohosh — Two plants; past peak bloom.
  • Flowering Spurge — A few plants; past peak bloom.
  • Goldenrod — Just beginning to bloom, likely Early or Erect Goldenrod.
  • Heal All — Many plants in various stages of bloom.
  • Indian Pipe — A few plants; past peak bloom.
  • Pale Jewelweed — A few plants; past peak bloom.
  • Rosebay Rhododendron — A few remaining blooms; well past peak.
  • John’s Wort — A few plants blooming.
  • Tick Trefoil — Some plants; past peak bloom.

Every hike tells a different story. Some weeks the mountains are covered in blooms. Other weeks they offer quiet beauty, scenic vistas and a reminder that every season in the Great Smoky Mountains has something worth discovering.

Tom Harrington is a regular hiker who reports on his hikes and mountain stories from the Smokies.

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