Roots in the Hills

Sharpe

2/28/2017

Roots in the Hills:

For this weeks reading, we had read chapter seven of the Mountains of the Heart by Scott Weidensaul. One of the things that stuck to me was his quote "the Appalachians have been changed by - and changed - the human cultures that sheltered among them" (pg. 166). To me it's hard to believe that culture has any kind of impact on the landscape. The main thing that influences the landscapes, is both natural, and for human needs. But I understand that geography does influence the culture of people, where the human race needs to adopt to their surroundings in order to survive and to continue.

Location of the Appalachian Mountains

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: http://mytravelphoto.org/mountain/38-appalachian-mountains.html

The first group of native Americans that Weidensaul mentions is the Clovis Culture, or simply just the Clovis. It was interesting that they got the named Clovis because of their "projectile points were first found near Clovis, New Mexico" (pg. 166). It is hard to imagine that the first evidence of native Americans in North America came new Clovis, New Mexico. Because I know that they originally came from Asia by crossing the Bering Land Bridge into what is today Alaska. You would think that the first evidence of native American past would come from Alaska, or western Canada.

Clovis Arrowhead

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clovis_Point.jpg

Another interesting fact that I learned was how the Vikings had found their way to North America. Where the modern historians "know relatively little about the Viking colony at L'Anse aux Meadow" (pg. 174). It is surprising that a Viking group was able to colonize the new world. But the main issue is what happened to them? Where did they go?

Location of L'Anse aux Meadows

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://www.britannica.com/place/LAnse-aux-Meadows

Book Citations:
Weidensaul, S. (2016). Mountains of the Heart: A Natural History of the Appalachians. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing.

Thunder, Dimly Heard

Sharpe

2/21/2017

Thunder, Dimly Heard:

For this week, we are required to read the sixth chapter of "Mountains of the Heart" by Scott Weidensaul. The early pages of the chapter deals with a man named Jim Jacobs in 1867 hunting Elk in the Appalachian mountains. The man basically tracts the Elk and eventually killing the Elk, either for food or for a trophy. Ultimately, by doing so, "he killed the last native Elk in the Appalachians" (pg. 138). This story about Jim Jacobs, in my believe should be later in the chapter, well at least a couple of pages. For me, I like to read historical events in a chronological order.

Eastern Elk (Cervus canadensis canadensis)

(Author: John J. Audubon)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_American_Elk_-_John_J._Audubon.jpg

Then the author described of people who brought in new Elk to the Appalachians. He says "the descendants of more than one hundred Rocky Mountain Elk trucked in from Yellowstone between 1913 and 1926 and released in the Appalachian Plateau of northern Pennsylvania" (pg. 139). Not surprising that the individuals of Elk from Yellowstone died off within years. I mean the difference between the terrain and environment of the Yellowstone and the Appalachian mountains are completely different. The individuals that were brought into another location and environment, it would have a difficult time finding food and other needs to survive.

 

Location of Yellowstone National Park

(Author: Ryan Holliday)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yellowstone-area-map.png

Another depressing thing that I read in the chapter was how the human race is just to selfish, and is willing to kill of species to protecting ones interests. The author states that the "last wolf in the Pennsylvania Appalachians was probably shot in 1892 in Clearfield County" (pg. 142). Even in the early years of European colonization of North America, Wolfs were basically killed off because people believed that wolfs would simply harm either them, or their life stocks. Overall, it is very depressing to see how people are so careless and are willing to wipe an entire species off of the face of the planet.

Grey Wolf

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:European_grey_wolf_in_Prague_zoo.jpg

Location of Clearfield County (Pennsylvania)

(Author: David Benbennick)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_Pennsylvania_highlighting_Clearfield_County.svg

Book Citations:
Weidensaul, S. (2016). Mountains of the Heart: A Natural History of the Appalachians. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing.

Keeping Faith with the North

Sharpe

2/14/2017

Keeping Faith with the North:

For this week's reading, we had to read chapter five of the book "Mountains of the Heart" by Scott Weidensaul. Within the first few pages, even though the author is describing the beauty of nature, he goes on talking about a type of bird. He states that "I've always been drawn to ravens" (Weidensaul, 112). I have a little trouble with this statement, because unlike a few of my friends, I do not like to be messing with superstition. And in this case, ravens are a minor part of folklore, or superstition. Usually being described as an evil bird, ominous, and even bad luck.

Common Raven

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corvus_corax_(Common_Raven),_Yosemite_NP,_CA,_US_-_Diliff.jpg

Another great part of the Appalachian Mountains is the variety of plants within the region. Just as Weidensaul states in his book, "Oak communities make up the bulk of the southern and central Appalachians. while New England is a patchwork of the buff depicting northern hardwood forest of maple, beech, and birch" (Weidensaul, 116-117). These trees, especially the maple and of the birch tree is the most recognizable trees within North America. Maple trees are used for gathering maple syrup, and birch is an excellent type of wood used for firewood. Maple trees are so recognizable, that a maple leaf has found its way to be on the Canadian flag.

Canadian Flag

(Author: George F.G. Stanley)

Photo Location: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Canada

Yellow Birch (leaves )

(Author: Keith Kanoti)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B_alleghaniensis_02.jpg

One interesting thing that Weidensaul described was from Mount Mitchell. Where "measurements from Mount Mitchell, where most of the firs have also died, have recorded pH readings as low as 2.12" (Weidensaul, 121). I do not know if this is true, and if this is the pH of the soil, or pH of rainwater, it poses a serious threat in the long run. If the pH level is in fact describing the soil, I am surprise if there is anything alive on the mountain at all. And if it the pH of rainfall, it would surely degrade the soil, and devastate the local wildlife populations.

Location of Mount Mitchell

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=19501

Book Citation:

Weidensaul, S. (2016). Mountains of the Heart: A Natural History of the Appalachians. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing.

The Wooded Sea

Sharpe

2/7/2017

The Wooded Sea

For this weeks reading, we had to read chapter four of the book "Mountains of the Heart" by Scott Weidensaul. Within the chapter, it states "in the spring of 1776, as the Continental Congress grappled with the word independence in Pennsylvania (Weidensaul, 57)." Unlike most of my classmates in the class, I am a huge history buff. But to me, I think this statement is not necessary for the book. To me, I think it should just state the year, and go on to talk about William Bartram.

Betsy Ross Flag

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_flag_13_stars_%E2%80%93_Betsy_Ross.svg

Another interesting fact that I noticed was when the author was discussing the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. The main theme was that "the surrounding woodland was clear-cut in the first two decades of the twentieth century. Then, in 1925 a huge wildfire" hit the region next to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest (Weidensaul, 58). To me, it is surprising that this piece of land was able to survive for so long without being destroyed by human greed or by natural causes. In addition, I also believe that the topic of this page should also be decreased in size. Mostly on the extra words that the author placed in. Like the regions that were cut down by human interactions.

Location of the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: http://www.carolinaoutdoorsguide.com/joycekilmerforest.html

Another depressing thing within the chapter was when the author was discussing about the Chestnut trees that use to grow in the United States. "At one time, the more northern areas were oak-chestnut forest, until an introduced blight killed the great chestnut" (Weidensaul, 65). A depressing story, about a species of plant within the United States that ended up being severely reduced in population size, due to human ignorance, and carelessness. A tragedy that could have been prevented.

American Chestnut

(Author: Unknown)

Photo Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castanea_dentata-field_trial2009.jpg

Book Citation:

Weidensaul, S. (2016). Mountains of the Heart: A Natural History of the Appalachians. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publications.