The flora and fauna on this trail have been amazing, and being out here forces one to acknowledge how many interesting plants and animals are around on the east coast. All the colorful millipedes, ants, spiders, flowers, bear, deer and other living things I always wonder why there are not more nature documentaries about habitat here.
I wanted to wait to write this until I had seen a bear and now I have seen two! It should be pointed out that they were small black bears. I have seen numerous deer, fawns, and a raccoon that raided someone’s food bag in a tree. And plenty of mice in shelters (one even tried to run off with my snickers bar, which was four times his size. As far as reptiles and amphibians, I have seen box turtles, painted turtles, red salamanders, newts, ring-neck snakes, and water snakes, tons of king snakes, numerous garter snakes, toads, and a few types of frogs.
For birds I have seen ruffed grouse, turkeys, bluebirds, cardinals, a bald eagle, vultures, gold finches, woodpeckers and a few beautiful tanagers and many more. Flowers have come into bloom with trillium, tiger lilies, and mountain laurels blossom’s being some of the most noteworthy.
Lastly people have asked me what kind of food could be naturally sourced. Unfortunately it would be impossible to just live off the land hiking the AT (Simply because of the caloric requirements that are needed). Initially acorns were probably the only food one could forge, though polk salad and nettle could be eaten with the proper preparation. I have found oyster mushrooms, chicken of the woods while hiking and even morels are supposed to be present at some point. As summer progresses mulberries, strawberries, black berries and blueberries have all started to appear.
As for hunting it is effectively not feasible. It is forbidden on large portions of the trail, not to mention the legal nightmares surrounding possessing a firearm on a trip like this.
As I continue, I have actively been attempting to increase my woodsman-ship, learning to identify new plants for the possibility of moose and porcupine as I travel farther north.
