A Little Bit of the Smokies Traditional Cache
Hidden : 12/5/2008
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:


This is one of my favorite spots in Bernheim because it reminds me so much of the Smoky Mountains.  The Smokies have long been the hiking mecca for me and my family.
Many years ago Bernheim staff planted hemlocks and rhododendrons next to this picturesque bend in the creek along the Old Headquarters road in Bingham valley.  
 The conditions at this location were obviously very good for these two species since they have thrived here.


Eastern Hemlock & Rhododendrons in Bingham Valley

Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis)
Description: Is an evergreen tree with a conical shape.  Its slender horizontal branches often droop downward.  The Eastern Hemlock can reach a height of 60 to 70 feet with a trunk diameter of 2 to 3 feet.  Its bark is a cinnamon brown color which has deep furrows.  They have 3/8 to 5/8 inch long flat flexible evergreen needles with elliptical brown ¾” long cones that hang downward from the ends of the twigs.

Habitat:   Prefers acidic soil.  They are found in moist cool valleys and ravines.

Range: They are found from Ontario Canada south to Northern Alabama and west to Eastern Minnesota.  In Kentucky they are mostly found in the mountains in the far eastern part of the state.

Uses:   The pioneers used the twig ends to make tea and the branches for brooms.  The bark was a source of tannin used for tanning leather.

 

 

    

    Eastern Hemlock 
    Needles and Cones

 

Rhododendrons
 Rosebay and Catawba are the two rhododendrons that are commonly found in the Smoky Mountain area and far Eastern Kentucky.  Although they are not native to this area they both can be grown here under the right conditions.  I have an 8 foot high by 10 foot wide 25 year old Catawba growing in my back yard.  The rhododendrons found  along the Old Headquarters road in Bernheim are Rosebay.

Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron Maximum)



Description: Is an evergreen thicket forming shrub or small tree.  Its stout branches can grow in a crooked fashion.  The Rosebay Rhododendron can reach a height of 20 feet with a 6 inch trunk diameter.  Its bark is reddish brown and is scaly.  They have narrow elliptical 6 to 10 inch long leaves that are pointed on both ends.  It has flower clusters with large white to light pink blossoms that bloom in late spring to early summer.

Habitat: They are found in moist acidic soils especially along mountain streams under larger forest trees.  In the mountains they can form dense thickets.

Range:  They are found from Maine west to Western New York and south to Northern Georgia.

Uses:   Pioneers have used the wood for tool handles and the leaves for a home remedy.

 

The most notable difference between the Rosebay and the Catawaba is the leaf.  The Rosebay leaf, pictured on the left, is longer and slender (4 to 10 inches long) with pointed ends. 
The Catawaba leaf, on the right,  is shorter (3 to 6 inch long) and is blunt at the tip and rounded at the base.

 

   
The cache is a PB container hidden in a place with a good view of the hemlocks and rhododendrons.  The cache is not hidden in the rhododendrons.  Please have a low impact on this area and enjoy the Little Bit of the Smokies from the Old Headquarters road.
This cache placement has been approved by Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest.
For more information about Bernheim Arboretum And Research Forest  including current operating hours.  There is no admission fee at Bernheim on Monday through Friday.  On Saturday & Sunday there is a $5 fee per passenger car, or motorcycle.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Oevqtr

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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