1004:, Mitchell gained measurements for Grandfather and Roan with apparent ease, although he struggled to discern which of the Blacks was the highest. After measuring Celo Knob, Mitchell descended to the Cane River Valley to obtain advice from the valley's residents. Two local guides (one of whom was William Wilson, a cousin of the later renowned mountain guide, Thomas "Big Tom" Wilson) led Mitchell up a bear trail to what they believed to be the highest summit. Although exactly which mountain they summited has long been disputed, it was likely Mount Gibbes, Clingmans Peak, or Mount Mitchell. Nevertheless, Mitchell obtained a measurement of 6,476 feet (1,974 m) (later determined to be too low), placing the Blacks at a higher elevation than Mount Washington and thus the highest in the Eastern United States.
292:. A few miles south of Celo, the crest drops to 5,700 feet (1,700 m) at Deep Gap before rising steeply again to the summit of Potato Hill in the north-central section of the range. The crest continues southward across the central section, which contains 6 of the 10 highest summits in the eastern United States, including the highest, Mount Mitchell, and the second-highest, Mount Craig. South of Mount Mitchell, the crest drops to just under 6,000 feet (1,800 m) at Stepp's Gap before rising again to 6,520 feet (1,990 m) at the summit of Mount Gibbes. On the slopes of Potato Knob, just south of Clingmans Peak, the Black Mountain crest bends northwestward across Blackstock Knob before dropping again to 5,320 feet (1,620 m) at Balsam Gap, where it intersects the
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Spruce, and
Champion Fibre, bought up timber rights to most of the Black Mountains and began a series of massive logging operations in the area. In 1911, Dickey and Campbell managed to construct a narrow-gauge railroad line connecting the Swannanoa Valley with Clingmans Peak. Other narrow-gauge lines quickly followed. Between 1909 and 1915, much of the forest on the upper slopes and crest was cut down. An increase in demand for red spruce during World War I led to the rapid deforestation of much of the spruce-fir forest in the higher elevations. As forests were removed, forest fires (caused by the ignition of dried brush and slash left by loggers) and erosion denuded what was left of the landscape.
1067:, a Whig politician and friend of Mitchell's, located the two guides Mitchell had recruited for his 1844 excursion, and when the two described the route they had followed, it appeared that Mitchell had indeed summited Mount Gibbes. Finally, in 1857, Mitchell returned to the Blacks in an attempt to gain still more accurate measurements. One evening, while attempting to reach the Cane River Valley, he slipped and fell into a gorge along Sugar Camp Fork, near the waterfall that now bears his name. His body was found 11 days later by the legendary mountain guide Thomas "Big Tom" Wilson (1825–1909).
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south of Stepps Gap (i.e., to what is now Mount Gibbes or
Clingmans Peak) and that a broken barometer found by Blackstock on Mount Gibbes in 1845 could only have been Mitchell's. The two bickered back and forth in the local newspapers throughout 1856, each claiming to have been the first to summit and measure the higher Black Dome. The debate was intensified by the political climate of the 1850s, as Mitchell was a Whig supporter and Clingman had recently left the Whig party to join the pro-secession Democrats.
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964:, who had been sent to America by the King of France to collect exotic plant specimens, made his first excursion into the Southern Appalachian Mountains, which included a brief trip to the Blacks. Michaux returned to the Blacks in August 1794, and collected several plant specimens that thrive above 4,000 feet (1,200 m). Michaux's findings, published in the early 19th century, were among the first to bring attention to the diversity and significance of the plants of Southern Appalachia.
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may have threatened) Perley and
Crockett to preserve the forest atop Mitchell while he and Holmes lobbied for the creation of a state park. The state legislature finally approved the purchase of a stretch of land between Stepps Gap and the summit of what is now Big Tom in 1915, which became the core of Mount Mitchell State Park. The Pisgah National Forest, established in 1916, also began buying up and replanting lands that had been logged over.
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1075:. Clingman continued to deny that Mitchell had measured Black Dome first, but was unable to overcome the shift in public sentiment. By 1858, Black Dome had been renamed "Mitchell's High Peak." In subsequent decades, Mount Mitchell was renamed "Clingmans Peak", and Mitchell's High Peak was renamed "Mount Mitchell." Clingman eventually turned to the
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completed a road connecting the Cane River Valley with the summit of
Mitchell shortly thereafter. The state eventually condemned the Wilsons' road, but allowed Ewart Wilson to operate an inn at Stepps Gap until the early 1960s. NC-128, which connects Mount Mitchell with the Blue Ridge Parkway, was completed in 1948.
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Mitchell's death sparked an outpouring of public sympathy across North
Carolina. Zebulon Vance led a movement to verify Mitchell as the first to summit the highest mountain in the Eastern United States and to have the mountain named for him. Vance convinced several mountain guides to change previous
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likely existed in the Black
Mountains and surrounding mountains in elevations above 3,500 feet (1,100 m). Spruce-fir forests dominated the lower elevations during this period, while hardwoods "fled" to warmer refuges in the coastal plains. As the ice sheets began retreating 16,000 years ago and
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emissions saw a 64% decline. Fine particulates emissions in the area are now less than 60% of the national standard. Views which had been reduced to less than 10 miles by the late 1990s due to chronically hazy conditions, have been restored to 39 miles and the number of clear days has substantially
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and state forester John Simcox Holmes, were alarmed at the abusive logging practices that were stripping bare the Black
Mountains. After the North Carolina state legislature rejected an initial attempt to create a state park at the summit of Mount Mitchell in 1913, Craig began negotiating with (and
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temperatures started to rise, the hardwoods returned to the river valleys and lower slopes, and the spruce-fir forest retreated to the higher elevations. Today, the spruce-fir forest atop the Black
Mountains is one of ten or so spruce-fir "islands" remaining in the mountains of Southern Appalachia.
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When
Mitchell learned of Clingman's find, he claimed that the mountain he had measured in 1844 was, in fact, Black Dome, and that locals had mistakenly named the summit to the south (the modern Clingmans Peak) after him. Clingman rejected Mitchell's claim, arguing that the route Mitchell took led
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As forests in the north were cut down to meet the growing demand for lumber in the late 19th century, logging firms turned to the virgin forests of
Southern Appalachia. Between 1908 and 1912, northern lumber firms, namely Dickey and Campbell (later Perley and Crockett), Brown Brothers, Carolina
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For much of the 18th century, the Black Mountains were a hunting ground on the eastern fringe of Cherokee territory. By 1785, however, the Cherokee had signed away ownership of the Black Mountains to the United States, and Euro-American settlers moved into the Cane and South Toe valleys shortly
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that threatens the natural beauty of the region. The Clean Smokestacks Act of 2002 (S.L. 2002–4), enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly, is credited with reducing the amount of particulate and ozone pollution that had once threatened the views in the Black Mountains and throughout the
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The revelation that the Black Mountains were the highest in the Appalachian Range made them an immediate tourist attraction. By the 1850s, a lodge had been established in the southern part of the range, and locals such as Jesse Stepp and Tom Wilson had built several rustic cabins on the higher
1059:. Henry, using Guyot's more careful and accurate measurements taken several years earlier, agreed with Clingman that Black Dome was higher (although Guyot noted Clingman's measurement of 6,941 feet was off by 200 feet), and the highest mountain in the Appalachians was to be named for Clingman.
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In 1922, the Mount Mitchell Development Company (which had been formed by Fred Perley, a partner in Perley and Crockett) completed the first automobile road to Mount Mitchell, connecting the summit with the Swannanoa Valley. Adolphus and Ewart Wilson (the son and grandson of "Big Tom" Wilson)
1182:. Arriving only in the last few growing seasons, the health of the hemlocks in the region is rapidly declining. Research is currently underway in releasing predator beetles that will, hopefully, eat enough adelgids to balance their population and allow the hemlocks to flourish.
1055:(1812–1897), a politician and former student of Mitchell's, climbed a summit north of Stepps Gap known as Black Dome (what is now Mount Mitchell) and measured its elevation at 6,941 feet (2,116 m). Clingman reported his findings to Joseph Henry, the head of the
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The area around the Black Mountains is also experiencing rapid population growth as retirees from other states pour into the region. Due to a lack of zoning laws, this has resulted in rapid development of ridgetop cabins, large second-homes on the lower ridges, and
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to the west, which he claimed were higher. Guyot's measurements in the Smokies rejected Clingman's assertions, although Guyot did manage to have the highest mountain in that range, known as Smoky Dome, renamed Clingmans Dome. It was later restored to its original
1109:(1861–1865) brought a temporary halt to the tourism boom, but by the late 1870s, the industry had recovered. In the 1880s, brothers K.M. and David Murchison established a large game preserve in the Cane River Valley which was managed by Tom Wilson.
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trees grow on moist slopes near streams (a National Forest recreation area on the Toe River at the base of Mount Mitchell is called "Carolina Hemlocks" for this reason). These too are under attack by an introduced pest, the
347:. The Black Mountains rise prominently above the surrounding lower terrain. This is particularly noticeable from the range's eastern side, which rises over 4,500 feet (1,400 meters) above the Catawba River Valley and
740:, when the collision of two continental plates thrust what is now the Appalachian Mountains upward to form a large plateau. Weathering and minor geologic events in subsequent periods carved out the mountains.
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Mitchell returned to the Blacks in 1838 and 1844, gaining a higher measurement on each trip. Several surveyors visited the Blacks in subsequent years, including Nehemiah Blackstock (1794–1880) in 1845,
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coast to the Pacific Ocean, is believed to have passed through the North Toe River valley in May 1540, and thus would have included the first Europeans to see the Black Mountains. An expedition led by
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The Black Mountains form a J-shaped semicircle that opens to the northwest. The Blacks rise southward from the Little Crabtree Creek Valley in the north to the steep 6,327-foot (1,928 m) summit of
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which also heads to the French Broad River. The North Fork Reservoir, supplied with the ample rain caused by moisture pushing up the southern face, serves as the primary water source for the
775:, though sometimes referred to as "boreal" or "Canadian," is a unique plant community endemic to a few high peaks of the Southern Appalachians. In fact, it is more akin to a high elevation
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have likely been hunting in the Black Mountains for thousands of years. At Swannanoa Gap, just south of the range, archaeologists have uncovered evidence of habitation dating to the
747:, approximately 20,000–16,000 years ago, glaciers did not advance into Southern Appalachia, but the change in temperatures drastically changed the forests in the region. A tree-less
957:, tobacco, liquor, and excess crops at markets in nearby Asheville. The early farmers also brought large herds of cattle and hogs, which thrived in the valleys and mountain areas.
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was believed to be the highest summit in the Eastern United States, an assumption many North Carolinians began to question in light of Michaux's findings (Michaux believed that
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The forests of the Black Mountains are typically divided into three zones based on altitude: the spruce-fir forest, the northern hardwoods, and the Appalachian hardwoods. The
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While the crest of the Black Mountain range is just 15 miles (24 km) long, within these fifteen miles are 18 peaks climbing to at least 6,300 feet (1,900 meters) above
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statements and claim the route they had taken actually led to Black Dome, rather than Mount Gibbes. Mitchell was buried atop Black Dome on land donated by former governor
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1162:. Much of the range's once-famous red spruce and Fraser fir trees are dead or dying due in part to the pollution. A more significant threat to the firs, however, is the
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1020:(1807–1884) in 1849, and Robert Gibbes in the early 1850s. As early as Mitchell's third trip (1844) to the Blacks, the locals were calling what is now Clingmans Peak
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779:. It is dominated by red spruce and Fraser fir, and coats the elevations above 5,500 feet (1,700 m). The northern hardwoods, which consist primarily of
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formed over a billion years ago from primordial sea sediments. The mountains themselves were formed roughly 200–400 million years ago during the
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224:. The Black Mountains are the highest mountains in the Eastern United States. The range takes its name from the dark appearance of the
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on the upper slopes which contrasts with the brown (during winter) or lighter green (during the growing season) appearance of the
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Appalachians. Nitrogen Oxide emissions have plummeted from over 245,000 tons a year in 1998 to under 25,000 by 2014.
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probably crossed the Blue Ridge at Swannanoa Gap in October 1567. Both expeditions spent considerable time at Joara.
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which, like the Nolichucky, is west of the Eastern Continental Divide and thus its waters eventually wind up in the
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to the southwest. The crest then turns northward across Point Misery and Big Butt before descending to the
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Mount Mitchell and the Black Mountains: An Environmental History of the Highest Peaks in Eastern America
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1051:"Mount Mitchell", as they believed this was the summit measured by Mitchell as the highest. In 1855,
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Mount Mitchell (foreground, left) and Clingmans Peak (background, right) viewed from Mount Craig
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passes along the range's southern section, and is connected to the summit of Mount Mitchell by
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The Black Mountains, like many other ranges in the Appalachians, are currently threatened by
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996:(1793–1857) into the western part of the state to measure the elevation of Grandfather, the
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Plaque at the summit of Mount Craig honoring the mountain's namesake, Governor Locke Craig
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Wildlife in the Black Mountains is typical of the Appalachian highlands. Mammals include
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823:, which is rare in North Carolina, grows sporadically on the slopes of Mount Mitchell.
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Cattail Peak (left), Balsam Cone (middle), and Big Tom (right), viewed from Mount Craig
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region. A few of the streams in the southeastern section of the range are part of the
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The Juan Pardo Expeditions: Explorations of the Carolinas and Tennessee, 1566-1568
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thereafter. The early settlers farmed the river valleys and sold animal furs,
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Thomas "Big Tom" Wilson (1825–1909), legendary bear hunter and mountain guide
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Dead trees on the crest of the Black Mountains, in Mount Mitchell State Park.
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Potato Hill (left) and Cattail Peak (right), viewed from Winter Star Mountain
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1334:(Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press, 2003), 6.
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Possibly named for mountain lions that may have once frequented the summit
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was the highest). In 1835, the state dispatched North Carolina professor
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watershed. The southwestern part of the range is drained by the upper
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Researchers Study Effects of Balsam Woolly Adelgid on Fraser firs
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watershed, and are thus east of the Eastern Continental Divide.
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The northern section of the Black Mountains are drained by the
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1455:(Knoxville, Tenn.: University of Tennessee Press, 1984), 128.
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park: A Natural History Guide
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The South Toe Valley, viewed from the summit of Balsam Cone
1675:"State of WNC's air: 'A true environmental success story'"
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mountain slopes and were thriving as mountain guides. The
216:, in the southeastern United States. They are part of the
1555:"Kuwohi name restored to the highest peak in the Smokies"
688:. The nearest peak to the south is known as Little Butt.
1490:(Tuscaloosa, Ala.: University of Alabama Press, 2005).
920:(c. 900-1600 AD). The Mississippian-period village of
1477:(Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press, 1997).
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expedition, which was attempting to travel from the
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558:The mountain's shape, resembling an upright potato
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647:who frequented the area in the early 19th century
311:to the east, both of which are part of the upper
898:(left) and Little Celo (far right), viewed from
2261:Rich Mountain, near Boone, Watauga County - 1)
2510:The 20 highest major summits of North Carolina
1266:List of subranges of the Appalachian Mountains
819:, are found on the drier south-facing slopes.
351:, providing some impressive mountain scenery.
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1742:– Site provided by the Carolina Mountain Club
1691:Walter C. Biggs and James F. Parnell (1989).
8:
2659:Mountains of Buncombe County, North Carolina
1169:At lower elevations of the Black Mountains,
1129:Many North Carolinians, among them Governor
263:. The Black Mountains are mostly located in
27:Mountain range in western North Carolina, US
1557:. National Park Service. September 18, 2024
1345:"North Carolina Gazetteer browse | NCpedia"
874:are known to nest in the upper elevations.
499:Robert Wilson Gibbes (1809–1866), surveyor
44:The Black Mountains immersed in a snowstorm
2654:Mountains of Yancey County, North Carolina
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1768:
1754:
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968:Elisha Mitchell and Thomas Lanier Clingman
624:Nehemiah Blackstock (1794–1880), surveyor
29:
2141:North Carolina-Tennessee-Virginia Corners
1619:, 30 June 2010. Retrieved: 21 March 2012.
1000:, and the Black Mountains. Using a crude
725:The Black Mountains consist primarily of
1740:South Beyond 6000 in the Black Mountains
1721:United States Department of the Interior
1100:A logged slope of Mount Mitchell in 1923
353:
1881:Chestnut Mountain (Transylvania County)
1277:
1249:Sign marking the summit of Cattail Peak
1203:
132:
2649:Subranges of the Appalachian Mountains
1659:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
1652:
773:southern Appalachian spruce-fir forest
1475:Knights of Spain, Warriors of the Sun
521:(1812–1897), politician and surveyor
417:(1860–1925), North Carolina governor
7:
393:(1793–1857), professor and surveyor
2192:Chestnut Mountain (Caldwell County)
1712:Geographic Names Information System
1318:NC Division of Parks and Recreation
1261:List of mountains in North Carolina
1401:"The Cloud Forest in our Backyard"
1288:. www.ents-bbs.org. Archived from
25:
1453:A Naturalist's Blue Ridge Parkway
1389:(Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, 1993).
1242:
1237:Backcountry campsite at Deep Gap
1230:
1218:
1206:
247:The Black Mountains are home to
131:
124:
38:
1717:United States Geological Survey
1:
1693:State Parks of North Carolina
1399:Galton, Tal (20 April 2018).
924:was located near the town of
916:(1000 BC – 1000 AD), and the
70:6,684 ft (2,037 m)
1777:Mountains of North Carolina
1311:"Mount Mitchell State Park"
980:In the early 19th century,
854:. Bird species include the
698:5,665 ft/1,727 m
675:5,920 ft/1,800 m
657:6,212 ft/1,893 m
634:6,224 ft/1,897 m
615:6,320 ft/1,930 m
597:6,320 ft/1,930 m
570:6,327 ft/1,928 m
549:6,420 ft/1,960 m
531:6,475 ft/1,974 m
509:6,540 ft/1,990 m
490:6,560 ft/2,000 m
471:6,581 ft/2,006 m
452:6,583 ft/2,006 m
427:6,611 ft/2,015 m
405:6,647 ft/2,026 m
381:6,684 ft/2,037 m
240:at lower elevations. The
2675:
1602:Silver, 177–182, 211, 221.
439:tree, previously known as
261:North Carolina Highway 128
242:Eastern Continental Divide
2516:
1117:The conservation movement
1088:, on September 18, 2024.
960:In 1789, French botanist
249:Mount Mitchell State Park
118:
37:
2448:Standing Indian Mountain
2242:Little Chestnut Mountain
2050:North Eaglenest Mountain
852:northern flying squirrel
1617:Knoxville News Sentinel
1057:Smithsonian Institution
870:and various species of
795:and various species of
2083:Little Yellow Mountain
1911:Great Craggy Mountains
1868:Great Balsam Mountains
1180:hemlock woolly adelgid
1151:
1126:
1101:
1053:Thomas Lanier Clingman
1012:
977:
902:
768:
722:
704:35.704308, −82.275411
681:35.786803, −82.346561
663:35.817668, −82.249273
640:35.840947, −82.247985
621:35.738063, −82.318615
603:35.748951, −82.275613
576:35.852423, −82.248678
555:35.729955, −82.291246
519:Thomas Lanier Clingman
496:35.739124, −82.285235
477:35.779698, −82.259854
458:35.798413, −82.256502
433:35.789705, −82.255846
411:35.777584, −82.261759
294:Great Craggy Mountains
284:
253:Pisgah National Forest
1929:Great Smoky Mountains
1213:The summit of Big Tom
1164:balsam woolly adelgid
1149:
1142:Environmental threats
1124:
1099:
1077:Great Smoky Mountains
1010:
975:
894:
860:northern saw-whet owl
850:, and the endangered
763:
720:
537:35.801537, −82.25314
534:North-central Blacks
515:35.73504, −82.285986
474:South-central Blacks
455:North-central Blacks
430:North-central Blacks
408:South-central Blacks
387:35.76497, −82.265152
384:South-central Blacks
282:
222:Appalachian Mountains
98:35.76472°N 82.26528°W
2639:Blue Ridge Mountains
2607:Winter Star Mountain
2433:Occoneechee Mountain
2388:Cane Creek Mountains
2282:Spanish Oak Mountain
2227:Grandmother Mountain
2222:Grandfather Mountain
2022:Thunderhead Mountain
1919:Beaucatcher Mountain
1785:Blue Ridge Mountains
990:Grandfather Mountain
918:Mississippian period
912:(8000–1000 BC), the
821:mountain paper birch
653:Winter Star Mountain
307:to the west and the
180:Blue Ridge Mountains
2326:Sauratown Mountains
2212:Fire Scale Mountain
2073:Big Yellow Mountain
1092:Tourism and logging
1035: /
864:pileated woodpecker
809:Table Mountain pine
756:Plants and wildlife
738:Alleghenian orogeny
218:Blue Ridge Province
103:35.76472; -82.26528
94: /
2468:Whiteside Mountain
2408:Looking Glass Rock
2398:Devil's Courthouse
2349:Uwharrie Mountains
2302:Three Top Mountain
2277:Sassafras Mountain
2271:Rich Mountain Bald
2265:(SSW of Boone) 2)
2045:Eaglenest Mountain
1526:Silver, pp. 91–95.
1464:Silver, pp. 55–60.
1152:
1127:
1107:American Civil War
1102:
1013:
978:
928:to the southeast.
903:
769:
723:
587:, meaning "corn."
317:French Broad River
285:
257:Blue Ridge Parkway
232:trees that form a
50:Highest point
2626:
2625:
2602:Black Balsam Knob
2476:
2475:
2453:Terrells Mountain
2418:McAlpine Mountain
2413:Mayfield Mountain
2393:Crowders Mountain
2383:Big Butt Mountain
2357:Caraway Mountains
2320:
2319:
2269:(NW of Boone) 3)
2237:Humpback Mountain
2202:Doe Hill Mountain
2177:Bluerock Mountain
2106:Bob Stratton Bald
2078:Grassy Ridge Bald
1876:Black Balsam Knob
1853:Hibriten Mountain
1729:"Black Mountains"
1707:"Black Mountains"
1611:Morgan Simmons, "
1073:David Lowry Swain
1039:35.735°N 82.286°W
868:peregrine falcons
832:white-tailed deer
710:
709:
234:spruce-fir forest
202:
201:
16:(Redirected from
2666:
2503:
2496:
2489:
2480:
2428:Mulatto Mountain
2217:Flattop Mountain
2098:Unicoi Mountains
1845:Brushy Mountains
1790:
1770:
1763:
1756:
1747:
1736:
1724:
1695:. John F. Blair.
1679:
1678:
1671:
1665:
1664:
1658:
1650:
1648:
1647:
1641:
1635:. Archived from
1634:
1626:
1620:
1609:
1603:
1600:
1594:
1593:Silver, 150-153.
1591:
1585:
1584:Silver, 139-147.
1582:
1576:
1575:Silver, 126-131.
1573:
1567:
1566:
1564:
1562:
1551:
1545:
1544:Silver, 111-117.
1542:
1536:
1533:
1527:
1524:
1518:
1515:
1509:
1506:
1500:
1497:
1491:
1486:Charles Hudson,
1484:
1478:
1473:Charles Hudson,
1471:
1465:
1462:
1456:
1449:
1443:
1440:
1434:
1431:
1425:
1422:
1416:
1415:
1413:
1411:
1396:
1390:
1383:
1377:
1374:
1368:
1365:
1359:
1358:
1356:
1355:
1341:
1335:
1330:Timothy Silver,
1328:
1322:
1321:
1315:
1307:
1301:
1300:
1298:
1297:
1282:
1246:
1234:
1222:
1210:
1175:Carolina hemlock
1050:
1049:
1047:
1046:
1045:
1040:
1036:
1033:
1032:
1031:
1028:
1011:"Big Tom" Wilson
982:Mount Washington
948:Early settlement
933:Hernando de Soto
906:Native Americans
765:Spruce-fir stand
701:Southern Blacks
660:Northern Blacks
637:Northern Blacks
618:Southern Blacks
600:Southern Blacks
573:Northern Blacks
552:Southern Blacks
512:Southern Blacks
493:Southern Blacks
354:
313:Nolichucky River
220:of the Southern
175:
135:
134:
128:
109:
108:
106:
105:
104:
99:
95:
92:
91:
90:
87:
42:
30:
21:
2674:
2673:
2669:
2668:
2667:
2665:
2664:
2663:
2644:Southern Sixers
2629:
2628:
2627:
2622:
2621:
2587:Mount Lyn Lowry
2572:Blackstock Knob
2557:Richland Balsam
2512:
2507:
2477:
2472:
2443:South Mountains
2423:Mount Jefferson
2378:Albert Mountain
2366:
2362:Morrow Mountain
2343:
2316:
2145:
2122:
2092:
2059:
2031:
1942:Charlies Bunion
1923:
1905:
1891:Richland Balsam
1862:
1839:
1817:Black Mountains
1811:
1779:
1774:
1727:
1705:
1702:
1688:
1686:General sources
1683:
1682:
1673:
1672:
1668:
1651:
1645:
1643:
1639:
1632:
1630:"Archived copy"
1628:
1627:
1623:
1610:
1606:
1601:
1597:
1592:
1588:
1583:
1579:
1574:
1570:
1560:
1558:
1553:
1552:
1548:
1543:
1539:
1535:Silver, 96-109.
1534:
1530:
1525:
1521:
1516:
1512:
1507:
1503:
1498:
1494:
1485:
1481:
1472:
1468:
1463:
1459:
1450:
1446:
1441:
1437:
1432:
1428:
1423:
1419:
1409:
1407:
1405:Mountain Xpress
1398:
1397:
1393:
1384:
1380:
1375:
1371:
1366:
1362:
1353:
1351:
1349:www.ncpedia.org
1343:
1342:
1338:
1329:
1325:
1313:
1309:
1308:
1304:
1295:
1293:
1284:
1283:
1279:
1274:
1257:
1250:
1247:
1238:
1235:
1226:
1223:
1214:
1211:
1202:
1144:
1119:
1094:
1044:35.735; -82.286
1043:
1041:
1037:
1034:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1022:
1021:
994:Elisha Mitchell
970:
950:
914:Woodland period
889:
884:
767:on Mt. Mitchell
758:
715:
678:Western Blacks
611:Blackstock Knob
391:Elisha Mitchell
341:
339:Notable summits
325:Swannanoa River
309:South Toe River
277:
269:Buncombe County
238:deciduous trees
206:Black Mountains
173:
147:
146:
145:
144:
143:
142:
141:
140:
139:Black Mountains
136:
102:
100:
96:
93:
88:
85:
83:
81:
80:
45:
33:Black Mountains
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
2672:
2670:
2662:
2661:
2656:
2651:
2646:
2641:
2631:
2630:
2624:
2623:
2620:
2619:
2614:
2609:
2604:
2599:
2594:
2589:
2584:
2582:Roan High Knob
2579:
2577:Waterrock Knob
2574:
2569:
2564:
2559:
2554:
2549:
2544:
2539:
2534:
2529:
2524:
2522:Mount Mitchell
2518:
2517:
2514:
2513:
2508:
2506:
2505:
2498:
2491:
2483:
2474:
2473:
2471:
2470:
2465:
2460:
2455:
2450:
2445:
2440:
2435:
2430:
2425:
2420:
2415:
2410:
2405:
2403:Kings Pinnacle
2400:
2395:
2390:
2385:
2380:
2374:
2372:
2368:
2367:
2365:
2364:
2359:
2353:
2351:
2345:
2344:
2342:
2341:
2339:Pilot Mountain
2336:
2330:
2328:
2322:
2321:
2318:
2317:
2315:
2314:
2309:
2304:
2299:
2294:
2292:Sugar Mountain
2289:
2287:Stone Mountain
2284:
2279:
2274:
2273:(NNW of Boone)
2259:
2257:Pixie Mountain
2254:
2249:
2244:
2239:
2234:
2229:
2224:
2219:
2214:
2209:
2204:
2199:
2194:
2189:
2187:Brown Mountain
2184:
2179:
2174:
2172:Beech Mountain
2169:
2164:
2159:
2157:Adams Mountain
2153:
2151:
2147:
2146:
2144:
2143:
2138:
2136:Snake Mountain
2132:
2130:
2128:Iron Mountains
2124:
2123:
2121:
2120:
2114:
2113:
2108:
2102:
2100:
2094:
2093:
2091:
2090:
2085:
2080:
2075:
2069:
2067:
2061:
2060:
2058:
2057:
2055:Waterrock Knob
2052:
2047:
2041:
2039:
2033:
2032:
2030:
2029:
2027:Tricorner Knob
2024:
2019:
2014:
2009:
2004:
1999:
1997:Mount Sterling
1994:
1992:Mount Sequoyah
1989:
1984:
1982:Mount Hardison
1979:
1974:
1969:
1964:
1962:Mount Cammerer
1959:
1954:
1949:
1944:
1939:
1933:
1931:
1925:
1924:
1922:
1921:
1915:
1913:
1907:
1906:
1904:
1903:
1898:
1893:
1888:
1883:
1878:
1872:
1870:
1864:
1863:
1861:
1860:
1855:
1849:
1847:
1841:
1840:
1838:
1837:
1835:Mount Mitchell
1832:
1827:
1821:
1819:
1813:
1812:
1810:
1809:
1804:
1798:
1796:
1794:Bald Mountains
1787:
1781:
1780:
1775:
1773:
1772:
1765:
1758:
1750:
1744:
1743:
1737:
1733:Peakbagger.com
1725:
1701:
1700:External links
1698:
1697:
1696:
1687:
1684:
1681:
1680:
1666:
1621:
1604:
1595:
1586:
1577:
1568:
1546:
1537:
1528:
1519:
1517:Silver, 85-86.
1510:
1508:Silver, 63-64.
1501:
1499:Silver, 69-74.
1492:
1479:
1466:
1457:
1451:David Catlin,
1444:
1442:Silver, 29-32.
1435:
1426:
1424:Silver, 12-22.
1417:
1391:
1378:
1369:
1360:
1336:
1323:
1302:
1276:
1275:
1273:
1270:
1269:
1268:
1263:
1256:
1253:
1252:
1251:
1248:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1205:
1201:
1198:
1193:Sulfur dioxide
1143:
1140:
1118:
1115:
1093:
1090:
998:Roan Highlands
969:
966:
949:
946:
910:Archaic period
888:
885:
883:
880:
757:
754:
714:
711:
708:
707:
705:
702:
699:
696:
690:
689:
684:Also known as
682:
679:
676:
673:
667:
666:
664:
661:
658:
655:
649:
648:
641:
638:
635:
632:
630:Gibbs Mountain
626:
625:
622:
619:
616:
613:
607:
606:
604:
601:
598:
595:
593:Mount Hallback
589:
588:
577:
574:
571:
568:
560:
559:
556:
553:
550:
547:
541:
540:
538:
535:
532:
529:
523:
522:
516:
513:
510:
507:
505:Clingmans Peak
501:
500:
497:
494:
491:
488:
482:
481:
478:
475:
472:
469:
463:
462:
459:
456:
453:
450:
444:
443:
434:
431:
428:
425:
419:
418:
412:
409:
406:
403:
395:
394:
388:
385:
382:
379:
376:Mount Mitchell
371:
370:
367:
364:
361:
358:
340:
337:
321:Gulf of Mexico
276:
273:
214:North Carolina
210:mountain range
200:
199:
194:
188:
187:
183:
182:
177:
169:
168:
166:North Carolina
163:
159:
158:
153:
149:
148:
138:
137:
130:
129:
123:
122:
121:
120:
119:
116:
115:
111:
110:
78:
72:
71:
68:
62:
61:
59:Mount Mitchell
56:
52:
51:
47:
46:
43:
35:
34:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2671:
2660:
2657:
2655:
2652:
2650:
2647:
2645:
2642:
2640:
2637:
2636:
2634:
2618:
2615:
2613:
2612:Mount Collins
2610:
2608:
2605:
2603:
2600:
2598:
2597:Mount Kephart
2595:
2593:
2590:
2588:
2585:
2583:
2580:
2578:
2575:
2573:
2570:
2568:
2565:
2563:
2560:
2558:
2555:
2553:
2552:Mount Chapman
2550:
2548:
2545:
2543:
2540:
2538:
2535:
2533:
2530:
2528:
2525:
2523:
2520:
2519:
2515:
2511:
2504:
2499:
2497:
2492:
2490:
2485:
2484:
2481:
2469:
2466:
2464:
2461:
2459:
2456:
2454:
2451:
2449:
2446:
2444:
2441:
2439:
2438:Old Butt Knob
2436:
2434:
2431:
2429:
2426:
2424:
2421:
2419:
2416:
2414:
2411:
2409:
2406:
2404:
2401:
2399:
2396:
2394:
2391:
2389:
2386:
2384:
2381:
2379:
2376:
2375:
2373:
2369:
2363:
2360:
2358:
2355:
2354:
2352:
2350:
2346:
2340:
2337:
2335:
2332:
2331:
2329:
2327:
2323:
2313:
2310:
2308:
2305:
2303:
2300:
2298:
2295:
2293:
2290:
2288:
2285:
2283:
2280:
2278:
2275:
2272:
2268:
2267:Rich Mountain
2264:
2263:Rich Mountain
2260:
2258:
2255:
2253:
2252:Peak Mountain
2250:
2248:
2245:
2243:
2240:
2238:
2235:
2233:
2230:
2228:
2225:
2223:
2220:
2218:
2215:
2213:
2210:
2208:
2205:
2203:
2200:
2198:
2197:Crossing Knob
2195:
2193:
2190:
2188:
2185:
2183:
2180:
2178:
2175:
2173:
2170:
2168:
2165:
2163:
2160:
2158:
2155:
2154:
2152:
2148:
2142:
2139:
2137:
2134:
2133:
2131:
2129:
2125:
2119:
2116:
2115:
2112:
2109:
2107:
2104:
2103:
2101:
2099:
2095:
2089:
2088:Roan Mountain
2086:
2084:
2081:
2079:
2076:
2074:
2071:
2070:
2068:
2066:
2062:
2056:
2053:
2051:
2048:
2046:
2043:
2042:
2040:
2038:
2037:Plott Balsams
2034:
2028:
2025:
2023:
2020:
2018:
2015:
2013:
2010:
2008:
2005:
2003:
2000:
1998:
1995:
1993:
1990:
1988:
1987:Mount Kephart
1985:
1983:
1980:
1978:
1975:
1973:
1972:Mount Collins
1970:
1968:
1967:Mount Chapman
1965:
1963:
1960:
1958:
1955:
1953:
1950:
1948:
1945:
1943:
1940:
1938:
1935:
1934:
1932:
1930:
1926:
1920:
1917:
1916:
1914:
1912:
1908:
1902:
1899:
1897:
1894:
1892:
1889:
1887:
1886:Cold Mountain
1884:
1882:
1879:
1877:
1874:
1873:
1871:
1869:
1865:
1859:
1856:
1854:
1851:
1850:
1848:
1846:
1842:
1836:
1833:
1831:
1828:
1826:
1823:
1822:
1820:
1818:
1814:
1808:
1805:
1803:
1800:
1799:
1797:
1795:
1791:
1788:
1786:
1782:
1778:
1771:
1766:
1764:
1759:
1757:
1752:
1751:
1748:
1741:
1738:
1734:
1730:
1726:
1722:
1718:
1714:
1713:
1708:
1704:
1703:
1699:
1694:
1690:
1689:
1685:
1676:
1670:
1667:
1662:
1656:
1642:on 2021-09-24
1638:
1631:
1625:
1622:
1618:
1614:
1608:
1605:
1599:
1596:
1590:
1587:
1581:
1578:
1572:
1569:
1561:September 20,
1556:
1550:
1547:
1541:
1538:
1532:
1529:
1523:
1520:
1514:
1511:
1505:
1502:
1496:
1493:
1489:
1483:
1480:
1476:
1470:
1467:
1461:
1458:
1454:
1448:
1445:
1439:
1436:
1430:
1427:
1421:
1418:
1406:
1402:
1395:
1392:
1388:
1382:
1379:
1376:Silver, 9-10.
1373:
1370:
1364:
1361:
1350:
1346:
1340:
1337:
1333:
1327:
1324:
1319:
1312:
1306:
1303:
1292:on 2015-06-18
1291:
1287:
1281:
1278:
1271:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1258:
1254:
1245:
1240:
1233:
1228:
1221:
1216:
1209:
1204:
1200:Photo gallery
1199:
1197:
1194:
1189:
1188:deforestation
1183:
1181:
1176:
1172:
1167:
1165:
1161:
1160:air pollution
1157:
1148:
1141:
1139:
1135:
1132:
1123:
1116:
1114:
1110:
1108:
1098:
1091:
1089:
1087:
1083:
1078:
1074:
1068:
1066:
1065:Zebulon Vance
1060:
1058:
1054:
1048:
1019:
1009:
1005:
1003:
999:
995:
991:
987:
986:New Hampshire
983:
974:
967:
965:
963:
962:André Michaux
958:
956:
947:
945:
943:
938:
934:
929:
927:
923:
919:
915:
911:
907:
901:
897:
893:
886:
881:
879:
877:
873:
869:
865:
861:
857:
853:
849:
845:
841:
837:
833:
829:
824:
822:
818:
817:Virginia pine
814:
810:
806:
802:
798:
794:
793:yellow poplar
790:
786:
782:
778:
774:
766:
762:
755:
753:
750:
746:
741:
739:
735:
731:
728:
719:
712:
706:
703:
700:
697:
695:
692:
691:
687:
683:
680:
677:
674:
672:
669:
668:
665:
662:
659:
656:
654:
651:
650:
646:
645:circuit rider
642:
639:
636:
633:
631:
628:
627:
623:
620:
617:
614:
612:
609:
608:
605:
602:
599:
596:
594:
591:
590:
586:
582:
579:Possibly the
578:
575:
572:
569:
567:
566:
562:
561:
557:
554:
551:
548:
546:
543:
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363:General area
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333:Catawba River
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2547:Mount Gibbes
2334:Moore's Knob
2312:Woody's Knob
2307:Tomkins Knob
2247:Mount Pisgah
2167:Bee Mountain
2017:Spence Field
1952:Gregory Bald
1937:Andrews Bald
1901:Tanasee Bald
1896:Shining Rock
1816:
1732:
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1692:
1669:
1644:. Retrieved
1637:the original
1624:
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1352:. Retrieved
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1294:. Retrieved
1290:the original
1286:"Data sheet"
1280:
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1128:
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1103:
1069:
1061:
1018:Arnold Guyot
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979:
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904:
900:Woody's Knob
840:river otters
825:
785:yellow birch
777:cloud forest
770:
745:last ice age
742:
724:
694:The Pinnacle
693:
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486:Mount Gibbes
485:
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448:Cattail Peak
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398:
374:
369:Named after
366:Coordinates
342:
302:
286:
246:
205:
203:
174:Parent range
18:Mount Gibbes
2592:Luftee Knob
2542:Balsam Cone
2537:Mount Guyot
2527:Mount Craig
2463:Wesser Bald
2232:Howard Knob
2118:Hooper Bald
2065:Unaka Range
2012:Silers Bald
1977:Mount Guyot
1830:Mount Craig
1433:Catlin, 81.
1385:Rose Houk,
1196:increased.
1131:Locke Craig
1042: /
876:Brook trout
866:, although
856:wild turkey
828:black bears
743:During the
727:Precambrian
686:Yeates Knob
545:Potato Knob
527:Potato Hill
423:Balsam Cone
415:Locke Craig
400:Mount Craig
212:in western
197:Alleghenian
101: /
76:Coordinates
2633:Categories
2617:Marks Knob
2458:Wayah Bald
2297:Table Rock
2182:Brier Knob
2162:Bear's Paw
2007:Shuckstack
1957:Marks Knob
1858:Pores Knob
1646:2021-09-24
1410:4 December
1367:Silver, 3.
1354:2023-10-09
1296:2021-03-09
1272:References
1030:82°17′10″W
1027:35°44′06″N
942:Juan Pardo
887:Prehistory
862:, and the
813:pitch pine
643:Methodist
441:balsam fir
437:Fraser fir
360:Elevation
305:Cane River
298:Cane River
230:Fraser fir
226:red spruce
89:82°15′55″W
86:35°45′53″N
2567:Celo Knob
2562:Old Black
2002:Old Black
1825:Celo Knob
1807:Max Patch
1156:acid rain
1002:barometer
926:Morganton
896:Celo Knob
565:Celo Knob
357:Mountain
345:sea level
329:Asheville
290:Celo Knob
275:Geography
114:Geography
66:Elevation
2207:Elk Knob
2111:Haw Knob
1802:Big Bald
1655:cite web
1255:See also
1082:Cherokee
836:raccoons
671:Big Butt
581:Cherokee
1320:. 2018.
1171:eastern
955:ginseng
937:Florida
882:History
848:bobcats
797:hickory
789:buckeye
734:schists
713:Geology
467:Big Tom
192:Orogeny
186:Geology
152:Country
2532:Kuwohi
2371:Others
2150:Others
1947:Kuwohi
1086:Kuwohi
1084:name,
858:, the
815:, and
803:, and
787:, and
749:tundra
730:gneiss
271:line.
255:. The
208:are a
1640:(PDF)
1633:(PDF)
1314:(PDF)
922:Joara
844:minks
805:maple
781:beech
583:word
300:gap.
162:State
1661:link
1563:2024
1412:2018
1173:and
1158:and
931:The
872:hawk
732:and
585:selu
228:and
204:The
55:Peak
1615:,"
984:in
801:oak
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20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
