Todd Lake, Trimble Mountain, North River Gorge, VA

Photos by Michael Juskelis and John Cougnet, 2006/07/28-30.

Day 1: Trimble Mountain Hike

View west from Trimble Mountain.

View around Todd Lake.

Day 2: Wild Oak National Recreation Trail, North River Gorge Loop

We were up there 30 minutes ago!

North River.

Mike cooling off in a pool in the river. [photo by John]

Continuing along North River Gorge Trail. We had to ford the river 8 times!

Flora and Fauna

A very young Amanita daucipes specimen found by John.

Ramaria formosa, Yellow-tipped Coral, grows on the ground under conifers.

Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar (Hypercompe scribonia). Becomes a beautiful large white moth with black spots.

Flowering Spurge (Euphorbia corollata): Found in dry open woods and fields. Stems contain a milky juice which has been used as a laxative. An overdose can be poisonous!

False Solomon's Seal berries (Smilacina racemosa): In the lily family. Stalk of delicate white flowers give rise to these green berries which will become speckled with red before turning translucent ruby red.

Spicebush butterfly on a thistle along the Trimble Mountain Trail.

Other pictures from Wild Oak NRT / North River Gorge, VA: