Donna The Buffalo at The Orange peel

On Friday, January 23, Donna the Buffalo performed at the Orange Peel. This has been an annual event for several years now, and falls during the week of my birthday, so it is always an event that I forward to.
The Binghampton, NY band "Deadwood" opened the show.

Driftwood

Donna The Buffalo

With Black Betty and Marie

Wesser Bald Hike

The grandsons and I picked a clear January day to hike to the Wesser Bald lookout tower. The hike starts at Tellico Gap (between Wayah Bald and the Nantahala Outdoor Center). From the parking area, just follow the Appalachian Trail about a mile and a half to the top of the mountain and you will see the 30 foot high platform with the incredible 360 degree view.

I love reading Earl Shaffer's (the1st A.T. thru hiker) account of his visit there in 1948. Of course it had a cabin built on it then, and was occupied by a lonely USFS Fire Warden. The man insisted he spend a stormy night there and then was reluctant to let him go in the morning. Seems that he was starving for company.

Earl described the sunrise that he witnessed there the next morning, "The storm has settled into surrounding valleys, leaving the highest peaks jutting like islands from a sea of fog. Then the sun rose, lighting a golden path across that misty sea. Seldom...have I seen anything to compare."

Steep Canyon Rangers and Jerry Douglas

                                         
                                         The Orange Peel, 1/9/2015.