Appalachians

Appalachian Mountains

When Rebecca first asked me to write about the Appalachians the first thing I thought of was, “greywacke”. The rock and not a personal reflection. It is the dominate rock type of this ancient mountain range that stretches from Canada to Georgia. The highly deformed rocks of the Appalachian Mountains create a linear set of ridges and valleys that run southeast to northwest for 1,500 miles (That’s 2,400 kilometers Granddaddy!). This geomorphology forms a system of valleys and ridges that segregates everything in its path, stagnating gene pools, separating flora and fauna, and providing opposition to east west movement of everything living here. The abrupt elevation changes further enhance this micro-climatic diversity. Masked in mist, moss, and moist vegetation it is a lush world of magnificent beauty. But my favorite thing about this mountain system is it is ORDOVICIAN in age! Why you ask?

1. This geologic period is named after a fierce Welsh tribe the Ordovices
   2.Sounds really cool if you spin your bass fiddle in you left hand raise your right hand in the air yell, “Ordovician!” to the maddened crowd.
   3.And the C02 content was 4,200 PPM!
   Well, I have to go now because there is a storm named “Laura” headed towards these ancient mountains tomorrow and the only ones worried about it are the Homo Sapiens Sapiens. Wise man who thinks he thinks indeed!