Anyone know any good ecology or geology books regarding the AT?

[ajwatson]

I'm not too hopeful, but are there any AT specific books regarding ecology/geology for different sections of the trail? How about more general books that cover a wider area, but include information on some section of the Appalachian Mountains?

[TOMP]

Well there are regional ecology/geology books, so you could get one for the New England area, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast. I dont know of any that are specific to the AT. But thats mainly because the ecology on the AT in Maine for example would not be dramatically different than the ecology in the other forest areas in Maine.

[SCRUB HIKER]

The bibliography at the end of A Walk In the Woods by Bill Bryson had some of what you're looking for, if I remember correctly. I don't have it on hand right now, otherwise I'd give you some of the titles.

[Snowleopard]

The AMC has some books on their website on the natural history of the area (mainly New England).
I liked:
Reading the Forested Landscape A Natural History of New England (http://amcstore.outdoors.org/amcstore/product.asp?prod_name=Reading+the+Forested+Landsca pe+%0AA+Natural+History+of+New+England&pf_id=PAAAIACIJNACOKMB&dept_id=3019&s_id=0&) http://amcstore.outdoors.org/amcstore/dept.asp?s_id=0&dept_name=Mountain+%26+Natural+History&dept_id=3019&WT.svl=deptnav2 (http://amcstore.outdoors.org/amcstore/dept.asp?s_id=0&dept_name=Mountain+%26+Natural+History&dept_id=3019&WT.svl=deptnav2)

[JAK]

Thanks for that link. Very keen on this sort of thing. Very cool to think about where we are in geological history and natural history. I thought the Pequot Museum at one of those casinos in Connecticut was pretty interesting. Love stuff like that. Some fictional writers do their homework also. I really enjoy historical fiction. Brings stuff to life.

Sarum was a great book about the area around Stone Henge.
Any good historical fiction books covering the eastern seaboard over a long time span.

I thought Henry David Thoreau's book "In the Maine Woods" gave a good account of what the forests were like before modern agriculture and woodland management.

[JAK]

That "Reading the forest landscape" book looks really interesting.
I love coming across stuff like old stone walls and corduroy roads and such.

[ki0eh]

Geology of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, by J. Peter Wilshusen, unfortunately now out of print and the PA DCNR has not so far elected to scan and post it. http://www.amazon.com/Geology-Appalachian-Pennsylvania-General-Reports/dp/0818200200

[Tinker]

Not a book, but here's a funny t-shirt:

http://www.zazzle.com/subduction_leads_to_orogeny_geology_humor_tshirt-235594650821204544

I used to be a geology nut when I was a kid, so I can get the gist of much of what geologists' "code" lingo is (the basics, at least).

[BobTheBuilder]

Yeah - Backpacker Magazine's Guide to the Appalachian Trail, 2nd Edition.

I bought it as a guide, but it seems like half of each chapter is trail description, half is geology lesson. Not my cup of tea, but if it is yours, it is worth a read.

[pyroman53]

http://www.fs.fed.us/land/pubs/ecoregions/toc.html (http://www.fs.fed.us/land/pubs/ecoregions/toc.html)
Focus on Chapters 14-19

http://www.forestencyclopedia.net/ (http://www.forestencyclopedia.net/)
Southern Appalachians

http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/sites/harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/files/publications/pdfs/Burgi_JBiogeo_2000.pdf (http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/sites/harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/files/publications/pdfs/Burgi_JBiogeo_2000.pdf)
Effects of postsettlement human activities on forest
composition in the north-eastern United States

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/Noblueridge_text.pdf (http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/Noblueridge_text.pdf)
Ecological Communities of No. VA

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/overviewPhysiography_vegetation.pdf (http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/overviewPhysiography_vegetation.pdf)
Overview of the Physiography and Vegetation of Virginia

http://www.history.com/topics/appalachian-mountains (http://www.history.com/topics/appalachian-mountains)
General info on App Mtns

There’s plenty more if you have time to look

I have a book “Mountains of the Heart – A natural History of the Appalachians” that I have been slowly crawling through but I wouldn’t recommend.

[burger]

I can't believe that no one has mentioned In Suspect Terrain by John McPhee. This is the absolute best book on the geology of the Appalachians written by the best writer to ever write about geology. McPhee is an amazing writer with a true gift for explaining complicated ideas in a simple way. He won a Pulitzer prize for a larger book about geology that includes In Suspect Terrain (plus 4 other books about the geology of North America).

[Snowleopard]

Some very localized but detailed information about old growth forest on Mt. Everett, Mt. Race and Bear Mt (CT and MA):
http://www.nativetreesociety.org/fieldtrips/mass/mounteverett.pdf
It would be neat if this level of ecological information were available for the whole trail. Maybe it exists but it would be a lot of work to find it.

[RockDoc]

If you want geology info, don't mess around with popular writers (McPhee, etc) who just rehash what others have written.
Get US Geological Survey maps and publications for your area of interest. This is the original data, without drama or hype.

[RodentWhisperer]

See if you can find any of William Bartram's botanical writings from the 1700s-- I believe they have been reprinted at several different times.

[LDog]

I'm reading "Underfoot - A Geologic Guide to the Appalachian Trail" by V. Collins Chew - A 42 year student of geology, an AT Hiker, trail maintainer, ATC board of managers member, and chaired the TERC.

[sloger]

Mountains of the Heart: A Natural History of the Appalachians by Scott Weidensaul

[ezNomad]

Mountain Nature: A Seasonal Natural History of the Southern Appalachians
http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Nature-Seasonal-Southern-Appalachians/dp/080783386X

Bartram was mentioned, here is a link to an old historic work, considered a pioneering naturalist/travel text of the region (1791):

Travels through North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida, the Cherokee country, the extensive territories of the Muscogulges or Creek confederacy, and the country of the Chactaws. Containing an account of the soil and natural productions of those regions

Author: Bartram, William, 1739-1823. cn

http://www.archive.org/details/travelsthroughno00bart

[hikerboy57]

i have this one for NH/ME AMC nature guide for the northern forset:http://amcstore.outdoors.org/amcstore/product.asp?s_id=0&prod_name=AMC+Nature+Guide+to+the+Northern+Forest&pf_id=PACOADOKAPOMHDIM&dept_id=3018

[Wise Old Owl]

You could have done this yourself

Amazon >>>>>>CLICK (http://www.amazon.com/Underfoot-Geologic-Guide-Appalachian-Trail/dp/0917953592/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330181317&sr=1-3)

[RodentWhisperer]

Mountain Nature: A Seasonal Natural History of the Southern Appalachians
http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Nature-Seasonal-Southern-Appalachians/dp/080783386X

Bartram was mentioned, here is a link to an old historic work, considered a pioneering naturalist/travel text of the region (1791):

Travels through North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida, the Cherokee country, the extensive territories of the Muscogulges or Creek confederacy, and the country of the Chactaws. Containing an account of the soil and natural productions of those regions

Author: Bartram, William, 1739-1823. cn

http://www.archive.org/details/travelsthroughno00bart

Awesome! I just downloaded the PDF of Bartram. Thanks for posting that link!

[rocketsocks]

+1 on Click,I bought a copy (used ) of v.Collins Chews book around X-Mas with a Amozon gift card I recieved.Good book and showed up in more than acceptable shape,think I paid $2.79

[rocketsocks]

Here is an easier way to remember geologic Epocs

Come over some day maybe play poker;which stands for

cambrian
ordorvichian
silurian
devonian
mississippi
pennsylvanian
permian

And then;three jacks calls two queens;

triasic
jurasic
creataceous
tertiary
quaternary

[rocketsocks]

Here is an easier way to remember geologic Epocs

Come over some day maybe play poker;which stands for

cambrian
ordorvichian
silurian
devonian
mississippi
pennsylvanian
permian

And then;three jacks calls two queens;

triasic
jurasic
creataceous
tertiary
quaternaryOops,thats geologic Periods not epocs.:o

[ki0eh]

Geology of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, by J. Peter Wilshusen, unfortunately now out of print and the PA DCNR has not so far elected to scan and post it.

They finally have it, scroll to near the bottom, G 74 on http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/publications/pgspub/general/index.htm