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New book offers facts about Smokies
Anyone who has ever wondered about the place names and natural history of the Smoky Mountains likely will enjoy a new book, Why are the Mountains Smoky?, by Kent Whitaker of Chattanooga, Tenn.
The illustrated paperback is full of facts about the mountain range that gives its name to the nation's most-visited park, and its format is easy to read and inviting. It looks like a book that kids and parents can enjoy together, especially while vacationing in the Smokies.
Whitaker's book is subtitled Neat Facts about the Southern Appalachian Mountains, and that's exactly what it provides. It has information familiar to every Tar Heel, such as the tidbit that Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet is the tallest mountain in the Appalachians as well as the tallest east of the Mississippi, as well as the less familiar stuff. Did you know that more than 4,000 species of plants grow in Great Smoky Mountains National Park because of the range of different climates and environments that exist as you move up the mountains?
Born in Louisville, Ky., raised in Nashville, Tenn., and educated at Middle Tennessee University, Whitaker said a trip to the Smoky Mountains with his son provided the inspiration for Why Are the Mountains Smoky? Whitaker also has coached Little League and hockey, built model rockets with his son and writes cookbooks and food articles for newspapers and magazines. He's known as the "Deck Chef" in certain cooking circles because of his tailgating and backyard barbecue recipes.
"During a weekend trip to buy a pumpkin for Halloween, my son, Macee, and niece Torrey asked a gazillion questions from the backseat about the Smoky Mountains," Whitaker said. "For some reason they felt the urge to ask questions instead of poking and aggravating each other. An attempt was made to answer every question, but more research was needed."
Since his book was aimed at children, Whitaker said he "looked at what a kid sees along the road."
Those items of interest included signs for bears, Indians and history, he said.
"I also listened to what my son asked about and thought about where my parents took me when I was a child. I have been keeping notes on various subjects, including mountains, beaches, the Civil War, animals and all kinds of stuff."
Whitaker said he's intrigued by the mountains and their history.
"Nothing beats an overlook during a sunset or sunrise," he said. "I also enjoy being able to look into the past and see how people lived."
My favorite section is titled How Big Can a Tree Grow?, and I wish it had been available when my kids were small. According to Whitaker, more than 125 different kinds of trees – more than in all of Northern Europe – grow in the Park. The tallest and oldest trees can reach or exceed 100 feet in height and may be hemlocks, buckeyes or red spruce. A 100-foot-tall tree will have a trunk that is more than 18 feet wide.
In addition, Whitaker explains that the "timberline" (or "tree line") is where large trees, or timber, no longer grow due to the high elevation climate.
So why are the mountains smoky? The information is found on the book's page 2, and we'll use Whitaker's words to answer his book's title question:
"Well, it's not smoke ... the blue haze found over the Great Smoky Mountains is caused by changes in weather, temperature and moisture in the air. The smoke is like fog and low-level clouds."
Whitaker even includes the sad fact that some of the haze present in the Smokies today is the result of air pollution caused by motor vehicles and industries.
Overall, Why are the Mountains Smoky succeeds at presenting a range of interesting information in a way that's sure to appeal to the inquisitive child and provide answers for their parents to share with them.
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