Dear All,
        I just returned from the mountainous area of northern Alabama and
southeastern Tennessee in the area of the Paint Rock River Valley and I just
had to share some of our experiences.
 
         My purpose for the trip was a search for living examples of Lampsilis
virescens (endangered) which had not been seen alive for about 20 years.  The
upper end of the drainage is rather remote so we chose to stay in a hunting
cabin for lodging to save travel time to our launch sites.  After each day of
collecting we would drive to the cabin which was a thirty minute drive from
the nearest paved road; not that far, but treacherous mountain terrain with
rocks so sharp as they punctured the tires on two of our 4-wheel drive
vehicles.  You have never changed a flat tire until you have changed one on
the side of a rugged mountain with no flat surface to place the jack.  I would
not know about this either.  Since there was plenty of manpower I used the
time to search for terrestrial snails which were abundant.  (Anyway, that's my
story).