It rained so hard that night that I spent two hours on the interstate moving along at about 50 mph. I had intended on camping this night, but the motel signs near Kingsport, Tennessee looked awful good to me. When I awoke it was raining still. I took time for a coffee and bagel breakfast, staring out the cafe window and wondering how to have a productive day in the pouring rain. Today I would be working up in the Unaka Mountains of eastern Tennessee. It was an important day in that I would be in Yonahlossee territory, and Plethodon yonahlossee was at the top of my list for this expedition.

So once again it was four-lanes to two-lanes, and then finally to a one-lane forest road that wound up into the mountains and along the ridges. Lots of switchbacks and steep grades, and the rain, while no longer a downpour, was steady. I stopped at one switchback where a seep intersected the road, and got a new salamander - a Northern Graycheeked, Plethodon montanus. There were no markings anywhere on this salamander, also considered to be just a variant of Plethodon jordani, the Redcheeked Salamander. I had problems keeping my camera dry while taking pictures and that worried me somewhat.

Back on the road and up, up, up I went, then the road leveled off near the mountain tops. I pulled over where a branch of the Appalachian Trail crossed the road, and getting out I spotted several small pieces of plywood under a stand of hemlock. Under the first piece was something small, glittery and new - I slapped down and managed to close my hand around it. I carried it back to the road and opened my hand - Plethodon welleri, Weller's Salamander!

What to do? I wanted pictures but didn't want to risk getting my camera fried, something I didn't have to worry about as much with my old analog Pentax. I needed to set up a little studio out of the weather - I would bring any salamanders back to the vehicle for pictures. I put the little welleri in a small container, opened the back hatch on the XTerra and went looking for some flat rocks to use for photographs. I found one of nice size for a base, and needed one more to set on edge for background. I spotted a good one off to one side of the road and picked it up - salamander!  THE salamander, the one I was hoping for, Plethodon yonahlossee. I could only shake my head and grin. I had been staring at the Yonahlossee illustration in Conant and Collins' Field Guide for more years than I cared to count, and now here it was in front of me, a casual discovery on the side of the road.

Now I had two new species to shoot under the open hatch. The little Weller's was full of eggs, and she waddled around like a four-legged sausage link. The dorsal colors on this salamander were stunning - black flecks and streaks on a gold background. I carried her back to her plywood, and just for grins I lifted the adjacent piece - there were two salamanders under this one, a stub-tailed welleri, and a Carolina Mountain Dusky, Desmognathus carolinensis. With the Yonahlossee still waiting in this morning's styrofoam coffee cup, I brought these two back to the truck for pictures. This area must represent the very northernmost reach of carolinensis, from what I could tell from the range maps.

Back to their plywood lair under the hemlocks, and once again I lifted up another piece, and once again, another salamander - a Graycheeked! I was thoroughly enjoying myself, my wide grin going to waste on this solo adventure. After shooting some pictures of the montanus, I returned it, and under the last small piece of wood was another welleri and another carolinensis. I left these sallies alone and went back to the truck - I had one more salamander left to shoot.

How best to describe Plethodon yonahlossee? They look like Redbacks on steroids...they are big plethodontids with long and well-developed limbs, and I had a very difficult time getting pictures of this one, as it kept moving and trying to get away. I used my handy little cover plates (plastic plant saucers) to try to settle it down, and eventually it did hold still for some shots, although perhaps it just got tired before I did.

Sometime during this last photo session the rain finally stopped, although heavy clouds continued to roll overhead, and a heavy fog hung in the air. Wondering how long the break in precipitation would last, I poked around a bit more without turning up any more salamanders, and decided it was time to break down the mobile studio and work another spot.