So I was outside today for several hours enjoying the nice weather. After several hours of playing, my daughter wanted to swing. As soon as I pushed her, there goes her shoe into our pond. So I walk down there to wade in and retrieve it, and I step on a baby Cottonmouth, which only means one thing....mama must be nearby. Hopefully we dont have any trouble with them....
Fall ?
With the cooler temperatures this week, there seems to be a hint of Fall in the air. I just hope it is here to stay. I couldn't believe it earlier this week when I awoke and it was 61 degrees in August, which is usually our hottest month! The deer seem to think Fall is around the corner too. They are starting to show their faces more now that it has not been so hot. I caught a glimpse of a six-point earlier this morning.
3 days in Sipsey
the skinny
the beta
I had been wanting to head to the Sipsey Wilderness for some time now. Over a week as a bachelor allowed me that opportunity. I debated on the trails to hike. Trails options are endless, but here were the ones I debated, for this trip at least:
1. Sipsey
2. River-to-River
3. OHT
4. Knobstone
5. AL Pinhoti
6. Ozark
7. AT - near Erwin/Hot Springs
I chose Sipsey because it was closer to home, was the coolest forecast of all my options according to noaa (with the exception of the AT), and I had heard it was nice. Unfortunately, it wasn't as scenic as I had hoped, and this trip violated 2 of my 3 cardinal rules of hiking:
1. no bugs
2. no hot
3. no people
I sweated every waking (and sleeping) minute, contracted chiggers (yes, its a disease), and none of the dozen or so waterfalls were running. At all.
...but the wilderness feel was exciting - the 'established' trails were nothing like the AT highway. If you blinked, you missed them. They were overgrown (read: tick and chigger infested), but still 'follow-able' (much unlike western segments of the OHT in the spring). Like a game trail, if you will.
It was still dark when I left the trailhead after sleeping in the truck the night before. I parked at the main Sipsey TH, and had no problem paying my $3 per day fee for what appeared to be the safest TH from a vandalism point of view. Other THs were free to park, but more remote. After a few hundred yards setting out on trail 209, I came upon this sign:
When daylight appeared, I came upon this sight. I called it 'superficial grounding'. Gave me a spiritual connection - better have deep roots!
I had the plan of bushwhacking to all of the waterfalls in Sipsey. Those plans changed quickly after seeing Falls Creek Falls dried to a trickle:
I would have called the Sipsey River 'Sipsey Creek':
In certain segments of the trail, wild hog destruction was prevalent. I passed by one section that had probably almost an entire acre dug up similar to the small sampling seen here:
The sandy embankments of the Sipsey reminded me of Carolina piedmont blackwater:
I was thankful that some trails were marked with signposts, as they were easy to miss:
While in camp if they were'nt getting into the trash or shredding my TP, this is pretty much what they did:
Sipsey is littered with large rock outcroppings, boulders, and cave-like structures:
'Big Tree', the official name of this Yellow Poplar, is an apt name. It is the largest poplar in the state of Alabama. Boy did I pay a toll to get to it though. The tornados that swept through the state earlier this year have really caused some serious blowdowns throughout Sipsey.
Big Tree is over 150 feet tall and 25 feet in circumference:
Overall, I may go back to Sipsey. But the water will have to be flowing (abundantly), and it will have to be winter.
the beta
I had been wanting to head to the Sipsey Wilderness for some time now. Over a week as a bachelor allowed me that opportunity. I debated on the trails to hike. Trails options are endless, but here were the ones I debated, for this trip at least:
1. Sipsey
2. River-to-River
3. OHT
4. Knobstone
5. AL Pinhoti
6. Ozark
7. AT - near Erwin/Hot Springs
I chose Sipsey because it was closer to home, was the coolest forecast of all my options according to noaa (with the exception of the AT), and I had heard it was nice. Unfortunately, it wasn't as scenic as I had hoped, and this trip violated 2 of my 3 cardinal rules of hiking:
1. no bugs
2. no hot
3. no people
I sweated every waking (and sleeping) minute, contracted chiggers (yes, its a disease), and none of the dozen or so waterfalls were running. At all.
...but the wilderness feel was exciting - the 'established' trails were nothing like the AT highway. If you blinked, you missed them. They were overgrown (read: tick and chigger infested), but still 'follow-able' (much unlike western segments of the OHT in the spring). Like a game trail, if you will.
It was still dark when I left the trailhead after sleeping in the truck the night before. I parked at the main Sipsey TH, and had no problem paying my $3 per day fee for what appeared to be the safest TH from a vandalism point of view. Other THs were free to park, but more remote. After a few hundred yards setting out on trail 209, I came upon this sign:
When daylight appeared, I came upon this sight. I called it 'superficial grounding'. Gave me a spiritual connection - better have deep roots!
I had the plan of bushwhacking to all of the waterfalls in Sipsey. Those plans changed quickly after seeing Falls Creek Falls dried to a trickle:
I would have called the Sipsey River 'Sipsey Creek':
In certain segments of the trail, wild hog destruction was prevalent. I passed by one section that had probably almost an entire acre dug up similar to the small sampling seen here:
The sandy embankments of the Sipsey reminded me of Carolina piedmont blackwater:
I was thankful that some trails were marked with signposts, as they were easy to miss:
While in camp if they were'nt getting into the trash or shredding my TP, this is pretty much what they did:
Sipsey is littered with large rock outcroppings, boulders, and cave-like structures:
'Big Tree', the official name of this Yellow Poplar, is an apt name. It is the largest poplar in the state of Alabama. Boy did I pay a toll to get to it though. The tornados that swept through the state earlier this year have really caused some serious blowdowns throughout Sipsey.
Big Tree is over 150 feet tall and 25 feet in circumference:
Overall, I may go back to Sipsey. But the water will have to be flowing (abundantly), and it will have to be winter.
Litchfield Beach, SC
9 days of sittin' at the beach ain't bad. ok well we didnt do too much sitting....
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Bushwhack Loop #2 - 6 miles, entrance through Cosgrove Woods
Got a bit turned around but never really lost. Saw 3 does and one 6-point, a 4 foot black snake (those boogers are fast!), lots of frogs, a crane, an egret, 2 box turtle shells, a cow's skeletal remains, a few living cows, and 3 horses (one of them a neighing charging horse! quick, over the barbed wire! crap, i ripped my pants....and my leg open! I dont think he liked the pups in his own secluded field nearly 2 miles from the nearest road). Lots of singing birdlife. Had to huff it out over hardtop once I realized I was several miles from home. Suprisingly, I only picked 5 ticks off of me. I get that many walking around in the back yard. But I may have paid the ultimate price in poison and chiggers. Oh well...bring on the salt water in a couple weeks to heal me right up. Now to go pick the 50 ticks off the dogs...
UPDATE (an hour later): I may have exaggerated a little. There were only 41 ticks on them. Well, at least 41 that I found.
UPDATE (an hour later): I may have exaggerated a little. There were only 41 ticks on them. Well, at least 41 that I found.
Mary's Creek Lake Number Four
2 hours of fishin' and not even a bite
but the pups and I had a blast!
and a resident crane kept us company
...been seeing a lot more deer activity as well. It had slowed down there for at least a couple months.
but the pups and I had a blast!
and a resident crane kept us company
...been seeing a lot more deer activity as well. It had slowed down there for at least a couple months.
Red-Tail Hawk
I'm going to try to get a photo someday - but this guy keeps hanging around lately and is quite a sight!
another good size bass caught this weekend
and saw several more whitetails
also lots of birdlife - yesterday I did a little birdwatching (and listening! - some of them are quite the screechers)
lots of night noises as well. i wish i knew what they were. lots of frogs, but there is a creature in particular that I think may be a bird but I''m not sure - but it is my favorite sound. I'm going to try to research to see what it may be.
another good size bass caught this weekend
and saw several more whitetails
also lots of birdlife - yesterday I did a little birdwatching (and listening! - some of them are quite the screechers)
lots of night noises as well. i wish i knew what they were. lots of frogs, but there is a creature in particular that I think may be a bird but I''m not sure - but it is my favorite sound. I'm going to try to research to see what it may be.
Siler Pond
4 fish on the first 4 casts. i couldnt believe it. only 2 brought to shore though.
and trish came in the house the other day carrying another bird - this time a humming bird
saw 4 whitetails early this morning
and trish came in the house the other day carrying another bird - this time a humming bird
saw 4 whitetails early this morning
Satchel's Fields
I found a hidden gem!!
3 mile tromp through all kinds of stuff with pups and son in tow
lots of birdlife, including a spooked turkey and a screeching! hawk. she may have been telling me the pups were getting too close to the nest
3 mile tromp through all kinds of stuff with pups and son in tow
lots of birdlife, including a spooked turkey and a screeching! hawk. she may have been telling me the pups were getting too close to the nest
8 May 2011
14 fish in a weekend ain't all that bad
Mary's Creek Lake Number Five
Siler Pond
Lots of birdlife. We caught Naphtali on four different occasions eating three birds and a mouse. Trish came in the house carrying a flycatcher that was injured. I told her she was responsible when it took off in the house. It never did. The baby cardinals(?) right outside our door have left the nest.
Mary's Creek Lake Number Five
Siler Pond
Lots of birdlife. We caught Naphtali on four different occasions eating three birds and a mouse. Trish came in the house carrying a flycatcher that was injured. I told her she was responsible when it took off in the house. It never did. The baby cardinals(?) right outside our door have left the nest.
The Awesome Virginia Highlands
Grayson Highlands State Park
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
the VA mountain towns of Damascus, White Top, Taylor's Valley, and Konnarock
the TN mountain towns of Laurel Bloomery, Mountain City, and Shady Valley
and a side trip to the Black Mountain Grassy Cove area of the Cumberland Trail on the way home (can't wait til that trail's done!)
70 degrees and sunny skies
4 days with kids, puppies, and green grass
nothin' to do but stroll, lay around, read, and rock scramble
It don't get much better than that.
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
the VA mountain towns of Damascus, White Top, Taylor's Valley, and Konnarock
the TN mountain towns of Laurel Bloomery, Mountain City, and Shady Valley
and a side trip to the Black Mountain Grassy Cove area of the Cumberland Trail on the way home (can't wait til that trail's done!)
70 degrees and sunny skies
4 days with kids, puppies, and green grass
nothin' to do but stroll, lay around, read, and rock scramble
It don't get much better than that.
Mary's Creek Lake Number Five
3 visits in the last 2 days
2 visits at the break of dawn - a fine way to start the day
beautiful weather
2 visits at the break of dawn - a fine way to start the day
beautiful weather
Resident Crane
Just about gave me a heart attack this morning in the dim dawn light. Apparently I spooked him just as much.
Neighborhood Runs
14 March - 4.5 mile run
4 whitetail does
1 red fox!
canadian geese
17 March - 4.5 mile run
candadian geese a honkin'!
We visited Herb Parsons State Park this past weekend. I'd like to do the 8 mile trail run there. Maybe in a few weeks.
I'm playing ball 4 days a week now...and lovin it!
4 whitetail does
1 red fox!
canadian geese
17 March - 4.5 mile run
candadian geese a honkin'!
We visited Herb Parsons State Park this past weekend. I'd like to do the 8 mile trail run there. Maybe in a few weeks.
I'm playing ball 4 days a week now...and lovin it!
5 March 2011 - Rowan County Circuit, NC
its funny that i passed through 4 towns on my 11.5 mile run: Salisbury, Faith, Rockwell, Granite Quarry
my old stompin grounds - largest open face granite quarry in the world
my old stompin grounds - largest open face granite quarry in the world
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