February in the Woods

Well we have had an unusual winter so far; temperatures above normal (up to 60 degrees in January) and of course very little snow. The last few days we have had about normal temps, but predicted to go up again soon. While those temps make it easy on you when going out, I am concerned about the effects later this year. We need the good, long freezing temps in my opinion so that nature can go through the normal yearly cycle and that some insects and microbes can be contained at normal levels.

I have been out a few times the last few weeks. On one outing, I found some new plants beginning to emerge. Those may have been frozen out by now with recent temps.

One weekend, I ventured out in an early morning fog with temps probably around freezing. The fog gives a unique look to things.

I stopped for a while and watched the geese. A couple ventured close enough for good pictures.

I ventured on out into the woods and stopped above a large valley. I have been here numerous times at all seasons. It is one of my favorite spots just to sit, relax, and enjoy the view. With snow cover, it is beautiful. Early spring with new green growth is also impressive. Even now, with bare trees and brown leaves, it is a nice view with the stream below. This time with the fog gave it a look new for me...............and also for Emma.

As you can see there is a bit of green in the woods. Most of what you see is there even when we have our normal winter temps. The wild ferns seem to be pretty hardy and I have seen them green when covered with snow. Of course the moss is pretty tough also.

We ventured on down the hill to the stream. Emma always enjoys wading along in the water.

From the top of the hill, I had spotted several bright red objects across the stream. When I got over there, I found these growing in several places. Not sure what they are, probably some kind of mushroom of fungus that was fooled into thinking it was spring because of the warm weather we have had.

Emma and I continued our hike about another mile and came across this old cemetery in the woods.

I wonder about young Amanda; married to Mr. Giles McGee. She died at just 18 years old in 1848. What kind of life did she have? Did she have any children at that young age? What caused her death?

From here we hiked on back to the car..............and then over this past weekend we ventured out again with more normal temps....in the teens when I started out, but warmed up to the high twenties while we were out and about.

We headed to a different area, probably just about 3 miles from the last outing, but on the opposite side of the Middlefork River. We started following a small stream that was frozen over enought for Emma, but I did not feel it was probably strong enough to support me. This area was just behind an old beaver dam (visible in the top picture).

Emma could smell something interesting inside this hollow tree.

The only visible green was moss on old dead tree trunks.

We continued on until we came to the Middlefork River. I sat in the sun, just listening to the water and enjoying the view and feeling the cold wind. I took out a small thermos of hot blackberry leaf tea (made from leaves I gathered); poured some out and drank it along with some snacks. I called Emma over and shared the snacks with her.

Below me the river was flowing, just a bit above normal levels, with ice floating along.

I climbed up a steep embankment along the edge of the river to where I could enjoy one of the nicer views in our area.

..............and following are some pictures that were taken surprisingly just down the street from our house.

How many Turkey Vultures do you see? I count 13 in this picture. A large group of Turkey Vultures have moved into our neighborhood and stay in this tree. Double click this (and any of the pictures) for a larger view.

This immature Coopers Hawk stopped long enough on a tree across the street for me to get a nice picture. I had to research on the internet to identify it for sure. I thought it was a Coopers Hawk, but the brighter colors made me unsure. What I learned was that the immature hawks are more reddish in color and have the stripes on their chests. Quite an attractive bird in my opinion.

And with that.........I believe I will close this post. As always, thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoy it, and perhaps learn something.

Until next time..........see ya....

Farewell to a Hiking Companion

February 1, 2012; I said goodbye to one of my hiking buddies. Shiloh was close to turning 14 years old, and her time with us came to an end. She was not suffering, but gradually growing weaker, so we decided to just let her pass peacefully at home as long as she was not in pain. Even to the end, she would slowly go outside, look around and wag her tail.

Over those 14 years, we covered a lot of miles and had some great times. She had been showing her age for a while and began a rather fast decline over the last couple of weeks. I knew her time was short, so last Saturday decided to take her on what I was confident would be her last outing.

She was happy to be out again, but stayed close to me the whole time. I walked slow, waited for her, and stopped for lots of breaks.

Shiloh had quite a curiosity and it was very common for her to come over and investigate what I was looking at, when I found something that I thought would be interesting to photograph.........such as this old and very weathered log.

She loved to swim, but this time she just did not feel like it, but did take advantage of the river to get a drink.

We came across the remains of a deer carcass; quite well picked over by scavengers...probably coyotes. Shiloh nibbled a bit on it.....a little raw venison....

Standing among the scattered deer hair.

I stopped along the river bank in a nice sunny spot for a rest. Shiloh decided she would curl up and relax also. We stayed there for about 20 minutes before continueing on back to the car. Of course Emma was also along, and spent the time we were resting, roaming about and exploring.

By the river.

Earlier times............

 With Emma..

........and my favorite I have taken of her..........looking into the sunset a few years back...

........gone but not forgotten...........Shiloh............

Tomorrow, Emma and I will continue the tradition.............thanks for stopping by....

Snowy hike

We have had a quite warm winter, until just recently when we got our first real snow cover. I took advantage of that to get out for a bit. I headed out to an area that is actually all within the city limits, but quite isolated, with a small stream running through it.

It was about 17 degrees when I started, with a morning frost covering most of the plants.

I walked along to the creek bottom and down to the creek. It is not very large, possiby about 30 feet across at the wider points.

I came across this beaver dam. I am not sure how long it has been there, but I waded this stream fishing last summer and it was not there then.

There was lots of obvious beaver sign along the stream.

Looking upstream from the dam.

An old abandoned railroad bridge.

I spotted this guy watching me as I walked through the woods. I got as close as I could and zoomed in for a tighter shot.

An interesting area along the stream. The water here, was flowing quite rapidly over rocks and ice has formed on the rocks, creating somewhat of a dam. The weather is supposed to be above freezing tomorrow, so this phenomenom will likely disappear.

As always..............thanks for stopping by!

Year End Hiking

Once again, I realize it has been a while since my last post.

A few weeks ago, I got out for a couple of nice outings. One on December 29, with my friend Rusty; and a follow-up hike to the same general area the next day. We had a beatiful day on the 29th; but it began to rain the next day, when I was about a mile or more from my vehicle and I was pretty well wet by the time I got back.

A couple of pics of Rusty and I along the river.
Rusty......

 Me............

Just after the above pictures, Rusty spotted an immature Bald Eagle that had been perched in a Sycamore tree along the river. As you probably know, the immature eagles do not have the white head. We believe that it may have been feeding on this doe that was laying close to the river. As you can see, it was pretty well picked over, but did not appear to have been there long.

We rested at a sandbar at a nice bend in the river that would probably produce some fish, when weather and conditions are right.

Just a short distance from this spot; is a site estimated to be at least 1,000 years old; consisting of a group of mounds. These were constructed by the early inhabitants of the river valley. I will follow with a few pictures of those from my outing on December 30.

As stated earlier, the weather turned quite damp on me the next day. I went the same direction, but continued further upstream, before retracing my steps and then detouring to the mound site. As always, there is some nice scenery along the way. I also came across several very old and twisted Red Cedars, clinging to the steep hillside.

By the time I got to the mound site, the rain was coming down quite steady. I took shelter under a very thick and plush red cedar, but eventually ventured out. I took a few pictures of the mounds, but without being there to seem them, the pictures do not do justice. There are a couple of central mounds about 100 yards long, surrounded by smaller mounds. Some of the mounds are in proper alignment for ceremonies to celebrate the changing seasons....quite amazing that these "primitive" people had that capability. I stood on the central mounds, looking out over the others, just trying to imagine what it may have looked like 1,000 years ago. Not far from here is a large shallow depression, that I am guessing was where the dirt was excavated to construct the mounds....quite a feat, when you consider the tools at hand....and probably baskets to carry the dirt. A few pictures.........but as I said....hard to show what is really there.