A Breathing Entity

That's how I describe the sights and sounds of nature on my hike of September 9, 2012, at Big Haynes Creek Preserve in Conyers, Georgia.

The woods were alive, a breathing entity. A new surprise around every turn. All the snaps, pops, and whispers from the brush, darkness of trees, and waters of the wetlands. The beautiful weather had everything out. I saw butterflies, dragonflies, many different examples of mushrooms, deer, herons, and an otter darting gracefully just under the surface of the water. I saw it go under, but the camouflage was so well done I could not find a trace, from five feet away.

A group of young ducks floated silently in the water, beyond a partially submerged log that had a turtle perched on the sunny side. The delicate wake following the ducklings dissolved almost as quickly as it formed. The mom was out of the frame, but no doubt she was close by.

Nature is so unique. You couldn't write a better script if you tried.

Pictures can tell the story much better.

Old Friend

Met an old high school buddy this morning for breakfast. He just published his first novel, and I wanted to get a personal note added by him. I drove 50+ miles to meet him, despite his offer to meet me closer to my side of town, but I figure I could see another old friend while in the area, my old hiking spot from years ago.

David and I attended high school together over 30 years ago, but some of the memories stood out like they happened yesterday. But a lot has happened in that time frame, and a very non-detailed overview is all an hour breakfast meeting offers, with kids in college, divorce, and life touching us step by step, but continuously over the course of our post-high school lives.

Some people retain their basic personality and goodness for the course of their lives, despite going through the trials and disappointments that face us all. Some I have tried to reconnect with, mainly through Facebook, are no longer the same person. People like David get banged up by life but somehow draw the line when their core beliefs are challenged, and I'm sure a solid foundation at home  had much to do with it. It's still hard to figure why some people crumble under life's burdens and others refuse to give that last mile in retreat.

After a rather large omelet and pancake breakfast at IHOP, topped off with lots of coffee, David and I bid each other goodbye until we can arrange another get-together, and I headed over to Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park to do some hiking. I brought my camera along and took some trail shots for an upcoming blog. This is the other old friend. I have hiked the two mile round trip many times in the pas when I lived in Marietta, and I hoped to extend today's hike to a four or five mile round trip through a series of trails. I was reminded why such a breakfast doesn't go well with August hikes, however, as I approached the summit. I made it to the top of the mountain, a one mile hike, and then returned. The scenery was nice, as I remembered it, but I will return with less food in my system.

The weather forecast turned out to be somewhat accurate. A spike in the rain chance was forecast between 10 and 11 am, but it didn't hit until around 12:30. I had completed my walk down the mountain, walked through the park's gift shop and museum, and then walked the 1/4 mile to the overflow parking area that I had parked in. A very light drizzle started on my way to the car, and a few minutes after I loaded my backpack in the trunk the bottom dropped out of the clouds and a deluge hit. Good timing, indeed. A nice day.

Alum Cave Bluff Trail 7/18/12

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

I have driven by the parking area for the Alum Cave Bluff trail many times and remarked at the crowd.  The road that crosses the Smoky Mountains from Cherokee, NC to Pigeon Forge, TN passes the trailhead. At times I have slowed down through the area on US 441 because of the people crossing over the road, after parking wherever they could find an empty spot. My wife and I decided to hike the trail today for the first time.

We arrived at the trailhead at 8:35 am, and only one parking spot was still open.

 Some of the cars belong to overnight hikers that stayed the night at LeConte Lodge, and a portion were there early because of the immense popularity of this trail. During summer months I suggest getting an early start, if for no other reason to get a decent parking spot where you won’t worry about your car while you are gone.

The first portion of the trail is relatively flat, and it begins by crossing over Alum Cave Creek. The trail is covered in roots and stones in places, but it’s in good shape. You will have numerous photo ops of the creek along this section.


 




 

Just an observation, it's interesting how different perspectives can add so much more to a scene. As we walked along the first section of the trail, a bird hopped across a flat boulder, near the water's edge. I thought to myself, this is the first animal we have come across. My wife said, that bird looks pregnant. That's a detail I missed. 

Arch Rock is at the 1.4 mile mark. You will climb steps through an opening in the rock, with steel cables to hold on to.

Just past the two mile mark you’ll see beautiful scenery as the elevation gets higher. This section has some uphill portions, but nothing too strenuous.
 

 
 

 


Eye of the needle

The last ¼ mile has a few steep portions, but you are almost there.

It isn’t actually a cave, but it provides good shelter if you get caught out in the rain. I have read that during winter months icicles fall from high, making a treacherous walk through this section.


 Keep following the trail for another 3.2 miles to the LeConte Lodge, which canonly  be reached by hiking from your choice of five different trails. Overnight accommodations are available with advance reservations at the lodge. On my to-do list is a hike to the lodge, overnight stay, and sunrise photos at nearby Myrtle Point before hiking back down.

Our hike, which included numerous stops for photos and covered 4.6 miles round trip, took three hours.