Exploring Nature One Step At A Time

Archive for March, 2010

Dawn’s Early Light on the Hot Springs Trails

Hot Springs National Park North Mountain Forest Sunrise

They are replacing all the carpeted hallways with tiles in our building, so there was a standing order either be in or out of your apartment 9am to 5 pm.

I chose an early morning hike leaving just after 6 am. Hiking in via the Floral Trail I expected to hear the  rustling of  leaves from nocturnal creatures. I was sad to hear nothing.  The sun was still a half an hour out from cresting Hot Springs Mountain and it was still dark in several places on North Mountain.  I was blessed with 2 sunrises this morning it was glorious.

I know there are mammals I have not seen yet, a skunk left it’s odor on the trails several weeks ago.  I hiked the South side of the Lower Dogwood loop first as this is where I had the aroma encounter.  I was alone when the sun rose as a large fireball peering through the trees.  It was my first sunrise in the Hots Springs National Park.

I had hoped to see a dark shape hopping, running and moving across the forest floor.  With the sun rising I  hiked over to a spot where there isn’t much foot traffic and it has deep valleys. Even on the back of the Lower Dogwood loop there was barely a bird call and my only companion was a Robin waiting to greet the sun on the North side of the trail.  Twenty minutes later the fire of the sun began to show through the trees and the orange leaves appeared to change to a dark blue color.  Once the sun began to rise the forest rapidly lit up.

I headed to the Arlington Trail and barely caught a glimpse of a squirrel on a breakfast run.  Still, only a few bird calls could be heard as I checked my watch and realized I needed to get back to the apartment for the lock down.  On my way out of the park a Northern Mockingbird landed on a near-by bush and a Robin hopped out for a friendly good-bye.

Thank You for hiking with me in the early morning! It’s always wonderful to share a sunrise with a friend!

Love,
Lee

PS I now have my own private label of coffee with images of my Lee Hiller Designs and Hot Springs Wildlife and Nature Photographs.      This is a story for another time.

March 4, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

Little Birds, Hearts and Details on the Hot Springs Trails

Goat Rock Trail White-Breasted Nuthatch

I decided to enter the park from North Mountain instead of the traditional entrance, what a great idea it turned out to be.  The sun was shining and the light was illuminating the Forest,  I was happy to be hiking up into the mountain.  All the little details were popping out from everywhere, if you look closely you will see Nature has created many hearts today.  Beautiful blue and amber sap bleeding down a log, deeply rutted bark and a glorious yellow and taupe rock.  As I hike further up I connected with the Lower Dogwood Trail and could  in the distance a crew working on the Arlington Trail.

On the North side of the Lower Dogwood Trail I discovered a really cool clay pipe and then found a pretty rusting painted metal pipe.  They had go un-noticed until I hiked the trails in reverse.  I discovered I have been hiking in mostly a counter clockwise direction, so my perspective of some trails was skewed.

When I reached the Goat Rock Trail I discovered the most amazing tree.  I had never noticed it before because it was hidden when hiking up from Goat Rock.  This Tree has bent twice during a storm and was on an unusual angle and still it stands tall in the Forest (see Pictures below).

Farther down the trail I discover a few Bird-Foot Violets, they look so lovely.  The Bird-Foot Violet Viola pedata (Birdsfoot violet, Bird’s-foot violet) is an ornamental plant in the Violaceae family. Bird-foot Violet grows in dry fields, clearings in woods, and roadsides. These plants spread by rhizomes, underground stems that grow sideways. Rhizomes can send up new stems to make new plants. These lovely violets attract Butterflies, Birds and Small Mammals so I am grateful to know where they are on the trail.

Along the Goat Rock I see many wonderful rock formations painted with beautiful Molds and Lichen.  I am strolling through Nature’s beautiful art gallery.  A small flutter to my right and I am blessed to see a Male White-Breasted Nuthatch.  He boldly hangs on to the side of the tree and looks straight at me, it’s a blessing as they always seem to be moving.

On the Gulpha Gorge Trail I am barely a few feet up when a lovely Carolina Chickadee caught my eye.  It pecked into a branch making a hole, as the Chickadee worked on the hole it dove in occasionally to test the fit. I watched for a few minutes before moving along, I didn’t want to disrupt their home building.

Up the top of the Gulpha I connect with the Hot Springs Mountain Trail.  I hear the lovely songs of many of my favorite warblers but am unable to spot any low enough to photograph.  As I approach the second crossing of Hot Springs Mountain Road I hear an odd wheel sound, I look up in time to see a skateboarder whizzing past.  I hope no one hits him on one the blind bends.

I switch over to the Honeysuckle trail and on the last incline look down to see a root in the shape of a whales tale, fluke.  It makes me smile to think how many times I missed it hiking up this trail.  I finish my decent on the Peak Trail and am treated to the site of a sweet Brown Creeper searching the bark for insects. Growing a the bottom of the steps are spectacular pale blue wildflowers.  So sweet and tiny dotting the edge of the Carriage Road.

It has been a lovely day in the park, thank you for coming with me.
Love,
Lee

March 3, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Tiny Bubbles and a Spa Day for the Birds

Park Entrance Cascade Robin wading in the Hot Springs

I started the day with Bubbles in the park, a stray bubble floated past me as I walked in the park entrance.  When I was at the top of the entrance ramp a cluster of bubbles landed on the branch next to me. I never expected to start my hike with the Lawrence Welk treatment, all that was missing was the accordion music.

Change is good and the bubbles inspired me to hike up the peak trail to the top.  I could feel the temperature dropping and I looked up to see the cloud cover increasing.  I popped my big brimmed hat on my head, I was thankful to have thrown it over my shoulder.

The closer I go to the top the cooler it began to feel, at the Pagoda the sky was ominous and the land below dark.  As I turned to leave I heard the familiar cackle of a Pileated Woodpecker, one quick snap of the camera and it was gone.  As I had not been down the Dead Chief Trail toward the the Gulpha Gorge is quite a while I thought it was a perfect idea for a change day.

The air temperature was still dropping as the wind gusts became stronger so I headed out at faster pace to keep my circulation up.  Down the short cut Trail over to the Dead Chief heading east, the wind seemed a bit calmer which was a relief.  All the wildlife seemed to have vanished off the trails, I did not blame them the wind had bite. The weather forecasters did not bother to tell me the park temperature was going drop as strong winds built up as the morning progressed.  They had all shown a happy sun with a tiny cloud and upper 40s temperatures. What had been the perfect hiking attire and layers at 09:30 was inadequate by 11:00, I decided cut short my longer hiking plans.

When I neared the top of the Dead Chief Trail Bend and T was treated to the sighting of a male and female White-Breasted Nuthatch. I was so excited to see them, it was a joyous gift.  As I exited the Dead Chief Trail I was hit by the full force of the North wind. Pushing forward against it I reached the Peak Trail in time to see the back side of a Red-Bellied Woodpecker in an odd position on the tree.  It did mean I was able for the first time to get a clear shot of the red belly it is name for.

When I reached the Hot Mineral Springs Cascade at the Park entrance I found out were all the bird were. The place looked like it was having a Spa Day for Robins, Sparrows and Cardinals.  They were all dipping their toes in to stay warm, I would have loved to join them to defrost.  The rising steam everywhere made in the perfect bird sauna.

Thank You for hiking with me today… Love Nature, it wants to Love You Back!
Love,
Lee

March 2, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Cardinals, Lichen and Signs of Fire on the Hot Springs Trails

Hot Springs National Park Short Cut Trail Lichen Bark

Hot Springs National Park Short Cut Trail Lichen Bark

It was one of those chaotic days in the park dark skies, big equipment and signs of fires being set.  The big equipment included a dump truck, a tractor and a trail buggy.   This silenced much of forest and sent it’s inhabitants deeper into the trees.  Some of the peace I hoped for was lost, but I understand the important work involved in maintaining the trails.

It was a turbulent morning in the Park, many of the creatures were beautiful silhouettes as I strolled along the Tufa Terrace.  A male Cardinal was just above me pecking at berries, while a female moved on to a bare limb as the sun tried to peek out. A sweet Squirrel lept onto a rock in front of me, paused and quickly ran up a tree.  I watched as they jumped from Tree to Tree in the highest limbs available.  As I head toward the Dead Chief Trail a Turkey Vulture does a fly by.

On the Dead Chief Trail the Blue Jays, four of them were making an odd murmuring noise.  It’s the second day I have heard them display this unusual sound.  The Crows are back on the South side of Hot Springs Mountain today and As I climb higher the forest is becoming so quiet. As I hike up the Trail I see bark and many rocks beautifully decked out in Lichen, it is Nature’s beautiful art work.

The sky from the Pagoda it’s a lovely mix of blue and pinkish yellow, it appears to be getting darker again.  I wonder if it might rain and decide I had better move down to the Hot Springs  Mountain Trail.  I love this trail and always feel serene as I journey along it’s many bends and slopes.  I often stop and shoot down into the forest hoping I will capture and unexpected treasure.  Until today it had always been forest trees.  My shot revealed a woman way off the trails with two black dogs off leash.  Who knows how much habitat they were destroying.

At the trail head I ran into Tony Caver of the National Park Service, he was driving a tractor moving soil and gravel to repair the storm damaged trails. I want to tell him it’s a loosing battle, Nature always wins.  After a quick visit and a promise more employees will be sending me photos I head off to the second section of the trail.  From the Hot Springs Mountain Trail I connect to the Upper then the Lower Dogwood Trail. Slowly the sections of the park that had remain cold longer were seeing increasing numbers of birds and small mammals.

I made a disturbing discovery when I reached the junction of the Lover Dogwood and Arlington Trails.  Someone had built a large fire in the middle of the path, chard branches were spread out on the forest floor.  On the second section of the loop I discover a large log that was burnt all along the underside.  I suspected people were hiking up the trail from the city below and connecting with the Lower Dogwood.  When I reported the burns  to the NPS, there seemed to be little concern about the fires being set and the bigger issue for them was why the maintenance crews had not cleaned up the mess.  Personally I would want to find a way to get those starting the fires so they don’t burn down the forest.

Saddened by the NPS attitude I made my way over to the Floral Trail and hiked down off North Mountain. I hoped I would not see  North Mountain on fire because no one thought it was important to investigate.  I Love My Park.

Thank You for hiking with me today.
Love,
Lee

March 1, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Newer Entries »
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 73 other followers