Butterfly, Dogwood, Spring Leaves plus a Guest Hiker
Dead Chief Trail Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly
This evening as I am typing my beloved Fiance’ Rick is passed out in a deep sleep. He asked to go hiking with me this morning and I took him out on my regular five plus miles journey. My beloved did very well but his body finally gave way to exhaustion. Please know my Sleeping Prince how proud I am that you made it home still standing.
We started our Morning hike at the entrance to the park, with the sighting of an amazing White Dogwood in full bloom. We head over to the Dead Chief Trail and begin our ascent up Hot Spring Mountain. When we reach the junction of the Dead Chief and Short Cut Trails a lovely Red Bellied Woodpecker calls out from a distant Tree.
The hike up to the Mountain Top is beautiful. The early sunlight is twinkling through the new Spring Leave dancing in the morning breeze. I Love watching Rick’s face as he is bathed in the magic of the new Forest. It is a romantic setting for our first morning hike together.
As we reach the top a Blue Jay that has been following us briefly appears before flying deeper into the forest. At the Pagoda we stand in silent awe as a pair of Hawks soar and dive above the valley below. When we reach the Hot Springs Mountain Trail below the Pagoda a shy Mourning Dove is strolling ahead of us on the path. It stops and tucks it’s head down and appears to have brief snooze.
The hike to the Gulpha Gorge Trail is a travel log of my photographs, especially those from the day I was hit by the blizzard this past winter. It is fun to share my park adventures with Rick pointing out the many locations picture in my blog. From the Gulpha Gorge Trail we connect with the Dead Chief Trail just above the NPS Campground.
My last hike on this Trail was just after the last snow storm. The Forest at that time was a series of silvery Tree sculptures. It was a winter world with open space all along the Trail; today we are immersed in world of green. It is as if I have never walked this Trail, I recognize only a few areas as we hike toward Hot Springs. Lovely Violets are decorating the edges of path and our hike finishes with the sight of a glorious Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly. Another lovely morning in the Forest of Hot Springs Mountain.
It was a perfect morning in Nature.
Love to You All,
Lee
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- Dead Chief Trail Yellow Swallow Tail Butterfly
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- Dead Chief Trail DragonFly
