2010 May 16 « Hike Our Planet – Lee Hiller Nature Photography

Beautiful Foggy Mountain Trails

Hot Springs Mountain Trail Clearing Fog

When I woke up I could see fog descending onto Hot Springs Mountain. The race is on as I try to wake up, drink honey with lemon, get dressed and head up the Mountain. My weather alert tells me storms are forming so I really need to hustle.

As I enter the park it is very quiet and the air is heavy with humidity. Nothing appears to be moving in the dark damp fog, the Forest is very quiet. In the grass on the Tufa Terrace fungi are shooting up, the weather has been a perfect growing environment. I love the little umbrella shapes along the path.

I want to reach the top before the fog lifts so I hike from the Tufa Terrace to the Dead Chief and connect with the Short Cut Trail. The air is so heavy and all sounds seem muffled and distant, even my own foot steps. The air feel like a cocoon as I climb higher on the Mountain. As I near the Hot Springs Mountain top the fog is drifting between the Trees in the Spring Forest.

Moving across the picnic area leading to Hot Springs Mountain Trail I notice a Tree with newly formed Fungi fans, these are the first I have seen with purple edges. Further along I can see lovely pink wildflowers blooming on top of a rock. It feels as if I have the entire park to myself, peace filled serenity in the fog.

From the east side of the Hot Springs Mountain Trail I circle around to the north and them the west side. I can hear song birds along the Trail but the fog is still hampering my ability to see where they are. I stop and can hear a very loud song approaching me. When I look up I see a beautiful Brown Thrasher moving among the leaves. It is wonderful to see an old friend in the Forest on this quiet morning.

I connect with the Honeysuckle Trail and love seeing my newly painted and cleaned Wedding Chapel. The rest hut looks wonderful wrapped in the Spring morning. I Love the Honeysuckle Trail, it was the first place in the park I ventured without knowledge of where I was headed. Wrong trail became a hike full of new discoveries. As I finish my hike and exit the park via the Fountain Trail I am thankful for each day I can be close to Nature.

Let Nature Love You!
Lee