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All posts for the month July, 2011

Once invisible air hovers as a glistening veil on the trails

Posted by Lee Hiller on July 29, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

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As a photographer I have found the past three weeks of hiking frustrating. It has not been the heat and the sweating but the fogging over of my lens and viewfinder at inopportune moments that has hampered by photographic abilities. Out of my frustration I have created humidity Photography tip, to keep lenses from foggy up in humidity wrap gear in freshly warmed towels from dryer 1/2 hr before going outside.  Most of us live in the comfort of air conditioned abodes, the towels help your gear to slowly warm up and equalize to the outside temperatures. Make sure towels are warm not hot.

I have noticed the local wildlife and I are looking a little soggy on the trails.  The fur of Chipmunks and Squirrels are molting, matted or damp, I can’t imagine what it would be like to wear all that fur in this weather.  The once lush green of the Forest is receding and some leaves are burnt resembling a mid summers autumn.  The air hangs as a hazy veil of humidity appearing like light fog hovering before my eyes.  As the clouds part the sun piercing the withering leaves cause the air to glow on the trails.  I stop for a moment to listen to the far off chorus of Songbirds migrating through the park. Familiar voices of Chickadees, Tufted Titmice (or is that Titimouses) and Nuthatches softly caress the Tree tops.  As I take a long drink a stream of water rolls my back and the sides of my face.  The top of the Mountain is quiet and head for another drink at the fountain in the picnic area.  I am thankful for the wonderful spring water that is readily available in the National Park and city. Yes it is easy to be thankful when you live surrounded by a National Park.

Have a lovely day and Take care in the heat..
Love to ALL!
Lee

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Natures Beauty: Eastern Cottontail, Scarlet Tanagers and Wildflowers

Posted by Lee Hiller on July 23, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

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Another morning in the southern heatwave, 6:45 am it is already a sauna as I enter the park.  Passing the Arlington Lawn I realize that the Tree ahead of me looks different.  On closer inspection the change is actually not a discoloration but a large Cicada.  It is an example of how I often spot wonderful creatures in the Forest to photograph.  The clue is anomalies, things and places that seem not quite the same as the last time I passed.

As I head up Hot Springs Mountain a lovely squirrel peeks at me from behind a Tree on the Tufa Terrace Trail.  Further along a male Eastern Cottontail is sitting by the side of the trail.  Slowly I approach taking five steps then stopping, repeating until I am in camera range.  Only a few feet separates us and the Cottontail looks at me and begins to groom his fur.  Cleaning completed he begins grazing on the delicate green grass.  After 20 minutes I leave to begin my assent up the Peak Trail past lovely Asiatic Dayflowers and tiny Fungi on the path edges.

At the top I connect with the Hot Springs Mountain Trail and the continue on the Honeysuckle Trail. As I near the “Wedding Chapel” I see a lovely green bird in a Tree to my right and I watch as it fly across the path.  When I turn my head a flash of red appears in the leaves of the high canopy. It it a glorious Male Scarlet Tanager and I believe the Green bird was the female. They are the first I Scarlet Tanagers captured by my lens in the park during my two years of hiking.  I have never seen a more spectacular red, it glows even in the dim early morning light.  Soon the male is it flying away and deeper into the high Forest canopy.

From the Honeysuckle Trail I reconnect with the Peak Trail to finish my descent.  I am surprised to see the Male Cottontail from early this morning in the grassy edge of the Trail.  He sits still as I draw closer and turns his head to look at me from several different angles. It makes me realize the wide range of sight the placement of the Eastern Cottontail eyes afford them. Even with its head completely facing away his eyes are visible.

As I exit the park via the Tufa Terrace Trail I can see Common Mullein growing on the bank below. The yellow blooms remind me of drops of sunlight.  Another first for my lens on this VERY HOT early morning hike through the Forest in Hot Springs National Park.

Nature is waiting to embrace you today!
Lot of Love,
Lee

Nature Blog Hike Our Planet – Photography and Design by Lee Hiller
Twitter @LeeHillerLondon @HikeOurPlanet @LeeHillerDesign
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Hot Weather Hiking Tips Plus Hummingbird Moth, Skipper, Butterfly and Birds

Posted by Lee Hiller on July 21, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

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The heat wave continues to flow across the south and even the earliest morning hike resembles a sauna.  As I head along Central Ave to the West Mountain Trail access House Sparrow chicks are peering at me from between the metal spears of an iron fence. They are so cheeky looking with the splashes of yellow on the sides of their still forming beaks.  I am sure they think I should head back home instead of hiking in the heat… so I decided to devote this blog text to some important hiking tips during the heat wave that is crossing the USA.

  • First thing to remember if you are thirsty you have waited to long to take a drink, drink before you think/feel the need for fluids. Take a drink every 10 or 15 minutes, more often as the temperature climbs. You can loose up to a liter of water every hour from sweating.
  • Mix electrolyte powered into your water or bring Gatorade. Alternate with your plain water.
  • Hike in the cooler shaded mountains rather than in the valleys where heat is trapped and there is often no shade.
  • Wear clothing that will wick the sweat away from your body and keep you cooler.
  • Powder your body to avoid chaffing and tend to blisters immediately.
  • Bring something to help repel insects (heat means deer ticks and Lyme disease), heat can accelerate the venom in stings and bites.
  • Bring more water than you think you will need, especially if you are venturing out on trails that are new to you.
  • Make sure you have a first aid kit.
  • Bring a dried fruit nut mix for protein and energy

Extreme heat it never a good time to test your hiking limits,  plan to take more time than you would on a mild day.  Please drink, drink, drink and then drink some more water. Sweat is your cooling system, more water equals more sweat.  One more thing avoid hiking when both heat and humidity are high, knowing when not to go hiking is just as important.

Love to ALL!
Lee

Nature Blog Hike Our Planet – Photography and Design by Lee Hiller
Twitter @LeeHillerLondon @HikeOurPlanet @LeeHillerDesign
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Wildflowers Hot Springs National Park: Smooth Aster

Posted by Lee Hiller on July 18, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 5 Comments

Dead Chief Trail Purple Smooth Aster

Smooth Aster
Symphyotrichum laeve (Aster laevis)

• Family: Aster (Asteraceae)
• Habitat: open woods
• Height: 1-3 feet
• Flower size: flower around 1 inch across
• Flower color: purple ray (petals) flowers around a yellow disk
• Flowering time: Autumn to Early Winter (Hot Springs, AR)
• Origin: native

Although I spotted my first Smooth Aster along the Dead Chief Trail on Hot Springs Mountain the majority of my discoveries were made on the eastern slopes of West Mountain. Smooth Asters are always a welcome site as the green of summer fades to colorful Autumn and the leaves begin to fall.  These purple beauties begin to paint the trail edges as the weather begins to cool.

Field Notes: Wildflower locations in the park appear to change based on seasonal moisture levels and canopy cover.  This coming autumn they may appear more widely across the park as we had greater rain fall this past spring. Winter leveled several Trees this year opening the Forest to more light in places once sheltered from the sun creating more spots for some  species of Wildflowers to bloom. Warmer winter allowed Wildflowers to bloom earlier and heavy spring rains brought blossoms that did not appear the prior year. Summer heat in the park like the spring arrived 2 weeks earlier than last year, nearly 4 weeks ahead of the standard weather patterns in the park. Hot Springs National Park is heating up and changing both the flora and fauna cycles.

Have a Lovely Day in Natures Scared Spaces,
Lee

Wildflower Gifts by Lee Hiller  Wildflower Photography Gifts & Photography Wildflower Gifts
Nature Blog Hike Our Planet – Photography and Design by Lee Hiller
Twitter @LeeHillerLondon @HikeOurPlanet @LeeHillerDesign
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West Mountain Top Trail Smooth Aster

Gulpha Gorge Trail Smooth Aster

West Mountain Top Trail Smooth Aster

West Mountain Top Trail Smooth Aster

A Quick Hike In Between the Storms with Forest Friends

Posted by Lee Hiller on July 17, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

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A dark morning awaits me as one storm finishes and another is not far behind.  The skies darken as I head up Hot Springs Mountain. In the half light I can see beautiful blue Asiatic Dayflowers are painting the trail edges. A Spider Wasp is crawling across the trail seeking it prey.  At the base of a Tree on the Peak Trail bursting forth from the moist ground are small beige mushrooms.  On the Mountain top I connect with Hot Springs Mountain Trail as the clouds briefly part revealing rays of sunshine.

I decide to move quickly around the Mountain  as the weather has been so unpredictable the past few days.  As I come full circle around the mountain morning light has crested the Trees revealing song birds along the promenade.  I spot my first House Finch peering at me from the a branch to my right.  The lovely red on its head and chest is a contrast to the drab olive of the rest of its body.  It is a wonderful first time encounter.

As I am preparing to head out of the park a Mockingbird appears on the fence post above me.  I can see it has something for breakfast in its beak.  Taking a step forward in an effort to catch more light for my photography I move slowly so as not to scare it away.  Instead of moving away the Mockingbird flies over to the bush next to me to show off its morning catch.  I am blessed to have so many wonderful Forest friends.

Best therapy in the world is time in Nature…
Love to ALL!
Lee