Saturday Hike - Mountain Creek 11/21/2009

Hike: Mountain Creek, Sat. 11/21/2009, 12:00-14:00
Distance: 4 miles Rating: 4.5/5
Difficulty: Easy
Conditions: Partly cloudy, mild, intermittent light breeze to rustle the trees and shower the ground with additional leaves
Thoughts/Observations:
Cancelled the planned Saturday COME Hike at Cherokee Ridge because of NWS forecast (90% chance of rain) - Guess how that turned out?

Enjoyed some trail time, just me and GOD. Thought about Diane's childhood - just doesn't seem right that she is to be married in 6 months. She was just 3 yesterday...

Observed many passarines, one whitetailed deer, one chipmunk. A little bit of color (mostly dogwood red) still in the forest but most leaves on the ground now.

Expedition #15 Chinnabee Silent Trail

Hike: Chinnabee Silent Trail (Expedition #15) Sat., 11/14/2009 10:00-15:30CST
Distance: 8 miles Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Moderate
Conditions: Simply gorgeous day! Beautiful sunshine, no clouds, mild temps and no wind.
Thoughts/Observations:
Five total people on this expedition: Jon, Liz, Jimmy, Layton, and myself. Had a wonderful time - could not have asked for a greater day or better group of trail-companions. Leaf color was good but probably a little passed prime due to recent tropical storm. Color of understory was a pleasant surprise. Observed one small ring-neck black snake next to Cheaha Falls on return trip. No other fauna observed during hike. More people than usual using this trail (probably because this is prime leaf-peeping time). Trail was in good shape. Plenty of discharge over Cheaha Falls and Devil's Den. Pics from the boardwalk high above Devil's Den were perfect. Hiked from Turnipseed trailhead to Lake Chinnabee. Ate lunch at the lake and shared a short devotional from Psalm 121 and how GOD is magnified in HIS Creation (e.g. of hummingbird migrations). Layton and Jimmy set a good pace headed back to the trailhead. This is a trail to do again (maybe in the Spring-time - to see spring wildflowers). Thank YOU, LORD, for this special time and place. Thank YOU for the ones that were able to participate.