Lite Hike - Mountain Creek - 1/21/2012

Hike: Mountain Creek, Sat., 1/21/2012
Distance: 2.5 miles  Rating: 4/5
Difficulty: Easy 
Conditions: Mostly cloudy to cloudy.  On/off drizzles.  Blustery.  Low to mid 60's.  Trails wet.  Tstorms in the area - thunder in the distance.
Gear List: EDC (Gerber Hinderer, Exotac Nanostriker, Leatherman Squirt, button compass, Streamlight Nanolight, Zebra F301 Compact, Marine Whistle, bandana, Timex Expedition); Gerber Prodigy; cell phone,  Frogg Toggs cap; Merrell Chameleon trail shoes

Thoughts/Observations: 

Lite Hike today. Only gear I took was my EDC (which includes Gerber Hinderer, Leatherman Squirt, and fire-making options) and Gerber Prodigy knife.  This was hiking like I did as a teenager in the woods behind home.  I did pick up an already-cut tree branch along the trail to use as a hiking staff.  Think I will take it home and see if I can make a decent hiking stick out of it.  After investing some knife time and a little varnish, it should be nice. 

Wind, clouds, drizzle, & temps made for a very comfortable hike.  Observed Downy Woodpecker near the church and passarines throughout the hike.  Lots of trail clearing by tractor has been done on the equestrian trail.  Makes for easy trails! 

Cut hike short due to heavier rain starting.  Thank YOU, LORD, for this place and the love YOU shower upon me.  I surrender to YOU.  

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)

Deadening Alpine Trail - Sat. 1/7/2012

Hike: Deadening Alpine Trail, Lake Martin, Sat., 1/7/2012, 10:45-14:00
Distance: approx 4 miles  Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Difficult
Conditions: Light showers this morning delayed me until late morning.  Warm, 70degF.  Wind calm.  Mostly cloudy to mostly sunny by mid afternoon.  Trails damp from early morning rains.
Thoughts/Observations:
This trail is certainly the most difficult in this part of the state, but it may also be the most scenic.  The views and experience are worth the scrambling up and down the lake cliffside trail.  No whitetail deer seen today but there were bunches of raucous crows.  Not sure what stirred them up (usually it is a hawk) but they were cawing the entire time.  The turkey vultures were still roosting near Lichen Bluff.  Rock outcroppings, overhands, and small caves are always fascinating along this trail.  Water was dripping off most of them.  One particular overhang about the 3 mile-mark would make a great camp-site (alas, camping is NOT allowed here).

Thought about the message for tomorrow, "Fall of America".  Grant me YOUR words to speak, LORD.  Guide me to be a man after YOUR own heart.  Thank YOU for sharing the treasures of YOUR Creation during these hikes.