Hiking with the Brother - Smith Mountain Alpine Trail - 1/30/2016

Hike: Smith Mountain Alpine Trail, Lake Martin, Alabama, Sat. 1/30/2016  11:00-13:30CST

Distance:  3.5 miles  Difficulty: Moderate due to elevation changes  Rating: 5/5

Conditions: Perfect day for a hike! Low 70s. Calm to light winds. Mostly clear.  Trails in excellent shape.  Were more hikers than I am used to meeting.  Believe the "draw" of the new trail and Fire Tower makes for more people.  

Thoughts/Observations:  

Enjoyed exploring the "new trail" with my brother.  Wonderful vistas from atop the restored Fire Tower sitting on the top of Smith Mountain.  Skeleton of a fire service cabin sets at the base of the tower.  Good to see several families, some with small children, out enjoying GOD's Creation. 

Water levels were down as is typical for the Winter.  We were able to hike to several "small islands" that would have necessitated getting wet during warmer weather. 

"Exploring" this area brought back fond memories of growing up hiking the woods around Brundidge!

Hiking stats from Ramblr.


Video below is my feeble, beginning attempt at recording some of my hikes on video (GoPro).
YouTube video of Smith Mountain Alpine Trail Hike! 

Thought of the Day - Friendship

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thought of the Day

The Superstitions Arizona

Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought.

~Henri Louis Bergson

Quote of the Day

 Photo from one of my Cherokee Ridge hikes...

Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow. ~Aesop

Hiking The Red Trail @ Swayback 1/23/2016

Hike: Red Trail Swayback TOLA; Sat. 1/23/2016. 09:30-13:00CST

Distance: 7 miles. Difficulty: Easy.  Rating: 4.5/5

Conditions: Brisk. Low 30s. Trails very wet. Cloudy to partly sunny. A few stray light flakes of snow at start. 

Thoughts/Observations:

Cardinals, woodpeckers, and other passerienes were busy about the lower canopy & forest floor. No bikers today. Met a Cub Scout pack on the trail. 

Time of worship & praise.

Ramblr Link - Stats
 YouTube link for Creek Fall to Lake
YouTube link for Froggy Swamp - Red Trail

Swayback Lakeside Trail

Hike:  Swayback Bridge TOLA Lakeside Trail; Sat. 1/16/2016; 09:30-11:45CST
Distance:  4.7 miles    Difficulty:  Easy    Rating:   4.5/5
Conditions:  Clear and Sunny.  Low 60s.  Calm.  Trails very wet from recent rains.  No mountain bikers seen today.
Thoughts/Observations:  Gloriously beautiful day.  Thank YOU, LORD, for YOUR magnificent creation.  Quality time of worship and prayer -- hikes are almost always a spiritual time for me.  Enjoyed using the GoPro.  Thank you, Diane, Robert, and Kathy.

Ramblr Link

YouTube GoPro Video

YouTube GoPro Video#2

Oak Mountain GoPro Hike 12/29/2015

Hike: Green Trail (Peavine Falls Trail), Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham, AL  12/29/2015
Distance: 4  miles  Difficulty: Moderate (due to elevation gain and footing)  Rating: 5/5
Conditions:  Partly cloudy.  Mild.  Calm.  Trails wet due to recent heavy rains.
Thoughts/Observations:
Hiking with Diane, Robert, and Roxie "The Trail Dog".  First use of my GoPro Hero camera (a Christmas gift from Diane, Robert, & Kathy).  Had a wonderful time.  So much more water going over Peavine Falls than I have seen before.  Beautiful day.  Much needed hike.

Ramblr Link for hike

YouTube video of Peavine Falls!