December photo project - Day 6

Dawn in the neighborhood, looking northeast from the backyard

December photo project - Day 5

Kitchen still life

December photo project- Day 4

Pepitas

December photo project -Day 3

Red sky at morning, looking east from our back deck

December photo project - Day 2

Dawn patrol in the backyard

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December photo project - Day 1

Ah, the darkening days of December. What better time for a daily photo project? Or near daily...here's round one for your viewing pleasure. Barrie bought a gorgeous bouquet for the Thanksgiving holidays. I lit it with a flashlight in the otherwise dark kitchen this morning and here you go:

Easter weekend backpacking trip

Over the Easter weekend we headed off the ol' familiar and much beloved Hunt Fish Falls. As I was describing our pending outing to my intern (his idea of a good spring break is a solo backpacking trip in the Smokies), I had one of those middle-age moments when I realized that I've been coming to Hunt Fish Falls for 40 years.

We reached the trailhead about 3 PM on Good Friday and descended into the forest. Rain was forecast for later in the day so we booked down the trail and set up camp. The crossing rocks had washed away so we had to wade across the creek to the campsite. Here's some photos from our first day, pre-rain: 

Looking up the creek from the crossing, eh, fording place.

Taken from the same spot as the above photo, only looking downstream.  Note Edwin on the rock...

Up on the same rock. Tina looks downriver. Note all the fresh buds on the trees.

Somebody's idea of fun was to melt this liquor bottle in the fire.

Fresh greenery on top of the rock with the creek rushing below.

The campsite. Edwin's pitching the rain shelter.

We piled up the firewood. We started the fire around 6 or so, and it burned brightly until the heavy rain settled in around 9:30, when we retreated to our tents.

Fresh buds near the campsite.

The rain that started Friday evening continued, off and on, for about 30 hours. During the heavier rain we'd hunker under the rain tarp, but during most of the day Saturday the rain was light enough that basic rain gear kept me relatively dry. We hiked up to Timber Ridge above the campsite during the day, enjoying a 3 hour hike in a light rain. The cloud cover really brought the greens out, so the whole place was lush and verdant. I've heard it said that the Appalachian forests are, in some ways, akin to a temperate rain forest, and it certainly had that feel on Saturday. Here's some photos from that day.

Budding lily, getting ready to bloom.

Grandfather Mountain from the Timber Ridge trail.

Moss and running cedar on the moist forest floor.

Mossy, mossy rock.

Crested Dwarf Iris by the trailside.

Another Crested Dwarf Iris.

After 30 hours of intermittent rain, the sun came out Sunday morning and we were able to dry out our tents before heading up the trail. That gave us time to pull out the cameras during the lovely morning light.

Creek beside the campsite.

Dew covered creekside grass

Looking upstream from the campsite.

A lone PBR awaits a thirsty camper. We did not bring the PBR.

Water. Running downstream.

Campsite from an island in the stream.

Photo Gallery from the 2014 Fearrington Folk Art Show

Late afternoon Montreat trail hike

After a day of running holiday related errands I took Asta for a short hike around 4 PM, giving us a few hours of daylight. We started at the end of Appalachian Way in Montreat, taking the spur trail up to intersect with the Old Mitchell Toll Road and the East Ridge Trail. Here's a description of the Old Mitchell Toll Road, taken from a Montreat Trail Guide:

After logging operations on Mount Mitchell were shut down, a venture wanted to build a tourist road for automobiles along the route of the old railroad bed. Montreat wanted the road to be moved to the other side of the ridge to minimize noise and traffic in the valley. Montreat won a court decision, and the road was re-routed in several places.

The trail went up the western side of the ridge, and by the time we reached to Toll Road and East Ridge Trail, the sun was low in the west and the light was fantastic. Here's some photos from the hike. 

Asta on the Old Mitchell Toll Road. We're on the eastern side of the ridge in the shade.

Looking east from the Toll Road with Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock in the distance.

A closer took at Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock.

The sunset bathed everything on the western side of the ridge in a rich orange light.