Lately I tend to be up with the arrival of daylight.. In some ways that is a good thing. I hear all the morning birds and get to watch my little corner of the world come to life. It is extremely quiet at this time of morning. There is just the smallest of cool breezes. If there was ever a time for a hike…

I didn’t get to go hiking yesterday because of random thunderstorms but today just may turn in to the perfect day.btw… got some new neighbors, or at least my neighbor has. In this case I’m kind of glad it’s him and not me.

Since I am currently unable to do much hiking, because of a recent accident, I thought it would be cool to do a small series of posts about West Virginia State flowers, animals and so forth.

The Cardinal was made West Virginia’s official bird by concurrent resolution of the 1949 Legislature. The male of the species is a rich scarlet with a mask and shading of black, while the young birds and females are a less brilliant color. The cardinal measures approximately eight inches long and is found from New York state to the Gulf of Mexico and as far west as Oklahoma. Its scientific name is Cardinalis cardinalis.Adopted by House Concurrent Resolution No. 12, on March 7, 1949

As the title suggests this is a winter post. What can I say, its been getting pretty hot here on Bolt Mountain lately. So I went into the folder that I like to call Archives. Believe me when I tell you there is definitely no method to the organization of that folder. At any rate, I chose these three from Saxon Posy Road.

The first is just after Breckenridge Road. The other two are from the top of Harvey Hill on Saxon Posy Road.

I was on about a 4 hour hike today in Breckenridge Hollow. Breckenridge Rd runs off of rte99 just inside of the Bolt township line.

This is an older photo but the ridge line pictured is the one I went hiking on today. At the end of the field and the base of the hill lies Breckenridge Road. I like hiking on this ridge because it is basically untouched. In other words, it still has all its trees. Bolt Mountain is a hikers paradise. From the novice to the more experienced hiker, Bolt mountain has it all. The trail I was on today I would definitely classify as novice. The hardest part was climbing to the top of the mountain. And even that, in this case, was easy. I went up through a very green hollow. I was obviously on the wet side of the mountain because of the abundance of Black Kohosh, Mayapple, and Fern.

I enjoy walking through really green hollows just to see which plants I can identify. Being a person that has always enjoyed ginsenging I can’t help but look for it regardless of whether or not I intend to dig it. I saw no ginseng today but I did get into this huge patch of fern. Every time I see a fern growing I am reminded of a movie from my childhood entitled ‘Where The Red Fern Grows’. I remember that because it was a very sad movie. At any rate, about midway up the hollow I came upon this game trail.

I like traveling game trails when I am hiking for a couple of reasons. One of those being that it is obviously easier to walk on a trail of any sort than just blazing through the woods. Another reason I like to use them is that more than a few times I have encountered deer on these trails. I didn’t see any animals on this trail but I did see fresh tracks from a deer. Following this trail led me out to a field on top of the mountain. From here there was a veritable highway of trails leading to and away from the field.

I did see a deer on around the trail from the field but she saw me first. She actually startled me by snorting real loud as she bounded off. There was no way I could get a photo in time. Walking in the direction she had abandoned, which was in front of me on the trail, I heard her just out of sight off to my right snorting at me. If someone were to be in the woods and wasn’t familiar with the sound of a deer snorting it could be a hair raising experience. But I just wondered why she was so freaked out and kept on going. Turned out she wouldn’t be the only animal in an ill mood today.

Not far from the upset deer I enter an area that immediately makes me think of the Hundred Acre Wood. The whole trail from one ridge peak to the next is overhung by these huge old Oak trees. Majestic is the first word that comes to mind. The world has changed a lot since these trees were saplings. I feel humbled by them, if that makes any sense. Tie a yellow ribbon round the oollld oooaaakk treeee…. uh, anyway…

This is the second animal in a foul mood. I had just walked up on this little guy and another squirrel playing. It was like mass panic when they saw me. Both of them heading for the highest branches. I was standing there waiting for them to start moving again when I heard just the smallest little sound from above me. It wasn’t quite a bark from a squirrel but more of a choked off version. I look up and see this squirrel ten feet above my head looking back at me. I thought it was kind of funny. It was like a little house dog. It wanted to bark at me but didn’t want to give away its position so basically it was barking with its mouth shut. I told it that it was a crazy squirrel and as I turn to continue around the hill it was voicing its opinion of me now with its mouth wide open. Crazy squirrel…

Located off Rte 3 just south of Glen Daniels is Hidden Valley Golf. This is a nine hole public golf course in a very scenic Hidden Valley. Without the sign marking its entrance, Hidden Valley Golf would be completely hidden from view.

The course is very well maintained and carts are available for golfers. So if you are ever in the area and feel like a quick game of golf, be sure to visit the Hidden Valley Golf Course. Tell Mike that Denny sent you, who knows you may get a discount.

I’m not sure the cost of playing but don’t worry I won’t leave you hanging. I’ll get that info and post it here in the next day or so…