There is a reason why I no longer go camping without my camera. It is the same reason I love hiking West Virginia’s backwoods - the scenery.

Of course I can’t go into the Peachtree area on a photo taking adventure and not stop at Peachtree Falls.

Last but definitely not least, this turtle was practically begging for his picture to be taken.

It’s that time. Time to dig through the closets for all the camping gear. I say that like I don’t know where it is. I’m planning my first real trip of the season into the foothills around Bolt Mountain.

I’m actually going to replace my tent this year for something more hiker friendly. I normally don’t go to the mountains to set up camp so I don’t need or want a tent that will hold the kitchen sink. I need a tent I can sleep in and one that will keep out the weather - that’s it.

I’ve been hearing a lot of coyote on the mountain and I’m going to be on a mission to get a photo of the elusive coyote. We will see who stalks who.

Photos © Denny

I wrote a post a while back with the title A Glimpse Into The When. The photo in that post made me think of literal lingering memories, ghosts if you will. I don’t see dead people but I feel…. I don’t know how to explain what I feel. That’s a first for me. Let me explain it this way…

My last time living in Ohio, I was living right beside the abandoned Chippewa Lake Park (some good photos at the link - opens in a new window). Walking the midway after dark, the only thing I could think about were the people that had been there laughing, eating cotton candy just having a good time. I couldn’t help but feel good and at ease because there was nothing there but positive memories, and a lot of them. I was even fond of going into the ballroom late at night. The reason for that is because at night the feelings are a lot stronger. Not because of an increase in perception but more a decrease in perception. At night you couldn’t see the cobwebs or the two inches of dust on everything, broken chairs, busted windows…. The only thing you could see was the moon coming in from high bay windows all along the ballroom walls creating a dim path of light right down the center of the ballrooms dance floor. I would go there and sit on the edge of the stage. How could you not see the people dancing or hear the music playing?

This old deer camp in the head of Martin’s Creek makes me feel the same way. All that remains is the legs of an old table, a couple of chair frames, fire pit and a stack of very seasoned firewood that will most likely never see a match. I can picture a fire in the ring and if I listen I can hear old men laughing and telling tales, every one of them a lie. I can feel the anticipation of the next mornings hunt. There are just a lot of good memories here that were created at all hours of the day. I imagine young boys on their first trip hunting with their dad. The only thing everybody can think about is getting a shot at the biggest buck on the mountain. In some cases any buck on the mountain.

The title for this post is an apt one as there were no trails to be found on todays hike. It was actually not the best of days for a strenuous hike with the heat and humidity. Since I plan to hike the Appalachian Trail in ‘08, it would be best to be prepared for all weather conditions. The first two photos below are from where I entered the woods. I really expected to run across a snake today but, in that, I have always been lucky and somehow seem to avoid them. One thing is for sure, this is prime snake country. The photo of the pines is the best one from today, in my opinion. I’m still dealing with a very temperamental camera so I consider myself lucky to capture that photo.

The first photo below, after I got into the woods I could hear this gaswell the entire time. Naturally I went looking for it and ended up with a pretty good shot of the well and beyond. It was really hazy today so it was difficult getting a clear shot of anything at a distance. The second photo was my path back out of the woods. There was deer sign all over this road. They know a good thing when they see it. The last photo is of Mayapple already turning yellow from the lack of rain. It is normally one of the last plants to die in the fall. On another note, I saw no ginseng today and after getting into the woods, didn’t really expect to find it. It was way to dry…

It is definitely time for a Bolt Mountain hike. I have been wanting to go for a few reasons. One of which is to get some photos from the mountains in my immediate vicinity. Another reason is that I have been wanting to check and see how well ginseng has fared through the lack of rain. So tomorrow morning I plan to get up early and head in to the mountains for a few hours before the day gets too hot. I will be taking a camera that I haven’t really had a lot of luck with in the past but hopefully I can get it to perform as it should. Tomorrow, if all goes well, I will post at least one photo from the hike.

Have A Great Day!!!

UPDATE - I didn’t get to go hiking yesterday but will be in the mountains most of the day today.

UPDATE #2 - Third time is the charm. I went for a hike toady AUG 3. Problem was the camera. I actually borrowed it from my dad and for some reason every shot with it comes out blurry for me. So I’m going to the same area again Saturday morning with old faithful. I could have gotten some wonderful pics today. I will tomorrow.

Note To Self - DON”T FORGET BATTERIES!!!

I was doing some more digging in the archives and found these two photos of Peachtree Falls and of the road leading to the falls. I think I have a picture of the falls from every conceivable angle except from behind. You can see in the last photo there is plenty of room behind the falls. I think I’ll have to get a camera that can withstand a little water and go on a mission.

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…

This post is entirely dedicated to Peachtree Falls. As I’ve said before, I love taking photos at the falls and here is the proof…

I just have to throw this one in here. This is another one of my favorites. The water is running right out of the side of the mountain and is a result of the earth being saturated by early Spring rains.

Lake Stephens is a 2300 acre county park. It has a 300 acre mountain lake surrounded by 2000 acres of hardwood forest. The park is open April 15 to October 15 offering recreational opportunities such as hiking, camping, fishing, boating, and swimming. The park is located nine miles west of Beckley on Rte3.

I’ve been able to take some really cool photos at Lake Stephens. These two are from the overlook and picnic area.