Dam on Hannah's Creek

This pile of rocks runs for about 100 yards and crosses Hannah Creek. The impoundment area is typical of others I have seen. It looks like a 1-2 acre pond.

This scene above is just upcreek of the dam.

PHOC Potluck Supper

Piedmont Hiking and Outing Club met Sunday night for its annual meeting and potluck supper. The meeting portion was brutally efficient thanks to Nicole's Rules of Order. The event, held opposite the Jets Patriots game, drew a smaller than normal but NFL adverse crowd.

The tables were laden with plenty. I am so thankful some healthful souls brought salads. They taste so good in the Winter.

Jo's guardian angel

This WWW I got to play "guardian angel" for Jo Anne Sadler. When I'm 77, have one lung and still want to hike with the big dogs, I hope someone looks after me.

Marty Silver - a no show at WWW???

I have enjoyed hiking with Marty Silver at previous WWW's. This year Marty was absent. I hope he is doing well. Those who like to hike with Marty are sometimes referred to as the "Marty-ites". Keeping up with Marty is only for the fit. If you can do that, you'll be treated to his knowledge of nature, bird calls and bad jokes.

We missed you.

Jan 14 Injun Creek

My final day of WWW and I decide I need to do something on my own. After and aborted attempt to go to Albright Grove, I settle on another Greenbrier hike. This one goes up and back on Injun Creek, an unofficial trail.

The stone structure above is the largest of several in the area. No one seems to know why they are there, I suspect, they were the work of a farmer with an artistic leaning.

I visited the McCarter Cemetery, previously visited only by a few coyotes. I followed there prints into the cemetery for the full 1/2 mile on the side trail.

Two stream crossings were a bit challenging. I had to take off my foot traction so I could negotiate the rock hop.

At the end of the trail and Camp 32, I enjoyed a spot of tea before heading back down and the long drive home.

Jan 13 Greenbrier River Trail

Finally on my 4th day of WWW I go somewhere other than Sugarlands. Doug Duncan takes us to Greenbrier and we hike the unofficial trail on the opposite side of the river as the road. Although, some folks have already hiked this trail this week, fresh snow has covered any sign of the foot traffic. We lose the trail a few times but have a grand time romping in the snow. The sun comes out by midday.

We visit 3 cemeteries including the largest one in the park. There are Huskies, McCarters, Ogles, Widers and all the usual suspects you find in this area including Benjamin Parton, Dolly's granddaddy, I think.

There were only 2 minor stream crossings, Little Bird and Bird Creeks. No one got wet.

Lunch was at the present day picnic area, the former Greenbrier Campground. Doug attempted to start a fire, barely got one going by the time everyone was packing up.

Great hike, made me feel like dancing.

Jan 12 Sugarland Horse trails

My third day at WWW and once again it is Sugarlands. No roads are open in the park, so we have to hike on the periphery of the park. Our guide, George Owen, tried to take us to Albright Grove but as we closed in our prey, the road became unmanageable, so it was back to Sugarlands. The horse stables are quite close to Sugarlands but are normally not a good hiking choice due to horse erosion. We manged today as there was several inches of snow and all the normal mud associated with horse trails was frozen.

Midway through the hike, we entered a sheltered area where the snow was considerably deeper and the surrounding laurel and rhododendron was covered in a powdery snow. It was the most beautiful snow scenery I experienced during the week of WWW. Everyone was in awe of the beauty. Lunch was at a trail junction. No one wanted to stop long as you needed to move to keep warm.

Funny man above is sucking on a "sapsickle". Icicles that form below logs, pick up some coloration and flavor from the decaying wood.

Jan 11 Cove Mountain

My second day of WWW and nobody can hike anywhere except Sugarlands and from the Greenbrier entrance. Our hike leader Christina takes us to Sugarlands and it is up Cove Mountain. This trail leaves Sugarlands by Cateract Falls a popular waterfall because it is an easy walk anyone can do from the Sugarlands Visitor's Center.

Once we start our ascent the trail hugs the boundary of the park. We pass several homes and the Gatlinburg Ski resort, Ober Gatlinburg. The snow making machine is deafening. Obviously, no need to make snow today, there is plenty to go around.
We wander up a ways, have lunch, get a glimpse of LeConte and head back down. It is not what I hoped for but still, good company and a different venue.

Jan 10 Sugarlands in the Snow

It was my first day of Wilderness Wildlife Week and due to fresh snow and slippery road, all WWW hikes are cancelled. When that word came down, I gathered up 3 other snow vets and headed to Sugarlands in my AWD Outback. We parked at the Park Headquarters and hiked in across Rt 441. Our's were the first footsteps in the snow. We followed West Prong Little Pigeon River for about a mile and half before branching away. Lunch was at the memorial sign for the CCC camp. I wandered around a bit here and found the massive chimneys that I suspect were for the main camp building. From here we headed to Sugarlands Cemetery. While enjoying the solitude of the snowy afternoon, here came Dwight McCarter and 10 of his friends, out to do the same thing we were doing. Many of Dwight's family tree members are buried in this cemetery and Dwight commented you could hardly walk around without tripping over a McCarter.

We retraced our steps in what was now a well defined snow path. It snowed off and on and we never saw any hint of the sun. It was a most enjoyable hike.

Pizza Friday

This was one good pizza. One half white and one half whole wheat, meatball, romas, creminis, yellow pepper and black olives.

Where did you eat lunch this week???

Zion - The Watchman

Easy hike right near the entrance to the Park. It overlooks Springdale UT.

Zion - Hidden Canyon

Hidden canyon is very close to Echo Canyon. You just have to cling to a chain with a 500 foot drop a few inches away. It is kind of scary when you meet someone coming the other way on the same chain. But once you're in the canyon, it is easy walking. The bottom is sand. If you can get over the first few obstacles in the canyon, you can walk for a a half mile or so before it gets rough.

Zion - Observation Point

You go from the canyon bottom to this point, higher than Angel's Landing which you can see jutting out in the canyon in two of this photos.

The fresh mountain lion prints spooked me though. Then I learned they were nocturnal.

Zion - Echo Canyon

This slot canyon is the way out of Zion Canyon to the East Rim and East Mesa Trails. It is just a narrow crack in the rock. The colors and swirls in the rock make it very picturesque. I had to travel trough it twice on the way to Observation Point.

Zion - Taylor Creek

Taylor Creek is in the Kolob Canyons section of Zion. It is a dead end trail following Taylors Creek until it reaches Double Arch Alcove near the headwall of the canyon. I started out in slick snow and ice, but once I'd walked a half mile, it was better trail. The trail and the river were one and the same in many spots. On the return, I just walked in the river as it was easier.

There are a couple historic cabins along the way. Just past the second one the trail ends at a huge double arch.

I ate lunch in the arch, watching some nearby birds and listening to the water dripping from above.

Zion - Emerald Pools

The three waterfalls are on three levels of the same small creek which drops from the plateau to the canyon bottom.

Lots of spray and mud in the vicinity of this place.

This one drops a long way. At the bottom it forms an upside down snow cone.