Sea of Ferns

After the rain stopped around lunchtime today I decided to hike along the north side of the mountain where the ferns cover the landscape. July on the mountain brings a sea of ferns in this areas where the ground stays moist. The forest floor has changed so much in the last 4 months but I especially love the sea of ferns that take over this time of year.

We only reached 63 degrees F yesterday but today we will be closer to 80 degree F. Not much sun to speak of yesterday, it rained all day and night and before it finished this morning we had slightly over 1 inch of rain.

 “We love the things we love for what they are.”   — Robert Frost

 

If you are interested in trading a few garden plants, check out my recent post, Plant Exchange.

 

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Hike Along

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Last Saturday afternoon I had a couple of hours and decided to take a hike into an area I had not hiked before and where the terrain is extremely steep. My hike took me across the mountain on the north side thru heavily covered areas of Mountain Laurel.

I have mentioned in other hiking post that I have been hunting for a cave that was used by soldiers during the revolutionary war and a revolutionary war grave site. There are historical records with articles talking about this cave and grave site. I continue make hikes across the mountain in my attempt to find both of these.

Soon I was standing at the top of a gorge that is about 1500 feet deep trying to figure out if I was going to be able to hike down, trying to find the best path down.

I could hear water running, maybe a small waterfall. After searching for a clearing so that I could look over the Mountain Laurel, I could finally get a look at the bottom of the gorge. I had not hiked down this gorge before but I was determined to get to the bottom.

Almost to the bottom, decide to snap a couple pictures.

It took me about 35 minutes to get to the bottom and it was worth my efforts.

Pair of huge white oak trees!

I checked my compass in the direct the creek was flowing to determine if I could follow the creek. It appears the creek is flowing south which should eventually take me down the mountain. I will continue to watch my compass so that I can easily make my way back to the house.

 

Animal bones, maybe a squirrel? Was it eaten by a fox, coyote, eagle, hawk, owl maybe?

Moss is growing all along this creek.

 

The water is crystal clear and cold.

There are several small waterfalls along this creek..

Can you spot the snail?

 

 

Moss and ferns growing on rocks.

This waterfall is about 20-25 feet tall.

 

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for new and richer experience.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

Enjoy your day!

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Thinks I saw
Small Waterfalls

 

 

 

 

Sunset and Icicles

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We had a perfect ending to a perfect day and as it begins, so it ends. A strong cold front moved across upstate South Carolina Wednesday evening that led to the most beautiful sunset. I caught these pictures from our deck just a few minutes before dark. The reflection of the sun on the clouds was beautiful.

The cold front spawned snow flurries and bitter cold temperatures. By 9:00 PM the skies were clear, the temperature read 22 degrees and gusty winds gave us a wind chill of 12 degrees.

I found the evidence of our cold night the next morning down at our mountain spring which is on the North Slope.

 

 

Small Waterfalls

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I have read many articles about a cave on our mountain that was used during the revolutionary war and a revolutionary war grave site. I have made many hikes across the mountain in my attempt to find both of these. This time I decided to hike across the Southside of the mountain about one-third down from the top. Since there are no trails I had to use my compass to stay on track. My hike was about 2 miles round trip in some really rough terrain and dense trees.

After hiking for about 35 minutes I found myself in a huge ravine that impossible to get across so I followed it down the mountain hoping to find a away across. Then I found a large spring, water was bubbling out of the ground everywhere. As I continued to walk down the ravine there were numerous springs that had formed a good size creek. I continued to follow the creek and before I knew it I could hear water falling. It got louder as I got closer and finally I could see there were two waterfalls.

It appeared many, many years ago someone had built a wall with a 10 foot long channel that pooled the water that then lead to the first fall. The water from a creek like this was often used many years ago to make moonshine. This water is very cold and crystal clear. I climbed down to see the waterfall and below the fall was another small pool of water with another small waterfall.

The waterfalls are on the South side of the mountain, I checked my compass and the falls are facing exactly 180 degrees south.

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