Blooms, Mist and a Hawk

ByMichael Goatbells

An after breakfast local hike at Mt Pisgah with grey and threatening skies, but the weather peeps promised ‘showers maybe’ … I met hiking buddy at North TH at Pisgah around 10:30 to start. I never put on rain jacket nor pulled out umbrella – just mist periodically.

Spring is further along than last week when there were just green leaves; today, blooms

The birds were out on every section of trail with bushes or trees. One new bird was ID by Merlin – Acorn Woodpecker (All About Birds) – the wrens were especially noisy. On the back side of the hill just past East TH, a red-tailed hawk flew up from the grasses near the trail and perched on a tree further down the hill – its plumage was spectacular with deep red tail feathers.

Fungi were not plentiful at all, except this one type in one place. Looks like a tongue.

The Route

Started at North TH and went around to Tr 4 and then to the summit; my hiking buddy went back down to TH, and I went down the hill toward East TH to Tr3. Around to Tr2 and up the hill again, and back down to Tr 4 back to the car. 2x atop Pisgah.

Trail conditions were muddy and the really muddy Tr #3 sections were avoided. Though my boots didn’t get wet / muddy – I was lucky. Human traffic was very light and most dogs were on leash!

Gear Box

My Outdoor Research Activelce gloves finally went beyond ‘just a hole’. These gloves lasted almost 9 months and over 500 miles. It’s not a seam undone, but fabric disintegration due to wiping sweat from my face most likely. These gloves save broken fingernails, sunburn, bug bites, etc – I need to break out the back-up pair.

Data Geek Cellar

  • Shoes: Altra Lone Peak WP boots (Oboz insoles + T-Form pad)
  • Pack: Gossamer Gear GRIT (Full foothills day hike kit)
  • Upper Layers: Midnight baselayer, SkyGOAT fleece
  • Upper shell: none
  • Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
  • Approximate Times: 10:30 – 15:00
  • Carbon ratio: 3.0 hours (1.5 hours driving: 4.5 hours hiking); YTD = 42.5 hours banked
  • Miles hiked YTD: 193.5
  • Notes:
    • Photos: low
    • Speed: moderate
    • Difficulty: easy
    • Weather: 40-55 – fog and mist – tiny blue sky late

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