{"id":38101,"date":"2026-01-14T11:48:54","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T11:48:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goatbells.blog\/?p=38101"},"modified":"2026-01-14T11:48:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T11:48:58","slug":"pisgahs-coyote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goatbells.blog\/?p=38101","title":{"rendered":"Pisgah’s Coyote"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After head cold forced downtime, crisp frosty weather delayed a short hike until later morning. Around 10:45, I landed at the North Pisgah TH with the sun shining but frost lingering in the shadows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Water streamed out of sources I do not know. Does the hill just absorb water like a sponge and then it seeps out in these seasonal creeks – flows were high given no rain for several days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Early in the hike, I saw one of Pisgah’s coyotes off down the hill. It was quite far (~150 yards), so the photo is rough. I spoke to another hiker right after this and she said the coyote was on the trail yesterday very close to them. As I watched, its movements seemed very lethargic – sick maybe? This was my first Pisgah coyote sighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Route<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Started at North TH and took Tr #3 around the hill and then straight up to summit, then back down to Tr #3 and around East TH on Tr #2 and 4. I went as far as the sun did around the north side of the hill and then returned via the Quarry Road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human traffic was pretty light given the weather, but I stayed off the main up \/ down trail. All along the hill, horse prints caught my attention. If I was slipping around like that, I’d worry about injury – maybe horses are better?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Trail conditions were perfect for humans – just a tad sloppy, but not muddy, so soft on the feet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n