Ocmulgee River Trail (Jasper County, Georgia)

The weekend is going far too fast, but thankfully it's Labor Day, which means a rare Monday off of work. I decided to join the Atlanta Outdoor Club for another hike today. The Ocmulgee River Trail will be our destination. I saw this one get posted a couple of weeks ago and it immediately caught my interest since I haven't explore the area. I was a bit confused though in that the meeting location had a couple of different pins. I had emailed the organizer and he mentioned that it was a "exploratory" hike, which I completely understand, but it would still be nice to ensure we all start at the same place.

It's a couple of hours of driving to get to the trailhead and once I arrived, I didn't find anyone at first. I rechecked the coordinates and just as I confirmed I was in the correct place, another gentleman showed up. We called the organizer who was at one of the other points and bushwhacking to find anything resembling a trail. As we spoke, a third hiker drive back from further up the gravel road we were parked on and reported a parking area about a half-mile further in. We relayed this to the organizer on the phone and before long, everyone had arrived at the turn-off. We chatted for a moment and then caravanned to the parking area hoping it was the spot we were looking for. It was, though it was pretty overgrown.

Everyone parked their car and got out the bug spray and their gear before doing a quick round of introductions. As we walk through the partially overgrown parking area, I note a lot of poison ivy growing and mention this to the group. Knowing this hike was exploratory, I wore long pants to protect myself from the 'devil weed', which causes a horrible rash on me. It seems I was the only one that thought this way though as everyone else is in shorts. 

We quickly locate the trail and begin our trek through this forest that is unknown to us. The hiking is easy, but the trail doesn't seem to get a lot of use. It's pretty easy to follow, but there are several blow-downs and the weeks (and poison ivy) make obvious attempts to reclaim it. Heading north through the woods for the first part of the trail, when we finally turn around, we are just above the river. Unfortunately, it is so overgrown we are rewarded with only a couple of views. One of them though does give us the opportunity to watch a small fishing boat 'climb' up over a shallow waterfall. It was pretty impressive piloting.

Returning to the parking area, we discuss possibly explore the area south, but with the skies starting to darken, we assume a thunderstorm is in our future and decide to call it a day. I was still able to get in 8.7 miles on this trail, which is pretty nice. It was also nice chatting with these folks, several of whom have been doing international adventure recently, just as I have. It's good conversation.

Johnson Ferry North (Cobb County, Georgia)

The heat really hasn't let up since yesterday, but as I mentioned in that blog, I really need to start getting myself back in shape and trail miles are my regiment of choice. I decided to join the Atlanta Outdoor Club for a short hike at another of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area's units. Today, it will be the Johnson Ferry North park. Pulling into the gravel parking area, I ask a lady I see waiting around if she's here for the hike and she confirms that she is. I take a quick moment to use the nearby restroom and when I return a few others have arrived. While we wait for the final hikers, we note a large number of younger trail runners making their way off the trail and through the parking area at great paces. I'm guessing there is some kind of high-school practice today based on their approximate ages. 

Once everyone has arrived, we do a very quick round of introductions and then begin making our way through the trails of this unit. It's a pretty basic trail and I've hiked here a couple of times in the past. The first section is slightly overgrown, but from what some of the ladies say, it's much better today than it was last week. I guess the park service has done some work on it. After grassy section, we head into the woods and alongside the river. There are a couple of minor creek crossings, but each has well-placed stepping stones and everyone is able to cross each section without getting wet. This is a pretty area. I've always enjoyed the natural rocks of this area, which provide some interesting terrain for the feeder creeks to flow over.

Hitting the northern end of the park, we make our way around Hyde Park and then head back the way we came. The conversations are great and this seems to be a very nice group of people. Before long, we're back at the cars. I'm a sweaty mess, but I was able to get about 4.6 miles in on this trail, which will have to suffice for the day. Originally, I had planned on hitting a second trail today, but we have friends in town that are planning to stop by this afternoon and I should be there to greet them . . . after having showered. So, this will have to do for now.

Vickery Creek (Fulton County, Georgia)

It's been so very hot in the southeast the last couple of weeks . . . miserably hot. For the most part, I've been trying to stay inside and soak up the AC, but I really do need to get my body moving again. I signed up for and ran a 5k this morning at Little Mulberry Park. It was the first race I've run in a few months, but my time wasn't terrible. The mileage wasn't enough though and so, I decided to head over towards Roswell and put a few miles in at the Vickery Creek Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. I've hiked here a few times in the past and it's a pretty popular place. First though, I got a burger at the nearby Moxie Burger, which is a place I've been wanting to try for a while. It was a pretty good meal and the fries were outstanding. 

After finishing my lunch, I found a parking spot a little closer to the old mill where I wanted to start. Even walking downhill towards the bridge crossing the creek and leading into the park, I was sweating from this oppressive heat. As I walk across the open air bridge, I see a lot of people are seeking refuge from these temperatures near the small waterfall just below the bridge. I can't blame them, but I really need the exercise. 

I quickly get my bearings and head east along the creek. This part of the trail system runs right at the waters edge and in a couple of places, I have to maneuver carefully around and under some low hanging trees to avoid falling down the bank into the muddy waters below. After about a quarter-mile on this section, I hit a dead end. It might be possible to scramble up the tall bank to the another trail above, but not wanting to risk injury or a plunge, I decide to turn back.

From here the trail is straightforward and I basically do the internal loop of the park. There are a few small inclines, but overall the trail is well maintained and easy. At one point though, I do come upon a doe and her two adolescent fawns. She just stairs at me, but her young ones quickly dart away for the safety of the brush. It's never my intention to scare them, but I do really enjoy seeing these creatures out here in their natural environment. It's not that I don't see deer often. We generally see deer in our backyard once or twice a week, but it never gets old seeing these beautiful creatures. 

Following the twists and turns of the trail and eventually loop back to the bridge that I crossed earlier. I've actually been amazed at how many people are out walking (and even running) the trails on a day as hot as today, but I guess I'm here too. So, that's that. This was a pretty short hike of only about 3.2 miles, but it served its purpose. I had intended to do a second trail on my way home, but given the heat and knowing how exposed that other trail is, I may reconsider.

Cochran Mills (Fulton County, Georgia)

Today, I'll join the Meetup group to hike at one of my favorite parks in the greater Atlanta area, Cochran Mill. I love this particular park because it has a large trail system and a number of interesting water features, including a couple of waterfalls. I've hiked here many times, but if my schedule allows, I almost always join for this one when it gets posted.

Pulling into the parking area, I see several friends that are part of the group. I walk over and pay the $5 parking fee to get the tag for my car and then walk over to chat with my friends. It's a humid day and we have a pretty small group today, only about ten of us, which is quite unusual for this group. Ah well, smaller groups are easier to manage in my opinion. Before long, we hit the trails.

The first section takes us through a slightly overgrown and muddy section that has a lot of joro spiders with their webs strung across the trail. Luckily, one of my friends is using a hiking stick and uses it to clear the way for us. Along this section, we find a dead log completely covered with the turkey tail fungus, which is common in this area, but rarely do we see anything covered this heavily.

Soon, we reach the river and the trail opens up a bit more just before we hit the waterfall area. Last year when we hiked here, we encountered a copperhead in this area and so, we warn everyone to watch where they are stepping. Bear Creek is flowing nicely today and we take a few minutes to have a snack and water break on the granite near the waterfall.

Before too long though, we're moving again and this next section requires us to climb a very steep uphill. I take advantage and run up it. I don't often get a workout on our Sunday hikes, but when an opportunity presents itself, I try to take advantage. The remainder of the hike is pretty tame though we seem to be going a little faster today than normal, which is a welcome changes for me. Not that this group is slow, but I'm a very fast hiker and I love being able to cruise through these wooded areas in high gear.

After arriving back at the parking lot, I mention that I'm going to walk across the street to the other waterfall and ruins of the mill, but no one seems to be all that interested and they go their separate ways. There are few people over there enjoying the cool water on this hot day, but I only stay long enough for a picture of the mill ruins. With this little addition, my total distance was about 8.2 miles for the day. Not bad, but now it's time to go home and smoke some chicken on the grill.

Shoot the Hooch - Chattahoochee River Float (White County, Georgia)

**Please Note - photo credit (of me) to one of the members of the group

After four years, it's becoming something of an annual tradition for the Meetup group I often lead hikes for. Today we'll be "shooting the hooch" through Helen, GA once again. Helen is a charming little Georgia mountain town that a few decades ago decided to become Bavarian-inspired. In September of every year, tourists descend on this little village to celebrate Oktoberfest. The other thing Helen is famous for is that the Chattahoochee River runs right through the middle of the little village, though it's more of a very shallow creek here near it's headwaters. That said, I thought it would be good to get our float in before the crowds descend.

Meeting up with the other attendees at the appointed time, we did a quick round of introductions and then got everyone checked in at Cool River Tubing who offer a tube rental and shuttle service for those wanting to float the river. It's great fun, though there is not alcohol allowed, which has always struck me as kind of crazy. I floating down a mostly calm river in an innertube. Who could I possibly hurt other than myself? Ah well, it's still fun even without the booze.

As we step into the river with our tubes, the water seems cold, but we adjust very quickly. We're doing the long float today, which takes us about 2.5 miles through the shallow waters. Half the fun is getting stuck on rocks and having to get yourself unstuck. While there are a few people on the river today, it's not nearly as crazy as it will be in the weeks to come. The four people in my group are mostly able to stay together, though we tend to shuffle our position as each of us gets stuck on various rocks and other obstacles. At one point, I realize I've developed and already accidentally popped a blister on my thumb using the wheelbarrow handle they gave me to push myself off of rocks. Ah well, it's not a party until someone gets hurt. I do my best to protect it the rest of the way down the river. 

With about two hours on the river, we end up at the take out and reconvene our group before hoping on the shuttle bus that will take us back to our cars at the headwaters outpost on the other end of town. What a relaxing way to spend an afternoon. And now, we're going to visit a little winery sit atop a hill overlooking Mount Yonah on the other end of town. Life is good!

**Please Note - GPS track from last year's event

Nikwasi Mound (Macon County, North Carolina)

I spent the weekend in Cullowhee, NC for my bi-annual Wilderness First Responder recertification class. It was a good weekend and I passed my exam without any issues, but on the drive home, I decided to check out a site that I've only recently learned of. In nearby Franklin, NC, there is ancient Native American mound called Nikwasi. It's actually named for the Cherokee town that existed at the site before European Americans pushed the indigenous peoples out and built Franklin. It is thought the mound itself was built around 1000 CE.

The mound is surrounded by modern buildings and roads, but a couple of informational signs speak to some of the history of the place. I'd guess the mound is about twenty feet tall, but rises from a sunken area between parking lots. The circumference of the base of the mound is roughly 600 hundred feet and is in a mostly oval shape. Apparently, the Cherokee built some of their structures on top of it. Now, it exists as just a grass-covered earthen mound in the middle of the small town of Franklin. I'm thankful that it was preserved though; so many of these treasures have been plowed over all around country.

Boundary Peak via Queens Mine Trail (Esmeralda County, Nevada)

My next and final adventure on this trip to Reno, NV takes me to the very remote Boundary Peak near the California Border. At 13,147 feet, this peak is the tallest point in the state. Some disagreement exists though because Boundary is a subpeak of the slightly taller Montgomery  Peak at 13,441 feet. The state line actually runs directly between the two peaks. That said, I'm here for Boundary, as I've kind of got this idea to summit the tallest peaks in all 50 states - though given my past experience with Acute Mountain Sickness, Denali in Alaska is probably a no-go.

The drive from Reno is approximately four hours and knowing that we have some many miles to drive along rough roads and an even more difficult ascent, my friend Nick and I get an early start and depart Reno just a little after 5:00 am. A few months ago, I had reached out to my Facebook friends for any advice on getting to the Queens Mine Trailhead and the summit itself. What they described to me lead me to rent this big Jeep Rubicon.

As we turn off of the pavement and onto a dirt road heading into the great unknown of the mountains, at first it's pretty easy going and I leave the Jeep in 2-high, but after a few miles, the rutted road turns quite a bit more challenging and I put it into 4-high. This seems it will be enough to get us to the trailhead. The road is rutted and really only passable by some level of high-clearance vehicle. The scenery is outstanding though and we take it all in as we drive.

When we finally reach the trailhead, there are three or four other cars parked in the area. We hop out of the Jeep, relieve ourselves in the nearby bushes and start getting our gear together. It's going to be windy and sunny the whole way up. 

Immediately after leaving the makeshift parking area, we start climbing. A series of false summits trick us into thinking we have reached the long ridge leading to the final ascent, but after a couple of them, we just kind of go with the flow. Eventually, we do reach that ridge and the hiking gets a bit easier . . . . for now. That said, we can see the gravel-covered side of one of the other sub-peaks at the far end of the ridge and spot hints of a trail. Reviewing our map, we realize we have to climb that, which is going to be interesting. 

As we reach the end of the ridge, we notice what I'm pretty sure are bristlecone pines growing on one of the nearby hillsides. I'd love to go examine them more closely to confirm, but I know I need to save my energy for what is to come. When we reach the end of the ridge, there is a flat area where people have drug logs onto a flat rock. It almost looks like a picnic area, which quite interesting in a place as remote as this. 

From here, we begin the grueling ascent. The first three-quarters of a mile takes us up a 40-ish degree incline with loose gravel. For every three steps forward, we slide a step back. It's pretty slow going and as we continue to climb, we spot a few hikers coming down from the summit. When we reach each other, I ask one of them if it was worth and he responds with "No, but I'm still glad I did it". That's a pretty common attitude to hikes like this. In the moment, it's torture, but once complete, it's a badge of honor to be admired.

Reaching the top of this gravel-laden slope, we then begin to make our way along a long rock ridge with steep drop offs on either side. There are only hints of a trail and we're forced to path find most of the way up. We have to make our way around five or six rock towers on our ascent. Some are easy, while others are quite challenging and require significant rock scrambling. I'd even go so far as to say parts of this trail are quite dangerous as hikers are forced onto all fours at points and must lower themselves down steep sections with little to know footholds and plenty of giant boulders to shatter our skulls on. 

Eventually, Nick tells me to go on ahead as he's struggling a bit. I ensure he's okay and then do as he suggests. The way to the top only gets worse and the final rock tower is one of the more dangerous scrambles I've done. I'll even admit that I was mildly afraid at a couple of points, but with few good options, I forced myself forward.

The summit itself requires make my way up another very steep gravel laden peak. At several points, I fear slipping off the mountain, but I eventually make it to the top. Here, I find another ammo box and sign the register. The view from this point, the top of Nevada, is spectacular and between wanting to enjoy it and just catching my breath, I spend ten or so minutes at the top. Luckily, I'm not really feeling any signs of acute mountain sickness, which makes me very happy. 

Soon, I start heading back down the way I came or at least a similar path. It's impossible to tell up here in this gravel and boulder fields. Once again, I'm hyper-focused on not falling and breaking a few bones. It really is a precarious ascent and descent. When I finally rejoin, Nick, we make our way down the gravel slope, which is even more challenging going down than up, but eventually, we make it and return to the Jeep.

I'm pretty proud of this one. I wish Nick had been able to summit, but sometimes, it's better to consider one's well being. He still reached almost 13,000 feet, which shatters the personal elevation record he set just last weekend on Freel Peak. As for me, it's another checklist item. The hike was only about 8.1 miles, but due to the difficulty of the terrain, it took nearly eight hours to complete. For now, I need to get back to Reno and prepare for my return flight to my home in Atlanta early in the morning. 

Perseid Meteor Shower at Tahoe Meadows (Washoe County, Nevada)

    **Please Note - Photo courtesy of Google

Driving back down from the Sand Harbor on Lake Tahoe after having watched an outstanding performance of Macbeth, I suggest to my friend that we should stop in Tahoe Meadows and see if we can catch any shooting stars from the Perseid Meteor Shower. I had intended to camp out on the Black Rock Desert last night for the show, but with wildfire smoke and ongoing storms and cloudiness decided better of it. Tonight though, the skies are clear and while there is considerably more light pollution here than in the Black Rock, it's still pretty dark. 

I pull over and we hop out of my rental Jeep. We begin scanning the sky for any sign of meteors. the peak of the shower has been the last two nights, but we're still close enough to peak that we should see something. Before I can even finish stating that prediction, we spot a couple streaking across the sky. As is always the case when you try to point one out to someone with you, it's gone before they can even turn their head. It's pretty cool up here this time of night and while we only stay ten minutes or so, we catch roughly 6 or 7 shooting stars, which makes it all worth it.

Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival - Macbeth (Washoe County, Nevada)

***Please Note - photo courtesy of Google

While it may be more difficult to classify a Shakespeare production of Macbeth an outdoor adventure, the fact that it takes place on an outdoor stage overlooking Lake Tahoe is all the justification I need. I've attended the plays put on by the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival a few times in the past and it's always been an outstanding experience. 

Arriving with a friend, we checked in and were directed to our table. I've had both the normal seats and the café tables, and while more expensive, I really prefer the tables. The other perk of the tables is having a server to bring our food to us before the show. The stage looks magnificent as a backdrop while we peruse the menu. My friend brought some snacks, which are allowed, but we do decide to split an order of hummus and a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. I also order a tri-tip and asparagus salad minus the tomatoes. When the food comes a short time later, I note that the salad box says "No T" and as I open it, I notice lots of tomato and no tri-tip whatsoever. I call the server and he and get a good laugh out of it. Why would anyone order a tri-tip salad without the tri-tip. He returns it to the kitchen and arrives back a short time later with the corrected dish, which is quite delicious. 

Right on time at 7:30pm, the lights dim and the play begins. I say lights because the area is illuminated with overhead lighting, but it's not quite dark yet and so, it doesn't have that much impact. It will certainly be dark later though. 

I've always wanted to see Macbeth performed live and the actors and stage direction here are absolutely top notch. Though, I believe they did make some very slight adjustments to the play, it was still an terrific experience. We both thought so and as we head back to my rental car, we discuss the various parts that caught our attention. What a wonderful way to spend an evening under the stars.

Reno Riverwalk (Washoe County, Nevada)

After working in the Reno Office the last four days to get some of our new employees up to speed, I'm taking a much needed day off. Originally, I had planned to camp out on the Black Rock Desert last night and take in the Perseid Meteor Shower, but a combination of wildfire smoke from blazes just north of town and storms systems filling the sky with clouds made me reconsider. That said, I still want to do something with my morning and so, I decided to walk the Reno Riverwalk. In the past, I've run this paved path several times, but it's been a long time since I just walked along it and took in the sites. 

Departing my hotel, Circus Circus, I make my way down Virginia Street and under the famous Reno Arch, which declares this community as the "biggest little city in the world". Having lived here for a long time, I can completely agree with the statement. I really do love this town and I miss it quite a bit.

At the junction with the Truckee River, I divert my path into City Plaza to enjoy a couple of the artworks the city purchased from past Burning Man events. This includes the giant "Believe" sign and the stained glass whale cow and calf. The feel of this town with regards to art and music and just general things to do is unique in my experiences traveling the country. 

Turning west, I cross back over Virginia Street at start heading along the Riverwalk, which passes by Wingfield Park. In years past, this has been the location of the Reno River Festival, a kayaking event. The river has been diverted through a number of interesting channels here to simulate water water. You may ask if that is really necessary on a river as rugged as the Truckee and I would suggest that only in town would this be necessary. The Truckee flows out of Lake Tahoe at around 6,200 feet and then winds through Reno and Washoe County before finally arriving at Pyramid Lake to the north at about 3,800 feet. I've floated many sections of this river and there are sections that are pretty gnarly, but most of the elevation loss is before it gets to Reno and once in town, it calms down significantly.

Continuing along the river corridor while listening to an audio book, I enjoy the fresh air and the general friendliness of the people here. There are many runners out for their morning miles and even some fisherman trying their luck in the river.

Eventually, I reach Idlewild Park and after walking the length of it, I turn around and head back the way I came. This was definitely an urban out, but it was still nice to get in 4 miles this morning. I have a pretty busy day ahead and the fresh air and exercise was definitely needed.

Freel Peak via Armstrong Pass (Alpine County, California)

 

I'm in Reno again for work, but this time, I decided to add a couple of extra days on top of work responsibilities for some adventure. My first stop is to climb Freel Peak on the southeastern corner of Lake Tahoe. At 10,886 feet, Freel is the tallest peak in the entire Tahoe Basin and while I've climbed many peaks on the other corners of the lake, I've never really done much on this part. 

I actually rented a big Jeep Rubicon because one of my adventures next weekend will take me to the very remote Boundary Peak along some rugged old mine roads. That said, it turned out to be a good vehicle for getting my friend Nick and I to this trailhead as well. Turning off highway 89 onto a dirt forest service road, we very early on encountered a section that was pock-marked with very large divots, measuring between three and six feet across and in some cases as much as two feet deep. Given that there were approximately 15 of them on this small section, I'm not sure anything other than a high clearance 4x4 could have made it through this section. The presence of a couple of cars before this section leads to me believe others thought the same thing. Following the road for approximately four miles into the forest, we arrive at the Horse Meadows Trailhead, where a collection of trucks and other beefy vehicles have been parked. 

After getting our gear together, we head out across Willow Creek and up into the mountains. The first section of this trail is a stead up hill and recent rains have washed lots of debris down the trail for up higher. It's something of an obstacle course jumping over branches, rocks, and whatever else the water could carry. 

At the junction with Armstrong Pass, we missed our turn and after a while realized our mistake. The intention was to follow the Tahoe Rim Trail from this section. This forced us to bushwhack a a little bit to get over our intended trail. Luckily, bushwhacking in this region is quite different than in Georgia. In this dry climate and at approximately 8,500 feet, the kudzu, poison ivy, and other strangling green vines and flora can't take hold. It's much more pleasant than other off trail adventures and soon, we're back on our intended trail.

From here, we follow the western shoulder of the Freel Peak complex for a couple of miles before heading up the steep desolate final slope. At the junction with the spur trail that leads us to the top, we stop for a short break and chat with some mountain bikers riding the TRT. After a few minutes, we begin our ascent. As we make our way up this steep section, we encounter a few other hikers coming down from the peak. As hikers do, they say hello we wish each other a good hike.

As it turns out, the peak we had been looking at and thinking was Freel, is actually a sub-peak to Freel, which makes more sense as to why we are headed the direction we are now. The ascent is fairly steep and very dusty, but manageable. Nick tells me that summiting this peak will be the highest point he's every been to. I didn't realize that. In years past, he's done nearly as much adventuring as I have, but family responsibilities and health issues have put something of a damper on that in recent times. As for me, I've been considerably higher than this peak. I've summited Mount Whitney at 14,505 feet and though I was unable to summit Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania last summer due to acute mountain sickness, I still reach approximately 15,500 feet. So, this little guy isn't that much to me, but I still wanted to do it.

Once at the top, I sign in on the register that someone has placed in an military-style ammunition case. There is also a sign here erected by a local boy scout troop, acknowledging the elevation and the summit. I take a couple of minutes to take in the view, which is fantastic. To the east Jobs Peak and Jobs Sister rise to nearly the same height as Freel and the trail to Jobs Sister is incredibly gorgeous as it stretches out across the sandy ridge. 

Nick arrives a few minutes after me and similarly takes in the view. We get some water and when he's ready, we begin our descent. The return trip is uneventful, though it is heating up and I end up having to stop to get pebbles out of my shoes a couple of times. Next time I hike out here, I'll have to consider some of those ankle-length gators.

As we return to the Jeep, I offer Nick a fist bump and congratulate him on reaching and returning from his highest point yet. That said, next weekend, we may shatter his record as we make an attempt to summit Boundary Peak, the highest point in the state of Nevada. Total distance for today's hike was right at 10.5 miles and it was totally worth it.

Mill Creek Boardwalk to Woodward Mill Dam via Ivy Creek Greenway (Gwinnett County, Georgia)

The unpredictable weather patterns continue to interfere with my weekend plans again this week. Originally, I was going to be leading the Meetup on a float down through Helen, GA on the Chattahoochee River, but with rain in the forecast and some cooler temperatures, I decided to postpone that trip and hike a little closer to home. After reviewing some options, I chose to explore a new trail near the Mall of Georgia. I really don't know much about the Mill Creek Nature Area, but reviews suggest it is a nice experience even though the boardwalk is some state of disrepair.

The parking area is pretty small, but I found a spot and quickly got my bearings. It seems odd to be hiking in such a popular retail area, but lets see what this trail is all about. After descending a set of wooden steps down the steep hill from the sidewalk, I found myself on a pretty standard nature trail. This part of the trail is a loop and I decided to walk clockwise. The gravel and earth trail soon hits a boardwalk, which as I will find common on today's little adventure is covered with mud. I would guess that this entire area has been recently flooded, which has left the boardwalk a muddy mess. I do my best to maneuver, but it's incredibly slick and I nearly fall on my face numerous times.

Following the boardwalk through a thick, marshy environment, it leads out to an elevated observation deck. I climb the steps, again being very careful of the slippery mud. The deck is roughly forty feet above the marsh and offers some nice views of this wide open area. I had no idea this place was here and it seems odd to think that I'm standing in this natural environment probably less than a quarter-mile from one of the busiest shopping areas in the entire country.

Making my way back to the loop trail, I continue along the muddy boardwalk. Some of it is clear, but a good proportion is covered with the think goopy mud and I have to be very careful as I walk along this path. Soon, the loop comes around on an area with open water. I'm sure the brown muck is home to a zoo of snakes and turtles, but none are making their presence known today. I divert from the loop one last time to what is probably the muddiest section. This spur takes me out to the confluence of Ivy Creek and Little Ivy Creek, but the undergrown is too tall to allow much of a photo.

As I leave the boardwalk and get back to the gravel trail, I start heading west along the Ivy Creek Greenway. This section seems to have sustained some damage probably from the recent flood, but it's still safer than walking on that slippery mud. Before too long though, the trail passes over a sturdy bridge where a couple of teenage boys and their father are casting into the muddy creek. Turning the corner, the trail now becomes a paved path and passes under the highway. 

I hear a water feature and realize I'm probably at the Woodward Mill Dam, which is kind of hidden behind the greenery, but I find a path down to the water. This is a combination of manmade dam and rock outcropping over which the waters of Ivy Creek flow. There is also an old waterwheel here, which was likely used by the mill when it was still here in operation. It sits now rusting away, but offering a interesting picture.

After climbing back up to the paved walkway, I start heading back towards the parking area where I left my car. I pass a few more people along the way, but generally, this place doesn't seem very popular. I imagine the muddy trails have deterred people from exploring. At the car, I check my mileage and see that I got in just 2.7 miles. It certainly isn't much and I really need to start getting in some distance, but it was still a nice adventure to a new area.

DeSoto Falls and Icebox Cave (DeKalb County, Alabama)

The weather in the southeast has been very erratic for the past few weeks. We have been suffering through 90+ degree days with 80-90% humidity, which makes for a miserable time outside. Add to that surprise and harsh thunderstorms popping up unexpectedly, and it's not a recipe conducive to getting much hiking in. I've especially been resisting the urge to travel for any hikes. Today though, I decided to risk it and make a drive just over the state line to visit DeSoto Falls State Park in Alabama. I have tried to do this trip a couple of times recently only to be thwarted by the rain. Today looks to be clear though until the late afternoon, and so, I'm going to give it a go.

It takes a couple of hours to reach my destination and when I do, I'm a little confused by the way the park is laid out. Initially, I pull into a picnic area at the pool above the falls. I have to pay $5 to park here, but hopefully it will be worth it . . . it was not worth it. This area is for family kayaking. The creek that feeds the falls is dammed to form a large pond and a number of families are here paddling out on that flat water. Just below the dam is a small double waterfall, each dropping about 20 feet into another more shallow pool. From there the water heads over the main waterfall, but unfortunately, the angle from here is not very good. I do follow a small trail along the side of the cliff (with a safety fence) to get to a look out point, but even from here, the view of the main fall is quite lacking.

Returning to the car and looking at a couple of maps on my phone, I decide to hike a nearby trail called the DeSoto Falls Bottom and Icebox Cave Trail. Hopefully, this will take me towards the bottom of the canyon formed by the falls and offer a better view. The cave may be interesting as well.

It's only about a five minute drive from the picnic area and once there, I quickly find a parking spot, though the lot is pretty full. The trail meanders through a number of large rock outcroppings, which are probably great for bouldering, as it approaches the waterway, which is known as the West Fork of the Little River. I do encounter a number of other people out hiking on this sticky summer day, but everyone is quite nice. The final push to the pool below the waterfall is an exercise in balance, as the trail traverses over a large number of half-buried stones. It would be very easy to roll an ankle here, but I'm careful and manage it without incident.

When I get to the opening that offers the best view of the waterfall, I'm a little disappointed that the pool leads up to a large boulder, which is taller than I care to climb today. I manage stand on a piece of fallen log to get a couple of shots. There are quite a few people here swimming in the cool waters of the pool and a couple over closer to the waterfall, which is roughly a 300 feet across the pool from me.

The waterfall itself is quite majestic, plummeting 104 feet over the tall cliff. which has been carved into a canyon by the rushing water. This natural configuration seems to be quite common in this part of the world. I've encountered numerous other waterfalls that look very much the same, including Lula Lake Falls, Foster Falls, and the waterfalls at nearby Cloudland Canyon. I'm guessing the geology lends itself to this kind of erosion.

After only a few minutes taking it all in, I turn around and head back towards the car. The sky is clouding up and I'd rather not be caught out here in the rain. A few drops of rain to fall on me, but nothing significant and even though I want to get back to the car, I decide to take an alternative path to see Icebox Cave. This connecting trail takes me up the hillside and to the bottom of the continuation of the cliffs. After a short distance, I encounter the cave.

This cave is more of a very deep overhang. The entrance is roughly fifty feet wide and twelve feet tall, more than enough to allow me to walk into it. The ceiling of the cave is covered with soot, indicating the use of campfires here. I would imagine this cave was used by indigenous peoples as a shelter, as offers a fairly large room, which is nicely sheltered from the weather. Though the ceiling tapers down towards what appears to be the back of the cave, it's probably sixty or seventy feet deep. It even appears to go deeper, but exploring further would require some belly crawling, which I'm unwilling to do today.

The trip back to the car is uneventful, though the rains continue to threaten. The total distance of this little hike was only about 1.3 miles, but some very interesting things to see along the way. I had originally planned to do a couple of other hikes in this area, but given the weather situation, I think I'm just going to head home.

Fort Yargo (Barrow County, Georgia)

Before joining the Meetup group today, I did a short walk in nearby Athens. Having arrived early at Fort Yargo State Park though, I decided to relax in the shade while the rest of the group began showing up. This park is very near to my house and I hike here pretty often. By noon, our planned start time, just about everyone has shown up and after our customary round of introductions, we begin the hike.

We start by crossing the long wooden bridge across the northern end of the lake. As we cross, we talk to a number of men and boys casting their lines into the water and testing their luck. It seems they aren't biting much today. I suppose it's not surprising on such a warm summer day. Shortly after we cross, a couple of late-comers catch up to us and join the group. As we walk, we talking about a variety of subjects, but mostly of other adventures. With three of us here today having recently completed the Camino de Santiago, international trips seems to be the topic of choice.

As we make our way around the newly-built beach facility, we note some storm clouds starting to form up. It is supposed to rain today, but we were hoping it would hold off until we finish our hike. Just past the beach area, we're forced to divert off the normal inner loop just a bit due to some downed trees. Soon though, we return to the intended route.  As we cross the wooden bridge on the far western branch of the lake, our group leaders asks me to check my doppler radar app for signs of a storm. While there are patches north of us, it looks all clear in our immediate vicinity. No sooner have I said that, then we hear the first boom of thunder in the distance. 

I tell the group that my last visit to the park a few months ago ended in hiking halfway around the lake in the pouring rain at night, and that I'm not looking forward to do that again. With that said, I pick up my pace to what is pretty normal for me at about 4 mph. The group falls further and further behind me as finish out the trail. I do stop a couple of times along the way for pictures, including a shot of a beautiful eastern kingsnake slithering across the trail.

I arrive back at the parking area far ahead of the group and send a text just to let them know that I made it back and that I was heading home. Just as I begin driving out of the parking lot, the clouds open up and it begins to pour down rain. Hopefully, my friends found shelter. As for me, I'm thankful to have gotten in my 6.6 miles and to have stayed dry while doing it.

Firefly Trail to "Murmur" Trestle (Athens-Clarke County, Georgia)

I'm joining the meetup a little later today, but in advance of that hike I wanted to get in a little more distance. For quite a while, I've also wanted to check out the "R.E.M. Murmur" railroad trestle in Athens, GA. To accomplish both, I drove a bit further east than where I was hiking with the group and walked a short distance on the Firefly Trail.

The band R.E.M. was founded by students attending the University of Georgia at Athens. Their first studio album included a picture of a tall dilapidated railroad trestle overgrown with kudzu. The bridge became a landmark due to the cult-like following the band had. While I was never a member of the cult, I do like quite a few of the band's songs. Since I live pretty close though, I' had always wanted to see the trestle. After doing some research, it seems that the original, which was built in 1883 to cross Trail Creek, a tributary of the nearby North Oconee River, was actually demolished in 2020, after a lengthy public debate. With all of the support to keep the landmark though, the city sought and received funding to build a replacement in the same design. This new version is now part of the Firefly Trail, a 39-mile "rails to trails" project, which starts just a short distance north of the bridge. The paved and well-groomed multi-purpose path now traverses a large gorge across the trestle. 

After parking my car, I had to do a little route-finding. Although, the grounds of Dudley Park are well maintained, the way the Firefly Trail passes through is a bit confusing. It's actually something of a three dimensional trail here, as the pathways lead by the river and then circle back up and around to cross over the trestle. I first walked below the bridge and then found the path to circle back and walk across it. The view from the type is pretty nice and overall, it seems like a great trail system. I only hiked about 1.5 miles here today, but knowing how nice this is, I will plan to bring my bike back and put in some more serious mileage sometime soon.