Stone Moutain - Autumnal Equinox (DeKalb County, Georgia)

Though the actual autumnal equinox is not until Tuesday, I decided to schedule an event to watch the sunset from the top of Stone Mountain two days early. I have plans Tuesday and figured a day or two wouldn't make that much difference (it's actually 3 minutes to be exact). Though I had already lead a hike on the Sutalee Trace Trail today, my legs are feeling great and a walk up the steep summit trail should be a nice workout. 

Meeting up with the participants near the restrooms, I'm a little disappointed to see there will only be three of us. A storm system is supposed to start moving through very soon and I suspect this scared a lot of people off. Either way, it will be a nice hike for us. Though I've hiked with both gentlemen before, we do a quick round of introductions and then begin climbing up the steep monadnock towards the summit. Along the way, I point out some of the intricate carvings made in the granite in decades past. Some of these date back to just after the Civil War. I always love the history. 

As we near the summit, I see that the storm is going to be a thing and warn the others that if we see any lightning in the distance that I'll be heading down. Being on top of a treeless granite dome during a lightning storm is a very stupid idea. They agree. With that said, we find a spot on the summit to watch the descending sun to the west and the approaching dark clouds from the north. We even spot a rainbow in those dark clouds. 

The sunset is quite beautiful as it passes behind the skyscrapers of downtown Atlanta. Unfortunately, we begin to feel some raindrops just five minutes or so before the actual sunset. I don't mind getting wet, but there are sections of this granite that get incredibly slick and dangerous when wet. The others suggest and I agree that we should head back. We quickly make our way down the mountain, though the rain never does more than a few drops. Still, better safe than sorry. Total distance of this evening hike was only about 2.1 miles, but the elevation change of Stone Mountain always makes it a nice workout.

Sutalee Trace Trail (Cherokee County, Georgia)

A few months ago when I was training for the Camino, I found and hiked the Sutalee Trace Trail near Canton, GA. I found it to be a nice hike with a few options in the trail system. I mentioned it to the owner of the Meetup group I often lead hikes for and suggested it might be a nice trail to fit into his Sunday rotation. With ample parking, relatively easy grades, nice views of the Etowah River, and a few side trail options, it seemed like a great fit. He was interested and asked me to post an event for it later in the year when my schedule would allow me to lead it. Today is the day.

Arriving at the parking lot a few minutes before our scheduled start time, I had to wander off into the woods to use the restroom as the physical restrooms were roped off for some reason. Returning to my car, I found a couple of people had arrived and asked if they were here for the hike. Others began to arrive, including the group owner. Before our introductions, I gave a little overview of the trail including the limited history I know about it from my research. This route is supposedly the same one or at least near the one used by the Cherokee for hundreds of years and then by the early European settlers to this area to travel between villages. Some years ago, the pseudo-historical route was marked as a hiking trail and part of the Etowah River Trail System. I always love a little history in my adventures. 

Departing the parking area, we make our way into the woods and before long see some excellent views of the river, though the brush is much thicker than when I hiked here back in the late winter. This part of the path is nearly level and well maintained. We pass a few other hikers along our route. At one point we reach what I refer to as the crossroads, which is the intersection of a couple of dirt roads and hiking trails. Reviewing the map here, we discuss exploring a couple of other options, but for now continue along the white trail. 

After taking this path deeper into the woods, we finally reach the terminus at Jug Creek, where the trail hits another dirt road. We discuss what we want to do from here. Originally, I had planned to just hike out and back on the white trail and keep it easy to, but I'm fairly easily convinced to explore a couple of other options. 

We follow the dirt road and through an exposed area where the joro spiders have built their strong, sticky webs across the path in places. Luckily, I had picked up a stick and was already sweeping for them. I really don't like walking face first into spider webs. Eventually, we return to the white trail and head back towards the parking log, but not before exploring a couple of the other side trails. 

As it turns out one of the hikers had fallen behind and not brought enough water with him (which seems a bit careless on such a hot day). He had message me, but with only intermittent signal here in the woods, I didn't see the message until we returned to the parking area, where I found him waiting. He said he had made it back safely, which I was glad to hear. Total distance for the day was 8.9 miles. Everyone seemed to enjoy the trail and I expect the group will return. I leave the group pretty quickly though as I am leading another hike this evening and need to get back.

Arabia Mountain - Daisy Days (DeKalb County, Georgia)

I ran a 5k this morning, but after getting home and doing some chores, I decided I wanted to get in a few more miles. Thinking about where to go, I realized the daisies should be starting to bloom at Arabia Mountain (and at the other monadnocks southeast of Atlanta). That seemed like an ideal place to hike a few miles and see some nice scenery. 

It's only about a thirty minute drive from my house and I arrived to find the parking lot pretty full, but an open spot right by the entrance. With my car parked and plenty of water to keep my hydrated on this hot 'dog day' afternoon, I headed south on the paved path behind the nature center. 

The trails and routes at Arabia Mountain are pretty well known to me, as I've hiked here many times over the years I've lived in Atlanta. I decided to follow a route that takes me across Klondike Road and into the woods before popping out on the bare granite between the high point of Arabia Mountain and it's taller sibling, Bradley Mountain. With no shade on the granite surface, it's really hot and continue to drink water to try and stay cool.

When I descend from Bradley Mountain, I had expected to be overwhelmed by the bright yellow daisies littering the landscape and former quarry areas, but I didn't see many at first. I then thought it might be too early in the season. These yellow beauties generally start blooming in late September and continue into October. After walking a little further though towards the southern parking lot, I find many more. I still may be early, but there are several of them in bloom.

Walking up the boardwalk lot back towards the nature center, I find even more scattered along and below the walkway. They're really beautiful flowers and make for a magnificent hike. The butterflies dance among the blossoms and almost seem to have a playful nature about it.

Crossing over the road again, I head towards the Frog Pond and Mile Rock Trail. This side of the old quarry doesn't seem to have as many of the yellow flowers, but it's still a nice hike regardless. Between the old buildings of the quarry, the granite, and just the general landscape, Arabia Mountain is always an interesting place to hike.

After a short time, I'm back at my car having hiked about 3.1 miles along these granite paths. I'd like to get in more, but I have some other events going on tonight and need to get cleaned up. The heat has rally caused me to sweat quite a bit and I'm sure I don't smell suitable for being around people right now. 

Cauley Creek and Rogers Bridge (Gwinnett County, Georgia)

It's been so incredibly hot and humid the last couple of weeks, which I've mentioned in previous blogs, but today I decided to get up early and drive to a nearby park I've only just learned about. Cauley Creek Park is only about six miles from my house, but sits on the other side of the Chattahoochee River. Luckily, a neighboring park built around the old Rogers Bridge offers a way to cross. 

I left the house a little before sunrise and arrived just a few minutes later. Thankfully, the heat hasn't kicked in this early and I might be able to get a nice walk in without sweating my ass off. I park and quickly cross over the modern Rogers Bridge. As I walk across, I note a great number of walkers and runners on these trails. The river below has a thick fog covering it, which makes for a nice picture. 

The trails here are all paved and covered with a bouncy, rubber like substance (that is likely produced from recycled car tires). It makes for an easy walk and I'm able to maintain a great pace as I get my miles in. My route circles the outside of the park and cuts into the woods in a few places. Along one of the sections, I spot a couple of deer, including a fawn - always a welcomed site when out on a hike.

Rounding the last section, I head back over the bridge towards my car and as I do so, a fellow walk mentions to me that he used to jump off the bridge here into the cold river below. I believe he was talking about the previous bridge, but he mentions that the water directly below us roughly eight feet deep and that there is a little boat ramp just a few meters downstream (and now overgrown with brush) that he would swim to and climb out on. I wish him a good day and finish my walk. Total distance for the morning was about 3.7 miles, which is not bad at all for a weekday.

Phinizy Swamp - Equalization Pond Loop (Richmond County, Georgia)

As hot and humid as it is today, I debated on just heading home after my previous hike, but since I'm in the area, I decided to check out one more interesting place near Augusta. The Phinizy Swamp seems like a place that Snoop Dog might enjoy visiting, but today, it's me paying it a visit. This swamp is created by the confluence of the Savannah River and Butler Creek and is home to a variety of waterfowl and amphibians, including alligators.

Even getting out of my car, I'm second guessing my decision to hike further in this heat, but I'm here now and I've got to check it out. My plan was to hike about five miles around the facility. We'll see how far I get before heat exhaustion sets in. The trail starts easily enough and wanders through the swampy forest from the parking area to the visitors center, which only takes about five minutes to walk. Here a number of structures, picnic areas, and other facilities offer a variety of amenities to those brave enough to come to the swamp.

I head out towards the SunRise deck, which takes me over a winding boardwalk to a wooden platform built in the reeds and presumably which offers a view of the rising sun early in the morning. I bet it would be at least a little cooler at that time of day. Continuing on, I follow the trail, which is mostly boardwalk out to the ponds where the wildlife lives.

First, I walk along a long straight boardwalk northward to Equalization Pond. This pond is surrounded by a low fence, but the bottom is open, presumably allowing the critters to crawl in and out as they please. I make a lap of the small pond, which is covered with a thick green moss that provides lots of feeding areas for the waterfowl who seem to love being here. I also note that I'm not the only one observing the birds. In the center of the pond, I see two eyes and a snout just above the water's surface. A small alligator is watching for any opportunity to get some lunch.

Passing by part of the fence, I disturb fifteen or so birds of the same species (I'm really not sure what they were). It's not my intention to bother them, but I can't get past without walking by them and so, they soon fly off. As I continue around the backside of the lake, I'm really starting to feel this heat. I make sure to drink plenty of water as I continue, but I'm not sure it's enough. I feel like I'm starting to get the first signs of a heat-related problem. I continue the walk and head back across the long straight bridge intending to go back the way I came to the car. 

However, at the junction of this side trail and the one I entered on, I meet a group of three other visitors and they mention a large alligator just ahead and on the right (a different path than I had planned). Of course, I can't let that go and head they way they pointed. This path follows some kind of fenced canal in the center of the facility that goes on a long way. There's no place to cross over it and I'm forced to decide on one side or the other. Given my intention to leave, I stay on the interior path all the while searching for gators. 

I do eventually see one in the large open water area, but he's at quite a distance and I'm never able to get a great shot from here. When I reach the other side of this pond though, there is a family there and a man playing baby alligator grunts from his phone, which appears to attract this big guy. He swims fairly close to the shore. I would estimate he's about six feet long, but it's always hard to tell at a distance. While I don't think he would attack a full grown man, he might be tempted to after the small children here and there mother watches over them diligently just in case. I chat with the family for just a moment, take a couple of snapshots, and then head back towards the car. 

While I'm really enjoying this place and of course seeing the wildlife, I need to cool off. Back at my car, I hop in and turn the AC up full blast while I down more water. I only hiked about 3.8 miles here, which is still more than I thought I would get, but as long as there are no long term effects from the heat exhaustion, it was worth it the alligator encounter was worth it.

Augusta Canal National Heritage Trail (Columbia County, Georgia)

I spent the night in Charlotte, NC last night after attending a concert given by my favorite band. Rather than head straight home this morning though, I decided to head south and visit Augusta, GA for the first time. I had a couple of trails I wanted to check out. That said though, the weather has been fairly unpredictable and not super friendly to hiking these last few days. There was a pretty heavy rain during much of the concert last night, but luckily my seats were under the amphitheater roof. Add to that super high temperatures and humidity, and it doesn't make for great weather to be outdoors. Still, I'm going to give it a go.

My first stop takes me to the Augusta Canal National Heritage Trail. This path runs parallel to the Augusta Canal cut alongside the Savannah River in 1845 to power cotton mills and other factories in the area. It was instrumental in the industrialization of the south. This canal is the only one if it's kind in the US that is fully intact and although none of the plants are still in operation, the hydroelectricity is still used by the community and Augusta's municipal water system is drawn from the canal.

As I drive around the trailhead at Savannah River Rapids Park and soon find a parking spot, I notice this is a popular recreation area. There are a number of kayakers, runners, walkers, bikers, and photographers busy at whatever their focus happens to be. I can't blame them; its' a very pretty area.

Walking down the hill from the parking area, I follow along Reed Creek, which empties into the canal, but not before passing over a beautiful little double waterfall. Vibrant colors of green and red make for a terrific picture and I'm already enjoying this place.

Just a bit further, I cross a sturdy bridge which takes me over the canal to narrow strip of land separating the canal from the river. The trail is small gravel, but well maintained and perfectly flat and seemingly perfectly straight, at least for the length I decide to walk. Both the river and the canal appears to be pretty shallow since I can see the bottom in many places and in the river, a number of shoals crop up from the water's surface offering some refuge to the local waterfowl and an army of turtles. There are also a great many turtles in the canal balancing on floating logs and other debris. Some of them drop into the water at the slightest move in their direction.

As I make my way down the trail on this incredibly warm day, I decide to take my shirt off and at least get a little color on my farmer's tan. I'm passed by a number of runners and bikers and in turn pass a number of walkers (as usual my pace is pretty fast), but I do take the time to take in the beautiful scenery all around me. 

I also notice that the joro spiders have arrived and they seem to be even bigger here than they are back home. I spot several of them who's leg spans would appear to be more than four inches, though it's difficult to tell at a distance. I'm sure they get well fed here on the river's shoreline. 

After passing a sign for a place called the Old Fish Camp Path, which seems to lead down to the river, I decide to turn around and head back. It's just so hot and humid today. Back at my car, I see that I only hiked about 2.8 miles and I now that this trail extends well beyond where I turned around. I may have to visit again when it's a bit cooler and finish out the remaining miles. For now though, I settle for just this taste.

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.