Winter Wonderland Dayhike- TR

“http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/562423428vYnvUT?vhost=outdoors


I decided to go for a 9 mile dayhike today in the game lands near my house. There aren’t marked trails, but there are several old forest roads, grades, and trails that you can follow for a very nice loop. The day began with a deep blue sky and sunshine, but that would change.

I climbed the plateau along an old forest road along Stony Brook. I reached the top at Seven Foot Falls when the sky became overcast. I expected passing snow showers. I made my way to Burgess Hollow Vista when a small snow shower quickly passed by. I reached the vista and took a break. The view was excellent, but within minutes another snow shower approached and engulfed the vista. This quickly became a full blown snow squall with white-out conditions; being on top of the plateau didn’t help. The high winds created blizzard like conditions that coated my face and glasses. I had trouble seeing as I hiked through deep hemlocks. I looked for my next turn as gales swept through the forest and I kept an eye above for any dead trees. I got a little nervous that I would miss my turn in these conditions, but I found it.

The snow was getting deeper with several inches of powder. I descended along a beautiful footpath along a mountain stream and hemlocks. The clouds began to break and the sun shone to reveal an incredible winter wonderland of coated trees and fresh powder. It was awesome.

I descended to the Crystal Cascade, a beautiful spot with big boulders and several small cascades. I then tunneled through an awesome spruce forest, crossed Red Run and then crossed Stony Brook. I made my way back to the car as the winds picked up and the temps continued to drop. I hiked along the Mehoopany Creek and took pics of the rapids, cascades and a big ledge.

A great way to spend a day and a memorable hike. I didn’t see a single person.”

“Looks like a great day. The snow looks so pristine!”

“Nice pictures Jmitch. I was out day hiking today also and got hit with the same storm. The snow squalls and whiteouts were cool, but the winds were strong enough that I was concerned about getting hit with a fallen tree or a branch.”

“That's beautiful, Mitch.

The air must have been wonderful.”

“Great pictures. Some of them look almost too perfect to be real. I wish I lived in an area like that.”

“Rich,

The trees were a concern and I tried to keep an eye on them.

You'd like this hike, I need to take you sometime.

Mildbill,

Thanks, but I think it's safe to say NC has some incredible places!”

“Very nice.”

“I live in NC, but I live on the SE coast. We see snow about every 10 years or so if we are lucky.”

“sweet pics, mitch!!!”

“that seems like a really pretty area. Nice views. It looks like the elevation there is pretty high, 2500?”