The Unknown Hike (June 2017)

Written by ceddammit

On 25 June 2017, I and a niece set out for a hike up Table Rock Mountain. A few days earlier, I had used one of the many web-based map services to get directions to the trailhead, then wrote down the directions. These hand-written directions turned out to be rubbish. They led us to a gate, which hosted a plethora of signs, each of which clearly conveyed the message that this was not the right way. I don’t remember for certain, but it seems to me we consulted a GPS app or two, but they also pointed us to the gated road. We could see Table Rock Mountain nearby; in fact, it almost seemed as though we could have reached out and licked it. So, I figured I could just circle the mountain until we came across a sign or a promising road. Somehow, on those winding mountain roads, I failed. We did not find the trailhead for Table Rock Mountain that day, but we did eventually happen upon a lakeside trail, so we took a walk along the lake. There were no signs indicating which lake this was, or even giving the trail a name, and I doubt I could find it again on my own. Thus, I call this trail The Unknown Hike. Looking at a map of the area, I can say now that it was almost certainly Lake James.

A couple of weeks ago I said that, in the Appalachians, most trails end with something beautiful but there’s usually not much to see along the trail. This trail argued otherwise. It didn’t lead to any grand vistas, but there was plenty of interesting stuff alongside the trail. Incidentally, my companion commandeered my camera for a good portion of the hike. I’m not sure which photos were taken by which person, but they were all taken on My Good Camera. Here are some of them:

It’s a green bay! And we’re not even in Wisconsin!
Looks like my flash was working.
Hey, it’s Casper! And we’re not even in Wyoming!
Notice the trunk of the large tree near center has been “girdled” – may be a porcupine’s doing.
The forest understory here has many a fern…
…but not much else.
Looking up at the forest canopy
Looking up at the forest canopy. Quite deciduous, no?
Hey, the weird beard guy shaved!
Foresters call these growths “burls”. I call ’em tree tumors.
A beautifully clear stream crosses the trail as it makes its way to the lake
Another girdled tree – may be a human’s doing.
Dead trees in this part of the country tend to be quickly overrun by fungus…
…or moss.
Those that remain standing are called snags, and are excellent wildlife habitat. Note the holes.
Mushroom / Toadstool / Mario enemy
This tree got knocked down, but it got up again.
This, folks, is why you should prune your crape myrtles at least once a year.
More fun with fungus
When the Forest Service says “primitive toilets”, they mean it!
Looking up at the forest canopy, which is a little more coniferous along this stretch.
Mid-level greenery
Amazing snag!
I know not what type o’ flowers these are…
…nor these…
…nor these.
‘Round these parts, it can be hard to tell what’s a tree and what’s a vine.
All right, who put vanilla icing on my pine cone? (But seriously, WTH is this thing?)
Entering the home stretch of this quiet, enchanting trail
Oh, yeah! And here’s the obligatory lake shot.

I think that’s enough pictures for today. Come back next Thursday for nude photos of Oprah. Well, probably not.

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