Larry A. Smail's Blog

Fog

  Bird life wakes me at five in the morning. Cardinals; robins and a host of warbler music makes for a great alarm clock. The crows, also, announce a new day by 5:30 A.M.

The mountains were engulfed in fog. I decided to travel east towards the Alvin R. Bush Dam area and visit some other communities I had heard of since my youth as a hunter and fisherman. These names include the Hammersley Forks; Cross Forks (This community is known for the annual rattlesnake Hunt every June.) and , of course, the famous Kettle Creek. This stream is well-known as a great trout fisheries. I planned to be around the dam area as the fog was lifting.   

I stopped at the community of Renova for a fill-up. I pulled into a station and was surprised to see a full service gas station. These are rare! The elderly gentleman and I had a nice chat and I shook his hand as I left. The other communities were surprisingly much smaller than I had envisioned them to be. They are quiet and quaint communities.                              

While traveling I saw many deer and squirrels. I was blessed to see a bear too. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a good photo. the always present geese and mergansers were viewed often.

Terrain I hiked.

I did a 5-7 mile hike up and over a mountain this morning. I was hoping to see a rattlesnake for ophotos..well sort of! This, potential, sighting needed to be in my terms. I found some Pink Lady Slipper wild flowers. These are in Armstrong , but they are rare due to the past land practices. I know of two sites. I watched a barred owl  land near me. Its big black eyes staring me down. I almost shot the photo when a blue jay chased the beautiful bird farther back into the woods.    

Each hollow had a beautiful spring-fed waterway flowing down towards Kettle Creek. While walking up the stream was on my right when suddenly I noticed I couldn’t hear any water.  I went about 1500 feet and the fast water was, once again, present. This source found a route underground for quite a distance. At another hollow, I could hear rushing water when suddenly there the source was. The water was exploding out from below a rock. I stooped to drink the cold water.

eventually the walk circled back to the road. here I removed a black snake from the road surface. The 40 incher didn’t appreciate my efforts as I scrambled him to the woods again. You’d think , at least, a smile could have been mustered in thanks!

Beaverdam Creek

I fished a small stream known as Beaverdam Creek. One thing I wished to do on this outing was to fish again for native brookies. I wasn’t disappointed! I caught 8-10 and lost about that many. I missed some too.  While fishing I noticed the darkening skies. Light rain began to filter through the hemlock boughs as I walked the 1 1/2 miles back to the car. Along the way I discovered elk tracks.

Native Brook trout

Approximately 3:30 the thunder and lightning began to grow in strength. I made it to the car moments before the torrential downpour began. I couldn’t see well to drive so I pulled into the dam’s parking area.  I searched the radio for a local station just as the warning sounds started. I was in an area where dangerous storms with heavy rains; hail and high winds were to be. The high winds would affect the high peaks.

Rains coming!

The skies continued to look threatening so I drove south eight miles to a small community of Westport. here I found a motel. Later, I would walk the railroad tracks as the evening skies changed from a threat. I could have used the tent after all!

Kettle Creek