Larry A. Smail's Blog

I had watched the weather, and checked my commitments. I had one afternoon available to walk along the banks of Crooked Creek. I chose to walk south of Cochran’s Mill. (Cochran’s Mill was removed in the 1930 era to make way for the Crooked Creek Dam. All that can be found here are foundation stones scattered among the woodlands. This area floods most years as the water if held back at the dam.

I hurried to this area, and began a leisurely stroll. The terrain varied from level to hilly to outright steep. I had to deal with rocky areas, and muddy sites.                                                      

The leaves were beautiful, so I picked a good day to go explore. Some trees, like the sycamore, had already lost their leaves. However, the beech were in their glory with golds; oranges; bronze, and yellow.

Wildlife sightings were sparse. I saw one female merganser flying downstream with haste. I saw two brown creepers searching for morsels among the bark crevices.

Beech Trees

I hadn’t been in this area in many years. I would walk from my grandparents often to explore these steep slopes, and play in the water. I hunted at times.                    

Note the low water level.

In the seventies I helped plant various seed-producing trees, and shrubs along with members of the Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Federation. I wonder how all of those plantings survived???

On top of the hill I found a family cemetery in the woods. Trees surrounded the site even way back then. I enjoyed the memories as I left the waterways to head back home.