Larry A. Smail's Blog

  I entered the woods fairly early. I had hoped to enjoy some woodland time to think, and relax. I, also, hoped for some photo opportunities, and see some wildlife.

I love those Pennsylvania hills!

This would be the heaviest frost of the season around these parts. Some of the deep hollows had enough frost to look like a light snow!  I dressed for the colder temperatures however, I knew I would be warm as the day moved along.                  

I followed a hollow for about one mile, often drifting along old logging roads to explore. Eventually, I cam to a place where forward movement would be thwarted in a big way. Multiflora Rose brambles and lots of them!                                                        

I realized getting through that mess would be next to impossible without a machete, so I went n reverse searching for openings to move up the hill. I wanted t explore an old high wall, too.

I moved along any opening I could find until I reached a place where the brambles had me surrounded again on three sides. I could see the summit up above at about twenty-five feet. I elected to plow through the best I could rather than go back. MISTAKE!

I slowly eased through moving those far-reaching rose arms however I could. They were winning as I continually felt the stings. I tried to work over a log and felt the fall, and I felt the thorn driving deep into my palm. (The thorn is still in my hand!)                  I reached he summit deciding to head across the high wall towards the car. What started out as an enjoyable trek ended with pains. Oh well, one needs to expect such things in nature!

I saw deer, including one buck; turkeys; a grouse on a log; some ringneck hens, and some squirrels.