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Black Moshannon

Posted in Hikes, Wildflowers on May 17, 2012| Leave a Comment »

    I was up and about early this morning of May 17th. I planned to head to the Black Moshannon Forest area to see what I might do…hike…fish… ??                                    

I traveled through Renova, Pennsylvania and headed south towards the Black Moshannon Forest. I was blessed to see many beautiful landscapes along the way. I stopped at various places to stand in awe and take photos. Many hollows would have thick fog settled in giving the illusion of cotton candy.  At some of these sites I could literally see for many miles. WOW!

Beaver lodge

I arrived at the forest around 9:00 A.M. and began to hike an eleven mile Moss-Hanne Trail. I chose this trail for the challenge of often being in bog and wetland areas. These areas have wildflower species one can not find elsewhere. I hoped to see some of these flowers and others. I wasn’t disappointed!

Fringed Polygala

Painted trillium

I found a number of Painted Trilliums. This specie seems to need the rich areas of the state with acid in the soil. I don’t believe they are found in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. They are smaller in size than the white and purple trilliums found locally at home. The smaller size, however, yields much more color on the three petals.

I found a lot of Pink Lady’s Slippers on the hike. These flowers are a very demanding flower. The needs are crucial for their survival. Never pick them! This flower, sometimes called the Moccasin Flower, is native in Armstrong County. I know of a few sites where they can be found. Past land practices have destroyed many of these beautiful and interesting flowers from our area.

Pink Lady’s Slipper

I found a specie I had never seen before. I looked the small deep pink flowers up. They are the Fringed Polygala. This flower is only a few inches high. The book claimed this specie is found throughout Pennsylvania except the western counties.

Bunchberry

I was shocked to see another specie, I knew of, but had never viewed before. This flower is known as the Bunchberry. It grows on an eight inch stem and looks a lot like a dogwood blossom. The fall seeds are even red like dogwood. This one specimen was the only one I found. It requires high elevations and bog areas.

The hike ended up on a paved park road.I began to have difficulty with my feet. The rubber boots caused much heat and discomfort and I need to walk 3.5 to 4 miles to reach the car. The temperatures were climbing too. A ranger hauled my appreciative “butt” the last mile. I would remove my boots and walk barefoot for a while at times.

I decided to head to Clearfield, Pennsylvania to check out the gun stores and hopefully locate my friend, Howard Meyers’ home. After asking several people where the road was I was able to locate it. Now, to find his home! I had a phone number, but apparently I wrote down a wrong number for I would get a business.

Eventually, I located the address on a mailbox.The house set back in the woods so I had driven past it. Howard had left 15 minutes before I arrived. He later tried to call my cell but I had turned it off since I couldn’t call home yet.

I arrived home later in the evening, happy to see the family again.

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Headin’ East in God’s Country

Posted in Hikes, Misc. Nature on May 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »

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

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Loving Nature

Posted in Hikes, Misc. Nature, Wildflowers, Wildlife on April 18, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Hen turkey

I didn’t sleep well! Suzie, my 14-year-old springer, needed to go for nature calls twice. Laurie had forgotten to turn her cell off and, for some reason, she had two texts. of course I was wakened both times. (One text was a sale ad and the other was a wrong number!) Unfortunately, when awakened, I have difficulties falling back asleep. This night was no different.

Golden ragwort

Chickadee

Although, I wasn’t very lively, I decided to either fish or hike. The walk took priority. I elected to return to my beloved Cherry Run area to inspect the timbering project and future stripping sites. I walked along Chery Run wich is an approved trout stream. I noticed a few trout left over from the April 14th opener.  I could hear the shrill din of mating toads in a local wetlands too. Always a joy for me, is the sight of spring wildflowers. Today would not be disappointing.

Brown trout

The three or four mile hike covered steep hill, fields and timbering sites. I heard three different gobblers gobbling during the mid-morning hours. I watched a hen walking about unconcerned over my presence. A nest was, no doubt, close.

I could hear a drumming grouse as I approached the summit of one hill. I almost was able to see him on his drumming log prior to the flight.  A few steps farther and the white dancing tail of a deer was viewed through the woodlands.  A hundred yards farther and I witnessed a male sharp-shinned hawk perched on a low tree. I almost was able to get a photo… almost! I saw a mockingbird and a red fox in a field. The fox was carrying something.  I saw a gobbler in a field too.

Red Fox

Pete and Donnie

Eventually, I climbed down the hill to walk a secondary road heading towards the Cherry Run Gun, Rod and Reel Club where I was parked and a member. I was within sight of my vehicle and could see my cousin, Donnie Smail fishing. At that time, another friend drove past and chatted. Our plan was to stand on the bridge and toss rocks near Donnie. Donnie, apparently, smelled mischief and quit fishing. We spent an hour talking and carrying on some!

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Last week, on April 12, my step father, Bob and I went for a couple of mile hike. We heard two gobblers and later watched two strutting longbeards with hens. Towards evening, I visited a new acquaintance for a walk. We saw two hens and two deer. While heading home, I saw a small flock of turkeys on the back side of a hill near my  homestead again.

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Gobbler!!

Posted in Hikes, Misc. Nature, My Family on April 9, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Wing stretching!

I left later than I would normally to listen for gobblers. However, a walk on a beautiful morning was my primary reason for heading to State Game Lands 247 near Center Hill, Pennsylvania.

I wanted to further test my clothes against ticks too. I had sprayed an ingredient  on them about a month ago and was anxious to see how many ticks would be walking about my clothes. I removed 8 ticks! Not bad since normally I would have killed anywhere from 20 to 30 in that same time frame. Ticks are supposed to die if they are on the sprayed clothes, but I didn’t have the patience. I picked them off and eliminated the little pests!!! many more, apparently, had been repelled  too!

   I approached a pond observing a lone “watch” goose when the gobbling began higher on the hill. The goose was watching for predators since a nest was nearby. I walked up to a field and the gobbler was done talking. Soon, a button buck emerged from the thick multiflora rose brambles offering me a couple of photos. A hen turkey ran from the high grass while watching the deer. She became “unnerved” at my standing. If I would not have stopped to look at the deer, she would have allowed me to walk by.

Ten minutes later while walking along a game land trail, I peered over a rise to see the full fan of a gobbler. I hid and over the next half hour a managed several photos of the “big guy.” He was showing off to a hen. The hen could not have cared less over his strutting for she continued eating.

The photos were difficult to obtain due to foliage from the brambles. eventually, he allowed me a few shots as he exposed his heavy body away from the blurred leaves.

Yesterday, I spent time with family for Easter. Little Kaison Wolfe had a great time as he easter Bunny hid eggs in the yard! he is the grandson of my sister Ruthie married to Tim Wolfe.

Kaison

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Beautiful Morning

Posted in Hikes, Misc. Nature, Wildflowers on April 2, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Lock # 8 looking south.

My friend, Larry Delaney and I planned a hike last week, but the chance of rain forced a “rain check.”However, this morning proved just the opposite with a cloudless blue sky beckoning to be walked in.

Back-water Reflections

The site we chose this fine morning was the Armstrong Rails To Trails area from Mosgrove, Pennsylvania north to Templeton. The morning had a stiff breeze flowing across the river hitting us both in the faces. In a short time, the warmth of the sun cancelled any coolness we felt.

Purple Trillium

As we walked along we were always watchful to seeing wildlife and spring wildflowers. We weren’t disappointed! We passed Lock Number 8 on the Allegheny River along state game lands. The game lands is rich in trilliums, both the white and purple varieties. This specie is a personal favorite. The first three letters of the specie name says much. There are three leaves and three flower petals per stem hence the “TRI”..

Some of the waterfowl we saw along the way were Canada geese, mallards and wood ducks. The woodies were found in back water areas along the Allegheny. A beaver dam helped make the waters higher, but calm. We, also, could see some ducks far off on the river. We suspect either buffleheads, scaups or goldeneyes.

Coltsfoot going to seed!

eggs!

A couple of early spring vernal ponds were along the trail too. here we could see frog eggs and some small tadpoles already hatching.

Turkey vultures were always viewed. The steep river hills provide great nesting areas for these carrion loving birds. A few gull could be observed flying around the river too.

The highlight for us was the sight of a bald eagle and a mature one at that. The beautiful emerged from the river’s bank and flew across the water. Geese were scolding and the flock of far-off ducks took to the air with the eagle’s sight.I mustered a couple of photos, but unfortunately the quality wasn’t there for a post here.

The beauty of Pennsylvania was all about as we looked at the high country and the river and the flowers. We were blessed!

Cattail Down

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Permethrin..(A Preliminary Test)

Posted in Hikes, Wildlife on March 21, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Foggy at SGL 247

My hike today was for many reasons. I wanted to enjoy the beautiful spring weather; get some exercise; look and listen for wildlife; photos and to perform a test. As you know, the deer tick issue has become a major problem in Pennsylvania. I love being outdoors, but removing and eliminating 30, 40 to over 60 ticks from my clothes (and sometimes embedded ones on my body) is proving to be a deterrent. I just sent away for a product with permethrin as an ingredient. This material is produced from crushed chrysanthemums. The reviews of the product were very good so I decided to give it a try.   

Last year's Teasel

You can not use this as most other bug sprays. You need to spray your clothes prior (at least two hours in advance)to the hike or hunt. The test of this morning proved to be successful for the most part. However, I walked about State Game Lands 247 as I would have done BT. (Before Ticks) The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s food plots were not very high yet. Vegetation averaged from 3 inches to one foot. A few areas had higher grasses and dead goldenrod. I removed and killed one tick from my pants. BUT, I have had ticks on me in similiar circumstances here!

More time afield will be needed to totally convince me, but things are looking good!

Ring-neck Rooster

The morning produced a fog that was quickly dissipated once the sun’s heat reached a certain temperature. I heard, at least, four different roosters and saw at least four different ring-necks. I took about 10 photos of these beautiful birds. I heard a hen turkey and a gobbler off and on throughout the morning.Later I would see a different gobbler among the heavy plant life.

Mallards

I, also, saw a doe and her two fawns from last year. I saw a mallard hen in a field. I approached her and two ducks flew from the field. I have no idea as to why they were so far from water. Many small birds could be viewed darting among the multiflora roses.     

I was scolded by a Canada Goose along a game lands pond. I knew a nest had to be somewhere at the pond’s edge.

The two-hour hike was enjoyable, but the temperatures were getting warm by 9:30. I will add more information on this product as time goes on.

Foxtail

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State Game Lands 287

Posted in Hikes, Misc. Nature on March 14, 2012| Leave a Comment »

     The day, for mid-March, was to reach into the lower seventy degrees. I decided to head out for a hike and see what I could discover. The Sate Game Lands I decided to patrol was an area where I had been too previous. The only difference today was I was going to cover additional areas where I had not been to before.                                             

Clearcut

I could see the harbingers of spring all about. Coltsfoot was blooming all over. The skunk cabbage was up. Many other perennials and biennials were in their early stages of growth. Fresh new grass, rich in green could be viewed all about. Maple buds were ready to emerge and the multiflora rose and honeysuckle had begun to leaf out.

An Oak with Character

Every now and then, I discover a tree or two with character. By this, I mean, these are older, mature trees with lots of heavy limbs emerging from the main tree. These trees are few, so I really enjoy observing their stature upon finding one. Not many trees are permitted to reach such maturity with mankind’s constant need for wood and the prospect of cash.       

Mollusk Shell

  

Hen Turkey Dropping

  I found turkey sign all about. I eventually come onto a point on the ridge with fresh scratchings  around the wild cherry trees.  As I approached the rim of the steep hollow an eruption of wings and a number of turkeys went air-borne.  I set down to call and eventually called in a gobbler, but, I failed to get any good photos.  

Gobbler Dropping

  

Turkey Vulture

I discovered a large ridge that had been clear-cut in times past. I thought this is great bear habitat. All I saw here was a ruffed grouse and gray squirrel.

Of course, there was one negative aspect of today’s jaunt. TICKS!!!!!!!! I HATE THEM!!!! I killed over thirty from my clothes today. I brushed off a number of them two. I was within sight of my vehicle when a burning sensation was felt on my arm. I quickly removed my shirt to see a tick near my elbow. Usually, one never feels their bite, but I sure did feel the burn. I lifted my T-shirt to find another one embedded in my side and a third one crawling along my waistline. THREE MORE TICKS BIT THE DUST!

I try to use vigilance on these nasty critters, but I am finding more of them finding my skin to be tasty!

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Cherry Run Hike

Posted in Hikes, Misc. Nature, Wildflowers on March 7, 2012| Leave a Comment »

    

Cherry Run

  My friend, Frank Maus and I elected to travel the Cherry Run area for a hike. (Armstrong County, Pennsylvania)The weather was like spring and to not utilize such a day would be a sin!  The hills at the area I chose to hike are destined to be stripped for coal soon, so I felt the need to travel and enjoy.                                         

Skunk Cabbage

    

The lure!

   We parked along a bridge by the trout approved waters of Cherry Run. We laughed at the site of fishing line and a lure hanging from a tree limb. The recently stocked trout, apparently, proved to much of a temptation for someone.

The travels began walking uphill along Wright Road until we reached the top of the hill. Cherry Run has some ruggedly steep and high hills for the county.These were the hills I grew up crawling over from a lad until now. I have grown to love this country.

We walked along areas of fields bordered by big tracks of woodlands. We expected to see turkeys strutting in these fields, but the big birds were absent. Some of the critters we saw included a squirrel and red-tailed hawk. I noticed a few bluebirds too.

 

Crow

  Eventually we completed the ridge and began the trek downslope to the road that parallels Cherry Run. The truck traffic was growing as gas wells and stripping jobs are becoming reality and more numerous.

Coltsfoot

  I had some firsts for the year. I saw my first red-wing blackbird; coltsfoot blooms and later I saw seven turkey vultures flying over the house. Spring is here. I saw Grackles on March 1 and heard killdeer serenading the skies a week prior to the grackle sightings.

The walk was approximately 5 miles and we enjoyed the day very much. While traveling along a very rural road, Frankie said, “Did you see that?  It looked like guts of something.”  He saw it coming off of the bank to the ditch-line of the road. I stopped and sure enough a groundhog skin was laying there. We pondered  about this and figured someone has skinned a ‘hog to eat and some critter must have carried the hide to the pine. We suggested the breeze caused the hide to fall at that precise time as we drove past.??????                  

ATV erosion damage along northbranch of Cherry Run

 

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Redbank Creek Journey

Posted in Hikes, Misc. Nature on February 13, 2012| Leave a Comment »

  

Frank maus

    Since our retirements, my friend Frank Maus and I have been doing some muskie fishing and hiking. Today, after a discussion we walked along trail  known as the Redbank Valley Trail. The trail, although not yet completed, proved to be a great scenic trail. The trail runs along  Redbank Creek. RedbankCreek divides the counties of Armstrong and Clarion in western Pennsylvania.                      

Redbank Creek

            

Frank wanted to study the waters for possible future fishing excursions, so I happily agreed to the jaunt. Our walk lasted three hours of steady steps. I am estimated we hiked ten miles, at least. (This is my guest.)

Fisher tracks

   The morning was rather brisk and about 4 inches of snow blanketed the area. Snow always tells many stories as we would soon observe. One of the first tracks were those of the fisher. The fisher was once native to our area and drastic timbering operations and over harvest caused the specie to become absent for many years. The Pennsylvania Game Commission re-introduced them about 15 years ago and now the mammal is spreading  rather well.                                                                                  

Moving ice

Other tracks were deer, squirrel,turkeys, fox and mice. A pair of mated coyotes used te trail a lot. We smelled their presence more than once as they marked their territory. While walking a saw a mass covered with snow. I pushed at the mass with my walking stick and a porcupine rolled away. The porky was soft and not frozen. Rigor-mortis nor freezing has stiffened the creature. Neither of us had an explanation as to that fact.

An island

   One very interesting observation happened. We began to hear backed-up ice cracking when the ice pack began to push and creat ice dams. We, both, felt blessed to have been at the area at that precise time to watch this event. The cracking and pushing lasted about 15 minutes when the movement ceased.

As we were returning we noticed fresh gobbler tracks that were not present earlier. All told we saw 5 deer and 1 turkey. We saw a bat flying although the temperatures were in the thirty degree range. We observed high steep hills; thick hemlock covered hill sides; beautiful icy waters and huge rock outcroppings.The snow had melted off dramatically on our return journey. the February sun was making heat.  

Allegheny River hills

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Snapping turtle skull

  A week ago, I walked along the railroad tracks bordering the western side of the Allegheny River. I saw five fox squirrels; geese; wood ducks and mallards. I, also, saw a pair of herons flying overhead. One interesting discover was the skeleton of a snapping turtle.Of course, I gathered much of these bones up.     

Mallards

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The Mighty Allegheny River

Posted in Hikes, Misc. Nature on January 31, 2012| Leave a Comment »

   

High water

  Wow!  Can you believe this weather for the end  of   January?  The temperatures are to reach into the 60 degree mark. So, how could I stay home this day with weather seemingly spring-like?  The answer is.. I couldn’t!

Railroad bridge at Mosgrove

I had some errands to run so I incorporated the trip into a nice walk along the Armstrong Trail. I parked just north of Kittanning, Pennsylvania and began a long hike. I turned around to return just a little south of Mosgrove. The walk ended up being approximately eight miles long. Invigorating!

Reflections!

The Allegheny River was known by the French during the years prior and during the French and Indian War as the “Belle Rivera”. (mid-eighteenth century) The English translation is, Beautiful River. Indeed, the river is beautiful! The river was known for years as the Ohio river too. Later, individuals separated the two giving the Allegheny River the name.                              

Rock wall

This morning the river appeared as a sheet of glass. Yes, the waters were moving, but the absence of wind made the river look smooth. Any reflections were still and obvious! Later, as I was walking back the winds picked up causing surface disturbances.

Looking south

  Mammals were few. I, only, saw one gray squirrel. Bird life, however, was a little more prevalent. I saw a flock of 30 or so Canada geese. I saw and heard winter wrens and crows. Other species I witnessed were the junco; chickadee and goldfinches.                               

Beaver cut

   The wooded ares between the trail and the river had many signs of beaver activity. Some were old and weathered and others rather recent. These beavers are bank beavers since they usually build their lodge against the water’s bank and tunnel.

Ancient human activity too can be seen along this route. One such site displays a high rock wall. This was , probably a coke furnace site in times past since lots of slag can be viewed too. I always find the construction of the early men to amaze me. I can’t help wondering how working men maneuvered those big rocks into place. I, also wonder why their construction outlasts more modern works. This is especially true when you realize the plans for newer construction are, no doubt, figured out by college engineers!  Makes one think!                                        

Lichen

The walk lasted close to three hours with a steady pace. Upon my return home the task of cleaning up sawdust from the garage was needed. I have been replacing and adding mouldings  and the dust was everywhere.

I am seeing daffodils pushing through the soil. The maple buds are in place waiting for the proper time. Spring, regardless of the remaining winter weather, is coming soon!     

Quartz on a rock

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