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.

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The sign. Letters are straight, but a slight bow makes them look off center.

Yes, it was cold out. Yes, it was windy out. yes, I had a great hike!

I took a notion today to go for a hike despite the wintry weather. I needed to check an old sign at the Cherry Run Gun, Rod and Reel Club. I painted a new sign for the organization and need to see how the old was erected and my needs to erect the new sign.

Cherry Run

That completed, I began a walk along Cherry Run located in Plumcreek Township. That is in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania for my readers from other states.

The creek was beautiful with vibrant greens and blue hues. Ice was everywhere varying in thickness and types. However, the walk in the   snow was almost like work! The seven or eight inches of snow had formed a slight crust. I placed my foot down and the snow felt as if it would support my weight some. This was a false sensation for as soon as I lifted my second foot my weight would force foot number one to sink through the crust. This type of walking can be a little tiring.                                                                             

Eventually, I came upon a township road and went up a hill to the top. I then walked across fields and wood lands.  the circle I made was about four miles in length.    

All told I saw eighteen deer. (Some of this count was while traveling back home.) I saw a gray squirrel, a great-horned owl and lots of small birds. I found gobbler tracks, but I never saw the birds.

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  Yesterday, January 26, the snow fell on western Pennsylvania all day. Locally we must have received, at least, six inches. The fresh snow covered everything making for a beautiful day for a hike. My friend, Frank “Muskie” Maus and I headed onto a state game lands  to pursue our passion of hiking.

We spotted three deer bedded. I managed to find some openings for several shots. The deer never got up from their beds as we continued our travel.

As you might expect, the hike was a catching up time for the two of us. Much of the conversation pertained to our past deer hunting adventures. We talked, so much, that I neglected with taking many photos.                                                                              

We completed the tour in about two and a half hours. We hope to plan another hike soon.

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I decided to check out the Allegheny River hoping for photos of Bald Eagles. I was somewhat surprised to see over ninety point nine percent of the waters north of Kittanning, Pennsylvania covered with ice. The ice varied in thickness and color. Much of the ice was white and thick, but some areas were thin for one could see the water color underneath.

I knew eagles would, most likely, be near Kittanning where the water was mostly open. However, I decided to hike along the shore of the river to see whatever I could see of interest prior to descending south.

Beaver sign

I quickly, noticed coyote tracks as the animal searched for things to eat. I found where a beaver was using a hole to emerge under the ice and brush along the bank. Trails were well used, but, the critter didn’t venture very far on the excursions.                                                  

I traveled about a mile north before returning along a railroad track.

I watched two fishermen fish in some open water at a dam. I didn’t see any trophies being hauled in.

Sycamore Tree

Cooper’s hawk

I began to head south to the Kittanning area where lots of open water was present. I knew any eagles in the area would be around this site. I pulled in a wide area seeing a man with a spotting scope watching waterfowl. I exited my jeep and started towards him when a shadow flowed along the surface to my right. I immediately looked up to see a mature bald eagle approximately thirty yards away. The big bird flew south not allowing for any photo.

Homemade ice cream ice!

Gulls; mergansers; mallards; canvasbacks; Goldeneye, at least, were visible. other species may have been out in the water, but unidentifiable at the range. I later spotted a Cooper’s Hawk perched among some limbs.

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