Larry A. Smail's Blog

A unique wave on a beech tree.

This has been an interesting winter season. Many days have been more like early spring. We have had days reaching into the sixty degrees temps!  

I felt the need to go for some woodland time to enjoy an early spring. Off I went to see what interesting things I could witness and photograph.

The area I hiked has a grove of beech trees. I have always liked the silvery-gray bark of this specie. The texture is smooth as well. One tree had a very unique wavy on the trunk of the tree. I had never seen a beech with such a texture.

A huge burl!

   I, also, discovered an oak with a huge burl on the side of the trunk. This

Queen Anne’s Lace (Wild Carrot)

burl was the largest I remember ever finding. The diameter at the trunk was approximately three across. A very beautiful bowl could be made from someone with tools and talents to do so.

I found some low-growth plants in places. One was a Teaberry. Only one plant had any berries on it. That plant yielded only one!

Teaberry

On Friday morning four of us visited a friend from our days as workers. Frank Maus, Bob “Slim” Bowser; Tim McCleary and myself spent much time in laughter as we visited Greg Kunkle. Greg has had some health issues as of late. He enjoyed seeing his old work partners, as we did seeing him. Get well, Greg!

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This week has things to do every evening for me except today. With that thought in mind I headed north to Quehanna trails for some serious hiking. This day was to be, also, a test to see how much I can do since my knee surgery.                                                   

I moved out this morning at about 5:15 to plan my arrival near 7:30 A.M. My plan worked out perfectly. I turned south at Medix Run, Pennsylvania searching for a trail to explore.   

I began my first trail at about 7:20 in the morning while the fog still saturated the hollows.  I would soon reverse the plan when I realized the trail had some major wash out concerns. However, I did see a bull elk at close range. I stumbled for my camera only to miss the chance at getting this majestic creature at about forty yards.

I went over the hill to hike another trail. The trail began with some steep climbs until I reached the flat areas of the top. I debated whether I should be doing such a task this early since the knee surgery at times. I, also, wondered about how anybody would find me if I would get hurt or worse!                                       

Medix Run

The steep slopes consisted mostly maples thus not a good food source foe many animal species. However, once I reached to top (One hour and ten minutes.) Plenty of oak , and beech could be viewed. Immediately, I began to see, and hear chipmunks, and a couple of squirrels.     

Eventually, I knew I needed to go over the steep slope to reach Medix Run watercourse. I knew plenty of great photos could be had way down over.  Here is where I made my mistake. The side was sleep. I fell at one point, and slipped and slid a couple of more times. This aggravated my knee.

I finally made the trip to the Jeep at almost noon. I was dealing with some pain. I drove around to the Marion Brooks Natural Area. I was at this spot two years ago during a moderate rain. I became soaked that day. I wanted to take some  photos of the numerous white birch trees that are found on site.

  I didn’t walk very far. I crawled up on a rock and rested some before heading back to start the trip home.

All told I saw one bull elk; 1 deer (Two while traveling including a nice buck. I, also, saw a truck hit a doe. The deer came through underneath as I dodged hitting her. How sad. the trucker never tried to slow down.) I saw a flock of about 15-18 turkeys. The photos didn’t come out well.

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Hepatica

As I write this entry, the spring gobbler season is almost upon the turkey hunters of Pennsylvania. Spring has been slow at getting to Pennsylvania this year. However, again as I write this entry, the sun is shining, and the temperature is within the normal range for our area. It feels good, too!

A view over Crooked Creek.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been out a few times listening for gobbler activity. I have heard some toms, too. The one morning, during a nature call, a gobbler, and hen opened up with some turkey chatter close to me. In a moment, a spotted the darkened form of a gobbler in the early morning grays. The big boy went down over the edge of the hillside, and continued to gobble occasionally at the big-mouthed hen.

Turkey take-off.

The spring wildflowers are, presently, caught up. I was wondering if any were going to erupt from the forest floor. (Seriously, I knew they would.) Mayapples, Hepatica; Dutchmen Breeches; White, and Purple Trilliums, and Bloodroot are all in bloom. Other species are, also.

Young Mayapples.

I managed to do a little trout fishing last week. I caught one twelve inch Brown Trourt, and missed a couple more on a cool, and windy morning. I hope to get out soon for bass. My friend, Frank, has suggested some muskie fishing as soon as the gobbler season is over. He can be a fanatical turkey hunter, as I am.

Mergansers on Cowanshannock Creek.

Earlier, before the leaves began to show, I checked out an area of Crooked Creek where I like to fish occasionally. The backed-up water from the Crooked Creek Dam had greatly subsided, but the bottomland area was soft with mud. I hiked on the Baker trail for a time instead of fishing.

Native leeks (Ramps)

Later, I went below the dam, and saw the raging waters as the overflow was creating fast-moving, and high water. I didn’t fish!                                                                

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