Larry A. Smail's Blog

Buffalo Creek

  My friend, Frank “Muskie” Maus and I walked  the trail beginning at Lanesville, PA. The morning was cold and

Mallard Ducks

crisp, but we didn’t feel any discomfort. The discussions covered a variety of subjects, such as, recent deer and turkey hunting adventures; people from where we both had worked; politics; loss of lands tp venture in, etc. We didn’t solve many of the world problems, but we still managed to have some laughter.

The snow-covered trail showed little human use. We saw two joggers and that was it. However, we saw plenty of deer activity and some fox and ‘coon tracks. Buffalo Creek flows alongside of the trail. We saw some Mallard Ducks and Common Mergansers. The Mallards didn’t concern themselves with our presence but the Mergansers didn’t tolerate our approach.

The one subject I took note of was the ice formations hanging from the exposed rocky outcrops. I took some photos simply because I thought they appeared “neat.”  I took some pics of these unique formations.

The roar of the winds could be heard gusting its way on the hill tops. Snowy tornadoes were visible as drifts formed on the lee sides of slopes. Yes, the weather was cold and brisk, but I still went to Crooked Creek Park to hike.

Winter wonderland

I walked down a gated road to visit the overflow area. I had hoped to see some Bald eagles, but they avoided the area during the time I was present.  I did see a lot Common Mergansers flushing from the rapid waters.

As I walked about I kept seeing deer tracks. Eventually I saw four deer standing around and feeding among some thick vegetation that was covered with snow. The snow-laden limbs were quite beautiful to see. Higher on the hill the snow had been blown off all limbs.                                                                 

I heard and saw a pair of Canada Geese flying over. I guess it is that time of the year already when the geese will begin pairing off in preparation of the nesting season. The cycle moves along.

I would see several more deer  during the mid-morning jaunt.

Leopard leaf

Song Sparrow

  January 26 was turning into a beautiful spring-like day. My internal being was crying for a walk. The difficult part  was deciding where I should walk this fine day. After much debate within my feeble brain I thought a hike along the Allegheny River may yield some nice things to see. I wouldn’t be disappointed with the decision.

The Allegheny had been ice-covered in recent weeks. The area had been inundated with very cold temperatures and snow as I will show later. Much concern was the norm with flooding concerns in various areas. However, the ice moved out with the right amount of temperature fluctuations and few realized any problems with flooding locally.

Red-tailed hawk nest

The river, today, was moving 99% ice free. Small icebergs could be seen floating by most of the water was ice-free. However, the shorelines had much ice. Some areas were, at least, twenty feet high with piled up ice.  Thick sheets of ice could be found in flat areas. In fact, while moving along I felt the sudden crash of breaking ice and down I went. I hurt my elbow very bad and feared breakage for a few moments. Today, as I type all seems improved.

Beaver working on a birch tree.

Periodically, I heard thunderous crashes as “chucks” of shoreline ice would break apart and slide into the water.

The walk didn’t yield much wildlife for me. I saw a few Canada Geese, various small birdlife; a Red Fox and a pair of Red-Tailed hawks.

I walked for about four hours as I made a circle back towards the jeep.

Now, comparing with a week ago one will be able to see the vast variances between a week in western Pennsylvania.

The earlier week proved to begin with single digit temperatures and approximately eight or more inches of dry snow. Ice abounded at many places. At Crooked Creek Park, where I had hiked, had service roads gated due to icy road conditions. However, I walked down on one of these snow-covered road. Allow me to rephrase this. I walked along the road’s edge. The snow successfully covered the layer of slippery ice on this road. As a youth I would have been running and skating on such conditions. Now I approach such adversities with caution.                                                                        

Watch out Titanic!

Puffball… I found several

Unsuccessful pic of Red Fox

The dam was frozen completely over, but the outflow area was running high, fast and muddy. I walked a trail along the creek that would go up over a hill and circle back towards the jeep.  I saw a number of deer and close. the thick bottomland vegetation avoided any chance of a photo.

Some photos from the Crooked Creek adventure:                                        

Hermit Thrush

Mid-December the family were planning a trip to see the lights at Olgebay near Wheeling, west Virginia. I had a van in place for pick up, but cancelled the trip and van upon hearing of snow building up that very evening. I couldn’t take a chance to travel in potential conditions.

 However, the following day had about six or seven inches of pure snow. the roads weren’t bad later on and I decided to go for a hike and take some photos. The  woodlands were quite beautiful as the snow held close to limbs and tree bark.

Deer tracks were quite numerous as I walked along. I saw four throughout the jaunt. I managed to get a photo of, what I believe to be, a Hermit Thrush. I always see and hear these birds in the spring and seeing one didn’t quite seem right for mid-December.

I left the house on December 22 on a rainy and gloomy day. The rain was light initially, but later became more moderate. I went to a local game lands and was surprised at the amount of vehicles at all parking places. the Pennsylvania game Commission must have stocked pheasants and the word was out.

Mountain Laurel

I went to one parking place and pulled in. I was alone for now.  My hike would only be a couple of miles as I began hearing human activity over the side of a hill. I elected to pull out and allow the hunters all space.