Getting out on the trail is good for the Wood Booger both physically and mentally so I did just that on Wednesday...but where to go? Since I reached full vaccination on Tuesday (it had been two weeks since my second COVID-19 shot) I decided to hike somewhere I hadn't in a while and go somewhere I haven't eaten at either. Also, I had an appointment at 4 pm so I decided on Bays Mountain Park.
This is the 50th Anniversary of the park and I hadn't passed its gates since January of 2020 and it is a great place to hike. There are several trails that I haven't hiked and I decided to put this with a trip to the Bays Mountain Fire Tower. The hike started at the Nature Center and Planetarium, but I didn't go inside as Pete and I aren't there yet.
I headed up the Lakeside Trail, which had been slightly rerouted, but instead of continuing on it I went up Fern Trail, then went right on Big Oak Trail which brought me to the next path the Chinquapin Trail. This trail is a multi-use trail like a lot of the paths in Bays Mountain Park, but when you get on the Chinquapin Trail you realize it was constructed with mountain biking in mind. I was passed by two during my short time on the trail. Besides the name the other reason, it crossed the Fire Tower Trail which I was taking up to the 60-foot tower.
I noticed that some work had been done on the Fire Tower Trail with new stone steps and near the top, it had been rerouted with it coming out slightly west of the old exit. Trail improvements weren't the only ones, there was a lot of new signage in the park.
As I have said in the past as old fire towers go Bays Mountain is in good shape. While it was a little breeze at the top it was nice and cool and the view wonderful.
Once back down I had a decision to make for my return trip. I originally was going to go back down the Fire Tower Trail and then either do the rest of the Chinquapin Trail or go west on the Lake Road. However, I decided on a third option to finish the River Mountain Road taking it to Feagins Gap and coming back up the Lake Road (like on my last trip to the park) to Lakeside Trail back across the dam and back to the Nature Center. I would be even happier about my decisions when I found a favorite wildflower of mine. I saw a lot of nice ones, including one of my favorites I haven't seen in four years...Fire Pink!
Once back at the Nature Center I went to visit the Wolves because I decided to do this once I got back. On my way, I passed the deer enclosure and there was my old buddy Bucky. I was a little worried about him as I didn't see him earlier when I passed the deer enclosed. But on my way to see the Wolves I spotted him and he followed me up the fenceline. As always Bays Mountain never disappoints and doesn't show its age.
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