Hiking Machine Nirvana AT Trail Day '23

HELL YEAH! The Hiking Machine returned to the mecca for an AT (Appalachian Trail) blazer like myself...Trail Days 2023!

If crushing trail is your life, like .e, this is the only place to be. This is my third trip with the first two being in 2016 & '17 so this was six years too long making my return. I tried to get the Lummox back the following two years, but he is a great excuse maker. He is the reason I'm Crazy Pete! Anyway, in 2020 it was canceled because of the 'RONA (COVID) the next two years were because the Lummox is such a pansy! It's no wonder I'm Crazy Pete after spending all these years carrying this wuss around.

But, this year I wasn't taking no for an answer so Damascus, VA was our destination. While I wanted to camp there so I could invite thru-hikers to sir at the Hiking Machine's learning tree he was just up for the day. But what a day it was...booths, gear, and plenty of other hikers, none in my league, but cool all the same. Some tried to enlist me for the Hiker Parade, but then they saw the Lummox and knew the burden I carry. Anyway, to all of those admirers just send your emails and cards however you want to I appreciate all of my adoring Peteaholics. Well, with that, I'm out...BITCHES!

Camping, The AT...Now That Is A Way To Spend Two Days

Ahoy, All My Peteaholics, the Hiking Machine here is too tall for some camping with a side of AT (Appalachian Trail) Hiking.

First, me and the Lummox did go to Buffalo Mountain on Thursday, but he was only interested in wildflowers instead of crushing trail. I was living by my name, Crazy Pete, going insane waiting to get to Rocky Fork (State Park) to get to our campsite. Now, the Lummox picked the wussy option of Flint Creek, but it is a backcountry site, so beggars can't be choosers.

Well, his plan on Friday was to hike up Whitehouse Cliffs Trail to look for more wildflowers,  but I said, "Not a chance." it's only the AT for me. We compromised on Cliff Ridge. He got some wildflowers, and I got to "CRAZY PETE SMASH THE AT! Well, we have come the time you all dread, I'm out...BITCHES!

Celebrating Lester Being Lester

 Unfourtanly I usually do one of these blogs when a friend passes as was the case in October with Bax. However, this time I decided to celebrate Lester while the old feller is still with us. Lester had been coughing when he got excited. While serious we were hoping it was something like tracheal collapse (which is the most common diagnosis). This is what he was initially believed to be afflicted with. However, a few days after going to the vet he coughed up blood, so he went back and unfortunately, it wasn't good...Lester has lung cancer.  But Lester is a fighter because back in September Lester had to have emergency surgery to have his spleen removed. The Vet didn't give much of a chance, maybe six weeks or so. Well, that was nine months ago. That is why I'm writing this now because I don't know how long Lester will be with us. See, unlike Bax, I haven't written a lot about the old boy. I don't have any cute videos of him playing with some chew toys because they're not his thing. I have no clips of Lester telling me he wants to hike, that wasn't him. I don't have a lot of pictures of him because he hates getting his picture taken. Forget the camera, Lester will either turn away or even growl. He even knows when you are using the phone. No, as I like to say "Lester being Lester." 

Lester being Lester

I remember when Dad and Terry brought him home he was terrified of me. I always said someone who was my doppelganger must have been mean to him. I jokingly referred to myself as the Blanco Diablo. It took years (and lots of food) before he warmed up to and eventually liked me. I was patient with him because he has anxiety and I know a lot about that. Lester has to be the most unique dog I have ever known. Just recently Dad and Terry converted the backroom to a bedroom and moved the couch Letser slept on. Guess what Lester doesn't want anything to do with the couch or room. He now sleeps in the old den...he doesn't like change. But this  is "Lester being Lester." While he seems standoffish, when he excepts you he loves to sit on you and be petted...that's "Lester being Lester." So, I'm not focusing on the now with Lester and not on how much time he has left. That's what I want to celebrate "Lester being Lester!"

Lester's couch at the Cabin

(T) The couch he once loved & (B) The Blanco Diablo & Lester

The Virginia Chainsaw Certification: Rated A

 

A couple of weeks back I finally did something I have wanted to do for some time, get my US Forest Service (USFS) Chainsaw Certification. I did this by being on the Governing Board of The Clinch Coalition (TCC) in Southwest Virginia. It is a two-day course with the first being classroom and the second in the field using a chainsaw. The classroom portion took place at the office of the Clinch Ranger District of the Jefferson National Forest in Norton, VA. The class was taught by Chuck Lane of the USFS. While I'm not a novice the class itself was mostly people with a lot more experience than myself. While long it was a good class and I learned a lot. I also got to try a new pizza place in Norton, Doughmakers.

Anyway, the main event was day two, and getting my hands on a chainsaw. We met in Norton and I rode with one of our evaluators over near Little Stony Falls between Coburn and Dungangon. It was an area burned in a forest fire so it had plenty of cuttable trees. When we got there they had to cut one of the trees out of the road. Once at the test site, we had to get ready to put on our PPE (Personal Protection Equipment). This entails chaps, a helmet, ear and eye protection, and gloves. Because I was going to get my chainsaw certification the USFS mandates PPEs. The fact is chainsaws are dangerous and I should have been using PPEs. Well, for today I borrowed most of my PPE from Uncle Sam, except gloves. 

Because this was my first time getting certified the highest rating was a Sawyer A. I got evaluated on felling and bucking three trees. I will admit I have bucked plenty (that is cutting a downed tree) but I haven't felled many. While I got off to a rough start with instruction from my evaluator Chris, by the third tree I had it down. It showed because when I got my Sawyer Certification Card it had feller added. Oh, when we got back to Norton the trip wouldn't have been complete if this Wood Booger didn't head to the Woodbooger Grill. A Wood Booger has to eat...  

The Lure Of Pink Lady Slippers Bring Me Back To Horse Creek

 

The weekend of early May Wildflowers still needs to be done after Natural Tunnel. On Sunday, I headed to Horse Creek Recreation Area for wildflowers...specifically Pink Lady Slippers. Last year I missed them on my annual wildflower hike at Buffalo Mountain. While that one is coming up soon, I wanted to ensure that what happened last year doesn't repeat itself. Since I knew where to find some near Horse Creek I decided to head there and hope they were still in the same spot. I found these by accident in May of 2020 and decided that I wanted to do a hike specifically to find some Lady Slippers. Luckily I wouldn't be disappointed.

CareNET Hike In Virginia @ Natural Tunnel State Park

Last Saturday afternoon I went on my first hike in quite a while with the folks from CareNET. It was the first time in some time. I believe it was the first time since May of 2021. So, it was good to see some people I haven't seen in a while. The hike was Saturday, at Natural Tunnel State Park. near Duffield, VA. It was strange because I had only hiked here in the wintertime. 

Wintertime at Natural Tunnel

Last Saturday

So, this was really a wildflower hike. As I posted here there were a lot of wildflowers, including a favorite of mine Fire Pink. Because it was spring the chairlift was operating and I will say (Pete) that I wasn't embarrassed about riding it back up. Because it was a wildflower hike we had to cut it short before going to Lover's Leap.  Anyway, I will need to come back soon to tour the Wilderness Bockhouse.

Natural Tunnel

On the chairlift with Pete!

(T) Where I didn't go Lover's Leap & (B) Wilderness Blockhouse

Wildflowers Of Early May '23

It's the first week of May and that means it is the peak of wildflower season. In that week I ran across leftovers from April but also a few new ones. So, I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking and more time putting up pictures.

St. Clair, TN (05-04)

Yellow Wood Sorrel

Dwarf Cinquefoil

Ground Ivy

Bird's-Eye Speedwell

Carolina Cranesbill

Dandelion

Common Mallow

Robin's Plantain

Meadow Buttercup

White Clover

Needle-Tip Blue-Eyed-Grass

Natural Tunnel SP (05-06)

Fire Pink

Long-Stalk Crane's-Bill

Carolina Silverbells

(L) Canada Violet & (R) Blue Violet

Fernleaf Phacelia

Wild Columbine

Trumpet Creeper

Jack in the Pulpit

Star Chickweed

Piedmont Rhododendron

Horse Creek RA, Cherokee NF (05-07)

Pink Lady Slipper

Dandelion

Gaywing

(L) Fan Clubmoss & (R) Rock Clubmoss

(T) Marginal Woodfern & (B) Robin's Plantain (Cover) Pink Lady Slipper