More Adventures at Kingdom Come State Park

After avoiding the park for several weeks due to forest fires and smoke, our third child and I returned to Kingdom Come State Park today.  The scenery is more stark since the leaves have fallen, but the weather was warm and perfect for a late-November hike.  After taking a peek at the ducks, we walked past the water on the Lake Trail to get to the Nature Haven Trail.

 

The Nature Haven Trail starts out as a pleasant stroll, but suddenly veers up the mountain and continues to zigzag to the top of the ridge.  We passed a massive rock outcropping and had to swing our legs over many fallen branches.  There was a violent wind storm last night, which must have brought down lots of dead branches.

 

The Trail led us out to Scout Overlook which was a great adventure for a ten-year-old boy, but my heart was swimming in my chest as we peered over the edge.  The drop was hundreds of feet to the bottom.

 

 

Continuing on, we met up with the Ivy Trail which started down the mountain.  We came upon another overlook which is Knife Ridge, a sparkling, white rock formation, shown here looking down and then back up.  What I find amazing is the trees and shrubs that grow in very thin layers of soil upon the rock.

This time of year, darkness creeps in quickly in the woods.  As we neared the end of our hike, we witnessed a beautiful sunset.

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Hymn

For the beauty of the earth,

For the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies;

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

-Follett S. Pierpoint

November Musings

November weather has been mild so far this year; but early this morning, we were awakened with the sounds of a heavy downpour and strong winds.  The temperture has dropped thirty degrees from yesterday.  The front yard is now carpeted with a layer of pine needles, good for the blueberry bushes.  We are rejoicing for the rainfall as our region has been plagued with forest fires the last several weeks.

The peak of leaf color was in October, but I also appreciate the color on the mountains in November.  The red oak and maple trees retain their leaves long after the yellow, brown, and orange ones have fallen resulting in crimson patches against the gray of the hills.

Our family chores the last few weeks have included spreading manure and woodchips and raking massive piles of leaves over the mountainside.  The gardens are bedded down for the winter awaiting another growing season.

The hunters are out scouting the trail for deer.  Meanwhile this young buck wandered onto camp outside our classroom window.

 

We did not get much of a view of the super moon; but the day before, the sunset was a ball of fire and the moon was brilliant.

 

November in the Forest

During a much-needed rainfall this past week, most of the trees were stripped bare of their leaves.  While it is a bit sad to see all the brilliant beauty gone, the view now is new and interesting.  The underbrush in the forest has died, so the lay of the land can be seen.  Around every turn in the trail, what was hidden by dense foliage is now visible.  Rock outcroppings, the pond, fallen trees, and building are brought into the open.

The squirrels and chipmunks can be seen leaping through the leaves gathering food for the winter.  Among the carpet of leaves, their movements sound like much larger creatures.  The first couple times I heard them rattling the leaves, I glanced around for a deer or bear only to spy a tiny animal.  After dark, we have seen deer at camp munching on the plentiful acorns that have dropped.  When I was walking yesterday, I heard the call of the turkey and a reply from across the ravine.  Crows “cawed”, and a flock of songbirds fluttered in the bushes.

Nature is preparing for winter.  Each season has its charms.