Tag: Scenic

More Eternal Flame Goodness

Posted on by Paul In The Buff

This past weekend, we took another hike to the Eternal Flame... and beyond, with our friend Jeff.  I think we all needed a hike and some reconnecting with nature.  And of course, plenty of just being completely silly.

See what I mean?

But for the most part we enjoyed the scenery and enjoyed a day out in nature.

Much of the hike takes you along the creek bed to the flame.  But we didn't just stay to the flame trail.  Still...  most of my pictures were taken on the Flame trail.

The trail is popular.  Us and way too many other people were out there, but on a trail sometimes you have to work with what you've got.

Nevertheless, the flame is pretty awesome.

Unfortunately what you can't see here, because I edited it out...  it IS what photographers do...  there is actually LITTER in the small cave the flame is in.  Unbelievable.   So we're planning a return hike to do some clean-up along the trails.

And beyond!

The Flame as you recall sits in a small cave behind a waterfall.  With the amount of rain we've had lately, it was difficult to get a clear shot of it.

Here you can see just how much water was flowing.  Ok, it's not Niagara Falls, but when you're trying to take a picture of a flame behind water falling down shale, it tends to obscure it.  You can see the cave where the flame resides on the right site of the falls about half-way up the picture.

Slowing the shutter speed to make better use of the available light worsens the effect...

But on to the hike!

Sarah and Jeff took the climb up the side of the ravine by the flame through the tree roots.  I stayed behind and took pictures of them doing so...  just for an alibi later if one of them didn't make it.

Back on the trails we came across another waterfall down stream where the ravine walls were a very delicate rust-red shale.    This is also where Sarah decided she wanted to be a bridge troll, but we convinced her to return to the hike with us.

Along the creek you will find some magnificent scenes such as this one.

Up on a hill in the main park, there is an old monument area encircled with heavy chains and rock pillars.  In the middle, a large rock that once had a mounted plaque sits, plaqueless.    We call it the Druid Circle.  This usually presents another opportunity to be silly...

And, we took advantage.

In all it was a lovely day and we hiked for maybe about three hours in total.  I am now looking forward to our next adventure, of course.

Sometimes Where I Live is Beautiful – 4

Posted on by Paul In The Buff

Sunday's hike through the newly snow-covered hills was quite the adventure.  We traversed a couple more steep sided ravines, which in the snow was quite the challenge.   We also took a more popular and marked trail to see the Eternal Flame.  If you look at the image above, you will see a tiny orange light through the fallen trees.   That is the Eternal Flame.

Click the picture to make it bigger if you can't see it.

More on the flame later.

The trail is popular and well traveled, which results in a lot of packed snow and ice on top of rock-hard ground.   The right side of my ass still hurts from multiple slips and falls!  The frozen banks of the creek present another challenge as well - but it was well worth it.

Nature has carved out quite the scenic path on this one, including multiple waterfalls and a tiered, shale creek bed.

I will definitely be heading back during the spring thaw...

Sunday Hike

Posted on by Paul In The Buff

On Sunday, the sun was shining and the temps were above freezing.  Not that these things are necessary, but they encourage outdoor activity this time of year.  We went for a hike in the state park and decided to challenge ourselves by climbing down a ravine to the creek bed.

Normally this time of year, that would be impossible, due to heavy snow.  Bu this year, the creek isn't even frozen - as you can see above.  The creek isn't even swelling from run-off.

An odd winter, indeed.

Although in the shadowy recessed of the hill side, you can see ice formations from the ground water escaping.

The second picture should give a bit of perspective - the side of the ravine is probably about 30ft down to the creek bed, not horribly steep, but you wouldn't want to just fling yourself down the side.  As we were exploring and photographing, a man yelled down to us asking how we got down there.  Not sure what he expected for an answer but he didn't have much of a reply for, "Uh... we climbed down?"

I was going to say, "We jumped, and the landing was soft. Give it a try!"  But I'm sure if he survived it, I would have gotten sued.