I have hiked House Mountain 75 times! This Appalachian Irishman is three-fourths of the way toward requesting that House Mountain be renamed after him!
The date is Sunday, December 26, 2010. I love it when a good snow falls on a weekend! Temperature: Mid-to-upper 20s Fahrenheit. Attire: Long-sleeve T-shirt, sweatshirt, long-sleeve shirt, flannel insulated shirt, old patched-up blue jeans, rugged hiking boots, quart canteen, trusty camera, and old ball cap. No! I didn’t wear gloves! It wasn’t cold enough!
I took the first three photographs below along the west trail, near the west bluff. I have passed by the tree stump, which had grown out of the rock formation, many times. That tree, once alive and now dead, teaches me defiance and survival against the odds!
The next three shots are from the west bluff. A strong, cold wind was blowing snow in from the north. I put my top layer back on and stayed a while. The camera doesn’t capture the view that my eyes will always remember! Yes, that’s Leak Rock! Yes, I did! Of course, as I headed east along the ridge, I had to write (with my finger) “Appalachian Irishman” in the snow on a large, smooth rock! Advertising is everything!
The first of these next two images is a communications building that is located about halfway along the ridge. Could someone give me a job running the equipment? The second image is what is left of an old two-seater outhouse, which has been hit with buckshot several times over the years. It leans near the base of where the old fire tower used to stand. Remember, the purpose of a two-seater outhouse is so two people can encourage each other!
These next three photographs were taken along the ridge toward the east bluff and at the east bluff. The snow draped the mountain and the trees in a brilliant white. The cold north wind blew snow from the laden trees onto the ground and down my back. The old oak tree has stood proudly for many years.
The final four images are from the two north bluffs. One, where the flag stands, is just east and higher than the other. I have not taken a shot before of the small cave opening near the lower northern bluff. It looks like a good place to take shelter!
Hum! This Appalachian Irishman wishes he could hike, camp, photograph, and write for a living! Thank you, House Mountain. I needed some exercise and some time to think alone. I’ll see you again, but for tomorrow, it’s back to the old grindstone.
2 comments:
Great posts on House Mountain. Wow 75 times, that's got to be a record. I think I've hiked up the west trail about 10 times maybe. The coolest was at night with a pal to watch a lunar eclipse about 10 or 11 years ago. We got to the top and the eclipse was just starting as the clouds moved in. So we enjoyed a cold beer and hiked back down. Good times.
I'll be sure not to sit below the rock next time I'm up there. LOL
Thank you, TandR, for your comment! When I hike "My Mountain" for the 100th time, I plan to ask that the mountain be renamed after me!
I have hiked out in the dusk/dark, after watching/photographing the sunset a few times. I need to bring the beer next time!
Let me know if you would like to hike the mountain together sometime!
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