Hickey Gap, Mill creek falls

Went out yesterday to one of my favorite spots...Hickey gap..Love the falls there and its only an 18 min hike at most...After the three days in the woods I was ready to get back out..Cant stand sitting at home..Would live in the woods if I could...But was ready for an easy little hike and the kids wanted to get wet so its just right there and I cant resist it...

Dragonflies? They were fighting for the same leaf over the creek..The greenish blue one won and claimed the spot...







Salamander one of the boys dumped into my lap..NICE!



The water was way down from the lat few weeks..But it was still very pretty..



Love the old Driftwood in front of the falls..







(I don't know why, I have no clue. When I am alone in nature my thoughts just lead to you)

Jacks River Falls Revisited

Went backpacking to Jacks River Falls...Spent about three days in the woods...Came out a lot wiser...Learned many lessons...

It was my first backpacking adventure...Made many many mistakes that a lot of are not even worth mentioning...Looked like an arse half the time..But had a blast either way...Just grew a bit I hope in my backpacking skills...I am a newbie at it sooooo I forgive myself..

First lesson I learned an hour into the hike...If it says scattered thunderstorms look for one huge storm to linger over your head all day long...Spent three hrs hiking in pouring rain with natures fireworks exploding all around me..It was a blast hiking soaking wet...I was not the only thing wet...There was no chance of a campfire or even a slight chance of hot food the whole three days...Thank goodness for granola bars...

I also learned if your clothes are wet in the woods...They stay wet the whole time you are in the woods....May as well go swimming!

I enjoyed! I learned! And I did get a few pics while out so it was an awesome experience no matter...Cant wait to go back, AND DO IT RIGHT!

Jacks River right before the falls...



Morning hike..Liked the way the tree lay in my path just high enough to walk under..



Part of the falls...



Light through natures window...



Nice little spot to relax...



Morning mist in a lazy fork of the river...



Very pretty...



Morning dew..



I was here....



and here...



Nature's Window





The Falls once more...



Dung Beetles



and my truck waiting patiently after three days...







(I don't know why, I have no clue. When I am alone in nature my thoughts just lead to you)

Jacks River Falls

Its a 4 mile hike into the mtns...Not very hard at all did it twice this week already...The hike is sooo worth it and now that I have done it I want to just keep going back over and over....Beautiful falls and great swimming...After the hike you can jump in and get wet in some very cold mtn water...You will need it...Took all my lil men on the first hike...We camped at jacks river Monday night and Tuesday night...But Tuesday we took the Jacks river falls / Beach bottom trail four miles into the woods to where we were met with beautiful scenery and a welcome splash in the river...Friday I did the hike with my oldest two and my sister...It was awesome....Took pics to share...Am hoping to backpack in next time and spend a few days...Four miles in and four miles out in one day is highly doable on this trail but your vehicle waiting where you parked it is the thing you want to see most on your way out....

Us at the trail head on the first hike



Zach says go ahead! leave me behind!!!



Some nature along the way





Even nature has a twisted sense of humor! Sorry had to snap it...Could not resist...No men! SNAP A PIC! Stop squirming in your seats



Not the falls...But very nice..



I was here!



and yes my feet were dirty after all that hiking

I knew I heard a loud rumble....
From the trail...first sighting



On the top of the largest fall..



Time to get wet!





Daredevil of mine..





Top of the falls....Where we mostly swam the first hike in...Nice blue hole with a smaller falls..



The water just seems to disappear...



The bottom falls..The larger falls...Pics do it no justice on scale...or beauty.











Little find in the falls...



He was made for this place...



Pics along the river on the way out....







I feel so blessed to live in this area...Something beautiful every time I go into the mtns...Always changing and always a new place to explore..





(I don't know why, I have no clue. When I am alone in nature my thoughts just lead to you)

Eye of Newt....

Lemme see...

Whats a newt?

Wikipedia says

NEWT:

A newt is an amphibian of the Salamandridae family, although not all salamanders are considered newts.

another link

http://www.anapsid.org/sallies.html


Anyways went hiking yesterday, Jumped off a rope into a waterfall...Had a blast as usual...Life is good....Took some pics of the waterfall..."Reflected" on it a bit....



Marked my way with some river stones like always....Better than paint people and a lot prettier to look at...



On my way back up the trail I found this cute lil newt, or salamander...I thought he was adorable and he posed for me just a second before slipping into the water and out of sight....



Earlier this week I found this beauty.



Think its a Zebra Swallowtail


I also found this guy on yet another hike..I have no clue on what he is..Spent a while trying to find him but no luck...Anyone?



It was nice and now the week is done...The weekend is here and I hate to share the woods with crowds...So I sit here wishing I was out there and planning next weeks trips out and about...In the forecast...A hike up river to a nice falls...And some camping...Can not wait to get pics...Enjoy your weekends!!!



(I don't know why, I have no clue. When I am alone in nature my thoughts just lead to you)