Autumn colors in the woods off the AT (Sec 5 - Oct 20, 2012)
There will be a Friday roundup post, but due to a family illness (everyone is doing fine!) over the last week, I haven't had a chance to spend much time blogging. Later today and this evening, I'll update this post with more links. In the meanwhile, remember that the A.T. is closed (see the email from Bob Proudman from ATC). There are other activities going on - an Oktoberfest at the Frontier Culture Museum (see link on 'What Is Going On' tab), the State Fair of Virginia, Monticello is open ...... check around if you don't want to stay home on a beautiful October weekend.
If you have not seen the post on The History of the Howardsville Turnpike, take a look ... and visit the Backroads book link at the bottom if you find you are interested in the people and history of the area.
Links:
- Something I didn't expect to be posting today ...... I belong to pct-l which is a 'list serve' for the Pacific Crest Trail. The PCT is experiencing terrible weather with snow ... in places the trail is disappearing as snow accumulates and hikers are getting lost. Search and Rescue (SAR) is busy. There is a missing Japanese hiker .... no one has heard from him since Sept. 25th. I ran across an open group FB page where his friends are gathering info for SAR. Having had personal experience with this situation myself some years ago and also having served as a 'contact' for hikers on the John Muir trail, leaving this sort of info with somebody should the worst happen is very critical. A couple of examples: What color is your pack and clothes? This gives SAR something specific to look for. What gear are you carrying? This gives SAR vital info as to how long you might be able to survive and in what conditions. What medical conditions do you have (self explanatory). Take a look at the FB page as this hiker's friends post his gear - SAR is actively monitoring, you will see their posts ...... when you next hit the trail, learn from this situation and leave this type of info with your family, friends or a trusted contact. Update: per FB, Taka located, alive & well! :-)
More links on the PCT trail conditions & hiker rescues:
- Want to be a 'maintainer', but can't get out on the AT for some reason? Adopt a BRP overlook! The more 'dramatic' overlooks on the Rockfish to Reeds section of BRP are already adopted, but there are a couple others available and a few just south of R2R that might be of interest:
- Virginia Department of Forestry:
- Fun in the Woods - Massachusetts AT Committee Project Blog:
- Our Kettle Corn friend on Afton Mountain has a Facebook page! Evidently, the fall apples are back, too.
- Virginia Herpetology Society quiz .... (Note to Claudia .... one is a snake, so click at your own risk!)
- Those fascinating sturgeon in the James River ........
- Shenandoah National Park:
A few more fall pictures from our 2012 October worktrip ........
The view of Humpback Rocks from the Glass Hollow Overlook
Bright blue sky and gold leaves - always a great color combo.
Nature's paintbrush .........
Fall flowers in light purple
Looking east .... Rockfish Valley from Glass Hollow Overlook
♦ ♦ ♦
(Photos: Merlot - Oct. 20, 2012)
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