I expected the Fall colors to be peaking by now, but it looks like the next 2 weeks will see the best of the colors in the Kentuckiana area.

On Saturday, I hiked 2 trails in Bernheim Forest (Cull Hollow and Guerilla Hollow) and the colors were definitely coming on, but as of now, the deep reds and oranges aren’t quite there yet.

Here are a few early fall color images from Saturday. Look for a few hiking blogs in the next 2 weeks as I’ve had quite a few awesome adventures since my last entry.

Thought I’d share some from the last month and then some…

Find more photos like this on Hiker’s Journal

– Louisville lost, but they scared the Wildcats a bit on Saturday. In two more weeks, my Cards could have a better record than the Cats.

– I hate Tony Romo. He’s the Daanny White of the new millennia.

– More floods tonight in Louisville and the surrounding area. Reports of 7+ inches of rain in spots nearby. I’m starting the Ark.

– USC: Over-rated clap clap clapclapclap

– New trails are coming up. Just can’t seem to get psyched about writing lately.

The Siltstone Trail in Jefferson Memorial Forest has a small section near the Scott’s Gap Rd. trailhead that is only twenty paces wide. What makes this section unusual is that this short width extends for many miles in length. It is what I like to call a power line cut; an area kept clear of forest for high tension power lines that extends to the highest point you can see in both directions, and beyond.

After hiking the entire 12 miles of the trail from Scott’s Gap Rd to the Welcome Center and then back, I was enjoying the last few minutes on the trail in some pretty glorious cool weather considering it was still August.

Approaching the cut from the shade of the forest, I saw across the clearing a yearling white tail deer, still showing spots in its light brown coat. The deer emerged from the trail opening in the opposite side of the forest, oblivious to my presence in the shade, and moved quickly heading toward the large hill that defined the North horizon in this section of the cut.

The key to experiencing deer in the forest all comes down to who sees who first. If the deer sees you first, you’ll most likely get a view of it’s white tail flashing as its haunches bounce away and over the next rise.

If you see the deer first, freeze.

After stopping, you should then move very slowly and deliberately as any sudden movement will spook the deer and off it will run. From my vantage point in the shade, I watched frozen in my tracks as the yearling almost pranced through the clearing, pausing to nibble at random greenery like a child looking through the kitchen cabinets for a secret stash of cookies. As it made its way through the clearing and started to head uphill, I lost sight of the deer in the high weeds.

I moved slowly into the clearing and turned to look for my yearling friend as it re-emerged from the weeds and continued grazing on the hillside. I quietly took out my camera and slowly raised my arm to begin taking pictures when the deer noticed my presence. Looking back at me with his ears now pricked up at attention, I thought it would only be moments before I saw it bounce twice and disappear in the treeline.

Yearling takes notice

To my surprise, it reversed course from where it stood and started to take cautious steps toward me rather than away from me. As it continued to walk downhill, the deer again disappeared in the high weeds and I walked a few steps forward to get a better view.

The yearling re-emerged from the weeds again almost at a full bouncing trot, spotted me immediately in the clearing and froze. It was only about 20 yards away and now, the stare down began. I again raised my camera slowly and started snapping pictures. The yearling, clearly curious, started to look back and forth moving its head and swishing its tail nervously. I could almost hear its thoughts as it looked at this sweaty animal wearing a green shirt and hat.

“What the heck is that thing?”

With only my digital camera extended, I continued snapping pictures, the noise of the shutter very audible in the almost still air.

And the yearling took another step towards me.

And then another.

Not knowing what to do at this point, I lowered my camera and just watched.

The yearling took two more steps in my direction, all the while staring at me, ears alert, evaluating all the data, and curiously unafraid. Almost within 10 yards of me now, it side-stepped into taller grass and began a slow circular skirting path in my direction. Coming forward and maintaining its minimal distance, I slowly raised my camera again to snap pictures, expecting each shutter noise to be the last moment I would see the animal as it darted into the trees.

Still curious

But still it lingered, oblivious to me snapping pictures. At this point, having shared the last few minutes with my new pal, I had that silly human moment where I thought that any wild animal not afraid of me is tame, so I spoke to it.

“Hey there fella” I said in a soothing and soft high voice. The yearling came to attention, and looked at me strangely, with its ears pointed at the sound of my voice. “How you doin’?” I clearly recall saying out loud.

It didn’t bolt.

It calmly licked its muzzle and I noticed the shine on its wet nose. Details sprang forth and I saw how thick its coat was, the pattern of spots on its side and the long whisker hairs around its mouth. It swished its tail again nervously and lowered its head to nibble grass. It raised its head again and looked directly at me, still wondering what I was.

Still frozen, I raised my camera again and took pictures.

Behind me, I heard a breeze begin to rustle through the grass and felt it hit my sweat, cooling me in the warming sunshine. The yearling suddenly dashed into the woods.

In the blink of an eye, it had gone and I heard the crunch of leaves only twice as it bounded away in the shade and disappeared.

“Gotta go!”

On the breeze, I smelled the smoke of an outdoor fire.

I don’t think I scared off my friend in the woods, but I certainly enjoyed my 10 minutes in the sunshine with my new pal. So much so that the 6 hour/12 mile hike I had just completed seemed like an afterthought.

With a newfound bounce in my step, I drank some water from my Camelbak drinking tube and proceeded on toward my car in the Scott’s Gap parking area.

Just another great day in the forest.

It’s alright for fighting.

The home computer is on the fritz. Lucky I’ve been backing up regularly.

Short stories from trails around Kentuckiana

Do You Smell Cucumbers?

On a recent hike, I joined the Louisville Hiking and Backpacking Meetup Group in Jefferson Memorial Forest. (A great group if you’re looking to get into the local outdoors!) During the hike, I heard an interesting rumor about smells on the trail. That’s right, smells.

Apparently, it is a popularly held belief that if you smell cucumbers while hiking, it means that there is a copperhead snake nearby. After a little research online, I could only confirm that the story is out there. I couldn’t find out if it was factual though. Once I started paying attention, I noticed that distinct odor a couple of times along the Purple Heart Trail in the Tom Wallace Recreation Area. I never spotted a snake, but I will start looking when I notice the odor and I hope I can snap some pictures of the olfactory offender.

Has anyone else heard that copperheads give off the cucumber smell?

Strike a pose

I really enjoy hiking, but in reality, hiking is just the means by which I pursue my real passion, outdoor photography. Don’t get me wrong, hiking is great exercise and I’ve come to realize that there is something almost spiritual about the serenity of a long trail in the wilds. But taking pictures of what I find out there and then finding out exactly what it is with a little research seems to speak to my secret Swedish heritage, my inner Linnaeus.

I’ve never splurged on any fancy equipment, and I still use the first digital camera I ever purchased (a mid range job by Panasonic). Some days, you might think you’ve captured some great images only to get home and find that you never really focused quite right, or the lighting was off. Any number of things can ruin pictures, but with most outdoor subjects, it comes down to their willingness to sit still long enough for you to snap a decent picture. (Birds can be especially maddening in this regard!)

On a recent hike along the Hike Bike Pike in Bernheim Forest, I was struck by the sudden willingness of several subjects to just strike a pose while I snapped multiple pictures. If I had to give one tip for taking digital photos, it would be this: when the subject sits still and you want a good image, take as many pictures as you can. Every extra shot you take increases the probability that you have at least one good image in the bunch.

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, a Tiger Swallowtail basked in the sun for 10 minutes while I snapped away and a Fence Lizard actually flexed for me.

Eastern Fence Lizard Closeup

Tiger Swallowtail

More firsts

It’s been an interesting Summer in the Bluegrass for sure. We’ve had plenty of rain and everything is lush and green in the great outdoors in our area. Finding a new trails in Jefferson Forest (Fairmount Falls) and Bernheim Forest (Hike Bike Pike) is certainly a first for me, and I hope you get to check them both out as soon as you can.

Mushrooms continue to be a big highlight this summer and on almost any hike I’ve taken, I’ve spotted golden chanterelle mushrooms in abundance. On more than one occasion, I’ve spotted patches of these culinary delectables that contained at least 50 mushrooms, each about the size of my fist. Morels might be the most sought after in Spring, but Summer has been chanterelle time. At Fairmount Falls, I also spotted a huge specimen of an almost alien looking white coral tooth fungus.

My first hike on the AT to Charlie’s Bunion also delivered my first sighting of Turks Cap Lilies on the trail. My first trip to Buzzard Roost in Hoosier National Forest also afforded me my first ever viewing of a Blackberry Lily, and my first case of chigger bites.

Blackberry lilies

Psyched about Fall

Last year, we experienced one of the best Fall color seasons this decade. With the quantity of rain that we’ve had this year, only a withering drought in the coming months will prevent us from having another banner year for the crimson and yellow leaves of Fall. I’m really looking forward to crisp days and a rich Autumn palette of color.

Necessities: August

Each month in my Trail Shorts posts, I’ll look at some gear you might want to consider taking on the trail. This month, the topic is trekking poles.

For a luxury item, I must admit I’ve become very reliant on my Leki Titanium trekking poles. I always walk with one pole on hikes under 8 miles. On any trail over that distance, or especially hilly or wet trails, a pair of trekking poles are really helpful for distributing some of the weight you carry to your arms and shoulders as opposed to your hips and knees. If you are a backpacker, trekking poles are almost mandatory.

While you may not want to spend lots of money on hi-tech trekking poles (200 bucks for a pair isn’t unheard of), there are alternatives. Many hikers prefer walking sticks that they fashion themselves out  of wood found along the trail. You can also buy inexpensive single poles for under 20 dollars at almost any sporting goods outlet with a decent camping section.

Try a walking stick or a trekking pole and you too will soon make them a habit during your hiking adventures.

I don’t leave home without them

Aww shucks

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