Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Hawk Mountain Hike




Well, we had a very enjoyable hike up to the North Lookout today. The weather was fine, and the wind at a minimum. The trails are beautiful, just starting to show the foliage change.

We started at the South Lookout, and decided to be daring and head up the Escarpment trail. As we began our ascent, we noticed a paper notice nailed to tree warning the hikers of rattlesnakes...unfortunately, we saw none--that's correct, unfortunately. I would've LOVED to see a rattlesnake in it's natural environment, provided I didn't step on it or give it a kiss by mistake!

While climbing the Escarpment trail, I lost my binoculars case, but it was two aggressive of a trail to climb back down for it, so I decided to loop back around when we were heading back altogether...which we did, and were able to retrieve it.
The trails are very well marked, and of mild to moderate in their challenge. Some of the trails are dangerous, such as the Escarpment, but this is not a main trail, so you can choose to avoid this if you like.
At the end of our hike, we saw a group of black vultures roving low over the valley, giving us quite a show. They were amazing creatures, and I was excited to see them through my binoculars, at first, and then straight over head and literally feet in front of us...I'd never seen black vultures before, only turkey vultures, so this was a real treat.

Well folks, that's it for today! Be sure to book a fall foliage package, hiking package or wine country package, and enjoy this lovely weather and scenery for yourselves!!