Treats of Zion

Zion National ParkUtahMarch  2014 The mountains are splendid and breathtaking in Zion National Park.  The squirrels and chipmunks are uncommonly bold, stopping just short of asking for food in complete English sentences, or possibly even French.  The mule deer, smaller cousins of our familiar white tail, have enormous ears to help keep themselves cool.  They… Continue reading Treats of Zion

Hooker

Black MesaOklahomaMarch  2013 We sit on the sturdy stone bench several feet from the native granite obelisk, the marker indicating that this is the highest land point in the state of Oklahoma.  How thoughtful of the Boy Scouts to have built this comfortable sitting area, this bench.  It’s lunch time and the air is clear… Continue reading Hooker

The Mid State Trail

Central PennsylvaniaSeptember  1995 The Mid State Trail runs 327 miles from the Maryland border to the New York border, through the ridge and valley system of the Appalachian Mountains and the Allegheny Plateau in Central Pennsylvania.  It has been called “The Wildest Trail in Pennsylvania.” I’m not sure why, but my guess is that it… Continue reading The Mid State Trail

Flag

FlagstaffArizonaJune  2013 I notice the locals here in Flagstaff refer to their city as Flag.  Interesting that a short syllable, staff, which would take very little effort to append to the first half of the name, is left off when spoken aloud. Where am I from?  Pitts.  Where does the Vice President live?  Wash, or… Continue reading Flag

Pilot Mountain

North CarolinaJanuary  2019 Jo-me-okee, according to the folks who used to live here, the Saura Tribe of Native Americans, means “Great Guide” or “Pilot.”  This enormous rock has also been called “Mount Ararat” and “Stonehead Mountain”. In 1753, the Moravians, just like all the other white folks, exhibited the usual sensitivity by changing the original… Continue reading Pilot Mountain

Monkey Balls II

Spruce KnobWest VirginiaMay  2014 We are hiking to the peak of Spruce Knob, the summit of West Virginia.  What better song for us to be singing than If You Wanna Be Happy by Jimmy Soul.  As the music winds down, Rod and Diane tell us about the monkey balls. They were vacationing in Manuel Antonio… Continue reading Monkey Balls II

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Monkey Balls I

Hoosier HillIndianaMarch  2012 Girding our loins for the ascent from the parking lot to the summit of Hoosier Hill — this consists of putting on our jackets, which obviously doesn’t actually have much to do with loin-girding — we step from the car, trying not to trip on the monkey balls.  Lisa comments, “Hmm, smells… Continue reading Monkey Balls I

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Gnats

Humphreys PeakArizonaJuly  2013 Throughout the day, the only wildlife we see are chickaree squirrels, a couple of woodpeckers and other birds, and herds of hikers.  Grandma, back in the Ranger District office on the telephone, warned us to be careful of the ticks and snakes.  No need.  There are none.  What we do see other… Continue reading Gnats

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Kudzu

AlabamaNovember  2013 Oh, look.  Alongside the road.  The vine that ate the South. Kudzu. Back in the old days, the Japanese gave a 100th birthday present to the United States.  It was kudzu.  Americans loved the attractive sweet-smelling kudzu gardens that were mostly ornamental but could also be used as a forage crop.  Soon other… Continue reading Kudzu