Thursday, October 30, 2008

Almost Raccoon Ridge

The bf and I started on a long outing to Raccoon Ridge and then onto the Lakota Wolf Walk in Warrentucky this past weekend. I was more excited to see the wolves (aka "woofs" per a comical guy from an Alaska reality show). I had been to Raccoon Ridge the year before. The walk is long (2.5 miles one way) along the Appalachian Trail, but I enjoy seeing the striped maples and the different colorful scenary. I am also always hoping to see bears. Plus I get a workout that's far more visually interesting then any dvd of mine. We made it to a nice vista which was about 2/3 the way to Racoon Ridge. Actually the last time I was there I saw more interesting birds at a closer distance at this vista then the actual Racoon Ridge. Raccoon Ridge itself is a great 360 degree vista of NJ and PA, but being in such a great spot means it's totally freezing with wicked winds. I think we had spent like 15 windswept minutes up there last time before retreating the warmth of the woods. Plus the hawks were so far it was difficult to determine if it even was a bird. So after deciding not to go all the way to Raccoon Ridge, we spotted an immature bald eagle at a close distance at this vista. It even came around a couple times (did we look that bad off????) so we could correctly identify it.


Here's the striped maple. I managed to harvest some seeds. Hopefully I can some to sprout this year.


Here's typical woods with a nice red lowbush blueberry understory.


3 comments:

Hooligan said...

Did you ever get those seeds out of your pocket?

suntawrites said...

Holy! I was just about to ask the same question Hooligan asked! LOL.
Nice photos! :)
Hey, there are wacky birds in the parking lot of the new office I work in... I took some photos and posted them on my most recent blog post - do you have any clue what they are? They look as tall as a flamingo but aren't pink(?). Any idea? Thanks!

Kartek said...

I keep forgetting to get the seeds out. But I will get them tomorrow!