“Know yourself. Be yourself. Love yourself. Seek goodness and be goodness. Seek beauty and be beauty. Seek love and be love.” ― Bryant McGill, Voice of Reason

14 December 2011

Hiking: Sunrise Mountain

[Click on photo for larger image]

Cierra and I went for a hike on nearby Sunrise Mountain this afternoon. My hike begins at my house - at the top of the map, through my neighborhood, across a field and on to the trail.


4.2 miles with an elevation gain of 594'


I have a tendency to make things more difficult than they should be. Rather than walk the long way around my neighborhood, I could simply walk through this tunnel (which I've never done before).


And the tunnel puts me directly across from the trailhead for Sunrise Mountain.


See? Tunnel, trailhead. Duh.
You're looking at Westwing Mountain. I love where I live, mountains right outside my door.


After two days of rain, today was a beautiful day.


I was closer to the Woodpecker but hiking with my dog always frightens the critters before I can get the photo.


The Woodpecker

The woodpecker pecked out a little round hole
And made him a house in the telephone pole.

One day when I watched he poked out his head,
And he had on a hood and a collar of red.

When the streams of rain pour out of the sky,
And the sparkles of lightning go flashing by,

And the big, big wheels of thunder roll,
He can snuggle back in the telephone pole.

by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, 1881–1941


"You Are Here"


The trail.


I rounded a corner and found my former last name carved in the dirt on the trail.


This section of the trail was an "oops", I turned around after a bit.


You know how I love helicopters. These two Blackhawks flew by a few times during my hike.


My pretty girl, she spotted another hiker.


Overlooking my neighborhood and at Westwing Mountain.


One of Sunrise Mountain's trail markers, and in the distance is the trail as it curves around the mountain.


Views of the trail. The temperature was about 60 degrees. I was a little overdressed and the shade felt good.


Far in the distance the mountains have snow.


Cierra and I sit and rest.


She never lets me out of her sight.


Cierra, waiting at the top.


"Hi"


Views from the trail.


Views from the trail.


My girl, patiently waiting for me.


Cierra and I.


She'll pose anywhere I ask her to, but she may not keep her eyes open.

It was a beautiful day and a good hike for me and my girl.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

what mountain range is that with the snow?? Gorgeous pics of you and your girl!