18 May 2021 Waterfalls and Orchids

 There's always time to stop for a view at an overlook.

We spent the day before enjoying showy orchids.  We were treated to more before we reached the first falls.

We were leaving the waterfall to continue our hike when Ali spotted a rattlesnake ahead on the trail.

Fortunately, it was intent on crossing the trail and moving on.  Nine rattles and a button is about halfway to a large rattler.  This one is on the way to becoming a large snake.

The hike was filled with falls and sluices, but the water wasn't the entire story of the day's journey.  The trails were filled with nice rock formations.

We spotted this very large jack-in-the-pulpit just off the trail.

We had finished much of our day's hiking and were back on the AT when we were totally surprised by the sight of many lady slippers along the trail.  It was odd that we were so excited over seeing dozens of these wonderful orchids while many people walked past us oblivious to the beauty.

The week's sunsets were putting on quite a show.

17 May 2021 Starting With a Climb

We had a busy day planned to start off our week.  Our first stop was one of our favorite hikes at Bearfence Mountain.  It is a relatively short hike, but is mostly climbing through the uplifted rocks that make the 'bearfence." 

The awesome views make the climbing worth all the work.  This is one of the few 360 views in the park.

This was a week to spot towhees.  This one was popping around in the vegetation as we started back down.

Spring wildflowers were plentiful.

The trail flattens quickly after leaving the rock formation.  There were so many wildflowers.

On to the Flowers...

We had made the Bearfence hike in the fall and later made a down and back hike to the edge of the park.  We saw many orchids long past blooming on that walk, but were back for a hope that our timing was right to see them in bloom.  We were rewarded for our effort.

We started with violets...

We soon started walking by the showy orchids.  They were amazing.  It was easily the most orchids either of us had ever seen in a day.

Perfoliate Bellwort in bloom.

We usually don't move around so much, but actually being fully vaccinated and being on vacation seemed like a release.  We made a drive to Elkton to visit the local park and hike the trails to find a number of caches in the park.  Elk Run was a pleasant stream.  I missed a picture on the kingfisher working the water's edge, but it was still nice to see.

I missed an image of the duck in the nest near the top of the tree.  The nest was in a postion where people walking the trail walked directly below it.

Solomon's Seal in bloom.

With the longer days of spring we still had time to return to the park and enjoy sunset together at an overlook.