After four months of resting a bone spur in my left heel, the condition had finally improved enough to resume some much needed hiking. To those of you who enjoy the sport, being without it is like trying to quit smoking! This Sunday past, I returned to a local trail at Fort Parker State Park that is one of my favorites, the Baines Creek Trail. A short 2.5 mile one way, to make a 5 mile hike, up a limestone outcrop ridge from the lake level, with some bridges and fairly steep climbs, well ok, maybe just moderate climbs. White tail deer and wild pigs are a common sight and last year I spotted a Mountain Lion sitting on his haunches in the middle of the trail. This during the terrible drought of `11 when I suspected it was seeking water from the lake. Of course, I`ve never forgotten the sight or my FEAR and I never hike the trail without constantly checking behind me. There is lot of great flora , also, and I usually have my camera in hand when I hike the trail. I had not seen it since late spring and I was curious to see what the summer rains had wrought along the trail as far as native plants. I immediately began to see large stands of Inland Sea Oats and some other shady bunch grasses that I have, as yet, not identified, but that I did gather a lot seed from.
Along a steep water course that culminates in a 30 foot seasonal water fall, a colony of Palmetto grows. They are the only examples I have ever see in the wild in either Freestone or Limestone counties.
Here are a few scenes from along the trail, which is lined with some of the only remaining Burr Oaks I know of in the area, Yaupon, Live Oak, Cedar(many dead after the drought), Post Oak, Elm, and many othet species common to the savannah and blackland, which lies only a mile or two northwwest of the park. The trail is truly in a transition zone between the two eco regions.
The hike was also a seed gathering opp and a surprising chcnce to see an unfamiliar wildflower, even at this late date. Lance Leaf Gaillardia. A flower that usually tops out in spring, which I had to identify after I got home. Fortunately, there were some dried seed heads to gather for the prairie patches.
Blackeyed Susan seed heads
As I was nearing the parking area on the return trip, I noticed the rosettes of Bluebonnet poking up. The promise of next spring and here`s hoping we get some rain before then !
Makes me want to get out and take a hike!
ReplyDeleteThe Lone Star Trail is not far from you, Dorothy!
DeleteNice hiking account, especially that it's refreshingly different than mine! That palmetto - interesting how that's an isolated stand - birds and their eating seed? Since that same palmetto was planted >20 years ago at the Abq Zoo, they have volunteered in the dappled shade all over, beyond the original plants.
ReplyDeleteA mountain lion last year...cool!
Of course, I want to hike Alb. ! The palmetto is a puzzle. I don`t think it is common until you get quite a way southeast of here, deeper into the forests. That is my personal observation. The Mountain lion was a stunner, I backed way up the trail and began shouting and beating the brush with a branch. He moved on and I scared the hell out of some people fishing near the parking area. I told them what I saw and they split , pronto. ! :) The lions have been working back into this area from the east over the last decade or so, as I understand it.
DeleteNice hike and interesting trail, that gaillardia is a new one for me. It will make a great addition to your prairie.
ReplyDeleteThe mountain lions are working their way into town. Several have been spotted at some of the larger local parks and even one close to our neighborhood.
At first. I thought the gaillardia was one that grows further west, but now I think it is Gaillardia aestivalis, one that is more natural in the piney woods, either way, sort of a rarity here. The lions are something to always consider when out, the pigs, too, are a bit dangerous, but it does add a bit of the old days to hiking, huh? :)
DeleteOh, those bone spurs are terrible! I hope yours continues to mend. I can't imagine hiking and seeing a mountain lion! Oh, my! I imagine, though, that a lot of wildlife ventured off their main trails during the drought just to stay alive.
ReplyDeleteI think you`re right about the lion being forced to seek water where he normally would not, at least I hope so! I just returned today from a trip to the Big Bend and the foot held up well, thank you.
DeleteNice to hear you are healed enough to hike...I need to heal a great deal more to ever hike again...mostly bears are my fear on the trail in the mountains.
ReplyDeleteAre you talking about the Appalachian Trail? I`ve hiked in Arkansas , where there are bears, but have never seen one. There are no longer any bears in Texas except for the Big Bend in SW Texas. I hope you get better soon !
DeleteLooks like an interesting place to hike. Would you believe there are native palmettos and alligators in Dallas? http://www.dallascounty.org/department/plandev/locations/13-palmetto.php
ReplyDeletehttp://dallaspalms.com/native_palm_groves_in_dallas.htm
I would , Michael, I bet the gators are in the Trinity? I`m still not sure what species of palmetto these are, you?
DeleteMy guess is Sabal minor. Yes, the Trinity is full of gators. I understand there are some very wild stretches of the river around the city.
DeleteYou are courageous to hike alone with Cougars around. I rode a bicycle alone in an area posted for Mt. Lions and found it rather unnerving, though it does get the adrenaline flowing. What interesting woods to hike in. Do the limestone outcrops have fossils? I went on many fossil-hunting trips in Texas back in the day.
ReplyDeleteYes, Hannah, the lions may be around ,but after many many more hikes there, no tracks , no sightings. I think way too much traffic close for them to go there much. As I said, it was a severe drought situation and the lake was probably the only close water. Fossils abound in the local limestone.
ReplyDelete