Introduction
Some people celebrate the day after Christmas as Boxing Day or the beginning of Kwanzaa. While this Appalachian Irishman respects the meaning behind those observances, the day after Christmas, for me, was celebrated by going on my third hike in three days on House Mountain! The first article published today shares my Christmas Eve hike. The second entry today recounts my Christmas Day hike.
The late morning propane delivery that filled our underground tank delayed my departure. Afterward, I filled up my tank before the hike. The usual sandwich and apple were washed down with a few ounces of Coke.
Properly hydrated and with hiking gear ready, my 2006 Frontier took me to the upper parking lot. I recall about 20 vehicles already there.
The morning low of 37 degrees Fahrenheit had already warmed to the upper 50s. Morning clouds had given way to sunshine and wind, but the sky became mostly cloudy, once I started hiking. Rain was coming, but not today! Let's hike!
Hiking Up the West Trail Again
Starting late, I touched the marker near the sheltered picnic area at 2:19 PM. Fifteen minutes later, I started hiking up the six upper switchbacks. The four lower switchbacks and lower areas were behind me.
Seven minutes later, I reached the final upper switchback. Making good time, other hikers and I shared holiday greetings, as we passed each other. In thirteen more minutes, at 2:54 PM, I reached the west bluff, touched the rock, and noticed the time. I matched my time hiking up on Christmas Day, 35 minutes.
Selfie at the West Bluff
I should have worn only the T-shirt! The button-up short-sleeve shirt had to come off, along with Mike's ball cap. My forehead dripped with sweat. Temperatures in the 20s or 30s are better hiking weather! You don't sweat!
Having swallowed a few sips of water from my old canteen and wiped forehead sweat onto my patched-up blue jeans, I took the following “selfie” at 3:02 PM.
I was sitting on the highest rock on the west bluff. The view looks northwest. The breeze evaporated sweat from the T-shirt. No one else, except God, was with me. I had the bluff to myself.
Still sitting on that rock, two minutes later, I photographed my other shirt, canteen, and Mike's ball cap.
Deciding not to venture east across the ridge, I chose to hike down and out on the same west trail. Can you tell that I like that trail? I thought so.
Hiking Down and Out: Squirrels are Hard to Photograph!
I started back down at 3:08 PM. It took me 55 minutes to touch the sign near the picnic area to end the hike. At 4:03 PM, the sun was setting quickly, but I had almost two more hours of daylight. I wish that I had hiked east across the ridge, reached the ridgeline bluff, and hiked down and out on the east trail.
What delayed my hike down and out? Have you ever tried to photograph a squirrel? I tried twice and failed both times!
At an upper switchback, I saw the first squirrel, perched on a nearby tree stump. Slowly and silently, I removed my “semi-intelligent” phone from its case, clipped to my belt. Using the camera, I tried to zoom in to shoot that squirrel! He was in a perfect position, looking at me. As I began to snap his image, the squirrel jumped off the stump and bounced far away. I thought that I heard him say, “You just think that you can take my photograph! Watch this!”
Undaunted, just beyond the lowest upper switchback, the second squirrel leaped directly across the trail on his way down! He paused briefly, just long enough for me to take out my phone. Well, ladies and gentlemen, believe it or not, that squirrel jumped away, before I could even focus a shot! Did I hear that squirrel laughing at me?
I know what you're thinking! I had the same thought. Was it the same squirrel or a different one?
Conclusion
Late last year, I enjoyed hiking House Mountain three days in a row. Hikes on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of November 2023 are chronicled in the article from 11/19/2023.
The conclusion of the 11/16/2024 article, about my 194th hike on House Mountain, shared my goal to hike my mountain for the 200th time by year-end. Weather conditions and more pressing obligations prohibited me. That's okay! Lord willing, I plan to reach my 200th hike on House Mountain next month. That is still my goal, even if it was delayed.
See you on the trails!
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