Monday, April 18, 2011

A hike around Glass Creek

Lake by which I passed
The snow returned this morning, blanketing the ground in white.  But yesterday, before the clouds returned (they weren't gone that long as it rained yesterday morning), I went out for a walk at a nearby preserve.  I needed the space and the time alone, plus it gave me a chance to check out Glass Creek, which is supposed to be a good trout stream.  With the season opening in less than two weeks, it’s time to begin to think about getting out my waders and getting into the water and tormenting some fish.




Skunk Cabbage
 I headed out on a windy evening, an hour and a half before sunset.  Not long into my walk, I spooked a couple of deer, who made a racket snapping twigs as they jumped and ran away.  I hiked over two ridges and by a decent-size lake before dropping into the creek. I found its bottom to be mostly sandy with deep holes around every bend.  To the south of where I intersected the creek, it appears to spread out into a marsh area.  Hiking a ways down, I came across skunk cabbage, its leaves now fully unfurled.  Then I hiked back upstream where the creek ran deep, between ridges.  I crossed the creek on a small wooden bridge and, before climbing the ridge on the far side, stopped to see if I could find the woodpecker working high in the trees above.  I didn’t see him, but could hear his sound against the hollow tree for some distance.  On the ridge, maybe 20 or 30 feet above the creek, there was a nice stand of timber, some of it thicker than my grasp and all of it straight:  maples, oaks and beech.  On the path in front of me, I disturbed a pair of cardinals flirting with each other.  As I came around the bend, they took to the sky.  After a ways, I dropped back down to the creek, through cedars that grew along the bank.  In the distance, I heard the cry of a sandhill crane and later, as the sun dropped below the horizon, an owl.     By the time I got back to my truck, the sun had disappeared and there was a chill in air.

Large and straight hardwoods along the ridge

Cedar along banks

The sun dropping in the sky
I should note that in my recent post, I haven't been using my main camera (a Nikon DSLR).  Instead, I've been trying out a Fujifilm XP (water/shock/dust and freeze proof...  yeah, right) camera.  It's lightweight and pocket size (keeps me from looking too much like a tourist).  I am considering using it this summer when I travel.  It's harder to use and the lens isn't a Nikkor, but I am impressed with its photos.
Your humble guide

13 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great outing; I felt like I was there with you in that hike.

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  2. beautiful pictures especially the one of the hardwoods along the ridge (and of course the humble guide, too). Nice prose too.

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  3. It sure sounds like a perfect place to be. Your photos are lovely as always. It's always a kick to join you on one of your adventures.

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  4. i am just a bit ahead of you...well bass fishing i guess...been slaying them for weeks...catch and release...but some pretty good sizes...as far as the outing sounds great!

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  5. The photos came out great - and they are beautiful. A lovely walk. Thank you, humble guide!

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  6. These photos are incredible, although yours usually are! The second (reflecting one and the hardwoods so tall and powerful are my favorites!)...I still have to check out that cabbage, they are lovely too! Sorry about the snow covering all that beauty again...we finally lost last Friday's snow fall only to have more on the way....it's the 6 inches they say that worries me...really???? Have a great week Sage...oh and it's the U of Minnesota (so much closer, and my daughter's school) have you heard of the Weisman Art Museum there? http://www.weisman.umn.edu/architecture/gehry.html

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  7. I currently have a Cannon Powershot SD1400, my second Powershot that I have had. I always wanted a DSLR up until I got that camera and now I no longer want one. The SD1400 takes such wonderful shots and with practice, there are only a few shots that I miss because I didn't have a more powerful camera like a DSLR with the ability to change lenses. Well worth the price to be able to slip it into my pocket and walk around with one less thing strapped around my neck weighing me down.

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  8. All i can say is Michigan, you never know what you're going to get.

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  9. I want to do some fishing. I need me some time. Last time I went I caught two itty bitty bass.

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  10. Nice ramble. Thanks for taking me along...

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  11. I'm about ready to spring for a Nikon DSLR. I haven't done so yet, because I hate the weight when hiking, but the weight's come down and I can now get some decent lenses. The pocket cameras are light and compact, but I don't like the optics that much.

    Cheers.

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  12. Snow??? I just got my first sunburn of the season last weekend.

    Signed,

    Your humble commenter.

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  13. A man who likes to backwoods it--follow the trails, and when your curiosity takes you elsewhere, follow it instead. Yeah, Sage! You and I need to hook up and hike a bit of the Barry County countryside. The game area is some of my favorite, and I think I know the area you've described. It's gorgeous and full of interest. You game to take a day hike one of these springtime afternoons?

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