Hiking Again

Of course, I never stopped hiking, though it kind of felt like I did because I used to go every other week of so. I just got really, really cold and uncomfortable last time at Sweetwater Creek, AND I have been super busy/stressed with work, so I took a little break.

But this week, I was able to go out several times. Spring is my favorite time to hike because of the wild flowers. Today, although I didn’t take any pictures of them (the pace was too fast), I was delighted by wild irises here and there and mammoth wild azaleas sprinkled through the woods.

Earlier in the week, I saw this amazing orange azalea! Isn’t it a stunner!

There were several of these scattered about! Like little bursting fires. On both my “woodsier” hikes this week my group moved along without encountering many other people.

Of course, I always get excited about wildlife! When I picked up this guy, some people in my group were pretty surprised.

Look how he flattened out his head to look dangerous, and he was hissing too! But, I have seen all that before, and I only held him long enough to snap this picture so I could show off to my herper son.

Back to work tomorrow! It’s the downhill pass to summer break (although it often feels quite uphill). I’ve got a few more hikes planned in the coming weeks and I’m hoping to be surprised by more flora and fauna. Of course!