Hello, my friends! How in the world have you been doing? Have you all been able to survive without me for a little while? Oh good, I was worried, I know how much you need my wise words!
It was brutally hot in the Atlanta area this past weekend. Let's see, it was 105 degrees when we were out and when we came home, our house seemed as if it was getting hotter. Our air conditioning was not working! Luckily, we were able to get a repairman quickly and all was well within a few hours. (Thank goodness!)
What a difference a week makes! The weekend before was really gorgeous, the high was only in the 80's and since there had been a bit of rain, it was overcast. THAT was the Saturday that I did the Moonlight Hike on Panola Mountain! Want to see? Sure you do!
I am sorry for the quality of these photos. Richard was not able to go with me so all of the pictures were taken by me!
You shouldn't worry about me going by myself, our group was a nice bunch of folks, twenty eight in all, plus two guides! We met and then drove our cars down a small road and then, walked to the base of the mountain. The weather was pleasant, it had rained the day before and the air smelled wonderful under the pines. (To be fair to this area, just beyond these pines, it is almost all hardwood trees and they are truly wonderful! Panola Mountain State Park has some great specimens of trees. I wish they would do a Tree ID Hike! Hint, hint to Panola Mountain State Park!)
Okay now, I tend to get distracted by my trees and flowers, don't I? Where was I? Oh yes, ready to climb Panola Mountain for the Moonlight Hike on June 18th!
Look! Here is the famous "butt slide", so called since the hikes often come down the mountain on this side. (And very often, people will come down like a crab, on their feet and hands.) This time, we went UP the butt slide. The young man behind me when he saw my face at the thought of going up this rather steep slope said to me, "I've got your back". As we climbed up (and hey, I didn't have a problem at all with it!) , he laughed and said, "Why, you don't need my help!" I guess all my years of clambering over these monadnocks have paid off! Thanks anyway to this sweet guy and really I have to say, all the folks on this hike were just a great bunch of people!
Ideally on this hike, you will see a beautiful sunset on the Atlanta skyline and then, watch the moon rise on the other side.
We saw a pretty sunset but the moon was mostly hidden behind clouds, but sometimes, it would peek out and when it did, it was a gorgeous sight. (The hikes are always on a Saturday closest to the full moon.)
We all had flashlights to light our way. I loved to see the mica sparkling under our feet, as if we were walking on diamonds. At the very top of the mountain, as we admired the sunset, we heard the most unusual birdsong, the sound of the whippoorwills. I didn't want to leave!
At the base of the mountain, beside the lake there was a fire waiting for us and we toasted marshmallows and "s'mores". If you look at my header photo just now, you will see the lake and you can see the area in front of the photo where the fire area is located. Now, as I was walking back to my car, I thought to myself how much I enjoyed this hike and it would have been perfect if I could have just seen the beautiful moon...
Ahh, a moonlight hike at Panola Mountain...will I go again?
What do you think?
You did it. And you shared it with us. It looks like a fun adventure.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun, I loved it and hope to go again soon.
DeleteYou will!! (Go again, I mean) And hopefully with Richard! Not because of your photos - they are good, you have been learning from him :-) But because I imagine it was disappointing that he couldn't be with you that night.
ReplyDeleteFunny how sunsets have a way of being so heart-tuggingly beautiful, don't they! On my way home from O.K. Sunday night I was glued to the train window facing west, watching the sunset until there was really nothing left to watch. O.K. was doing the same (not on a train, obviously), as he told me in a text message during my trip.
Richard could have taken better photos I am sure so I hope he will be with me next time!
DeleteI love that you and your new love were watching the same sunset!
It sounds magical - thanks for sharing. Would love to do something like that one day. X
ReplyDeleteIt was magical, you would have loved it! xx
DeleteThanks for sharing your beautiful hike. I'd never be able to climb your mountain but enjoyed the view so much with the pictures you took. I love to see the moon brighten the night.
ReplyDeleteIt is not really a difficult hike up the mountain but I know that I have friends who cannot do it. I am grateful that I still can, I will go as long as my knees let me!
DeleteThe moon, well, what can I say, I have always loved the moon, it is free, in the sky and it costs nothing to appreciate it!!
Love that photo of the flashlights on on the rock! Very nice!
ReplyDeleteLove that photo of the flashlights on on the rock! Very nice!
ReplyDeleteIt gives you an idea of how dark it was at before we descended the mountain. Also, there was a very large cedar tree on the left but it has gotten so dark you can't see it, my eyes could see it better!
DeleteLooks just wonderful - and your photos are smashing! Your fellow-hikers seem curiously unencumbered by rucksacks containing emergency clothing, 'snap' (food), first-aid kits etc? Or did you have hirelings for all that dreary stuff?
ReplyDeleteThis was just a very short hike up our Panola Mountain, it is not very big. We were told to bring water, flashlights and bug spray. We met together at about 7:30PM and the walk was finished about 3 hours later. I am grateful we didn't have to have any rain gear, I bet that past groups might have had to think of that!
DeleteA moonlight hike sounds lovely and so are the photos.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely and I am glad you liked it too! xx
DeleteThe world is so full of beauty and you are a person who choses to see all of it that you can and be aware and also share it with the rest of us. What a wonderful midnight hike this was! I hope you go again. I think you will and look forward to seeing more photos!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Our hike didn't last that long, I think we were down beside the fire sometime after 10PM. A midnight hike sounds interesting though, but I am too old, I need my beauty sleep! HA! Stay tuned and hopefully you will see more of these moonlight hikes! :-)
DeleteWe need a big rock to climb in Florida. Is it too much to ask for one stinking hill?
ReplyDeleteThanks very much! You have reminded me of a post I want to do!
DeleteSorry, I cannot feel TOO sorry for you with all those gorgeous beaches!
The moonlight hike looks so fantastic. The sunset is simply beautiful and it’s so nice to end the whole hike to see such marvelous moon. I think you’ll go again, perhaps in autumn when air is cool and crisp. I once climbed a mountain to see sunrise, starting the base at midnight.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Goodness me, I like the idea of climbing a mountain all night and then, enjoying a beautiful sunrise but the truth is, that would have been difficult for me even in my youth, I do like my sleep!! :-)
DeleteWow! That is such an awesome hike and I'm glad you shared it with us! I adore the whippoorwill song. Yes, you should absolutely go again ~ I know that you will!!!
ReplyDeleteAudrey, I have heard of a whippoorwill in a song but I have never heard one sing! Have you?
DeleteYes, I hope to go again. You know I will let you know!
xx
Yes, I have indeed. I went on a (bird) nature walk with a naturalist who pointed out the song. I can't say that I would've been able to identify it on my own!!!
DeleteLucky you, a nature walk with someone who loves birds. That would be heaven! 😊
DeleteHi Kay, I go to walking in the mountain too on Sunday...looking for fresh air. And I was enchanted as you for the beautiful moon...but on the other side of the world. Every time I heard about Atlanta I remember Scarlett O'Hara: "What I'm going to do in Atlanta?". Maybe she did not see this wonderful skyline!!!! Ciao
ReplyDeleteWell, fiddle-dee-dee, imagine you thinking of Scarlett O'Hara!
DeleteThe moon was very beautiful and bright but I don't have to tell you, you saw the exact same one but on the other side of the world. That is a comforting thought to me, somehow! xx
Excellent photos.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great trip!
Thanks, Ad-Man!
DeleteIt was great!
Wonderful! Yes, go again, and take us along!
ReplyDeleteYou know I will!
DeleteThat looks a lovely walk Kay with great views out towards Atlanta and the city lights. Nice to share the experience in a group as well as doing something like that at night makes it special and unusual. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was special to be on that walk at night. Hope to go again, and hope that Richard will go next time!
DeleteYes, you will go again! :)
ReplyDeleteWinter finally arrived here a couple of days ago...which is great. My two furry rascals have been using me as their hot water bottle...and vice versa.
OH, you have winter there? Wish I could get on the next flight!!
DeleteWow, what a wonderful hike!!! Beautiful photos, and I am sure it was all even more amazing in person!! Smores sound like a great way to end the hike!
ReplyDeleteIt WAS much more than I could describe or photograph it for you! And I think all the crowd enjoyed the marshmallows and s'mores but that is all a bit too sweet for me, I just liked that they all liked it! xx
DeleteI recognised the skyline of Atlanta too. That must have been a fantastic evening but please - what are s'mores? I would also like some of your hot weather - ours hasn't even reached 20c so far!(I think that is about 68f)
ReplyDeleteYou can have our hot temps, no one here wants them!
DeleteS'mores are called that because when you eat one, you want SOME MORE!
Take a graham cracker, put a piece of a Hershey's Chocolate Bar on it, then put a marshmallow on top of that and cover it with another graham cracker...you somehow put it over the fire and it melts the chocolate and the marshmalllow. I don't eat this myself, I had one ONCE when I was a kid and I thought it was too sweet even then! I am so picky! :-)
Beautiful pics..you did just great! I love the moon shots at the end. It's a goal of mine to learn how to photo the moon to get some nice clear shots. What a wonderful hike and I'm glad it wasn't too hot on that trip. We had hot weather last weekend too. Contrast that with yesterday and today...70's in the day, 50's at night. Crazy! Thanks for taking us along with you. Have a great July 4th weekend!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome to come anytime! You should tell your brother in Atlanta to go on this Moonlight Hike! I would be so tickled to be in the same group with him!
DeleteYou can send us some of your cool weather, we would love it!!
Happy 4th to you too! xx