Some friends purchased a cabin and 15 wooded acres in the North Carolina mountains so a visit was in order. On Saturday we hiked up Max Patch Mountain, a bald mountain in Pisgah National Forest that was cleared for pasture in the 1800s. The Appalachian Trail crosses the top, where lucky hikers are afforded dreamy views of the Great Smoky Mountains to the southwest. Off to the distant west rise the dark ridges of the Black Mountains.
The trail to paradise.
And then there is the reward…
The Great Smoky Mountains seen from the top of Max Patch Mountain in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina.
Such beauty is all the more poignant when shared with old friends.
A/T on the A.T.
Farley was beside himself with joy for the entire trip.
Farley in his element, bounding through the tall grass on top of Max Patch Mountain.
There were also non-mammals enjoying the outdoors.
A Common Buckeye butterfly alights on one of the plentiful blackberry bushes growing along Max Patch Trail, Pisgah National Forest, Hot Springs, NC.
Back at the cabin, we cooled off in the creek.
I walked up the middle of the creek and found damselflies consorting with each other.
My walking stick used for navigating the creek.
For some reason this little sun-dappled tableau struck me. I don’t think it comes across in the photo, but it was the sort of scene into which you wish you could miniaturize yourself for the purpose of better enjoying it.
And here is where we retired for eating, sleeping (although some of us camped outside), and reading during the heat of the day.
Farley exhibits signs of extreme boredom outside the cabin.
s. d. stewart 