2010 January « Hike Our Planet: Hot Springs National Park

Archive for January, 2010

31 Jan

The Glass Forest, Ice Bullets and I Wish I had Brought a Hat

Posted by Lee Hiller-London in Dead Chief Trail, Goat Rock, Gulpha Gorge, Honeysuckle Trail, Hot Springs Mountain Top, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Peak Trail, Promenade, Tufa Terrace Trail, Upper Dogwood Trail. Tagged: Hot Springs, Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs Arkansas, Ouachita Mountains, Hiking Trails, Dead Chief Trail, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Goat Rock, Gulpha Gorge Trail, Shortcut Trail, Arkansas Wildlife, Goat Rock Trail, Arkansas Birds, Tufa Terrace Trail, Honeysuckle Trail, Cardinal, Blue Jay, Photography, Zig Zag Mountains, Robin, hot springs national park hiking trails. 1 Comment

When I arrived at the park I discovered I could not use the main entrance, a tree had split in half blocking the path. Once in the park I realized my folly in thinking the cold air would win against the sun. Part way up the Tufa Terrace I felt drops of water. It was not bad but I realized my error in thinking air could beat sunlight. Birds were squawking as the ice was becoming unstable. I have great admiration for Robins they are an amazing hardy bird. The snow and ice did not slow them down, they flocked and worked in teams during the storm.

30 Jan

Ice, Snow, New Friends and Baxter the Beagle

Posted by Lee Hiller-London in Carriage Road, Dead Chief Trail, Goat Rock, Gulpha Gorge, Hot Springs Mountain Top, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Peak Trail, Short Cut Trail. Tagged: Hot Springs National Park, Ouachita Mountains, Dead Chief Trail, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Goat Rock, Gulpha Gorge Trail, Arkansas Wildlife, Goat Rock Trail, Squirrel, Arkansas Birds, Tufa Terrace, Tufa Terrace Trail, Carriage Road, Cardinal, Animal Tracks, White Throated Sparrow, male slate-colored dark-eyed junco, Zig Zag Mountains, Tufted Titmouse, Robin, Baxter the Beagle, Robert, Annie, Linda, Haltom, Cody, Brittnay, Red Bellied Woodpeck, Winter Wren, Bay Breasted Warbler, Fox Sparrow, Annie and Baxter, Linda and Haltom, hot springs national park hiking trails. 1 Comment

You know how to tell it’s icy? When a guy leaving the park is holding the rail and sliding past you on the incline; unable to stop heading for the stairs. I figured if he made it in to the park so could I LOL, I would worry about how to get out of the park in one piece after my hike. A little ice and snow makes me a happy hiker.

29 Jan

Freezing Rain and Cardinals on Ice

Posted by Lee Hiller-London in Carriage Road, Dead Chief Trail, Hot Springs Mountain Top, Peak Trail, Promenade, Short Cut Trail, Tufa Terrace Trail. Tagged: Hot Springs, Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs Arkansas, Hiking Trails, Peak Trail, Dead Chief Trail, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Shortcut Trail, Arkansas Birds, Tufa Terrace Trail, Cardinal, Photography, Zig Zag Mountains, Freezing Rain, Ice Storm, Ice, Silver Thaw, black throated green warbler, hot springs national park hiking trails. Leave a Comment

Going out to the Park for this mornings hike was a tough decision. When I went out on our patio I could see trees covered in ice but when I looked below at the street everything appeared to be moving. Then it dawned on me the Hot Springs kept the ground warm so the Ice was only on the plants. I threw on winter gear and was out the door before 9:00 am.

28 Jan

The Calm Before the Storm

Posted by Lee Hiller-London in Carriage Road, Honeysuckle Trail, Hot Springs Mountain Top, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Peak Trail, Tufa Terrace Trail. Tagged: Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs Arkansas, Ouachita Mountains, Hiking Trails, Peak Trail, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Arkansas Wildlife, Arkansas Birds, Honeysuckle Trail, Carriage Road, Chipmunk, Bird of Prey, Photography, Zig Zag Mountains, Eastern Phoebe, Stump, Heart shaped, Jogger. 4 Comments

Hot Springs Facts: The springs are all grouped about the base of the Hot Springs Mountain, with a flow well over a half million gallons a day.

A winter storm is approaching and I want to get into the park early. I lovely snow but some are predicting freezing rain others a winter mix. The skies are dark this morning, but it does not feel ready to rain. I am out by 9:00 am and quickly head into the park.

27 Jan

Leaping Squirrel, USGS and Rockin’ Robin

Posted by Lee Hiller-London in Dead Chief Trail, Hot Springs Mountain Road, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Promenade, Short Cut Trail. Tagged: Hot Springs, Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs Arkansas, Ouachita Mountains, Hiking Trails, Peak Trail, Dead Chief Trail, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Shortcut Trail, Arkansas Wildlife, Squirrel, Arkansas Birds, Cardinal, Photography, Zig Zag Mountain Range, Zig Zag Mountains, Robin. Leave a Comment

Today began with a chance meeting of a friend at the USGS Ralf Montanus. He is part of team monitoring the springs within Hot Springs National Park. Ralf is also a fountain of knowledge about places I should visit in and out of the park. This was a great start to my morning hike. Thank You as always Ralf for the great information.

26 Jan

The Yellow Brick Road and Sky Surfers

Posted by Lee Hiller-London in Arlington Trail, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Lower Dogwoord Trail, Promenade, Upper Dogwood Trail. Tagged: Hot Springs, Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs Arkansas, Ouachita Mountains, Hiking Trails, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Upper Dogwood Trail, Arkansas Wildlife, Arkansas Birds, Cardinal, Photography, Zig Zag Mountains, Arlington Hotel, Warbler, Black-throated warbler, Lower Dogwood Trail, Arlington Trail, North Mountain Overlook, The Arlington Hotel. Leave a Comment

It was a glorious mixed day! Cold and sunny with a perfect blue sky. Small bird poked their beaks out in-between fly overs by the sky surfers. I visited new trails and the haunted forest too.

On the promenade I was greeted by a lovely female Cardinal; she had wonderful poses in the early morning light. Our photo shoot ended quickly as a Hawk flew over. Silence fell over the Park so I made my moring sah to the top of Hot Springs Mountain.

25 Jan

Birds of Prey Ruled the Day

Posted by Lee Hiller-London in Goat Rock, Gulpha Gorge, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Tufa Terrace Trail. Tagged: Hot Springs National Park, Ouachita Mountains, Hiking Trails, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Goat Rock, Gulpha Gorge Trail, Arkansas Wildlife, Goat Rock Trail, Arkansas Birds, Chipmunk, Eagle, Bird of Prey, Photography, Zig Zag Mountains, Hawk. 2 Comments

When I awoke the Weather Chanel informed me low temperatures had returned to Hot Springs, so I gathered up my cold weather gear. Out the door and into the park early, I could sense things were not as they were yesterday. The birds appeared to be flying into every low bush they could find, not basking in the first sunlight of the tallest trees. I glanced across to West Mountain and saw a large bird flying just above the tree line.

24 Jan

The Morning Tree, Old Friends and Feathered Ones

Posted by Lee Hiller-London in Dead Chief Trail, Goat Rock, Gulpha Gorge, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Promenade, Short Cut Trail. Tagged: Hot Springs, Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs Arkansas, Ouachita Mountains, Hiking Trails, Dead Chief Trail, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Arkansas Wildlife, Arkansas Birds, Tufa Terrace, Cardinal, Blue Jay, Photography, Zig Zag Mountains, Cedar Waxwing, Tufted Titmouse. 7 Comments

Early start revealed the The Morning Tree, a place where as the sun crests the mountain and all the promenade birds gather. It was a chaotic cacophony to great the new day. The tree held all manner of birds including Cardinals and Cedar Waxwings. All feasting on the berries as the sun rose against the blue sky. It was a spectacular sight. Amidst the flight of fancy a squirrel slipped off a tree to gather it’s own morning feast.

23 Jan

Nature: It’s hidden Treasures Are All Around Us

Posted by Lee Hiller-London in Honeysuckle Trail, Hot Springs Commentary, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Short Cut Trail. Tagged: Hot Springs, Hot Springs National Park, Ouachita Mountains, Hiking Trails, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Arkansas Wildlife, Photography, Zig Zag Mountain Range. Leave a Comment

I take a day off from hiking every couple of weeks to reflect on the beauty I have seen and to give my body a chance to rest. A rest combined with short fast and I feel renewed and ready to see the park with fresh eyes and legs LOL. I can see the mountain from my window and staying away even today with impending lightening storms is difficult. Getting toasted by lightening in the park however is not a current blogging goal.

22 Jan

A Day For the Birds: Cardinals, Woodpecker, Sparrow and Cedar Waxwings

Posted by Lee Hiller-London in Hot Springs Mountain Top, Hot Springs Mountain Trail. Tagged: Hot Springs, Hot Springs National Park, Ouachita Mountains, Hiking Trails, Hot Springs Mountain Trail, Arkansas Wildlife, Arkansas Birds, Tufa Terrace Trail, Cardinal, Chipmunk, White Throated Sparrow, Photography, Cedar Waxings, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Zig Zag Mountain Range, McClard's Bar-B-Que. 2 Comments

Overcast day on Hot Springs Mountain with an expected storm tonight or tomorrow, I race to get ready for my hike. The air was cool and mountain felt silent until I reached the top this morning. As always a pair of Cardinals were waiting for me and graciously allowed a few photographs. I could hear song birds and the elusive woodpeckers, was unable to see them against the dark sky.