Colorful leaf-droppers make for a photogenic fall adventure.

There’s likely no season more longed for across the eastern region than the arrival of fall.  Fall displays many contrasts for it brings both vivid and drab landscapes; reassuring warmth and intimidating coolness, cheery turquoise skies and gloomy, rainy days.

 The background chatter of songbirds goes unnoticed until it’s no longer there.  Then it’s evident that most have gone and with them the summer.  Silent, indeed, are the woodlands with their songsters departed.  Only rarely thereafter is the hush of the forest stirred.  A woodpecker’s busy hammer or a consternation of crows may sometimes break the stillness, but the interruption is characteristically brief.

 September days may have considerable warmth, but October evenings carry a prophetic nuance of winter’s coldness to come.  Early morning sun and shadow conspire to accentuate serene hardwood hollows where fog creeps eerily among the trees suggesting that all is well.  But leaves and branches murmur knowingly on afternoon breezes as hindered sunrays provisionally warm the air.

 Through these wavering days, warmth and coolness romp, tumble and chase one another like playing pups.  Far and wide, for a brief few days, leaf-dropping trees momentarily glare with the season’s garish coat-of-arms in hues of red, yellow and gold.  The absolute high-tide of autumn is then upon the land for little more than the space of an afternoon or two before the colors begin to recede, draining away into the seasonal abyss. Then, just as quickly as it came, it’s passed away.

 If winter is the first season then autumn is the summing up of seasons having come full circle.  It’s the annual period of scaling back, weaning off and wrapping up; the time when peace and quiet no longer stroll hand in hand, for peace soon departs in fall but the quietness abides.

 Still, though fleeting, fall is fun while it lasts and the glory of autumn will soon blanket the mountains beckoning all who would revel in the outdoors to come quickly and celebrate the season.  There’s no better place than Kentucky’s Pine Mountain to enjoy bright, humidity-free days and drink in the pageantry as the fall leaves sing along on key.  Join us, won’t you?

Wild Columbine

Now, as spring approaches its fever pitch, there’s perhaps no better time to take to the mountainous woodlands of southeastern Kentucky in search of flowers and feathers.  Ample seasonal warmth and abundant rainfall have conspired to adorn the craggy slopes and cryptic hollows with a flourish of blossoms and a variety of avian dynamos.

An assortment of field trips, pilgrimmages, and special events celebrating birds and blooms will be hosted across eastern Kentucky in the days to come.  Why not pick one, make a short drive, and get back in touch with your wild side while having a passel of fun?

Glorious spring annually adorns the vaulted slopes of Kentucky’s Pine Mountain in a cloak of green and the lush forest enters an enchanting period of flowerings.  By late April, the blooming of wildflowers is nearing its peak, and an assortment of warblers can be observed migrating through Kentucky.  This year, Pine Mountain State Resort Park  will host an adventurous weekend opportunity to celebrate the occurrence of both on April 29-30, 2011.

 Enjoy guided outings that will include seek-n-find wildflower hikes, a misty morning bird walk, and a how-to wildflower photography field trip.  Enjoy breakfast with the birds by the enourmous dining room windows as the park’s Naturalist directs observation and build your own take-home bluebird box in a hands-on workshop session.  Feature evening programs will showcase spectacular wildflower photography, lovely native wildflowers and shrubs, and an up-close live birds of prey show featuring barn owl, great horned owl, peregrine falcon, Mississippi kite, and a golden eagle.  Don’t miss this outdoor celebration of the arrival of spring to the mountains.

You can request additional program information or make a reservation by phoning the park’s Guest Services Desk at (800) 325-1712.  Look into it; it just might be your best outdoor experience of the spring!

Eastern Redbud (Cercis candadensis)

It’s been a long, hard winter with little more than repetitive snowfalls and a few icicles to break the monotony.  At winter’s end, hills and mountains appear dead with all the meat fallen from their bones, and our eyes are starved for color.  But there, mixed among the deciduous, winter sleepers is a latent spring beauty just waiting for the warmth of Sol to call it forth to flowering – the Eastern Redbud.

Redbuds are plentiful in the Commonwealth, but underwhelming through most of the year and scarcely noticed.  They lumber and slumber on through the coldest months, a small but stately tree, until the rumblings of spring awaken it.  Then, all glory breaks out in a pinkish-purple fantasy!

If the blooms came later, the splendor of other trees might well mask its presence.  But, when early April rolls around, the redbud is the sweetest of the spring flowering trees.  Even a clipped, blooming redbud branch chucked in a vase is a stunningly beautiful thing.

In Kentucky, you won’t have to roam far to gaze upon the rosy pink blooms of this generous, giving tree; its grand flowering lasts not for days, but weeks.

Kentucky boasts three lovely, national scenic byways for roadside redbud-viewing: the Country Music Highway, along US 23; the Wilderness Road Heritage Highway, along US 25; and the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway along state roads 11, 715 and 15. Other roads with good opportunities for viewing the flowering trees include the Cumberland Cultural Heritage Highway, a scenic byway south from US 27 along US 150 and US 127, the Hal Rogers Parkway between London and Hazard, and the Kingdom Come Parkway along US 119.

Mountain view at Pine Mountain State Resort Park

Savoring the visual nectar of redbuds is easy enough through the car windows but you might consider blending a sightseer’s foray with historical touring for a more authentic experience and drop in at a few special places of interest along the celebrated redbud roads.  Pine Mountain State Resort Park, with its mosaic of scenic hiking and nature study trails, offers first-class lodging and wonderful food. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park affords magnificent views and over 70 miles of mountain trails.  The two parks are but 15 miles apart and both lie at the end of the Wilderness Road Heritage Highway, astride the very path made famous by pioneers following Boone on their way to build a nation.

For more information to assist in planning a spring redbud sightseeing adventure and to gauge the advancing progress of the redbud’s flowering, visit the Everything Redbud website provided by the fine folks at Tour Southern & Eastern Kentucky.

Pink Lady's Slipper

An exciting occasion of botanical splendor is quietly approaching and it’s coming soon to a woodlands near you!  The end of winter typically finds nature lovers starved for color and eager to renew their kinship with the Great Outdoors.  As the early spring sun warms the earth, it draws wildflowers from the ground like milk through a straw, and many of us will be right there waiting to drink it all in.  Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the birth of a new season!

The arrival of spring to the mountains will soon adorn barren trunks and naked branches in a cloak of green and the forest will enter an enchanted period of flowerings.  The woodlands of Southeastern Kentucky are home to a celebrated array of lovely wildflowers and ornamented shrubs of spectacular beauty.

Yellow Trillium

Unforgettable on many accounts, the great pageantry and variety of their floral display is unmatched through the rest of the year.  In spring, the eastern state parks becomes a photographer’s dream as the pastel petals of wildflowers and the bountiful blossoms of flowering shrubs are everywhere in abundance.  Rest assured, the spectacle of a mountain spring is on the way; plan your visit now!

Here’s a list of general dates for popular flowering events in the eastern and southeastern regions of Kentucky.  Actual occurrences may vary depending upon ambient conditions and local weather trends.

* Serviceberry in bloom /4th week of March
* Redbud in bloom /1st week of April
* Flowering Dogwood in bloom /2nd week of April
* 1st peak of spring wildflowers /2nd week of April
* Peak blooming of Pink Lady’s Slippers /1st week of May
* 2nd peak of spring wildflowers /1st week of May
* Catawba Rhododendron in bloom /2nd week of May
* Mountain Laurel in bloom /3rd week of May

For weekly trends or a report on current conditions and emergence, contact Naturalist, Dean Henson by e-Mail or by phone at (800) 325-1712.

A view of the massive chain.

Most local folks of the Bell County, Kentucky area know all about Chained Rock and the majority of them have paid a visit to the legendary icon at one time or another.  If you’re among the few who know little or nothing about it, well, let’s just say that you’re missing out on a genuine piece of mountain folklore.  The trail is one-half mile in length and traverses steep terrain from the highest point in the park accessible by vehicle, down to the site, located at the bottom of a 300-foot descent in elevation.  Along the way hikers are surrounded by the mixed deciduous forest and encounter dense stands of rhododendron and mountain laurel thickets.  They also discover natural sandstone rock shelters, and terrain typical of the south-facing slope of Pine Mountain.  Of course, the prime objective is Chained Rock itself with its massive chain fastened at both ends.  Hikers are also rewarded with an inspiring view of the Cumberland Plateau and the cozy little mountain town of Pineville about 1,000 feet below.

A river of fog as viewed from Chained Rock.

Legend says the rock was chained because the town’s children feared that the great boulder hanging ominously above might give way and crash down on them as they slept.  Eventually, steps were taken to alleviate their fears, and the children have slept peacefully ever since.

The rock was officially fastened on June 24, 1933, and was soon celebrated as a first-rate tourist attraction.  The plausibility of securing such a gargantuan chunk of sandstone as a reliable safety measure is widely debated to this very day.  More importantly, the legend of Chained Rock continues to hold a prominent place in local folklore and continues to capture the imagination of countless visitors every year.  If you haven’t been there, you owe it to yourself to see it firsthand.  It’s a historic treasure of the southeastern mountains.

Winter adventure awaits in the mountains!

Winter arrived early to Kentucky this year bringing considerable snow and unseasonably cold temperatures.  Treacherous road conditions have also been commonplace in the early going, and there’s likely more of the same to come before the daffodils nod on fresh spring breezes.  But, outdoor adventure can still be yours, even in the dead of the wintry off-season.  Such an opportunity is fast approaching with Pine Mountain State Resort Park’s Winter Photo Weekend, set to occur on January 28-30, 2011.

Making good photographs in winter is a unique challenge.  The vibrant green of spring is vanquished and the azure blue of autumn skies is obscured by thick cloud cover.  Yes, it’s gray and white and winter all around, but there’s much more out there to engage the adventurous than first meets the eye, you just have to possess the will to find it… and take pictures of it!

The adventure lies in the pursuit of finding the right shot to satisfy the prescribed photo competition categories.  In the doing, participants explore mountain landscapes, both on foot and by car, searching for just the right shot, trusting that they’ll know it when they see it.  It’s truly an outdoor adventure that engages the senses.  And, it’s fun!

The weekend is basically a quest that leads you on a discovery trek to out-of-the-way places where raw nature resides.  Woodlands, waters, weather, and wildlife are all part of the experience and it all takes place at one of the park systems finest natural resorts.  The evenings feature spectacular picture shows offered by a guest professional, and the wonderful dining and cozy accommodations on hand at the rustic lodge round out the experience. 

Enjoy Kentucky's premiere historic mountaintop lodge.

The park’s weekend event plan generally focuses on nature and offers up four competition categories.  There’s only a single class of competition, so everyone shoots the same categories and the best shots emerge as winners in the finale show.  Participants always enjoy the relaxed atmosphere that permeates the mountaintop resort in winter.  Even though the photo competition is timed, the event is hassle-free, and devoid of the pressure that so often accompanies similar events.  The emphasis is on interfacing with nature, finding the best locations, and taking your best shots.  Some say the event is a terrific alternative to being cooped up at home watching the snow fly, and many feel the event’s simplicity may be the best thing about it.

If you’re looking to get out in the frosty air to stretch mind and body, check out the Winter Photo Weekend under “Events” on the park’s website:

http://parks.ky.gov/findparks/resortparks/pm/ 

Don’t worry about the snow, the park has its own snow plow/salt truck and life goes on, regardless of the weather and conditions.  Besides, you just might be lucky enough to actually be on hand when the snow comes.   Ample snowfall not only enhances the picture-taking prospects, but the brooding evergreens covered in snow on the vaulted slopes and craggy cliffs of Pine Mountain are a truly splendorous sight!

For more information, contact the park’s Guest Services Desk at (800) 325-1712 or (606) 337-3066.

Now that the advent of fall color is past, many folks will dial things back a notch and settle into a sedate lifestyle for winter.  They look forward, of course, to the joy of friends and family during the holidays, but somewhere nestled in their subconcious lurks dread that the better part of the next three months will unfold in the cold and bleakness of winter.  For some, this will seem a problem, but it’s really more a matter of expectation than location.

Ask yourself a question.  Would you enjoy playing in the wintry outdoors, bundled appropriately against the cold, if you knew that you would have your pick of locations, accommodations, and practically all the natural resources to yourself?  If the answer is yes, then you’re in luck.

Now is the time for walking and reckoning; looking, with frost crunching underfoot, and exploring woodlands in search of native wildlife and close-at-hand scenes of incredible beauty.   All is quiet except for the peeps and chirps of indigenous birds that flit among the barren branches.  Amidst the somber trio of gray, brown, and white, hardy islands of green suddenly become conspicuous and are esteemed as important accents when swinging along snowy woodland trails.

The lolling period of winter affords the luxury of lingering; an ideal time to become better acquainted with favored natural places.  The winter experience is more about subtraction than multiplication and embarking on a hiking adventure in the wintry countryside is perhaps the best way to blend our humanity with seasonal changes and register an uncommon experience not afforded by the other seasons.

Right now, all across eastern and southeastern Kentucky, an impeccable network of hiking and nature study trails await adventuresome souls to come play in the frosty air.  Many are near or within Kentucky’s celebrated state parks and winter provides the annual opportunity to blend cozy comfort and natural surroundings for a unique off-season experience that’s sure to delight and rejuvenate.  Gone are the crowds, the bugs, and the humidity.  Peace and quiet abound and solitude is in abundant supply for all who would go.  Now that fallen leaves have rendered the forest transparent, secretive wildlife are easily spotted and lofty overlooks allow penetrating views of surrounding landscapes that deciduous forest cover precluded just a month ago.  For the hardy and adventurous, there’s no better time to make the outdoors your own.

Appalachia is a scenic place, especially in the fall.  A visit to the mountainous southeastern region during the autumn prime time reveals vaulted scarps of rock clothed loosely in patches of red, gold, and green, sputtering with streamlets that course their boulder-strewn waterways beneath the brilliant fall canopy.  Over thousands of years, an elaborate collection of hardwood and softwood trees have formed a gargantuan greenhouse, a retreat for a verdant medley of living things.

When last I walked in the mountains on a fall day, tawny oak leaves formed a rustling carpet along a dogtrot path littered with fallen yellow-green acorns.  Gray squirrels and chipmunks scampered frantically about, busily tending to their booming nut business.  After a spell, I happened upon a jumble of remnant stones that once rose as the chimney and corners of an old home place and just beyond, a crumbling cemetery with illegible headstones, the sole testaments of the hardscrabble mountain folks who first settled the land.

My day’s adventure was authentic and real, as much as could be hoped for, and the backdrop of all was the inherent pageantry of fall.  Everyone should be so fortunate as to experience such marvels in a single day, but only in Appalachia, and only in the autumn.

With the peak of color projected to begin occurring the week of the 17^th across the southeastern region, sweater-weather is here and a great time of frolicking in the crisp mountain air surrounded by a crazy-quilt of blazing colors awaits you.  Looking for the best time you’ll have all year?  Head for the mountains – right now.

Something is in the air.  Right now, assorted birds of prey are plying the skies, riding the wind, and destined soon to pass along a lofty mountain crest not so far from where you live.  And, while watching hawks effortlessly pinwheel high above the earth is a thrilling sight, there’s a good deal more to winged predators abroad than aerial cartwheels and sunny day soaring.  For many, there’s a dead-serious time of year when they must set wing and head south to warmer climes.  Now is the time.

From late September to early December an assortment of hawks, owls, eagles, and vultures fly from northeast to southwest along the Appalachian Mountains as they migrate southward, re-tracing a venerable “flyway” that conducts them to winter havens in Mexico and Central and South America.

On any given day during the October peak of hawk migration through Kentucky, an observer may spot scores of migrating raptors, using the thermal updrafts of the mountains to assist them in soaring hundreds of miles per day with scarcely a wing-beat.   One never knows for a certainty what may pass overhead from moment to moment, but Broad-winged hawks, Red-tailed Hawks,  Red-shouldered Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, and Sharp-shinned Hawks are the most common.  The trick, of course, is to be in the right place at the right time to witness the spectacle.  As it happens, I know of such a place.

On the weekend of October 1-3, a grand outdoor adventure will unfold in Kentucky’s mountainous southeast corner.  Hawktoberfest and Raptor Rhapsody, a pair of events dedicated to all things birds, will be conducted simultaneously as the result of  a cooperative effort of Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

I can think of no better time or place to be immersed in both the changing array of fall foliage and watchable wildlife than during the peak of autumn raptor migration.

The complimentary weekend agendas will feature a wide variety of whole-family activities, programs, and presentations offered concurrently at both Pine Mountain State Resort Park and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (just 10 miles apart) and participation in all activities and programs at both parks is free.

Programs will include observation techniques, raptor identification, morning birding walks, live birds of prey shows, guided hawk observation from atop lofty Pinnacle Overlook, children’s activities, displays, dioramas, visits with famous personages from history and much more.  Don’t miss this opportunity for fall fun in the mountains!

For more information on Hawktoberfest, contact Pine Mountain State Resort Park at (800) 325-1712.  For additional details about Raptor Rhapsody, contact Cumberland Gap National Historical Park at (606) 248-2817.