A Walk in the Woods.

 

It has been a beautiful week here in Southwest Mississippi.  Too beautiful to just hang around the house, though there was plenty of leaves and pine straw to clean up.

I hadn’t been out on a hike of any kind for a month, or more.

Some seventy five miles West, one will find Clark Creek Natural Area.  700+ acres of mixed hardwood and pine forest, interspersed with over fifty waterfalls.  I haven’t been there in years, and thought it would be a good outing for a day.  A part of the loess bluffs which border the Mississippi River from Vicksburg, MS to near Angola, LA.  The area has  eroded into huge hills and ravines. The difference between the level of the creek beds, and the top of a hill just a few feet away can be over a hundred feet.  Not unusual for mountainous areas, but remember this is Southwest Mississippi.  I mentioned the trip to my neighbor and he was on board, also.

The majority of the waterfalls are located on what is called the “primitive trail”.  We decided we would stick to the main trail as the elevation changes on it were enough to get your heart rate up pretty good.

Trail going in.

A look down the hill.

First peek of Clark Creek.

Waterfall!! There’s usually more water flowing, but it has been the driest Fall in years.

What looks like rock boulders are actually huge chunks of what we call soapstone.  Don’t know its real name, but it’s slick as soap when wet.

Another one.

Ferns and vines.

Resting along the way.

Though all these pictures make the area appear to be only small trees and undergrowth, that’s not true.  The area is also home to lots of gigantic oaks, pines, and other hardwoods.  Many species usually found only in places such as the Appalachians.

An oak by the trail.

A beautiful day outside.  Sunny, short sleeve weather, in December…jc