Hike 2 in the Dolly Sods

Today we headed up to the highlands. Seth wanted to show me a part of the race course that he ran last year in the Highlands Sky 40 miler. Our buddy, Eric, came out last night to join us for a long weekend. We set out this morning for 5 hours and a bit more than 11 miles of hiking.

The rhododendron were blooming

Eric & Seth crossing the highlands

Large weathered rock slabs: great for rock hopping

One of the remarkable features of this hike was the way that the terrain changed continuously. High alpine meadows, although we were neither "high" nor "alpine," were followed by a plunge into dark, wooded trails with pine needle beds, only to pop back out into a boulder field for some rock hopping. Eventually, our path looped back around and took us down into a valley. The effect of the rains we had on our first day here could still be felt in the muck and mud that was to be our route.

An active beaver dam

One always spends great care in keeping the feet dry, in the beginning, but even the most lightfooted among us would be taken down by this trail. Seth seemed to have radar that would lock in on the soft, deep, shoe sucking mud, while Eric told stories of the "Bog People" that were discovered preserved after falling in to the peat bogs of Ireland.

This is a baby puddle compared to the bogs we had to cross.

Eric was the master of stepping lightly and staying dry.

Seth, on the other hand, made tracks like this as he skidded through the mud.

Eventually, even Eric was conquered by Mud Foot.

On our way back home we made a pit stop at the Blackwater Brewing Company for some local micro brews. We picked up a growler to bring home, and while I made dinner the guys put together some sangria and read their books on the porch. The sangria, or "adult fruit cup" was dessert.

"Oh man, I love this fruit cup."

We are all hoping to stay awake at least until 9:00 pm tonight.