Crack-in-the-Rock Trail
September 15, 2005
Last weekend’s outdoor adventure left
me fired up for another. We had a nice long period of rain
Tuesday night through Thursday morning followed by a cool-down,
and I took off work early to head for the woods. I didn’t
have to tell the boys twice to get ready. We made the short
drive to Lee Creek Reservoir to hike the Crack-in-the-Rock
trail. I took my good camera and tripod, but never used them;
instead I fired off snapshots with the point-and-shoot during
the rare times the boys were still. Bright yellow Osage Orange
leaves knocked down from the recent rains added some color to
the forest floor and told me fall was on its way, if not for a
while. The trail passed through a power line clearing thick
with yellow Gum Plant flowers.
For Grant, it wouldn’t be a hiking
trip if we didn’t stop for snacks and drinks, which we
did in a clear, shaded area next to the trail. As the trail
headed uphill along the edge of a bluff area, we spotted a
faint trail taking off to the left. It lead to a terrific area
where massive chunks of the bluff had separated, leaving lots
of places for young boys to investigate. I was amazed at how
much lush, green moss there was, considering we’d had a
very dry summer.
Eventually we had to backtrack to get on
the main trail, which took us to the trail’s namesake,
pictured at the top of this page. Next the trail made a
big swing to the right to avoid a small stream and hollow. I
was hoping the 2-plus inches of rain we’d just received
would be enough to make two small waterfalls run, but there was
just a trickle. Soon the trail turned right again, away from
the hollow, and passed through a pretty area where the ground
was covered with mosses and lichens. Then the trail joined an
old logging road that circled back onto the trail we’d
come in on, thus forming a big loop.
We looked up and saw pink clouds, telling
us the sun had set and that we’d better hurry back to the
truck. I snapped one last photo as the boys passed one of my
favorite spots along the trail, a flat spot at the foot of a
steep hill.
