Channel 2

 For the sake of parking at the gap, we rode together in one vehicle- close fellowship situation. Notice the shorts all around. I always wear long pants when hiking, but more about that in a moment.

It has been an exceptionally wet summer, so wildflowers are taller, thicker, and more bloom profuse and persistent than in most years. I pointed out that Cardinal Flower means a consistently wet area.

I didn't have a wide angle enough lens to show how big of a patch of Jewelweed this was. In the foreground is a plant that was and frequently is the bane (1) of many a hike in the woods: Stinging Nettles. There were places along the trail where they grew arching over the trail in extensive, unavoidable patches upwards of shoulder high. Whether it challenged or increased their sanctification or both you will have to ask them, but I know that it must have been irritating and painful with shorts on.

Much of the trail is an old dirt road, probably the access for the fire tower in times past. This side of the mountain gains more elevation that the trail from the gap and is about 1/2 mile longer (3.5 miles each way).

Such a beautiful day and a view of Clinch Mountain. There is a patch of open ground at the base of that mountain that is very desirable and appears to be developed tastefully.

As we hiked, we talked about various issues, including health and fitness. One of my young friends is Kinesiology Major. He talked about how to increase the number of pull-ups you can do, by doing three times your one-time maximum over the period of a day, preferably in as short a time as an hour. We talked about what we thought our max reps were. When we approached the tower on the top of Clinch Mtn, I saw that the bottom tower braces were low enough for the activity and challenged him to start the 3x reps. His wife took this video. We did more reps further down the trail on random horizontal branches.

Here is the entrance to The Channels which are parallel and perpendicular cracks ranging from 6 inches to 10 feet wide and 15 to 25' deep. It sits slightly off the peak of the mountain resulting in a gentle slope to the area. I don't know if rock climbing is allowed, but there appears to be some good bouldering and trad routes.

These two guys have been best of friends since high school, and their Christian walk is a great encouragement to me. I understand the solution chemistry of these cracks forming, but how is the cap above the sun rays left on top? Did it collapse from when the structure was taller or is it a more resistant variety or rock that persisted.

They both have fine girls, too, pretty and godly.

I am thankful that they are willing to hang out with an oldster like me now and then.

Some of the channels are impossible to navigate and others cause you to feel the old saying, "between and rock and a hard place."

Some of the channels have fallen chockstones that provide access to the top. In order to see the bottom, there would have to be rightly aimed sunlight. We stepped across some of the voids, but others were wide or had poor landing spots for jumping.

The lighting from below was superb- such blue skies green leaves and a touch of Autumn.

This little pillar is the remnant of eroded softer rock. The pillar is about 1-foot in diameter and slightly taller. Is it holding up the boulder or just providing a fascinating facade?

????

During lunch break there was a realization that between elevation, poor sunlight penetration, and the giant heat sinks all around, it was quite cool.

I guess some of the cracks are shorter than 15 feet. There is quite a bit of exploring to do (2).

The girls waiting for the next surprise.

'Sherlock, I think that we are in a bit of a tight spot.'

His Beauty

I was telling the group that they had to see this one spot because it was soo cool. It really does feel like if you pulled the wrong chockstone the wrong direction that it could all come down on you. However, I realized just how much lighting effect perceived "coolness". Check out the last three pictures of this same spot in a former blog entry, "The Channels".

My actual perspective- nice pare

The zoom perspective- nice pair

I asked him to take a picture when I was in position, but instead he shot a bouldering sequence.

Backhanded manteling

Losing style points on use of my bottom instead of feet.

Transition turn

Cautiously repositioning

The goal was a large split boulder sitting quite precariously on two smaller ones, leaning in such a way as to cause one to wonder how friction is retaining the set-up.

The tourist overlook of The Channels

The top of the mountain is really quite flat.

The newlyweds for visual scale.

My knowledgeable sister-in-law responded within minutes that this is a Whorled Wood Aster, though she said Lady's Tresses are almost indistinguishable.

Sections of woods were quite open with good sized trees.

We were past most of the Stinging Nettles. They said, "Lesson learned."

Gentle downhill is good.

Do you see the funnel web spider? Its funnel is just to the right and appears to have been rebuilt since there is a double layer. This is the family (Agelenidae) of spider that I studied when I was in college.

Such a beautiful day with substantial and beautiful people in such a beautiful spot. I am thankful and privileged. Life is good because God is good.

1. I like the second definition of bane in the American Heritage Dictionary: "A source of persistent annoyance or exasperation". It best describes the reaction of my young friends.

2. The next four pictures were not taken by me or with my camera but shared to our group.

3. It has been nearly a month since we did this hike. Time flies, so make some memories and keep active.