Lepidodendron and Sigillaria

... while copying some mapping from the 'Laurel Highlands Trail' hikers guide a few posts ago, was lookin' at the guide section on 'Plant Fossils' - have a few good ones, actually...

... that's a 'Lepidodendron' - forgot to include a scale on these photos - for reference, that concrete wall the sandstone rock is settin' on is seven inches thick...

(Internet Image)

... here's what it looked like around 300 million years ago...

(Internet Image)

... a science lesson...

... this is a 'Sigillaria' - same seven inch wall...

(Internet Image)

... 300 million years ago...

(Internet Image)

... Sigillaria science - looks like the 'photo'd fossil' is part of the root system - never knew that until now - was no internet when I first found these years back and never looked 'em up - we've come along way in 300 million years (just ta' turn around and f*k it all up)...

... 'Chestnut Ridge' is loaded with this stuff (take a hike along 'Laurel Run') - a bit of 'Petrified Wood' as well - know a large boulder along the west flank of the 'Yough River' just south of 'Connellsville' that has an entire fossilized tree trunk running the length of it (about fifteen feet long as I recall) - have a photo of it somewhere, couldn't find it to include here - I'll hike back up and get another ... the 'Casparis Cliff' also has a pretty nice large 'Lepidodendrum' - everyone always thinks that it is a tire track from a dirt bike...

... tons of cool stuff on-line - this guy 'Walt Myers' is the best in our opinion (the following are copyright images from his website):

... Check out his stuff:

http://www.arcadiastreet.com/cgvistas/index.html 

... the first time I checked it out it seemed like I was viewing for maybe twenty minutes - checked the clock - was almost two hours later...

... HA!... that last image could almost be a modern day 'Dunbar Creek' - minus the 'Eogyrinus' as well as the giant 'millipede' and flying "roachoid" - think 'muscle girl Sarah' (pictured above) would need to be packin' some "double-aught" bug spray if that were the case...

Rocket

... man, left the homestead early this morning to drop off a vehicle for some routine maintenance - round the bend - UH OH! - what's that in layin' in the two lane hardtop??!!...

... sad to report - it's 'Rocket J. Squirrel'!! (see 'It's a Zoo Out There') - laid flat!!!...

... he's been a real source of joy and entertainment around here since early last summer - especially early  sunrise when he was most active - grab a hot brew - set out on the porch and observe - high definition for sure... 

... in his tree - high and free... was funny - noticed a somber mood in all the birds today... 'Ig the Cat' was even low key...

... was pretty busy today - drove past him numerous times - was bugged more each time - ain't no way he's gonna' rot in the street as long as I'm around - finally went and scooped 'em up him late this evening...

... RIP our friend...

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail

... scrounged up a few photos - used to have many - alas,  mostly all lost in a bygone "move"... alternately, tons of information available, print and on-line as well, so will keep it short ..."tell a simple story, simply" as they say...

... basically a 70 mile, mostly single track "foot trail" that follows the rugged crest of 'Laurel Ridge', extending from 'Ohiopyle State Park' to the 'Conemaugh River Gorge' located in 'Johnstown, PA'...

... here's a trail elevation profile, copied and scanned from the official 'Hikers Guide to the Laurel Highlands Trail', available from the 'Western Pennsylvania Conservancy'...

(Goodman photo)

... here's a pretty cool spot overlooking the 'Youghiogheny River' far below - that's Rob Goodman in one of his several photos we're "swiping"... this is probably around mile two heading north from 'Ohiopyle' - the first six to ten miles miles are definitely the most "spectacular" with regard to "rugged grandeur" - you're ascending the ridge along the north flank of the 'Yough River Gorge' ... pretty steep in spots... have personally hiked the entire trail twice - Ohiopyle to 'Laurel Mountain' (Rt 30) a bunch - Ohiopyle to 'Rt 31' many times - Ohiopyle to 'Rt. 653' a ton - Ohiopyle to the 'Lick Run Shelters' (first six miles) too many times to count...

... mostly with this "chick" - up 'till now no one ever knew this (including her) , but she was "bitten" on the bottom of the foot by a young, baby 'Copperhead' snake once while hiking! ... 

... the story...

... so we're camped out at the 'Lick Run Shelters' - got there quick this day, around noon (think we were headin' to Rt 30 overall - three day fun trip) - she comes limping back (shoeless) from retrieving water at the shelter area water pump, and she's all concerned - "I think I just got bit by a snake!" - said she stepped on it and the saw it afterward - I take a look at the bottom of her foot, just below the big toe - see two perfect fang marks about 3/8 inch apart - a small snake - think to myself "Sh*t, now what" - and this is one paranoid babe when it comes to snakes - asked her (actually had to make her - she wanted to turn around and head back to the car) to step over a large blacksnake we encountered along the trail a few trips earlier - finally did so after about a half hour of coaxing - then BAM! - couldn't keep up with her for about half a mile - thought I was gonna' have to slug her to get her to calm down before she finally did... so there's no way I'm telling her she did indeed get bit this instance.. "it hurts!.. it hurts!!"... luckily, the campsite is packed this day, and the 'Park Service' crew is there stocking firewood - so we're good to go if an emergency - I even walked over and mentioned it to the the guys... "Don't look like a snakebite to me - I think ya' just stepped on some thorns!" I tell her... she subsequently showed no symptoms of snake bite poisoning, and that was that - she limped around a bit that evening but was good to go the next morning...

... a few years later heard that a another girl got bit by a copperhead at the very spot!! - the ground is always wet around those pumps so I'm sure the critters use the source as much as the hikers...

... considering that it is the middle of May and they're becoming active, here's a few good links to information on "Pit Vipers"...

http://ectotherms.net/kyherpsoc/copperheadob.htm

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/copperhead.htm

http://www.snake-removal.com/copperhead.html

... so back to the trail - here's a nice stream and open woods (typical) - don't recall where...

... here's some nice boulders and open woods (typical) - don't recall where...

... here's one of the (typical) Shelter Areas (campground) at 'Lick Run - why is there a tent pitched inside?...

... the story...

... will have to admit - she was a tough girl - she would put up with being awaken in the open 'Lean-To' in the middle of the night by small 'shelter mice' nibbling on her scalp, or worse, a giant spider or two crawling across her bare shoulder, but this was ultimately too much ...around 2am this night -  we're both sound asleep - a "wild animal" begins snarling directly below the floor of the 'Lean-To' where we're sleepin'! (and we got the whole campground to ourselves this night - no one to here you scream) - feel her tense up!! - second later, another animal!!! - she tenses further!!!! - a few seconds more and it's an all out battle between wild animals!!!!! - snarling and growling and bangin' against the floor of the shelter from below!!!!!! - BOOM!!!!!!! - she's out of the sleeping bag and out of the shelter and runnin' for her life through the woods in total pitch black - and no clothes (other than underwear) 'ta boot!!!!!!!! - can't believe she didn't run right in to a tree!!!!!!!! - finally caught her  -  I had the flashlight - but no calming her down this time - had to put up the tent or she's "headin' back to the car" -  she laughed about it next day, however...

04/18: Looked under the shelter floor in the morning - nothing there, but there was a small dug trench leading underneath - somethin' was making a home there - a few weekends later was on the trail with her brother - we saw a large groundhog emerge from the dug entrance...

(Goodman photo)

... by the way - those are old 'external frame' backpacks in all the photos - don't know if they still even make 'em - that tent inside the shelter in the previous photo is from an old 'Sears Roebuck Backpacking Package' - made by some company named 'Sunshine' - ya' got a 'self-standing two-person tent' (one of the first), backpack, sleeping bag, aluminum cook set and some other stuff for $99!! - high tech in those days - add some leather boots and you're off...

(Goodman photo)

... the old trail bridge over the 'PA Turnpike' - they've since recently replaced it...

... may have posted this photo before - a five year old 'buddy Matt' at the 'Bidwell Overlook'...

(Goodman photo)

... the big guy himself - mile 70...

(Internet image)

... last thought - if you're anywhere along the ridge after dark - full moon preferable - winter all the better - do yourself a favor and go 'Owl-ing' - very cool creatures - got a large 'Bard (Hoot) Owl'

to buzz within' a foot or two one night - they don't even "stir the air'... the original 'Stealth Bomber'.... 

Tale to Astonish II

... so last October 18 (2013) the "news media" - bimbos and himbos all - are bustin' at the seams to tell ya' (and tryin' to outdo all the competing stations) that there is going to be a lunar eclipse that evening - gonna' be a beautiful night for viewing (they got that part right) - supposed to happen shortly after 10pm... it's Friday! - and beer drinkin' night 'ta boot!! - so didn't bother to check any of the "facts" (and they sure as hell didn't report 'em)...

... we're set up high on the ridge and ready to go around at exactly 10pm - camera, tripod, PBR's... totally gorgeous night - 70+ degrees, brilliant full moon (you're even casting a shadow) and not a cloud in the sky... we're watchin'... and watchin'... and watchin'... around 10:10 (zero hour) observed a slight blur of the moons lower right quadrant, but that was it... 10:30 and still no action... called a friend to double check the conditions for us - "I didn't know there was an eclipse tonight!?" - so he checks on line - "Yea, you're right - says 10:10pm!"...

... turns out that it was to be a 'Penumbral Lunar Eclipse'...

(internet photo)

... whereas, the moon is only catchin' a fraction of the earths shadow - that's the basic geometry of the phenomenon above...

(internet photo)

... and this is basically what ya' see - didn't snap any photos of our own - was expecting more...

... so, around 10:45, finally realized it's over and we're down to the last brew - time to pack up...

... when all of a sudden - what's this!? - three bright objects come rifling out of the sky and hit the ground, bouncing and rolling... that's one there... didn't know what they were, so scooped 'em up, tossed 'em in the rear hatch, and left...

... so the next morning I'm out back at the garage lookin' at these things - about the size as a duck-pin bowling ball... next thing ya' know, one begins weavin' and rockin' - suddenly rolls about ten feet and stops...

... shakes itself like just wakin' up - and open pops two green eyes! ... looks me up and down... says his name is Commander Osage - from the planet Zanfi - ally to 'OOD' (see Tale to Astonish) - and he's here to pick up where 'OOD' left off (eyeing the woodpile)... here we go again - one problem - communicates telepathically only - has no audible hearing - now what!?...

... on top of that, he starts spittin' out these big ass alien termites - says that they are slaves that do all the work on his planet, since his "race" has only intelligence and slight physical being - these guys are all physical - no brains - the 'Zanfis' do their thinking...

... and he's poppin' these guys out one after the other...

... they're even equipped with built-in buzz saws...

... they're really starting to swarm now - climbin' the walls and the wood pile! - I'm totally defenseless - he's got me in some motionless "mental-lockdown"!!... can only stand and watch!!!... and his two companions are now startin' to squirm!!!!... they really start goin' to town on the woodpile - this looks like the end!!!!!... Commander Osage's green eyes glaring....

... suddenly, "a part of the darkness near the door detached itself and drifted toward Osage - it crossed the light but did not shut out the light - it left no shadow because it was itself a shadow" - it hovered over Osage for a second - just long enough for him to realize his fate - before he was crushed under a large shadowy foot...

... no longer under the mental control of the Zanfi commander, the 'termite slaves' collapse dead - the two remaining 'Zanfis', now roused, witness and cognizant of their situation, beat a hasty retreat into the western sky...

... the shadow moved back across the light and again became a part of the darkness...

... thanks 'Ghostrider' - owe ya' one!...

... HA! - more fun again!!...

... a little 'Lee and Kirby'...

... a little of the great 'Paul Blaisdell'...

05/11: Nicely drawn 'Spacegirl' (got "hollered at")

... a little "Stephen Grendon" (a.k.a. August Derlith - or vise versa)...

... and a lot of screenwriter and NYU Professor of Screenwriting (or maybe just instructor - who cares - know she wouldn't have) - 'Michelle Cousins'...

... a little Sci-Fi primer in anticipation of the big-boy next week! - can't wait!!...

... 'da man!!!...

... 05/11: Don't know what kind of bug that is in the photos - that thing was about four inches long and creepy as hell - found it crawlin' up the side of the garage - a week later it was still hangin' out under the eave of the roof and had molted to include a bright green cocoon-looking shell with large wings - went into the house to get a camera for a photo - came back out and it was gone...

Black Canyon of the Colorado River (Paddling Part 6)

... paddled this a few years back and is highly recommended - about a twelve mile flatwater trip starting directly below the 'Hoover Dam' on the Nevada side of the 'Colorado River' and ending at 'Willow Beach' on the Arizona side...

(internet photo)

... the river is actually the boundary line between the two states - viewing north - Nevada to the west, Arizona east - the large body of water in the photo is 'Lake Meade'...

 

... 'Hoover Dam' from a few years earlier...

... lookin' downriver from the top of the dam - those large reinforced concrete piers rising from the canyon walls at the time are the under construction 'Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge' to reroute US 93 from it's current route over the dam...

... closer look at the pier structures...

... lookin' directly down the face of the dam - around 800 feet...

... a year or two later from river level - this is the put in for the 'Black Canyon' - makin' lots of progress on the bridge concrete arch - 'Hoover Dam' beyond - two fantastic feats of engineering in one photo - 'buddy' Matt paddlin'...

... we rented a couple flatwater kayaks and taxi shuttle from these guys, 'Desert Adventures', located in Boulder City, NV...

... pretty nice boats - pretty fast and track great - made by 'Bic' - had the same logo as the cigarette lighter - must be the same guys...

... here's a river map - as mentioned, around twelve miles to 'Willow Beach' - definite flatwater all the way with "nary a flow" - think that the river gradient drops less than a foot in the entire distance - may be wrong...

... but great water, scenery and weather throughout - the 'El Dorado Mountains' form the Nevada desert to the west, the 'Black Mountains of Arizona' the desert to the east, the 'Black Canyon of the Colorado' in between...

... we were gonna' do an overnight trip (was 'Memorial Day'), however, work the following day forced a one day trip - had to meet the "shuttle" by 4pm (7am start) - having never been on the river we weren't sure how to gauge our time - didn't want to arrive too early or too late - a guided trip rode the shuttle in with us - we figured that the river guides knew the correct pace - we figured that we'd "book on ahead" while they slowly unloaded and rigged and keep about a two mile distance - that way we'd have time to check out side canyons and trails - when we saw them coming 'round the bed, we'd book on ahead - they were pretty slow moving...

... the volcanic rock walls of the 'Black Canyon'...

... the trail into 'Boy Scout Canyon' - one of the several side attractions...

... lots of greenery and spring flowers along the way...

... heading into the canyon...

... some high vertical walls - the water is heated thermally...

... with several 'hot spring baths' along the way...

... the high canyon walls narrow to a slot in areas...

... stemming a slot to reach another hot spring...

... back on the river - some high peaks...

... lots of sandy beaches...

... lunch break - lookin' downriver...

... no one in sight - they really regulate this river well to keep the crowds down and keep it to a wilderness experience - 'Desert Adventures' told us that Memorial Day was their busiest day of the year...

... not totally alone, however...

... a few 'Desert Bighorns' peering over the canyon rim...

... always take pride in being able to handle cold water, but this had to be the coldest water on the planet (and we're used to paddlin' eastern rivers in 30 degree temperatures) - you could only swim for a minute or two - and you're in the middle of the 'Mojave Desert' - guess because the water is released from 800 feet below the dam...

... a good indication of the scale of the landscape between these paddlers and the canyon wall...

... here as well...

... threw this guy a couple crackers and he followed us for at least two miles...

... until his girlfriend showed up...

... another sandy beach with an old cable car crossing...

... a pretty large lizard - plenty of those...

... emerging from the end of the 'Black Canyon' - open desert beyond - 'Willow Beach' right around the bend...

... a final look back upriver into the 'Black Canyon' - probably lookin' at all of the "traffic" on the river this "busy" day... Brilliant!... definitely wanna' go back and do it on an 'SUP' next time...