On Christmas Eve I headed out to explore some of the wilder areas along Stephen Creek between 10th Avenue and Maple Lake, which is literally my own backyard: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=...4.78547&spn=0.009748,0.015042&z=16&iwloc=addr Although you're never very far from the road, it's lightly travelled and much of the creek has a very remote feeling to it.
These thorny vines make the going very rough, and I've got the battle scars to prove it. What are these things? They grow very dense in the zone between the swampy wetlands and upland forests. Some areas are virtually impassable because of them:
The Western end is fairly accessible. There are a variety of trails and old roads on the Northern side of the creek, and plenty of signs that others have been there:
The going gets a little more difficult as you head Eastward, and the Southern side of the creek is more wild:
In spite of the 50 degree temperature, the holly trees reminded me that it was Christmas time:
Heading East on the Southern side of the creek you start to enter a zone where there are less signs of visitors:
The few remaining large cedar trees give you some idea of how magnificent this area must have been before it was logged out many years ago:
Over on the North side of the creek there's an area with tall grass, unlike anything on the South side:
And plenty of signs that beavers used to frolic here, although they're now long gone:
Moving North, away from the creek you enter a very wild area:
The Western end of Maple Lake. The area between here and the grassy zone above is so dense that it's nearly impossible to pass through:
View from the dam at the Southeast end of Maple Lake just before sunset:
One of the nicest sunsets we've had for several days:
I stumbled through the darkening woods on my way back home, and it was quite dark when I passed through this area which looks like it may have flooded out a number of years ago:
Then I followed the creek until I was nearly home, taking this time exposure about an hour after sunset:
It was a great day - so great that I went back and did some more exploring today!
These thorny vines make the going very rough, and I've got the battle scars to prove it. What are these things? They grow very dense in the zone between the swampy wetlands and upland forests. Some areas are virtually impassable because of them:
The Western end is fairly accessible. There are a variety of trails and old roads on the Northern side of the creek, and plenty of signs that others have been there:
The going gets a little more difficult as you head Eastward, and the Southern side of the creek is more wild:
In spite of the 50 degree temperature, the holly trees reminded me that it was Christmas time:
Heading East on the Southern side of the creek you start to enter a zone where there are less signs of visitors:
The few remaining large cedar trees give you some idea of how magnificent this area must have been before it was logged out many years ago:
Over on the North side of the creek there's an area with tall grass, unlike anything on the South side:
And plenty of signs that beavers used to frolic here, although they're now long gone:
Moving North, away from the creek you enter a very wild area:
The Western end of Maple Lake. The area between here and the grassy zone above is so dense that it's nearly impossible to pass through:
View from the dam at the Southeast end of Maple Lake just before sunset:
One of the nicest sunsets we've had for several days:
I stumbled through the darkening woods on my way back home, and it was quite dark when I passed through this area which looks like it may have flooded out a number of years ago:
Then I followed the creek until I was nearly home, taking this time exposure about an hour after sunset:
It was a great day - so great that I went back and did some more exploring today!
