Our original plan today was to take us up to Goose Creek in the Lost Creek Wilderness. However, because of concerns over the weather we decided to stay closer to home and went to
Roxborough Sate Park. We followed the trail up toward Carpenter Peak and then took the Elk Meadow Trail around to the South. We saw old homesteads, animal tracks, a couple of foxes, and an unusual patio high up in the rocks.
This track in the mud was a little old and we couldn't see any claw marks (clearly making it a bear track). Was it a mountain lion (they have retractable claws). Either way, it was fairly large and I'm glad we didn't meet it.
We did meet this little fox on the trail and he let us get pretty close. We also watched him catch a mouse and enjoy a little lunch.
As we neared the start of the Carpenter Peak trail we saw this! They were mountain lions carved out of wood and placed on the rock as though they were stalking their prey. Someone had a great imagination.
Close to the mountain lions pictured above, we noticed two beautiful stone patios perched high in the red rocks with commanding views of the valley below. They even came with patio furniture! All of this made for an interesting hike today. Next week, we hope to return to Goose Creek and get better weather.
An interesting feature of Lost Creek Wilderness is the abundance of granite. Below, we are walking on a large rock which has groves in it worn by years of water running over it. What's really nice is to stop and listen to the wind. Trees carry on this most pleasant and refreshing conversation. And even though all the needles talk at the same time, it lulls the external senses.
Close to four miles up the trail is the shaft house which dates back to 1891. At that time, an attempt was made to build a dam on Goose Creek. There were several old cabins which housed workers. None of the work was really ever begun, but the houses remain.
We walked down to the creek and checked out the beautiful scenery. There were some fishermen nearby trying to catch small brook trout. We were just enjoying the hike and fellowship together.
