Ohio Buckeye

Happened to notice these backlit leaves on an Ohio Buckeye tree growing at the Reader Rock Garden. Not red, LOL, but still so pretty.

Posting my photos late today. Totally exhausted this evening, after a full day's hike to Marsten Creek trail (which we have climbed before). I thought I could manage this one, but my legs let me down ... sigh. Agonizingly painful, which meant that on any incline, I had to stop for a minute after every few steps. This resulted in my getting separated from my three friends, which was NOT a good feeling. After crossing the creek and climbing up through the forest, I lost them just in the last few minutes of the climb. When I came out into an open meadow, not a sign of anyone at all! Very fortunately, I could see the highway below me, way in the distance. After manoeuvering through and over fallen trees and coming across a couple of "cliffs", I finally managed to find my way back down. No sign of many of them back at the car - they were all searching for me up the mountain side - sorry guys, though I really don't know how this happened! Not as bad as earlier in the afternoon, when I waited while my friends did a final bit of the climb to look for lichens on a high outcrop. As time passed, I began to wonder if maybe they had come down a different way and already gone past me. I waited and waited and waited in an open, hillside meadow, keeping an eye open for Grizzlies and Coyotes. I have no sense of direction and tend to see everything in "macro vision", consequently not noticing my surroundings. I reached the point when I began to wonder if it would be better to attempt to pass over the hill through the forest (and, I know, get totally lost!) to reach the highway, or would it be better to spend the night (if I had to) against one of the outcrops. Trust me, It was the greatest relief possible when I saw three tiny figures climbing down the mountain in my direction!!! And then I go and get separated from them again! No comment - other than to say I can't let this happen again, so no more mountain hikes for me, only flattish forest botanizing trips! Sigh ...

Off to the mountains again tomorrow, to the Golden Eagle Migration location, but fortunately only a bit of walking : )