Trail Report and Photos
By Chuck Littlewood
August 26, 2010
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Woke up this morning to a temperate 76 degrees and "lower" humidity! Second day in a row for the taste of more comfortable weather. I'm not asking for much just keep those 105-108 degree "felt temperatures" away from me!!
The park doesn't spend a lot of time mowing the far end of Cone's Dike Trail during the Summer months because few people are willing to "brave" the intensity of the heat, humidity and man-eating insects that own the Summer. The gravel extends to the one-mile marker and after that it's wild and tall!
Ranger "Andi" and I ventured forth, on Cones', in her armored vehicle. - Well OK ~ four wheel drive ATV and we encountered Bison, Horses, Scenery and Spiders. The Trail environment is different in about four distinct segments. You join Cones Dike from Jackson's Gap or the Chacala Trail. The easiest way is to park in the Visitor's Center Lot and make a left at the bathroom on the way to the Visitors Center. Turn left at the fence and walk through one of the prettiest Live Oak Hammocks down to the open prairie. The turn-around corral keeps the large critters out on the prairie and the first person through it removes all the spiders!
The first mile is a walk down the trail which is made of recycled "road-millings." You survey the area, at the fence, and at each 90 degree turn to look for the Deer, Bison and Horses and an occasional Bobcat. The first turn faces a fire cut and it often provides a look at the wildlife in the distance. The middle of the next half-mile segment has a little pond with some 2-3 foot gators hiding nearby. Sometimes the larger animals take over the area ~ like the female Bison standing by the cypress tree!
During the Fall ~ The trail is mowed and safe to venture forth to the 2 1/2 mile area. The trail narrows shortly after the one mile marker and we find gators and gator babies along both sides in the water. The other reptiles are in residence and a mowed trail helps you to see them! The Bison have marched out of the willows that line the left edge of the trail. They caused a great deal of camera activity the last tour I had out there!!
The trail opens wide near the two mile marker and a group of the Bison and Wild Spanish Horses play in that area. We continued to the wild and closed area and found spider heaven. The Golden Orb Weavers cast a web 3 to 6 feet wide across the trail. We found an area alongside the trail with a large concentration of Banana and Golden Orb Spiders. On the return trip we found the horses feeding near the tower. I marked my calendar to return once the temperature falls a bit more. Bring the long lens and the widest lens for the varied photo options available on Cones.
We spotted another indication that the fall migration is beginning. The willows contain the yellow warblers and an unconfirmed Northern Harrier. We saw several different sightings of Wood Ducks on LaChua. I checked out the Lake Wauberg Bridge and found it was still pretty quiet there. The next month should accelerate the migration and the bridge will be active. The park has been busy laying a concrete sidewalk from the parking lot to the bridge so no more muddy feet and tip toe through the adjacent veggies! Much more accessible.
The gators on LaChua have been moving around now that the water level is dropping. The Gazebo has a couple nearby most of the time. The sun and heat of the day has them rising for a while and then dropping beneath the water to cool. That will change soon and we will have more sightings. Momma gator is watching the nest and some the little gators will be everywhere!
Sunrise and Sunset from the Route 441 walkout are especially beautiful. The morning mist is lifting around 7:30 to 8:30 AM so the commuters can grab a quick photo on the way to work!
"Water and a hat are still as important as ever! See you on the trail!"
