On Friday, The Little Foxes and I did this box at Cold Mountain. Despite the stiffness I was feeling the next day, I HAD to have anther NOYDB box!! He always takes me to the greatest places!

Sooo on Saturday, I headed off to Panthertown. I got the wonderful views I expected from an NOYDB box, and more....

The beginning of the hike takes you to Schoolhouse Falls. That right there is worth it! I proceeded to Little Green Mountain after that for the box, though. The trails are not marked and can be confusing. I was very glad I had the map that NOYDB recommends in the clue from Mama Fox! Still, after getting to the top I was wondering at which of 3 paths to take when I saw this! How freaky is that?! So I took it and it was right!

I reached the top and there was all kinds of lichen attached to the rock. It was like a snowy surface on the HOT rock! Anyone know what kind that is? Really neat!

I then got to the first box and the view was wonderful! AND there were BLUEBERRIES! I sat by a bush, stamped in while looking at that view and at them. Doesn't get much better than that! I took a bunch of photos and headed on to the second box at Big Green Mountain.

So I get ALL the way to the bottom of Little Green Mountain and nearly to Big Green Mountain and realize I DON'T HAVE THE CLUES!! Apparently, I dropped them while distracted taking photos!!

I race back down the path and STOP DEAD JUST IN TIME to see THIS! That's a rattler alright! A Timber Rattlesnake, to be exact. I finally get him moving off the path and head UP Little Green Mountain. There's about 70 steps and a lot more up inbetween those steps! I was pretty worn out when I reached the top. I went all the way back to the first box but never found the clues. Since the edge of the trail looks like this, I suspect they slid off the edge.

So I calmed down after the snake and the loss of the clues by taking in more of the view and all was good again. :)

That all sounds like Quite an adventure, Mama Wolf.
The pictures were wonderful, ... well, except those of the rattler... made me shudder to think of being that close to one.
Glad you had a wonderful time, though,!

CWT
W.

Cladina subtenuis - Dixie Reindeer Lichen.

:)

now y'all keep in mind this rattler was after she had turned around to go back...
this was a place she had JUST walked. Makes me wonder if her obsession with the mountain blueberries didn't cause her to walk right over top of this guy the first time. I could see it now...Wolf trodding along looking for berries and mister snake going... "Oh dang, a Wolf... hope it don't see me!"

That rattler is a big'en!
looks like 9 rattles and the button on that tail. I have seen one with 14 rattles and button which was a skeery kinda huge LOL... but 9 rattles is still a pretty big rattler.

now y'all keep in mind this rattler was after she had turned around to go back...
this was a place she had JUST walked. Makes me wonder if her obsession with the mountain blueberries didn't cause her to walk right over top of this guy the first time

Believe me-- I thought of that!! And, yeah, he was a BIG one!

so who shot it?

and when are we having rattler stew?

GG Dana