Laurel Ridge Rockpiles

With hunters all over the place - I headed to what I thought was a safe site - since it's listed as an Orange Zone Area. Did see one guy illegally hunting - I had orange on and I'd hardly be mistaken for a deer - bear yes...deer no. Spotted what's left of this beauty.

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What's left of this tree - did all this damage.

Moving on - while standing here - I spotted this:

I know it's hard to tell from this shot - but this is a nice - low to the ground rockpile.

I stood on it and could feel the stones underneath my feet.

This large tree is growing out of a rockpile. Larger - yet still low to the ground rockpile. Again, I tested all the way around - and there are stones underneath those leaves.

Another low to the ground rockpile with a hollow. But since there are other piles damaged by trees - that could also be what caused this hollow.

Another angle of the same rockpile.

Heading over a short distance to my favorite tree. This 300+ year old Lady of the Forest and what is underneath have fascinated me for the last couple of years. This is situated on a gentle slope.

A beautiful, small standing stone and on the right hand side of the picture - what looks like alot of flint-knapping debris.

I rarely disturb anything - but I have dug down into this area - and this debris goes down at least a foot. Strange thing is - there is no outcrops of black slate in this section of the mountain.

There is also some lighter shades of slate - sprinkled around.

Low to the ground rockpile.

Low to the ground rockpile.

Along with a little rock on rock action.

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Heading out - and this is yet another large - 300+ year old tree - that has managde to not be chopped down.

Neat Looking Tree

Interesting Bent Trees

These neat looking bent tree's are located just off of Decker.

You can add to that this very nice old bent tree located a couple of hundred
yards away.

And all of this is situated near this old spring.

Beautiful Old Oak Tree on a Snowy Morn

I took these pictures around 6:30 this morning as I was walking around Morrellville checking out all the snow. This oak tree is one of my favorites and it's the one I see the most since it's right by my house.

Look at the size of her trunk. She's got to be at least 150 to 200 years old, if not older. Imagine all that tree has witnessed in past two centuries. Thought it's probably hard to tell, there is at least 20" of snow that has fallen since yesterday.

Nice Size Beech Tree

This is MS a guy I work with - that once in a while I can convince him to trek along with me in my searches.

 

Part 1 - Standing Stone - 350+ Year Old Tree - Rock Mounds

This area is located on a nice flat area - between two hills just off of Decker Avenue. There are at least 10 rockpiles in this one spot along with two very large and very old trees. This first picture shows a possible rockpile with the first old tree in the background.

I don't know what's more exciting, finding rockpiles or very old trees. From the measurements I took - this tree is at least 350 years old. To help put the size of the tree to scale. The small standing multi-colored stone in front of it is 12" wide.

It may be kind of hard to tell from this picture. But the whole area (around the tree) is full of what looks like flint knapping debris. It's not only on top of the ground but goes 8" to 12" below.

More rock piles.

Large stone rock pile.

The Old Lady of the Forest

With this weekend's Nor'easter. Thought I'd look back to this beautiful sunday morning in May. Right after a brief downpour that then turned into deep blue skies and a layer of hot and humid weather that you could cut with a knife.

 

This beautiful tree is located just off of Sandstone Court (Decker Avenue). A rough idea of her age - at least 200 years old if not more. Take a left on Standstone, the road makes a left and just as you round the bend this grand old lady is sitting up on the right hand side of the hill. There are at least two and possibly more old mine openings in the same area.

Bent Tree off of Decker

Old bent tree found along the way. Most likely Native American symbolism. It was something they were known for. It's located just off of Decker Avenue where they road turns off to the left (just below Shelter Road). Researching the age of tree's and the rate of decay. This tree could possibly be a couple of hundred years old.