Category: #Hiking

Which Way Photo Challenge: 2023 Crowders Mountain State Park

Ridgeline Trail

Crowders Mountain State Park is a 5,217-acre North Carolina state park located in Gaston County, North Carolina in the United States. Gaston County is located 32 miles west of Charlotte. It is on the outskirts of Gastonia, North Carolina.

Which Way should we go?
To Boulders Overlook
or into South Carolina?

Crowders Mountain State Park includes two mountain peaks with fabulous views of the surrounding Piedmont area. The peaks include Crowders Mountain and The Pinnacle. There are three different Access Points to the state park.

  • Sparrow Springs Access and Visitor Center – 20 miles of hiking trails
  • Linwood Road Access – 4 miles of hiking trails
  • Boulder Access – 6 miles of hiking trails.
Ridgeline Trail Map

My grandson and I entered the Crowders Mountain State Park via the Boulders Access Point. This was the first time I took him to this location. We didn’t go far on this trip, only 2.8 miles round trip. We hiked a small portion of the Ridgeline Trail. The entire Ridgeline Trail runs along both North and South Carolina.

Coleman chooses
To Climb
Upward
On a Boulder
Until he
reaches the Top

The Ridgeline Trail is only one of many trails in the state park. The Boulders Access has a visitor center, restrooms, and picnic areas along with the hiking trails. At this location are quite a number of various sizes of boulders. Some of the boulders were close to the trail and too much of a temptation for my grandson to resist climbing. The Boulders Access area is less crowded then the main access at the Sparrow Springs Access point. The trail is rocky and traverses up and down and around the mountain.

Park Information:

Crowders Mountain State Park 522 Park Office Lane Kings Mountain, NC 28086

Posting for Alive & Trekking’s Which Way Photo Challenge.

Which Way Photo Challenge

Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters

Photos shot on a iPhone 14 Pro Max

God Bless. Thank you for sharing in our adventures. I appreciate y’all.

Which Way Challenge: 2023 January – Week 4

Take a walk with me through the backwoods of the Greenway. See what my grandson and I see as we meander through the trees and along the creek on the Blue Star Trail. The Greenway is one of the happiest places that my grandson loves to be, hiking and enjoying nature.

We entered the Greenway through a path in a Fort Mill neighborhood. This was our first-time entry through this area. we were not sure where we were going or onto which trail, we would encounter as we hiked from this new point of entrance.

We missed the pathway to start with and crisscrossed through the trees until we emerged near a wooden bridge. We saw the Blue Star Trail sign and knew we were about to be in the Greenway. To the left of the wooden bridge is a swinging bridge that was blocked off with caution tape signifying it was unsafe to use. So, we crossed the wooden bridge to begin our hike for the afternoon.

Coming upon a crossroads we weren’t sure whether to go to the right or the left. We went to the left, and it took us away from the Greenway onto a section belonging to the Town of Fort Mill. We didn’t realize this until we stopped at a gate which indicated it was a restricted area. At such time we turned around and proceeded back the way we had traveled. The pathway runs alongside a creek. In the Greenway the trails run along creeks thus we didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary at first.

Once we arrived back at the crossroads, we proceeded to hike the direction we should have gone in the first place, to the right. In this direction we came to another swinging bridge, the Blue Star. This one was okay to cross. My grandson, Coleman loves to run across swinging bridges. It wasn’t that way the first time he went across one, but now he thinks they are fun to cross.

Being the first time, we hiked via this pathway we didn’t go very far. We were not wearing our proper hiking boots and we were just out for a short adventure. Therefore, we at this point went back to the house we were visiting to relax and reflect on our time in the woods.

Which Way Challenge

God Bless. Thank you for meandering along the trail with us. I appreciate y’all.

RDP: Sunday, January 8, 2023 – Follow

Ragtag Daily Prompt for Sunday January 8th is FOLLOW. One of the things I think about when I hear the word follow is the song “I have Decided to Follow Jesus.” Following Jesus is something I try to dop on a daily basis, but I know I fail miserably at times. Most of us follow something or someone whether we realize it or not. Children follow their parents’ instructions; employees follow their employer’s rules and regulations, we all follow the laws of our governments, and when I go hiking with a group or just with my grandson, I follow the group leader or follow my grandson, Coleman.

Coleman leading
the Way

This Sunday I had the opportunity to go on a short hike with my grandson and my granddaughter. It is a rare occasion when my granddaughter, Alona, is allowed to spend time with her mother or myself. Whenever possible I enjoy taking her out to the Greenway or to a State Park and spend time with her out in nature. Today, we took her to the Anne Springs Close Greenway to have her meet Forest, a foal at the Greenway Horse Stables.

On the trail by the stables, we followed Coleman, we followed Alona, and sometimes we followed their mom to know the direction we should go. Most of the time Coleman is the one who runs ahead and leads the way on the trails.

Wherever the paths my lead you, I trust you’ll follow the path with the least resistance and follow you heart whenever possible. May God guide your paths, may He bless you and keep you safe and fill your life with love and happiness.

Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate each and every one of y’all.

Photo Credit: Deb L Waters

Copyright: (c)2023@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com … All Rights Reserved.

Cell Pic Sunday – A Walk through the Trees 🌲

My granddaughter,
Alona
walking along the trail
at Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina

John’s Cellpic Sunday

Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters

Copyright: ©️2023@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com …All Rights Reserved.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.

Thursday Trios #63 – Along the Trails

Three Targets
Archery Range
Anne Springs
Close Greenway
Three Targets
Shooting Range
ASCG
Fort Mill, SC
A Trio
of
Hikers
Three Directions
Which Trail
shall we
take?
Three Horses
in
Three Stalls
A Trio
of Horses
Grazing
in the Field
Three Boats
on the Shore
at
Andrew Jackson
State Park
A Trio
of Geese
AJSP

Photos Credit: ©️2022@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com

Posted as part of Mama Cormier blog ‘s challenge Thursday Trios.

God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.

Midweek Monochrome: Swinging, Hiking, & Kayaking — Pleasurable Activities to Enjoy

Good day and welcome to my blog. Today my photos have a multi-purpose. One purpose if for Brashley’s Mid-week Monochrome (MWM) Photography Challenge, next is Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge (CBWC), and lastly, Travel with Intent blog’s One Word Sunday Challenge – Curve. I’m a little behind on posting the Sunday Challenge, hope y’all do not mind.

Swinging in Riverwalk Greenway: My grandson, Coleman loves taking a break from our hiking on the swings in the Greenway.

When hiking, we encounter various #curves along the trails.

Kayaking is a blueway activity that is enjoyed by many in the Carolinas. One can see Kayakers on the Catawba River at Riverwalk and several other locations along the river.

God Bless. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you’ve enjoyed and will visit again. I appreciate y’all.