2021-11-24: Conecuh National Forest

As I lacked the time and ability to return back to New York for Thanksgiving, I spent my week-long break keeping myself occupied back in west Florida. Naturally, that involved getting out in nature, and I began a hunt for nearby places where I could hike that I hadn't been already. On the first day of my break I headed out to Conecuh National Forest, about an hour northeast in southern Alabama. The forest boasts miles of trails through slash pine forest and southern swamps, so I set out in the early evening for a relatively short hike.

A view south down Route 137, which I had to cross to get to the trail from the trailhead. The presence of tiny hills was a welcome break from the flat Gulf Plain.

A young slash pine seedling (Pinus elliottii) grows beneath its more mature brother.

Autumn colors evident in a dying bracken fern (Pteridum), many of which covered some areas of the forest floor.

The first section of forest through which I hiked was fairly open, allowing good views of the lofty crowns of the slash pines. These trees are well-known for having needles limited to their very tops, often scores of feet off the ground.

A view of the forest from ground level, showing the short and sparse underbrush.

Some young bushes were still bright red with autumn colors, the first fall foliage I had seen in two years, already making the hike well worth it in my opinion.

This wooden footbridge was covered in colorful autumn leaves that crunches as I walked over it, arousing feelings of both joy and homesickness.

Some animal had chewed a hole straight through the cap of this fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria), the largest of several along the trail.

The path crossed several 4x4 trails over the course of the several mile hike; this was one of them, cut through the pine forest.

Yellow color backlit by evening sun in the leaves of this young white oak (Quercus alba), near the southern extent of the species' natural range.

A shot through the forest showing a wide range of plant types and colors. The variation in the environment here was a pleasant change from the homogenous pine forests of much of the gulf coast.

My hike was interrupted by a massive spider, probably four to five inches from end to end (legs), which had woven a large web across the trail at waist level. I quite nearly walked straight into it.

Seen from the other side, with its sizeable prey. The female banana spider (Trichonephila clavipes) is one of the largest spiders in the continental United States, and the largest orb-weaver.

After miles of hiking, I finally reached the unintended - but appropriate - endpoint of my journey: A swamp, quite unlike any swamp in the northeast.

Tupelo trees (Nyssa) grow out of the still, standing water in the swamp, an environment characteristic of the deep forests of the southeast.

A wider shot of the swamp area. I was off the trail at this point and wanted to get back before dark, so I neglected to explore the extensive area any further.

As the trail wound back away from the swamp it went over some rises and falls in elevation, one of which gave an excellent view of the forest through which I had just hiked.

Another 4x4 trail crossing the hiking path. Note the sandy soil visible in the wheel ruts.

Returning to the thinner, clearer forest informed me that I was approaching the trailhead again.

A last shot back through the forest lit by the setting sun.