![infected mushroom heavyweight darwin peak 1.1 remix infected mushroom heavyweight darwin peak 1.1 remix](https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000561622827-qottmb-t500x500.jpg)
![infected mushroom heavyweight darwin peak 1.1 remix infected mushroom heavyweight darwin peak 1.1 remix](https://geo-media.beatport.com/image_size/1400x1400/259f1297-da31-4076-8fa7-f97462cb918a.jpg)
Again, at least one more bird pursued the carrier, and if birds know play, we saw it in their interactions on the Buffalo. The object had indistinct edges, and I am almost certain it was a downy white feather. Five minutes later, a bird appeared with a conspicuous white something, first in its beak, then in its talons. The raven who carried the dark object was "it" and the others followed nearby-usually below, in case the lead bird were to drop the parcel, which I can easily imagine would be a rule of this game. I stood up for a photograph with my 200 mm lens-about half of the power I would have preferred to close the distance on this swift, black subject. "One of them is carrying something" and the rest of us trained our eyes on the lead bird. Our friends were first to notice as we stood on the highest point of the mountain, our daypacks resting on the metal rod that benchmarked the spot for map-makers. I don't think this is entirely in error in this instance, nor would you, had you seen the joy in this performance. And they were obviously enjoying one another's company, if you'll forgive my attribution of human emotions to other kinds of creatures. It didn't take long to realize that these black birds were larger and far more acrobatic than common crows we thought them at first to be. "I'll admit I've never seen more than two ravens together in the same place at the same time, and those birds may be crows, but what I heard was definitely a raven."
![infected mushroom heavyweight darwin peak 1.1 remix infected mushroom heavyweight darwin peak 1.1 remix](https://geo-media.beatport.com/image_size/300x300/ffeef4c6-3bfe-42ea-9725-fa157aafb2d0.jpg)
"I think they're crows" he replied, as I shielded my eyes to watch them rise and fall in the unrelenting wind. Dennis spotted them through the binoculars just beyond the steepest end of the mountain-the head and shoulders of the resting buffalo. " Raven!" I said immediately, though it came from behind me. And then we heard the sound that changed everything. The cloudless sky offered little interest the colors were surprisingly subdued a week short of peak, and we'd have to leave before the late afternoon lighting began to add shadows and pictorial interest to the scenes below. From the top, to orient to our home in northeastern Floyd County, Ann and I could see even without the binoculars the white ball of the NEXRAD tower on Coles Knob just two miles west of Goose Creek.Įven though I’d carried my camera bag and tripod to the top, I didn't expect much from the day, photographically.
![infected mushroom heavyweight darwin peak 1.1 remix infected mushroom heavyweight darwin peak 1.1 remix](https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-IJ5VDMw2G4wB-0-t500x500.jpg)
And of course, Pilot Mountain was conspicuous to the south. Friend Dennis had brought his binoculars, and with his familiarity with the North Carolina terrain, he easily picked out the tallest buildings in both Winston-Salem and Greensboro. We turned through the obligatory 360 degree survey of the horizon, a clear edge 30 to 70 miles away, taking our bearings, soaking it all in. She's no sissy, but I've been miserable on that mountain more than once.īy the time we reached the first open glade near the crest, the temperature was pleasant, and the wind blew over us rather than at us. Ann had never been up, and I wanted it to be a good experience for her. We'd dress for fall at the bottom and winter at the top of our hike. What a great day to be on that high spine of rock with friends, near the peak of the leaf color change!īut the wind gauges from Blacksburg showed a constant gale of 30 with higher gusts-and it would be even worse at almost 4000 feet of the bare windswept summit-brutal, with chills in the thirties. Temperatures on Saturday would be crisp but not cold, and with the humidity so low that visibility would stretch to the farthest horizon. A cold front had come through the day before our hike to the top of Buffalo Mountain.