Creek Trekking: Spot the resource!

**your_comforting_company** · 04-15-2010, 07:26 AM

Over the past weekend, my uncle and I took a nice hike down a remote creek. I wont disclose the location, but I thought it would be a good opportunity to post some pictures and play some games. I play this game with my kids all the time asking "What do you see that you could use to your benefit, to help you survive?"

So I'm asking you all the same questions.. some are obvious and I'll explain what some are, but the others are just to show the beauty of the area where I live and get you all to thinking about how much stuff in each picture you could use to prolong your life in a survival situation.

A couple freshwater springs in the edge of the creek. We found these all along the banks.
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fun little creek crossing. a downed tree that took me over to a little island full of sorrel, milkweed, sage, dewberries, and hickory nuts (and probably some other stuff too!)
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some shots to show the beauty of the area
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It's truly a garden of eden. So many resources right at your feet everywhere you go. Do you think you'd like to live in a place like this?

**Winnie** · 04-15-2010, 07:30 AM

In some ways, yes. All those resources are somewhat intoxicating, but I don't cope well with steamy heat, wet feet and biting things! I like the idea of a visit though

Edit: You're right, it is truly beautiful!

**crashdive123** · 04-15-2010, 07:33 AM

Great pics. Looks like plenty of fresh water, food, shelter material, friction fire material.

**pocomoonskyeyes** · 04-15-2010, 08:23 AM

Well I'm not going to swear to it, but it kinda' looks like Soapbush (Clethra alnifolia) at the base of that fallen tree at the creek, Grape vines, and all that stuff Crash said as well. I also think I saw(?) some fresh water mussels, and some clay to make things from. I think I would "have to be there" to really see more!

**Swamprat1958** · 04-15-2010, 10:36 AM

Have they done something to the stream in the fourth picture? Those look like logs placed in the creek to slow water flow or something.

**your_comforting_company** · 04-16-2010, 09:44 AM

I can't figure out why they put railroad ties in that creek branch like that. The main part of the creek flows around the other side of the little island the tree leads to. I wonder if it was an old logging spillway, but the woods look very old and untouched. Not like the hardwoods were cut out to make way for pine plantings.. all the hardwoods are still there.

In that gully with all the roots, the land was eroded down about 8-10 feet, down to the purest yellow and white clay I've seen around. Very few pebbles and impurities in it. Good stuff. I made a mental note to go back and look at that bush at the base of the tree because I thought it was soapbush too.. I'd really like to watch it grow and flower and get a positive ID on it.
Full of snails, freshwater muscles, and all kinds of goodies to eat. Lots of saw palmetto to make shelter. We stirred up two of the largest hares I've ever seen and I found myself wishing I'd had a stick to throw.. I wasn't gonna throw the camera lol, but the whole "Throwing Objects" popped in my head and I wished I did have something to chuck at 'em.

All said and done I thought of several of you guys and wished you could have been there to see it too. When I go places like this, I find myself questioning my chosen BOL. This creek would be a few miles farther to walk, but would be much closer walking distance to the serpentenite boulders I found a while back, and has pretty much all the same resources otherwise.
If any of you ever come close enough to stop by for an afternoon, feel free and we'll go kick up some mud and see the sights! BUT BRING YOUR SNAKE LEGGINGS!
Winnie, it was at least 10 degrees cooler under the trees near the water so it was quite comfortable.. leaving was the worst part!