Snakes on a Plain

Decided to do some exploring today and took my bike out to Riverside State Park for some trail-riding.  With temperatures pushing 70 degrees I had to take advantage of the weather.  There were quite a few people out riding bikes, jogging and hiking the well-maintained and paved trail so I thought it would be nice to head off the  beaten path and find some nature.  Along the way I came across a new forest beginning to spring up which looked almost alien, I felt really tall.

New trees growing,  there was an elk hiding in them
but I couldn't get a picture.

Once I got to the top of the incredible steep hill I was impressed by the views.  I was hoping I would be able to see the mountains so I could get some cool shots of the snowcaps that are very prominent but alas I was limited to foothills and my ugly mug.

Pretty spectacular view, and the landscape is nice too.

At the top of the hill there was the remains of a cement silo.  I instantly thought of how crappy it would be to have built the structure a few hundred feet up a hill with no service road.  I climbed up a board so I could peek inside the silo and was not surprised to find the floor littered in beer cans, pretty classy.

My little hiker's stack with a decrepit silo
in the background.

I took a less steep path back down the hill and came across some more old concrete structures which I later found out were remnants of 7-mile camp, a conservation corp. camp established in the 1940's or maybe even earlier.  While exploring I saw a log that looked like a great place to sit and catch my breath but as stepped next to it I literally felt the wind of a snake snapping at my leg.  I'm pretty positive it was the quickest I've ever moved to get out of the range of the fanged beast.

I don't think I've ever jumped higher in my life.

 Overall it was a good ride, I went about 10 miles and will hopefully get back out on that trail again soon.