Forked Mountain

Maurine, Rocky the pooch and I hiked/ climbed up Forked Mountain in the Winona Forest area Saturday. What a View! It was Maurines' first time up the mountain and she really enjoyed it. This rounds out our peak hiking for this area. We've done North Fork Pinnacle, Flatside Pinnacle, Crystal Mountain, Chincappin Mountain and now Forked Mountain together. I've been up Forked Mountain many times but it is really nice to share it with someone you love We are going for the creeks next starting with Crystal Prong. We have already done the hike into Forked Mountain Falls which I highly recommend. Birddog has some great photos under the "Waterfalls" section.

I love this Mt in COLD weather but worried about rattlers in this kind of weather

We did'nt see any snakes but the bugs were out. I agree, winter is the best time for this trip. The views during leaf off are great.

Don't let the rattlers get you down. They are more afraid of you and seeing one on the trail is not a very common thing from what I hear from people down here. Yeah they are out there but will take off in the brush before you approach them, or at the very least rattle and warn you. I have approached rattlers in the smokies and they are all to anxious to get away unnoticed. I always suggest hiking with poles in snake country for they will strike at those first if you do by chance get too close without noticing it. Chances of getting bit are very slim.