I think I know what Martin Luther King meant when he said “I’ve been to the mountaintop!”

Yes, “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord” too. That’s why I do what I do. Since my first backpacking foray into the mountains 25 years ago I’ve seen some beautiful places and literally been to the mountaintop. Many days and nights in the back country taught me to see the lay of the land and filled a wellspring of unforgettable images within me. At The Springs I have a unique opportunity to shape the landscape and manifest my vision. It’s slowly becoming reality and the best part is sharing the creative process with other volunteers who have also “been to the mountaintop”.

The last two days I’ve been slashing and burning at The Springs with Dick Jenks and Andy Buchta. This was Dick’s first time working at The Springs and Andy was back again after his initiation last week. I really enjoyed their company and appreciated the way they “got after it”.

Tuesday we worked along the trail on the northeast section of the loop near signpost #13 and an old cranberry bog.

Dick getting some licks in.

Andy piling brush.

We laid down a lot of nasty buckthorn and opened up the views.

Later, Pati came out to join me for a walk just in time for a snow squall. It dawned on me that tomorrow would be a great day to start burning brush piles.

The next day (today/Wednesday) I was back with my propane torch and Dick joined me to help work the piles.

They were relatively easy to light and we had 21 going in a little over an hour.

Note the buckthorn crowding around the burning piles.

Borrowing a technique used by Mike Fort and the Friends of Lapham Peak, I cut a dozen or so huge buckthorns that were very near the burning piles and we threw the brush right into the fire. Then I cut a whole lot more but it seemed like we barely made a dent in the thicket.

Andy arrived shortly after noon, returning to the area we worked on Tuesday, and finished piling everything we had laid down there.

This past week has been our first taste of really cold weather this season and I’m getting used to it and looking forward to Winter.

The Indian Spring.

Steam rising from the Scuppernong River.

My favorite time of day!

See you at The Springs!