Just like after Thanksgiving dinner, a great way burn off Christmas dinner was to return to stone mountain for a day hike. The planned hike was to complete the majority of the trail in this park by hiking Wolf Rock Trail, Black Jack Ridge Trail, and Cedar Rock Trail with an out and back to Lower and Middle Falls if time allowed. Although a great time as always conditions made this trip hairy. The temperature at the beginning of the hike was 36 degrees, the snow from December 18th that was a fond memory in the low lying lands was still present, and due to stops to take photos of picturesque skies and wildlife plus the moving of clouds it got dark well before the forecast predicted. This hike was not for beginners due to the combination of low temps., snow and ice, and hiking the last 1.25 miles in the dark; but as always we were prepared and everyone arrived to the trailhead safely. Highlights for the trip included seeing deer, a variety of animal prints preserved in the snow, and my personal favorite a lone tree growing out of the rock reminding me of a bonsai which I have had a love of for many years.
