Exciting new hikes into Whitehead Crossing in Frank Park, which will continue through the spring and perhaps even the summer. I expect a detailed map of the region to be produced sometime soon. Below is an unnamed rock near the Welcome Mat, separating Matland and Whitehead Crossing proper, and where you have to literally (and psychologically) “step up” from the top of the Korean Channel to enter the latter.
This particular day I also revisited Hucka Doobie’s homeland of Greenhead, where he lived as a part bee, part human avatar in the 1500s. Well, I’m not sure of the century, if it can even be calculated, so I just threw in that particular one as filler for now. Hucka is also present in the last, let’s see, 4 collages of the Falmouth series, which now seems to be completed (!). He’s quite excited to loom so large in the end.
Below we have another picture of Waxy, the branch configuration Hucka D. has said is a representation of a martin bird, connected to Allen Knob and its Martin Falls as a whole. I’ll have to go down to Martin Falls for some pics fairly soon, esp. during or immediately after a hefty rain. But not in the near future, since that would involve some steep walking, which I’m not allowed to do for a while. *Hate* to be limited in such a way.
I’m going to call this larger open region of Whitehead X-ing The Mall for now. It’s perhaps defined by the limits of a certain green ground cover that I’ll have to look up the name later. Hemlocks and tulip trees like the below clump sprout from within. There are several such closely tied clumps of trees here, and again I’ll have to study up on that more as well — perhaps include them in my map I’ll soon produce.*
An interesting crossing of trunks at The Mall, like a type of art in and of itself. Notice that the perpendicular trunk of the fallen tree weaves between the 2 of the 3 standing trees, wedging it into place and not allowing it to drop to the ground.
Directly uphill from The Mall. The ground cover (name pending) does not follow us upslope, yielding (once more) to leafy ground. But interesting stick/branch formations remain. Below we have a contrast of another wedged branch (between two conjoined tulip or poplar trees this time) beside a perhaps quirky tree stump.
A straight stick, about the size perhaps of a walking stick, is stuck in the ground behind the trunk, almost as if accomplished by human hands. But, once again, I’m probably the only human that visits this place, and I didn’t do it.
Still just uphill from The Mall appears this more curious rock piling in a shallow vale, which could denote a past fairy dwelling, or perhaps even present one still. Hucka D. may have more to say about this “dwelling” soon enough.
There *does* seem to be a kind of door into it.
Nearby is another artistic crossing of branches.
In looking at it now, it kind of reminds me of a crab coming head on, claws spread.
From about the same position, looking into the heart of 4 Sticks and the attached pine grove.
Still quite gray in the woods as you can see.
(continued)
* The ground cover appears to be one called complanatum. More info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphasiastrum_complanatum
It’s better known as Creeping Jenny, it seems, a type of clubmoss. Also known as “Bear’s Paw”.
Here’s another picture of it…
Sunklands 
