Category Archives: Blue Mountain

If I had lots of time on my hand, may be cool to do a much scaled down project in Bigfoot similar to what this English university professor did in her own limited “field”.

http://io9.gizmodo.com/5841287/the-story-of-the-woman-who-discovered-new-species-in-her-garden

Looking across Bigfeet Swamp from a location on its banks I’ve been calling Vincent. I’ll have to make a new map of the area soon and scan it for this blog.

Fallen branches, like they were laid there as a message.

More interesting stuff: 4th Road seems to be freer of branches since my last visit, and can more safely be used as part of the path circling around the swamp. It’s like someone came through here and cleared it out a bit. Given that something I hid under a rock was subsequently extracted and put in the middle of the path I use to access Bigfoot, there may be more oddness going on here. Are “forces” telling me where to create paths (etc.)? Could be.

Besides balls, there are also lots of interesting rocks in Bigfoot, this one found on 4th Road on the Bigfeet Swamp banks opposite Bigfoot Proper.

Other side of the Bigfeet Swamp outtake, which I can’t comfortably access in the late fall/winter/early spring. Now that the leaves are fully out I am considerably more protected from prying eyes and can risk a photo.

In the past, someone has created these stepping stones up to the swamp. The path has probably been forgotten over time — only I may know about it now. But it’s interesting that the swamp might have been more visited before my arrival.

The outtake of the swamp quickly reaches Leola Creek, which also runs through the heart of my Blue Mtn. Urban Landscape and acts as its spine or backbone.

I’ve now identified a small area of Leola Creek just west of the swamp that can safely be accessed in warmer months. More on that soon, but I’ll leave you with some pictures of rocks in this “safe zone”.

I believe these are little salamanders in Mina Sauk Pool (or Mina’s Pool) at Bigfoot. Nifty. Wonder what percentage will live to adulthood? Probably not that big a chunk.

A prominent, partly moss covered rock on a mudbar at the pool, surrounded by buttercups.

The seemingly unusual outtake of Bigfeet Swamp again, standing ever-picturesque.

As my readers probably have grasped now, there are many kinds of sports balls to be found in and around Bigfoot. Here’s a football.

Perhaps the biggest news ’round Bigfoot this spring is the foothold of another “community” in the area. Right now I’m calling it Chester. LINK The centerpiece so far is some kind of larger pot or container found at the Plateau of Raw Art recently, seen here in the distance. A new Bigfoot path, which I can walk in the summer, has been traced to its former location below the old high school track. Preliminary name: Picked Out Trail.

Chester is on 3rd road, if we count the 4th road as the one almost encircling the swamp. It represents one of the most tucked away portions of Bigfoot as a whole. I’m not sure Chester will be further developed this spring/summer, but the potential is there. Will I soon move in marbles? toys? more junk? We’ll see.

Below we look into “The Bramble” protecting Chester from northern incursions. And 3rd Road is rather clogged with fallen pine branches and trunks in the other direction, so more barriers. Difficult to see anyone happening upon this place by accident.

Back at Mina’s Pool or Mina Pool: More plants on a pebbly beach.

I almost stepped on this snake walking around the swamp. Garter snake — very common here in Blue Mountain and one I run across frequently. Not a large snake and quite unscary.

I don’t remember stacking this pile of broken branches here, which means other people have visited Bigfoot since last fall. But that’s okay, I suppose.

Intake pipe from across the swamp.

Stream flowing out of Bigfoot Swamp down to Leola Creek, which can be seen through the trees in the background. Remember how fascinated I was with Leola Creek last year? It runs through the entirety of the Blue Mountain Urban Landscape. I’ll start exploring that region again soon, I would think, as summer heat kicks in.

East of the swamp now, between it and Leola, we find this more interesting uprooted tree…

… and then right beside it a “Holey” Tree.

The Greater Bigfoot Area has a number of paths running different directions, including this one, here passing between two low mounds. I’ll attempt to make a map of the area soon.

A bridge across Leola Creek I found last fall that could allow easier access into Bigfoot. I’ll have to wait until the leaves are out a little more to use it, however… can still be spotted from neighboring apt. houses while crossing at this time.

Side stream near the bridge. The orange object behind the central rock looks suspiciously like a cheetah head in my eyes. A small bunny hopped out in front of me at about the same spot as I headed back to the swamp. Very cute.

Another path leading to the east baseball field of the Plateau of Raw Art, and one I used up until very recently to access the swamp from a kind of “back door”. However, poison ivy is now sprouting in some number along this path, closing it off for the season. I have to come in through the front door for a while.

A very orange stream running through the heart of Greater Bigfoot, as yet unnamed. Orange Stream is, I suppose, a logical choice. Orangey?

Bigfoot Swamp from the south side. Getting quite green here now.

Mystery message from the swamp?

The Outtake. Looks like something from a Max Ernst painting.

Clear bottles gathered together at the south end.

This is the place I called Vincente at times last fall during the original happening. Can it be further developed? At any rate it serves as kind of a gateway area now to the possible new happening spot, or its possible focus I should say.

Looking from the 4th road down to the 3rd road in entering Bigfoot; landmark traffic barrels in sights.

I spotted some more junk at the Plateau of Raw Art that could possibly make it down to the swamp and add to a new happening. Will it be this late spring even? I’m curious to find out how the summer bug situation will pan out at Bigfoot…

Poison ivy is definitely out in the higher mountains now.

Plateau of Raw Art again: an interesting square opening in the stadium stairs.

More Plateau of Raw Art photos:

Back into Bigfoot: the south end of the 3rd road. No happening will most likely take place there. The *second* road remains a strong possibility in that category, though. Get to that soon…