Doyles River – Jones Run Loop, May 31, 2014 - reported by Iva Gillet

     How could we have yet another weekend with perfect weather? Pete Fink, and his lovely assistant Bev, who is Vanna White's body double, produced a great day and led a group of 12 past 3 waterfalls and along the AT to celebrate the beauty of nature. Today's crowd included CJ Woodburn, Susanna Williams, Kelly O'Rourke, John Brandt, Iva Gillet, Rita Kieffer, Lindsay Brown, Sunny Choi, Brian Muszynski, and Katherine Maus. This hike proceeded clockwise from the Doyles River Overlook, descending down the Doyles Falls to the confluence of Jones Run and the Doyle River where sat a leopard frog.

    On the descent some admired some ghastly snake (supposedly not poisonous) that I did not see, as I tried to crawl into Lindsay's backpack to avoid it. I was glad it was scared away from us before any pictures were taken.

     Then we began our ascent with the promise of lunch. The stream crossing was not difficult, and along the way Pete pointed out some huge tulip poplar trees to Kelly, who has a tree fetish.

      At the base of Jones Falls we stopped for lunch, and enjoyed the cold water, shade, and visits from other hikers' dogs.

      After lunch, a small group preparing for trekking in the Alps in July, peeled off to add another 4.5 miles and some climb along Big Run to the day. The hike leader returned with his charges, making a stop for ice cream- IS THAT RIGHT??