by Crystal Cockman
November 16, 2016
November is a great time of year. The leaves on the trees have turned beautiful shades of yellow, red and orange, and they fall softly to the ground. Temperatures begin to cool down and there’s a crispness to the air. All things pumpkin spice flavored are back in stock, from lattes to donuts to cheerios and more. For deer hunters, it’s the time of year you’re most likely to spot a big buck, chasing after a doe during the rut. Brook trout have developed their beautiful orange underbellies. It’s also a time when family and friends gather together to remember all the things for which we are thankful. As you might imagine, this is a time I like to reflect on the thankfulness I have for all things outdoors.
Schweinitz’s sunflower.
This is a time when fall wildflowers bloom. Yellow goldenrods and sunflowers and purple and white asters put on a show on roadsides as you drive down windy country roads. If you’re lucky you might spot the endangered Schweinitz’s sunflower with its sandpapery texture on the leaves, or the rare Georgia aster that is purple with a white center. The federally endangered Yadkin river goldenrod is in bloom on the rocky outcrops on Narrows Reservoir. And many other species of flower are putting on a show to try to outdo the brightly colored leaves on the trees.
Fall is an excellent time for a hike. It’s fun rustling through leaves as you walk. You can flip over logs near a wetland and perhaps find a marbled salamander guarding her eggs. Snakes are less active, which makes many people more comfortable walking around outside. (Though most snakes are more afraid of you than you are of them). Hunting season is in so it’s necessary to wear orange unless you’re out on a Sunday on public lands. But the beautiful leaves, cool breezes, and warm fall sunshine make a day hiking outside in the fall delightful. A leisurely kayak on a flat-water river is another excellent way to enjoy the sights and sounds of this time of year, and I especially love seeing the leaves falling on the water.
Georgia aster.
Hunting and fishing are other fun fall activities. For deer hunters, the mosquitos have finally abated, and the cool fall air means the time for hunting for big bucks has arrived. Or perhaps you’re hunting more for meat than for trophies, and the abundance of does are your target. No matter what you see though it’s an excellent time to sit and watch in nature. Spending a day in the field with a good friend is always a worthwhile endeavor. Most trout fishing in the mountains is in delayed harvest, where trout can be caught but not kept, and only with artificial lures with a single hook, If you cant make it up to the mountains, fishing for smallmouth on the Uwharrie or Little Rivers is another great way to spend a fall day. From one fisherman friend of mine, Hurricane Matthew apparently pushed smallmouth up in the smaller creeks on the Uwharrie River, so you may find fish where you haven’t previously.
Fresh foods from nature are also abundant in the fall time. Persimmons fall with the promise of persimmon puddings. Black walnuts are also plentiful, and my favorite pound cake is a black walnut one. When I was little we would put pink food coloring in them and swirl it around for a pretty design. Pumpkin and sweet potato pies are a must for fall gatherings. Apple crisps made from fresh apples are another autumn delight.
Whatever you appreciate doing in the fall, it’s enjoyable to have time with family and friends. Whether its hiking in the Birkhead Wilderness, kayaking at the Narrows, hunting on the national forest, or foraging in your own backyard, find some time to get outside this fall.