Sat, Nov 10 2012 - Fall Colors Hike at Panola Mountain with Wild Animals Bonus! (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Charlie Cottingham Participants: Charlie Cottingham, Marty, Alex Poppelreuter, Trilok, Betsy, Jo H, Ken Gould, Davidod, Brian Boland, Bruce P

We ten had a great time together this morning with perfect fall weather and incredible leaf color.  We enjoyed kicking things off at the State Park's Nature Center where reptile enthusiasts were celebrating "Reptile Day" by proudly showing off their colorful native turtles, snakes and lizards - also several exotic boas, large pythons etc. from other parts of the world.
  As planned we enjoyed a nice variety of short hikes - had a beautiful view of Stone Mtn and Panola Mtn side by side from the Rock Outcrop Trail, then did the Watershed Trail.  We ended the day with a hike in the Alexander Lake part of the Park (site of an old golf course) where we did some orienteering on the new permanent State Park "O Course," saw several large deer bounding through the woods, and had lunch at the soon-to-open lakeside campsite.
  Panola's new superintendent, Eric, gave us the exciting news about a new boardwalk that will be built across the south end of Alexander Lake and invited us back to take advantage of the many exciting things the Park has to offer. -Charlie, 3PM Saturday