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Mount Discovery Part 2
The saddle is a peaceful flat area of woods in between Mount Discovery to the Northeast and Rattlesnake Mountain to the South. After the relatively steep climb up the ravine and to the top of the ridge, the saddle provided a nice respite. I paused to take a breath and a swig of water. The area had been recently logged, and the open woods provided for pleasant views and walking. The cry of a blue jay pierced the air, followed by a myriad of other birds, whose songs remain an unknown babble to my untutored ears. I had never explored Rattlesnake Mountain. The name, the lower elevation, and now the hunting lease all served as deterrents.
Turning toward the Northeast I began my ascent of Mount Discovery proper. With my grandfather’s trail faded and my GPS only having a few way points at the important corners, I was left to my memory and my instincts to pick the correct path up the mountain. I quickly realized that I had veered too far to the East, a frequent mistake. I tried to…
