Caney Creek Falls

[WSG]

Well, I found it! Another day hike for me, I see what everyone had previously written about the lower falls being a dangerous area to get to. Today it was pretty slick after all the rain we have had but it sure did make the falls pretty!

What surprised me though was a dog that walked up just as I was getting my pack on and locking up my truck. Smaller brown dog seemed friendly enough, came from down the road and right up to me. I thought hey, he will just go on about his business in a bit and I will hike alone. NOPE, he stayed right with me the whole way like he knew the trail better than I did. He then followed me all the way back to where I stopped again at the upper falls and shared what I had brought to eat with him. Apparently PB&J was good for him too. Almost made me think he had followed this same procedure before..LOL.  From there back to the truck was nothing unusual until the dog ran ahead and found a snake in front of me to dispose of. I was kind of glad to when I noticed it was a poisonous variety, he had it torn into before I could even tell what it was though.

I even used two hiking staffs(wood still) to try that out today.  I can really see the advantage at water crossings! Stepping on unsure rocks in water doesn't seem nearly as scary when I had 2 sides firmly planted.

[JC785]

Nice pictures, I wish I could get to Sipsey more often.

[montysano]

So, you met the famous Caney Creek Dawg!  He was there both times that we went, and I've heard others mention him.

[WSG]

Yup, I even tried to get his picture, which isnt easy because he WILL NOT stay still for long!

But here ya go..is this him?

[WolfVanZandt]

Hmmm....he has a collar. Looks healthy. If he's in the habit of killing poisonous snakes and has gotten away with it this long, he must be skilled. Ya'll need to be nice to that dog.....

[Joshua Szulecki]

Well... They say dogs are somewhat more resistant to snake venom, but I doubt that is keeping a dog that small safe for so long.

He looks hike he is at least half Chihuahua (and actually bears a pretty decent resemblance to my dog), which would explain how he gets away with killing snakes. If you have ever watched a Chihuahua approach a hazardous object (like a leaf, feather, rattlesnake), they move in a very deliberate fashion. Almost like a mongoose. I imagine all breeds derived from street dogs in snake prone areas have probably picked up that skill. Plus, they are damned fast. People forget how fast a dog's reflexes are until they watch one catch a fly or a bee in their mouth. You try that!

That said... He does not belong out alone in an area with predatory birds and coyotes. Snakes are one thing, but animals that can eat you are another.

[montysano]

That said... He does not belong out alone in an area with predatory birds and coyotes. Snakes are one thing, but animals that can eat you are another.

I think he belongs to one of the houses up on the road; he's a fixture at Caney.  He blasts around the woods like a cannonball and seems to have a great time.

[SmokeDiver]

Nice pictures! I'm planning on finding these falls in November!