Pigeon Mountain April 7th, 2024

I showed up late to the party on this group trip, so I kicked things off solo—no cell service, no GPS, and no clue where the others had gone. I just hoped I’d eventually cross paths with someone. Honestly? I’m thrilled I waited.

Wandering alone through the stillness, I stumbled onto what I can only call a once-in-a-lifetime find: a two-lined salamander guarding her eggs. I snapped a few quick photos, then gently replaced the rock, doing my best not to disturb the expecting mother. My heart was racing—in the best way.

Not long after, I heard the cars rolling up. The group had finally caught up, and we hit the trails together toward a nearby tunnel. Along the way, we had some standard finds: more two-lined salamanders, seal salamanders, and even a little ringneck snake. But once we stepped into that cave, everything changed.

I’ve never seen so many cave salamanders in my life. Every wall, every crevice—it was like the place was alive with them. It felt unreal. And then, at the far end of the cave, another surprise: slimy salamanders. Gorgeous ones, with a striking white flecking much finer than other slimys. The area was carpeted in blooming trilliums, and for a moment, I felt like I was in some kind of herper heaven.

After a bit of dip-netting for newts at the next stop, we rounded out the trip with some of my first-ever Pigeon Mountain salamanders. We caught a glimpse of a stunning long-tailed salamander we couldn’t quite get close to, and of course, plenty of duskies along the way.

All in all? A fantastic trip with a great crew. Definitely one for the books.