The Kentucky Two Fer

   I decided to title this blog The Kentucky Two Fer for the simple fact we hiked in two different parks in West Central Kentucky in one day.

     The Fall temps keep spurring me on to explore more, go new places and spend lots of time in the forests. Another weekend coming up and I was hitting the internet researching places to hike and explore. I stumbled upon Panther Creek Park, near Owensboro and learned that their walking/hiking trail had a suspension bridge. Well that would be a new experience for us, so when we started discussing plans I mentioned Panther Creek and to my delight, Donald was up for a little trip to check it out.

     We made reservations at a chain hotel, not willing to risk the uncertainty of an off brand motel again as we did at Reelfoot Lake. Early on Saturday morning we loaded up my car and headed East towards the rising sun before turning North at Madisonville and making our way towards Owensboro. The morning temps hovered in the low 50's, making for a chilly start to the day but it felt good after a long Kentucky Summer with sweltering temps and humidity. 

   Panther Creek Park, we found, sits back behind an upper middle class neighborhood. Estate style homes with carefully manicured lawns lining the freshly blacktopped street. We made our way inside the park, Donald noting bridge sightings through the woods as we went. After a quick trip to the bathrooms we set out from the Nature Shelter trail head with hiking the Marksberry Special Trail in mind. 

    A large portion of the trail system is a long raised boardwalk through bottom lands that leads to a gazebo. The gazebo had been noted on the map with a symbol that was white with pillars, a typical representation of a park gazebo. The gazebo we found was more rustic, full of graffiti and the sign for our trail head placed at a angle where there was no trail or boardwalk. 

  We ambled down the boardwalk trail to the left only to come to a road with no indication which way the trail continued. Turning back we returned to the gazebo and decided to make our way along the covered bridge portion of the boardwalk.
 Not long after passing under the covered bridge the boardwalk came to an end and we were back on solid ground, but not for long. Hiking along the packed dirt path we were able to spy homes and manicured lawns along with a large breed dog barking at us as we made our way along.  Several yards later we came to the suspension bridge noted on the park map and I rather nervously made my way across with Kennedy leading the way. The bridge swayed very little until you reach the middle portion. All the swaying left me trying to get my "sea legs" once back on solid ground.
  Once across "The Swinger" we were met with more blacktop and another suspension bridge laying in wait for us on the next portion of the trail. Debbie's Dream Catcher as it's named was bigger and longer than The Swinger. The park map indicated we should be turning at this point to stay on the Marksberry Special Trail but again no trail markers to help us discern the direction of our selected trail. We made our way across Debbie's Dream Catcher only to find a sign pointing us straight on for the Marksberry Special Trail and so we followed.
  Hiking along on solid ground again we found ourselves at the edge of the disc golf course.....??? What? Wait a minute. We pulled our map out again to find that the trail sign had routed us onto different trails. I wasn't up for this game of trail hide and seek. I was honestly sick of playing it over the past few weeks.
  Two young trail runners made their way past us, all of about 9 and 11 years of age. I was glad to see some youth hitting the trails, doing so quietly and with respect. After the boys passed, we turned ourselves around and headed back to the trail sign at the end of Debbie's Dream Catcher.
  Once there we noted the direction of the sign again and checked our map. It appeared from the map we were to hike along the blacktop road between the two suspension bridges. Donald nudged me and made me take note of the fact the two boys from earlier near the disc golf course, were now on Debbie's Dream Catcher. How the hell did they do that so fast? I could only shake my head and comment on how it sucked getting old and fat. Clearly they knew the trails and weren't having to rely on the material we were. Before we knew it the two boys darted off in the opposite direction and were gone. We decided to do the same, tired of trying to figure out the trail system between signage and the map.

  Panther Creek Park while beautiful, with novel suspension bridges and boardwalks but it had left a lot to be desired for a person more accustomed to hiking National Forest and Recreations Areas. Turns out Donald had done a little research of his own on the way up and chimed in with a new destination, Lake Malone State Park in Dunmor, KY.
  It was located over an hour south of our current location so we decided to make our way there with a stop for lunch along the way. We made our way through the countryside just outside of Owensboro before skirting the city limits and turning South towards Central City.  We took aim at the Sonic in Central City and after wolfing down a fare of fast food we headed South again toward Dunmor.
  There was some debate between my Garmin GPS and Donald's Google Maps application on his phone. My Garmin seems delusional at times so I opted to follow the directions Google Maps was providing only to find myself on some little one and half lane road meandering around a Kentucky hillside. No big deal, no schedules, no curfews and no time limits. We are just going to enjoy the drive through the countryside and....oh hello! Is that huge massive farm equipment coming at me head on? Yes, yes it is. Buckle up, Buttercup, time to get skinny!! As the tractors approached I edged my car as far over onto the shoulder of the road as I could, coming to a stop to keep from plowing down mailboxes or hurtling down into the little ditch next to the field. We sat and waited as the tractors edged their way up and finally past us, giving a friendly little wave to the farmers inside the cabins as they went by.
  Clear of the farm equipment but still on this little road that we both wanted off of, we followed it  a few more miles before we finally made our way onto a typical two lane highway where we soon turned into the entrance of Lake Malone State Park. There was some confusion between where the downloaded map showed the trail heads and where they actually were in the park. Finally after circling what I assume was the lodge area, then heading into the campground and turning around, we drove down toward the picnic area. It was marked as such in the park with signage but listed on the map as back country camping area, we pulled in and parked.
 We spied both trail heads from the picnic area and opted for the longer Laurel Trail that skirted along the shore of Lake Malone. A cool Fall breeze was blowing from up off the water and rustling the dry leaves in the wind as we set out down the trail. The trail was described as easy to moderate but we soon found ourselves hiking along a steep rocky hillside. The trail was uneven and at one point the roots of a tree were used as a set of natural stairs in the trail.
  Pressing on we came to area that overlooked a small bay of the lake. I took this opportunity to head back into the woods to take care of some business, leaving my husband and dog to wait for me. Apparently greasy food wasn't a good idea for me to eat before hitting the trails again. Since having my gallbladder removed it can be a guessing game. It happens, we all have to deal with it some time or other if we are out in the woods enough and I was going to have to do just that, there was no other option.
  Now it had been a couple years since I've been forced to handle such a task in the back country. Things typically work out were it's not needed other than maybe a quick pee but I find taking care of the other business requires more balance for a longer period. Here lies a problem for someone whose knees hates them and they have a well, crappy sense of balance. My Kelty hiking pole couldn't help me here. I chose my spot wisely, next to a tall sturdy tree with a thick base. I dug my little hole, removed my pack, and using the tree as support, I got things done. I was proud of myself, I used what I learned through other blogs and some really funny videos, to get done what HAD to be done.
  Feeling better I rejoined my pack at the base of the hill in the overlook area and found a large tree down in across the trail. I stayed back with Kennedy while Donald went ahead and scouted the trail. He shook his head, it didn't look like the trail beyond the tree. There had been a little side trail up the hill so we figured that must be the main trail and turned around. Up we went, through a small pine grove, seeing more rocky bluffs and hillside ahead as the trail turned left, leveling off along the hillside.
  On occasion we could feel the breeze blowing through the trees and others it was completely devoid of any air movement. The trees were mostly green still although dead and dried leaves crunched under our feet and lined the forest floor. Late Summer had been dry and it's going to make for some disappointing  Fall colors, I believe although I still hold some hope for a vibrant Fall.
  We followed along the mostly packed dirt trail marveling at the steep hillside as we made our way across a small wooden bridge over a dry creek bed. The trail turned, following the curve of the bay back out to the main lake. The amazingly tall hillside began to jut out with huge limestone boulders, the trail became rugged again, requiring us to navigate around and down large rocks.

  Pressing on we found many places to explore, overhangs and small caves abounded in the rocky bluff. I would like to tell you that we hiked to the end of the trail before turning ourselves around but our legs and ankles were sore from the terrain. We still had to make our way back and navigate the steep hillside close to the shore. As beautiful as the day was and as much as we both wanted to stay in the forest it was clear everyone was getting tired and the afternoon was getting late.
  By the time we reached the parking lot I was glad to have called it, easy to moderate was not an accurate description in my experience. Moderate to difficult or rugged, even somewhat rugged would suit Laurel Trail better. If that's even the trail we were on since once again in Kentucky, my own home state that I love, there was inadequate trail markings. They were actually non-existent along this trail in particular.
 Despite the lack of trail markings I would definitely like to return to Lake Malone.  Maybe we can camp in the "picnic area" and even bring our canoe! While there I can try to hike all of the Laurel Trail again hopefully without need to test my back country bathroom skills.

As always......

Adventure Awaits!!!



  

Hematite Lake Trail, Land Between the Lakes

  Another beautiful early Fall weekend in Kentucky and of course we just had to hit the trails. This time we selected an old favorite, once again we hadn't visited in some time. July had proven to be a very wet month, mainly around the Fourth of July weekend with Land Between the Lakes receiving a whopping 17 inches. As you can imagine the area had a lot of damage, from culverts and roads being washed out to flooding at The 1850's Homeplace. The US Forestry Service faced a ton of work and still does. Once we checked the alerts page for Land Between the Lakes and noted Hematite Lake Trail was not listed, we took this as repairs had been made and all was fine.
  We woke up before dawn, sucked down a cup of coffee, loaded our gear, and of course Kennedy. The drive only took us around 30 minutes and we wheeled toward the Woodland Nature Station. Donald, my husband, had decided to drive his truck, giving me a rest from behind the wheel. The temps were cool but not too cool, just right for hiking. Leaving the Trace and turning onto Mulberry Flat Road we knew to keep our eyes peeled for the Fallow Deer  herd. As luck would have it, we spied them at the trail head of the Center Iron Furnace Trail. Five of them milled about feeding off the wet grass, one I noted to be mainly white in color and watching for just a few minutes two fawns began to suckle from her. Magical was the only way to describe the scene and I felt privileged to witness it.

After taking a moment to take in the scene of the Fallow Deer we turned and headed past the remains of the Center Iron Furnace and into the Hematite Lake Recreation Area. We parked the truck near the creek that connects Hematite Lake to Honker Lake. As we headed down the remaining gravel lot we noted a sign on the vault toilet stating the boardwalk was damaged and that you may need to turn around on the trail. We figured we'd take it as it comes, as we usually do and headed across the spillway on the concrete stepping stones.
Walking across the mowed grass of the levy wall with the breeze blowing up off the lake felt amazing. We had a little startle from some Turkey Vultures roosting in the bottom lands between the levy and the road before we finally made our way into the woods on the far side of Hematite Lake.
The trail is packed dirt beyond this point, and follows the lake shore along gently rolling hills. The views were stunning from this side of the little lake, the leaves just starting to turn on some of trees with their reflections visible on the lakes surface.
We made our way past the area of the old observation deck, now gone, removed from lack of maintenance and not replaced. It was disappointing but expected. I have a difficult time understanding the US Forestry Services approach towards managing Land Between the Lakes. Little gems like Hematite Lake, close to the Nature Station, were left to fall into disrepair long before the monumental rainfall of July, while the Forestry Service spent time and money working to develop new areas. I suppose money is granted to them but with terms on how it must be spent. I would probably end up with a headache trying to figure it out.
As we turned to follow the trail along the backside of Hematite Lake the area becomes bottom land. Several dry creek beds fed into the lake, snaking their way down the hills and providing an avenue for run off during rains. Small wooden bridges carried us over these creek beds and we found the trail snaking around downed trees. Toppled over from ground saturation and winds, their massive root balls now exposed and turned up.
Finally we came upon the boardwalk that carriers hikers over swampy, muddy terrain. Late Summer and early Fall had been quite dry here in West Kentucky so despite the level of disrepair along the boardwalk we decided to press on, seeing just how far one could traverse. The boardwalk was uneven, warped in places and in other places missing all together. These spots where the boardwalk was missing had logs scattered in them providing path above the muddy ground. Thankfully the larger bridges that carry hikers over the bigger streams that still held water were intact and in fair shape.

We did find the boardwalk that juts out onto a small peninsula as a small observation area was in worse shape than we wanted to attempt to walk on so we turned back onto the main trail again.
The trail turns slightly, sticking to the shore of the lake and here we found the boardwalk and bridge to be in shoddy shape. Traversing the bridge was questionable at best, the main support beam under the foot boards clearly rotting. We stuck to the sides, walking several feet apart to disperse the weight. Further up more sections of boardwalk were missing, one having more logs to cross upon and another required a bit of a jump to cross which I had to make carrying Kennedy as he refused to get his paws wet and muddy.
Kennedy struggled on some sections, trying to pay attention to what was in the woods and along the shore instead of wear he was putting his little paws. His legs would slip down through the planks on the sections with wide spacing. I carried him for several feet and he was quite content as I did. Finally reaching a section with closer spaced planks, I set him back down and we continued on.
  After reaching the end of the boardwalk the trail turns away from the shore a bit and uphill into the forest. Here we found the forest open and not overgrown, allowing for a clear line of site through it.
Rock outcroppings appeared along the edges of the trail and there were now larger stones in the path to trip you up if you weren't careful. The lake still visible peering through the mostly green leaves.
We made our way along until the trail turned downhill again, back toward the lake shore. Here the trail was relatively flat and even ground again, making for a easy section but again it turned uphill and into the forest once more. As we descended the hillside a small observation area sat just off trail, overlooking the lake. It was overgrown with high bushes and tree branches blocking most of the view.
  Back on flat ground we could hear a vehicle on the road off in the distance and knew we were closing in on the end of the trail. I was glad to see the gravel for the drive and parking lot again. I wasn't near as spent as I had been after previous trails but I had housework to catch up on before returning to work the next day. My Keen's hadn't hurt my feet this time either, seeming to have finally be broken in properly after a few miles.
  It was nice to take a hike that seemed more like a stroll in the cool breeze of early Fall and I still hold out hope the Forestry Service will find the funds or time to repair the trail at Hematite Lake which with current detours in place is 2.4 miles long according to Map My Hike.
  Remember don't let your initial impressions stop you, if we had we wouldn't have hiked the entire trail. By taking all the factors into consideration; weighing the level of risk, noting weather conditions and being alert to issues we were able to safely traverse the entire trail without problems.

Adventure Awaits!!

Trail of Tears, Mantle Rock, Livingston Co., Ky

Trail Marker at Mantle Rock

 

   After several failed hiking attempts at Reelfoot Lake we were ready to seriously hit the trail and finally had the time. We racked our brains and decided to return to Mantle Rock Nature Preserve near Smithland, Kentucky in Livingston County. Years had passed since either of us had been, my husband, Donald, more recently than I and even then I had only been once. In recent year The Nature Conservancy had decided to make changes to the area, redoing and marking the hiking trail. They had also added informative exhibits about the Trail of Tears, what had occurred there and the conditions endured.

Early on a Sunday morning we piled into my car and once again I navigated toward adventure. The drive only took an hour, the site only one county over from our residence. I took a different route this time, following River Rd along the Cumberland River and found it to be a wonderful scenic drive, abutting right up to the river at times and we spied several deer along the way.

No sooner than we had pulled into the gravel circular parking area my husband spotted several does standing in a tree line between two fields. I quickly hitched my Osprey Daylite pack onto my back, adjusted my new Kelty Range 1.0 hiking staff, set my GPS tracker and was ready for the trail. 

Trail Register

      We headed down a gravel path stopping to read the information posted along the way and to sign in at the trail head. The gravel gave way to dirt at the tree line which was actually an old tree lined road bed. We followed it back between fields of tall grass and wildflowers before encountering a fork in the trail. Signs informed us to the left was the Natural Arch and to the right the Original Route of The Trail of Tears. We turned left down into the forest and within a short distance came to a red gate across yet another old dirt road. Skirting around the gate and past another information exhibit we headed back into the forest. Kennedy was sniffing frantically, smelling the fresh scent of some animal. In just a few minutes a Doe appeared 40 yards or so off to our right before bounding off into the bordering field.

    Hiking a short distance through the forest and down a small incline we found the largest Natural Arch East of the Mississippi River, 188 feet long and 33 feet wide peering at me through the last luster of Summer greenery.

  After exploring the area under the arch a bit we headed down the trail that skirted the limestone bluff and a creek on the opposite side. The trail became quite narrow in a spot along this section but nothing unmanageable. Continuing along the trail there are several overhangs to explore and places where waterfalls flowed during rain but not today. This day was warming up to be a hot one and if it's hot in Kentucky there's plenty of humidity to go with it. 

    We made our way around the bluff, stopping to explore here and there along the way. The mostly dry creek bed off to our left several yards through the woods, at times visible, and other times hidden behind thick brush. The trail turned sharply to the right, the creek closing in on one side and the bluff the other. It funneled the trail into a a bit of a steep pass between to large moss covered boulders. I let Donald and Kennedy move ahead and clear the path before I charged up myself, using my hiking staff to ensure my balance. 

   The trail continued to skirt around the bluff but become more rugged at in spots with large rocks in the path, forcing you  to step over and around them. Another creek followed this section of the trail, once again opposite of the bluff with the trail in between. Yet another large overhang appeared, except this one had cairns stacked beneath it. There were at least four by my count and stacked in no obvious way as to mark the trail. 

  Moving on we passed a cave in the bluff now set back up off the trail 15 yards or so and the area was marked, Fragile Habitat, Area Closed. We heeded the sign and trekked past soon coming to a large deep pool in the creek with a beautiful opening on level ground that let you walk right up to the waters edge. Just off trail in the rear of this little spot was a crude Cedar bench made of fallen logs and it proved to be quite a comfortable little spot for a rest. 

  Once rested and re-hydrated we progressed further on the trail, coming yet again across another Fragile Habitat area. This one had no cave or large opening and we decided it best not to go looking for one. The trail continued to be rugged, large rocks jutting out this way and that. I managed to kick a few but the toe guard on my Keen's held true, not a twinge of pain. 

  The day was heating up and we were sweating buckets. Our shirts and clothes were soaked as if we had jumped in the creek. There was absolutely no breeze moving and if there was it was blocked by the bluff itself. Eager to be finished we hiked on until we came to the end of the tree line at a field. The trail was now gravel, situated between a tall meadow of grasses and wildflowers and the tree line. Oh, did I mention it was also in the full Sun! There was a bit of the breeze but with the Sun bearing down on us we took no time to enjoy it, waiting until the trail once again ducked into the trees to take a moment to cool off.  Donald informed me when getting into my Osprey Daylite Pack that the zipper pull was breaking, at that point I could give a hoot less but made a mental note to check it once we were home.

  A sign informed us we were now on the original route of the Trail of Tears which followed an old grown up, treed lined, road bed. The ground had become flatter once leaving the forest which I was thankful for as my the arch support in my new Keen's were starting to freak my flat feet out. Everyone was ready, even Kennedy, for the trail to be over but it continued past more information exhibits.

  The trail turned slightly to the left, still following the old road bed, nestled between two meadows now. Suddenly the trail was littered with broken glass of all kinds of variety. Amber beer bottles and clear glass condiment jars jutted out of the Earth along the trail. I worried about Kennedy's paws getting cut but we cleared the old dump site without any issues. 

  Finally we stopped again, Kennedy was definitely reaching his limits and we need to hydrate again. This time while breaking we heard the highway off in the distance and knew we had to be getting close. We finished up quickly and began plodding along again when finally Donald caught a glimpse of our car in the parking area.  

  By the time I arrived back into the parking lot my new LuLaRoe Leggings were dirty and my Keen's were killing my arches so much so I took of my right shoe and drove home with a socked foot. Got to break them in somehow, right?

  I contacted Osprey about my zipper pull and after providing all the information required for parts, I waited to hear from them. Just two days later I received and email informing me my parts would arrive in one to two weeks. Easy fix but I'm really unsure how it happened to begin with. I'm going to chalk it up as a fluke as the rest of the pack is holding up very well so far, is quite comfortable, and roomy.

   Overall it was an amazing hike and I was very please with the work of the Nature Conservancy but do wish they had been able to obtain the hunting rights with the land. I don't recommend hiking in the area during prime archery or gun season.
   There was contradictory information in regards to trail length. I used Under Armors Map My Hike Application for Android Devices and it showed the trail to be 2.5 miles long. Actually 2.57 miles but we explored around a little so that would account for some of the distance. The trail may have been 1 mile long previously as reported by some but I believe when the Nature Conservancy made changes in 2010 the trail was extended. 
  I would definitely recommend hiking at Mantle Rock, but I seriously doubt I'll hike the entire trail again, then again I just might. 

Adventure Awaits!!

        

   .

Exploring Reelfoot Lake

Exploring Reelfoot Lake

     Earlier this Spring I visited the Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tn with my husband, Donald, and my parents. We followed a recommendation to make the drive to the area of Reelfoot Lake and dine at Boyette's Dinning Room. Well it was definitely worth it! The scenic drive and eats had my husband and I vowing to return. 

    Finally late this Summer a plan was hatched to return for an overnight stay in local lodging and to explore what Reelfoot Lake really had to offer for outdoor adventures. I did some research on the local resorts and Inns before deciding on a little place called simply enough Reelfoot Lake Inn. We didn't need anything fancy, just somewhere to rest up with our pooch, Kennedy, before heading out for more explorations. 

    We headed first to Grassy Island and made a stop at the U.S Fish & Wildlife Visitor's Center. I headed inside for maps and info while Donald explored the grounds with Kennedy. Inside I found the attendant very helpful and informative. I was elated to find maps for several canoe trails but when I asked about hiking I was informed there was only one on the refuge with hiking not recommended this time of year due to bugs. "Okay, bugs?" I thought quietly to myself, I've dealt with their kind before and came armed with a full can off Deep Woods Off. After conversing a bit longer than I should have (that's me!) I used the facilities and headed out to regroup with my pack. 

    Donald had found a wide gravel path located on the backside of the parking lot and we decided to stretch our legs on it. It seemed it was a little informative trail leading back through tall meadows which were hemmed off near the trail with a mowed area allowing one to stroll without the meadow infringing on you. The path lead back to a small pond with  a small wooden deck of questionable durability overlooking it and an information kiosk about the importance of farm ponds just off the path. It was cute, scenic, and it was quiet but there was no wildlife to be seen so after a few pictures we headed back to the car. 

    Loaded up, we headed further into Grassy Island taking the Auto Tour. As we made our way back towards an observation deck we spied the hiking trail, appropriately named, Grassy Island Hiking Trail, and we just had to stop. We didn't plan to hike very far, just another little stroll to explore the trail a bit so I left my pack in the trunk. Strolling just fifty feet down a little boardwalk at the start of the trail we were inundated by mosquitoes, the likes of which I've never seen! I've hiked in swamps and have never had so many swarm onto me at one time! We immediately did an about face and high tailed it back to the car, swatting 20 mosquitoes away with one wave of an arm. I loaded in the dog as fast as possible then waved off another attack before getting myself back into the drivers seat. We had managed to only let a couple in and those were quickly shooed out. That lady wasn't playing around!! No hiking till after first frost in the Reelfoot Lake area!

Grassy Island Hiking Trail

  The a/c cranking I piloted us down Grassy Island further to the observation deck. Layering on more Off we heard thunder off in the distance and quickly made our way down the boardwalk. The darkening sky looming in the background of the observation deck we still took the time to snap photos, ooohhh and awe at the lily pads, impressive view and astounding Cypress trees before retreating back to the car again.

Grassy Island Observation Deck

    The wind picked up as I turned the car around and as we headed back down the Auto Tour Route the trees shook angrily in the wind their leaves falling about the car as we went. Finally the rain began to fall, I fully expected a full on down pour for hours but it only lasted a couple miles before it petered out to a few sporadic drops. By the time we reached the main highway the wind had subsided but the skies remained gray.

   As we turned south and made our way toward Reelfoot Lake State Park & Visitor's Center the skies remained menacing and the rain drops sporadic. We pulled into a boat ramp area to explore but found only a sculpture of a Blue Gill an old boat slip and ramp. Rain still smattering the windshield we decided to head down to the hotel, get checked in, get our bags unloaded and see what the weather was going to do.

    Finding the Reelfoot Lake Inn wasn't hard, it was located right off the main highway, a series of five small buildings, directly across from the lake with a field of chest high soybeans located behind it. Honestly the lodging was such a horrible experience I'd rather just skip discussing it but it deserves to be told to a degree. Cleanliness was lacking to such a level I went and purchased disinfectant spray and wipes, along with pillows, the ones provided were less than pancake thickness and we'd forgotten to bring our own. My card had already been charged, I didn't want to argue and fight to get credited back plus I wasn't sure if anyone else would take us with Kennedy on last minute notice. I had such a hard time finding some where that would accommodate a 17 pound Jack Russell mix to begin with. Insane pet fees combined with rules not allowing my canine kid to sleep with us as usual had landed us where we were. The linens were clean, the floor had been freshly mopped but other areas had clearly been skipped over so we relegated ourselves to waiting till we got home to shower, doing a little light cleaning ourselves and making sure things were germ free.

   We did manage to head over to Reelfoot Lake State Park and took a walk along the boardwalk trail that borders the lake. There were many people about enjoying the late Summer season but we found everyone to be extremely friendly. The boardwalk trail made its way through overgrown lowland areas before turning towards the lake and as the boardwalk turne

d again to follow the lake shore we were now walking among the knobby knees of the Cypress trees. The weather had cleared off and it was a beautiful afternoon although still humid. We made our way down the boardwalk passing people headed the opposite direction as we went and Kennedy had to smell every single one of them. There's not much option on a boardwalk, all I could do was let him sniff as we passed. We found an observation area and took advantage of it by snapping some pictures and soaking up a breeze off the lake before reluctantly finishing our boardwalk hike. It's definitely a must if you're ever in the area. The state park also offers guided Pontoon boat tours.

Boardwalk at Reelfoot State Park

   Boyette's Dining Room does carry-out so that's exactly what we did. We took our loot of hot Southern home cooking back to our meager accommodations. The plan was to refuel, crash out early and wake up with plenty of time to get to the Western shore for the sunrise. Our meal did it's job, with our bellies full and a slightly cleaner room we settled in for a little television while trying to slip off into slumber. We soon realized the mattress wasn't of much account but managed to doze off anyways.

    Around one o'clock in the morning we both awoke, uncomfortable and having a hard time getting much rest. The thought to throw in the towel crossed our minds but I was determined to explore the area more and watch the sunrise later that morning. We toughed it out and when my cellphone alarm went off at five o'clock we were up, getting dressed and ready to go. Thirty minutes is all it took us to evacuate hotel hell and head off into the darkness in hopes of new adventure.

     I navigated us through Tiptonville and over to Champion Point to watch the sunrise. The morning was chiller than expected and neither of us had brought a jacket, it didn't take long for the sky to lighten with the first hints of sunrise. We were able to quickly see a myriad of birds standing on Cypress knees in the lake or flying above. Heron, Cranes, Teals, Wood Ducks, Canadian Geese and more flew about. Soon the sounds of shotguns could be heard echoing from across the lake, duck hunters taking aim on their prey but the area we were in was not open to hunting.

    Waiting for the Sun to come up that morning, standing in a gravel boat ramp parking lot, tired as hell, with the wind blowing up off the water, was the longest sunrise I'd waited on in years. I seriously contemplated putting my arms inside my shirt but getting back in the car wasn't an option, I didn't want to miss a chance for a good picture and didn't want to retreat to the car a third time. We withstood the early morning chill, captured some amazing pictures, and made another lasting memory before heading off to the next location.

Sunrise over Reelfoot from Champion Point

   Our aim had been Choctaw-McCutchen Rd where another hiking trail was to be along with more wildlife viewing in what is known as the Black Bayou Area. When we finally found our target a barricade with signage informed us, Road Closed. Disappointed but not fully deterred I pointed us in the direction of the Air Park, along this highway was the other end of Choctaw-McCutchen Rd but it also was barricaded, Road Closed. We resigned to head down to the Air Park where there was a back country campground and another hiking trail. We found the Air Park and pulled into a spot where a small wooden deck overlooked an inlet of the lake. We explored this area and spied another larger boardwalk further up only to discover it was gated and fenced off. Driving around the campground we found it to occupied by one camper, sparse and back county..just what we like! We did find the trail but again the mosquitoes were on an insane level, it was odd how thick they could be in one area yet others they were virtually non-existent. The Air Park campground and trail would have to wait for a Fall adventure and possible camping trip.

Observation Area Air Park 

     As we made our way North and back into Kentucky we stopped at Long Point Wildlife area where yet another observation deck stood. I found it to be as described, overlooking a field of tall grass, while beautiful with the early morning Sun reflecting off the dew, there was not much to observe. We had actually seen more wildlife on the the drive in to the observation deck than we did while there but it was worth the drive through the countryside.

View from Long Point Observation Deck

   We will be returning to Reelfoot for more outdoor adventures, armed with a bit more education about the area; it will be after the first frost and we won't be staying at the Reelfoot Inn again. The state park is adding cabins which I look forward to seeing completed, maybe on the next overnight trip.

     Our trip turned into more of a recon mission for future adventures, it wasn't perfect, they never are, but I think that's what makes them adventures. There's something about over coming adversity, everything can't and almost never will go as planned but we try not to let it keep us from accomplishing our goals. I look at my adventures the way I look at life, you just have to roll with it.

Adventure Awaits!!

Fort Henry, Pickett Loop Dover, TN

Fort Henry, Pickett Loop Dover, TN

  Beautiful weather was in the forecast for Labor Day weekend so my husband and I decided that Sunday we would hit the trails. The morning didn't start very well, we were both tired from responsibilities the day before and when the alarm went off at 5am neither us seemed to have much enthusiasm. Still we got ourselves up and going, determined to take advantage of the cooler weather and get outdoors. 

  The sun barely peeking over the shortest trees we loaded up the truck and headed out to Land Between the Lakes. This trip took us to the southern portion, across the state line into Tennessee, and to an area where Fort Henry once stood. We had attempted to hike this area previously and found the trails in poor condition from muddy terrain to being inadequately marked. The US Forestry Service had done some work over the years, remarking the trails, and had produced some trail maps and literature in 2015. 

   We had done our research and chosen Pickett Loop, the idea of seeing old home sites and views of the lake as we hiked appealed to us. There is also a Fort Henry Trail marked on the map but there were no details on the trail as for a description or what color markers were used for it so we pretty much threw that trail out of the considerations all together. Two other trails were marked as temporarily closed which was disappointing as one traced U.S. Grant's march towards Fort Donnelson.

  We both seemed a little irritated that morning, most likely from fatigue. We had been busy as I mentioned, the previous day, I had driven almost 3 hours round trip, so I was not thrilled to be behind the wheel again and the drive seemed to be taking forever. To add to the frustration we were unsure of where to go to pick up the trail. The map appeared to show the trail right next to USFS 230 but there was no where fairly close or convenient to pull off and park even in a 4x4 Chevy extended cab. I wheeled the truck down USFS 233 and encountered the Fort Henry Trail which also serves as a connector trail but again there was no where to pull off and park so I decided we would just park at Boswell Landing Back Country Area and use a connector trail there to get to Pickett Loop. 

  I hadn't bothered to print off a trail map but did have it downloaded to my phone as well as a zoomed in screen shot of the trail we'd chosen. Tensions still running high we left the truck parked in the boat ramp area and set off down the trail. The trail followed along beside USFS 233 for some ways and we questioned if we where on the right trail despite the map, more frustration mounting, we continued.  Finally the trail turned sharply away from the road and down into a hollow exactly as the map showed so our confidence was given a boost, the tension and frustration started to melt away. 

  The connector trail wasn't long, after a dry creek crossing, and a little hill climb, we soon found ourselves at a sign post that identified the trail by a number, 24, which according to my screenshot was the trail we were looking for. What I did find odd was there was no trail name upon the sign post, just the number, a warning for motor vehicles and horses then a reminder to "pack it in, pack it out". We decided to go left at this intersection and head down toward the lake front. 

  Not long on the trail we cold soon see the lake peeking through the trees as well as some campers along the lake shore. One camper greeted us from below with a friendly "Good Morning" and we complimented him on their choice camping spot as we hiked along a rather wide trail, our little dog, Kennedy, excitedly trotting along with us. 

  The trail followed the shoreline around a bend and into the back of a little inlet before following up the other side of the inlet, where we spotted a Beaver swimming along the shore. The trail in this area was overgrown with weeds from both sides crowding over the trail, making it difficult to to see the trail and any snakes lurking close by. It followed the shore along Panther Bay for some distance and past an old home site with the remnants of a fireplace, before turning uphill. 

  We found ourselves atop a bit of ridge, not horribly steep, plenty wide, and the lake off in the distance, although not visible, on either side of us. The sound of a Baja boat being started carried easily up the ridge and through the forest. Following the trail up and away from the lake it again became overgrown and it became obvious our little pup was getting tired. According to the map we had hiked just 1.6 miles before the trail came close to USFS 230 with traffic noise being heard from well off, as light as it was. 

 

   It felt as if we had hiked much further and I cursed myself for not having downloaded a tracking app on my phone. I also still hadn't gotten a water bladder from my pack but I did have several bottles of water in it and we were working our way through the second one as the day began to warm up. I was ready for this trail to be over already, my ankles hurt and my pup was tired but we had only made it about halfway. This was by far the furthest hike we had attempted in some time, even though my body wasn't as sore as my previous trip, I wanted to be done. I was tired in other ways, tired of lugging the pack on my back, tired of holding the walking stick in my hand my husband had picked up for me, tired of stepping over/around downed and dead tree limbs/branches or trampling through brush that crowed the trail in places. 

   I could tell my husband was wearing thin also, it began to seem like this wasn't the day for such a thing. We had already grown weary from trying to wave sticks in front of us to combat the spider webs and just failed to keep it up constantly leaving us with them clinging to our faces, arms, hair and even having the owners scurry across our bodies before we could flick them away. Our state of mind, our fatigue from the previous day, and our frustration from that morning had worn us out, let alone the miles we were putting in on the trail.  

  Kennedy was tired also, this was further than he was used to hiking. He had gone from excitedly leading the way and sniffing everything to trotting and panting at our sides as we picked our way along. Sniffing now turned into an opportunity to rest which we somewhat welcomed but knew we were delaying in the inevitable. We wondered and yet hoped we wouldn't, have to carry him the rest of the way.

  Marching on, what choice did we have, the trail intersected with an old dirt road that looked as if it may have been used fairly recently even though it was not on any of my maps or mentioned as part of the trail system. A sign pointed towards the forest announcing a Civil War Cemetery but we could find no trace of it in the overgrown terrain. If it was there it would be a mission in itself to find it unless you knew where to look and neither of us had the extra energy for a side mission. 

  Plodding down the dirt road we navigated our way around stinking, stagnate pools of water before finally coming to another intersection. The number 23 hung high on a tree, sort of cocked off center and again the same warning to vehicles, horses and garbage which no one read apparently from the trash we had seen. We took a rest upon a fallen tree, attempted to gain our wits and hydrate a bit before continuing on. Here is where we made our mistake, or I made our mistake, I pulled out my phone and in my fatigued state assumed we needed to go left, following the blue trail markers we had been since the start of the main trail. My fatigue and the blue trail markers in combination with the numbered sign cocked off to one side had us headed down another steeper hollow. 

  At the bottom of this hollow the tail turned and headed toward a road. I thought maybe for a minute that the trail came close to it again, but my husband pointed out that it in fact crossed the road ahead. I instantly knew we were not where we were supposed to be and pulled my phone back out to confirm. We had veered off onto the undescribed and undetailed Fort Henry Trail. At this point we had two options to get back to where we had parked the truck, back track approximately a half mile or so up the trail and steep hill we had just come down then continue on Pickett Loop for yet another half mile back to the connector trail which was just under another a half mile itself or hit the pavement despite a dog leg in the road that would add more distance to our hike. 

  To say I was aggravated was understatement, I cursed, I swore and wanted the person who had marked these trails in front of me to account for this insanity. What the ever loving hell was going on here!?! What person with any kind of common sense about trails marks two connecting trails with the same color?! F*&$!! I didn't want to walk on the road, I wanted to hike on a trail but I knew everyone was spent at this point and going back seemed ridiculous.

  Our little family pushed on up the pavement back toward Boswell Landing, occasionally we had to get off the pavement and onto the steep bank beside the road to allow a car to pass. The terrain was smoother, more open and allowed more of a breeze to reach us but at this point it didn't make much of a difference. I was tired and pissed off.

  My husband was wanting to kick it into high gear and push through the last bit but I couldn't. I don't set a fast pace right of the gate so there certainly wasn't any hope of me accomplishing it at this point. We walked up a hill in the road, stopped for a break, and to allow a truck to pass which I considered jumping onto the bumper and hanging onto the tailgate. There's no shame in that right? It would still technically be getting myself back to where I started. 

  It was now 11:30am and we had been on this little adventure for 4 hours. My husband wanted me to wait there for him and allow him to push hard through the remaining distance which we were unsure of and return with the truck to pick me up. I stood there, leaning on my walking stick and spotted the remnants of another old homestead. I pointed it out to my husband and after another minute or so he again suggested I wait upon the steps that remained so he could push on. I hesitated, I didn't want to give up, I could do it, I knew I could, I wasn't that spent but I certainly couldn't do it at the pace my husband wanted too. Was it failure? I asked myself. What would the girls (other Ambassadors) think if I gave up? F&*# it, I was done. I was to tired to argue and to tired to explain myself to him in any hopes he suddenly develop the patience after the days events to wait for me.

  My husband headed up the road toward Boswell Landing and I with the dog went across the road to the old homestead. I shucked the pack off my back and seated myself upon the cracked and crumbling concrete stairs that had small tree jutting up through them. I could tell Kennedy was wondering just what was going on. Why had Dad left us? I reassured him he would be back with the truck so we could go for a ride and go home. He quickly found himself a spot and took a seat, content it seemed with my explanation. 

  I quietly cursed myself for taking the wrong trail and for not pushing on to the end. Then I decided not to be so hard on myself, this trail system had confused us more than once and this was to be the final time I vowed. I had hiked for 4 hours and over 3 miles which I couldn't remember when I done in recent years. Sure I didn't set a blistering pace which is not why we hit the trails to start with but I had accomplished a lot.

  Soon I could hear the sound of the truck approaching, grabbed up my pack and with the dog headed across the road just as my husband pulled up. Kennedy was so tired he didn't even want to move into the backseat when I put him in. When we came  to the intersection of USFS 230 and the Trace the South Welcome Station sits caddy corner across the road, I asked my husband to pull in so I could tell someone to take their happy asses back out to the trails with some white spray paint and remark the Fort Henry Trail. He chuckled a bit as he wheeled the truck north onto the Trace, towards home. 

  Ultimately I know the navigation error was my own fault despite the trail markers. Had I taken a little more time to consider things it was evident from the map we were headed the wrong way. The improper trail markers only served to fortify my incorrect decision. Chalk that one up to lesson learned and file under misadventure. 

Adventure Awaits!!

 

  

Family Trail Dog Selection and Training Tips

     Family Trail Dog Selection and Training Tips

Service Dog in Training

   Recently a fellow Hike Like A Woman Ambassador was discussing adding to their family with a new dog. She had many questions about what breed to choose for protection, good behavior around children, and of course a good trail dog that fits in with their active lifestyle. I know a local trainer and have used him with Kennedy, so I offered to do a sit down with him.  Hopefully I could help her and others in their decision making process when selecting a family trail dog as well as get a few training tips to turn that average pooch into a trail star.

Kennedy, my Jackshund (Jack Russell/Dachshund Mix)

  I sat down with Clay McElya, Owner of  Wren's Pet Lodge here in Marshall County, Kentucky. Wren's offers numerous services including grooming, boarding, and various types of training. Clay is certified as a dog trainer and has been training dogs for over 25 years.  He trains canines for drug/bomb sniffing, personal protection, Service, Skilled Companion, and basic obedience. Wren's is also a member of the Canine Good Citizen Program established by the AKC. On occasion Clay also donates his services to the local animal shelter and Humane Society, training dogs with behavior issues so they can be adoptable and find their furever homes.

Clay on a training walk

  One of my first questions for Clay was about breeds, what breeds are better suited than others for hiking and backpacking? The answer wasn't very cut and dry. There is no real definitive answer and it mostly depends on the individual dogs personality as well as the humans. Dogs are just as, if not more quirkier than humans, one is not identical to the other even if they are from the same litter. Just as certain canine characteristics that work for one person may not work for another. Please keep in mind as we move forward these are generalizations and may not be indicative of every dog of a certain breed or type. There is no way to account for every possibly canine personality or breed variations.

  The most important thing that Clay stressed was picking the right canine companion for your lifestyle and your climate. Smaller breeds such as my Kennedy are great for short hikes, they typically have the energy and stamina to keep up with their human companions for a few miles but usually wouldn't last on the long haul and can not pack their own supplies. This rule seems to also transfer over to some medium sized breeds as well such as Labrador and Golden Retrievers with the exception of these breeds being able to carry their own supplies.  I will say Clay was very fond Labradors, there is a reason they are the most popular breed in America. They are very versatile, tend to be family and kid friendly. 

   Breeds such as German Shorthaired Pointers, Weimaraners,  or a Belgium Malinois may tend to be better for backpackers as their energy levels are high for longer periods well as being capable of carrying their own supplies. I was advised if you want Belgium Malinois be prepared to walk......a lot.  While an internet search may show Border Collies as a good hiking companion they tend to want to investigate things which can be a hindrance on the trail depending on your hiking style. Researching breed characteristics is very important to finding the right breed for you.

   Any breed of dog with a long spine or breeds prone to Spinal problems, such as Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, Lhasa Apso or Shih Tzu should never carry any additional weight. If you choose a breed of dog like the aforementioned then decide to hit the trail be prepared to pack your canine companions supplies for him/her. Most of these breeds tend not to be good for long distance hikes as mentioned before and canines who already have back issues should not attempt hikes unless cleared by their Veterinarian. A good point about smaller breeds is by being smaller they don't require as many supplies as larger breeds which makes packing supplies for them easier.

  A very important factor to consider when selecting your trail dog is Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome (big word, thank God for Google). Brachycephalic means "short-headed" and refers to a combination of throat, nasal, larynx and trachea issues that impede breathing. Examples include Bull Dogs, Boston Terriers, Pugs, and Boxers. Besides the obvious reason with breathing issues for these breeds not being good trail dogs there's another, they tend to overheat more quickly. Dogs pant to cool themselves off, breathing issues can impede their panting and therefore impede their ability to cool off which could lead to a heat stroke.

  I hate to do it but I have to talk about color, no there is no dog racism going on. Dogs that are darker in color, dark brown or black for example, reflect less heat. They actually absorb heat and can trap it in the layers of their fur so if you're hiking in a sunny and hot climate you may want to take color into consideration also. If you are a cold climate hiker a dog with black fur will keep himself and possibly you warmer. There's time on the trail for snuggles, right?
  On these points I will mention my Mom has a Boston Terrier and I know them to be true first hand. Buddy the Boston struggles to cool off after walking some distance in the heat and you have to watch him close to make sure he doesn't overheat. He can overheat just laying around a campsite in the Summer which is magnified if he's in the direct Sun. 

  Protection is one reason a lot of people get a dog though not the sole reason for the majority of dog owners. Dogs can alert us at home to people arriving or odd sounds and out on the trail to the presence of animals and snakes. It's important to be in tune to their behavior and not immediately dismiss behavior as bad out of a typically well behaved dog. Knowing the difference in your dogs bark, whine or a pause when they normally charge ahead can be a signal. A strong pack bond will give a majority dogs, big or small, enough urge alone to protect his pack. Dogs tend to be territorial and his pack is his territory no matter the location. You don't want an overly protective dog either, one who acts nervous or aggressive at the first sign of physical contact between you and a person who is not well known or a stranger. 

Again researching breeds can determine those with traits towards protection and a professional trainer can tune these if necessary.

  I also asked Clay about selecting between pure bred dogs, pups and rescues for a family trail dog. His answer surprised me a bit.  I'm more prone to thinking that getting a dog while young will allow them to grow up accustomed to your lifestyle. He stated that if you weren't breed particular to go down to a local shelter and interact with dogs a bit older than puppies. This way it's easy to see if the dog has engagement with you as well as being driven.  Drive is willingness to chase things such as a prey drive, throw a tennis ball or a stick the dog wants to chase after it or retrieve it, this is also engagement. The dog should show he/she wants to interact with you, engage in petting, playing, affection, walk with you, etc. The dog should also exhibit interest in you, if you move he/she should take note and follow you. The drive for food/treats should be present, the dog will follow any food or treat in your hand. If a dog lacks these traits, training them to be a good trail dog or even for basic obedience is going to be an obstacle as they won't respond to rewarding for good behavior. They have to want the reward otherwise training is moot. An aloof dog that pays you no mind, does not follow and will not interact with you is more difficult to train to say the least.

Clay on a training walk,
notice where the dogs attention is

     Clay also told me that if a dog is stressed or in fear you can forget about training. Fear and stress release hormones into the brain that affect memory. This is true in both humans and dogs. If your dog is stressing or fearful it's best to work towards making them more comfortable with the situation and fortifying pack bonds (yes your dog thinks you're his pack) than proceeding with behavior training because the poor pooch won't remember what your trying to teach him. If you notice the dog you're considering adopting is fearful or easily stressed keep in mind extra work will be needed before the  prospective puppy pal can begin obedience training.

  So you've selected the perfect canine companion for your family, now it's time to start training. If you've selected a pup don't wait to start training. At just 7 weeks old you should introduce them to a collar and leash so they become accustomed to it. No retractable leashes!!!! A standard 6 foot leather leash gets the best behavior and the most out of training. Retractable leashes apply constant pressure, albeit a small amount, and pressure should be used to indicate that you expect a behavior change. Constant pressure confuses this training process.  
  Socialization and a lot of it is a very important part of training for good behavior.  Take them to different parks, walking trails, and hiking trails allowing them to become accustomed to travel and new places. Take them out for lots of walks correcting pulling, tugging, and other behavior issues along the way. The dog should always respond to the person with the leash. If a certain family member has the leash then that person is in charge and the dog should respond accordingly. The dogs attention should be on the person holding the leash not on another family member, dog, or squirrel. You will need to restrict interaction with others when walking initially until the dog forms a bond with you and understands the person with the leash is in charge.

It's not all work at Wren's

    A good way to reset and correct from bad behavior to make the dog stop, sit and wait before attempting again. You may need to repeat several times till Fido gets the point. It is okay for your dog to be in front of you while walking but it should be with a lax leash. The leash should dangle between you and your dog and your dog should not be straining at the end of it. The dog should also be watching you for direction changes, he/she should not be "leading" even if walking ahead of you. You can change direction, 180 or 360 degrees, many times if necessary to teach your pooch to keep an eye on you, to wait, and he/she is not determining your direction.
   If you have a persistent puller I recommend seeking out a trainer to give you the tools for a better experience walking or hiking with your dog. Pulling risks injury to you and your dog. It can turn a hike or walk into a miserable march and possibly damage your dogs trachea. That's how Kennedy and I met Clay! I tried everything, even a no choke harness and he would pull till he choked himself. I made the investment for one training session with Clay and the proper professional collar. It's a difference of night and day.
    If you should happen to end up with an aggressive dog, take it to a professional trainer. Do not risk injury to yourself, another person and a sad ending for your pooch. Aggressive behavior can be corrected but it is best reserved for those with the right training and know how.
   Fido is bonding with the family and learning new things but say he/she is having trouble getting the hang of a few things. Time to find that trainer! Word of mouth is always wonderful but here are a few things to look for to make sure the trainer you choose is right for you and your pooch:
*The best trainers have years of experience and have trained hundreds if not a thousand dogs or more.
*Body language of the trainer should immediately let Fido know whose in charge
*The trainer should be able to quickly read the dog and determine his demeanor.
*If the cost is cheap it's a good sign the trainer is new or new to the area (proceed with your own judgement)
*You're going to need to know how to apply everything Fido is learning so the trainer should take the time near the end of training to include you as well. 
*Should the trainer have a waiting list, consider it a good sign.
*You can also ask for a free evaluation, this way you can watch the trainer work with your dog before coming to a final conclusion.
   If you happen to be local to the West Kentucky area or just in the neighborhood Clay invites you to message him on Wren's Pet Lodge's Facebook page and tag along with him on a walking training session. If you don't have your own pooch he can even lend you one! What better way to get your exercise in and get some useful training!
    I learned a lot talking to Clay during our sit down and his experience is evident just from conversation. He doesn't claim to know everything or how to handle every single issue that arises in dog training but he's not afraid to reach out to other professionals and accept suggestions. He also has a willingness to refer people to other trainers or boarders if the wait for training/boarding is to long or need too great. These traits show me that Clay and Wren's Pet Lodge isn't just about grooming, training and boarding. They care about giving and getting you and your pooch the best service possible. They not only care about the quality, they care about the end result and making sure your pack is a happy pack.
  Major thanks to Clay McElya for taking the time to talk with me and allow me to pass on this valuable information!! Thank you, Clay!

Happy Tails!!!!
  
  



 
 

   

 

  

Walking among Giants

Walking Among Giants

    Our company long departed we were aching for another outing in nature. We couldn't decide between canoeing or hiking so I left it up to my husband & what he felt like doing. When he arrived home Saturday I had received my new Osprey Daylite hiking pack in the mail and was really wanting to hit the trails but I didn't want to force him into anything.

     Finally he asked, "So what do want to get into tomorrow?" The door opened, I walked in "I want to go hiking  but we can canoe if you don't feel up to it." I replied. He agreed hiking was a fine thing to do with the weather forecasted to be so nice again for August. Highs in the upper 70's, sunny and lower humidity. Then came the dreaded question, "Where?" We always have a hard time deciding where to hike or canoe, there's so many places to choose from here in our home state of Kentucky or a short drive could land us in a myriad of places in the Shawnee National Forest over in Southern Illinois where I grew up. 

     I wanted something new, a trail my feet had never trodden on. I had just the place in mind too, Giant City State Park near Makanda, IL. We hiked there before but there were so many trails we hadn't hiked them all including what is considered their premier hiking trail, Giant City Nature Trail. The drive up would take just over an hour and a half but was sure to worth it every minute of it. 

   Our plans now made I began gathering up gear, trail maps and programming the GPS. I decided to shove some trail mix and Honey Nut Cheerios into my pack to snack on along the trail. We are always up early for such an adventure as this but rarely feel like eating that time of day and almost always regret it. I simply made sure I zipped my pack closed and set it in the floor next to the small messenger style pack we use to pack our dog's supplies with us when we travel. 

   The next morning the alarm clock blasted it's rude sound and I quickly turned it off. Before I could even get out of my bed my husband said "You're going to be mad,". It seems my little Jack Russell mix had figured out how to unzip my pack and gotten inside. He chewed a hole in the bag for my fire starting kit, and cotton balls abounded everywhere. He had also eaten half the trail mix and all the Honey Nut Cheerios I had packed!!!  As anyone with dogs know nuts of any kind, raisins & chocolate are bad for them. They can have allergic reactions as well as have the nuts lodge in their intestines and perforate a bowel. Seems the dehydrated Prunes had already worked their magic, as my husband described the little turd trail he had found in the hall also. Luckily it had been firm so clean up was easy or I'm sure my husband would have woken me up to assist, even if it had been with the sounds of him cussing, swearing, and dry heaving. 

  I did a little assessment of my pooch, making sure he was alert and didn't show any adverse effects from his Midnight munchy fest. He seemed fine, so with no obvious signs I relegated myself over the next few days to watching his scat for any signs of bowel issues. At this point I was more concerned with my pup's health and the fact he hadn't actually tore up my brand new pack I couldn't be mad.
  We loaded up the gear with the dog becoming ever increasingly excited and headed out just after 6am. I had already planned to stop and pick up a few picnic supplies on the way up to Makanda and now added pack snack to the list of items to pick up. 

  There seems to be many different ways into Giant City State Park but I wanted to stick to the route I was familiar with. which was turning off US 51, going through the tiny town of Makanda and entering through the main entrance. Besides the PDF print out I had found on the internet didn't give the names of the roads within the park, actually 99% of the roads on the map are with out names. Awesome map. I only knew the trail we wanted to hike was on the way to the lodge and near picnic shelter #3 so I figured we'd follow the park signs to where we needed to be. 

  It was a little tricky navigating the park but following the signage we found where we were supposed to be and parked the car in the lot. Once we sprayed ourselves down with bug spray, I hefted my pack onto my back and we hit the trail.

  The trail is described as 1 mile in length and rugged terrain although the trail was made up of gravel. The start of the trail was a slight hill with a fork at the top and the first sign of the Sandstone bluffs we were to hike around. To the left was another hill and somewhere beyond that some people making boisterous laughter so we decided to go right.  Apparently they hadn't read the signage at the trail head or my previous blog about trail etiquette. Fortunately they quieted down quickly and were soon off the trail all together.

  My calves began to cramp almost immediately going up the little hill, but I needed this. I needed to sweat, to huff, to puff, to cramp, to feel that itchiness on my skin that comes from sweating in the woods. I needed it for a couple of reasons; One being to get into better shape, Two being, I need the woods to sooth my soul, to stroke away the stress and the hustle and bustle of the busy world.
    I was in automatic awe of the trail, the Sandstone bluff held many nooks, crannies, and crevices some with ferns, trees and other flora jutting out where they could. Moss clung to the rocks in many places, small patches to large swaths covering entire boulders. There were numerous offshoots from the trail, most leading up into the bluffs, others were simply washes where recent rains had made their own paths trailing down from  the bluff and across the trail. A person could get lost on these off shoots, even if not physically lost, just lost in the world of giant Sandstone bluffs and all they had to offer for exploration.
  We took the time to meander down one of these offshoots, following the packed dirt path between boulders and back to the main Sandstone bluff. We found a couple names carved into one of the smaller boulders and researching showed them to be from the Civil War era, etched by former owners of the land with eerie precision.
  The sweat was already starting to soak our clothes, making them cling to us. What little breeze blew didn't make it's way into the forest or around the bluff very well. For a cool Summer day in August with temps only in the 70's, it sure was sweltering in these woods.
   That queasy feeling began to hit my belly, telling me it was time to try to eat a bite so I broke out the Nature Valley bars I had picked up and found a seat atop a small boulder. Our dog perched himself next to me and commenced to whine while looking at my pack, as if I was to pull something out for him also. I simply informed him he'd eaten all the trail snacks once already, he didn't need more.
   I hadn't gotten a water bladder yet for my pack so I had to pack bottled water which we shared between us and with the pup. I carry a small collapsible dog dish that can be used for food or water, it's made water proof cloth, cleans up easy and can't weigh a tenth of an ounce.
   One Nature Valley bar was all I could stomach (I'm assuming others have dealt with the inability to eat so early in the mornings), and it was enough to make my tummy hush it's complaints so we headed back out to the main trail. There was what appeared to be a narrow trail leading up and over the edge of the bluff, cut into the steep incline and stone escarpment. We decided to stick to the main trail, especially since this was our first trip and I have a tendency to be accident prone.

   My body and I have tend to have a love/hate relationship. I love to do things, adventure, explore, hike, etc. It loves to make me pay for it and every little tumble I've ever taken in my life along with it which I absolutely hate. It limits me with how much I can and how often I can do it. Today was my day though, my body may make me pay for it later but right here, right now was mine.
     We made our way down the trail, marveling at everything we set eyes upon. We again followed an offshoot back to a small Sandstone overhang where my husband looked for Native American activity from the past. You aren't allowed to "rock hunt" or take any artifacts with you but you can turn them into the State Park where they will be studied then put on display.

  My feet began to hurt a bit, directly in front of my heel. Memory foam is great in your sneakers, until you switch to hiking boots and hit the trail. Note: Buy insoles for hiking boots.
    We continued on and when we rounded the next bend I was in full wonderment. A long wooden boardwalk skirted next to the enormous Sandstone bluff we had been circling. It's exposed face on one side and moss covered rocks dotted the forest on the opposite side. It felt like I was walking in a Fairy Tale world.

                                                                                                                                                                       Once past the boardwalk we made our way a little further down the trail, rounding yet another bend I went from wonderment to Environmental Orgasm. Massively tall Sandstone towers stood on either side of the trail, a fully grown tree jutted up in the midst of them and made it's way to the sky over the ledge of one of the monoliths. Tendrils of flora hung down from the ledges and more moss clung in patches to it's face.

 We made our way down the "Giant City Streets" and came to a corner in the bluff. A sign hung upon the rock wall, telling us which way to continue, as if we had an option here. I had no plans to scale the exposed Sandstone walls or go back the way I came. We paused to soak up what little breeze could be felt in the corner and noted most of the breeze was coming from a crack in the rock wall.

   Standing on the corner of the "Street" we could see another trail sign that pointed us to the left but we couldn't help wandering past it to explore what was on the next "block". Unfortunately the next block didn't lead anywhere more amazing than we were already but I did note another name carved into the rock wall with the same eerie precision as the others.

 We turned back and followed the second sign telling us which way to go. The path became extremely narrow and I worried for a moment with my pack on my back that I may become stuck like Pooh Bear in a Honey tree. I found it plenty wide enough to fit through with some room to spare.

Towards the end of this narrow little street was a huge boulder balanced upon a tiny little point of another rock. Clearly it had broken off the main bluff some years ago and fallen away but how it managed to land there and remain perched there was an astonishing feet. Mother Nature and the laws of gravity had seemed to reach a compromise. It was slightly unnerving to have to pass under it and continue on the trail but what are the odds of it taking it's final spill just as I passed? Don't anyone answer that or I may never be able to do anything similar again.

  Now clear of the the balancing boulder of death we came upon another small flight of wooden stairs and wooden boardwalk. My right knee began to ache a bit and I had to shift to leading with my left going down the steps. Most hikers dread the uphill and I do as well to a degree but find the downhill just as taxing also. I began to realize why this trail is described as Rugged despite the gravel path.
   We rounded yet another bend in the trail, and passed between more enormous boulders before finding ourselves to be on the other side of the bluff. Here the breeze could be felt rushing through the trees. I found yet another perfect sitting rock, perched myself atop and shucked off my pack. I wasn't out of breath or spent, I just wanted to feel the cool Summer breeze, listen to the bugs sing their songs of love, and enjoy the beauty around me.

  The sweat finally drying on our bodies, I decided to pick my self up, climb the next hill and create more sweat. We plodded down the trail past more boulders laying on the forest floor and the main Sandstone bluff to our left now exposed in places although the faces of it were becoming shorter and shorter as we progressed. It was clear we were coming back to the trail head and our little hike was soon over.
   I felt a little tired, my calves a little sore from the cramping, the bottom of my feet still aching and it felt good! In fact it felt so good I insisted upon another short trail after an early lunch break. Just a short little stroll down to Devil's Standtable.

  This trail also started with a hill on a gravel path, and landscape timbers cut into the trail to keep it from eroding. At the top of the hill we were facing another huge Sandstone bluff. No sooner than we reached the top of the hill and made a few paces down the trail my husband began to protest. His feet were beginning to bother him as well. The heavy boots he'd chosen were beginning to rub the tops of his feet.

  I debated turning back and he offered to wait on the trail for me if I pressed on. I took the leash from him and plodded several steps ahead when I spotted a large overhang in the bluff ahead and a small wooden foot bridge over a seasonal creek that held that last remnants of the latest rains. This spurred my husband forward and we pressed on down the now packed dirt path to the overhang.

   We could hear water running but could see none, it became evident it was flowing under the bluff. I made my way to the little foot bridge, leaving my husband near the over hang. It seems when rain is falling or there is enough run off at this point in the bluff there is a waterfall but not today. We soon saw and heard several bats flying about the bluff, maybe protesting our encroachment on their home. After a quick pause to take a couple photos and allow my husband to rejoin me we continued on up the trail.  I had no urge to wait for a bat to come along and swoop down into my hair causing me to freak out, running and screaming through the woods, flailing my hands above my head like some crazed madwoman.

   We soon came to the Devil's Standtable which wasn't easy to see given all the undergrowth in the forest. I think my husband was more thankful for the sign that not only informed us about Devil's Standtable but also pointed us towards the trail exit.
  I had completed my goal for the weekend, I hiked Giant City State Park Nature Trail and even topped off the trip with a short second trail. The Nature Trail is advertised as just 1 mile, but there is a lot of up/down hills (RUGGED is right) plus by the time you wander the off shoots and back to the main trail I'm sure it's closer to almost 2 miles. I was spent, I knew there was nothing left in my tank for that day. It would take all I had to make the hour and a half drive home then finish some house work I had left behind. Thank god for cruise control! I'm definitely making a return trip and exploring more of Giant City State Park!

Adventure Awaits!!!