Monday I decided to do a Long Hike with Hannah. We'd hiked on Sunday with Charlie and I figured I'd give his little old legs a day off.
The dog is smart.
I usually make her stop at one particular stump with Charlie [on a particular trail] and they take turns sitting on the stump and getting a treat while I take their photo.
Here are some shots of Charlie on stumps over the years.
[I have to lift him onto the stumps, he can't jump up on them.]
He really could care less about sitting for a picture on a Stump.
Hannah and I started down the trail and once we got through the meadow and into the forest trail, Hannah started to jump on any stump next to the trail.
She sat and stared at me.
Funny dog, she relates stumps to treats.
Smart.
She even thought a few logs would be worthy places to get a kibble.
What a charming goofball!
Most of the trees are leafless but in the understory there were some remarkable colors that we found. It was raining lightly and these red maple leaves seemed to glow.
By the time we hit 4 miles, the sun came out.
By the time we got back to the car the clouds had moved in again.
Hannah and I had an incredibly fun long hike. I like to do those at least once a week.
Charlie stayed home to rest up his legs after Sunday's hike.
I do know that dogs have to be in good physical condition to do long hikes. They cannot be couch potatoes and just like us, they have to work up to distances. I'm pretty sure Hannah does at least double the distance than I do as she likes to run forward and then run back to me.
Her motor is always supercharged. In case you are wondering, I do take special care with her by monitoring her condition, her feet, her attitude and physical well being.
With only her along, it is a fast paced hike except for logs and stumps.
With Charlie involved also, it is a very laid back slow moving hike with many stops for examining everything around us.
After fighting a gnarly cold from Sunday morning through Wednesday morning, I decided to go kick some stuffy head a$$. When I was in my 20's and 30's I was a distance runner. I'd get a head cold and wait until I could 'just' breath and then go running. Stupid, you know? But I always felt better after getting the 'juices' flowing.
So Wednesday morning after chores I grabbed a backpack and my two cohorts [dogs] ran to sit by my car. The vote was in. I could clean house, make the bed, and dust ----> or take off and do something fun. The weather was perfect in every single way that fall can produce.
The drive to the Reserve seemed to hold the promise of something beautiful.
But since I was still not recovered from the cold [think stuffy nose and stuffy head]. I decided we'd just take it slow when we hit the trails.
And we did. I took nearly an hour for our first mile. I strolled slowly letting the dogs trot ahead looking for interesting scents.
I took a maintenance trail that is almost never used. No bikes or equines are allowed there, but foot traffic is okay.
I know that last year I stopped and photographed this wild grape vine. I've always intended to come back and see it in the winter. Maybe this year.
It almost looks like some sort of alien creature!
The shot last year was much better, but I'll have to wait until later in the year to try it again!
Last year:
The bare branches of some of the young maples under the pines held my attention as the needles have been dropping from the winds decorating the bare branches.
For fun I tried a double exposure in camera. I pointed the camera at the bright part of the forest and took a shot of my hand, then pointed at the dogs for a second exposure. The effect is rather interesting.
I swapped the camera over to B&W and serendipity gave me this view of Hannah. I liked it.
I turned and spotted this highlighted maple branch that looked like it had spikes. It is just pine needles.
We lollygagged along in no hurry, so Hannah ran off in front to be called back to me. Charlie was smart and just walked alongside me unless a smell was too overpowering.
We did greet two horse back riders. But otherwise we saw no other human. In the distant ponds in the valley we could hear Canada Geese and other waterfowl calls.
Over the years, I usually stop at this stump on the Little Canada Trail. I ask the dogs to sit on the stump for a portrait. I think these two portraits tell a tale at the different characteristics of these two dogs.
Hannah -- a goofy face.
Charlie, so stoic.
The Dragon Tree. Or.
Whatever you might see in it!
This tree has seen so much I can tell by its expression:
It took us a long time to get this trail done, but it didn't feel like it. I'm still learning to try to NOT hurry through each of my hikes but to slow down and take it all in.
Instead of going right away in the morning like I do on some days I hike, I waited until later in the day to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.
I used my 'hiking' vest to carry the essentials. Water and doggy snacks. I wasn't going to take Charlie, but the look he gave me was so pathetic, I did anyway.
I ended up carrying Charlie for nearly half of our hike. I've done that before when it was too warm for him. Short legs put him close to the ground and the reflective heat coming off the ground makes him hot.
He was either too warm or just being a Dachshund who decided he wasn't going to work very hard.
I should have left him at home. But in the end, they both enjoyed the adventures so much. After all, I wasn't trying to set a record, but just move along.
It was just one of those afternoons that were meant to enjoy the surrounding forest. I was so happy I did go. The Trillium were all over the place.
I stopped a lot to just enjoy the sights and sounds. At other times, we marched right along. At one point, I dropped Charlie's light line and he simply ran ahead as if he were a pup. I had to trot with Hannah to keep up.
I found so many patches of Dwarf Ginseng. I often forget what it looks like and have to use Google Lens to ID it.
There were patches of invasive Garlic mustard that I picked and put in a plastic bag to turn into the Reserve at the end of our hike. [I have used young garlic mustard as seasoning and it is good, maybe next year I'll dehydrate some and crush it for seasoning]
I have a hard time destroying Dame's Rocket. It is just too pretty.
That tiny black blob on the trail is Charlie. I got tired of carrying him or trying to drag him along. He followed at his own pace through the pine forest. During the ground bird nesting season, I do keep him close and use his beeper collar to keep him from seeking out nests.
He sure does have the stubbornness his Dachshund and Pekinese parents. He does things *His Way*. I love it.
This beautiful trail is one of the most hiked ones on the Reserve ... well, hiked, equine riding, and bike riding that is.
Here is the Kickapoo River which has gone down in its water level since our last hike through here on April 27th.
When we finally reached that last leg of our hike on Old 131, Charlie perked up and set the pace. We stopped here at this pond to watch Canada Geese and Goslings swimming. We saw what I think was a Beaver peeking at us before it disappeared into a mound of sticks in the opposite pond.
If anyone is wondering why I have beeper collars on the dogs, it is in case I drop their leash and they decide to chase through the underbrush. I can beep them back to me. It is a safety measure for them. I lost Charlie in my forest for an hour when he was a pup.
I trained him long time ago [and Hannah now] to come when beeped. It is never a punishment.
Oh and if you haven't guessed it by now. I think my life is ruled by my dogs and mules. Dogs and mules don't lie to you or BS you. They are honest as the day is long.
And ... they are without a doubt always thinking that their purpose in life is to be my friends.
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Miles hiked: 9.84 Time? Not an issue, but nearly 4 hrs with lots of breaks
Gear: Merrill running/hiking Janii shoes [not as good as my other ones, but no sore feet]
Temperatures averaged 75 F
Steps? Most steps in a day according to Garmin. Huh: 28,622
[that must include my chores, checking fences, sunrise walk, and whatever else I did during the day]
How did I feel? Uffdah. Well, my low back hurt from carrying Charlie a lot. Iced later.
Hannah: full of energy all of the way Charlie: was himself, *don't rush me!*
Thursday I took Hannah and left Charlie at home. I wanted to do a 'hard and swift' hike. I had the route all planned out.
I was using my running vest instead of a backpack.
They sort of look like this:
It is so light! It is nice to carry water and a few useful items in the pocket in back.
My average with Hannah was pretty fast. The fastest pace I set was 12 minutes for a mile. Hannah and I had a blast.
Whoo hoo!
With all of that aside, we saw some amazing sights. Imagine a valley floor covered in Dutchman's Breeches!
We found patches of Blood Root deep in the forest.
Alongside the trail we found hundreds of Trout Lilies.
We took quite a few short breaks. Hannah is a pup so I want to be careful with her.
I have this old coffee cup snapped to my belt loop so Hannah can drink out of it and eat kibbles so she can replenish her energy while I snack on a Protein Bar.
It works really quite well.
The West Ridge Trail was lined with Spring Beauties.
The Old Man Ice Cave looked rather sleepy when we went past.
These were morning views from Bridge 15. I really have to keep an eye on Hannah, she is a daredevil and I wouldn't put it past her to jump off the bridge. I don't think she would but I've seen her do some crazy stuff and ... she likes water.
Starting our journey before 8 o'clock was really quite nice. We had the place to ourselves. Now that we have earlier sunrises and longer days, I'll be adjusting our hike times to very early or very late.
👇
The Kickapoo River has been quite full for this month.
The backwaters have filled in and come right up to the paved trail. This area is teaming with life and will soon be producing hoards of 'skeeters and other bitey flying insects. Although, I am happy to see these areas full of water again.
Here is a link to a video. Every time we pass this spot on Little Canada Trail, she has the super zoomies. The Video is 19 seconds long and just of Hannah running up to the tree roots and then zooming around. Her pure Terrier/puppy joy creates warmth in my heart.
I'm putting it here so when I am blue, I can go back and watch it over and over again.
Our total distance for this hike [we did rest and I was very careful with Hannah]...was 8.47 miles. We got home before noon and spent the rest of the day working on flower beds.
A funny note about dogs. This was Hannah's second time on this trail. When we got a junction on Old 131 trail, she chose left which headed back to the parking area a mile away.
I imagine she either 'knew' which way was back or she was able to smell our backtrack.
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Below--->
This is to remind me what I used on this speed hike.
Total time for 5.65 miles: 1 hour:53 minutes. Rated as Moderately Difficult.
Trails taken: Old 131, Little Canada, Ice Cave Trail, start at Parking area on County P Gear: Running Vest with water, First Aid kit, Food
Foot Gear: Merrill Trail Running Shoes
Temperature: 73 F, Humid, North breeze
Additional easy/slow hike to the pond near the Mule Trail and back to County P Parking Distance: 2.70 miles Trail: Old 131, flat, paved Time: 1 hour:02 minutes.
Rest and recovery walk/hike.
At the end of May, I am doing a Birthday Hike to celebrate my 7th decade here on Earth. The goal is to hike at least 15 miles to mark it.
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