Forest Bathing

Well I've been back at the hiking trails with great enthusiasm. Of course my buddy Bill asked if we could hike together after he has taken a year off from hiking.
He needed to get some health issues taken care of that he had been trying to ignore. But one needs to breath in order to continue to exercise like he wishes to do. 

We hiked a nice easy trail called Big Valley. It goes from Highway 131 to Big Valley Road and is 2.5 miles long. The trail is pretty well maintained and has very gentle hills. It was warm and muggy when we started out with misty wet stuff coming down, but we went anyway.

We walked and talked. It was nice to catch up on things with Bill. We didn't solve the world's problems, but we just enjoyed the trail and the conversation.

The skies stayed gloomy and overcast and we actually hoped for some rainfall that didn't happen other than a light mist. The colors are changing and the grasses are drying up quickly in this drought.

We talked about the predictions for winter. Would we get a lot of snow and cold? I'd be okay with that.

At the end of the Big Valley Trail, we walked across the road to the trail head for Hoot Owl Trail and admired the rocks and amazing trees.

We stood for a bit and just admired the wonders of the area we live in.

This is the kind of activity that refreshes me and keeps me sane. 

Forest Bathing [National Geographic Article on it]or Shinrin-Yoku is a thing. Did you know that? I didn't. You can even book a session with someone to experience Forest Bathing or Forest Immersion Therapy.
A person can become a certified Forest Therapy Guide. Did you know that? Nope. I didn't either. 

Um.
Thank you, I'll just hike with a pal or Charlie.

I always feel calm and relaxed after a walk in the woods. 

What Challenges do you face?

 

How about doing a the Trail Challenge with a toddler? We took Aiden with us yesterday -- Charlie too. This little guy will turn 2 in a few months. 

At one time I was told that Charlie was too tiny of a dog to accomplish something like the Trail Challenge of 59+ miles. We did it.

A week ago, as I was hiking with Olive on one of our uncharted adventures, I mentioned the Trail Challenge. She mentioned that her hubby and she wanted to do some serious backpacking with Aiden this coming year.

What better way to get in shape but to hike locally on tough trails? When she got home, she printed up two copies of the 2023 Trail Challenge. One for her, one for me. 

I think I said something about trying this Challenge back to back one time. But I think I was kidding.

Now I am not.  

I suggested a trail hike on Sunday morning while the snow was still crisp but the temperatures still fairly mild. I asked if she'd like to bring Aiden along and we could put him in a sled and pull him on the snow. The answer was yes.

Olive negotiates coming down a steep
hill with Aiden in the sled.

The little adventure was a win for everyone. 

Charlie got to hike and enjoy a nice long walk, 

Aiden got to ride in a sled and play in the snow. 

Olive and I got to do the girl talk thing, and Olive's hubby got a break from the little guy! 

Aiden enjoyed the weather so much that when mom tried convince him to 'come along' he did this...

And...this:

I think he was telling us to...

Stop

And

Enjoy.

You just can't be in a hurry with little people along. 

I guess we/I are/am doing the Trail Challenge again. So here we go...

The Yellow was intentional and the pink line was an exploration to see if the ponds by the bird viewing area still had ice. The ponds were still iced over. But we still finished one more tiny section.

We had seen two swans on the Kickapoo River on our drive to the Reserve.

Happy Challenges!

The Trail Challenge is

...finished. I completed it on Monday.

I thought I'd feel elated and ecstatic.

I figured I'd be jumping up and down when Charlie and I finished that last mile and I handed in the paperwork.

I waited for the skies to open and majestic music well up with some sort of inspiring music.

Nothing.

Even Charlie was subdued. He curled up in his car seat as I drove home. He rested his head on the edge of the crate so he could stare at me.

I reached over and turned on some music, the kind I'd expected to hear in my head when I finished.

I drove home in deep thought.

Rich was more excited than I was. He got up and smiled and asked how it went. 

I shrugged and made us lunch.

Section 41.

This was probably the most boring hike of all. It was mostly alongside a road from County F near the Billings Creek [not a trail anymore] to the trail head at Hay Valley on Hay Valley Road.

I had to park at Bridge 6 and walk back to the trail head because there was a large group of hunters that had taken up all of the parking area.

The most scenic part of this trail is the Kickapoo River at the bridge and the pond not far from it.

The pond had ice on its surface.

Alongside the road farmers had planted their winter wheat and cover crops which were brilliant green against the backdrop of the yellow-brown corn stalks and stubble. The sky was absolutely grey and lifeless.

At least there was no harsh wind to blast us as we walked this last section in wide open spaces. 

When we got back to the Subaru, I considered taking a shot of the two of us standing on the bridge in triumph. But it didn't feel like that at all. 

I woke up this morning and thought about what I'd done. I'd accomplished a goal that very few people were able to do. AND, I did it with Charlie at my side. I also involved a good friend for part of it.

It was a personal accomplishment. I'd done the 59 miles on their paperwork and many more with family and friends.

I found interesting trails that I'd never would have taken if I hadn't been 'forced' to. I got 'off' trail many times and found places I want to go back and explore more deeply.

Rich asked me yesterday, "What now?"

I didn't have an answer. I just shrugged.

But I thought about it a bit and over coffee this morning while watching the snow fall, I thought...

How many people on KVR's list of those who have done all the trail sections have ever had a repeat Back to Back?

What amazing things can we accomplish if we put our minds to it?

Indeed.

What next?

Maybe I'll just explore those secret places I found while hiking the trails. Who knows?

West Ridge Trail Section 17

I have to say that those short legs Charlie has are pretty amazing. The weather was warm but overcast. It drizzled on the car as we drove to KVR.

Charlie was anxious to get going and jumped out of the car when I opened the door. He waited patiently for me to get out and grab the back pack.

Then we were off. I have hiked the south end of the West Ridge Trail twice before. Once in June of last year when the foliage and undergrowth in the woods thick and green. I didn't think much of it at the time as it was part of the last 2 miles of a long hike. At that time I just wanted to get it done.

I took my old old IR camera with me and swapped out filters. The top shot was shot in IR and the bottom in regular color. The reason I put this trail last on my list is that I recalled it as being rather boring. The first 3/4 of a mile is wide and follows along a snowmobile trail. 

It does go into the forest and zigs and zags along the terrain. I did it last summer in June although it was pretty, I didn't pay much attention to it.

I was hot, Charlie was hot and we were just trying to get through the forest and to the end.
June 2nd last year....

However, November was a different story. 

This was approximately in the same spot on the trail but facing the other direction. I took this shot with a tripod that I could wrap around a sapling for holding the camera.

With all the undergrowth gone and the leaves down, I could see all the way down to the river. I spotted some places I wouldn't mind exploring this winter and early spring.

It was just amazing. You could see forever through the woods. 

Below is a shot through the woods towards Old 131 Trail. The white arrow points to the bird blind and the red arrow points to the wet lands that Charlie and I explored last year when the marsh was frozen.

The long draws lead down into the Valley of Ice. Named so because by late January there are a few rock shelters that have sheets of gorgeous ice covering their entrances.

I made it there last year on New Year's Eve and discovered iced rock shelters. I also met my new friend Jason and his dog Piper.

This draw leads down into an area where the ice caves are in the winter. The hike down in is not for the faint hearted!

As we headed up and out of the Valley of Ice we went through a section of the forest that has been logged. There were indications of a forest fire that must have happened many years ago.
The shot below was taken with the Infrared camera with a filter called IR Chrome. The leaves and foliage appear red with slight variations.

We eventually made it to Camp F which marked the spot we would turn around and head back. 

The return was easy and we walked up to the snowmobile trail which paralleled the hiking trail but was higher on the ridge and more open. It was a shorter walk back to the main trail.

We started towards the maintenance shed and encountered a young man with a shotgun and a pheasant. I admired the pheasant and he explained that he was walking back to the parking area also. He said he didn't want to intrude on my space so he'd wait for a bit. 

I laughed and said that he was not intruding and the company while walking could be pleasant. He let Charlie smell his pheasant and said he wished he had a retriever but his wife was afraid of dogs. 

We had a nice conversation while we walked. His grandfather hunted here as well as his father. His father took him when he was young. What a great legacy.

He headed towards his truck and said, "Have a nice day ma'am." 

Ma'am. Gosh. I guess I must be showing my age.

One more section done. One left to go.

What will we do to celebrate? I don't know.
Let's see what I think up!

Fun Trail Mishaps

 2 hrs and 46 minutes....

NO Way! Really? NO!

WAY!

MapMyHike shows approximately 8 miles done. Yeah. However the mile I did between 3 and 4 was a Whoopsie--I took a wrong turn. I won't make excuses other than perhaps I didn't pay full attention until I was going up the Steep Hill. I've walked all of these trails before and I should have known better. However, it is

what

it

is.

So what did I do? I was trying to get Sections #18 West Ridge Trail from Campsite F to intersection 5. I also needed to  knock off Section #23 from Hanson Rock Trail from Campsite F to Intersection 4.

Because the trails and sections are not set up in a neat and tidy order for hiking, I also needed to complete Section #28. Little Canada Trail from Intersection 6 to Intersection 3 on the West Ridge Trail.

ARE you confused yet? Don't be. That top map shows the sections that are broken up and there is absolutely no tidy way to get them all done without repeating other sections.

Besides, I hadn't done some of these trail sections since February. Today I got to admire them in all of their November glory.

And yes. I did a power walk. A huge power walk. The stats from the MapMyWalk average my hike at 21 minutes per mile with a changes in elevations of 1,140 feet more or less. It is hilly terrain with trails often going from the valley to the ridge with a change of 200 feet. 

This is the terrain I have lived in for 25 years so it isn't that difficult for me. The first 5 miles averaged 17 minutes per mile. 

Lordy, I was just bookin' along.

I wanted to finish it as quickly as possible today. Even more so when I realized that I'd added an extra mile by making a Whoopsie.

These were taken heading up the West Ridge Trail just to get to the first section I had yet to complete. The shadows from the trees were just too awesome.

The West Ridge Trail is also a snowmobile trail in the winter time. It is wider than most of the one track trails like Little Canada or the Ice Cave Trails.

A cool tree on Little Canada Trail Section # 28. 

November's leafless landscape allows a person to see the land in clear detail.

This is one of the rock 'shelters' on the Ice Cave Trail.

Bill in the Ice Cave Rock Shelter in February:

A picture of my shadow as I approached the turn off for Section # 23. 

Across from Campsite F is the the trail head I was looking for. There is also a foundation of what could have been someone's Spring House just off the side of the trail.

Campsite F  was occupied. This would be one of the most remote campsites as everything for this camp has to be walked in from at least 2 miles away.

I was surprised by the various rock formations I could see while hiking up towards Hanson's Rock. It had been over 20 years since I'd last seen  this trail.

Yessir. I will be back to explore the base of this rock ridge someday. I snapped a couple of shots and ate snacks as I walked.

Oh.

That's right! What about the Trail Mishaps? Wrong Way Val was one of them. The second one was filling my water bladder for my backpack. About 2 miles from where I parked I discovered that it leaked. It was a slow leak.

I had a water bottle in the car but elected not to walk back to retrieve it. Eventually the water leaked through the sweatshirt I'd tied around my waist. I had a WET BUTT. I did keep hydrated but I stopped about a mile from the end of the trail and dumped the rest of the water out. 

Thank goodness I didn't have to explain the wet pants to anyone.

My tush was so soaked that I had to put one of Charlie's towels on the car seat not to get it wet!

Hmm. Next time? I'll carry my water bottles, I guess.

In conclusion. 

I goofed and added an extra mile or so to my hike.

BUT

I also enjoyed every second of it.

2 Trails left...both out and back.

Section 37 -- Dutch Hollow

Charlie and I decided to do a short one we'd been putting off because basically it was a trail that runs along the highway. The distance of the trail was .83 miles one way.

What surprised me was how warm it got. 

The trail head is right on the edge of Bridge 10 on Highway 131 and it heads towards Rockton. It is a nice trail that easily takes an equine rider, bicycle rider, or hiker straight into Rockton without much travel on the highway. This very first part is also the same trail one follows to get on the south end of the Hay Valley Trail.

This trail heads up between cropland and is well worn. Rockton Bar attracts riders, bicyclists, hikers, and motorcyclists and is famed for it Chicken Q's.
Rockton also has the most awesome fur store where a person can get fur hats. It's called Wild Things Furs. This is where I got my infamous Skunk Hat. 

[I may be looking for a Beaver or Muskrat hat this year that has a bill on it to shade my eyes from the sun.]

The trail continues through a spot with just a trickle of water. I wonder if this area would have been underwater if the dam had been finished?
I don't know.

Charlie and I made it to the end of Dutch Hollow Trail. Charlie was having trouble as he got really hot so close to the ground on a trail  that basically was a 6 inch deep groove of dirt and sand from years of hooves compressing the soil.

I picked him up and we continued to hike. He wanted down when we got to a shaded area and in no time at all we were back to the parking area.

I stopped and took some photos while standing on Bridge 10. It is a pretty river and looks very quiet. However, it does rage when flooded.

We spent some time down on the canoe landing in the parking area and cooled off in the Kickapoo River.

I think this was the prettiest part of the whole experience. 

Kickapoo Bluffs along the river:

Section 37. 
Done.

On Wednesday it is supposed to be a warm one so Charlie will stay home while I do a long hike. 

I'll be picking up short sections that I haven't been able to get to yet. My best estimate is that I'll be doing approximately 7 miles in order to catch those 3 sections and make it a loop.

Monday afternoon's Map:

My Partner in Crime:

KVR Trail Challenge ~ Rockton Trails

I once in a while use mapmywalk app to get an idea of exactly where I hiked. It is a fairly useful app and it is fun to see it with a Satellite photo or Terrain photo of the area hiked.

I started at the parking area for the Canoe launch and landing site #12. I'd walked a good half of this route along Old 131 [which is actually Old County P--but I won't explain that].

As soon as we started, it began to sleet. I was surprised but since it was sleet and not heavy rain I wasn't bothered in the least. 

Sleet on Charlie's back:

Rocks on Old 131:

I just love seeing these little rock formations!

Charlie and I walked south along Old 131 to the first Ho Chunk bridge and then took a right to follow Indian Creek Trail. I knew from previous studies of the map, that if I simply took right hand turns at each intersection, I'd likely do just fine.

First Ho Chunk Bridge:

Second Ho Chunk Bridge:

The trail signs at KVR are pretty decent, but having a map in hand is really handy to have also. When I reached one spot in the trail I had 3 choices. Point #9 went up hill into the pines towards Black Hawk Rock, this was an equine trail. Another arrow pointed to Indian Creek Trail. The arrow to the right said Rockton Trail. That was the one I wanted.

Further on down the Rockton Trail, that trail split into two sections, both labeled Rockton trail. I knew I wanted to bear right, but I decided to check the map. One of the trails was a bicycle use only and the other was hiking/riding. 
Curious though. The Trail Challenge it does not specify exactly which trail is to be done except I decided that was a no brainer. I followed the tiny hikers that are nailed to the trees.

I was so surprised to find myself in a pine forest that had been planted many years ago. The trail wound through the pines. The ground was covered with beautiful pine needles and well...

My little pocket camera couldn't capture the sights, smells, and sounds that we experienced. But the colors were muted and amazing under the sleety/rainy/dull sky.

We entered a hardwood forest and simply had to just stop. Well, I stopped and sat on a log while Charlie explored the great smells. 

I put the camera on a delayed timer and walked away down the trail. I'm wearing a safety vest as there are pheasant hunters in the field areas. Bow season is open but those hunters are rarely near a trail.

During Gun Season, I just stay away from all forests even those on my own land.

The trail was just so beautiful along here.

The trail led us to Lisney Road for a very short jaunt before it went back into the woods. And we ended up in the field behind Rockton Bar. 

I counted 12 horses tied to the rails while their owners were probably in the Bar eating burgers. Hubby and I used to go their for lunch any time we were riding the Gov't Ground as it was called years ago.

Charlie set the pace on this hike. He loves the cooler weather and he actually has a pretty fast pace. He can cover a mile in 20 minutes which I consider fast for a dog with 3 inch front legs. 

Sections finished:
#34, #35, and #36.

5 sections left to go.
I want to get those done before Deer Gun Season!

Three of the sections are going to be a bit harder as I will have a 2 mile walk in one direction and then have to turn around and come back. I am curious as to why they include walking along the side of a county road as part of their hiking trail challenge.

Walking along a county road that can be busy at times is not really my idea of a peaceful hike. However, I'll get it done!