That Tough Little Dog

Thursday morning, I looked at the weather and decided that even if it was really windy, I would go on my hike.

There are ways to avoid winds when you live in an area that is steeped with hills and valleys.

Charlie is finally getting used to his Hi-Vis vest. It isn't a coat but more of a canvas vest with bright colors and reflective strips on it. He gets excited now when I bring it out of its basket. He knows we are going on a car ride and hike. 

You would think that such a short little dog like him would be reluctant to go on hikes.
Nope. Charlie lives for cooler weather and adventure. 

Of course he has been raised as a hiking dog from the get go. So he doesn't know that most of his kind of mixed breed prefer the couch and long days of napping. He can do that too, in fact he can excel at it. 

Now if I grab a backpack he is on high alert and watches me like a hawk.

Once we got on the trail, he trotted forward. He does stop and make sure I am coming along. A few times he slowed to a crawl and had me go ahead. He seemed hesitant. He may have smelled coyotes or other creatures.

Cellphone shot looking up at Hanson's Rock

Trail below Hanson's Rock.
I love both the trail that goes on top of the rock and the steep
trail that goes around the bottom of the rock formation.

Short video of a 360 view of where we were standing-- almost 30 seconds.

It was an amazing walk through the steep valleys near Hanson's Rock. Parts of the trail were pretty intense for footing because of the deep leaves. Under the leaves there are roots and rocks that would be ankle turners if one didn't exercise caution. 

I even broke off a nice stick and used it as a walking stick to negotiate the worst section. I do recall riding this part of the trail in 1996 and being thankful that I was on a mule that seemed not to be bothered by the footing.

We headed down towards the most remote campsite on the Kickapoo Valley Reserve at campsite F. From any trail head you choose, it is over a 3 mile trek to get to. Charlie and I took a break there and shared and apple and some water.

We found the foundation of the old spring house and explored that. The fresh watercress smelled amazing.

The rest of our journey was rather unexciting, we just tried to hurry up a bit so I could get home before dark. We took the West Ridge trail back which is wider than some of the other trails and is better maintained.

I thought Charlie would collapse and fall asleep in his little car seat. He didn't. He sat up and made sure I navigated properly in order to get home.

Once at home, he shed his vest and assisted me with chores before taking a snooze on the couch.

That is one tough little dog!

5.81 miles

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!

Hoot Owl Trail at KVR

I had a few hours in the afternoon to myself so Charlie and I headed out to the 'dreaded' Hoot Owl Trail at KVR.

I say dreaded as I don't really mean it. The only part I was anxious about was the stream crossing which was just over knee deep. 

I'd done it last year with Bill and walked right through it with my boots on.

Anyway, I had decided to take my boots and socks off this time and do it. I had avoided this trail because of the water crossing all summer.

I figured Fall was on its way in, so I better get it done before the cold weather settled in.

Here is Charlie exploring a beautiful view from a bluff. I couldn't pass this up and not spend a few moments gazing down at Warner Creek and Big Valley Road.

 As we started the trail, we met a large group of riders. The lead lady pointed to Big Valley Trail and said they should take that back to their trailers.

I asked where they were parked. Where they were the ones on Cut Off Road by the Million Dollar Bridge? Yes, they were. 

I noted that Big Valley Trail was really nice but they'd end up North of Rockton on Hwy 131 and they'd have to route to the 9-10 Trail, then to Dutch Hollow and then ride through Rockton on the road and ride back over the bridge.

The lady picked up her cell phone and tapped it while trying to hold her horse still. She stared at it and said she was trying to pick up the map on her phone.

[Ahhhh. Cell Phones are the bane of those at KVR. So many areas of the Reserve have no good cell service.]

I asked if she had a paper map. She did not.

I said if they went up Big Valley then they'd add about 4 miles to their ride and have to ride the horses over that huge bridge.

Anyway, I pointed them back to where they could hook up with Hoot Owl/Cut Off that would take them back to their rigs. It would back track for them, but they wouldn't have to deal with 131 traffic.

They all seemed relieved and of course they had to ask if Charlie was a mini Rottweiler. He isn't.

Charlie and I bid them a good day and off we went.

Charlie was the pace setter. The temperature was in the 50's and the trail was clear.

He was on a Mission: 

The first section of the trail winds along under the canopy of the forest and partially alongside and above Warner Creek. You may feel lost in the woods, but if one listens carefully, they can hear the light traffic on County P not far away.

The trail drops down into a valley on the second section. 

And the Fall colors are showing on the Sumac and starting on some of the trees.

Just before the dreaded stream crossing, there is an old sign that says .... Points down....

There used to be a farm somewhere near or around this sign. It is in the low land so I assume the farm was flooded often in heavy rains, or the land was acquired by the Government during the Dam Project.

We got to the stream crossing. Of course I thought I was being so wise to take off my boots and drap them over my neck, pick up Charlie and ... I forged ahead.

In the middle of the creek I'd wished I'd left my boots on. The rocks were slippery and some were sharp. The water was frigid. If anyone would have watched, they would have laughed at us. 

Me...tippy toeing through the frigid water, holding a 13 pound dog across my chest and telling the little dog that I promised not to drop him. He was clinging to me like velcro. He doesn't like water that is deeper than he is tall.

We made it and I walked out to County P barefoot as Charlie charged ahead. 

In the end, I think it was a good decision to take off the boots. We had another mile and a half to go on the last section of the Hoot Owl Trail. We covered that quickly and ran into another group of ladies with beautiful horses.

Using Trail Etiquette, I picked up Charlie and talked with them as they approached and didn't jump around or make any strange movements.
I have yet to have a rude encounter with other hikers, hunters, bicyclists, or riders on the Reserve. [Other than that lady whose dog bit Charlie this spring]

We got to the end of the trail without any issues at all. Charlie trotted the whole way except for the stream crossing. We hiked nearly 4 miles and enjoyed each step of the way.

The scenery was beautiful and the weather was perfect.

My one regret is not having a truck and trailer so I could ride these trails again. However, I think by walking/hiking them, I get to see so much more.

And...

Now I am totally finished with the Eastern section of trails, as well as all of the far south east trails and all of the North west section trails. 

I was going to hike with my nephew and his wife on Saturday to complete one 2 mile section, however this is the weekend of the Dam Challenge. The trails I wanted to go on will be used for a 3.5 mile run.

The Dam Challenge has a 7 mile canoe trip, a 14 mile bicycle ride, and a 3.5 mile run.

I may take my nephew and his wife back to my favorite stomping grounds near the ice caves which will be far away from all the hoopla.

Sections 46, 47, & 48 Completed.

Rock 'n Roll

 

Thought I'd have some fun with a different look. This is from the last day in February and the photos were of course shot in Infrared with a 665nm filter. 

Just playing with some art conceptions. High key concepts are fun as well as low key. 

Hint: I got sidetracked again while putting things away in the spare room. I messed with some old fiber board and a piece of white painted plywood. 

I was hoping for a wild and wooly snow melt but it doesn't look as though that is going to happen.

Charlie and I have been cruising the valley looking for signs of the big melt. What I am seeing instead is that due to the dry fall we had, it seems the snow is melting slow enough to soak into the ground.

The Ice Fingers are all gone now with night time temps staying just below freezing. 

Charlie and I hiked for a few hours yesterday in the valley. I stopped for a bit to work on the project I have way back by the obnoxious neighbor's empty land. I actually go to this spot a lot for picnics in the spring and summer. In the spring the patches of Leeks cover the forest floor.

We eventually made our way back down to the creek and headed home. 

Mr. Charlie is getting to be a pretty good assistant. He was tired enough to sit on a rock and watch as I knelt down in the creek to look for Caddisfly houses.

I have some really cool shots of him that I got yesterday. I haven't pulled the photos off yet as they are on the Infrared Camera. 

I'm taking my friend Bill today for a new hike at KVR. We'll park at Horse Camp aka as Willow Camp at Star Valley. Willow trail to old 131 ... a peek at the river ... then on to the pond and back up Star Valley road to the parking area. Bill wanted another easier hike so I picked a rout that would be a nice loop for him and Charlie.

Funny enough how this short legged guy just loves hiking. My cousin told me that Weiner dogs are notorious for disliking hikes. Charlie doesn't know that...I haven't told him that his 3 inch crooked legs were not made for hiking. The lady that I got Charlie from also said that his Pekinese half would be super lazy.

He can't handle the heat, but he sure loves wet, muddy, snowy, sloppy, trails. I didn't think he'd be up for another hike today but as soon as I started putting things in a back pack...

he went and sat on it.

He's ready to rock 'n roll.

Happy Birthday Charlie

Yep, I usually get this end of the dog when we head out for our afternoon walk/hike to the creek and back.

To an incredible little dog who thinks the sun rises and sets on my husband.

Rich talks with him all of the time and I see him absently petting Charlie when they sit and watch westerns on the TV. Charlie listens intently until his eyes droop and he falls asleep next to his friend. I have a sense that Charlie is somehow aware that he is needed this way.

Happy Birthday Charlie.

We are so honored to have you as our Master.

Thank you, thank you...

Thank you.

 

The Hunt for Blue Ice

In 2015, Mr. Morris and I found an amazing place where spring seeped water out between rocks in a deep dry run.
In the summer this area stays shadowed because of its position and the heavy forest canopy.

In the winter the trees are bare and the winter sun barely breaks over the edge of the ridge. The water seeps and freezes, seeps and freezes. 

I used to think that certain minerals caused the ice to look a certain color. I may be a little right when water seeps over red clay and gives the ice a reddish orange color. But blue ice has a different explanation. It has to do with the the light refraction and what part of the light spectrum is absorbed and which color is reflected.

All that aside. 

In 2015, the ice looked blue.

I wanted to take Charlie to the East end of the valley and see if the ice was forming with the sudden freeze we'd had.

The land I hike on is nearly one square mile of uninhabited land with two valleys and two streams. It has been referred to as one of the more remote pieces of land in the county. And this is my neighbor's family owned land. 
Charlie and I got no more than halfway down the valley when someone in the far distance started shooting. It was far off, but it echoed down the valley. It sounded as like an assault rifle.

Poor Charlie became a Pekenhund Puddle of nerves. Or if you like a PekenPuddle. Anytime I knelt down to peer at something interesting or try to photograph it, Charlie pawed his way into my lap, my leg, or tried to get on my back if I was low enough.
Poor thing. I picked him up and carefully continued down the valley carrying him over icy rocks and negotiating stream crossings.

The Big Spring

When we got to the Big Spring, Charlie could barely be consoled. I had to photograph this while sitting on a root with my feet planted in the spring water and Charlie in my lap. 

This spot is always interesting. This huge spring bubbles up at the base of this steep hill. In cold snaps anything sticking out of the spring is covered in beautiful frost.

The gunfire stopped and we headed around the bend towards the steep dry run.

And it was a beautiful sight.
Charlie and I made our way up the dry run to the tiny spring.

Here is what happens when Charlie 'helps'. I was trying to photograph the tiny spring seeping out of the rocks...

You guessed it, whoever got the assault rifle had reloaded and was popping off again in the far distance. That was too close for Charlie.

We were done. We found the Blue [ish] Ice and visited the Big Spring. The little dog was ready to go home and dive into his blankets on the couch for a long nap.

...and I felt good deep inside.

Nature always seems to do that for me.