Which way?

I do have a habit of wandering sometimes. It is just what I do. I'm happy that Charlie doesn't mind doing it with me. Of course we get into brush-busting and then I have to carry him. 

The map for the trail was simple enough. Out and back. Trail length 1 mile. 

But Charlie and I took a detour and followed an old road bed that was probably a farm road or perhaps an old logging road.

It looked clear enough to follow.
Until it wasn't.

We could have turned around, but we didn't. I was sure I'd find an old trail but I found tall weeds and lots of fallen logs that I couldn't see. At some point in time, someone harvested the pines and left a lot of logs on the old road.
Now they were covered in undergrowth and it made carrying Charlie a bit dicey.

So I turned to the west through the deep forest. Eventually I'd come back to the marked trail.

Huh.

What we found instead was a clear forest floor full of Cancer Root. It made sense as we were in a towering forest of oak trees. Cancer Root or the scientific name: Conopholis americana, is a parasitic plant that grows on the roots of oak trees. Since it has no chlorophyll, it appears a yellowish color and not green.

This forest would have been a perfect set for a Halloween Movie! It looked like dead hands and fuzzy fingers reaching out of the forest everywhere!

These are weird and strange and utterly fantastic. I was hot and tired from climbing out of the valley to the ridgetop so those shots are just snaps with the cell phone.

As predicted, I eventually found the trail. Um.

"Holy Crap Charlie, it looks like this poor hiker has seen better times! I wonder if they went in the wrong direction also?" 
I'm always amused at the trail markers and if they are beat up, I imagine there is a story to it. This hiker looked as if it was on its last legs. I hope the hiker survived.

See the trail?

No, I don't either. However, if you had Charlie along and some sharp eyes, you could find the faint path of dirt.

It suddenly got more interesting.

Is this confusing or what?

I think this sign means: Gosh, we got lost ... so you can go this way or....maybe that way!

I followed the faint footpath that dead ended on a rock outcrop. 

I made a mental note to come back when the leaves had dropped so I could see the incredible landscape that was around me. 

There was no trail that I could find coming off the rock so I back tracked past the trail sign and couldn't find even a whisper of a trail.

Charlie and I sat on a log and shared an apple while I thought about things. I could hear the highway to the west and just below me. I wasn't lost at all. But I was frustrated at not finding a very well marked trail. No one had cleared the huge oaks that had crashed down over the trail either. In places I'd had to brush bust through wood nettles to get back on trail.

What to do.
Simple.
Years ago mules and horses came through here to the rock look out. Knowing the folks that I rode with, there would be a trail near the bottom of the rocks.

And we carefully came off the rock and searched near the base for the old trail. It would be a slight indention in the ground.

There it was.

Charlie was able to follow it easily and seemed to know exactly where he was going. How do dogs do that?

After about 15 minutes of fast walking, we hit the main trail which was an old road. Rich told me that they used to drive their trucks and trailers right up to the top of the ridge and then camp.

Easy peasy. We did it.
The trail description indicates that this trail is a 1 mile lollypop loop.

My MapMyHike app showed that Charlie and I did 2 3/4 miles. I have to admit that we may have missed the so many cool things had we just stuck to the trail in the first place.

We sat in the back of the 'Ru while the interior cooled off. Charlie sat in the shade and gave me this look after I asked him: What did you think of that hike?

In the end. We figured it out and I definitely think this trail would be prettier in the fall and winter. I will have a do-over later this year.

Another fantastic afternoon of exploring and wandering...and not getting lost.

Teaching Bill to Orienteer...

The above photo is from the steep rise on the West Ridge Trail. We started at Pott's Corners and came up the steep hill. In the winter, this is a snowmobile trail and multi use trail. In the summer, it is used by hikers, equine, and bicyclists.

On a whim I texted Bill late on Sunday and told him I was going to take advantage of the unusual weather to hike on Monday. He texted back "I'm IN!"

The light was amazing and the Autumnal Haze was pretty thick. It created a surreal scene as we walked up through the shadows of the trees.

I gave Bill a running commentary about where I thought we would end up on the West Ridge Trail. I told him we'd probably come right up to those incredible rocks we found in the spring of 2020. He was skeptical.

I wasn't. I'd seen the West Ridge Trail from the top of the rocks and knew it was there. Plus I study the maps from the reserve.

We found the rock formation.

I asked Bill if he wanted a closer look and he asked if we could get up on top. 

And yes, we did.

View from the top looking east.

Bill told me we were looking in another direction by his reckoning. I got out the map of the KVR and dropped my really nice compass on it. I oriented it for him and he was mildly surprised. 

In my backpack, I carry an updated map of the reserve, a compass, and a topographical map.

This way I can be fairly confident when cutting across the land to find my way and not get lost in all of the hills and valleys.

Believe me, directions can get confusing. All it took is one time of going down the wrong trail to convince me that I had to be much more aware.
I include a firestarter cube along with waterproof matches and a lighter. Also included it an emergency blanket in my backpack.

We did get up on top of the rock ridge and that put us on Hanson Rock Trail. There, Bill wanted to head south and I told him we had parked at Pott's Corners to the north. 

I told him if we followed the rock ridge we'd cut off distance back to the vehicles and end up back on the trail we wanted. This time, I had him figure out the direction and carry the compass for a bit.

With no trail to follow, the land looks very intimating. 

Bill said he'd just follow me. But I had him stop and read the compass a few more times.

 

Within a few minutes of walking, we stood on a rock out crop and peered down on the Hanson Rock Trail. Bill recognized the spot. 
Here is Bill, happy that we were not lost in the Wild.

The detour was well worth it.

This is a rock outcrop that cannot be seen from the trail. It is worth meandering about to see these formations.

We descended off the small bluff and Bill handed me the compass. I asked him if he'd like one for Christmas. He said he'd get his wife one. He wants her to enjoy hiking too. She retires from her nursing career in December and he is hoping to get her to enjoy discovering the outdoors. She already is an amazing wild flower gardener.

We walked along enjoying Charlie's fearless leading along with the amazing warm weather.

We stopped to admire some Shining Firmoss Plants. Okay, I didn't know what they were when we found them, but after hours of searching, I did find a name. I believe it is a vascular plant and not truly a moss?

I need to do some more research.

And the rest of the trip was downhill. As .. well, we were walking off a steep ridge.

The shadows were getting long but left incredible patterns across the trail.

And that...

was

my Monday

adventure.