Hiking Wildcat

Sunday morning we went hiking at Wildcat State Park. 

The State Parks have a rule about leashed dogs which I follow strictly. When I stop to take photos, along a trail, I generally step on the leashes and tell them to sit. Hannah is learning what it is like to be a 'photography' assistant. 

It has taken all of my dogs at least a year to understand that they have to be near me when I stop for photos. Charlie is an expert now and I expect Hannah will be in another year [I hope!]

Anyway.

I was pretty unhappy to have to scramble when a gent with two angry Corgis and one angry mixed breed dog came charging at us growling off leash. 

To his credit, the owner tackled them and struggled to hang on to them while they were snarling and growling.

He grabbed them by their vests in the brush and it was all he could do to hold them. 

I passed without saying a word. But you bet I had a few things I wanted to say.

Hannah is trying out a reflective vest that Charlie has worn for a few years. It fits her perfectly. It never fit Charlie very well but I did find a new vest for him which should arrive some time on Monday.

This is a cool little footbridge over a ravine.

I knew that we'd meet other hikers as this is a well visited trail. When we saw other hikers coming, I'd take my dogs off the trail and work with Hannah on her sit and reactions to other people walking by.

She did pretty good when the other hikers ignored her, she came undone and bouncy when people started to coo to her. 

The Old Settler's Trail at Wildcat is a no hunting/no trapping zone in the park which is why I decided to go there. 

Pheasant season opened this weekend and the Reserve is usually packed with hunters and their pheasant dogs. The hunters I've met there have always been polite and mostly in complete control of their hounds.

Thankfully, we had hiked the coolest part of the trail along the sandstone/limestone/karst bluffs before the trail got busy with other hikers.

I got this beautiful abstract of lichen growing on the side of the sandstone.

Below that was some of my favorite mosses to find.

Snakeskin Liverwort

It grows in high moisture areas along bluffs and near springs. This was evidence of a fairly wet year for our area.

The hike was pleasant, out of the winds, and very unhurried.  We did come across more dogs on our hike and these dogs were so well behaved it made me blush.

Reminder to myself though, on a perfect fall weekend day, don't chose the most popular hiking trail in the area to explore.

Sunny Sunday

I wanted to look for skunk cabbage as I've seen Leeks coming up in other areas so I chose a trail that has a couple of wetland areas to look for them. The North Hay Valley Trail is one of the more hilly trails on the Reserve. After climbing up two ridges, we went down into this little valley.

I let the dogs roam around with me looking for signs of plants with no luck. However I did jump back and forth across the stream and called Hannah. She complied and after about 4 jumps, I got a shot of her leaping in midair.

According to a puppy every leaf and stick deserves her full attention. It is hard to see here but she has a mouthful of oak leaves.

She is almost as tall as Charlie now and almost as long as his Dachshund body is. However she is built so daintily compared to his huge chest and muscular build.

The line attached to her is to step on or grab if she is getting into trouble. I'm also using it as a leash. It is parachute cord and very lightweight. 

I've used this method since the 1980's. 

Charlie jumps up on a log to avoid Hannah. However Hannah will probably develop some amazing jumping skills herself. 

We were going to turn around and hike back to the car from this point, but it would almost be equidistant to do the entire loop.

So we forged onward.

I did give Charlie a carry for a while to give him a rest as at one point he seemed almost too warm. He recovered well after getting a huge drink of water from me.

Hannah got a lift too for a while. She is still a pup and growing. She didn't want to get carried at all. Goofy girl.

This may be the only structure left in the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. I almost wish someone would clean all the debris off from it. This section of trail is pretty rough with down branches and deep ruts. I've been inside of it and admired the handywork of those who laid the stone building.

Towards the end of the trail, I came up on a perfect spot for some toy photography. Hannah nosed things down a couple of times before she learned that the toys were not food and she was supposed to 'leave it'.

Wall-E and Eve wish you a good Monday.

Distance: Just under 5 miles with lots of rest stops for the dogs.