Sunday, August 23, 2009
Hard Drive Crash
Monday, August 17, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Trail Shorts: August 2009
Short stories from trails around Kentuckiana
Do You Smell Cucumbers?
On a recent hike, I joined the Louisville Hiking and Backpacking Meetup Group in Jefferson Memorial Forest. (A great group if you're looking to get into the local outdoors!) During the hike, I heard an interesting rumor about smells on the trail. That's right, smells.
Apparently, it is a popularly held belief that if you smell cucumbers while hiking, it means that there is a copperhead snake nearby. After a little research online, I could only confirm that the story is out there. I couldn't find out if it was factual though. Once I started paying attention, I noticed that distinct odor a couple of times along the Purple Heart Trail in the Tom Wallace Recreation Area. I never spotted a snake, but I will start looking when I notice the odor and I hope I can snap some pictures of the olfactory offender.
Has anyone else heard that copperheads give off the cucumber smell?
Strike a pose
I really enjoy hiking, but in reality, hiking is just the means by which I pursue my real passion, outdoor photography. Don't get me wrong, hiking is great exercise and I've come to realize that there is something almost spiritual about the serenity of a long trail in the wilds. But taking pictures of what I find out there and then finding out exactly what it is with a little research seems to speak to my secret Swedish heritage, my inner Linnaeus.
I've never splurged on any fancy equipment, and I still use the first digital camera I ever purchased (a mid range job by Panasonic). Some days, you might think you've captured some great images only to get home and find that you never really focused quite right, or the lighting was off. Any number of things can ruin pictures, but with most outdoor subjects, it comes down to their willingness to sit still long enough for you to snap a decent picture. (Birds can be especially maddening in this regard!)
On a recent hike along the Hike Bike Pike in Bernheim Forest, I was struck by the sudden willingness of several subjects to just strike a pose while I snapped multiple pictures. If I had to give one tip for taking digital photos, it would be this: when the subject sits still and you want a good image, take as many pictures as you can. Every extra shot you take increases the probability that you have at least one good image in the bunch.
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, a Tiger Swallowtail basked in the sun for 10 minutes while I snapped away and a Fence Lizard actually flexed for me.
Eastern Fence Lizard Closeup
Tiger Swallowtail
More firsts
It's been an interesting Summer in the Bluegrass for sure. We've had plenty of rain and everything is lush and green in the great outdoors in our area. Finding a new trails in Jefferson Forest (Fairmount Falls) and Bernheim Forest (Hike Bike Pike) is certainly a first for me, and I hope you get to check them both out as soon as you can.
Mushrooms continue to be a big highlight this summer and on almost any hike I've taken, I've spotted golden chanterelle mushrooms in abundance. On more than one occasion, I've spotted patches of these culinary delectables that contained at least 50 mushrooms, each about the size of my fist. Morels might be the most sought after in Spring, but Summer has been chanterelle time. At Fairmount Falls, I also spotted a huge specimen of an almost alien looking white coral tooth fungus.
My first hike on the AT to Charlie's Bunion also delivered my first sighting of Turks Cap Lilies on the trail. My first trip to Buzzard Roost in Hoosier National Forest also afforded me my first ever viewing of a Blackberry Lily, and my first case of chigger bites.
Blackberry lilies
Psyched about Fall
Last year, we experienced one of the best Fall color seasons this decade. With the quantity of rain that we've had this year, only a withering drought in the coming months will prevent us from having another banner year for the crimson and yellow leaves of Fall. I'm really looking forward to crisp days and a rich Autumn palette of color.
Necessities: August
Each month in my Trail Shorts posts, I'll look at some gear you might want to consider taking on the trail. This month, the topic is trekking poles.
For a luxury item, I must admit I've become very reliant on my Leki Titanium trekking poles. I always walk with one pole on hikes under 8 miles. On any trail over that distance, or especially hilly or wet trails, a pair of trekking poles are really helpful for distributing some of the weight you carry to your arms and shoulders as opposed to your hips and knees. If you are a backpacker, trekking poles are almost mandatory.
While you may not want to spend lots of money on hi-tech trekking poles (200 bucks for a pair isn't unheard of), there are alternatives. Many hikers prefer walking sticks that they fashion themselves out of wood found along the trail. You can also buy inexpensive single poles for under 20 dollars at almost any sporting goods outlet with a decent camping section.
Try a walking stick or a trekking pole and you too will soon make them a habit during your hiking adventures.
I don't leave home without them
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Hike Bike Pike, Bernheim Forest's New Multi-Use Trail
But lo and behold, there it was, a brand new trail just outside the main body of the park called the Hike Bike Pike. So captivated was I by the thought of a new trail in Bernheim Forest, I made plans to visit it the very next day.
The Hike Bike Pike trailhead is located past the main entrance on the left hand side of KY 245 (also known as Clermont Rd.). Take the entrance to the Jim Beam distillery and at the bottom of a small hill, you'll see a small gravel parking lot at the trailhead.
As the name suggests, the Hike Bike Pike is a multi-use trail for hikers and bikers. This is something of a departure from other trails in the park that are for hiking only. Additionally, with the trailhead located outside of the main entrance, the weekend fees for entry to the park don't apply.
The trail is 3 miles long one way (6 miles total) and consists of both paved and gravel walkway. The first section of the trail is gravel for about a mile and a half, which transitions to an access road for a few hundred yards. After the access road, the trail returns to gravel again for about a quarter mile and then there is a long stretch of pavement to the end of the trail. The final section of pavement is a little over a mile long and there are patches of moss and debris, so bikers should be cautious on this section.
The trail is in excellent condition and really requires no special equipment outside of athletic shoes. There are no climbs of more than maybe 50 yards and the majority of the trail is flat, following the contours of a creek on one side and Clermont Rd on the other.
While Clermont Rd is seldom visible, it is a fairly busy roadway with industrial traffic. If you find automotive noise annoying, you might want to hike somewhere inside the park's main hiking areas to enjoy a more quiet setting. In addition to traffic noise, you'll also notice noise from the Jim Beam distillery for about the first half mile.
The first gravel section of the trail includes two bridges that cross the creek and provide nice views up and downstream. Even though the traffic noise was something of an issue for almost the entire length of the trail, it did not hamper the feel of being inside of a park.
If you walk slowly, you'll also have the opportunity to spot wildlife and interesting plants and fungi. On the sunny afternoon that I hiked the trail, I had unusually good luck getting butterflies to stay still long enough to get some excellent pictures.
Great Spangled Fritillary
This trail is also set up ideally for those interested in exercise as well as enjoying the great outdoors. At six miles total length, the Hike Bike Pike provides a nice middle ground between of the extremes inside of Bernheim Forest. (Most trails inside of the park are under three miles, with the exception of the 14 mile Millennium Trail.)
Pros:
* Good length.
* Ample room for hikers and bikers
* No ticks
* No hiking equipment needed.
Cons:
* Traffic noise
* Mosquitoes (water is close by at all times)
Friday, August 7, 2009
Fairmount Falls, Jefferson Forest Gem
It's not very long, and it's certainly not well known, and it's hiding one of the more spectacular attractions in all of Louisville.
It's called Fairmount Falls, and I can only describe it with a single word;
WOW.
Before I let you in on this secret, lets look at some facts.
The Fairmount Falls trail (not Fairmont, like the sign at the trail head spells it) is approximately 1.1 miles long, located off of Thixton Lane in southern-central Jefferson County. The property was acquired by Metro Parks in 2002 and the trail was opened in 2004.
The trail encompasses a small box canyon that includes the 40 foot namesake of the trail, Fairmount Falls. Currently, the trail can only be accessed by permit which you must apply for at the JMF Welcome Center, or you can fill out the form and fax it to them for approval. (For the details, you can check out the Metro Parks page for the park here.) You have to wait 2 days for approval of your first application, but afterwards, your application will stay on file and you can apply for a permit with a simple email to the JMF staff. You must specify a date for the permit as currently, the park has limited access to only 3 cars PER DAY.
With the limited access, most days you will get to enjoy the park in relative solitude. I visited Wednesday Aug 5th, the day after the record rainfall in downtown Louisville and spent a good 2 hours by myself enjoying this amazing park.
The trail itself isn't terribly challenging or steep, but it is directly adjacent to some cliffs that drop 40-50 ft, so be very careful. The trail also crosses the stream not 10 ft from the head of the falls, so you will get your feet a little wet if the water is running high. Even on the day after the rains that hit Louisville this week, the stream was easily crossable although a bit slippery.
In addition to the falls, the trail includes some interesting habitat. The first short section near the parking lot contains a variety of moss and fern covered boulders. I spotted some wild Columbine plants without their flowers this late in the year among the rocks as well. After this short section, you will cross Hidden Creek Lane and then 100 yards or so later, you will come upon the falls.
After crossing the stream above the falls, you'll proceed to the lower section of the trail as it runs the property line along the cliff face of the canyon and downhill to a small loop at the end of the trail. This area is quite moist, and an excellent area for spotting mushrooms. On my excursion, I spotted a rather rare white coral tooth fungus, another first for me this year.
Fairmount Falls is truly a wonder to me. As a life long resident of Louisville, it was really cool to find something as spectacular and hidden as this short trail is. It's like finding an emerald in your own backyard. Take my advice and book a permit as soon as you can.
(Thanks to Bennett Knox, Parks Administrator for the background info)
Monday, August 3, 2009
4 under 2
Not everyone enjoys strapping on a pack and traveling over hill and dale for many miles. If you've never hiked a trail before, the stories of all-day treks in the great outdoors might be a little daunting. In this blog post, I'm going to introduce you to a few trails in our area that aren't long on distance, but are chock full of interesting things to see.
Jefferson Memorial Forest, Horine Reservation Mitchell Hill Trail: 1.5 miles
The Mitchell Hill Trail in the Horine Section of Jefferson Memorial Forest (JMF) is one of my year round favorites for its variety of wildlife and habitat. The 1.5 mile trail includes pines, hardwoods and the gem of the Horine section, Mitchell Hill Lake. The trail is set up as a short spur to a 1.1 mile loop that includes one long downhill and one long uphill section. At the bottom of the hill is Mitchell Hill Lake, where you'll find a picnic table along with serene lake view benches for romantic outings, a family picnic, or for enjoying Walden-like solitude.
Also known as the Blue trail (marked with blue flashes), Mitchell Hill is known for its tortoise population during the Spring and Summer. Lakeside, you can expect to see a wide variety amphibian, reptile, and insect life. If you're a photography buff as well as a hiker, Mitchell Hill Lake is one of the best areas in Jefferson County for snapping literally dozens of varieties of dragonflies. (Fishing on the lake is prohibited)
Be sure to hike this trail year round and try to take advantage when Louisville gets an occasional snowfall. (Also, don't forget that the Horine Section of JMF requires a free pass which you must acquire from the Welcome Center. Directions to the park can be found at the JMF website).
Other short trails in Jefferson Forest:
* Horine Reservation Orange Interpretive Trail: 1.7 miles
* Tom Wallace Purple Heart Trail: 2 miles
* Tom Wallace Lake Loop: .5 miles
* Tom Wallace Tulip Tree Walk: .5 miles
* Scott's Gap Shortcut Loop: 1.4 miles
You can checkout more photos from a recent visit to the Mitchell Hill Trail here.
Hoosier National Forest, Hemlock Cliffs Loop: 1 mile
It's not often you find as many remarkable sights on a short trail as those you will find at Hemlock Cliffs in Hoosier National Forest. I hadn't heard about this tiny section of the Forest until this year, and I was thrilled after my first visit.
Hemlock Cliffs is a steep box canyon that includes two remarkable waterfalls over 60 ft high, sandstone rock formations and steep rocky cliffs all within a simple 1 mile trail loop. (A note of caution should be made for family outings: watch carefully after young kids since this trail includes some sheer rocky drop offs and areas where rock falls can occur.) Both waterfalls are accessible and there is a short loop trail to one of the waterfalls that allows you to walk behind the falls on a rocky outcropping with an incredible amount of space. If huge overhanging sections of rock make you nervous, you might want to skip this section of the trail.
For Louisville natives, Hemlock Cliffs is an easy hour drive west on I-64. You can find a map to the trailhead in the link to Hemlock Cliffs above. I look forward to returning here in winter to see the ice formations. (Check out more photos of Hemlocks Cliffs here.)
Bernheim Forest, Lake Nevin Loop: 1.3 miles
I've been visiting Bernheim Forest since I was about 3 years old, so this park and arboretum has a very special place in my heart. As you enter Bernheim (free on weekdays, 5 bucks per car on Saturday and Sunday), one of the first things you will see is Lake Nevin on your right. The Lake Nevin loop trail, as the name suggests, is a beautiful gravel covered trail that completely encircles the lake.
Along the trail's 1.3 mile course, you'll see wildlife, sculpture and a combination of habitats. On the backside of the loop, there is a section of bluegrass savanna habitat that segues into a cypress marsh complete with 2 bridge expanses across low water sections of the lake. During the warmer months, you can enjoy the sounds of a wide variety of frog songs.
Lake Nevin Loop is also a remarkable four season trail. In Spring, you can enjoy redbuds and dogwoods in bloom. In the Summer, you'll see Canadian geese and you might spot a huge grass carp tail in the lake as it feeds in the shallows. The Autumn colors along this trail are outstanding, and the Sunrise Amphitheater at the southern end of the lake is a great place to enjoy the view. Winter offers serenity and stillness if you're hardy enough to brave the hike during a snowfall.
Short trails in Bernheim Forest:
* Rock Run Loop: 0.5 miles
* Cull Hollow Loop: 1.5 miles
* Jackson-Yoe Loop: 1.5 miles
* Fire Tower Loop: 0.5 miles
* High Point Loop: 0.5 miles
* Iron Ore Hill Loop: 1.5 miles
* Guerrilla Hollow Loop: 1.3 mile
Look for an upcoming blog post on some of the other loop trails in Bernheim in the next week or so.
Hoosier National Forest, Buzzard Roost Trail: .8 miles
The Buzzard Roost Trail is a short and remote trail in Hoosier National Forest. The trailhead is located on a high bluff overlooking the Ohio River and it includes a small campsite area for mobile or tent camping. The trail begins next to a lily pad clogged pond that you should really walk down to just to see the rain of frogs you'll scare back into the pond.
The upper part of the trail includes some great river overlooks while the lower section of the trail will take you through steep and rocky terrain next to a creek ravine. During wet weather, the lower section of Buzzard Roost is supposedly remarkable with outstanding water cascades over boulders in the ravine. The trail ends at the banks of the mighty Ohio.
This trail is a little tough on the knees (if you have that issue) and has steep rocky sections that are very slippery in wet weather. Watch after children as there are several rocky drop offs of over 20 feet directly adjacent to the trail. On my first trip to this trail, my only negative experience was a run in with chiggers, which are plentiful in this area. Make sure to put on some deet or other bug repellent on your lower extremities.
Part of the adventure of the Buzzard Roost Trail is the drive (see map in link above). Take your time on some of the back roads as deer are plentiful in the area.
Check out the photos from my recent trip to Buzzard Roost here.
