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