It’s no secret to me or anyone who has to put up with me that I’m mentally tired and probably need a day off – or a nap – or maybe a time out. Yesterday I ran for the door at the end of my work day for the first weeknight hike of the season.
The evening daylight is long enough now that we were able to fit in almost four miles.
Four glorious miles. Well, all were glorious except for the last very steep hill that left me so winded I was sure I had emphysema. Man, I have some goals for this hiking season! But I survived and without stopping so that’s something to celebrate.
Another thing to celebrate is the incredible restorative effects of nature. To breathe fresh air is to start anew. To hear birdsong is to hear the earth sing. To feel a light breeze on your face is an embrace from the world. To feel dirt and fallen leaves beneath your feet is to connect with the earth in unexpected ways. To look up into the tree tops is to understand your place in this world.
In case there’s any doubt – you are small and so is your place here.
I came home feeling so much more grounded and better equipped for all that’s bugging. At least for a while.
I am fortunate to live in the country where my literal backyard is filled with trees and shrubs, flowers and weeds and where birds and frogs gift me with their beautiful songs every day. I’m also fortunate to live close to hiking trails so I can easily run away from home for natural therapy when time allows.
If you’re having a hard day, if you need a mental health break, if you’re struggling or if you’re doing just fine and simply want the amazing things I described above, find your way outdoors. You will be happier and stronger for it.
Adventure season is near and that means more people are headed into state and national parks for a day of hiking. I am fortunate to live in Southern Ohio where I’m 20 – 45 minutes from several great hiking spots including the very popular Hocking Hills State Park.
The problem with a lot of vacation hikers we see in the Hocking Hills (and other places as well) is that they’re often not equipped for the weather, strenuous terrain or their own physical limitations. Truth is, I have witnessed people doing so many stupid and dangerous things that I frequently fear what I’m about to see next.
I’m not a super serious hiker. I like to go a couple of times a week from spring through the fall time change. However, I don’t have all the fancy outdoor gear people sometimes think they need and I typically just show up with a snack in my pocket, a bottle of water and really good shoes. If it’s a longer hike I’ll pack some essentials in a backpack, especially if it’s hot or I’m unfamiliar with the trail.
By no means am I an expert but I know enough to help a novice. Here are some hints to help you be safe on the trail.
Check The Weather – Will it rain? Will it be hot and humid? Here in Ohio, the temperature can start at 25 degrees and be 60 at noon. Knowledge is power.
Dress For The Weather – When in doubt, dress in layers. If it’s cold, I wear a base layer under thick yoga pants. On top, it’s often a long sleeved t-shirt and flannel underneath my good Northface jacket. Add a scarf, hat and gloves as needed.
There are two schools of thought for summer attire. The first is to cover up. Wear breathable long sleeved fabrics and a safari hat to cover your entire head. This protects from the sun, ticks and bug bites and it is a terrific way to go.
Personally, I go the other way because it’s humid here and I hate to be hot. Shorts with zippered pockets keep my keys, ID, phone and snack safe. A short sleeved or sleeveless top helps keep me cool. Sunscreen protects my skin and a little bug spray on my shoes usually takes care of the creepy crawly things. I often use Johnson’s baby creamy oil lotion in aloe and vitamin e. For some reason, bugs hate that stuff plus it softens the skin. I wear a hat of some kind because it protects from the sun and ticks.
Dressing appropriately will help keep you comfortable and protected from the elements.
Wear The Right Shoes– Tourists often wear light tennis shoes, sandals and flip flops. I have often seen boots with a heel too. Hiking shoes, hiking boots or trail runners are the best options and they don’t need to be expensive. Some really sturdy tennis shoes are fine on a lot of trails. My favorite shoes of all time have been New Balance trail runners because they have treads like a good boot but are light like a tennis shoe.
Snacks – Last year, we encountered a woman who was at least two miles away from her car or a visitors center vending machine and she was asking for food. Her blood sugar was low and she needed a snack. Even if I’m just going on an easy two mile trail after work I always make sure to have a snack in my pocket and something more substantial in the car for later.
Granola bars, trail mix and nuts are great options you can slide in your pocket. If you have a pack, an apple, boiled eggs, peanut butter sandwich, a single serve tuna packet, or cheese crackers are great too. You can Google hiking snacks to find ideas that will work for you.
Water – You have to hydrate. Even in the winter and absolutely in the summer you need to drink water. The longer you hike and the hotter it is, the more you need to bring. This is non negotiable and I really don’t know what to tell you other than drink your water.
Stay On The Trail – I was tempted to make this number one on the list because it’s the worst thing I see in the Hocking Hills. Stay on the trail. It’s not hard to do in Ohio because they mark trails really well. Go out west to some of the national parks and you’ll find that only the strong survive on some of those trails because there’s not always a lot of signs.
People think the signs are for other people. They want to see something off the beaten path. They want an Instagram shot. They want to do what they want to do. People get hurt this way. They break legs falling on slippery rocks at a beautiful waterfall while standing next to a sign that says no wading or diving. They fall off cliffs and spend a lifetime in a wheelchair because they wanted to look over the edge. One woman died when some teenagers tossed a small log over the edge and hit her on the head. ODNR has done what they can to make things safe but accidents still happen to the best of us and rules don’t help when people ignore them.
I once heard a guy tell his ten year old son that the signs are for other people who don’t know what they’re doing. Don’t be that guy.
Know Your Limitations– If you’re not in the best of health, make sure you understand your own physical limits. Know what to expect on the trail by researching online or talking to a ranger. Pushing yourself to achieve a goal is one thing but needing to be airlifted out during a heart attack is another. The photo above is from Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan when an elderly couple made it about a mile in before needing help. A natural resources officer, two paramedics and a firefighter pulling an ATV on a trailer had to respond to secure the patient, assess his condition and drive him out of the woods. That’s a lot of personnel and way too much risk to life and limb. I think about that couple all the time and badly hope they are ok.
Leave The Wildlife Alone – If you encounter wildlife, give them space. Leave the area if you can. Certainly don’t approach. I have been in areas with bison, bears and elk and they are freaking intimidating to see in real life. Here in southern Ohio there are sometimes reports of black bears and bobcats but I worry more about wild boar and wild dogs. I once abandoned a hike about a half mile in because there was a skunk hanging out on the trail. Literally. It just sat there and waited me out till I went away. It simply wasn’t worth it.
Don’t Rely On Technology – Assume that you won’t have cell service. That means you need to either download your trail maps to your phone or carry a print map. That also means you may not be able to call for help if you get hurt so make sure someone knows where you’re going.
Pack Supplies – When in doubt, take a pack outfitted with things you might need. Don’t weigh it down with a lot of extras but do consider your true needs. Extra water, snacks and a map are logical needs. A very small first aid kit, extra socks, tissues, sunscreen, a compass, and knife are also good things for a day hike.
Hiking is an amazing pastime. It’s good for your physical and mental health. It costs nothing other than a safe pair of shoes and the gas to get to a trailhead. Give it a try but be smart and use some common sense so you can stay safe and live to hike another day.
Also, be sure to have fun too. It’s supposed to be fun! Go fast for aerobic exercise or slow if you want to observe the wildflowers, birds and tall trees. Take pictures. Breathe it all in. Listen!
Don’t play loud music or wear ear buds when the forest provides its own soundtrack of running water, birdsong, frogs and wind. These things are more magnificent than anything you can play on your phone.The sounds and sights of nature are restorative. They’re good for your soul. Stay safe, be well and allow your hike to make you stronger.
Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve is in my regular rotation of great places to hike but I had a particularly memorable hike there over the weekend. We awoke to fog on Saturday and there was a fine, misty rain in the air on the way. Luckily, it cleared up before we arrived at our trailhead.
While a snowless winter can be a lackluster time in Ohio, this place was positively gorgeous at every turn.
Eastern hemlocks, ferns and mosses provided color and texture. Bits of life like small buds and the tiniest signs of green made us think that spring really is on the way. We stopped to listen to a conversation between two owls. We also heard a chorus of small frogs known as Spring Peepers or, in my family, as March Peepers. The air smelled of fresh earth and decomposing wood, a rich aroma that will always, always, always make me stop and sniff the air.
It was almost magical.
If you search this blog for Lake Katharine, you will find more stories and pictures. Visit Make The Journey Fun on Facebook to view more pictures from the hike. If you’re in southern Ohio, consider stopping by for a literal breath of fresh air that hasn’t been ruined by the tourists you find at a lot of our state parks.
Lake Katherine is a state nature preserve so you’ll have to leave your pets at home and there are no trash cans so plan to carry out whatever you carry in. There is a port-a-john but I would not recommend relying on that. There are some fast food restaurants and stores in Jackson that are much better options for a potty break.
Lake Katharine is located at 1703 Lake Katharine Road, Jackson, Ohio.
Greetings and salutations! Today is a new day and a new year. In my mind, it represents a much needed clean slate and start of a new season in more ways than I can count.
I spent yesterday on a 6.5 mile hike. It was a bit gloomy but not cold and the landscape sparse with fawn colored leaves clinging to trees here and there. The lake was an unusual shade of dark teal and the sky a moody gray. There is beauty to be found in the simplicity of days like this even if you prefer sunshine and blue skies.
It was the ideal end to the year and exactly what I needed. Fresh air and exercise are good for the body, mind and soul. Then I came home to enjoy a quiet evening with Scout before an early bedtime with a book.
Who needs Times Square when you have these riches?
I plan to spend most of this day curled up with a book and with my cat before another early bedtime. I return to work tomorrow and need to be rested and mentally prepared.
L.M. Montgomery’s most popular character Anne Shirley of Green Gables famously said that “Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it.”
What a wonderful philosophy for this start of 2024!
Wherever you are in this world today, I wish you a new year of peace, good health and prosperity. Happy New Year!
The Winter Solstice is upon us and I say it didn’t arrive a moment too soon. No matter where I go in this world, I’m always in the minority when I say that winter is a special season and one to be savored.
In my small corner of the world, winter is a quieter time when it comes to activities and events. My southern Ohio community has few events indoors or out. The only places to really congregate are high school basketball games, churches and restaurants. There’s some shopping to be done in neighboring towns but that’s about it.
And you know something? I’m ok with that.
Winter in Brandiland is marked by a desire to stay in and be cozy. I live for snowdays, especially when I get to be home and stare out the window. There is nothing better than bundling up to traipse around in the fresh fallen snow while looking for animal prints and things to photograph. Well, nothing better except going inside to warm up over a cup of hot chocolate!
This year, I’m engaging in a fifty mile winter hike challenge with my fella and his dad who happens to be my very good friend. They’re both outdoorspeople and avid hikers so I will have great company along the trail. They understand what I mean when I just want to breathe in the cold air while touching the bark of a tree.
The other thing about winter is that it’s the perfect time to stay in and work on hobbies, to catch up on your reading and to clean out that closet that’s been languishing all through the warm months. I call it feathering my nest and it’s the best thing ever.
So, no. Winter isn’t great for flip flops or yard work but it’s the perfect time to relax and enjoy the coziness of life at home.
Today is the shortest day of the year. After this, we will see a little more daylight every day as many of you begin to count the days till spring. Wherever you are on this solstice, stay warm, be happy and enjoy this beautiful day!
“I am alarmed when it happens that I have walked a mile into the woods bodily, without getting there in spirit.”
― Henry David Thoreau, “Walking”
This happened to me Saturday. This summer has been my worst in years. Rain, humidity, work at home and stress from life and work have occupied the driver’s seat much more than I should allow. After all, what’s the point of being single and childless if you can’t go do as you please?
I have needed time in nature for a while now and just couldn’t swing it so I made a bargain with myself Saturday. I had more or less hit a wall where I could no longer function amongst normal humans. So, once my obligations were fulfilled, I would go somewhere that I could get lost for a while.
Unfortunately, the nearest hiking trails to my home are in the Hocking Hills State Park, a beautiful place that has more or less been ruined by the hoards of people who are loving it to death. But I foolishly believed that it wouldn’t be so bad by early evening and that I could make do.
Boy, was I wrong.
I shouldn’t have parked the car when I saw that the parking lot was such a circus. I shouldn’t have gotten out of the car at all. I should have just turned and left when I realized there would be no peace. But I soldiered on, regretting every step. Even on a trail that usually isn’t heavily occupied, there was never a time I couldn’t hear humans babbling about their jobs or about what someone said to offend them. There was rarely a time you couldn’t hear cars and the roar of motorcycles.
There was never a time I could tune out the babble and simply enjoy the canopy of trees overhead or the compacted dirt beneath my feet. The peaceful birdsong was all but obliterated by people who were oblivious to their surroundings. I just kept wondering why they bothered coming to the woods when they were utterly unaware of the power and beauty of it all. They could have been walking in a mall parking lot for all they seemed to care.
Who was I kidding? There would be no losing myself here. The only thing I was losing was my patience and desire to be there.
As Thoreau would say, I went to the woods with my body but never got there in spirit.
So I walked about 30 minutes out before I decided to stop punishing myself. Instead, I left and went into town to pick up some things at Walmart. Interestingly, it was more peaceful and people were more polite at the Walmart than at the state park.
Do with that information what you will but it’s a sad commentary if you ask me.
I hope to try a hike tonight but will go to another one of the parks or nature preserves in the area. None are as convenient but any should be a better choice for actually absorbing and enjoying nature.
And boy, do I need it.
Is there a moral to this story? One might be to carefully choose conditions that will improve your mood and trust your gut when it says to leave. Another might be to not allow outside forces so much power over your life. If the weather is poor when you want to hike, go anyway. If other people want to dictate how you spend your free time, resist. No is a complete sentence and it’s a fair one to use when you know enough is enough.
And don’t neglect your own physical and mental health for so long that it becomes a crisis. Look out for yourself, friends. No one else will do it for you.
Don’t worry. I’ll try again and I’ll keep trying till I get there in spirit.
