Cincy Hikes!

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Fall Hikes

Post Halloween Hikes

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Try these hikes to burn off the Treats of Halloween!

Miami Whitewater Forest looped trail leads through woods and wetlands. This trail is a real treat in the late day when the frogs are chorusing.

Cox Arboretum and Gardens MetroPark is stunning. The gardens are a delight and there are multiple paved paths throughout the expansive garden areas.

Eden Park is home to one of my favorite water features, Mirror Lake. If you look at the lake just right, it seamlessly merges with the Ohio River and stretches to the horizon. The gardens are lovely here as well. Plan on this being a full day trip as you must explore the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Krohn Conservatory.

The Winton Woods bike trail leads right along the edge of the West Fork of Mill Creek Lake and odds are pretty good you’ll see waterfowl, great blue herons, and songbirds working along the shoreline.

Enjoy the trails!

And, don’t be shy – share with us and your friends via Twitter and Facebook what trails you’ve accomplished.

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Hike Often. Live More.

Fabulous Fungus: Chicken of the Woods

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Not to be confused with Chicken of the Sea — that is just weird marketing campaign– really weird when you think about it. Eww.

Anyways, back to

Chicken of the Woods

— seriously who comes up with these names —

Chicken of the Woods is a bright brilliant orange color and since it is typically found in late summer/early fall it stands out in dramatic contrast with the deep green woods.

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I did a little research and found Tom Volk’s Fungus of the Month — ah! a kindred spirit.

Apparently Chicken of the Woods…

wait for it…

tastes like chicken when it is cooked.

I want to know who figured that out…just saying.

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Plus, chicken of the woods tends to grow in large groupings that cover a fair amount of the tree it is growing on.

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We spotted this Chicken of the Woods on a hike at Muscatatuck Park.

All of these photos are of one Chicken of the Sea Woods growing on one tree. 🙂

If you decide to try your hand at wild edibles, you have to make absolutely certain you know what you are harvesting and how to properly prepare it.

I recommend you harvest with someone who has field experience.

Plus, take some time and educate yourself with any of these books.

These identification books are the same ones I use for identifying plants in the field.

                      

(If I am collecting wild edibles, I always bring at least two identification guide books with me. After all, the plants don’t know what they are supposed to look like.)

If you want to go hardcore into survival foraging such as prepping for the Zombie Apocalypse aka SHTF, there are no two guide book series better than Tom Brown’s books and the FoxFire series.

The FoxFire below includes fall edibles.

Happy hiking and foraging!

 Maybe the zombies would like some chicken of the woods instead of brains —

I hope to never find out!

Hike Often. Live More.

Slow Down and the Mom Voice

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I believe in the “mom voice.” You know that little voice inside your head that asks, “Did you turn off the coffeemaker?” “Is the frotn door locked?”

Those aren’t all sticks!

It is also the voice that says, “Hmmm, it’s been tooooo quiet better see what the kids are doing.” Well, on a recent hike along the East Fork Backpacking Trail my mom voice was screaming “DO NOT STEP DOWN! If you look closely at the photo you will see those aren’t all sticks!

In fact, that curvy stick is actually a snake.

Milk snake up close. Don’t blink…ha ha snakes can’t blink. No eyelids!
A snake that the heel of my boot was just touching as my mom voice roared to life. I must have looked pretty funny doing a cartoonish-like slow motion reverse steps back up the small hill. When I was about five feet away I sat down to catch my breath.I’m not particularly afraid of snakes. Ticks, leeches, and slugs creep me out but not snakes. But this one I nearly squashed. Once I caught my breath, I decided the least he or she could do was a photo shoot for me. Here are the results.

 

Sunbathing snake style

The Ohio Division of Wildlife has a great guide online to look through to identify critters of all kinds. Here is the primary link to the site, you’ll need to click on the type of animal you are trying to identify.

More Fall Hikes!

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Creek view
East Fork State Park Backpacking Trail, creek crossing

One of my favorite fall places to hike is Shawnee State Forest. Unfortunately, having the time to get there is another thing. Some great places to head to for incredible fall foliage hiking are California Woods, Bachelor Woods at Miami of Ohio, East Fork State Park Backpacking trail, and Miami Whitewater Forest.

If you are starting out in the morning, wear layers so you can stay warm in the cool damp air and as the day heats up you can peel off a layer. Of course, water wicking fabrics are the best choice. Keep the jeans at home and wear convertible pants that go from pants to shorts that you can zip off the legs when it gets too warm.

I also prefer to wear a ball cap in the fall. It keeps the sun out of my eyes and my head warm. If it is really chilly out, I use ear muffs. Yep, I look a little goofy but I’m warm, dry, and happy.

East Fork State Park Backpacking Trail lake cove

Zaleski State Forest and Moleskin

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Zaleski State Forest Backpacking Trail
Zaleski State Forest Backpacking Trail

While hiking the Zaleski State Forest backpacking trail, I noticed a hot spot forming on my right foot and my left ankle. This was likely due to the fact that the trail had been rerouted across a hill and down without it being leveled off across. This resulted in the trail being sloped to the right and angled downhill. With every step I took, my right foot was being crammed into the toe box and my left heel was shifting too much.

Zaleski State Forest Backpacking Trail

If I didn’t do something soon, I would have some lovely blisters and my expertise with cursing would get a good workout. I always carry in my pack a small package of moleskin. Don’t freak out it isn’t made from stitching tiny little mole skins together because– besides that being tedious work–it would be just gross. 

See… (no moles were harmed)

 

Only 1 velvety millimeter thick

The moleskin is just about 1 millimeter thick, has sticky backing,  and feels like a fluffy pillow is protecting your precious foot.

I use a tiny Leatherman tool and cut the piece I need, peel the backing off, and stick it on the spot that is getting a beating.

The important thing to remember is never put this on a blister.

Trust me. Never put moleskin on a blister. Ever.

If you do have a blister, you can cut the moleskin to fit around the blister or on the shoe but never put it on the blister. Sure it might feel good for a while but then you need to remove the sticky back moleskin and with it will come your skin. Ouch.

You can read my Backpacker: Rip and Go about the Zaleski Backpacking Trail on Backpacker. Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love You Tomorrow. It’s only …. ummm…. right tomorrow, I’ll post the information that didn’t make it into the final copy of the Rip and Go!