Welcome back, everyone; I hope our mild winter allowed you to get out and enjoy the outdoors. For those who were keeping track, I did finish my 52 Hike Challenge for 2022 in October of last year, with a 10K hike that took me from Glenmont to Brinkhaven on the Holmes County Trail and Mohican Valley Trail.
Since then, I have completed the 52 Hike Challenge Winter Series with 30 Hours of hiking from December to February and am well into my 52 Hike Challenge 2023. So far this year, I have visited seven national parks or national historic sites, hiked in five states, doing a portion of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, and set a personal record for my greatest elevation gain in a single hike, with 1,200 feet up in 2 miles on Bob’s Hill in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland. In addition, I have hiked various terrain and weather conditions, using many of the tips, tricks and much of the gear I recommended last year.
During my 52 Hike Challenge Winter Series, I managed to get a day off shortly after one of our biggest snows this winter and spent the day at Mohican State Park. I hiked a little over 10 miles that day, and the scenery was worth the temperatures. I started out from the Covered Bridge, hiked the Lyons Falls Trail to Big Lyon Falls, on to Little Lyon Falls and out to Pleasant Hill Dam. From there, I hiked the Pleasant Hill Trail and Hemlock Gorge Trail back to the Class A Campground off of State Route 3. I returned to the Covered Bridge on the Hemlock Gorge Trail, visiting the recently reconstructed Suspension Bridge that connects the Hemlock Gorge Trail to the Gorge Overlook Trail. At the time, this was my longest single-day hike. While this hike was a bit more challenging due to the weather conditions, this is pretty achievable for everyone in a single day, depending on your fitness level and hiking experience, probably in the morning or afternoon.
Most often, when I am hiking, it is more for the experience and the adventure rather than making good time. I don’t do many 5K or 10K events because making good time is rarely my goal. Instead, I stop, take pictures, sit on a log and take in the sights and sounds of nature far too frequently to say I hiked so many miles in so many minutes. I think that is what makes hiking such an enjoyable sport. You can do it at your pace, on your own schedule and with as much or as little effort as you are willing and able to put into it.
As we transition into spring, now is a great time to get out and start with smaller hikes if you haven’t had much of a chance over the winter. With the spring wildflowers beginning to bloom, the trees budding and flowering and the warmer temperatures making getting out on the trail more enjoyable, this is the perfect time to ease back into hiking.
It is also a great time to pull out your hiking gear and inspect it. Making sure your trail snacks are not out of date, your first aid kit is up to date and all your gear is in good condition prior to taking off on that first long hike will help your comfort and safety. Many manufacturers are also rolling out the latest and greatest in hiking gear for 2023, so this is also a great opportunity to find some good deals on last year’s model or a promotional deal on something new you’ve been looking to try out.
Before you take off on that first big spring trek, make sure you plan your hike. With the unpredictable weather we experience this time of year, take along the necessary equipment and supplies for the trail and unpredictable trail conditions. Though most of our hiking areas around Ohio didn’t experience an extended deep freeze this year, some spots may still experience a little ice early on cold mornings. Many of our trails stayed wet most of the winter, so mud and washouts are also a possibility. Add to that that this is springtime in Ohio; running the defrost in the morning and the AC in the afternoon is not uncommon, so your clothing and gear should reflect this on day hikes.
Make some time in the next few weeks to get out and enjoy nature as it awakens from its peaceful slumber, and as always, be safe, have fun and get outside!
