A Series of Remarkable Experiences and Hiking Life Lessons
Walking was not always “my thing”. In January of 2007 I was invited to be in my brother’s wedding. As excited as I was to be asked, I was feeling very self-conscience about myself. I was not happy about my age (at 40 I was, by far, the oldest in the bridal party) or my size (20 and 198lbs). Needless to say there wasn’t much I could do about my age so I started working on the latter. I had other physical issues that had been keeping me from walking any distance without assistance, but I was determined to change all of that. I started walking a few houses at a time, then down the block, further and further unassisted and as I continued to eat healthier I gained more and more energy until September 2009 I’d been walking three days and 20 miles a week, lost 50lbs and dropped to an 8!
Urged on by my successful first hike I decided that instead of just walking around my neighborhood I could let the BT be part of my health maintenance program! So I decided to get right back on trail and with the mystery eliminated about where to start, I drove straight to Vaughn Road. Completely convinced this section would lead me back to my car I headed out. Lesson #9: Never assume anything, need I say more?
I crossed Vaughn road into the meadow, headed over the railroad tracks and this time I see the BT sign I’d missed that would have taken me right to where I ended last time, Snowville Road. The blazes took me right back into the cool dark forest (that I abandoned last time) where I remained for most of the hike, which was fine with me on this warm September day.
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| Cuyahoga Scenic Railway crossing |
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| My shadow |
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| I thought I saw a deer. The forest. |
This hike, point one of the Akron section, started out difficult with very active climbs up and down what appeared to be a mountain and then deep into a ravine which, then, managed to get only harder at the other end but for an entirely different reason.
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| Lots of handy little bridges. |
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| Out of one forest and into another |
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| Up and down the side of small mountains |
As I head up and down and back and forth climbing over huge newly fallen trees and navigating around/through small lakes from recent rains it dawned on me for the first time just how much effort goes into making and maintaining these trails. Lesson #10: Don’t forget to be grateful! I have yet to see anyone working while I hike to say it, but “Thank You” for all your hard work and effort! I have really cherished the many beautiful walks I have taken and I know it is because of their hard work that I can do so! My impression is that they appreciate you being their eyes and ears so if you take a moment to contact the BT folks to let them in what section you saw something they can arrange to get it fixed up sooner, same thing for blue blaze confusion.
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| Newly felled tree in the middle of the path |
I had been doing so many switchbacks on this hike that the creeks, trees and rocks all started looking the same until I started feeling that I must have accidentally gotten turned around. When I finally got on level ground and on a straightaway path it narrowed down to nothing and then dead ended into a tree clearly marked to turn left, but there was no apparent path…in either direction.
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Cute flowers with a visitor
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Another bridge
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| The dead end tree. |
Really? It ends right here? I have to go back THAT way? After a spell of walking back and forth the way I’d just come, rechecking the blazes for clues and returning to the dead end tree I decided to push on through the weeds, first to the right until it was completely impassable and then to the left. Still no blazes in sight I started looking at the backs of the trees as I walked hoping to catch a blue blaze going the other way, which I finally did.Lesson #11: Hind Sight IS 20/20! Most blazes are painted on trees, sometimes those trees fall over and suddenly you are without a trail. But, if you turn around the clues might be just behind you painted on another tree.
Within moments I felt concrete beneath my feet! I had to kneel down and touch it to prove it to myself, but sure enough completely out of the blue and plain as day a narrow paved ribbon snuck out from beneath the weeds and started running before me leading me through thick forest.
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| Ribbon of pavement in the middle of the forrest |
The walk ended with me walking through the Ottowa Point Picnic Area near the Metroparks Stables. As I closed the distance to the intersection of Riverview and Parkview Roads a very familiar sign popped up....the original blue blazes that I first saw when I taught the Boy Scouts about the Ohio Buckeye Trail!
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| Me and the Boy Scouts on our first Buckeye Trail hike near Ottowa Point |
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| Intersection just beyond Ottowa Point Picnic Area |
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| Parkview - a closed off road I thought would take me back to Brecksville Road |
I just never know what to expect on the BT, which is why I have come to love it so much!
by Blue Blaze Bugsie
