May 25, 2012: Boone Cliffs Trails

Two hikes in one week!  Today, I am going to head to Boone Cliffs Trails to check out what has been described as a 'hidden gem'.  This is a hike that I have been wanting to do for quite some time.  I would like to get to Red River Gorge at least once by the end of the summer for a day hike, and based on the descriptions of Boone Cliffs, this may be the closest trail, in similarity, to the gorge in my immediate area.  After reading about the location of the trail, I made a reconnasaince trip to the park a week prior, so that I was absolutely aware of the location. After seeing the THREE parking spaces at the trail head, I decided that I would arrive early for a morning hike. 

I arrived at the trail head parking area at approximately 6:30am.  There was another hiker lacing up and getting ready when I arrived.  I am not quite sure what his pre-hike ritual entailed but, he was still getting ready when I started out onto the trail.  I brought some extra gear with me on this solo hike today: my camelback with basic supplies and my GoPro POV camera.  As I begin to hike more strenuous hikes and venture further from my immediate area, I plan to carry more with me and to document it all with my GoPro, so why not start today!?  

“Hiking alone lets me have some time to myself.” 

- Jamie Luner




A majority of the time, I prefer having someone with me during my hikes, but there are those days when you just need to be out there on your own.  This happens to be one of those days.  The 1.7 mile trail begins with a slight upward grade along a steady flowing creek.  There are several natural springs in the area and based on the heat and lack of rain we have had recently, I can only assume that this creek is being fed by one of the springs.  I kept my eye out for both redback and dusky salamanders, which both inhabit this particular valley, but I unfortunately did not see any.  The hike quickly gains elevation from the start, as the trail takes you away from the creek and quickly uphill.  The climb winds upward ultimately culminating at the top of the ridge.  The the trail continues onto the right, with an overlook to the left.  I went to the left to check out the cliff overlook and was impressed.  It was not quite Red River Gorge, but it definitely had the same feel to it while standing at the top.  Unlike the sandstone cliffs and tops of Red River Gorge, the rock at Boone Cliffs is considered conglomerate rock composed of gravel deposited as glacial outwash about 700,000 years ago.  It definitely had a look and feel of compacted gravel, not the solid feel of granite or sandstone.  Despite the dense growth of the forest, I was able to quickly realize the height of the cliff in relation to the valley floor. Unfortunately, the heavy vegetation limited the view of any other cliffs throughout the remainder of the hike.  

"Climb up on some hill at sunrise. Everybody needs perspective once in a while, and you'll find it there."  

- Robb Sagendorph

After spending some time on the cliff top, I followed the trail back to the loop.  The trail was easy to navigate and follow, but definitely had some elevation changes.  The best surprise of the morning was something that I had not planned for: a beautiful sunrise as I followed the eastern and northern portions of the counterclockwise loop.  Not only was the natural beauty and sounds of the forest breathing new life into me, but I could feel the warm rays of the morning sun on my face rejuvenating me as well.

The remainder of the hike continued along as the morning sun continued to rise higher into the sky.  After one last climb, I could sense a long slow meandering descent throughout the remainder of the hike.  Throughout the hike there are side trails that branch off with what look to be posts that possibly held informational or directional signs.  The signs are no longer there, and I got the better of my curiosity and stayed on the main trail.  Those side explorations are much more suited for a day that includes a fellow hiker.  The last portion of the trail brought me to the opposite side of the creek from where the hike started and followed a rapid descent to the main road, about 50 yards from the parking area and trail head.  

Towards the end of the initial ascent 

 Coming upon the cliff overlook

 The cliff overlook with the forested valley all around

  The cliff overlook with the forested valley all around

 The Boone Cliffs Trail

 One of the many ascents and elevation changees

 Sunrise at Boone Cliffs Trail

  Sunrise at Boone Cliffs Trail

Spring fed stream flowing towards Middle Creek

May 20, 2012: Doe Run Lake Perimeter Trail

Today marks my return to the trails for the first time in over a month. Being away for so long, my lack of trail time could have easily turned into a two month absence and who knows how long the absence could have grown from there.  Today, despite spending most of the day working outside, I made time to hit the trails.  I was accompanied by my older brother, and we decided to check out the Perimeter Trail at Doe Run Lake.  

The trail measures 2.7 miles and as it's name implies; it follows the perimeter of Doe Run Lake.  Today we did not get started until mid-afternoon.  We could finish the hike if we rushed through it, but our desire to enjoy the scenery and take some photos negated that option. Having never been on the trail before and being somewhat crunched for time, we decided to hike in, periodically re-assess our distance and determine whether or not we have the time to complete the trail or if we should turn back.  The temperature was above 90 degrees and our only hope was for a comfortable shaded hike through the woods.  There is just something special about the sight of a large body of water or the sounds of the water as it laps against its banks or flows through the streams that feed it.  Before we had even started our hike, the serenity of nature and the rejuvenation of my soul from being in nature began to take hold.

"You need special shoes for hiking - and a bit of a special soul as well."
-- Emme Woodhull-Bäche

The trail starts with a bridge crossing over what was today a relatively dry rock run-off leading into the lake.  The trail is well kept with occasional side trails leading down to the edge of the lake. We came across another bridge, at approximately the 0.2 mile mark, once again crossing over a dry rock run-off.  I can only assume that with some rain and the size of the hills that feed these run-offs, the water can flow fairly strong during a strong storm or steady rain.  After crossing this second bridge, the trail veers to the right and follows a slow curve to the left before following a fairly straight path to third bridge we would encounter at approximately the 0.5 mile mark.  This bridge actually crosses over the flowing Doe Run Creek just south of its entry into Doe Run Lake at the southernmost point of the lake.  At the point of the bridge, the creek switches back and forth over a short stretch before entering the lake, leaving several exposed creek bed walls that are evidence to the true power of this creek when it flows at full strength. When crossing the bridge, the trail actually goes from a southwestern trek to a northeastern one.  From the bridge, we followed the trail to the first open view of the lake we've encountered.   At this point, the 0.8 mile mark, we assessed that we still had nearly 2 miles of trail to encounter and not enough time to actually enjoy it.  We decided to turn back and completely the entire perimeter in its entirety on our next hike together.  

Dry creek run-off

A stretch of the Doe Run Lake Perimeter Trail

Looking back at the southernmost bridge

The banks of Doe Run Creek

Bridge over Doe Run Creek

Bridge over Doe Run Creek

One of the many wild flowers along the trail

The banks of Doe Run Lake

Sunshine peeking through to the trail

April 1, 2012: Highland Cemetery Nature Trails - Take 2

Today marks my return to the Highland Cemetery Trails.  Last week, my solo hike took me around the main 1 mile loop of the Black Squirrel and Possum Path Trails.  Today, I return with one of my older brothers to check out the other sections of the trail and to snap some photos.  We started at the main entrance and followed the Black Squirrel Trail; to the Screech Owl Trail; to the Fossil Trail; and ultimately to the Fungi Trail. 

What a wonderful day to recharge on the trail.  The hiking conditions were great, with only a few muddy sections.  The dismal morning made way for sunshine and a cool breeze.  The recent rain brought a steady flow of water to the streams and waterfalls along the trails.  We were able to take our fair share of photographs along the trail.  And it would not have been a hike if I had not slipped on a rock, twisted my knee, and fallen into the stream!

“In every walk with Nature, one receives far more than one seeks.” - John Muir

As I entered the woods to commune with nature and recharge my soul, I discovered something that I had forgotten: brotherhood.  My brother and I went on this hike to enjoy nature and take photos, but deep down, I think we both were searching for each other.  Life starts moving quickly and you start to lose track of those things that are important and dear to you.  It is definitely time to start spending time with my brothers more often, and today was a great place to start.  There is nothing like spending the day with one of the guys you measured yourself up against through the years.  It was great hiking, snapping photos, and catching up.  The last time we hiked together was easily over 20 years ago.  The days of a 20-something year old guy with his teenage brother have now made way for a couple of married middle-aged guys with families and careers.  Text messages and phone calls are easy, but spending a day together face to face, doing something you both enjoy, means so much more.

At the outermost portion of the Fungi Trail, it loops back following the stream.  As we looked down into the rock covered stream bed, we noticed a large square stone in the center of the stream bed.  My brother joked that it was a sarcophogas from the cemetery.  I went down into the stream bed to take a closer look and realized that it was in fact a cemetery marker! 



Highland Cemetery Trail - Washed Away Grave Marker



We followed the stream down from the marker and located the two waterfalls.  Once again, I am just amazed that these hidden gems are unbeknownst by so many that drive by at the speed of life.  There is something about the sound of a waterfall, regardless of its size, that sooths the soul.  The sound washes away worries and troubles and cleanses anew.  With a renewed brotherly bond, we followed the trail back out to our starting point at the main trail head and discussed our plans for our next hike!



Highland Cemetery Trail - Waterfall





Highland Cemetery Trail - Waterfall



March 24, 2012: Highland Cemetery Nature Trails

The weather has been amazing the past two weeks, but unfortunately, I have not been able to hit any hiking trails.  I can only describe the past week as "distantly tragic".  It started on the 13th, when a dear friend of my family passed away unexpectedly.  He was a close friend of my older brothers, thus became an older brother of sorts to me. We had not seen him in years, but that did not diminish the shock and sadness we all felt when we heard the news.  This was a guy that accepted me as a younger brother, that helped look after me when I would tag along on their hikes into Red River Gorge, and he even took me on my first - and last - motorcycle ride.  He is going to be missed dearly.  So, instead of asking one of my brothers to hike with me last weekend, we spent time working on clearing underbrush in the wooded portion of my backyard.  Not my first choice, but I was still in nature enjoying the company of my older brother.  On the 18th, after a weekend of working in the yard, I was chatting with a hiking enthusiast friend from Hawaii and discovered that his hiking mentor and good friend had tragically fallen to his death earlier in the day while on a hike in Oahu.  I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but I did recognize him through videos, blogs, and photos.   Another young life ended way too soon.  So, there you have it:  a "distantly tragic" week.

Today, I was able to sneak away from the house for a couple of hours to do some hiking.  It was a bit of a spur of the moment decision, but I wanted to have a few minutes on the trails to recharge and to reflect on the events of the past week.  So, I packed up the hiking boots and cameras and went solo to check out the hiking trails in the wooded portion of a local cemetery.   I drive past the cemetery daily and have driven through the cemetery several times in the past, but I did not realize until just recently that within the property was a well organized set of nature trails.  The Highland Cemetery Nature Trails cover 4 miles of trails and approximately 150 acres of undeveloped cemetery property.  Having never explored these particular trails, I was a bit skeptical as I entered the trailhead.  But after my first 100 feet of trail, I quickly realized that these trails are truly a hidden gem in Northern Kentucky. 

The hiking trails essentially follow several cascading streams.  There are actually six separate, but linked trails on the property.  The trails are easy to follow and the beginning of each individual trail section is clearly marked with a sign.  With the mild winter the region experienced and the relatively hot weather we are having in March, the forest is already in bloom.  All around me, the forest was awakening:  dafodils, groundcover, and scattered trees in bloom.  Add this to the recent thunderstorms the area experienced and the streams are alive and flowing with sound. 



Highland Cemetery Nature Trail Cascading Stream



It did not take me long to find what I did not realize I was looking for:  a small clearing at the confluence of two wooded streams.  The birds were singing in the forest canopy above me and the sounds of the cascading streams as they met in a beautiful little waterfall was idyllic.  It was a perfect place to reflect and to give a quiet shoutout to an old friend lost and a guy I'm sure I would have befriended if the stars would have aligned in a different way. 



Highland Cemetery Nature Trails Waterfall



After my short pause, I started exploring the remainder of the trail.  I decided to stay on the Black Squirrel Trail and add the short Possum Path portion.  It was approximately a mile of trail through mild elevation changes.  I love stories and local lore and I was pleasantly suprised to stumble upon an old spring house in the stream along the Possum Path trail.  A sign along the trail describes a spring house as essentially an early refrigerator that was built in a stream.  The spring house would utilize the cool spring water by allowing it to run through it to refrigerate perishables.  This particular one was probably built pre 1880's. 



Highland Cemetery Nature Trail Spring House

 After passing the spring house, I was able to follow the trail the remainder of its distance up the ridge to the terminus in a woodside meadow.  A beautiful trail to spend a  day afternoon of reflection and recharging;  I will definitely return to hike the remaining portions of this trail system in the near future.



Highland Cemetery Nature Trails



Highland Cemetery Nature Trails



Highland Cemetery Nature Trails



Highland Cemetery Nature Trails



March 7, 2012: Backyard Hike to Eagle Nature Trail

It has been nearly a week since I have decided to get back into nature.  On March 1st, I was having serious spring fever, but in the week since, the weather has taken its toll on the Northern Kentucky - Greater Cincinnati area.  March 2nd brought significant tornados to the area.  There was significant loss of property and even life only miles away.  Needless to say, there was no hiking this past weekend.  So I prepared to venture into the woods behind my home early this past week, but that is when mother nature struck again.  March 5th, I awoke to two inches of snow on the ground and a high temperature of 36 degrees; totally not expected.  It is March in Greater Cincinnati, so it comes with the territory.  I decided that the next opportunity that presented itself I would take advantage of, and that opportunity was today:  sunshine and a high temperature around 70 degrees!

We just moved into our home this past fall.  The move was only about a total of one mile away from our previous home, but all of the things that go along with preparing the inside of a new home kept me from exploring the outside of our home.  It appeared that we had some wooded portions of our backyard, but after beginning the property border survey process this past month, it appears we have a significant portion of forest in our backyard.  The property adjoins city park property which is also wooded and contains a stream as well as what has been described as a nice hiking trail.  My goal for today is to check out my property and cross over into the city property and meet up with the hiking trail and explore an area that I have driven past several times a day for the past 10 years, but have never truly appreciated. 

The hike through my backyard is wonderful.  It still amazes me that I have all of this wooded property in a subdivision.   Despite the snow two days ago, the winter has been unseasonable mild and the proof is all around:  the trees are beginning to bud and ground cover is starting to pop up through last fall's leaves.   As I crest a hill and begin heading downhill, I lose sight of the houses and truly begin to realize that I am finding that happy place where nature surrounds you and the pressures and stressors fall off of you with each step that you take;  that place that I once had and that I desire again.

It has been a while since I have wandered through the woods, but I kept telling myself that it is like riding a bike, you never forget.  I can honestly say that I debunked that theory with my first creek crossing in over ten years.  The creek is only about twelve feet wide, but in the area that I stood, there are not many rocks to cross on.  I toed the edge of the creek and tested the strength of a small fallen tree that was laying from the bank into the creek towards a large rock.  My inaugural creek crossing on my journey back to nature went something like this: SNAP-SPLASH-SMACK.  There is definitely something about laying banged up in an extremely cold, swiftly moving creek that wakes a man up in the morning!   As I hiked up the hill to cut into the trail, I could feel the pain from my shin, hip, and elbow starting to set in.  I realized that this was the first time that I have had any type of cut, or bruise in years and I welcomed it with a laugh.  It was as if nature was reminding me that it is in control and it was cleansing me for my journey back into its fold!  I reached the trail and looked back and once again marveled at the fact that all of this beauty is sitting here in my neighborhood, just beyond a road that I drive on several times a day. 

The trail itself is linear, so once I hit the end of the trail, I had to turn around and follow it back the opposite way to the trail head.  It follows the path of the creek throughout the trail's entire distance.  There are a few man-made bridges mixed throughout the relatively level hike.  The only significant grade is at the trail head which starts at parking area and follows a grade down towards the creek bed through a tall grassy area. 

The hike was not very significant, but was perfect for my initial return to nature through hiking.  Despite not being very far from home, I was able to lose track of my familiar neighborhood surroundings and immerse myself in the hike.  I could not help but notice the beauty around me.  The forest air in my lungs and the sound of the babbling creek cleared my mind and soul.  One of my favorite quotes by John Muir is,

"Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean."

Granted, I was neither in the woods for a week  or climbing a mountain, but my short jaunt in the woods has definitely helped to wash by spirit clean. 

Eagle Nature Trail



Eagle Nature Trail




Eagle Nature Trail Bridge



Extended Spring Fever

As the temperature climbs and the days get longer here in Northern Kentucky, I yearn to get outside.  I am not sure if it is the unseasonably warm winter that is drawing to a close or if it is the increased stress that occurs with everyday life, but my body, soul, and mind are craving the outdoors.  I grew up spending time outside, playing in the woods behind my childhood neighborhood - often tagging along with my older brothers.  Even at a young age, I was spending days at a time deep in the back country of the Red River Gorge; camping, hiking, and rapelling with my brothers.  I had learned to respect and appreciate nature and it was an important part of my identity.

When I was a young teen, I travelled west with my parents and we made a day stop at the Grand Canyon.  My parents would rather stand behind the railing and take in the views, but luckily I was able to step foot on the edge of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and walk a few hundred feet of the Bright Angel Trail.  It was a breathtaking moment and it was also a galvanizing point of my life.  Whether it is the simplicity of a woodland nature trail or the awe-inspiring beauty of a natural wonder,  I learned at a young age that getting into a natural setting put a smile on my face and refreshed my heart, soul, and mind. 

There are a few things that are a given in this world and one is that the sun will rise every morning and set every evening.  Those daily sunrises and sunsets seem to have quickly turned into weeks, which have turned into months,  and eventually turned into years. A wise young man from Chicago once said, I have always had a mental list of places that I would love to experience first hand.  The reality is that list is gradually transitioning from a simple "places to see" list, to a personal "bucket" list.  My heart yearns for hikes in Point Reyes along the California coastline, experiencing the John Muir Trail and the Yosemite, returning to Hawaii to take on more adventurous trails, and ultimately returning to the Grand Canyon. 

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."  

Life continues to move forward and those desires have made way for my priorities: a growing family, a home, and a career.  And the simply reality is that, whether it be hiking or biking, it has been years since I have hit the trails.  But recently, I came across the following quote by John Muir,

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike."

It was as if Muir was speaking directly to me.  I yearn for the outdoors because I need nature's healing touch and cheer to revitalize my heart, soul, and mind as it did when I was younger.  I also realized that I do not need to fly or drive across the country to find this rejuvenation.  Nature is all around me and I need to re-introduce myself to this old friend.  Do not be mistaken, I still want to cross all of those places off of my "bucket" list, but in the meantime, I am going to start over.  I am going to rediscover the healing powers of nature.  I am going to call my brothers.  I am going to introduce my children to nature.  I am going to hike the woods and trails in my backyard like I did as a kid ..... and smile.