Back to the Bog

Since my mom moved to Michigan, she and her husband Keith visit after Christmas and we celebrate the holidays together at New Years.  Between numerous other previous holiday engagements, Mary and Keith's long drive, and a long stretch of unusually cold weather, everyone had been cooped up inside way to much.  We were all eager to get outside.  But it is still very cold, and it's hard to generate heat moving at a toddler's rate, especially when said toddler is necessarily thickly bundled.  We decided to try a short trail with proximal warming opportunities.  Where else?  The Bog Trail, of course.  It always delivers.

Bog Boys in December

Erin and I wanted to get the boys together for a hike, so we met at Beaver Lake to hike the Bog Trail.  Since it is a park and a nature center, hunting is not allowed, so it is a safe place to hike year round.  And the boys love the boardwalk, of course.  The Bog Trail is accessed via the Hemlock Hollow Trail, so we hiked both. Combined, the short loop is just 1.0 mile, perfect for toddler legs.  Poor Alden had a bout of motion sickness and threw up in the parking lot upon arrival, but at least he made it out of the car.  And he was very brave about the whole thing.  It was so sad: as Erin was trying to clean him up a little, he kept saying over and over, but you want to take a hike!  Maybe thought we were considering not letting him go?  Don't worry, little boy... it would take more than that to turn us back!  So off we went. 

FLT/NCT: West River Road

Today was my last opportunity for a solo school day hike during the current hunting season, and I used it to complete the last of the roadwalks I'd orphaned while hiking nearby "real trail" sections of the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) [which carries the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) south and west all the way to Pennsylvania].  I wasn't super excited about the route, and was a bit tired; I may have even dragged a bit setting out.  I made hot tea for the long drive, and after dropping Frankie off at school and putting gas in the car and then finally setting out, I realized I'd forgotten it.  I did a u-turn and went back home for the tea, but I didn't let myself get discouraged.  Between holiday obligations and various appointments, I won't have many opportunities for hiking this month.  I couldn't let this chance slip away.  And it turned out to be one of the more pleasant roadwalks I've done.