Sunday, March 21
It seems that I have even less time to blog about my hikes, than I do to take them. As I mentioned in my last post, I was hosting a visitor from New Mexico who wanted to hike Rhode Island's high point. Afterwards we went on a real hike.
Walkabout trail was named by Australian sailors who walked the trail while their ship was in dry dock in Newport. That's what I would have done. George Washington Management Area includes the George Washington Camping Area. I had never visited this property before.
There had been a bit of rain before this hike. Nothing like what we'd soon get, but enough to be concerned. I didn't think we'd have too much trouble. I wasn't exactly correct.
The trail included a bit of blowdown, some muddy areas, and a nice view of the pond. Healthy hemlocks were in evidence. From the Weber book I knew there was beaver in the area so I kept an eye out. We found a lot of tree damage and what was probably a small den. We didn't see or hear any animals.
I thought when the trail left the ponds it would dry out. Not measurably, as it turns out. We came to a point where the train appeared to end in a swamp. After closer inspection, I saw that the trail ran clockwise around it.
Wetness continued, but the little ones perservered like chamions. In fact it may have been me that was most troubled by the water, and I was in hikers.
We crossed more puddles and small streams.
Finally, the end was in view.
Not a moment too soon, as the sun was going down. The campground wasn't open yet. I'm sure it's a beautiful place to camp, but I appreciated the quite during the last few weeks of the off season.
It seems that I have even less time to blog about my hikes, than I do to take them. As I mentioned in my last post, I was hosting a visitor from New Mexico who wanted to hike Rhode Island's high point. Afterwards we went on a real hike.
Walkabout trail was named by Australian sailors who walked the trail while their ship was in dry dock in Newport. That's what I would have done. George Washington Management Area includes the George Washington Camping Area. I had never visited this property before.
There had been a bit of rain before this hike. Nothing like what we'd soon get, but enough to be concerned. I didn't think we'd have too much trouble. I wasn't exactly correct.
The trail included a bit of blowdown, some muddy areas, and a nice view of the pond. Healthy hemlocks were in evidence. From the Weber book I knew there was beaver in the area so I kept an eye out. We found a lot of tree damage and what was probably a small den. We didn't see or hear any animals.
I thought when the trail left the ponds it would dry out. Not measurably, as it turns out. We came to a point where the train appeared to end in a swamp. After closer inspection, I saw that the trail ran clockwise around it.
Wetness continued, but the little ones perservered like chamions. In fact it may have been me that was most troubled by the water, and I was in hikers.
We crossed more puddles and small streams.
Finally, the end was in view.
Not a moment too soon, as the sun was going down. The campground wasn't open yet. I'm sure it's a beautiful place to camp, but I appreciated the quite during the last few weeks of the off season.
