Date: 01/08/2022 – Distance: 4.2 mi – Elapsed Time: 1.75 hr – Ascent: 358 ft – Descent: 325 ft – Difficulty: Medium
They had fire, hot chocolate, and chicken noodle soup on this hike. This is my seventh hike of the Columbus and Franklin Park Metro Parks Winter Hike Challenge. I have to do 6 assigned parks each month for 3 months, and a total of 18 to complete the challenge.
As my followers probably know Blendon Woods is one of my most frequented parks, due to its close proximity as well as it’s features and the perfect place to test gear. Winter provides a whole new perspective on hikes, not only because of the lack of tree cover, but especially when there is snow and sun, because it accentuates the landscape in ways you never saw it before.
Today was a featured park day for the Winter Hike, which means they have fires, hot chocolate, and chicken noodle soup. But it drew a crowd. Not too bad though.
It is a brisk and cold morning, but the sun is shining.
Turkey tracks.
And there they are.
Dogs are not allowed on this trail. It’s either a rule breaker, Fox, or Coyote, but I’m not an expert tracker.
The stairs on the Overlook Trail.
The Nature Center is right, but I went straight to the Ripple Rock Trail.
Here is a trail map.
Coming up on the Ripple Rocks.
This bank is where the Ripple Rocks come from. These rocks have petrified waves in the sand on them. Pretty cool, but it’s fragile, so don’t get too close. There are a couple samples right on the trail.
After completing the Ripple Rock Trail, I headed toward the Nature Center and caught the Sugarbush Trail.
This prairie where the Goldenrod Trail winds, as seen from the Sugarbush Trail.
There is another prairie on the backside of the Sugarbush Trail.
Dead Goldenrod in the sun.
I took the road back to the Nature Center.
Nature Center.
Turtles can slow their metabolism and sleep all winter, and can even sleep under mud without air!
The ravines are more accentuated in the snow and sun.
The fires were near the Natural Play Area.
Time to warm up.
The soup and biscuit was good too.
And I earned my patch today for completing 7 of the 18 hikes in this challenge. On to the medallion.
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