Tuesday, February 15, 2011

A birthday hike: Mohican State Park



A sunshiny, fairly warm day greeted us for Steve's annual birthday hike.  This year we visited Mohican State Park southeast of Mansfield, Ohio.  We hiked along the clear Clearfork-Mohican River amidst many eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). It's a whimsical sort of place just right for a celebratory hike.



The river gorge is dramatic with steep hillsides bordering the trail.


Winter hiking...

 

is the best way for us to embrace the cold season.  Sunshine makes for lots of smiles too.



Snow/ice melted in cool formations...



Steve found the sun and hiking so relaxing, he decided to take a nap in the middle of the trail.


 Moss grew in cute little clusters on musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana).


Trees were loved.


The steep hillsides cut off sunshine along certain portions of the river casting a cold look to the cold river.


Along the trail we noticed this old tree with many, many woodpecker holes.  A nice cross section of woodpeckers is represented...small circle holes (downy), larger circle holes (hairy), large rectangular holes (pileated).  There must be a good bit of tasty arthropods living in this tree, or were at one time anyways.  Now those holes provide many wildlife homes no doubt. 


A beautiful river, beckoning us back this summer with our canoe...



 

7 comments:

  1. Hi J&S..what a great why to celebrate doing what you like to do!!
    I did enjoy this hike,(hope you didn't mind me being there) lol Everything is so quite, and serene...like the rest of the world doesn't exist!!
    The picture are so nice,and reflect what the area is like, even to the bear napping in the sun!!lol
    Hope you had an enjoyable and Happy Brthday!! Steve you was all smiles so I imagine it was!!
    Mine is tommorrow and I may just take a snowshoe in the back woods!!

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  2. Embracing is easier when the sun is shining. (well, embracing the cold anyway.) This was a joyful walk. Thanks for taking me along.
    nellie

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  3. What a wonderful way to celebrate the day of your birth, Steve! Happy Birthday! ~Vonnie, NH

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  4. looks like a great birthday celebration!

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  5. Looks like a very nice river walk and Happy B-Day to Steve!

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  6. Great to see Steve still hugs trees. Lovely bday hike. Thanks so much for sharing your adventures.

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