Date: 2012-02-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I had an opportunity to get a really spectacular day hike done on the Birdseye Trail in the Hoosier National Forest. The main parking area for the trail is located just a short distance southeast of the town of Birdseye, IN. I have hiked sections of this trail before. Some sections of the trail had been closed in 2011 because the USFS had done a controlled burn of the underbrush. I had once tried to hike the entire 11 plus miles of the trail back in 2010. I failed to complete the whole trail after making a wrong turn on a county road. The trail crosses 3 county roads and the trail was not particularly well marked. The trail is also open to horse traffic and that can make for some rough going in wet and muddy areas. The entire winter in southern Indiana this year has been especially mild and we have been without any accumulated snow. Today the temperature is about 35 degrees with a predicted high of 55 degrees. That¢s unusually warm for February. The sky is powdery blue and the wind is a bit chilly. It¢s perfect weather to hike! My goal is to complete all 11.8 miles of the Birdseye Trail today. I pull into the trailhead parking lot and notice an immediate change from my last visit. There was a large wooden, two sided bulletin board with gobs of trail information on it. That is gone. It has been replaced by a single wooden post with a rectangular wooden box attached. As I walk over to take a look I see that there are colored trail maps inside. I take 1 out and look it over. I decide to drive down to County Road 102 and access the trail from there. There is a small parking area so I pull in. As I get out of my car, a white Ford pickup pulls in. There are 2 US Forest Service workers who greet me. This is great as I quiz them on trail information. I show them the map I just picked up and ask them about the section that disappears onto a county road. They clarify some things and state the trail has been re-routed. AT last I solve the mystery of my wrong turn taken 2 years ago. They also tell me that there have been some trail improvements made and I¢m anxious to see that!I get on my day pack and GPS and head north on the first section of the trail. It is 2 miles from the parking area to County Road 14. As I start the trail, I notice that fine limestone gravel has been spread on the trail. It looks to be 6 to 8 inches deep in places and it makes for really smooth walking. The trail climbs steeply from the trailhead and before long I feel the sweat begin to start. After about 40 minutes I crest a ridge. I walk what looks to be an old homestead as there are square field stones which no doubt served as foundations for some buildings. As is typical in places where you find old home sites, I see some daffodils make an attempt to bud out and bloom. But it¢s way too early for this! I take a few pictures and move on. I soon happen on Davis Cemetery. It¢s an old cemetery and I¢m looks as this has been attended to but there are non modern grave markers. I see dates on some the headstones from the 1850¢s through the 1950¢s. There is a rusty wire fence around parts of the cemetery. An old scraggly tree has toppled over and taken down a section of the fence. People have been tending to some of the grave sites as there are some red and white plastic floral bouquets. Off to the left I see a small area that looks like it may be a gathering place for part goers. Some rocks and stumps have been arranged in a circle and assorted trash has been left behind. I head out and the trail winds down parallel to the dirt cemetery road. I soon reach County Road 14 and cross onto the second section of the trail.The next 2.4 mile section begins by following a creek. This section was closed for a controlled burn and I can still see the remnants which include charred stumps and scorched limbs. This early in spring, I can still hear the gurgling water noises from the nearby stream as I hike along at a good clip. The trail is still covered in small limestone rock although in a few places some washouts have occurred. I slowly begin to climb and then cross a creek that has some really interesting rock formations. I pause a moment to look at the formations, then go uphill and veer left as the trail winds around the top of the hill. I¢m now headed toward County Road 93. I¢ve been on this section of the trail before and I know that upcoming there are some places where the trail becomes very muddy. I reach a point where off to my left there is a wildlife pond. I don¢t see any animals there, but it does look like an active game trail passes by the pond. The trail levels off now and I come to a very wet section. I suspect there is an underground spring here because this section always is wet and muddy. But the USFS has put rock down here and it has solved the problem. Even though horses use this trail, the rock has kept the trail firm and in good shape. I keep walking and then suddenly two white tail deer race across an open section of the trail then disappear into the woods. The deer are so graceful and make running cross country look so effortless. This section of the trail now ends at County Road   93.I cross County Road 93 and work on a 1.8 mile section that leads to the main parking area on County Road 102. I hike up hill and come to a nice stand of white pine trees. I pass what looks to have been an old fence line prior to becoming USFS land. The trail now heads down some small hills before going back up to a slightly higher elevation. Off to the right I get a glimpse of the railroad tracks that parallel State Road 64. I soon reach a second wildlife pond and pause to get a picture. I notice that there are several old tires nearly covered up by grass and dirt. I wonder how long they have been here. I see the trail ahead is blocked by a downed tree but I simply skirt around it. I now cross County Road 93 and walk a short section before coming to the parking lot where I picked up my trail map earlier. At the parking lot there are some huge boulders that will make a nice spot to sit while I take a snack break. The sky is still nearly cloudless and pale blue. The temperature is 53 according to my GPS and I¢ve covered 6 plus miles, so I¢m slightly over half done. As I sit down I feel coolness against my back from the sweat soaked shirt! I break out my Gatorade and some GORP. The day thus far has been perfect, unbelievable weather and a trail in great shape with almost no mud. I have not seen a person on the trail today. Nor have I seen any cars on the county roads I crossed.The solitude of the day allows my mind to dwell on things I¢ve learned about the Appalachian Trail.   As I relax, today my mind turns to thoughts about Meredith Emerson. Her life was tragically cut short at the age of 24. On New Year¢s Day in 2008 she was abducted while on a solo hike on Blood Mountain in Georgia on a section of the Appalachian Trail. From what I read and heard, Meredith was a vivacious and pleasant young woman who often hiked with only her dog as a companion. The man who abducted and killed her was caught and sent to prison. He was a drifter who eventually confessed to other killings as well. The whole affair was senseless and makes me feel a profound sense of sadness. I silently wish that her family has found peace and hope. I pray that they can somehow find a way to cope with a terrible loss. Maybe it is because I have grown so fond of hiking and feel a kinship of some kind with other hikers. Maybe it¢s because I have a daughter and simply cannot imagine losing a family member in such a tragic way. It is at times like these, alone in the woods that my thinking and emotions become much more in tune with my surroundings. I collect my thoughts, pick up my pack and begin to walk.The next section I hike on is about 1 mile in length and mostly downhill. The trail winds toward the Birdseye Loop Road. (Another County Road) About 500 yards into the section there are two very large trees that have blown down and blocked the trail. I hike around them. As I do, I happen to look off to my right and about 50 to 60 feet up in an oak tree I see a piece of faded vinyl siding. I wonder how strong the wind had to be to lodge a piece of lime green siding up in a tree. I cross a small but fast flowing stream and then turn left on Birdseye Loop Road. There is a slight incline but the road is easy to walk on.After about mile on the gravel county road, I pick up the trail again by making another left turn. The trail here is flat and easy. Then I come up on a wide and fast flowing creek. Where the trail enters the creek, the water looks to be about 2 feet deep and it¢s at least 15 feet across. The water is clear so I can see the bottom. Rather than cross here and risk getting water inside my boots, I scout up and down the creek to find a better place to cross. But I strike out. I decide to take off my shoes and socks and walk across barefoot. My shoes and socks come off and I tie them on my day pack. Stream crossings like this make me nervous in that it¢s easy to lose your balance and fall in. Even though the temperature is in the 50¢s, the water is ice cold and I am at least 5 miles from my car. If I slip and fall into the water there is always a chance of hypothermia. I creep slowly into the water. The rocks on the creek bottom are jagged and sharp. I try to use my feet to feel my way across. The water is making my feet feel numb. About halfway across, as I hit a loose rock, I slip, but use my hiking pole to maintain my balance. Finally, I¢m across! I walk about 50 feet and find a log to sit down on. I pull out a bandana and try to wipe the mud and dirt off my feet. After some patting, I get my feet dry enough to slip my wool socks back on. The warmth of my socks feels really nice! Next I slip on the boots, lace them and I¢m off.The trail winds up at another intersection. There are no markers so I walk to my right at first. This trail ends at a road with a gate across. So I backtrack to the intersection and try going left. This looks more like a trail so I follow it and soon end up at a sizable manmade lake. It looks to cover maybe 5 to 6 acres. The trail traces across the dam and then an open field. The trail then turns right into the woods. I see a red tail hawk swoop down over the water. He glides effortlessly along on the breeze and I wonder if he is just out having fun or if he is hunting. The trail follows the edge of the lake and I cross a few small streams that feed the lake. The water is crystal clear. There is gray driftwood all along the trail here so that tells me that the water level must have been very high just recently. Soon I come to a pleasant surprise. There are remnants of an old homestead. I see a stone structure that looks like it could have a root cellar or a maybe the foundation of a storage shed. There are also many old metal and porcelain pots strewn about. Also there is an old washing machine that looks like it could be from the 1950¢s. I take a few pictures with my cell phone. No doubt when the USFS bought this property either the home was vacated or perhaps it had been abandoned long before the USFS moved in. The trail stays mostly level for awhile and then meanders up a small hill. I pass two old rusted out cars which only are metal shells. Soon the trail ends at another intersection. Once again there is a choice of left or right and no trail markers. I look at which way look more worn and I suspect it is left. I choose left and once I cross another small creek I see the trail markers! The trail climbs uphill ever so slightly. I now know I am on the last section of the trail for today. My legs are getting tired and I opt to glance at my GPS. I have walked just over 10 miles. I keep going and soon reach the top of the hill. The trail now heads downhill and I see places where the trail is starting to wash out. But the USFS has done an excellent job on rocking the trail and in places I can see the rock base is 6 to 8 inches deep. The trail levels out and now follows the edge a nice sized creek. The gently flowing water is soothing to hear. I walk for about 30 more minutes and then I can spot my car in the small parking area. I keep walking but before I can get to my car, I must again cross a fast flowing creek with water that looks to be at least knee deep and about 10 feet across. I pause to think about what to do. I say to myself ¢to hell with it¢ and race across the creek. Sure enough, the water is cold and quickly fills my boots. I slush out on the other side and walk a few steps on terra firma. My boots squish out water. I find a nice large rock to sit on and take my shoes and sock off. M feet are freezing cold! But once barefooted, my feet warm up. I gather my shoes and socks and my day pack and into the trunk they go. I glance at my GPS and I have walked 11.98 miles today! It feels wonderful. I jump in my car and head home.EPILOUGEI had such a great time on this hike that I wrote a letter to the USFS requesting to volunteer to do trail maintenance in the Hoosier National Forest. As I got home about a week after I mailed the letter, there was a very pleasant message from the USFS acknowledging the letter. I later received an official USFS application in the mail to become an official Volunteer for the USFS. I¢ve sent the completed application in and hope to become an official volunteer for the USFS!