I haven't walked as much this summer as I have other summers and I have missed it. I have been out doors a fair amount because I have tented more this summer than that I usually do. I have a vehicle, a backpack and a tent.
If you can ignore the mosquitoes then this would be a good hike. As it turned out I arrived at the staging area sans mosquito repellent. I survived 2 hours but it was a relief when I arrived back at the parking lot and ducked into the cab of my vehicle. Nevertheless for me even a walk in a swarm of mosquitoes is better than no walk at all. The evening was still. The bounty of the advancing summer was all around me. In many places the, almost florescent orange, Bunch Berries were plentiful along the trail. I picked and ate ripe low bush cranberries. Sour but I believe these berries have some medicinal value. My mother says that when the golden rod is in bloom then it is 6 weeks until frost. The golden rod is in bloom. Many plants are now already in seed. I walked to where I could view the Heron colony but I had too many sucking mouth parts seeking my blood for me to stay long. Also my binoculars were in the same back pacjk the insect repellent was. So no Herons were observed but I certainly but count some frogs. And I did see a dozen or so teal, already in fall plumage.
In all I observed 25 to 30 Northern Wood Frogs and on Boreal Chorus Frog as I hiked from the Blackfoot Lake Staging area on the Whitetail trail to the Springs trail. Took the Springs trail to Heron Hollow. Hiked Heron Hollow to the park fence and then hiked south along the fence to Blackfoot Lake. 2.8 km. (5.6 km total).
If you can ignore the mosquitoes then this would be a good hike. As it turned out I arrived at the staging area sans mosquito repellent. I survived 2 hours but it was a relief when I arrived back at the parking lot and ducked into the cab of my vehicle. Nevertheless for me even a walk in a swarm of mosquitoes is better than no walk at all. The evening was still. The bounty of the advancing summer was all around me. In many places the, almost florescent orange, Bunch Berries were plentiful along the trail. I picked and ate ripe low bush cranberries. Sour but I believe these berries have some medicinal value. My mother says that when the golden rod is in bloom then it is 6 weeks until frost. The golden rod is in bloom. Many plants are now already in seed. I walked to where I could view the Heron colony but I had too many sucking mouth parts seeking my blood for me to stay long. Also my binoculars were in the same back pacjk the insect repellent was. So no Herons were observed but I certainly but count some frogs. And I did see a dozen or so teal, already in fall plumage.
In all I observed 25 to 30 Northern Wood Frogs and on Boreal Chorus Frog as I hiked from the Blackfoot Lake Staging area on the Whitetail trail to the Springs trail. Took the Springs trail to Heron Hollow. Hiked Heron Hollow to the park fence and then hiked south along the fence to Blackfoot Lake. 2.8 km. (5.6 km total).
