C and I made an impulse run over to Radnor State Park yesterday evening. Given that sunset was closing in and that the park has a new locking gate that engages soon after sunset, we made our hike a quick one—climbing up to the top of a muddy Ganier Ridge, snapping a photo, and then hiking down the same way we'd come. On the drive into the park, we saw some big bucks playing down in a clearing to our left, and I was able to get a near-visible image of one deer with my zoom on full. Later, as we left the park, we noted that sheds are coming into season. Two bucks stood just off the left side of road, and one of them had a right-side antler while the other had a left-side antler. The sight made me wonder if they'd been doing battle and lost some headgear as a result.
Ganier Ascent/Descent
Monday, February 14, 2011
Quick Hike at Ganier Ridge
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Radnor Hike
Jimmy met up with C and me today at Radnor State Park for a quick run of the 2.5-mile Ganier Ridge loop, which we toured in just over an hour. We spotted twenty-one deer on this trip, the most we'd seen in a single outing to Radnor. Interestingly enough, only one was male—a little spike buck that was hanging out by himself.
Radnor Hike with C and Jimmy
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thanksgiving Week Hikes
November 23: My beloved REI Elements rain jacket gave up the ghost after a run through the washing machine, and I was forced to get a replacement. On Tuesday, I headed out solo to try the new jacket (a Patagonia shell), and I wound up running into an old friend. Last year, I encountered a large eight-point buck on Ganier Ridge Trail. I didn't have a camera that day, but for the longest, I watched him browse about thirty feet away. When I finally decided to move on, he walked along beside me almost as though he wanted a handout. Finally, after about fifty yards, he sped up and cut across the trail in front of me. On Tuesday the 23rd, I saw him again, this time earlier in the trail but still in the same general vicinity. I watched him for a while, snapping some pics as he tracked off the ridge. A little further up, I ran across his "harem," two does browsing for food and playfully nudging each other. In all, I saw nine deer, including a little spike buck (see video below) and a buck and doe in flagrante delicto. Clearly, the rut was on in late November.
Thanksgiving Week - Hike 1
November 24: The next day, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, C and I decided to head back to Radnor and make the same hike. It was downright rainy, and my new jacket got a real test, which it passed with flying colors. On our loop of Ganier Ridge, we only saw a couple of deer, but one of them was (I think) the same little spike buck from the day before. Near the end of the hike, C was getting cold because of the rain, so we decided to stop at one of the trailside benches and cook up some hot chocolate.
Thanksgiving Week - Hike 2
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Rainy Ganier Ridge
Despite warnings of afternoon thundershowers, Mr. C and I decided on a quick trip over to Radnor Lake for a hike around the ridge. The hike started out great. We had cool weather, and right along the trailhead, we watched four deer grazing on the abundant flora. But about midway through the hike, just as we began to descend Ganier Ridge, the monsoon commenced. We had our raincoats, but they only offered up a small buffer to the downpour.
Click pictures to enlarge.
The wet weather brought out the creepy-crawlies. I spotted the toad (above) hopping across the trail, and C saw the millipede as it scurried to find some dry ground. Below is a track of our hike captured on my Garmin 60CSx. We covered just over 2.5 miles in about an hour and twenty minutes.
Ganier Ridge in the Rain
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Fall Day At Radnor
The morning was so pretty that we mobilized children and gear and made for Radnor Lake. A few weeks back, C and I hiked the South Cove Trail, and I thought today's timing would be right on track for a resplendent display of fall leaves. Because of the many recent rainstorms, however, a lot of the leaves were on the ground. Even so, the park was still gorgeous with its mixes of greens, oranges, reds, and yellows.
We hiked the Ganier Ridge Trail and then made a small jaunt down the lakeside road to take some pictures. All told, we covered 2.8 miles according to my Garmin, which captured the track below. C was our trailblazer and led the entire hike. E cooed and sang most of the way before finally conking out. As luck would have it, we ran into my friend Kevin, walking with his parents by the lake, and he took a rare shot of the entire family.
Hike at Radnor at EveryTrail
Map created by EveryTrail: Share and Plan your Trips
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Family Hike at Radnor
Well, we can hike again. As a family that is. We hiked with C when he was small, but then he hit that age range when he was too heavy to carry and too young to go any distance by himself. Now, however, he is all gung-ho about hiking, and as long as there's water (or hot chocolate in the winter) and snacks, he's in. Just recently, E has gotten to the point where her neck is strong enough to hold up in a child carrier. So we all hit the trail today.
Click here for a topographical trail map of Radnor State Park (3.7 MB).
We hiked close to 3 miles at Radnor State Park, a tranquil island of green in the middle of Davidson County. My favorite trail there is the Ganier Ridge which takes you up to a nice overlook in wintertime. In the summer, the canopy pretty much obscures any distant vistas, but it's still a nice walk in the woods. Though the Ridge Trail is only about 1.5 miles, it does have a climb and a descent that both get the blood pumping. All told, we hiked a short part of the Access Trail and nearly all of Ganier Ridge, and then we went south on the Lake Trail till we hit pavement. From there, it was just a short jaunt east to our parking spot.
The picture above displays how E negotiated most of the trail. Passed out asleep. C used to nod off in the child pack as well. Something to do with the rhythmical pace and the peace & quiet, I suppose. Today, E dozed through at least three-quarters of the hike, just waking up in time to grin for some pictures at the end. Below I've juxtaposed a picture of C snoozing in 2005 next to a pic of E zonked out on today's hike.
Our short excursion was a good one. We took a water and snack break up on the ridge; C hammed it up with his Swiss Army knife and a tree he "cleared" off the trail; and we saw a little spotted fawn with its mother up close. We all got some much needed exercise, and we enjoyed each other's company in the great outdoors. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
What follow here are a few of my thoughts about hiking with children:
- Keep it short and slow. A hike with children is not the occasion to post your personal best time for 10 miles. The point (I hope) is to enjoy the outdoor world with your children and teach them to appreciate its beauty. Every child is different, of course, but 2 to 3 miles is plenty of hike for our family right now.
- Some basics are a must: fluids, snacks, bug spray, and sunscreen top our list. We did not use Deet on E but instead put one of the new Clip-On Mosquito Repellents made by OFF! products on her pack.
- Pick a quality child carrier, and adjust it to fit you. Kelty has long made a good line of these products, and we have a Kelty Ridgeline carrier bought when C was around a year-old. Though the model has been discontinued, our Ridgeline is still going strong.
- Hiking/trekking poles are a blessing. They save your knees and make you much more stable by keeping more points of contact with the ground. I have a pair of anti-shock Komperdells that have worked well for me.
- Wear a decent boot with ankle support. A twisted ankle is bad enough on the trail, but with precious cargo on your back, I imagine it's even worse. I have trail shoes I like with a lot of miles on them. However, when I strap on the child carrier, I wear full-sized hiking boots.
