dang that was a hard hike

Today I chose the First Day hike at Jacobsburg State Park. I really wanted to do Nolde Forest in Reading because I've only been there once. But it said there would be steep hills. I didn't want that.  I'm too way out of shape.

I've been to Jacobsburg for events before and they always take you on easy trails. So I picked that one. I didn't know there was hard trails there.write-upiteup said "Join center educator Rick Wiltraut for a two-mile, interpretive hike exploring the old growth forest of Henry's Woods and the fields of the Homestead Trail."


There was 65 people on this walk (I had the clicker!), and 87 on the morning one. The lots were full. It looked like an hot August day, not January 1.

I knew this wasn't going to be a moderate hike when I saw this sign.  Where has this trail been before?  I wanted to turn my fat ass around. But I didn't. The first 2 miles were up hill. To the point there was often stairs in the hillside. I didn't take myhiking stick. I was unprepared. The children that came weren't very happy.

The hike stopped frequently to talk about environmental stuff. I couldn't hear, I was in the back. They played wisper down the alley with items. For example ...

...this is witches butter. According to the all-powerful Google,  Tremella mesenterica appears as a yellow mass of brain-like lobes with a gelatinous consistency. Although the species appears to be growing on wood, it is actually a parasite on the (usually hidden) mycelium of a crust fungus in the genus Peniophora. While it may not taste like much, it is edible, and it’s year-round survival food.  Witches butter mushrooms are also medicinal.

All-in-all it was good hike, and pretty great weather. I found this angel hanging in a tree on the way to the start point. Not a bit organic, but cute.

Miles/Steps:          4.25
Weather:               60, partly cloudy, but windy. At the top of the mountain it was cold.
Bathrooms:           I-4.5 in the environmental ed center
Wildlife:                I didn't have ninoculars so I only can relay what they were saying. Downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens), Red Headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), black capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), bluebird and one person swears they saw a robin. 
Extra:                   Two children on the hike were doing their homework. Taking the hike was part of the homework. Homework over Winter break. Wow.