ten in a row! amazing.

Today I hiked my fat ass off at Mount Nebo in East Stroudsburg, sort-of. It was another Get Out For Wellness hike. I'm glad I decided on my winter coat. It was cold and windy. I wish I would have taken my gloves.

There was about ten people total, including Alex Jackson, Executive Director of Brodhead Watershed Association. We learned a lot about trees. I think I needed a notebook. Don't let this path fool you. This is a mirage. It last maybe 500 feet.

The trail was well marked with  yellow blazes.

We stopped a lot to talk trees. The red maples were budding. The male buds have pollen. The female have the seed. When these two get together a mighty tree will grow. There were 10 types of oaks including red, white, scarlet and black. And quaking aspens with the catkins still attached. Plus hemlock (with killer bugs attached) and birch. Wow, I remembered a lot.

Often the trail was covered with water and muddy. The trail is steep in spots and crisscrossed with tree roots. There were some downed trees to climb over--and under, and erosion ditches in places.I was always the last one up the hills.

And there was a pond at the top of one of the hills. But there were no fowl in the pond.

There was an erosion ditch that was running like a river into the pond. We had to cross it. I was the only person to ask for a hand. If I wouldn't have had something to grab on to I would have ended up in the water.

It was a good walk. My knees are killing me. They were not happy coming home.

Miles/Steps:  The map above says 1.9. My phone said 2.4 miles
Weather:        Mid-40s, overcast, winds of about 15MPH. It also showered, snow flurried, and hailed.
Wildlife:         We heard a goose and saw three vultures. 

 

Day 9, I just walked around the block and did some leg exercises.