Magnolia Springs

Tags

Hiking, photography, state parks

Lime Sink Trail

After a week spent neck deep in editing a book for my cousin on top of dealing with the idiocy of our governor who decided it was time to open up hair and nail salons, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys, I really needed to “get away” Saturday morning.

So, my husband and I took my little Turbo Abarth and motored up to Magnolia Springs State Park where we had the Lime Sink Trail all to ourselves.

Magnolia Springs has always had a special place in my heart as we often drove there with my grandparents when I was a child and picnicked next to one of the springs, cooled off in the swimming holes in the torrid southern heat, and toured the little aquarium with its native snakes, fish, and turtles.

According to its history: Magnolia Springs State Park encompasses over 1,000 acres between Perkins and Millen, Georgia. The park is named after, and built around, the crystal-clear spring water that flows through the area.

The biggest of the springs.

During the Civil War, the area now encompassed by the park, was known as Camp Lawton. A stockade held Union soldiers captured as prisoners of war. The site was selected due to the abundant water supply. Between August and November 1864, Camp Lawton was planned, built, operated, and eventually abandoned. Despite its brief tenure, the prison held over 10,000 soldiers and was said to be the largest prison in the world at the time. The stockade was closed in November 1864, and its prisoners routed to other camps as General William T. Sherman’s army closed in during his infamous “March to the Sea.”

In 2010, archaeology teams from nearby Georgia Southern University uncovered parts of the stockade wall and artifacts from prisoners. Several of these artifacts are interpreted at the Magnolia Springs History Center located inside the park. Presently, archaeologists and historians continue to study this historic property to uncover more details about the camp and its occupants.

After the Civil War, The springs became a popular recreation destination long before the park was established. This area was used for picnics, church gatherings, reunions, and swimming for local citizens. These same citizens pushed for the development of the area for years until the park was officially created in 1939.

Like many early Georgia state parks, much of the infrastructure of Magnolia Springs was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, also known as the “CCC.” The CCC was responsible for damming the spring-fed stream to create a large swimming area for visitors, as well as building roads, a bathhouse, and other park buildings.

The land adjacent to Magnolia Springs State Park is the site of what was once the Millen National Fish Hatchery, later renamed the Bo Ginn National Fish Hatchery. The fish hatchery used water from Magnolia Springs to supply 25 ponds that raised sport and endangered fish. The fish hatchery was also home to a popular aquarium where visitors could observe native and raised fish. The hatchery operated until 2010, when it was closed by the Federal Government.

Spring side water plants

These days, I would be hesitant to swim there as there are a number of alligators and water moccasins that call the swimming area their home!

Pack Smart

Tags

backpacking, Camping, Hiking

Taking a water break while backpacking in Arches National Park in Utah.

I was interviewed for an article on packing for hiking and camping trips for a periodical in Hong Kong:

Pack Smart for Hiking and Camping Trips

Packing well is crucial because when you’re out on a trail, the contents of your backpack can be a lifesaver. Victoria Logue, author of Hiking and Backpacking: Essential Skills, Equipment, and Safety, shares ideas on how you can pack to get the most out of your backpack. By Erika Lim

The challenge with packing for hiking or camping trips is finding the balance between packing light and packing adequately. Since you’ll be carrying your backpack by yourself for much of the journey, the lighter your pack, the easier it will be on your body. Assess your packing list objectively and cut out those items that you can do without. But when you’ve shaved your list to the bare minimum, what else can you do to your luggage compact and comfortable to carry?

Pack Light

A simple rule of thumb is to carry no more than one-third of your body weight. For short trips, a quarter or less would suffice.

• Discard all unnecessary packaging. Even the cardboard tube in the centre of your toilet paper should be removed. Doing so not only reduces your pack weight, it will cut down the amount of trash you’ll need to carry along because most hiking trails don’t provide waste bins. If you need to pad sharp or delicate objects, wrap them with a towel or piece of clothing.
• Be versatile and find multiple uses for the items that you bring. Instead of packing both shampoo and body soap, purchase a biodegradable cleanser that works for your hair, skin and even apparel. Clothes can be piled up to make a cosy camp pillow and save you the trouble of bringing one along. For a luxuriously warm night when you’re camping during the cold season, fill your water bottle with hot water and tuck it into your sleeping bag before you sleep.
• For essential equipment such as tents or sleeping bags, consider lighter-weight options. The backpacking market has exploded in recent years and manufacturers constantly upgrade their merchandise, so consumers have a wide range to choose from. Minimalist backpacks, feather-light sleeping bags and so forth are readily available these days. That said, such light-weight alternatives usually come with a higher price tag. Research online through reputable sources like Backpacker magazine (backpacker.com) to find out what best fits your needs.

 

Pack Tight

Don’t underestimate the effectiveness of packing really tight. Squeezing out all those little gaps and air pockets can save you a good deal of space.

• Rolling your clothes conserves more space than folding them and will help to keep them less wrinkled. Remember to place the opening of the roll at the bottom to prevent your clothes from unrolling.
• Ziplock plastic bags are wonderful for hiking and camping trips. Get good quality ones as these are durable and water-proof. They’re perfect for keeping your belongings dry (wet weather is always a possibility when you’re outdoors), compartmentalising assorted items (things often get “lost” in a pack) and squeezing the air out of bulky clothing. Use different sizes – big ziplocks for shirts or pants, medium sized ones for socks or underwear, and small ones for keys, cards, cell phones and other knick-knacks.
• Ziplocks are also ideal for repackaging foodstuff. Plan your meals and pack your food into meal-sized portions using ziplocks or other kinds of plastic bags. Squeeze out as much air as you can to save space and preserve the freshness of your food. These days, you can also purchase tuna and other meats in foil pouches, which is a great improvement over having to carry cans and a can opener.

 

Load Properly

Once you’ve gathered all your things and laid them out for packing, think about how you should arrange them for maximum convenience and comfort.

• Keep essential supplies (such as food, medication and rain gear) easily accessible by putting them near the opening of your pack or in the side pockets. You don’t want to be frantically searching for your first aid kit during an emergency. And since you’ll be drinking frequently during your hike, make sure you can reach for water without having to take your pack off. You can keep your bottle in a holster or outside pocket, or add a hydration system to your pack (if it doesn’t have one).
• Distribute the weight in your pack as evenly as possible. Foodstuff can be surprisingly heavy so don’t put all your food on one side and all your clothes on the other.
• Packing a pack actually varies as to whether you are male or female. Women have a lower centre of gravity, so packing the heaviest items toward the bottom and closer to the back of the pack will be more comfortable for them. Men should pack denser items higher and closer to their back.
• Most packs now have a compartment for the sleeping bag at the bottom. Above that, another compartment would hold, for women: shelter (tent or hammock or tarp), stove and cooking gear, then clothes and toiletries, with food at the top. Men might want to put clothes and toiletries at the bottom with the shelter, and their stove, cooking gear and food above that.

 

Victoria Logue is an avid traveller who has written extensively on hiking and outdoor travel. To learn more about her work, visit her website victorialogue.com.

Parque Natural Metropolitano

Tags

Hiking, Panama, photography

Our first full day in Panama, we headed out early to hike in the Parque Natural Metropolitano. This more than 650-acre park protects vast expanses of tropical semideciduous forest within the Panama City limits. More than 250 bird species have been spotted here, and animals such as agouti, sloth, and tití monkeys can be seen as well as lots and lots of leafcutter ants.

Getting to know the semideciduous tropical forest.

So many new (to me) and interesting plants.

I found the history of the park interesting, as well. Not only was it the site of an important battle when the US invaded to oust Manuel Noriega (ironic considering he was in the employ of the United States for years), but it was also used during WWII as a testing and assembly plant for aircraft engines. You can still see many of the concrete structures slowly being subsumed by the forest.

Sign when you reach the top of the hill.

View of Panama City and Bay

Another view of the city.

Best of the A.T.: Overnight Hikes

Tags

backpacking, Books, Hiking

Sleep Under the Stars on the Appalachian Trail with this Comprehensive Guide

The iconic Appalachian Trail stretches for nearly 2,200 miles from Maine to Georgia, offering countless opportunities to enjoy the trail by day, then sleep on its legendary ground at night. Best of the Appalachian Trail: Overnight Hikes by Leonard M. Adkins and Frank and Victoria Logue is the perfect solution for those who want to experience camping along the Appalachian Trail without the commitment of a longer section hike or thru-hike.

Traverse Virginia’s Three Ridges, enjoy North Carolina’s Mount Cammerer Loop, and summit Vermont’s Killington Peak. The book details 64 overnight hikes ranging from 10 to 30 miles in each of the 14 states that the Appalachian Trail passes through. Each hike includes the difficulty, trailhead maps, driving directions, and point-by-point descriptions. Leonard, Frank, and Victoria also include fascinating flora, fauna, and history tidbits for hikers to further appreciate the beauty of the Appalachian Trail.

Best of the Appalachian Trail: Overnight Hikes

by Leonard M. Adkins & Frank and Victoria Logue

ISBN 978-1-63404-147-8

Menasha Ridge Press, August 2018, $18.95

About the Authors

Leonard M. Adkins has been intimately involved with the Appalachian Trail for several decades. He has hiked its full length five times and lacks just a few hundred miles to complete it for a sixth. Leonard is the author of 20 books on travel and the outdoors. His The Appalachian Trail: A Visitor’s Companion received the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award. Along with this thru-hiking wife, Laurie, he lives in Virginia, within easy striking distance of the A.T.

Frank and Victoria Logue hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in 1988, and they have returned again and again to hike its many sections on day and overnight hikes. Frank has also served on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Board of Managers. The Logues live in Georgia, where Frank works as an Episcopal priest and an assistant to the Bishop of Georgia. Victoria continues to write, working on both nonfiction and fiction.

Best of the Appalachian Trail: Overnight Hikes can be found here:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Menasha Ridge Press

Best of the A.T.: Day Hikes

Tags

Appalachian Trail, Books, Hiking

Your Comprehensive Guide to the Appalachian Trail’s Best Day Hikes

 

From Maine to Georgia, the nearly 2,200-mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail is an iconic destination. But not everyone is able to take six months to hike the entirety of the trail. Best of the Appalachian Trail: Day Hikes by Leonard M. Adkins and Frank and Victoria Logue is the perfect solution to experiencing the wonder of the A.T. without the commitment of a thru-hike.

Summit the iconic Katahdin in Maine, explore Pennsylvania’s Chimney Rocks, splash in Tennessee’s Laurel Fork Gorge and Falls, and find out where Blood Mountain gets its name. The book details 144 hikes in each of the 14 states that the Appalachian Trail passes through; previews the flora, fauna, and history of the A.T.; and offers point-by-point descriptions of each hike with trailhead directions. Hikes range in length from less than 1 mile to 11 miles.

Best of the Appalachian Trail: Day Hikes
by Leonard M. Adkins & Frank and Victoria Logue

ISBN 978-1-63404-145-4
Menasha Ridge Press, August 2018, $18.95

About the Authors

 Leonard M. Adkins has been intimately involved with the Appalachian Trail for several decades. He has hiked its full length five times and lacks just a few hundred miles to complete it for a sixth. Leonard is the author of 20 books on travel and the outdoors. His The Appalachian Trail: A Visitor’s Companion received the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award. Along with this thru-hiking wife, Laurie, he lives in Virginia, within easy striking distance of the A.T.

Frank and Victoria Logue hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in 1988, and they have returned again and again to hike its many sections on day and overnight hikes. Frank has also served on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Board of Managers. The Logues live in Georgia, where Frank works as an Episcopal priest and an assistant to the Bishop of Georgia. Victoria continues to write, working on both nonfiction and fiction.

You can find Best of the Appalachian Trail: Day Hikes here:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Menasha Ridge Press

The Stone Door Trail

Tags

Hikes, Hiking, Hiking Tennessee

Frank enjoying the views

This is a very short hike–only 1.8 miles roundtrip–but the views are worth it. It’s the perfect length to pack in a better-than-ordinary picnic lunch. The Stone Door Trail is located in South Cumberland State Park in Middle Tennessee.

This large park is comprised of nine different areas located within four counties—Grundy, Franklin, Marion and Sequatchie—and 100 square miles of south central Tennessee. The Stone Door and Savage Gulf areas contain beautiful panoramas, numerous waterfalls and rock formations. Other areas include Grundy Forest and Grundy Lakes, Foster Falls and Greeter Falls, Sewanee Natural Bridge, Buggy Top and Collin’s Gulf. Hiking, rock climbing, rappelling and caving (once they are re-opened) are among the activities available within the park. Also included within the park’s domain is Carter Cave State Natural Area, an enclosed-valley sinkhole called Lost Cove; Sewanee Natural Bridge State Natural Area, a sandstone arch overlooking Lost Cove; and Hawkins Cove State Natural Area, which was created to protect Cumberland Rosinweed, a type of sunflower that grows only the Cumberland Plateau.

Directions: From Interstate 24, take Exit 134 or 135, and turn right on U.S. 41 South. Drive 4.5 miles to the Visitor Center on the left, where you can get more information. Or continue on to TN 50, turn right and follow the highway until it ends at TN 56. Turn left and follow the road to the Ranger Station on the right.

Hours Open: The park is open for day use from 7 a.m. until sunset, unless you intend to camp in the backcountry (a permit is required). The Visitors Center is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The park is located in the Central Time Zone.

The Stone Door

The Stone Door Trail

The spectacular views from the cliffs adjacent to the Stone Door are alone worth this short-ish hike, but the Stone Door, itself, is an amazing 100-feet deep and 10-feet wide crack in the rocks atop the plateau that is one of those “can’t be missed” sights.

Caution: The trail, itself, is only moderately strenuous and the usual caution about watching your step on the rocks and roots is called for. Once you reach the Stone Door, though, be particularly careful as the cliffs fall more than 700 feet to the gorges below.

Trail Directions: From the parking area at the Stone Door Ranger Station in the Savage Gulf Trails area, follow the pathway to the trailhead to the right of the information sign and sign-in area at N 35º 15’ 8”, W 85º 44’ 51” (1).

Begin hiking along the paved trail and cross a wooden bridge at .05 mile. This area is in a sensitive plant habitat, so it is important to keep the paved trail.

At .21 mile, you will reach the overlook of Laurel Gulf at N 35º 26’ 42”, W 85º 39’ 10” (2). Laurel Creek gorge is below and the Stone Door cliffs are to your far right. Shortly after the overlook, the pavement ends and you will begin hiking on a natural path.

At .43, .61, and .69 miles, you will cross wooden bridges over intermittent creeks.

Continue hiking and at .86 mile, you will reach the junction with the Big Creek Rim Trail to your right, overlooks to your left and right, and the Stone Door to your right.

Turn right and at .88 mile cross a wooden bridge to the overlook to your left. At .92 mile, you will reach The Stone Door, which is straight ahead and down the steps at N 35º 26’ 25”, W 85º 38’ 59” (3).

1. Trailhead
2. Laurel Gulf Overlook
3. The Stone Door