Sanilac Petroglyphs

Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park

Michigan

July 2013

As you can tell by the way Kellisa is dressed and the chair we have, a hike to historic petroglyphs wasn't exactly planned. We were driving towards the airport when I saw a sign pointing down a rural road in Michigan for petroglyphs. I figured we could maybe spare 30 minutes and still catch our flight. We were glad we made the side trip that lasted just over an hour. We broke a few laws and needed a miracle (the flight was delayed 35 minutes) to catch our flight.

Sanilac Petroglyphs are the only known petroglyphs in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan left by Native Americans. The petroglyphs were discovered in 1881 after a forest fire exposed the rock. 

The crosses represent migrating birds: 

The swirl represents water:

Nightwalker:

A warrior with a bow and arrow shooting wisdom into the future:

A birdman:

To protect the petroglyphs from vandalism and erosion, the rock is protected by a wooden roof and surrounded by a large fence with barb wire. We were fortunate to arrive when the site was open and two archaeologists were there to share their interpretations.

Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park

South Carolina

May 2013

This was Kellisa's second visit to Congaree National Park, with the first visit back in July 2006. We first visited this park because it featured a boardwalk trail that's over 2 miles in length. 2006 was before we were pushiking challenging trails and this was the longest boardwalk I could find in the southeast. Despite being an easy walk or push, this amazing boardwalk leads through the largest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest as you are surrounded by diverse plant and animal life. 

We drove several hours in thunderstorm conditions on our way towards Congaree. I was tempted to keep driving home and save this hike for another time. However, we wouldn't let a lot of rain stop us. We entered the park while it was still raining and decided to leave the customary Kellisa in front of the National Park sign photo for after our hike, hoping the rain would stop and it did. Actually, the rain stopped while we were driving between the sign and the visitor center. The rain started again less than three minutes after I snapped the sign photograph after our walk.  

With all the rain and standing water, Kellisa and I loaded up on DEET.

Since we walked the boardwalk back in 2006, we wanted to pushike along some of the trails deeper into the interior of the park. However, since the trails resembled a swamp, it was an easy decision to walk the boardwalk. The lush greenery was breath taking.

The birds were singing high praises during our entire walk and Kellisa was excited to hear their music as she points in the direction of a woodpecker.

Kellisa wheeling herself:

Hike stats:

Virginia Creeper Trail

Virginia Creeper Trail
Virginia

May 2013

I've been wanting to hike a long section of the Virginia Creeper Trail with Kellisa since we visited the area back in June 2006. We finally had the chance while attending Trail Days 2013 and we hiked 6.81 miles from Taylor's Valley down to Damascus. We had hoped for 17 miles, but a late start and scattered thunderstorms altered our plans.

We need to thank Adventure Damascus for being our shuttle to Taylor's Valley and not being scared to take Kellisa's Freedom Push Chair along for the ride:

Kellisa enjoying the shuttle van ride on our way to the trailhead:

Taylor's Valley Trailhead:

Starting down the Virginia Creeper Trail:

Shortly after starting, we entered the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area:

Views along the trail:

We crossed several of the 34 bridges along the entire trail:

The greenery came alive with the fresh rain:

Happy to have the rain cover removed:

Trip stats:

Our hike along the Virginia Creeper Trail:

Sadly, Trail Days 2013 will be remembered for the car accident that hurt over 50 hikers. I wanted to get Kellisa back to the hotel for a good night of sleep and we left 5 minutes before the accident. If we didn't leave, we would have been just across the street from the accident. 

On a more positive note, we attended a presentation by Jennifer Pharr Davis, one of the world's most accomplished hikers, about her first thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Kellisa especially enjoyed meeting Jennifer after the presentation.

Trails

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Village Creek State Park

Village Creek State Park

Arkansas

March 2013

The Trail of Tears

Along the Memphis to Little Rock Military Road

I wanted to hike a short section of the very sad Trail of Tears through Village Creek State Park in Arkansas. 

A 20% chance of rain for the afternoon turned into a 100% guarantee as we neared Village Creek State Park.  I was prepared for Kellisa because I just purchased a rain canopy for the Freedom Push Chair. However, I wasn't prepared because I didn't bring my rain jacket. I paid a cold, wet price all afternoon.

After the short lakeside hike, we were met with a real challenge. The small trail next to the stairs was too narrow and would have been too dangerous and slippery. My only choice was to push, lift and carry Kellisa up the stairs in the rain:

Looking down the stairs we just climbed:

Kellisa's rain canopy:

The trail is eroded out of the ridgeline from so many before us as we enter a section of the Trail of Tears:

The trail is turning into a creek:

The rain turns to a slight drizzle. I remove the rain canopy to let Kellisa enjoy some fresh air:

The trail cuts through the ridge with a narrow set of stairs. Kellisa's chair was wider than the stairs, so I went alone to look on the other side. It was worse and I didn't feel comfortable taking Kellisa down the other side. I made the decision to play it safe and turn this hike into an out and back.

Looking down the stairs we needed to descend:

Nothing like a narrow twist in the middle of the stairs to make it interesting:

Miles hiked:       2.66

Low Elevation:   261ft.

High Elevation:   414ft.