Going On A Treasure Hunt: Geocaching!

Adding a geocache search, or two, or three can
add even more excitement to your hike!

While I was typing up the paragraph on our search for the geocache on the Peewah Trail in Trail of Tears State Park, I was reminded of just how much fun we have, as a family, searching for these little bits of hidden treasure. I'll admit, even as a supposedly full-grown adult, my eyes light up just as much as my daughter's each time we find a geocache, and I'm always anxious to see what is inside! My daughter enjoys trading out one of her trinkets for one of those contained within the cache, while my wife and I most enjoy looking through the log, noting where all those who found the container before us are from while we marvel at just how wide this community has become. Since our family enjoys searching for these hidden gems and we love to see the community get a bit larger and the logs contained within the caches grow and grow, I figured that I should write up a little bit more than a simple paragraph on what geocaching is and how you can get in on the fun too!

So, I guess I should start with the basics. Geocaching is, for the lack of a better description, a world-wide treasure hunt, where you navigate to specific GPS (Global Positioning System) coordinates in order to find hidden containers that may be as small as a pill bottle to larger containers the size of a metal ammunition box. Now, if you're like me, that GPS coordinates line is staring you in the face... It's saying, "Hey bub, this is complicated, you need to have expensive GPS equipment if you want ANY chance of finding a geocache." But here's the deal, that smart phone you carry, the one that has the GPS chip built in, can get you within 10-20 yards (or closer) of any GPS coordinates out there, and better yet, you didn't have to spend an extra dime! In addition to your GPS device or phone, you'll need to have a pen (for autographing the log) and maybe a trinket of some type to trade. Now, on to apps for the smartphone crowd.

For Android users the best I've seen available (remember this is all personal opinion) is CacheSense, which is available in a 30 day demo form at CacheSense Demo, now, there are others available just hit up Google and search for something along the line of "best apps for geocaching" followed by what type of phone or mobile operating system you use. For iPhone (and android operating system) I found the Geocaching by Groundspeak to be very beginner friendly and fairly easy to operate, but again, there are many out there, so don't take my word for it. One big minus for me on the whole Geocaching app by Groundspeak is that it's nearly $10 for the app, that seems pretty steep, but it integrates seamlessly with their site. I would just suggest that whatever app you use have an "offline" mode, so that you won't lose your geocache just because you lost your signal. Then it is a simple as either manually plugging in the coordinates of the geocache or downloading a file from a website such as Geocaching.com. If you use Geocaching.com to get your information from you will need to make an account, it only takes a second and its free.

So, while you're on Geocaching.com simply move your mouse cursor over the "Play" button on the menu bar, then select "Hide & Seek a Cache". The page there is pretty darn self explanatory, type in an address, a zip code, state or other area and click on the "Go" button. When we first began, we only did caches that were easy, and we started on a public trail near our home so the walking was easy. So once you've picked out your first geocache target, find the coordinates for your anticipated treasure hunt and enter them into your GPS device or app! All that's left now is for you to get on out there and find that cache.

Once you've found the cache (congratulations by the way!) be sure to sign the log book or log sheet and take a second to look at the names and locations of the fine geocachers that have found the cache before you. If you'd like to trade out for an item that is contained in the cache, well, I hope you brought something along with you, because the rules are, whatever you exchange should be of equal or greater value that that which you take. We really dig taking a few of the little figures you find in the $0.50 machines in supermarkets and such, we've also found that these are taken pretty darn quick, especially zombies for some reason. So, once you've signed the log and traded for a bit of something, or maybe just took a picture of the contents, you may want to log the your geocache find online at Geocache.com. Here is a short video on how to log a geocache once you've found it:



I hope all this helps and I'm sure that adding a geocache or two on your next hike will pay back in TONS of fun, just be remember to bring a pen and perhaps a trinket to trade with you. Let me know if you have any questions or want any additional information and, as always, thanks for reading and happy trails!

More Information:
Geocache.com - A great source information of all things relating to geocaching, a must hit for anyone looking to start!
Top Five Android Geocaching Apps - You don't have to take my word for it
Top 6 Android Geocaching Apps - In case you don't want to take my word or the link above's word...
Top 5 iPhone Apps For Geocaching - for the iPhone folks

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Trail of Tears State Park II: Peewah Trail

After experiencing the beauty of Trail of Tears State Park while exploring the three mile Sheppard's Point Trail, we knew that our family would be heading back soon, this time to tackle a more "formidable" foe... The nine mile long Peewah Trail. Now, I say that the Peewah Trail is ten miles, and it is, but the beauty of this trail is that it is split into two completely different trails with two seperate trail heads, that forms a full on (if a bit askew) figure eight. These two sections of the Peewah Trail are simply referred to as the East Loop and the West Loop.

The "boys", Hudson (brown & white) and Hyatt, taking in a quick refresher
from one of the numerous creek crossings on
the East Loop of the Peewah Trail

The East Loop: The East Loop is approximately 3.25 miles long and is easily identified by its yellow blazes. This loop climbs the ridges and bluffs that overlook the Mississippi to the East and even features a small spur that will take you out to a scenic overlook (located 1.5 miles East of the trail head for the East Loop) so that you can get a beautifully clear picture of the Mighty Mississippi, in fact, if you find that the scenic overlooks just off the roadside are full, this viewpoint and the vantage at Sheppard's Point are excellent alternatives, and all but guaranteed to be less crowded during Bald Eagle season. This trail is a perfect example of what goes up, must come down. As you follow the bluffs and ridges along the Mississippi eventually you'll come to the descent into the bottom-land, filled with wildflowers (in the spring/summer), giant cane and even a few creek crossings. Of course, with the creek crossings the possibility of washouts and flooding are a possibility depending upon the level of the Mississippi, so pay attention and use caution during any creek crossing. As you are on the Western side of the loop, keep an eye out for the black and white blaze, indicating the connector between the East Loop and the West Loop.

Twisted and snapped trees can be found
from the 2003 tornado damage.

The West Loop: To access the 5.75 mile long West Loop, you may hit the trail head, located along the Overlook Road, just north of Hill Road or you can hit the connector from the East Loop, mentioned above. As you hike through the region, marked clearly with red blazes, you will notice areas with beautiful oaks and hickories lining the ridgetops, while sweet gum and sycamore dominate the bottom-lands, with a health amount of native ferns thrown in just for measure. While taking in the beauty of these trees you may encounter areas that appear to be "stunted", but they are not, we had a tornado ravage the area in 2003 and this trail shows the clear evidence of the tornado's path. This is a perfect way to teach the destructive powers of a tornado, as the downed and twisted trees are still easily seen from the trail. Of course for a child, these downed trees provide a perfect and fun opportunity to increase their climbing skills too! This damage is a great example of the resiliency of the forest when taken care of.

Searching for

Now, for our family this was a pretty long hike and in order to spice up the nature for my then ten-year-old, we decided to search for a few geocaches while out on the trail. If you are unfamiliar with geocaching, or think I just made it up, head over to Geocaching-The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site for all the information you could ever want, and a quick and easy look up for geocaches near you or your prospective hikes. For our hunt, we simply took our car GPS unit into the field with us and used the coordinate look-up function to place the marker on our screen, of course your unit may be entirely different, but the fact is, we didn't need a fancy pants hand held unit and nearly all smart phones have a GPS function built in and numerous apps are available for you to use, such as the Geocaching Toolkit, I have used this one myself so I can vouch for it. Keep in mind, there is a Geocacher's Code of Ethics and be sure to bring along something to trade for an item that you may find interesting, be sure to read where others who have come before you are from, it is interesting to find so many others who found your little "secret" stash! Another quick note as you look over the geocache entries, a "Muggle" is someone that isn't out to find a geocache or someone unaware of geocaching even exists, I'm not a big fan of the Harry Potter series and it took me a bit to figure out what the heck a muggle was.

The West Loop has a few creek crossings as well, Indian Creek is prone to flooding its banks and flash flooding is always a possibility during rain storms, so please be careful as you cross these areas. As with any area rich in water and cover, there is a great chance to spot wildlife on both trails, keep an eye out for turkey, whitetail deer, foxes, fat little squirrels and more. Concerning the squirrels, keep an eye on the sky, as we were convinced that one particularly fat little bugger was chucking branches and nuts at us, funny till you catch one on the noggin.

You may notice on the Peewah Trail Map that the West Loop is nearly bisected by trail that leads to a backpack camp located dead center of the loop. We did not explore this camp, but I can assure you, we fully plan to! In fact, we hope to use this as a refresher before taking on some longer backpacking trips this fall and next spring, so stay tuned for more information as we experience it.

Overall both trails offer fantastic hiking, well maintained and clearly marked trails (provided you know what you are looking for, so please print out a map), some breathtaking views and scenic spaces. We only encountered one other group of people out on the trail, another family, and immediately after they were out of earshot we were instantly transferred back into the solitude and serenity of the wild acres. The boys enjoyed all the smells and nature along the trail, while we enjoyed the family togetherness you can only experience on a hike. Even though we went during the late fall/early winter period there was still PLENTY to see and take note of, however, this trail would be truly breathtaking in early fall as the leaves change and the bottom-lands truly come alive in the early spring with a plethora of local wildflowers in full bloom at that time. I certainly hope you'll make time to explore at least one of the two loops available on the Peewah Trail, I'm sure you'll find it just as enjoyable as we did.

As always thank you for reading and let me know if you have any questions on the trail. If you dig the blog be sure to give it a +1 up there or subscribe with your email address up top, it won't bug you until the next update then. Happy trails till next!

More Information:
Flickr Gallery of Shots
Click here for Peewah Trail Map
Click here for Trail Listing in Trail of Tears State Park
Trail of Tears State Park
429 Moccasin Springs
Jackson, MO 63755-8295
(573)290-5268(573)290-5268

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Hike Through History: Trail of Tears State Park and Sheppard's Point Trail

Trail of Tears State Park, to me, is that "homely" girl in the sappy love movie. You know the one that no one pays any attention to and calls a geek, then, suddenly, she lets down her hair and takes off her glasses to reveal she's smokin' hot! For me, that is the tale of Trail of Tears State Park and this gal seems to have something for everyone: fishing, swimming, horse trails, picnicking, camping, backpacking, beautiful scenic overlooks, bird watching (people "flock" from all over to watch the Bald Eagle migration), Mississippi River access, hiking and so much more!

 

Now, I am no stranger to Trail of Tears, in college, friends and I would escape our campus confines and seek out the coolness of Lake Boutin for a dip or cast of the line, while partaking a few tasty cold beverages and observing the local bikini-clad "wildlife". Here's a quick note to those that may wish to also take a dip in Lake Boutin, wear shoes or water socks. There are still some old school pop tops (I put in this picture link because I realized a lot of folks may have no idea what that is) buried in some of the sand here so protect those tootsies! However, I was a trail virgin to over thirteen miles of pristine and well maintained trails the park harbored and after a quick internet search found that the three mile Sheppard's Point Trail could be a great "go to" hike for me and the family!

The parasitic beech drop.
Photo found on Wikipedia

Trail  of Tears State Park is very, very well marked and navigating from place to place within the park is very easy and directions are clear and evident. Upon arriving at the Sheppard's Point Trail Head, we noticed a few other cars, but we would never spot our fellow trail hikers (or hear them for that matter). We unloaded and leashed our "boys" Hudson and Hyatt, snatched our water bottles from the cooler, tightened up our laces and hit the dirt trail that headed straight into the hardwood forest. As we hiked, white oak, American beech, cucumber magnolia and beautiful tulip poplars lined the trail, as the dirt path took us to the tops of ridges and into deep valleys. Beneath the trees we saw brilliant green ferns and I took special note to look out for a rare plant, the parasitic beech drop, siphoning nutrients from the roots of the American beech.

The trail itself has some condition issues in spots (holes and root growth) and can be steep in places, but each incline of the trail is slowly adding up to one heck of a view! Nearly halfway through the hike is an awe inspiring vantage of the Mississippi River and a perfect place to take a quick rest and recharge while watching barges and tugboats navigate the mighty (and muddy) river. This point is also a prime observation point for bald eagles, particularly during the winter months. Also watch out below, there are some great drop offs that you can perch on to garner an even better view of the river, or peer directly over the edge to watch trains travel with their goods along the rails below.

After taking our break and watering both ourselves and the boys, we began to complete the Sheppard's Point loop and once back at the car, we all found that the trip was beyond enjoyable, if not a bit rough traveling up and down though. It seems as though we would be back, and soon to take a trip on another Trail of Tears hiking route... The Peewah Trail.

More Information:

Sheppard's Point Trail Map

Trail of Tears State Park
429 Moccasin Springs
Jackson, MO 63755-8295
(573) 290-5268(573) 290-5268





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Better Safe Than Swarmed: Homemade Bug Repellent

You're never truly alone outdoors, there are nearly always some flying friends ready to grab a bite with you...

As I was writing the blog on the Little Grand Canyon in Illinois, I couldn't help but revisit the hike in my mind. Seeing my wife and daughter enjoying the outdoors with me, hearing the gentle gurgling of the water as it flowed to the canyon floor slowly cutting through the sandstone and feeling the sting of the swarming mosquitoes, ravenous for my sweet, sweet blood!

Anyone who has been outdoors will tell you, bugs can make your excursion an absolute nightmare, even if your journey is only as far as your front porch to enjoy a sunset. Those same folks, particularly if they've been out in the woods with mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers, would most likely recommend a bug spray that contains DEET (short for N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, say that five times fast...) which is some pretty powerful stuff. Developed following the jungle warfare of WWII, DEET is very effective at keeping bugs (especially mosquitoes and ticks) at bay during your outdoor fun. Unfortunately, DEET may also have many health side effects which may include: seizures, severe rashes, insomnia, impaired cognitive functions, mood disturbances and I've personally watched it melt rubber from a flashlight in my hands. But, I have to be honest, this is my "go to" insect spray for outside (albeit in concentrations no greater than 30%, which has been shown to give approximately 3-6 hours of protection from insects), but I thought, what if I could make a cheaper, safer, more environmentally friendly recipe?

There are a lot of good things about making your own bug repellent, for one, you know everything that is going into the batch, so if you have allergies or find that particular scents make you ill, you can easily change it up. You can also change how concentrated the repellent is by adding or removing water from the concoction and, you may even want to cackle maniacally as you fully enter your "mad scientist" mode as you mix, children LOVE this part (so practice your BWAAH, HA, HA's). My guiding principal, as I channel my inner Dr. Doofensmirtz, is to stick to ten to twenty drops of essential oil mixed with around two tablespoons of "carrier" oil or alcohol, and I do like it straight, no chaser, no water. But if you're looking to add water, substitute it for no more than half of the "carrier" oil or alcohol. Want an even cooler pro tip? Want to make all of your friends say "Oh, wow, you're so smart?" Well, just add some aloe vera gel to any recipe to make it into a lotion.

Not even our buddy "Hypno-Toad" could have eaten all the mosquitoes, but I'm sure he enjoyed the buffet!
Plus carrying a toad in your pocket is strange... or some I'm told.

My Macho Mosquito Mix

• 2 tablespoons of Vodka (bring out the cheap stuff for this)
• 15-20 drops of Cinnamon Oil

Mix the two ingredients together in a small spray bottle, shake vigorously (not stirred...) and apply. Good for about an hour of protection and you can drink the leftovers! "Spray for you, spray for me..."

Don't feel like spraying it directly into your mouth? You can substitute or even combine other essential oils such as citronella oil (great for mosquitoes and easily found), rose geranium (found to be pretty effective against ticks) or even some eucalyptus oil (repels ticks, mosquitoes and lice). A further list is available below in the next recipe.

Are you looking to "get off the sauce", don't want the kids spraying your macho concoction into their mouths or fear a contact buzz coming on? You can substitute soybean oil (shown to be an insect repellant in its own right), any other cooking oil (olive and sunflower are recommended), rubbing alcohol or witch hazel (see below) for the vodka.

World Wide Witch Hazel Blend

• 2 tablespoons of Witch Hazel
• 2 tablespoons of water (if you want to dilute the mixture)
• 10-20 Drops of any one of the following or make your own concoction:
• Eucalyptus Oil (ticks, mosquitoes & lice)
• Cinnamon Oil (mosquitoes)
• Citronella Oil (mosquitoes & biting flies)
• Orange Oil (fleas)
• Rose Geranium (ticks & lice)
• Vanilla Extract (biting flies & gnats)
• Cat Nip (stir a teaspoon or so in to combat mosquitoes)

Just mix the ingredients above in a small spray bottle, then shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it like a Polaroid picture and apply. It should be good for about an hour of protection. Now, I can't officially vouch for this recipe, as I haven't yet tried it, but this (or multiple variations) recipe is red hot on my Facebook feed and the internet boards, so I figured I'd hop on the train. The recipe above will differ from many of the other online versions as I included a list of some essential oils and the insects they most effectively repel. I do not claim any responsibility for any warts that may appear on your nose, the sudden turning of your skin to green or any overwhelming desires to cruise about the skies on a broom resulting from the use of pure witch hazel.

Gnarly Gnat Gnabber Blend

This has been the year of the gnat in Southeast Missouri. Buffalo gnats have made any foray, even a simple expedition to the mailbox, a mix of flailing arms and muffled curses. After my local store ran out of a miracle mixture called "Buggins", I had to take to the internet and unleash my inner chemist for this quick and easy recipe, it's a very hard recipe to remember, so take notes... Ready?

• Pure vanilla extract

That's it... It rubs the extract on its skin or else the gnats return again (horrible, horrible reference) or you can place it in a spray bottle and spritz away. It will work fantastically for about 30 minutes of pure gnatless bliss, before you'll need to reapply. For an added punch, add a bit of citronella oil (1 part citronella to 3 parts vanilla extract) to keep mosquitoes at bay too.

Where To Find Ingredients

As for where to find essential oils, look at your local Wal-Mart (they carry some), Hobby Lobby, or local craft store. Many of these are used in soap making or loaded into those scent warmers you see in nearly everyone's home. If you still can't find any, well, you obviously have the worlds largest shopping mall at your fingertips... Type in Essential Oils for sale into Google and BOOM! To lazy to type? Then click HERE...

Please Share Your Results, Recipes And Thoughts With Us

Please let me know if you have any secret family recipes you may be willing to share or let me know if these concoctions work for you. Of course, be sure to test the essential oils on a small patch of your skin, you may have an allergy you aren't even aware of, so check before spraying this stuff all over your nether regions and beyond! Finally, when using these homemade remedies, keep one thing in mind, they will not work as well as that Deep Woods Off! with the 25% DEET in it, but they will work and most likely, better than you think!

Thanks for reading!

A BIG Little Hike: Little Grand Canyon, Illinois

Little Grand Canyon, tucked away in the Shawnee National Forest, was one of my very favorite hiking spots back in college. I discovered it on a field trip in my botany class back in 1998, I was impressed with the lush green beauty of the area, the "ruggedness" of the 3.6 mile hike and the relative feeling of remoteness as our instructor led class traversed the sandstone walled canyon trail in search of endangered local plant species. Would I feel the same sense of remoteness, would I encounter the same beauty, would the trail seem as "rugged" in a 2011 revisit with my family?

Before I get too far in, allow me add a little bit more to our 2011 revisit of the Little Grand Canyon, as many in the Midwest (particularly those who live in areas that are near the Mississippi River) will know, this area is near the historic flood levels that occurred in 2011 and that did cause a bit of issue with our hike. The issue was, we couldn't make the full loop. Upon traveling to the bottom of the canyon, we hiked as far as we could, swarmed by mosquitoes, up to our thighs in mud, hoping constantly that we "were through the worst of it"... We finally were forced to backtrack when our hairy little buddy couldn't go any further due to the depth and consistency of the mud. However, given all of this, we still LOVED this area and I can't wait to return!

As we pulled into the parking lot we were greeted with what is becoming a rare sight at state and national parks, a bathroom and a well marked map of the area. However, we should have paid a bit more attention to the sign posted right next to the map exclaiming: "Trail Impassible Due To High Water!". But come on, that's for chumps, right? So we grabbed our walking sticks and prepared for our first foray as a family out into a small portion of the Shawnee National Forest.

The initial trail from the parking lot is fairly easy going, consisting of a nice, wide, gravel trail that will lead the wanderer to the beginning of a 365 foot descent into the Little Grand Canyon. This portion of the trail is well maintained and well traversed and offers much to see in the way of trees and undergrowth. Oak and Hickory trees line the trail and, during our visit, they even lay across the trail which may inhibit some with disabilities from traveling further. We took our time walking this portion, pausing to identify some plants such as poison ivy (which my daughter was unfamiliar with), broad leafed ferns and the Celandine Poppy (Wicked Witch of the West: Poppies... Poppies. Poppies will put them to sleep. Sleeeeep. Now they'll sleeeeep!).

As the gravel ends your descent will begin and I'll provide you a warning, it can be slick, and I'm not being an overcautious old man here, it is slicker than snot in some spots especially following any rain. So, be sure to watch your footing, even on the steps that are carved into the sandstone, because if you slip in some areas you're in for a pretty rapid fall and possibly a not-so-fun slide ride to the bottom. But this also adds to the "ruggedness" of the trail, the little bit of slip fear that may enter your brain make this portion of the trail seem adventurous to some, perhaps even providing a bit of a story for those who haven't yet been out to the area.

As we traveled down to the canyon floor, we passed mini waterfalls, grottoes, scurried across worn ledges and even did a few impressions of Sylvester Stallone from Cliffhanger, acting like we could fall at any minute. The steady sound of the water running through the area and birds calling were all that we could hear, and my mind went back to my class hike and the feeling as though we were the only ones out there. We paid special attention to the hand and foot holds carved into the sandstone by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the the Great Depression. I searched for more broad leafed ferns on the way down and added to the list a few liverworts and hairy cap moss. We kept an eye out for local wildlife too, and encountered a little guy we nicknamed the "Hypno-Toad" and we were treated to a unique gathering of butterflies just as we reached the canyon floor.

Upon reaching the canyon floor, the now dirt trail, leveled out and we instantly noticed the canyon walls, towering over 100 foot overhead. This is also where the mosquitoes began their relentless assault, dive-bombing and attacking in mass. They were of the large, black variety and you could actually feel each bite. I don't believe they are permanent residents to the area, at least not in the numbers we encountered, but I highly recommend a few sprays of a reliable mosquito repellent prior to taking this hike, better safe than swarmed... We followed the White Diamond marked trail for as long as were able, finally having to backtrack due to mud that was just too deep for our sheltie, Hudson, to continue on. As we backtracked, I made sure that we poked into a few of the overhangs and crags to see if we could discover any other little hidden gems such as this Blue Diamond marked tree, a fallen tree missing its center and a few autographs we found in a shallow cave carved into the canyon stone.

We took a second to wash up and then began our journey back up the Little Grand Canyon, disappointed that we couldn't make the loop this time, but excited for the chance to return and complete it then.

Since we visited in 2011, there was a forest fire that burned around 18 acres of the area located one quarter of a mile from the trail head in April of 2013. There is more information at the Southern Illinoisan, The Southeast Missourian and WPSD (NBC).

More of our pictures from the area are available on my Flickr Page


Find More Information (click to visit):
Shawnee National Forest (Little Grand Canyon)
Botany in Natural Areas of Southern Illinois


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Latitude: 37.68028
Longitude: -89.39472