Trout times 2014 tucker

Renew your spirit with a

hike through the woods

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SHERRY TUCKER

W

HAT A GREAT WAY to start the new year with a walk in the woods. It’s a pleasant way to fill your lungs with fresh air, exercise your whole body and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature all around. Though spring, summer and fall seem to be the best time for hiking, during the dreary winter, an out-of-doors exploration on a beautiful day can be rejuvenating.

On January 1, Roaring River hosted a guided hike through the Devil’s Kitchen trail.

This is a fairly ambitious trail that circles up and around a hill that is situated just north of the hatchery. The hike started at 10 a.m on that Wednesday morning.

Though this winter has been a very cold one, especially when compared to the last two mild winters we have experienced here in the Ozarks, January 1 was a nice day. The sun was bright, there was a gentle breeze, and the temperature was above freezing, and growing warmer as the day moved along. The evening before, on New Year’s Eve, some friends discussed the hike, which they had heard information about, and we decided to do it.

Besides eating black-eyed peas, what could be a better way to start the new year?

44

trout times 2014

EVEN IN MID-WINTER CRITTERS CAN BE FOUND SCURRYING AROUND, LIKE THIS YOUNG ARMADILLO.

So, with several friends, two of my sons and my mom, too, we met at the park. We came to find out that this was a national event. It is called, “First Day Hike,” and there were parks all over the country joining in on this tradition. As we visited and watched the kids play near Roaring River, quite a crowd gathered. At least 50 hikers showed up to take advantage of the beautiful day and community activity.

DEVIL’S KITCHEN IS A BEAUTIFUL, NATURAL FORMATION THAT CAN BE FOUND ON THE TRAIL JUST NORTH OF THE ROARING RIVER HATCHERY.

trout trout times times 2014 2014

45 45

Before setting off on our adventure, the park rangers welcomed us and visited with us about the trail we were about to hike and then we took off ! Ahh, the weather was perfect, and as we set out, it wasn’t long before cold fingers turned warm, and the chilly breeze felt refreshing. The hike immediately took us upward as we headed to the top of the beautiful hill.

Even though we were a large crowd, all hiking together, it was still amazingly easy to get caught up in the beauty and serene sounds of the nature around us. Below the trail was the trickling stream. Though the water was bitter cold, it was inviting, and I had to remind myself (and the boys) that it was too cold to get into the water at all. The bare trees, and lack of undergrowth usually seem so sad to me, as I wait for springtime and green to appear. But, this morning, I

ONCE WE GOT TO THE PEAK OF THE MOUNTAIN, IT WAS NICE TO TAKE A BREAK AND ENJOY THE VIEW.

ALONG THE DEVIL’S KITCHEN TRAIL THERE ARE SEVERAL “LIVE” CAVES. A LIVE CAVE IS STILL BEING FORMED AND WILL HAVE WATER RUNNING THROUGH IT.

46

trout times 2014

could appreciate the bareness, as it allowed us to see further through the woods, and notice the shapes and massiveness of the rocks and hillside around us.

We explored several caves, and the rangers explained to us the difference in the caves and the geological attributes of each cave. All the kids who hiked with us that day had to be pealed away from each cave we investigated. Those kids become monkeys when they start climbing in, out and on all the rocks. They had so much fun, and the fresh air did a world of good for them, after being inside and eating sweets and treats though the holidays. As a mom, I could see the advantage of this outdoor adventure as being good for all of us, mentally and physically!

We finally got to the peak of the mountain after a good vertical climb at the very top. The kids felt accomplished, and were excited that it was, “all down-hill from here!” On the way down we were excited to witness a small armadillo rustling through the oak leaves. I guess it must have been

searching for bugs or other edibles. No one touched it, but everyone got a chance to take pictures and “oooh and ahhh” over the cute little critter. Shortly after that, we made it to our trail-titled destination, Devil’s Kitchen.

Devil’s Kitchen is a huge rock formation that towers on the hillside. The kids immediately conquered it by climbing to the tip-top of the huge stones. Laughter filled the valley, and a little yelling, too, as I screamed to my sons about how high the rocks were and not to get too close to the edge.

We ventured down through the rest of the trail, feeling energized and a bit proud of our journey, too. After visiting with old friends, and making some new ones, we all made it to the end of the trail, which was also where the trail had begun.

I look forward to hiking it again next year. Who would have thought that hiking in January would be so much fun. Four-season hiking is the way to go! Seeing the beauty of the hills in the winter, and then through the spring, summer and fall, is well worth it.