where in the blue blazes?

Today was a beautiful Spring Saturday in Ohio. Dylan, Zachary and I went hiking on an eight mile looping portion of the Buckeye Trail that runs through a nearby state park. The Buckeye Trail loops our entire state and is marked by blue blazes. No, we didn't do the entire eight mile loop, but probably did somewhere between three and four miles total (in and out the same portion).

Buckeye blue blazes

I like this portion of trail because it is well marked, but not as developed and well traveled as some of the other trails. There are several natural small stream crossings devoid of man-made foot bridges. There might be a series of strategically placed rocks, a fallen tree, or nothing at all. Sometimes you have to hike up or down stream to find a crossing, then return to the trail on the other side. The boys liked the challenge of finding their own crossings, and they are big enough and the streams small enough that I could pretty much let them go and the worst that could happen was that they might get wet, muddy, or both.

Zachary carefully picking his way across stones

Dylan finding his own route across the stones

Zachary balancing across a log, with about a 2 foot deep pool below him

And, my favorite, the running leap!

Dylan, also midair, performing his running leap crossing

We came out of the woods fairly mud free, and with five out of six feet dry. I won't tell you who had the soggy boot... but, no, it wasn't me!