Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park - Columbus, Ohio December 5, 2021 I spend a lot of time hating on winter. I had a rough adjustment back to Ohio and Kentucky winters after living in Arizona for three and a half years, and I think that first shock has stayed with me. But over the past …
7 miles - Ramshorn Lake to Buffalo Horn Trailhead The last day on trail is always the worst day on trail. Although I was ready to take a shower, wash my hands, and be done with rolling around in the dirt, I wasn’t ready to leave the woods. I love waking up as the light …
Continue reading Gallatin Crest Trail Day 4: Friday, July 16
10ish miles? - Windy Pass to Ramshorn Lake Although my GPS said it was about 8 miles to Ramshorn Lake from Windy Pass, I remembered reading a trip report that had today's mileage around 13. Classic Gallatin Crest. Nothing for certain, everything guesswork. 13 miles would be a long haul at this elevation, especially without …
Continue reading Gallatin Crest Trail Day 3: Thursday, July 15
10ish miles - Crater Lake to Windy Pass Wow, what a day. It started off with me sleeping in a bit, which isn’t in the least out of the usual. I woke up around 5:30, but didn’t get moving until 7:30. I had breakfast by the lake, and I also checked my maps, dug my …
Continue reading Gallatin Crest Trail Day 2: Wednesday, July 14
11ish miles - Hyalite Creek Trailhead to Crater Lake I woke up as it began to get light, around 6. It took me a while to get moving, because as usual for my first night of any backpacking trip, I didn’t sleep well. It was a beautiful morning, and I enjoyed a relaxed breakfast and …
Continue reading Gallatin Crest Trail Day 1: Tuesday, July 13
Hyalite Creek Trailhead - 8:01 PM Well, here I am at the trailhead! It’s a beautiful evening, my tent is all set up, and I cannot believe how incredible the mountains are in this canyon. Right behind my tent, behind the pines, a massive mountain rises and catches the sun. The sky is still a …
Continue reading Gallatin Crest Trail Day 0: Monday, July 12
July 11, 2021, 9:30 AM - In the air - flight from MSP to Bozeman, MT It feels weird to be flying again. The last time I was in a plane was coming back from Portland, Maine after finishing the AT. Several entire lifetimes seem to have passed since October of 2019, and I’m so …
I don't know about you, but sometimes, I'm pretty bad at doing things I want to do. For example, I've wanted to visit Cedar Bog, a nature preserve located in Urbana, Ohio, for months now. It's not far from Columbus, and it's an easy drive. It would have been feasible for me to make the …
It's summer 2021! That means it's time for cicadas, long evenings, dinner on the deck, and of course, plenty of daylight for hiking. A couple of weeks ago, my mom and I decided to kick off our summer hiking season when we both had a day off on Friday, June 4. While trying to decide …
Continue reading Shawnee Lookout: A Great Park in the Cincinnati Metro Area
I drive back and forth between Cincinnati and Columbus a lot. Like, a lot. I-71 is like another home at this point. Every time I drive north or south, I pass the sign for Fort Ancient Earthworks and Nature Preserve, and I never stop. I'm usually up against some sort of deadline, or trying to …
Continue reading A Detour to Fort Ancient Earthworks and Nature Preserve
Sarahmarie Specht-Bird 