Non Snow Hiking at Hoadley Nature Trail

On November 15th at 1 o’clock sharp, 15 or more hikers gathered around Pat’s Truck to learn about the pros of Snow Hiking and the extra steps you should take before and during a cold winter hike. We learned during cold, deep snow hikes you burn more calories, build muscle, boost cardiovascular health, strengthen the immune system and produce brown fat. We reviewed what brown fat is good for since it was something most of us wasn’t aware of. The mental advantages include, finding solitude and peace, enjoying unique scenery, investigating animal tracks, boosting your mood, and building confidence in yourself after a tough hike. We also reviewed dressing like an onion (layering) and the essential gear you shouldn’t leave at home. Last but not least, let someone know the “Where? When? Who? Why? What?” details of your hike.

The hike proved that the pathway to Hoadley Trail and the trail itself is a wetland. Not only did we have a good view of the engineered stormwater wetland retention, we meandered around many shallow water pools and mushy ground. We entered the east access and wowed at the amount of green leaved invasive shrubs (honeysuckle) that were easily noticed against the fall colored surroundings. Another observation was the large number of hickory trees found in the woods at Hoadley. The question was posed, can you eat the nuts? A quick search says yes. Harvest and select the nuts, Dry the nuts (air-dry or roast), Crack the nuts, Extract the nut meat, Enjoy! We stopped at a small bridge and talked about the spring streams and rivulets that run through the woods and the vernal pools that form from them. Vernal Pools are a keystone ecosystem that is a perfect landscape for developers. They are endangered for that reason. We then made our way back to the trailhead and concluded another fun hike.