Today, I went to my brother's house and hitched my Harbor Freight & Tools 4x8 Utility Hauling Trailer. Since I had the car's side of the wiring harness uncapped and exposed to the elements since October, one of it's ports was corroded and I was afraid that it would not make contact with one of the trailer's connections. But it did and everything works just like it should.
I drove over to Storage B today and started moving things over to my new storage location at in a relative's shed. Considering that I'll be on the road with most of that equipment, there won't be too much that will be stored there. And that which remains shouldn't be there too long.
One of the first things that I plan on doing once I'm in the Marietta area is getting another storage unit, this time smaller. All I need it for is to stage my gear so that I don't have to transport all of it, which all of that really taxes the weight capacities (in cab and the hitch) on my 2008 Chevy HHR LS. My plan is to sleep in The Cramper for at least a month before I rent a house or apartment in the area.
I now have a 30.3gal (121.1qt) Yeti Tundra 125 bear resistant cooler that I purchased from Cabellas in Tridelphia, West Virginia for $582 out the door. I've always known that I've needed this, but it's price has always been cost prohibitive. Nonetheless, I believe that it's a 20qt improvement over my previous Coleman cooler, which frequently ran out of space, it never sealed right, the screws stripped days after I bought it and it was never bear proof.
Years ago, the Whipple Section - Buckeye/ North Country National Scenic Trail was off-road between Cow Run Road and the Hills - Hildreth Covered Bridge. But enough property was purchased by one owner to necessitate shutting down a township road in the final leg that the trail was dependent on. As a result, the BT was re-routed to the north and according to Whipple's map, North Country remains rated on a truncated path to the Lane Farm Campground in the Wayne National Forest - Marietta Unit via a ford across the Little Muskingum River. I now have authorization to reestablish that footpath and white blaze it's route.
When you look at a national forest on a map, that which I call the "green blob" is it's administrative boundary. What most people don't know is that there's private property in there. But I have Global Imaging System (GIS) shapefile data displaying what the federal government actually owns. Without a guide, the spur to Lane Farm (as displayed on the map) is about 2 1/2 miles long. We have federal property well before that where hikers can disperse camp. This is where in the forest, camping is permitted 150 feet from the trail. So, with the BT/ NCT going in a new direction, the only thing I could see Lane being much good for is parking and campers.
But the problem with the ford is that governmental agencies aren't probing the Little Muskingum's water temperatures and publishing them in real time to Internet. But the nearest information that I can currently find on water temperature is the RECR8 Ohio River Report for the Meldahl Segment near Cincinnati. The more local reports only cover things like the flood stage, which I'm not too particularly concerned with considering that the river can be seen from multiple point on the spur and rather early along it. In person, it's the first thing that I'd recommend looking at. 2 1/2 miles is a long way to go to find out that it's not safe to ford. And this really only affects hikers in the clockwise/ westbound direction. According to Whipple's 10/2010 map, they're routed on the edge of that river about 5 miles prior to the Lane Spur (unofficial, that's my own name for it). On this map, the spur is marked in red diamonds.
Showing posts with label trail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trail. Show all posts
2015/03/29
2015/03/18
Log 2015031801
I purchased a Roughneck plastic container for my truing stand. It's twice as big for what I need it for and I'm not sure about where I'm store it yet?
Recently, I've had my lower back problem reemerge. But I've noticed that it gets better when I hike or workout. It's bizarre that this is the effect considering the stress that I have to put on it to do this. My guess is that that my entire body has not been getting adequate exercise when I'm at home and I'm loosing muscle mass unevenly, causing some of the lessening strands to stretch around others that have yet to compensate. All I know is that it works better than 800mg Tylenol.
On the 15th & 16th, I made my initial inspection of Whipple Section - Buckeye Trail's off-road (North Country National Scenic Trail concurrent). I wanted to do it early next month, but I monitor the severe weather conditions from the desk and weeks of areal flood watches and warnings, coupled with National Forest Service (NFS) campground closures prompted me to do it early.
Whipple's low point is at 604ft along the Little Muskingum River at a position that is roughly 7 miles north of the Ohio River. The river's level near the SE tip of Buckley Island is 584ft above sea level there and at the mouth of the Little Muskingum in Marietta of Washington County as well. I wish that I knew how many miles upstream our low point it, but it could be about 7 or 8? Considering how far in land the Little Muskingum goes before it reaches BT/ NCT, I'm surprised at just how little it gains in that short amount of distance.
The good news is that while along the Little Muskingum, Whipple's sand surface was on a top of a ledge, some 5 to 7ft from the bloated river. And it would really take a lot for a flooded river to overtake it, like a 200 year flood or more.
Whipple is passable at the moment, in fact, most people can reach average speeds on it. With that being said, I accounted for 145 deficiencies in Whipple's 13.59 miles of off-road in the Marietta Unit of the Wayne National Forest. Most of them are downed trees of 18" of less that are resting entirely on the trail's surface. We have a sawyer course coming up in May and I intend to be there. But without a sawyer, it would take over 24 days per person to clear those obstructions with a hand saw. However, my experience with a chainsaw suggests that it won't get much faster.
Recently, I've had my lower back problem reemerge. But I've noticed that it gets better when I hike or workout. It's bizarre that this is the effect considering the stress that I have to put on it to do this. My guess is that that my entire body has not been getting adequate exercise when I'm at home and I'm loosing muscle mass unevenly, causing some of the lessening strands to stretch around others that have yet to compensate. All I know is that it works better than 800mg Tylenol.
On the 15th & 16th, I made my initial inspection of Whipple Section - Buckeye Trail's off-road (North Country National Scenic Trail concurrent). I wanted to do it early next month, but I monitor the severe weather conditions from the desk and weeks of areal flood watches and warnings, coupled with National Forest Service (NFS) campground closures prompted me to do it early.
Whipple's low point is at 604ft along the Little Muskingum River at a position that is roughly 7 miles north of the Ohio River. The river's level near the SE tip of Buckley Island is 584ft above sea level there and at the mouth of the Little Muskingum in Marietta of Washington County as well. I wish that I knew how many miles upstream our low point it, but it could be about 7 or 8? Considering how far in land the Little Muskingum goes before it reaches BT/ NCT, I'm surprised at just how little it gains in that short amount of distance.
The good news is that while along the Little Muskingum, Whipple's sand surface was on a top of a ledge, some 5 to 7ft from the bloated river. And it would really take a lot for a flooded river to overtake it, like a 200 year flood or more.
Whipple is passable at the moment, in fact, most people can reach average speeds on it. With that being said, I accounted for 145 deficiencies in Whipple's 13.59 miles of off-road in the Marietta Unit of the Wayne National Forest. Most of them are downed trees of 18" of less that are resting entirely on the trail's surface. We have a sawyer course coming up in May and I intend to be there. But without a sawyer, it would take over 24 days per person to clear those obstructions with a hand saw. However, my experience with a chainsaw suggests that it won't get much faster.
2015/03/14
Log 2015031401
A new, Western Digital 2 terabyte external hard disk drive was purchased from Micro Center in Mayfield Heights of Cuyahoga County for about $105 out the door today. I also went to Walmart in University Heights and purchased some ditty bags to encase my truing stand, but they were all too small. My laundry is in the process of being done and because my heaping mound has been moved elsewhere. So the floor in my dwelling is now free to conduct an inventory.
But I do my car repairs at a relatives house and that space may be needed soon. And these days, we've had highs in the 40°F's and 50°F's. But I'm not like other people in NE Ohio and I'm erring on the side of caution... this is just a fluke. There's a tear in the arm pit of my -20°F parka and my patches still have yet to be glued and sewn on my 12°F convertible coat, which has not been worn since it was washed last. I'll need that convertible coat if the high temperature goes below 37°F.
I just received notice today that flooding on the Little Muskingum River has caused the National Forest Service to close the Lane Farm Campground in the Marietta Unit of the Wayne National Forest, which is off of an NCNST rated side trail, marked in Whipple Section's map. Whipple's low point is close to there and without being there to know, it's possible that it might be flooded?
But I do my car repairs at a relatives house and that space may be needed soon. And these days, we've had highs in the 40°F's and 50°F's. But I'm not like other people in NE Ohio and I'm erring on the side of caution... this is just a fluke. There's a tear in the arm pit of my -20°F parka and my patches still have yet to be glued and sewn on my 12°F convertible coat, which has not been worn since it was washed last. I'll need that convertible coat if the high temperature goes below 37°F.
I just received notice today that flooding on the Little Muskingum River has caused the National Forest Service to close the Lane Farm Campground in the Marietta Unit of the Wayne National Forest, which is off of an NCNST rated side trail, marked in Whipple Section's map. Whipple's low point is close to there and without being there to know, it's possible that it might be flooded?
2015/03/06
Log 2015030601
The first of two key fobs for my 2008 Chevy HHR LS was replaced today at 147,504 miles. If I had to guess, they both went dead around 100k miles. Each of them were to the point that the chips inside of them were damaged, so I had to get this one replaced at the Classic Chevy dealership in Mentor of Lake County for $136.59 out the door.
About 3 miles before this, I had the wheels balanced and the alignment done at Firestone, also of said city and county. I took it on I-90 today today and found that my vibrations stopped. Turns out that I did more damage on one of the Arc of Appalachia's eastern roads in Adams County than I thought. But it's in good condition to take to the Buckeye Trail Association's board meeting in Dublin of Franklin County (outside of Columbus) tomorrow.
About 3 miles before this, I had the wheels balanced and the alignment done at Firestone, also of said city and county. I took it on I-90 today today and found that my vibrations stopped. Turns out that I did more damage on one of the Arc of Appalachia's eastern roads in Adams County than I thought. But it's in good condition to take to the Buckeye Trail Association's board meeting in Dublin of Franklin County (outside of Columbus) tomorrow.
2015/02/21
Log 2015022101
Currently as of the date of this log, the most recent Buckeye Trail map and guide for it's Whipple Section (North Country Trail concurrent) to date, is the 10/2010 edition (parts of this section are included on the NCTA's OH-105 map). Based on that, the highest point for the section is 1,135ft above sea level at 39.467476, -81.467051, which is a hill top that roughly 1700ft north of German Cemetery on T623. The section's lowest point is 609ft at 39.463776, -81.310427, which is at the bottom of Bean Ridge and along the Little Muskingum River. Both points are within the administrative boundaries of the Wayne National Forest - Marietta Unit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Country Trail hikers wishing to complete Ohio must purchase maps, or obtain GIS/ GPS track data for 19 of Buckeye Trail's 26 sections and they are:
(from east to west)
Massillon Section
Bowerston Section
Belle Valley Section
Road Fork Section
Whipple Section
Stockport Section
New Straitsville Section
Old Man's Cave Section
Scioto Trail Section
Sinking Spring Section
Shawnee Section
West Union Section
Williamsburg Section
Loveland Section
Caesar Creek Section
Troy Section
St. Marys Section
Delphos Section
Defiance Section
American Discovery Trail recreationalist wishing to complete Ohio must purchase maps, or obtain GIS/ GPS track data for 9 of the Buckeye Trail's 26 sections and they are
(from east to west)
Stockport Section
New Straitsville Section
Old Man's Cave Section
Scioto Trail Section
Sinking Spring Section
Shawnee Section
West Union Section
Williamsburg Section
Loveland Section
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Country Trail hikers wishing to complete Ohio must purchase maps, or obtain GIS/ GPS track data for 19 of Buckeye Trail's 26 sections and they are:
(from east to west)
Massillon Section
Bowerston Section
Belle Valley Section
Road Fork Section
Whipple Section
Stockport Section
New Straitsville Section
Old Man's Cave Section
Scioto Trail Section
Sinking Spring Section
Shawnee Section
West Union Section
Williamsburg Section
Loveland Section
Caesar Creek Section
Troy Section
St. Marys Section
Delphos Section
Defiance Section
American Discovery Trail recreationalist wishing to complete Ohio must purchase maps, or obtain GIS/ GPS track data for 9 of the Buckeye Trail's 26 sections and they are
(from east to west)
Stockport Section
New Straitsville Section
Old Man's Cave Section
Scioto Trail Section
Sinking Spring Section
Shawnee Section
West Union Section
Williamsburg Section
Loveland Section
2015/02/14
Log 2015021401
The one thing about Buckeye Trail's map & guides is that they are not good forever. Sometimes it's routed as it had a right to pass on private property. If an easement wasn't made, a new owner could occupy the land and not grant the same right. In the past, trail alerts and map updates were only granted from 4 years past the publish date. Some of the maps more than exceeded that at retail because there weren't any changes on that section during that time. But, Buckeye started digitizing their maps. And when they did, they started replacing ones that were made in the old style regardless how old their editions were.
As an example, the current edition of the St. Marys Section map & guide as of today is the February 2007. If we were to go by the old rules, as soon as a newer edition of this map goes up for sale, the 2/07 will be obsolete and no longer supported (the support part may or may not actually happen). Since I monitor the course and conditions of the trail year round for the Ohio Transit Hiker's Resource (OTHR), I have to go though all of my paper maps one by one, check their editions and note their map updates on the front cover with a Sharpie marker. Right now, progress on the new edition of the OTHR is stopped pending the arrival of three new Buckeye Trail maps.
Aside from that, yesterday, I started writing a new document for a blog to be hosted by me here on Treeman's Adventures. It's called "Supplementary Information : The Wilderness Loop," which regards the Road Fork, Whipple and parts of the Belle Valley and Stockport Sections of the Buckeye Trail. I think these sort of pages are going to be the kind of thing that get updated themselves when necessary. That's different from other blog entries here where any new information appears as a comment, or a new blog entry.
As an example, the current edition of the St. Marys Section map & guide as of today is the February 2007. If we were to go by the old rules, as soon as a newer edition of this map goes up for sale, the 2/07 will be obsolete and no longer supported (the support part may or may not actually happen). Since I monitor the course and conditions of the trail year round for the Ohio Transit Hiker's Resource (OTHR), I have to go though all of my paper maps one by one, check their editions and note their map updates on the front cover with a Sharpie marker. Right now, progress on the new edition of the OTHR is stopped pending the arrival of three new Buckeye Trail maps.
Aside from that, yesterday, I started writing a new document for a blog to be hosted by me here on Treeman's Adventures. It's called "Supplementary Information : The Wilderness Loop," which regards the Road Fork, Whipple and parts of the Belle Valley and Stockport Sections of the Buckeye Trail. I think these sort of pages are going to be the kind of thing that get updated themselves when necessary. That's different from other blog entries here where any new information appears as a comment, or a new blog entry.
2015/02/13
Log 2015021301
I'm getting ready to sew my patches on my convertible coat that has about a 17°F rating. So, I purchased 4 - 500K, 3 - 100K and 1 - 10mi patches, which when sewn on will get me to as close to displaying 2,324km, or 1,444mi as the Buckeye Trail was officially measured as when I started hiking it on October 28th, 2009.
A "trail crew" is different from performing typical maintenance as an adopter. Usually, trail crews are the ones who build the off-road trail. And at 5 hours of service, those volunteers are entitled to the "Volunteer" patch. I got mine about a year or two ago while volunteering on the crew that was building 18 additional miles of trail around the Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir in the West Branch State Park. I mostly did what's called "benching." When the trail goes along the side of a hill, the pitch of the terrain is going down (from left to right) as the trail is routed across (straight). "Benching" is the process of digging out the hill to level out that pitch so that hikers aren't traversing the route on a slanted surface. Otherwise, it might unbalance some of our loads, or cause one of our muscles to compensate for the other and fatigue in a way that is not uniform.
This is not a patch that one can order from the BTA Store, so I made an inquiry today regarding the purchase of 3 of them. The one that I was given was in a hair band on my former wicker cowboy hat that I lost in Sandusky.
A "trail crew" is different from performing typical maintenance as an adopter. Usually, trail crews are the ones who build the off-road trail. And at 5 hours of service, those volunteers are entitled to the "Volunteer" patch. I got mine about a year or two ago while volunteering on the crew that was building 18 additional miles of trail around the Michael J. Kirwan Reservoir in the West Branch State Park. I mostly did what's called "benching." When the trail goes along the side of a hill, the pitch of the terrain is going down (from left to right) as the trail is routed across (straight). "Benching" is the process of digging out the hill to level out that pitch so that hikers aren't traversing the route on a slanted surface. Otherwise, it might unbalance some of our loads, or cause one of our muscles to compensate for the other and fatigue in a way that is not uniform.
This is not a patch that one can order from the BTA Store, so I made an inquiry today regarding the purchase of 3 of them. The one that I was given was in a hair band on my former wicker cowboy hat that I lost in Sandusky.
2015/02/09
Log 2015020901
I continued writing the Continuous Short Hikes 2015 document today when I finished with the south of the Buckeye Trail. The American Discovery Trail - North Midwest Route (ADT - NMR) was omitted in the 2013 edition and that's being corrected. The Continuous Short Hikes are routed generally at 10 miles per day with a 2.5 mile additional reserve. And for the standard 20 mile per day hikers, they'll make it from the campground at Hueston Woods State Park near Oxford of Butler County to the Greyhound stop in Richmond, Indiana. But I wasn't sure about it's measurement.
Since this is the part of the ADT - NMR that I'm most in question with, I started considering different options for the 10 milers. The campground is in Preble County, whose transit only caters to residents only as per their web page, they can not be included in the Continuous Short Hikes document or Ohio Transit Hiker's Resource's (OTHR) guide. But the nearby Union County Transit Service in Indiana can. The problem lies in that the course of the ADT - NMR is fixed and so is the state and county line. The 10 milers have to reach the amenity in 2.5 miles or "the shows over." The problem is that they can make it from the ADT to the Union County, Indiana at Stateline Road line in 2.4 miles.
But if I understand transit like I think I might, only half of Stateline Road is in Union County (and the State of Indiana for that matter). There isn't anywhere on the Indiana side for the transit vehicle to turn around and 10 mile transit hikers would have to board and disembark there on the roadside. According to my discriminator for the 10 milers, the distance between Hueston Woods and Boston, Indiana is too far. Otherwise, it would be closer to the Union County Line and better roads within the state.
But ADT's got a 3.1 mile widow of execution before continuous short hikers won't benefit from it, or With the trail being where it is, transit being fixed to it's zone and a road without public amenities whose centerline runs through two states, I'd say that at this time I'm not going to route the Union County Transit Service in the OTHR's 2015 Edition of the Continuous Short Hikes. Consequently, that means that this document can only route these transit hikers as far north as the archery range parking area in Hueston Woods SP. Since the ADT - NMR is off-road here, this area is the last place that a transit vehicle can reach hikers in Butler County before the trail crosses into Preble County.
The continuous short hikes can pertain to those who don't want to hike as far, the elderly, those with certain disabilities, but most of all it is designed and intended for entry level hikers. In order to be a circuit hiker on the Buckeye Trail and thru hike it's 1,444 mile route in under 110 total days, one needs enough stamina to be able to hike 20 miles in one day in its west, north and east. However, this is about continuous short hikers and these maps come psychological factors. OTHR and myself argue that hikers need to have enough stamina to perform at generally 10 miles a day if they're intention is to complete BT's maps, which cover areas 45 to 62 miles long. Otherwise, they may risk getting discouraged. The American Discovery Trail runs concurrent with the Buckeye for about 580 miles in its south, but it's used as the basis. ADT breaks concurrency in Cincinnati and is routed alone on and off road towards Chicago by way of Hueston Woods SP and Richmond, Indiana.
Since this is the part of the ADT - NMR that I'm most in question with, I started considering different options for the 10 milers. The campground is in Preble County, whose transit only caters to residents only as per their web page, they can not be included in the Continuous Short Hikes document or Ohio Transit Hiker's Resource's (OTHR) guide. But the nearby Union County Transit Service in Indiana can. The problem lies in that the course of the ADT - NMR is fixed and so is the state and county line. The 10 milers have to reach the amenity in 2.5 miles or "the shows over." The problem is that they can make it from the ADT to the Union County, Indiana at Stateline Road line in 2.4 miles.
But if I understand transit like I think I might, only half of Stateline Road is in Union County (and the State of Indiana for that matter). There isn't anywhere on the Indiana side for the transit vehicle to turn around and 10 mile transit hikers would have to board and disembark there on the roadside. According to my discriminator for the 10 milers, the distance between Hueston Woods and Boston, Indiana is too far. Otherwise, it would be closer to the Union County Line and better roads within the state.
But ADT's got a 3.1 mile widow of execution before continuous short hikers won't benefit from it, or With the trail being where it is, transit being fixed to it's zone and a road without public amenities whose centerline runs through two states, I'd say that at this time I'm not going to route the Union County Transit Service in the OTHR's 2015 Edition of the Continuous Short Hikes. Consequently, that means that this document can only route these transit hikers as far north as the archery range parking area in Hueston Woods SP. Since the ADT - NMR is off-road here, this area is the last place that a transit vehicle can reach hikers in Butler County before the trail crosses into Preble County.
The continuous short hikes can pertain to those who don't want to hike as far, the elderly, those with certain disabilities, but most of all it is designed and intended for entry level hikers. In order to be a circuit hiker on the Buckeye Trail and thru hike it's 1,444 mile route in under 110 total days, one needs enough stamina to be able to hike 20 miles in one day in its west, north and east. However, this is about continuous short hikers and these maps come psychological factors. OTHR and myself argue that hikers need to have enough stamina to perform at generally 10 miles a day if they're intention is to complete BT's maps, which cover areas 45 to 62 miles long. Otherwise, they may risk getting discouraged. The American Discovery Trail runs concurrent with the Buckeye for about 580 miles in its south, but it's used as the basis. ADT breaks concurrency in Cincinnati and is routed alone on and off road towards Chicago by way of Hueston Woods SP and Richmond, Indiana.
2015/02/03
Log 2009122201
(This is transcribed log from a spiral bound notepad dated: December 22nd, 2009. At this point, I had only been active, day hiking the Buckeye Trail for the previous 53 days)
I am on a journey. 4am, I departed Painesville for Camp Asbury to continue on the Burton Section northbound. There were places, because of snow, that I almost didn't make it up.
In Burton, I had traditional American cuisine @ Cogan's Restaurant. 28 miles later, I looped back on OH-700 but had doubts. Water seeped in old boots on Mile 2. So on Mile 17, new, unbroken-in boots were changed into. I pulled into Hiram College to take a snooze. The people there very kind. 3 miles to the car @ Asbury. I'll have to muster everything that I have left just to make it.
I am on a journey. 4am, I departed Painesville for Camp Asbury to continue on the Burton Section northbound. There were places, because of snow, that I almost didn't make it up.
In Burton, I had traditional American cuisine @ Cogan's Restaurant. 28 miles later, I looped back on OH-700 but had doubts. Water seeped in old boots on Mile 2. So on Mile 17, new, unbroken-in boots were changed into. I pulled into Hiram College to take a snooze. The people there very kind. 3 miles to the car @ Asbury. I'll have to muster everything that I have left just to make it.
Log 2015020301
The following are a list of notes taken while hiking. Their date is unknown.
Trail Angels
Janitors at Johnson Hall of Hiram College on loop 27 mile loop of Burton Section gave me hot chocolate and power bars on my departure from the building.
[what happened here was it was late and this hike was more than I could handle (I bit off more than I could chew), so I stopped in Johnson Hall to get a few hours sleep and continue the 4 miles to my car afterwards]
-
He approached me about making it big some day
And I said man, I'll stay right where I am
Cause there ain't nothing wrong with a coffee shop & my guitar
I never had an audience to begin with
Oh well,
It ain't too far to getting lonesome
I've been down this road before
-
Once upon a time there was a woman
And she gave me a sense of purpose
She put the pep in my step
She was the reason I lived
Then she kicked me in the behind
-
I came to the land as the Forsaken Route
But it knew me long before I...
ever had a chance to choose who I was
-
Hiker Mile/ Feet Conversion Table
1.0mi: 5,280ft
9/10 : 4,752ft
8/10 : 4,224ft or 4/5mi
7/10 : 3,696ft
6/10 : 3,168ft or 3/5mi
5/10 : 2.640ft or 1/2mi
4/10 : 2,112ft or 2/5mi
3/10 : 1,584ft
2/10 : 1,056ft or 1/5mi
1/10 : 528ft
2/3 : 3,520ft
3/4 : 3,960ft
Trail Angels
Janitors at Johnson Hall of Hiram College on loop 27 mile loop of Burton Section gave me hot chocolate and power bars on my departure from the building.
[what happened here was it was late and this hike was more than I could handle (I bit off more than I could chew), so I stopped in Johnson Hall to get a few hours sleep and continue the 4 miles to my car afterwards]
-
He approached me about making it big some day
And I said man, I'll stay right where I am
Cause there ain't nothing wrong with a coffee shop & my guitar
I never had an audience to begin with
Oh well,
It ain't too far to getting lonesome
I've been down this road before
-
Once upon a time there was a woman
And she gave me a sense of purpose
She put the pep in my step
She was the reason I lived
Then she kicked me in the behind
-
I came to the land as the Forsaken Route
But it knew me long before I...
ever had a chance to choose who I was
-
Hiker Mile/ Feet Conversion Table
1.0mi: 5,280ft
9/10 : 4,752ft
8/10 : 4,224ft or 4/5mi
7/10 : 3,696ft
6/10 : 3,168ft or 3/5mi
5/10 : 2.640ft or 1/2mi
4/10 : 2,112ft or 2/5mi
3/10 : 1,584ft
2/10 : 1,056ft or 1/5mi
1/10 : 528ft
2/3 : 3,520ft
3/4 : 3,960ft
2015/01/31
Log 2015013102
I've got a lead on the creation for the Electronic Trail Register. It involves writing a HTTP Post and the lead to searching for more information is by trying to find it in Wikipedia. Apparently a page needs to be created on my website so that content can be added as people feed into it. So far, the service that I have on my browser now is "CloudMailin.com" which ties the email address to the web page output.
Log 2015013101
Two days ago, I conducted an experiment and found out that the "Post to E-Mail" address for the Buckeye Trail Association's Facebook group actually worked after all. That got me excited, so I attempted to post to it using my SMS Gateway (writing a text message to an e-mail address) and it wouldn't go.
I realized that Facebook wasn't able to associate my cell phone's email address with my profile in order to post, so I attempted to add it to my profile. Well, it required a confirmation and the number it sent was cut off because of the 160 character limitation of a text message and I couldn't do it. So, I sent a message from the gateway to my Gmail account. In there, I found the message at attempted to set it so that it automatically forwards to the BTA's Fb group Post to Email address, but setting up the forwarding addresses also needed a confirmation that was cut off.
So yesterday I got smart. And set up a forwarding e-mail address on OTHR's domain (which didn't need to send a confirmation). I strung it all together and what'da know... it doesn't work. Facebook and blogger both have their own apps and SMS text message submission methods. But they only work for your own blog or profile. You can't use an SMS text message to post to the Buckeye Trail's Fb group.
If hikers could, the advantage is it could be used as an "electronic trail register" in place of areas where we don't have physical boxes. And the system would work as long as the hiker on the end had at least roaming cellular signal. I'm attempting to determine if it can be done using a web page guestbook.
I realized that Facebook wasn't able to associate my cell phone's email address with my profile in order to post, so I attempted to add it to my profile. Well, it required a confirmation and the number it sent was cut off because of the 160 character limitation of a text message and I couldn't do it. So, I sent a message from the gateway to my Gmail account. In there, I found the message at attempted to set it so that it automatically forwards to the BTA's Fb group Post to Email address, but setting up the forwarding addresses also needed a confirmation that was cut off.
So yesterday I got smart. And set up a forwarding e-mail address on OTHR's domain (which didn't need to send a confirmation). I strung it all together and what'da know... it doesn't work. Facebook and blogger both have their own apps and SMS text message submission methods. But they only work for your own blog or profile. You can't use an SMS text message to post to the Buckeye Trail's Fb group.
If hikers could, the advantage is it could be used as an "electronic trail register" in place of areas where we don't have physical boxes. And the system would work as long as the hiker on the end had at least roaming cellular signal. I'm attempting to determine if it can be done using a web page guestbook.
2015/01/29
Log 2015012901
Yesterday, I posted two videos on the Whipple Section - Buckeye Trail on-road that took place between the unincorporated areas of Whipple and Warner in Washington County. I also resumed work on the Ohio Transit Hiker's Resource - Continuous Short Hikes. The American Discovery Trail's east independent arm is short by a camping/ lodging amenity in NW Washington County, Ohio to continue on into Morgan County and possibly be hikable at less than 12.5 mile route or less all the way to Scioto Trail Section (, Pt. 21 in the Waverly area of Pike County.
Right now, I'm waiting on data from the Buckeye Trail Association concerning a possible re-route of the New Straitsville Section. I think I can route the shorter hikes per day from it's Point 14 in Trimble Township of Athens County. Given the heavy off-road nature of South Central Ohio, I might be able to route them past the Waverly area and go further south to Peebles, maybe even as deep as Nile Township of Scioto County near Portsmouth. But I lost my New Straitsville Section map and I don't know how that happened. I usually keep a good accountability of my Buckeye Trail maps. It's probably for the better. I'm overdue on taking an inventory of them anyways and checking them for new map editions and updates. With a 195 miles left for me to hike, I know that what that what I need to do that is good.
I set up a new service yesterday from VisualPing. It's set to monitor trail alert and map update web pages on the Buckeye, North Country and American Discovery Trails websites. When one of the set pages is modified, it's designed to send me an email. Once I get them, I'll designate their senders or subjects to automatically filter to a special folder and forward a copy to my smartphone's email address, which will convert as much as it can to a SMS text message. Since the text will only be 160 characters, the full contents will be cut off. But I'm on counting on the notification alone to prompt me to look up the alerted web page. Since the SMS text message is the best way to reach me in the most remote areas, when I loose data signal, I can just hike back into range, or stop by a local library and check it on a computer. But in the unlikely event that I'll incur a trail alert, or a map update on the section that I'm on, or the one after, I'll have the most immediate notification possible.
Prior to social media, an Internet protocol known as Really Simple Syndication (RSS) was popular. It was code that was written into the website and when it had a feed, the end users Internet browser would have an icon that would light up orange. By clicking on it, the end user would subscribe to that feed and the icon would become orange again when ever an update was detected. But the way I see it, not all web masters know how to write in RSS and due to social media, I believe that it's becoming obsolete. I'm hoping that VisualPing will circumvent that.
Right now, I'm waiting on data from the Buckeye Trail Association concerning a possible re-route of the New Straitsville Section. I think I can route the shorter hikes per day from it's Point 14 in Trimble Township of Athens County. Given the heavy off-road nature of South Central Ohio, I might be able to route them past the Waverly area and go further south to Peebles, maybe even as deep as Nile Township of Scioto County near Portsmouth. But I lost my New Straitsville Section map and I don't know how that happened. I usually keep a good accountability of my Buckeye Trail maps. It's probably for the better. I'm overdue on taking an inventory of them anyways and checking them for new map editions and updates. With a 195 miles left for me to hike, I know that what that what I need to do that is good.
I set up a new service yesterday from VisualPing. It's set to monitor trail alert and map update web pages on the Buckeye, North Country and American Discovery Trails websites. When one of the set pages is modified, it's designed to send me an email. Once I get them, I'll designate their senders or subjects to automatically filter to a special folder and forward a copy to my smartphone's email address, which will convert as much as it can to a SMS text message. Since the text will only be 160 characters, the full contents will be cut off. But I'm on counting on the notification alone to prompt me to look up the alerted web page. Since the SMS text message is the best way to reach me in the most remote areas, when I loose data signal, I can just hike back into range, or stop by a local library and check it on a computer. But in the unlikely event that I'll incur a trail alert, or a map update on the section that I'm on, or the one after, I'll have the most immediate notification possible.
Prior to social media, an Internet protocol known as Really Simple Syndication (RSS) was popular. It was code that was written into the website and when it had a feed, the end users Internet browser would have an icon that would light up orange. By clicking on it, the end user would subscribe to that feed and the icon would become orange again when ever an update was detected. But the way I see it, not all web masters know how to write in RSS and due to social media, I believe that it's becoming obsolete. I'm hoping that VisualPing will circumvent that.
2014/09/19
Log 2014082101
I reported that the Stockport was my 18th section. After review, I've determined that to be incorrect... it has to be my 20th.
2014/09/14
Log 2014091401
New Straitsville Section - Buckeye/ North Country/ American Discovery Trail was my 21st completed section of the Buckeye. About one day later, I finished the Old Man's Cave Section as my 22nd. Currently, I'm in the Scioto Trail Section and I have as far as Pt. 6 done. Basecamp E was set up at the Tar Hollow SP main campground.
Portions of Scioto Trail Pts. 2 - 5 were closed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Considering that my basecamp was in the electric camp ground and the only spur trail to the BT/ NCT/ ADT was included in the trail closures, also take in to account that when I arrived and started hiking said section, a trail alert had not been issued by the Buckeye Trail Association (BTA) at the time, so I performed a legal by-pass around said area at my discretion and claimed it as credit toward the BTA's Circuit Hike Patch.
I also made a by-passes on the New Straitsville Section between Points 14 - 15 and 23 - 24. They were due to not being able to find a trail aperture and the other was because of overgrowth.
The clip that holds my Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is made by Otter Box. This is the second belt clip that I've owned in the last 9 months and as of two days ago, I've managed to snap the securing tab on the replacement unit. I'm not happy with the performance of that plate.
I purchased a waist pack hoping that I could modify it so that it's belt could be set to loop through mounts on my slack pack's shoulder straps and transport it over my sternum. But I determined that I would have to sew the mesh on the waist pack strap in place and I didn't want to do that right now. So, I just wear it on my hip and it doesn't get in the way of my range of motion when I'm hiking. It's good for maps and the smartphone.
Portions of Scioto Trail Pts. 2 - 5 were closed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Considering that my basecamp was in the electric camp ground and the only spur trail to the BT/ NCT/ ADT was included in the trail closures, also take in to account that when I arrived and started hiking said section, a trail alert had not been issued by the Buckeye Trail Association (BTA) at the time, so I performed a legal by-pass around said area at my discretion and claimed it as credit toward the BTA's Circuit Hike Patch.
I also made a by-passes on the New Straitsville Section between Points 14 - 15 and 23 - 24. They were due to not being able to find a trail aperture and the other was because of overgrowth.
The clip that holds my Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is made by Otter Box. This is the second belt clip that I've owned in the last 9 months and as of two days ago, I've managed to snap the securing tab on the replacement unit. I'm not happy with the performance of that plate.
I purchased a waist pack hoping that I could modify it so that it's belt could be set to loop through mounts on my slack pack's shoulder straps and transport it over my sternum. But I determined that I would have to sew the mesh on the waist pack strap in place and I didn't want to do that right now. So, I just wear it on my hip and it doesn't get in the way of my range of motion when I'm hiking. It's good for maps and the smartphone.
2014/08/23
Log 2014082301
Basecamp D was set up at Hocking Hills State Park near Old Man's Cave Section - Buckeye/ North Country/ American Discovery Trail today.
2014/08/18
Log 2014081801
I learned last night that some of the NiMH battery cells might be damaged. And my head lamp might be having a difficult time holding each of its three cells. I found this out on an off-road hike that spilled into last night. The GPS needed a change as well. With batteries that were recently recharged, the screen would flash, but it would fail to power on.
My boots are still giving me blisters and shouldn't be. I'm using my stock insoles to cover the top of my foot along with my Dr. Shoals CF-340's covering my ankles and part of my arches. What's different this year is the use of the stock insoles. I should probably replace those.
Yesterday, I hiked roughly 24 miles around Burr Oak Lake through Burr Oak State Park, Wayne National Forest, and the Army Corps of Engineers reservation at Tom Jenkins Dam. With that being said, I covered about 12.4 miles of difficult terrain on the New Straitsville Section - Buckeye/ North Country/ American Discovery Trail. It's difficult considering that I'm from NE Ohio, so I'm a flat lander.
On a separate note, I want to say "well done" to the maintainers on those segments. The trail surface was always clear. Otherwise, there were a couple of low ceilings and a broken board on a causeway. Other than that, the trail's surface was as efficient as the off-road gets under the circumstances.
2014/08/16
Log 2014081601
Posting here has been very difficult lately. I'm still at Basecamp C. So far, I have about 21 miles of the Stockport Section - Buckeye Trail done as per what was planned on this trip. Last year, I did about 25 of its miles then. So, I'm anticipate that I'll finish this and cross into the New Straitsville Section tomorrow.
Yesterday, I finished the American Discovery Trail - Ohio & Kentucky's east independent arm in SE Ohio. I am now ready for what I'd like to call the "3 trail sweep" in Ohio. To date, I've covered the Buckeye Trail from the Village of Mount Orab @ West Union Section, Pt. 32 to Stockport Section, Pt. 28 @ Shew's Orchard. I've also covered the independent arms of the North Country and American Discovery Trails.
In the east, North Country became concurrent with Buckeye's circuit at Massillon Section, Pt. 23 in Zoar of Tuscarawas County in NE Ohio. It leaves it in Liberty Township of Henry County in NY Ohio. American Discovery in the SE, joins the Buckeye Trail circuit at Stockport Section, Pt. 20 in Marion Township of Morgan County. It leaves the concurrency in Cincinnati of Hamilton County at Loveland Section, Pt. 1.
Since I have the west, north and east done, and my rate of progress already exceeds the four intersections, the only thing I need to do is hike, or "sweep" across the 3 trail concurrency in the south of Ohio.
Recently, I've had inflammation of my feet which caused me to drive back to home port for about 36 hours. Once there, I picked up a partial refill on a perscription.
The weather might not corporate with me this week. This might get rough?
2014/07/31
Log 2014073101
I completed Trail Day 01, which consisted of cycling from Basecamp A to Richmond, Indiana on the American Discovery Trail - North Midwest Route. My guess is that it was about 58mi round trip??? I'm glad to finally get one done.
Day 02 has to wait until Monday because of weather and public transit. It's a 73mi route, my flatlander speed needs to be more consistent and there are more hills. With that being said, launching it tonight is outside my capabilities. I should take a day off tomorrow to see how my body handled today's ride?
2014/06/17
Log 2014071701
I finished plotting and correcting waypoints for parking areas along the southern sections of the Buckeye Trail. At this point, I believe that I have all the information necessary to plan the trail.
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