- Joined
- Aug 21, 2018
- Messages
- 589
A quick search of BCP finds very little mention of Cuyahoga Valley National Park; probably because it holds very little backcountry. ![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
I took my training hike to the road today for a change of scenery and to up my mileage. @scatman is planning to test my mental and physical abilities in a couple of months so I'm doing my best to be prepared. . . at least on the physical side.
I already read Hugh's report on Lookout Mountain. He has me beat on mileage and elevation gain, but where I have him licked is in the category of amount of weight carried. I loaded my pack up with a couple of dumbbells, a paver brick, and an assortment of snacks/water for the day. I doubt he carried enough cameras and co-jack cheese to be close to the 45lbs. I weighed in at using the crude bathroom scale method of measurement.
![0O7A9598.JPG 0O7A9598.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121418-47d0023ec3e6069f327990d36edeb384.jpg)
CVNP follows the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron. It is a unique mix of nature, development, and history. I will not get into all that; I'll just post some pictures of what we saw today.
By "we" I mean Mrs. TractorDoc and myself. She joined me today because I promised her there would be ice cream available at some point mid-hike. Our pic at the big sign -- the only one you will get of either of us today.
![GOPR0550.JPG GOPR0550.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121420-3945b86665bb98de40883f44a310eae8.jpg)
Our parking spot was at the village of Boston. For the first part of our hike we took a three mile out and back trip to Blue Hen Falls. The trail to Blue Hen Falls follows part of the Buckeye Trail.
![0O7A9600.JPG 0O7A9600.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121419-acd4ba5263419cc4a9cd6302a4b68202.jpg)
The trail ascends and descends some hilly terrain on the way to the falls.
![0O7A9601.JPG 0O7A9601.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121421-7f2e5305b9af341bebf13185990227fd.jpg)
I thought the walk to the falls was going to be a warmup, but all the stairs and hills had my legs thinking otherwise.
![0O7A9603.JPG 0O7A9603.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121422-17b2e5a166b55d1291737fbe57838c96.jpg)
![0O7A9604.JPG 0O7A9604.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121423-f993d2fe9252af7d0853f80c069e5506.jpg)
Does the NPS use the same font on all its signs? Maybe I'm just imagining things.
![0O7A9605.JPG 0O7A9605.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121424-88e1cba678f04888e63b9f1102fbdbd6.jpg)
It has been dry the last week or two, so the water volume was down a bit. Still pretty though.
Why Blue Hen Falls? Google says supposedly a farmer saw the carcass of a blue chicken at the bottom of the falls back in the day. Paints a pleasant picture, doesn't it?
I did not see any chickens hanging out around the falls today, but there were a number of park visitors down there.
![0O7A9611.JPG 0O7A9611.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121425-4f9a5956d05c7e9c7a99f4eec641112f.jpg)
A picture of some of the stairs on the way back with people on them for scale. I know stairs will not be available in the wilderness; I just had to imagine that they were evenly spaced rocks.
![0O7A9627.JPG 0O7A9627.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121426-0b14b5d18eda53aee1a72c1a7dbb7e58.jpg)
An interesting ground organism growing up from the forest floor. A fungus perhaps?
![0O7A9632.JPG 0O7A9632.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121427-a653bdb3e7e666a920f92e4dd7eea8bf.jpg)
My intention was to continue on the Buckeye trail once we returned from the falls, but the park service had the trail closed for repairs/improvements/etc. By default we took the Canal Towpath Trail two and a half miles South to the village of Peninsula (where ice cream would be waiting).
The towpath trail follows the Ohio and Erie canal -- it is almost like a rails to trails situation except this time the path is where the mules used to walk while pulling the canal boats. I wonder if any of @Rockskipper 's mule's ancestors walked here in the 1800s?
A picture of nature, development, and history as the towpath trail heads South.
![0O7A9634.JPG 0O7A9634.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121428-2c5ddf0caaaf3bf659b8a452f9279841.jpg)
The trail follows the Cuyahoga River and provides nice views of the water.
Some kayakers were enjoying themselves today.
![0O7A9636.JPG 0O7A9636.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121429-7b46f730ed0a26187eccdbe2816d60b4.jpg)
As were some geese.
![0O7A9637.JPG 0O7A9637.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121430-466a06233cf149b746b025782c078b88.jpg)
Remnant of the canal on the left, towpath trail on the right.
![0O7A9638.JPG 0O7A9638.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121431-add64c213e3eed476b6d7c30495bb7f4.jpg)
Dame's Rocket was blooming in a lot of places. There was also a lot of yellow iris flowers.
![0O7A9646.JPG 0O7A9646.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121435-772bd1ca466840bf4b8f9e0299e9bdd1.jpg)
![0O7A9639.JPG 0O7A9639.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121432-f5ea25711528a9d9bd2f83a95d8c5a22.jpg)
Small, blue flower. I'm not as good at naming them as others are on the forum.![Wink ;) ;)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![0O7A9641.JPG 0O7A9641.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121433-54c078f6354bce7202e6b9363de88a1e.jpg)
Many places along the trail allow you to drop down to the river. Supposedly "Cuyahoga" means "crooked river."
![0O7A9643.JPG 0O7A9643.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121434-ba8e0d01ad58c3ed0be029e4f1f24567.jpg)
Small logjam. Some parts look to be purpose built.
![0O7A9652.JPG 0O7A9652.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121437-2d6515e32f2483c843b9751bf4ab237c.jpg)
Boardwalks keep you out of the boggy areas.
![0O7A9647.JPG 0O7A9647.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121436-da1b17c25f7f1b7d438528b539311faa.jpg)
We arrived at Peninsula just in time to see the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad train depart the station. The railroad follows the river and towpath trail. If you schedule things right you can hike or bike a distance down the towpath trail then catch a train ride back to where you started. This was not an option for us today because erosion near the railroad tracks is preventing the train from travelling any further North than Peninsula.
I do like trains -- especially vintage ones, so I had to watch this ALCO FPA-14 cab unit as it pulled away. Mrs. TractorDoc was off looking for ice cream.
![0O7A9669.JPG 0O7A9669.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121438-b40fd8e9d29e4805625c5896bf442ff4.jpg)
She found it! I had the coffee chocolate chunk in case you were curious.
![0O7A9678.JPG 0O7A9678.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121439-05bacf70fc84d794e7e5c587088d69e2.jpg)
After a much enjoyed ice cream break we walked the towpath trail back to Boston.
More fungus was a hi-light on the return trip.
![0O7A9682.JPG 0O7A9682.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121440-4bf2d00ad64ffeff67f76a86db1e749b.jpg)
![0O7A9686.JPG 0O7A9686.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121441-dcfe7a277b19803f5727430ecb02f5fd.jpg)
Reminds me of doughnuts for some reason. . . or bagels.
![0O7A9688.JPG 0O7A9688.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121442-470a0b1d316bb681702e3efc8c55fc2b.jpg)
On the boardwalk again. This area was flooded in the canal days -- almost like a small lake.
![0O7A9689.JPG 0O7A9689.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121443-33c0353d9ea3e1bb46b180ae2e0dcf36.jpg)
The stagnant canal treated us to a little wildlife on the way back.
Ducks.
![0O7A9690.JPG 0O7A9690.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121444-05f823d194c25cafbf91c465abd96c29.jpg)
And turtles.
![0O7A9704.JPG 0O7A9704.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121446-f4785e75123bcd00657833a9c4c34d23.jpg)
This one was just a baby. Note the duckweed around him/her.
![0O7A9697.JPG 0O7A9697.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121445-5c0e95e36f842ec8c31659208788e501.jpg)
Back at the trailhead the Gladiator waits for us.
![0O7A9705.JPG 0O7A9705.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121447-1f445df00b1985b0e0fc214857fce1cf.jpg)
A snapshot from the GAIA GPS app. The 7.67 miles does not account for the times/distances missed when I forgot to resume recording after pausing.![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![thumbnail_Image-1.jpg thumbnail_Image-1.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121448-72e43706cc3f70248b2c1c156321f48d.jpg)
I thought the day deserved more than just ice cream, so on the way home we stopped at Ohio Pie for pizza. I believe I ordered something called the "Burly Boy."
![thumbnail_IMG_0594.jpg thumbnail_IMG_0594.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121449-04a8e5a3ef022da6768a14bb3dcfcd1e.jpg)
Today was a step in the right direction when it comes to getting ready for a trip down the Thorofare; I'll probably plan on several more training hikes back to the park when I get bored of walking around the farm. Till then. . .
The End!
I took my training hike to the road today for a change of scenery and to up my mileage. @scatman is planning to test my mental and physical abilities in a couple of months so I'm doing my best to be prepared. . . at least on the physical side.
I already read Hugh's report on Lookout Mountain. He has me beat on mileage and elevation gain, but where I have him licked is in the category of amount of weight carried. I loaded my pack up with a couple of dumbbells, a paver brick, and an assortment of snacks/water for the day. I doubt he carried enough cameras and co-jack cheese to be close to the 45lbs. I weighed in at using the crude bathroom scale method of measurement.
![0O7A9598.JPG 0O7A9598.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121418-47d0023ec3e6069f327990d36edeb384.jpg)
CVNP follows the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron. It is a unique mix of nature, development, and history. I will not get into all that; I'll just post some pictures of what we saw today.
By "we" I mean Mrs. TractorDoc and myself. She joined me today because I promised her there would be ice cream available at some point mid-hike. Our pic at the big sign -- the only one you will get of either of us today.
![GOPR0550.JPG GOPR0550.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121420-3945b86665bb98de40883f44a310eae8.jpg)
Our parking spot was at the village of Boston. For the first part of our hike we took a three mile out and back trip to Blue Hen Falls. The trail to Blue Hen Falls follows part of the Buckeye Trail.
![0O7A9600.JPG 0O7A9600.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121419-acd4ba5263419cc4a9cd6302a4b68202.jpg)
The trail ascends and descends some hilly terrain on the way to the falls.
![0O7A9601.JPG 0O7A9601.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121421-7f2e5305b9af341bebf13185990227fd.jpg)
I thought the walk to the falls was going to be a warmup, but all the stairs and hills had my legs thinking otherwise.
![0O7A9603.JPG 0O7A9603.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121422-17b2e5a166b55d1291737fbe57838c96.jpg)
![0O7A9604.JPG 0O7A9604.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121423-f993d2fe9252af7d0853f80c069e5506.jpg)
Does the NPS use the same font on all its signs? Maybe I'm just imagining things.
![0O7A9605.JPG 0O7A9605.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121424-88e1cba678f04888e63b9f1102fbdbd6.jpg)
It has been dry the last week or two, so the water volume was down a bit. Still pretty though.
Why Blue Hen Falls? Google says supposedly a farmer saw the carcass of a blue chicken at the bottom of the falls back in the day. Paints a pleasant picture, doesn't it?
I did not see any chickens hanging out around the falls today, but there were a number of park visitors down there.
![0O7A9611.JPG 0O7A9611.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121425-4f9a5956d05c7e9c7a99f4eec641112f.jpg)
A picture of some of the stairs on the way back with people on them for scale. I know stairs will not be available in the wilderness; I just had to imagine that they were evenly spaced rocks.
![0O7A9627.JPG 0O7A9627.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121426-0b14b5d18eda53aee1a72c1a7dbb7e58.jpg)
An interesting ground organism growing up from the forest floor. A fungus perhaps?
![0O7A9632.JPG 0O7A9632.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121427-a653bdb3e7e666a920f92e4dd7eea8bf.jpg)
My intention was to continue on the Buckeye trail once we returned from the falls, but the park service had the trail closed for repairs/improvements/etc. By default we took the Canal Towpath Trail two and a half miles South to the village of Peninsula (where ice cream would be waiting).
The towpath trail follows the Ohio and Erie canal -- it is almost like a rails to trails situation except this time the path is where the mules used to walk while pulling the canal boats. I wonder if any of @Rockskipper 's mule's ancestors walked here in the 1800s?
A picture of nature, development, and history as the towpath trail heads South.
![0O7A9634.JPG 0O7A9634.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121428-2c5ddf0caaaf3bf659b8a452f9279841.jpg)
The trail follows the Cuyahoga River and provides nice views of the water.
Some kayakers were enjoying themselves today.
![0O7A9636.JPG 0O7A9636.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121429-7b46f730ed0a26187eccdbe2816d60b4.jpg)
As were some geese.
![0O7A9637.JPG 0O7A9637.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121430-466a06233cf149b746b025782c078b88.jpg)
Remnant of the canal on the left, towpath trail on the right.
![0O7A9638.JPG 0O7A9638.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121431-add64c213e3eed476b6d7c30495bb7f4.jpg)
Dame's Rocket was blooming in a lot of places. There was also a lot of yellow iris flowers.
![0O7A9646.JPG 0O7A9646.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121435-772bd1ca466840bf4b8f9e0299e9bdd1.jpg)
![0O7A9639.JPG 0O7A9639.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121432-f5ea25711528a9d9bd2f83a95d8c5a22.jpg)
Small, blue flower. I'm not as good at naming them as others are on the forum.
![0O7A9641.JPG 0O7A9641.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121433-54c078f6354bce7202e6b9363de88a1e.jpg)
Many places along the trail allow you to drop down to the river. Supposedly "Cuyahoga" means "crooked river."
![0O7A9643.JPG 0O7A9643.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121434-ba8e0d01ad58c3ed0be029e4f1f24567.jpg)
Small logjam. Some parts look to be purpose built.
![0O7A9652.JPG 0O7A9652.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121437-2d6515e32f2483c843b9751bf4ab237c.jpg)
Boardwalks keep you out of the boggy areas.
![0O7A9647.JPG 0O7A9647.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121436-da1b17c25f7f1b7d438528b539311faa.jpg)
We arrived at Peninsula just in time to see the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad train depart the station. The railroad follows the river and towpath trail. If you schedule things right you can hike or bike a distance down the towpath trail then catch a train ride back to where you started. This was not an option for us today because erosion near the railroad tracks is preventing the train from travelling any further North than Peninsula.
I do like trains -- especially vintage ones, so I had to watch this ALCO FPA-14 cab unit as it pulled away. Mrs. TractorDoc was off looking for ice cream.
![0O7A9669.JPG 0O7A9669.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121438-b40fd8e9d29e4805625c5896bf442ff4.jpg)
She found it! I had the coffee chocolate chunk in case you were curious.
![0O7A9678.JPG 0O7A9678.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121439-05bacf70fc84d794e7e5c587088d69e2.jpg)
After a much enjoyed ice cream break we walked the towpath trail back to Boston.
More fungus was a hi-light on the return trip.
![0O7A9682.JPG 0O7A9682.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121440-4bf2d00ad64ffeff67f76a86db1e749b.jpg)
![0O7A9686.JPG 0O7A9686.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121441-dcfe7a277b19803f5727430ecb02f5fd.jpg)
Reminds me of doughnuts for some reason. . . or bagels.
![0O7A9688.JPG 0O7A9688.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121442-470a0b1d316bb681702e3efc8c55fc2b.jpg)
On the boardwalk again. This area was flooded in the canal days -- almost like a small lake.
![0O7A9689.JPG 0O7A9689.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121443-33c0353d9ea3e1bb46b180ae2e0dcf36.jpg)
The stagnant canal treated us to a little wildlife on the way back.
Ducks.
![0O7A9690.JPG 0O7A9690.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121444-05f823d194c25cafbf91c465abd96c29.jpg)
And turtles.
![0O7A9704.JPG 0O7A9704.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121446-f4785e75123bcd00657833a9c4c34d23.jpg)
This one was just a baby. Note the duckweed around him/her.
![0O7A9697.JPG 0O7A9697.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121445-5c0e95e36f842ec8c31659208788e501.jpg)
Back at the trailhead the Gladiator waits for us.
![0O7A9705.JPG 0O7A9705.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121447-1f445df00b1985b0e0fc214857fce1cf.jpg)
A snapshot from the GAIA GPS app. The 7.67 miles does not account for the times/distances missed when I forgot to resume recording after pausing.
![thumbnail_Image-1.jpg thumbnail_Image-1.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121448-72e43706cc3f70248b2c1c156321f48d.jpg)
I thought the day deserved more than just ice cream, so on the way home we stopped at Ohio Pie for pizza. I believe I ordered something called the "Burly Boy."
![thumbnail_IMG_0594.jpg thumbnail_IMG_0594.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121449-04a8e5a3ef022da6768a14bb3dcfcd1e.jpg)
Today was a step in the right direction when it comes to getting ready for a trip down the Thorofare; I'll probably plan on several more training hikes back to the park when I get bored of walking around the farm. Till then. . .
The End!