Hiker's path: Brown County nostalgia at Ogle Lake in December
Every year, I always make a yearly pilgrimage down to Brown County around Christmas time to hike at Brown County State Park.
I have written in the past about spending Christmases with my grandparents during my early childhood. I guess it has become a tradition for me.
It’s my way of remembering them and all of the happy Christmases that I spent with them in Brown County.
So this past week, I made my way to Brown County State Park on a beautiful, winter’s day.
The calendar said December. And I sure felt it with the temperature outside right around the 40 degree mark.
The park is located near Nashville, Indiana, and was first opened to the public in 1929. The park, with 15,696 acres, is one of the largest state parks in Indiana.There are many different hiking trails in the park. I chose one of my favorites: trail 7, the Ogle Lake trail.
Ogle Lake trail is a loop trail and is considered moderate in ease of hiking.
I arrived at the trail parking lot with sunny skies over my head.
I glanced about at the terrain and saw that the landscape around me had already taken on its winter colors. The forest floor was covered in dead leaves and decaying wood. The words henna and sage and terracotta and turmeric all came to mind as they might appear on an artists’ palette. The leaves on the forest floor were the canvas. Nature was the artist.
The beginning of a new season was trying to make itself known.
There was a certain familiarity to me in this woods. I felt at home here.
I crossed over the Ogle Lake dam and started my hike around the lake.
I was feeling comfortable in my hiking boots with the dirt path under my feet.
There was a lot to see in the woods this time of year.
I heard the drilling sound of a pileated woodpecker off in the distance. There were several nuthatches hanging around and cardinals sitting on their perches here and there.
This park was their winter home. I was their guest.
The dampness of the woods held the scent of pine needles. That scent always reminds of my grandparents old cottage outside of Nashville. Their living room walls were covered in knotty pine panels.
I smiled as I walked through the winter woods. It was like meeting up with an old acquaintance. My mind was flooded with memories of my grandparents and Christmases past.
I was well into my hike along the 1.5 mile loop around the lake when I noticed the water.
The surface of the lake was beautiful and reflective as always.
The lake is 17 acres in size and was built by the Civil Conservation Corps back in 1934-1935. They built the dam and spillway as well.
The history and nature topped off with a little nostalgia had made my afternoon hike a very happy one.
It was a good day to be out and to be hiking in this beautiful park.
I soon made it back to my car and started for home.
I felt very at peace. It had been a great hike.
To get to this place: Take Highway 46 East to Bloomington. Continue on Highway 46 East to Brown County. Before you get to Nashville you'll see a sign that points to the turn to the west gate park entrance.
A quote for your week: “There’s a certain nostalgia and romance in a place you left.” — David Guterson, American novelist
Until the next trail,
Happy Holidays! Susan
This article originally appeared on Evening World: Hiker's path: Brown County nostalgia at Ogle Lake in December
