Hiker's Path: A cold day on the Tecumseh Trail
The cold weather we have had as of late has really given me a good case of “cabin” fever. And it’s only January. I decided I would have to do something about it. So, I headed out my door, jumped in my car, and drove over to Brown county to go hiking. I chose to go to the Crooked Creek Recreation area.
I had my thoughts set on hiking a small section of the Tecumseh Trail. There’s a trailhead for this trail in that area with a big parking lot. But first, I stopped at the parking lot for the Crooked Creek State Recreation area.
This area is part of the tailwaters of Lake Monroe. Basically the Middle Fork of Salt Creek. It’s a beautiful place to kayak and there’s plenty of wildlife to see.
It was very cold when I visited this place and ice pretty much covered the surface of the water. It was just beautiful. But I had come to hike and my trailhead was just down the road a bit.
The Hoosier Hikers Council built the Tecumseh Trail between 1998 and 2002. The trail is a 42-mile path beginning at the headquarters of Morgan- Monroe State Forest. It continues through Yellowwood State Forest, where it ends near the southern border of Yellowwood SF near Lake Monroe.
The Crooked Creek trailhead is not the official end of the Tecumseh if you start on the north end of the 42-mile trail. The trail ends about two miles further down in the forest. The southern end has some good views though, with the highest point in this section of the trail at 974 feet elevation.
It was a very cold day when I hiked the trail. I was wrapped up in layers but I could still feel the chill of the winter wind.
I parked and took off on the trail. It’s an uphill climb right from the beginning. The good thing about it was the switchbacks. A switchback is a bend in a path or road that usually forms a zigzag pattern. The purpose of switchbacks are mainly to stop soil erosion but they have the added benefit of making the climb easier for the hiker.
Compared to the alternative of walking straight up a hill, I am always happy to see those switchbacks.
Another good thing about climbing to higher places in the winter are the views. With the leaves off of the trees, a person can see a lot further.
I was enjoying the hike and with every step I took on the dirt trail, I heard a crunching sound. At some point, the dirt had become mud and the mud was now frozen. It was, “crunch, crunch, crunch..”. I am sure get the picture.
The forest around me was pretty quiet with exception of a lone woodpecker off in the distance.
He sounded pretty busy. Sound seems to travel easier in the winter so it was hard to tell the bird’s size. But if I had to guess, I would say he sounded pretty big. I figured it must have been too cold for the birds to be out.
But there's always that lone woodpecker on days like this one. Just has theirs always that one-line hiker as well. Today that hiker was me.
I like winter hiking. As long as I am dressed warmly. Not a big fan of ice but love hiking in the snow. In the winter I try to make the best of it when it comes to my hiking. My hike on this trail was certainly peaceful.
I finally reached the top of Miller ridge, (according to my map). It was a beautiful day to be out in a forest like this. Even in the cold, there’s something about being out in nature that refreshes and relaxes me. It’s my home away from home. Like visiting an old friend. It was a good hike. My plan was to just hike a section and turn around. And that’s what I did!
Actually, I was kind of happy to see my car. Even happier to get in it and get the heat going. Yeah, I like winter hiking. But all I could think about on the way home was the hot chocolate and my warm quilt that was waiting for me at home. Winter days! You got to love them!
To get to this place: take SR 46 East out of Bloomington towards Nashville. Drive 11.6 miles. Turn right onto Crooked Creek road. Pass Crooked Creek lake on left. Continue on road about a mile further and trailhead parking lot will be on left.
A Quote for your week: “If winter comes, can spring be far behind”? - Percy Bysshe Shelley - Poet, Novelist, Essayist. - 1792-1822
Until the next trail, stay warm!
Susan
This article originally appeared on Evening World: Hiker's Path: A cold day on the Tecumseh Trail
