Hiking Merit Badge

Mouse: Today I was fortunate enough to go on a 7 mile hike as a component of our hiking merit badge.  Bobcat and Wolf accompanied and we trekked into the Eno River State Park on a beautiful Sunday morning with a cool breeze and a light rain.  We decided to enter at the Pump Station Trail-head and connect with the Laurel Bluff Trail before looping back the way we came.

Wolf: Side note: the Laurel Buffs Trail is kinda confusing, because it actually is three distinct parts, and it's all part of the Mountains to Sea trail. That's fairly unimportant, but it's mostly cool because we got to spend some time on the MST today, which makes me really happy. We hope to hike the full thing when it's finished as footpaths, someday (of note, over the last ten years or so, each year about 15 miles of footpaths have been added to the path; they have almost 700 miles of footpaths now, with an additional 500 of connecting roads...so it will take some time...). Additional side note: the blazing mark for the MST is a white circle, so keep an eye out for that in your travels.


Mouse: Our detailed route can be seen here:

Mouse: Along the way, we talked about the badges we were all most excited about and brainstormed a few additional badges we might create requirements for.  There are a few retired badges we'd like to rekindle - one dealing with tracking.  We'd also like to create one that is focused on fungi identification and another around mindfulness.  More to come on those fronts.

Wolf: I'm most excited about the week-long backpacking trip I'm planning for either Acadia or the Cascades next year for the backpacking badge. The climbing badge is going to be super fun too (Mouse, how you feeling about scaling some walls?) Additionally, about the trip to the Tawanha Trail in NC later this year that Bobcat is going to lead for the hiking badge...


Mouse: Wolf and Bobcat took us in and I brought up the caboose.  Because of the rain, and our proximity to the river, we saw a lot of wildlife.  There were a ton of baby frogs making their way from smaller water sources to the river.  We had to be careful not to step on any!

Wolf: I think I might have stabbed one with my walking stick. Also, I think you should call yourself the lantern rouge, a nod to the last-place finisher in the Tour de France (the lantern rouge being the red light that's on the caboose, like a taillight).



Mouse: This little guy was about the size of my fingernail.  He was about the size of this tiny spider whose web I almost walked into: 


Mouse: It was amazing how camouflaged everything was - from frogs, to insects... not to mention all the creatures we didn't even see.

Wolf: Also, the sycamore trees and their badass camouflage bark.



Mouse: It was also fun to see how nature had taken back some human constructions - this is an old water pump station for Durham County.


Mouse: And of course, no trip to the Eno is complete without stepping in to cool your toes.

Wolf: There are seriously so few things more enjoyable than cooling water being in close proximity to wherever you are outside. So refreshing, so renewing (if you have a trusty filter, you're never short of a replenished water supply to drink), and the sound alone....I love traipsing through the woods and hearing the trickle (or rush) of water nearby.



Mouse: All in all, a great way to spend a Sunday morning.

Wolf: Also...Monuts.


-Mouse and Wolf

-The adventure continues...













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