Trail Bites: Fruit and Nut Bars

Do you ever crave something sweet but you want to eat something good for you too?  Fruit and nuts all rolled in to one sound like a fantastic treat.  These bites are portable and can be stored at room temperature so they are great to take on the trail.  The Date & Almond bars are decadent and brownie like, while the Apricot Cashew bars are sweet and tangy.

Date & Almond Bars
12 Dates
1/4 cup raw almonds
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
Agave nectar to taste

Apricot Cashew Bars
3 ounces dried apricots
1/3 cup raw cashews
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
Agave nectar to taste

For both recipes, directions are the same.

Place all ingredients into a food processor and grind until ingredients begin to stick together.  If the mixture is a bit dry, you can add a sprinkle of water and process for a few more seconds.  Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap and place the fruit and nut mixture in the pan.  Pat the mixture down firmly and wrap the plastic over the top.  Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.  Take the bars out of the freezer and slice into 6 pieces.  Wrap individually or store in an airtight container.

Creature Feature: Northern Red Salamander

Adult Northern Red Salamander

The Northern Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber) is native to many areas along the east coast of the United States and is present in many aquatic habitats in a majority of the Appalachian mountains. This salamander tends to prefer slow moving streams containing few fish, mountain seeps, and can sometimes even be found in upland habitats near water.

The juvenile red salamander is exclusively aquatic and has external gills.  As the salamander grows the gills slowly shrink away and the brown juvenile attains a red color.  When the juvenile first turns red the color is usually very bright but tends to fade a bit with age.  The tail in the juvenile is also paddle-like to aid in aquatic locomotion where the adults tail is much more cylindrical in shape

Juvenile Red Salamander-Gills still present

Lesser Known Fact: The juvenile red salamander doesn't reach the adult stage until it is almost three years old!

Gambrill State Park: A Challenging Walk to a Not So Rewarding End

Gambrill State Park Overlook

Arriving at Gambrill State Park was an ordeal in itself.  The biggest issue here was parking.  The main visitor lot was gated closed and the few lots that allow trail access were spilling onto the roadways.  After squeezing into a space to access the trails, it was time to decide on what trail to hike.  Feeling ambitious as always, we picked a difficult trail.  As far as difficulty goes, the hills are pretty steep and in some places the rocks can trip you up if you aren't careful.  We didn't attempt any of the shorter loops, such as the Red Maple or White Oak trail.  We started on the Black Locust trail which was, after all, rated difficult.  After a long and sedentary winter, I would agree with the classification!  In the interest of time we veered onto the Green Ash trail which eventually merges with the Yellow Poplar Trail.  These trails were really well marked and the markers look like they are well maintained too!


Sadly, where the Green trail merges with the Yellow trail, the hike takes you along Gambrill Park Road which was really not the most enjoying way to end our hike.  Where had we seen this before?  Tuckahoe State Park; still fresh on our minds from last years brief roadside hiking experience.  I'm sure hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders alike would prefer to avoid the close proximity to the roadways, so keep this in mind if you visit.  The trails are multi use except for the White Oak trail which is limited to foot traffic only.  Although horses are allowed, there is little space available for horse trailers which is also mentioned on the parks website.  Dogs are allowed at Gambrill on all trails and there was no shortage of visitors and their canine companions on our visit.  Even though the parking was awful we only ran into a few other hikers.  With several options for trails (16 miles total) it keeps them from getting overcrowded.

We assumed the speed limit didn't apply to hikers
Speed limit sign with trail blazes on right

The views were also not the greatest.  The vistas of Frederick are really not extremely breathtaking and if it were not early spring, much of the views along the trails would have been totally obscured by the trees.  Overall, if you are looking for some challenging slopes to tackle and perhaps a nice place to bike for a day, Gambrill is perfect for you.  If you are looking for spectacular scenic views, keep looking!  I think the most important tip we have to offer is to be sure and visit on a weekday to avoid the parking issues!

The wildlife use the trails too! 

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For more information:
Maryland DNR:  Gabrill State Park

Movie Review: 127 Hours

Since it is somewhere in the 20 degree Fahrenheit range today and quite windy, we are decidedly not going on a hike.  Fear not, we will soon be full speed ahead as soon as it warms up.

I thought since we weren't going out, why not write a movie review.  Many of you I assume are also cooped up indoors also.  I know 127 Hours came out over a year ago in theaters, I just heard about it from flipping through HBO's on demand list.

127 hours is bsed on the true story of Aron Ralston, portrayed by James Franco, who intends to spend the day canyoneering through Canyonlands National Park.  He drives in the night before and sleeps in his car and then bikes part way to shave off time.  While hiking to Blue John Canyon he meets two girls and convinces them he is a guide and knows a much more scenic route to their destination.  After he parts with them, he continues hopping through canyons toward his destination.  Climbing down a canyon, he slips on a boulder and falls, in turn, loosening the boulder, which then plummets down towards him, trapping his arm between it and the boulder.  The rest of the movie spans 127 hours with him alone in the canyon desperately trying to extricate his arm while flashing back to memorable moments in his life.  In the end, he realizes that with no hope of rescue, he must amputate his own arm.

I saw the preview and thought that I really needed to see this movie.  I wasn't sure if it was going to be any good or not, but I was intrigued.  For a movie that focuses on one main character, I was blown away.  Though you see Ralston trapped in the canyon for most of the time, there is such an intensity to it that you don't miss other characters.  His story is fortified with flashbacks he has of memories he shared with  important people and hallucinations.

Emotionally charged and inspiring, I think this movie is a must see.  

In it there is also very important lesson that any outdoorsy person needs to remember and that is:  Always tell someone where you are going.

The Almost Successful Ascent to the AT

Oops, this blog seemed to fall by the wayside and never got published.  Hope everyone is off to a great start in the new year.  We have been on hiking hiatus for a short while.  While trying to amuse ourselves with Sprocket, I (Ann) tripped and sprained my ankle.  Needless to say, I was staying off of my foot and am going a little stir crazy and am anxious to get out.

Hike Date:  July 28, 2011

What happens to a couple of hikers who try to hike a portion of the AT (that's Appalachian Trail for those of you not in-the-know)?  Read on and find out!

Francis and I have been dying to get onto the AT for some time now.  We always talk about it and then end up going somewhere else.  While on a determined mission to log data for the North American Field Herp Forum, Francis was choosing areas that did not have a lot of data.  Faquier County, Virginia had absolutely no data logged.  What a perfect place to go, spend some time herping and hiking the AT.

Creature Feature: The Copperhead

The Northern Copperhead:  Exquisite Camouflage

Abnormal pattern Northern Copperhead

This beautiful snake in one of the few venomous species that can be found while hiking in Maryland and Virginia.  Although considered a common species, these snakes are seldom seen due to their preference for nocturnal activity.  The most common times people come into contact with this snake is usually during the spring and fall when these snakes tend to be more active during the day due to cooling temperatures at night.

Northern Water Snake

Deception and Distance

We have exciting news!  We have a new addition to our hiking crew.  His name is Sprocket.  He is a seven-month-old otterhound that we recently adopted.  He will be accompanying us on many of our hikes.  With that in mind, we will add a Dog Friendly rating to our current rating system.  So many people like to take their dogs with them when they hike and it is sometimes hard to know what places are good and if they even allow dogs.

Yesterday we went to Marshy Point Park located on the Chesapeake Bay in Baltimore, Maryland.  It is part of the Chesapeake Gateways Network.  A certain someone told us that this place would be a great place to find salamanders.  Little information was available online prior to our visit but when we got there, there were lots of trail maps and other information about the park.  The trails are all relatively short.  Many have boardwalks to give you the ability to see the bay and the Saltpeter and Dundee Creeks that run through the park.  One boardwalk ended abruptly with no ramp or steps to get you back onto the ground except a ramp made out of haphazardly placed 6"x2" boards. 

Creature Feature: Eastern Mud Snake

This fascinating species of snake is primarily aquatic, usually only leaving the water in search of prey or finding a mate.  Found from Southern Virginia all the way into Florida, the Mud snake primarily inhabits swamps where there is an abundance of sirens and amphiumas, the Mud snakes favorite prey.  These snakes are very strong snakes but rarely, if ever, bite when handled.  The most common reaction to being handled is that the Mud snake will poke it's captor with its harmless pointed tail.  Moving from bodies of water primarily at night also make this species one that is rarely encountered by people but is also a reason why these snakes suffer a high road mortality rate.  While these snakes are believed to exist in high numbers little is known about their actual population numbers due to their secretive existence.

Lesser Known Fact: Mud Snakes have been witnessed using their pointed tail as an anchor in the mud for extra leverage while subduing prey.

Blood, Sweat, & Gators: Hiking the Florida Everglades

Cuban Treefrog

One of the most memorable aspects about hiking the Everglades isn't actual blood, it's donating it to the mosquitoes.  While the mosquito level was high, at least it wasn't insane everywhere.  Most of the hikes in the everglades are easy access, paved, boardwalks, and a few unpaved beaten paths.  One of the longer trails on our visit was totally flooded which was very disappointing.

Making the trip from the entrance of ENP driving all the way to Flamingo in Monroe county we hit every trail we could.  Most of the trails were in the sun, so be sure to bring some sunscreen.  The shaded trails proved to be the worst for mosquitoes, and after a few minutes on something as simple as the Gumbo Limbo Trail, jogging was the best option to escape the little flying blood suckers.  You may as well leave the bug spray at home because I think that the mosquito buzzing...is just them laughing at you for trying.  So unless you want to wear a full bug protection suit I would highly advise to avoid any shaded trails.

American Alligator

The major attraction to the Everglades is the abundant wildlife.  Everywhere you look there is an interesting bird, reptile, or amphibian.  There is nothing more exciting than seeing an anole scurry away out of the corner of your eye every step you take or having a snake slither across a trail in front of you.  Florida is known for these creatures, but don't expect them to fall into your lap!  During our weekend in the glades we only saw about 10 snakes, and we were actually looking for them!  It certainly isn't like most television shows make it seem.  There are not invasive killer pythons around every turn and deadly venomous snakes aren't falling from the trees.  

Green Heron

If you are a birder, get in your car, book a flight, do whatever it takes to reach the Glades and visit this park! I recommend to go between January and March, which is Florida's dry season, meaning a lot loss mosquitoes!  If you are looking for large mammals this might not be the best place to visit.

American Crocodile

I would also strongly recommend that when you get to Flamingo to give up the dirt trails and try some of the water trails.  This is a fantastic way to get an opportunity to see the endangered American Crocodile.  There are canoes for rent at the boathouse in Flamingo, so while you are there give it a paddle!

Tailless whip scorpion

 There is virtually no challenge to any of the trails in the everglades, everything is flat!  The only issue is that the trails may test your stamina when it comes to the heat or test your patience when it comes to the buzzing blood sucking mosquitoes.  

Florida Softshell Turtle

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Chapin Forest Reservation

Shining Club Moss: Huperzia lucidula

Hike Date:  September 25th, 2011

Going home to visit my family for the first time, I also wanted to show Francis around one of my favorite hiking spots.  When I lived at home, I visited Chapin Forest often since it was beautiful and close by.  To give you an unbiased review I will let him tell you about it.  The area has some interesting geology so I'll let you know about that too.

Baby Northern Water Snake found along the trail

Well, as Ann mentioned, Chapin Forest is beautiful.  I enjoyed getting to hike through the habitat and see a bit of the variation when compared to the usual Maryland mixed oak and hardwood forests.  The trail itself offers some hills but no other difficult challenges such as rough, rocky terrain.  Some of the trails are paved, but all are heavily traveled and according to the laws of this park system, you cannot have any off the beaten path adventures.  Sticking to the trails, getting a view of the Cleveland Skyline, and getting a glimpse of Ohio's nature make this park a great place for a nice day hike.   As with most parks with heavy foot traffic the animals are a bit used to seeing people so spotting some white tailed deer, birds, and a few other local amphibians and reptiles along the trail is almost guaranteed.  Overall, it makes for a nice day out, maybe even bring the family along or take the dog out for a nice day adventure!

Trail Bites: Spiced Nuts

So I am obsessed with cooking and baking.  I really appreciate being able to say kiss my you know what to the  mega-conglomerate companies by making things myself.

If you like nuts, I am sure you've seen the expensive seasoned ones in the pretty gem-colored containers available in grocery stores or the fresh ones hot out of the kettle at the fair.  They are the perfect pick me up while out hiking, so why not make them yourself.  It's easy and delicious and will take you little time.

I used almonds for both recipes but you can certainly use any type you like.

Caramel-Coated Almonds

Caramel-Coated Nuts

1 egg white
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound of raw almonds
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325° F.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg white with the water and vanilla until foamy.  Add the nuts and stir gently to coat.  Combine the brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon and mix well.  Add to the nut mixture and stir to coat.

Spread on a greased jellyroll pan.  Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.  Cool and store in an airtight container.

Chili-Lime Almonds

Chili-Lime Almonds

1 egg white

2 teaspoons lime juice

1 pound raw almonds

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 325° F.

 In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg white with the lime juice until foamy.  Add the nuts and stir gently to coat.  Combine the chili powder and salt.  Add to the nut mixture and stir to coat.

Spread on a greased jellyroll pan.  Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.  Cool and store in an airtight container.

ENJOY!

Sugarloaf Mountain: Local Leafers Paradise

West View Sugarloaf Mountain

So it's that time again!  Fall is coming and the leaves are changing colors and all of a sudden it seems that everyone is out hiking again.  Sugarloaf Mountain attracts many people from the Washington D.C. area with nice views of the countryside.  


There are several miles of trail to hike and all of the trails are very well maintained and well marked.  If you can maintain a fast pace most of the trails can be completed in a day.  Maps are also usually provided at most trail heads and the trails are rated from easy to difficult.  The most difficult trails (red and orange) provide direct access to the east view of the valley.   

Trail Bites: Beef Jerky

Ann here to share another recipe for food to take on the trail.  When I am stuck inside unable to hike, I like to experiment with lots of different recipes.  Beef jerky is one of the best things you can take hiking with you.  It is high in protein, easy to carry, and relatively stable at room temp.  It is however, expensive to buy already made.  You get a measly three or so ounces for five or six bucks.  A three pound cut of brisket will yield approximately one pound of jerky.

I recommend keeping your eye on the grocery store adds for when beef brisket cuts are on sale.  You can usually get a good deal if you pay attention.  Have your butcher cut all of the visible fat off the cut of meat and slice the meat against the grain in ~1/4 inch slices.  You can do this at home if you like, but having the butcher do it,  it will save you time and hassle trying to slice evenly.

I recommend getting an original flavored jerky seasoning kit.  You can use any flavor you like; they come in a variety such as hickory, mesquite but I really like to create my own.  The jerky kit comes in two packets:  the seasoning and the cure. 

3 lb beef brisket, fat removed and sliced

4 tablespoons jerky seasoning

4 teaspoons jerky cure

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flake

1 teaspoon hot sauce

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 

2 tablespoons honey

1 1/2 cups white vinegar

1 cup water

Placed sliced meat in a large non-reactive bowl.  In a separate container, combine the rest of the ingredients and mix well.  Pour over the meat.  Cover and refrigerate for one to two days.

AFter mainating the meat, drain the liquid.  You can dehydrate the meat in one of two ways.  You can either use a dehydrator or use your oven.  I use a Nesco Snackmaster dehydrator, which uses convection heat set at 155 degrees; set your oven to 175 degrees.  

Pat the meat dry and then lay out on racks.  If you are using your oven, you can lay the meat out on metal cooling racks placed on a large cookie sheet.  You can then sprinkle the meat with additional seasonings such as cracked pepper, red pepper, and even Old Bay.

The meat will take anywhere from 4-8 hours to dehydrate.  Once it is done, let it cool, then place it in zip top bags and place in the refrigerator where you can safely store it for a month or so though it is usually all gone long before then here.

Ann's Savage Hike

Hike Date:  August 6, 2011

After a short day at work on Saturday, my friend Angela and I drove a short way to Savage Park in Savage-Guilford, Maryland to stretch our legs.  The Wincopin Trail-head is off Vollmerhausen Road half a mile from Savage-Guilford Road.  In total, this area of the park offers over three miles of trails.  

Creature Feature: Northern Diamondback Terrapin

The Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is a very unique turtle.  Occupying primarily coastal habitats from Massachusetts all the way down South along the coastline through Texas this species has adapted well to survive in brackish estuaries, bays, and rivers.  There are seven subspecies of Diamondback terrapins, but here in the Northeast we have the Northern subspecies.  These turtles love to eat a variety of crustaceans and mollusks with their powerful jaws which have evolved to crush this type of hard shelled prey.  Females tend to be larger than males attaining a size of about nine inches in shell length.  These turtles typically nest in sandy habitat in the spring and their babies hatch mid to late summer.

In Maryland there are many projects underway to help protect the terrapins native to the Chesapeake Bay.  Many organizations spend a lot of time protecting nesting habitat by installing protective fences around nests to keep out predators like foxes and raccoons.  One of the biggest threats is not just the collecting by humans for consumption but the loss of habitat due to the disappearance of the islands in the bay as a result of sea level rise and powerful storms eroding away viable nesting habitat.  Many of the islands acted as a sanctuary for nesting turtles.  On the islands many animals  that predate turtle eggs are absent from these islands which greatly increases turtle hatch numbers.

One of the most important projects has been the recreation of these islands.  Poplar Island is one of the bigger projects which is restoring a lot of lost habitat.  For more information visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website which has more information on the project.

http://www.fws.gov/ChesapeakeBay/Newsletter/Summer05/Poplar%20Island/Island.htm

Lesser Known Fact:  Not only has the Terrapin been the University of Maryland's Mascot since 1933, it was also designated as the official state reptile of Maryland in 1994!  Maryland is one of 26 states to adopt an official state reptile.

Chincoteage NWR: Road Trip Beach Weekend

Wow!  It has been quite some time since we have posted any new hikes.  I assure you, we have spent a great deal of time outdoors, we just got a little bit behind in our blogging.  I promise you that there are a rack of blogs waiting to be written and posted as we speak.  While you wait on those, check out a couple new features on the site.  We have added a LinkWithin widget to the end of each blog that will suggest other entries you might enjoy reading.  At the very bottom of the page, there is a new listing showing this weeks most popular blogs, so be sure to check that out also.

Chincoteague Pony

Mid July, we decided to take a road trip to Chincoteague Island, Virginia.  Chincoteague was made famous by Marguerite Henry with her books about the wild ponies of Assateague Island.  Once a year, I like to get to the beach to relax.  I could care less about the actual laying out activity, it is just a peaceful place to go, listening to the water and smelling the salty air.

Creature Feature: Five-lined Skink

Adult Male Five-lined Skink

Juvenile Five-lined Skink

The Five-lined Skink is one of the most versatile lizard species in the United States with a range from Southern Texas North into Canada. These lizards are well adapted to their environment throughout their range.  The Five-lined Skink has many forms so don't be fooled into thinking you are seeing a different species!  The beautiful juvenile with its yellow stripes and bright blue tail grows up into a lizard with a more uniform brown color. During the spring breeding season the brown colored males show off a bright red head as well!

In some cases you may actually be seeing a Broad-headed Skink which can look very similar to the five lined with some subtle differences in scale arrangement, coloration, and overall maximum size. This little lizard can be commonly found in sunny areas basking on logs and likes to eat many types of insects, worms, spiders, and sometimes even baby mice!

Female Five-lined Skink guarding her eggs

Lesser Known Fact: Unlike most lizards the female will actually tend the eggs until they hatch!

                                                                                                               

Hiking Garrett County

Hike Date: June 20th, 2011

Francis here to share with you some little bits about Deep Creek Lake State Park hiking.  Over the years I have started this hike by taking the Snake Root Loop trail and then climbing the mountain up the challenging Fire Tower Trail.  On my most recent visit, the Fire Tower Trail was closed so I headed down to the bottom of the hill to hike from the Meadow Mountain Trail up.  Much of this trail is forested and hilly but not extremely rocky.  In some areas there are boardwalks because the trail can be quite muddy in the springtime.  For miles of trail it is rare to encounter many other hikers so the seclusion is nice.

C & O Canal Adventures Part 4: Washington County

Hike Date: June 12th, 2011

So after a drive out to Fort Frederick and Big Pool we did some of the hiking along a small beaver pond and the C&O Canal.  Big Pool is a lake for those of you not familiar with the area so don't be suprised that there isn't any diving boards or lifeguards when you get there!  The area is very popular for kayaking, fishing, and biking.  The trails were flat, mosquitoes were hungry, but that didn't stop us from hiking a few miles!  There were several turtles seen along the canal and we were even treated to a wild turkey gobbling as we hiked along!   Not a bad place to visit but not much to offer in the way of hiking and variety in scenery.

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Billy Goats in Maryland?

Hike date: June 9th, 2011

Mather Gorge

Rocky Section of Billy Goat A Blue Blaze in pic

One of the most challenging and rewarding day hikes near DC is right along the C & O Canal at Great Falls, MD.  If you are native to the Greater DC area, you've probably heard about this trail.  Billy Goat Trail A offers a variety of flat terrain and some moderate rock climbing for a nice hike/work out.  Even though dogs, horses, and bikes are prohibited on the trail, expect some company.  Due to the areas proximity to DC it attracts a lot of visitors just to see the Falls area so our best advice is to avoid this hike on the weekends if possible.