Turkey Run

As if the over 2 miles hiked on our first day wasn't even, we decided to tackle the most rugged trail Turkey Run has to offer.  So much for starting off slow and easy! Trail 3 is 1.7 miles long not including the just over .5 miles it takes to get from the Inn to the entrance of trail 3 (x's 2 since we had to hike it back as well). I thought, 3 miles? I can handle this. It can't be as bad as I have been told. I can do it.  Well, what I didn't expect was the almost thousand stairs (ok, maybe exaggerating a tiny bit, but it was certainly close to 700, if not more).  It wasn't just a couple stairs here, couple there. No, this was full out, 30 stairs or more at a time down into the ravine and then 30 or more back up, on a steep incline.  If you ever wondered the answer to the question, "My toddler seems to go on and on and never wears out. What can I do?", THIS is your answer.  Close to 3 miles on VERY rugged trails and 4 hours in the woods will most certainly do it!  Even with all those dreaded stairs, we did see some of the most beautiful natural formations yet and yes, I would do it again some time because it is that beautiful!

At the foot of the suspension bridge, just before heading out on our 1.7 mile trek.  

If this post looks familiar, it is actually a reproduction of a shot taken from our vacation last year with Jacob standing in front of the Mackinac Bridge.

Looking down onto Sugar Creek at the people in canoes and tubes.

At the beginning of Rocky Hollow, Jacob found a little niche to stand in.

See what I mean by gorgeous?

Wedge Rock - This is only about a 1/4 mile into the Hollow.

Then we get to this part.  The water trickling down is really pretty, especially how it cuts and winds through and over the rocks.  Thank goodness for a dry summer so far and the fact that we could step in the stream in most places without getting completely drenched, but it was quite a steep incline. As I look back though, I am glad we went up the rocks instead of down.

Jacob and Daddy heading up the rocks.

Punch Bowl - basically this is a big circular area formed in the rocks that leads back down into Rocky Hollow.

An interesting formation at the North end of Rocky Hollow.

At this point we are not quite half way done and I've already seen enough stairs (and this was really just the beginning).  With Speedy Gonzales trying to break the world record for hiking this trail, I wasn't so excited to play the 'game'.  Jason decided here he was going to show off a bit and run up the stairs and of course, whatever Daddy does, Jacob must at least try to do as well so up he went and he made it.  I eventually made it up the dreaded stairs as well, but certainly was not going to run up them. By this point we are all drowning in sweat.

We are more than halfway done by now and Jacob and I are about just about exhausted.  Gatorade and granola bars only go so far without taking an adequate rest (and like I said, we are trying to break the world record on this trail, so no stopping for more than a couple breaths).  After 140 steps down (thank goodness it was down and not up!!!!!!), this is the site we see. Ladders?  I knew about these death traps before heading on the trail, but really?  3 ladders down into Bear Hollow was all it was going to take, but for not liking heights so much, and being tired at this point, I wanted nothing to do with the ladders. We actually bypassed the ladders to head on a different trail that would take longer, but I quickly rethought the process after calculating it would tack and extra hour (at least) onto our hike.  Exhausted Mommy + Whiny Exhausted 4 year old = being done as soon as possible!!!! So, down the ladders we went.

Another one of those pictures where Jason had his picture taken 20 years earlier.  

Such a neat formation in the rock.

Even with a wide angle lens, I still couldn't capture how high this cliff actually was and yes, that is Jacob posing himself on the rock all by himself.  Is it bad that I don't even have to say anything about this any more and that he just 'knows'?

Jason is up on the top of the rock and Jacob is in the left hand corner at the bottom.  

The Ice Box (and near the end of our tour).  From here it was another 1/4 mile of up and down trails before heading back to the suspension bridge and up another 70 stairs and another 1/2 mile back to the Inn.

As if we didn't have enough punishment for the day, we wanted more and headed out on another hike in the afternoon.  REALLY? The seemingly 5 miles from earlier wasn't enough that you want more?  Well, this trail wasn't as long OR as rugged. At a 1/2 mile with a minimal incline, Trail 11 was quick and fairly painless.  This and the next picture are looking down into Turkey Run Hollow (Trail 6) that we hiked the day before.  Even pretty from above.

The little log church that sits back on Trail 11, almost in the middle of nothing.

We still had daylight left and my poor feet were screaming for a break, so we went in search for a different kind of fun and found Go karts.  I love Jacob's expression here - there pretty much isn't one.

"Hi Mom"

Wilkins Mill Bridge near Turkey Run

Day 2 was completely exhausting for the little guy.  I'm surprised he hiked as much as he did.  He did have fun, but was so worn out that after a 2 hour nap, and two 20 minute cat naps, he was down for the count just a little after 8 and didn't wake up until almost 10 the next morning.  He is a trooper and wanted to go back out, but we were headed to Spring Mill State Park in the morning for a new adventure.