Author: Dave Miller

Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: April 26, 2023

We hiked this trail in the 700-acre Glen Helen Nature Preserve which has 20 miles of trails. It is the largest private nature preserve in the area and was named a National Natural Landmark in 1965. The 1.3-mile trail descended stone steps to a wooden boardwalk that crossed Yellow Springs Creek. A large beaver dam was just off the boardwalk. The unique creek looked like an elevated, shallow swamp or backwater. A little way up the trail on the right was Pompey’s Pillar, a dark rock projecting up out of the forest. Farther along we passed a wooden bridge over the creek opposite a small cave. The trail turned right and ascended a ridge. Rosie posed by The Yellow Springs, a small spring that looked yellow in color. Farther up the ridge on the right was a small Hopewell Indian Mound. On the other side of the ridge, we saw Birch Creek below and descended a slope to see The Cascades, a small but beautiful waterfall. A wooden bridge crossed the waterfall and creek where from above you could see that the waterfall carved a large travertine bowl around its pool. Lots of plants and colorful wildflowers grew along the trail. We followed the trail back around to our starting point.

Running Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: September 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009

Beginning in 1997, the United States Air Force annually holds a marathon and half marathon in September. The course begins and ends at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The course takes runners throughout the base and through Fairborn. The first and third year I was part of a four-person 26.2-mile relay team. In 1997, I ran the 8.2-mile leg along for a team consisting of Tom Spence, a blind runner and a lady recovering from a heart attack. In 1999, I ran the 5.1-mile leg as part of the Moraine Police Division team. In 2004, our four-person team was me, Rosie, neighbor Becky Weinel and someone else. I have run the 13.1-mile half marathon three times. I always tried to break two hours and it is always exciting to finish the race as you run the last 100 yards with vintage or WWII airplanes on each side of you down a narrow chute to the finish line. Several years stealth bombers would fly overhead to begin the race. Volunteers and AF staff would man the water stations. One year at the three-mile water station, several volunteers were wearing alien masks and costumes to poke fun at the Hanger 18 UFO legend.

Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: April 10, 2023

We hiked 8.3 miles on this beautiful spring day, mostly on the Orange Trail but 1.4 miles of the hike was on the Green Trail which we had never hiked before. It was a great find. We saw a colorful turtle and two small, picturesque ponds. A half mile later, going off trail, discovered one small, beautiful waterfall.