Expedition Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Debbie “Orca” Miller, Justin Eller, Holly Eller
Date: April 16, 2021, July 3, 2021
We journeyed to Englewood Metroparks just east of Englewood Dam and hiked the 4.1 mile Green Trail. The easy to moderate mostly wooded trail took as past three waterfalls, lots of wildflowers like Bluebells (Photo#2) then a wetlands area called Swamp Forest that has some rare Pumpkin Ash trees. After viewing Martindale Falls we ascended a ravine which eventually took us parallel to the Stillwater River (Photo#3). One long straightaway I called Horror Hallway reminiscent of long corridor shots in movies that look like they go on forever (Photo#4). It was a great hike and we managed to keep the Orca out of the water. On the second hike, we spotted a large, heavy snapping turtle resting in tall grasses off the trail. Justin tried to pick him up from behind but no luck.
Expedition Team: Nick Kelly, Jacque Kelly, Holly Eller, Dave Miller, Rosie Miller
Date: April 9, 2021
With a narrow valley, sheer cliffs and plunging waterfalls this park, located in southeast Indiana, was quite the challenge. This four hour, seven mile hike really wore me out. We packed a lunch and picnicked at the north gate area where we viewed beautiful Big Clifty Falls (Photo#2) with its majestic 60 foot drop. Nearby on the west ridge, Trail #8 took us south along this moderate trail parallel to Clifty Creek some 100+ feet below. A little over two miles later we hiked switchbacks down to the creek where we encountered Trail #2. Trail #2 (Photo#3) is a very rugged two mile trail north which is impassable during high water as you actually walk in the creek or on the rocks beside the creek. It is slow going, tough but fun. We hiked a half mile then turned east on Trail #4 hiking up to Hoffman Falls. This was challenging as we climbed over small and large boulders (Photo#4) to pick out way up Hoffman Branch Creek to the falls. Nick showed his parkour balance (Photo#5) by walking across a fallen tree in front of the falls which had a 78 foot drop.
We hiked north on Trail #5, an energy draining climb for me, until the trail leveled off along the east ridge. We came to a former 1850’s Madison and Indianapolis Railroad tunnel sadly closest until May 1st to protect hibernating bats. Trail #5 led up to Tunnel Falls (Photo#6), a long 83 foot drop fed by Dean’s Branch. Photo#7 show remnants of the support structures for a former railroad bridge that spanned the valley.
Using the park road to circumvent the falls, we hopped back on moderately rugged Trail#6 & #7 to descend back down the ridge past Lookout Point toward our fourth and final waterfall, Little Clifty Falls (photo#8), viewing it’s 60 foot plunge. If you like trail diversity (ridges & valleys), a challenging workout but beautiful views, meandering stream with rock fossils and many waterfalls then this is the park for you.
I look forward to return with flashlights and hike through the dark railroad tunnel trail. A mile from the south park entrance is the quaint, picturesque river town of Madison on the banks of the Ohio River. Founded in 1809, Madison was an active steamboat port and was home to Indiana’s first railroad. We relaxed and enjoyed supper outside at The Downtowner Restaurant where I enjoyed a reuben sandwich and hot chicken, rice & veggies soup at very reasonable prices. After grabbing ice cream at a nearby shop we walked down to the riverbank (Photo#9) enjoying the historic atmosphere of the river town.
Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Jacque Kelly, Rosie Miller
Date: March 21, 2021
This National Historic Landmark is also maintained as a state historical park. This site of the largest prehistoric hilltop enclosure in the USA, has 3.5 miles of walls in the 100 acre complex built by the Hopewell culture who lived in the area from 200BC to 400AD. The mounds (Photo#1) and the earthworks vary from 4 feet to 23 feet in height. Our Earthworks Trail trailhead (Photo#2) sits on a wooded bluff 235 feet above the Little Miami River with several beautiful overlooks. The hiking trail winds to Cross Keys Tavern built in 1802 on west side of river. The Tavern occupies the former railway land that follows the river.
The hiking trail circled and followed the earthworks through wooded terrain crossing many foot bridges (Photo#3). From the ridge top we descended steps about 150 feet to the Little Miami River Bike Trail and the river (Photo#4). It was a tough climb back up but worth the effort.
We bunked three nights at the Bill Cody Dude Ranch ran by Buffalo Bill Cody’s grandson Bill. The ranch was built in 1925. Bill Cody managed the ranch from 1971 until 1996. He looks exactly like his famous grandfather (Photo#1 on right). Our first ride was a three hour trek through the canyons and low country. That evening we enjoyed steaks at the ranch and drove 20 miles back into the town of Cody as we had tickets to my first live rodeo, the Cody Night Rodeo. There is no place better as Cody is the Rodeo Capital of the World. A purchased my first flannel cowboy shirt to wear to the rodeo. The next day we participated in a six hour horseback ride up to the mountain top in the Shoshone National Forest. The trail was very narrow. If the horse mis-stepped we could fall 30 to 90 feet. We began at the ranch in t-shirts and by the time we reached the summit, we had our jackets on and it began snow. The views were spectacular with 360 degree vistas (Photo#2). We rested and had a warm lunch cooked on an open fire. Upon returning to the ranch and a delicious home cooked meal, Cody’s neighbor, a former Bullwhip World Champion, stopped by and put on an exhibition. I was part of several tricks (Photo#6) holding a newspaper as he split the paper with his bullwhip. We made friends with Scruffy & Jake, the friendly ranch dogs.
We hiked 2.6 miles on this out and back primitive trail through woods, fields and ending at a observation platform and information marker at the headwater creek location (Photo#2). At this spot from this humble beginning the creek becomes larger and travels 80 miles emptying into the Scioto River. We saw turtles, many birds, a very small birds’ nest (Photo#3) and many tiny gnomes & fairy statues placed along the trail. Cone flowers and other beautiful wildflowers were in bloom. No other hikers were on the trail, so it seemed very isolated with the random smell of skunk cabbage along the creek. This was my last hike before my bone marrow transplant in Columbus.
Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Holly Miller, Jacque Kelly, Nick Kelly, The Orca
Hiking Date: February 5, 2021 & February 27, 2021
We have hiked Possum Creek Metropark Trails over 30 times. The park itself is a conservation area with woodlands, prairies, farm animals and ponds for fishing and camping. Today we focused on the Argonne Forest Purple Trail. In the 1930’s Argonne Forest was a very popular amusement park, ballfield, swimming, dancing and recreation area. Remnants of Argonne Forest are along this wooded trail. Jacque & Holly pose on remains of street cars (Photos 1 & 2) which at one time could be rented to “camp” in overnight or used for concession sales. During the Depression when housing was scarce, the street cars would be rented out as temporary homes.
A couple of crumbling walls and mossy steps (Photo#6) remain from a large swimming pool (Photo#7) created by damming up Possum Creek. The large outside dance floor (Photo#5) and fireplace is very deteriorated but we found a geocaching box (Photo#8) hidden in the fireplace as well as bricks dating back to the 1920’s.
We visited this 216 acre Miami County Park a five days after a six inch snowfall. Between water from a small underground spring a few miles to the east and the snow melt, a beautiful cascading 37 foot waterfall (Photo#1) was the highlight of the hike. The main falls trail led us down steps to the base of the falls which was a combination of rushing water and 30+ foot frozen icicles. Steps led us past the falls and back up the trail to a limestone cave (Photo#3) large enough for me to crawl into. The cave is “L” shaped, about 25 feet long with a small exit at the other end along the cliff. Small limestone stalactites are seen on the cave ceiling. Wild columbine and walking ferns covered limestone sections of the gorge. Photo#2 shows Rosie ascending the trail with the stream on the left and the cliff face on the right. The stream from the falls eventually makes its way to the Miami River. The park has a total of 3.7 miles of trail that take you to a tree covered valley and a tall grass prairie. Since Rosie was recovering from a knee and calf injury we took our time hiking just two miles on the often wet, snow and ice covered trail. The trail we chose took us above and around the falls to great viewpoint of the falls from a higher vantage point (Photo#4).
I hike this 1.1 mile historical trail down and back several times per week. Adding a mountain bike loop on the opposite ridge gives me a the total trek of 3 miles. It is an easy to moderate trail entirely in the woods and leads to a cliff ridge overlooking the Great Miami River. At this cliff in 1899 the Wright Brothers would picnic here and watch the large birds fly on the updrafts. At this location while watching how the birds utilized their wings, Wilbur Wright came up with their wing warp idea for airplanes. A creek 50 to 80 feet below snakes between this trail another ridge (Photo#1).
This was my second hike in three days after a six inch snow making the hike quite a workout. Animal tracks were plentiful (Photo #2, 3 & 4). I saw rabbit, deer and fox tracks but no sasquatch evidence . The snowy landscape with the creek meandering through it was beautiful. At the south turnaround point the wind blowing up the cliff face was brisk and chilly. At the northern and middle section of the winding trail I noticed red blood spots in some of the tracks on my first day (Photo#5).
On my second expedition on the trail I saw a female deer across the stream on the west ridge. On the way back near mile 1.5, I saw a deer walking through the trees about 25 yards to the left in front of me. We both froze. As I maneuvered for a photo it ran off down the ridge then stopped below (Photo#6 & 7). I noticed it was running using just three legs. I found the deer’s hoof prints in the snow and backtracked it’s trail. After about 50 yards I saw a round depression in the snow where the deer may have lay down. There was a larger mass of red in the snow. It seems that this deer hurt one of its legs in recent days and the wound is still fresh.
I celebrated my 50th birthday by running the 13.1 mile half marathon in 2 hours 4 minutes. I wanted to break 2 hours but just fell short. I started at University of Dayton Arena and ran north along the bike path, then through parts of downtown Dayton and back south. I finished running with one lap around the UD football stadium to the finish line. I have ran this race 8 other times and since it takes place on or near by birthday, I train to run it sort as a birthday reward for staying in shape. Photo’s below include me running this race in 1987, 1991 and 1998.
Expedition Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Jacque Miller, Matt Miller, Hoilly Miller, Shane Miller
Date: May 2004
Our second visit here was fun hiking the trails. The park is not only the largest state park in Indiana but one of the largest in the USA. It is often called the “Little Smokies” because it reminds people of Smoky Mountain NP. There was a beautiful covered bridge at the north entrance. The campground was spacious, trees offering much needed shade and deer everywhere. We hiked the 3 mile Taylor Ridge Trail climbing to the top of a ridge, down the adjacent valley then followed a stream and looping back. We spotted many deer on the trail and several wandered into our campsite that evening. The next day we hiked the Fire Tower Trail, a challenging 2.2 mile trail crossing hills and down ravines. The highlight was climbing the 90 foot tall fire tower (Photo#4) offering us a panoramic view of the park. That afternoon a fast moving but short thunderstorm hit. Inside the pop-up camper it was the loudest thunder I have heard in my life. That evening in the small town of Nashville, the John Dillinger Museum was no longer there but we found a second hand bookstore and ice cream shop.
