Cleveland Hiking Club

An Ohio geography guide

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you visit Ohio there are many outdoor attractions you can visit. In Adams County in southern Ohio there are the serpent mounds. These mounds were built by the Adena people and represent the shape of a giant snake. They are about 1330 feet in length and about 3 feet high. If you like hiking there is a great place in Logan, Ohio called Hocking Hills. There are lodges where you can stay and many caves within the park that you can hike to. This includes Ash Cave, which is the biggest recess cave in the state. There is also a trail called Grandma Gatewood Trail that connects three of the parks areas, which include Ash Cave, Old Man’s Cave, and Cedar Falls. There is also Salt Fork State Park, which includes fourteen miles of hiking with beautiful scenery. This is located in Lore City, Ohio. Many people choose this location because of the friendliness of the area people and their willingness to show you around and because of the beautiful surrounding area around the trail. Ohio has always been known for its amazing hiking trails and the friendly attitude of the town folk you will meet around these areas.

Staying ahead of the weather in Cleveland

admin — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Staying ahead of the weather in Cleveland is the key to enjoying many wonderful hiking adventures that are free from disappointing interruptions like the weather. The Cleveland area has many great hiking opportunities that the whole family can enjoy with the right amount of preparation and forethought. Those of us that love to embark upon hiking adventures truly love Ohio’s lush and welcoming countryside. Just planning to go outdoors and get lost in natures beauty is exhilarating. As every hiker knows, the most important thing to planning a hiking trip is knowing what the weather forecast is going to be for that day. There is nothing more disappointing than making all the plans, heading off on your way and being met with unexpected rain showers or a cold front. This can put a damper on any outing.

Planning your trip around the weather does not have to be a time consuming and painful task. There are many different websites and news channels that can provide you with all of the information that you need to plan a successful, and enjoyable, trip outdoors with your family. So don’t let something like the weather stop you from enjoying the beauty of Ohio.

Enjoying the wildlife in Cleveland’s hiking spots

admin — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Enjoying the wildlife in Cleveland’s hiking spots is very possible due to the great areas available for hiking. Cleveland has a surprisingly large variety of hiking options available with hundreds of miles of hiking located in the 20,000 acres of Cleveland metroparks. Having this many hiking options on so many different types of terrain make it easy to enjoy Cleveland’s wildlife.

For people who are very serious about experiencing wildlife while hiking, contacting one of Cleveland’s outdoor education facilities is a great way to learn about what can be see and where are the best spots to find wildlife. The different options available while hiking is also going to give people a chance to see different types of wildlife while enjoying their time with nature.

There are also numerous nature events that are planned and organized by the outdoor education facilities. This gives people a better understand of the environment in these areas, as well as an opportunity to meet other people interested in enjoying the wildlife in Cleveland’s hiking sports. With places like the Rocky River Reservation, the historic bridges of the Garfield Park Reservation, and the historic Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation; finding a hiking trail that you can enjoy at your own pace is simple.

Hiking and Other Recreational Opportunities in Ohio

admin — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Ohio offers fours seasons of hiking. The rolling landscape of the Appalachian Plateau and Till Plains provide the geographical variety of farmland and hills. Some of the most popular hiking spots in the state are Ash Cave, Cedar Falls and Old Man’s Cave in Hocking Hills. Ohio also offers hundreds of cultural events, historic sites, recreation areas and sports teams for outdoor enthusiasts.

Sports buffs can golf in the spring, swim in Lake Erie in the summer, then ski at resorts in winter. You can fish or picnic in one of many Ohio state parks, such as Buckeye Lake, East Harbor State Park or Harrison Lake Park. Other recreational activities include backpacking, biking, camping, canoeing, geocaching, kayaking and snowshoeing.

Families will love exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which offers children’s programs and the chance to earn a ranger badge. The park provides a railroad tour that meanders through hills and valleys. Amish country delights visitors with farm tours, fresh food and flea markets. The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is another family favorite with plenty of animal and plant exhibits.

Don’t forget you can keep your home safe on and off the trail with adt pulse, a remote home security system.

The Backpackers Shop: the perfect destination for Cleveland hikers

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 03:52:05 +0000

Sheffield Village, Ohio hasn’t made the news very oftenat least not since John Lee Richmond threw the first perfect game in MLB history back in 1880. However, the village should be high on the radar of backpackers and hikers in the Cleveland area, 20 minutes away. That’s because Sheffield Village is the home of The Backpackers Shop, an outdoor outfitter which has been operating for forty years.Hikers can order everything they need from the Backpackers Shop website, whether they’re planning a simple day trip or a week-long camping adventure. There is, of course, a variety of backpacks from established brands like Osprey, North Face, Kelty, and Arc’Teryx for campers and Mountainsmith packs for day hikers. There are even Ruffwear dog packs if you plan on taking along man’s best friend. Besides that, you’ll find all the sleeping bags, tents, and cooking equipment you can carrybut considering the prices, you’ll probably walk away with more.During the summer, the Backpackers Shop hosted a number of regular outdoor events. At the end of May, the shop held its annual Kayak Demo Day at Lakeview Park, showing visitors the proper paddling techniques and the best lakes in the area. The shop also held beginner fly-fishing classes throughout the summer for only 125.00 a person. These all-day events begin with techniques and other informative sessions, include lunch, and then conclude with three to four hours of actual fly-fishing. There’s no news on any hiking-related events coming up, but you can sign up for the Backpackers Shop E-news to keep informed about any new announcements.If you’re a Cleveland hiker who wants to be prepared for anything, check out the Backpackers Shop and see what you’ve been missing.

Hiking tips for young and old

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:43:32 +0000

One of the best things about the Cleveland Hiking Club is the variety of ages and skill levels in the group. No matter what your experience level is, there’s always someone nearby to lend a helping hand. If you’re just starting out on the trails, though, it can be helpful to check out some tips beforehand. Here, then, are some of the most important considerations for any hikeit’s by no means complete, and you should always check with someone you trust if you have any questions.

Always start out more slowly and build up speed. Just as in a cross-country race, you should try to never slow down on a hike. Start at a speed you can easily handle and increase it, so that as it gets later in the day you are covering more distance.
If you are planning a true “day hike” where you’ll be out for a good portion of the day, make sure to start early. Even if this means starting in the dark, it’s better than having to finish in it.
Let your slowest member set your group’s pace. While faster members may want to go on ahead, don’t let the group get separated too much. It’s better to take the time to enjoy the scenery than to have someone left behind.
Develop an emergency plan. While no one wants to consider the worst-case scenarios, you should still makes sure everybody knows what to do in the case of an emergency. Take along a first aid kit, hand out whistles in case someone becomes lost, and discuss contingency plans with your group.
Take a five to ten minute break every hour. Even if you don’t think you need it, this will keep everybody happy and ready to continue on. It also makes a great opportunity to bust out any snackstrail mix, granola, fruit, etc.that you’ve brought along.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers history for hikers

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:43:14 +0000

When your state only has one national park, you’d better hope it’s a good one. Luckily for Cleveland hikers, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is well-worth the trip. The name is Mohawk for “crooked river,” and the park follows the winding river from Cleveland to Akron over a 51-square-mile area.The park itself is a hidden sanctuary for Cleveland’s natural history, encompassing a landscape and diversity that you wouldn’t expect so close to the city. Among other species, the endangered Indiana bat makes its home in the floodplains and forests of the Cuyahoga Valley. Other bats and birds also make their home within the park, which has been disturbed in recent times by a number of invasive plants. The National Park Service is currently working on combating these species, which can crowd out animals’ natural habitats and food.In addition to plants and animals, the Cuyahoga Valley has historically provided a resting place for Ohio settlers. During the 1870s, people traveled from the cities for carriage rides and boat trips in the canal, which led to the construction of the Valley Railroad in 1880. Prominent businessman Hayward Kendall donated 430 acres in the valley, which became the foundations of today’s nationally protected site.The major trail for hikers and bikers is the Towpath Trail, which follows the Ohio & Erie Canal. Visitors on the path can see crushed limestone remains from the construction, along with exhibits on the side of the trail pinpointing the area’s history. Hiking in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is literally hiking backward in time, and further cements the park’s status as the best (and only) one in Ohio.

Cleveland Metroparks: the city’s “emerald necklace”

www.clevelandhikingclub.com — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:34:58 +0000

The medieval English surrounded their castles with moats of water to ward off enemies. If anything, though, the ring of parks surrounding Cleveland, Ohio only serve to make the city more appealing, as if their beauty and serenity were beckoning outsiders to come closer. Spread out over 22,000 acres, the Metroparks system offers plenty of trails for Cleveland hikers to investigate. There are 16 different reservations in all, five of which encircle the citythe rest speckle the landscape around the ring.The Cleveland Metroparks were officially named before the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. In 1917, engineer William Stinchcomb achieved the first step toward his long-standing vision of an interconnected system of parks. This was when the General Assembly appointed a park board expressly for developing the new system. However, the buildup of the parks themselves was slowby 1930, 9,000 acres had been purchased across nine different sites, but they were not connected. By 1970, the board had purchased 16,000 acres. The park has grown 6,000 acres since then.Each of the sixteen reservations includes trails for hikers and bikers, with most offering cross-country skiing areas as well. The largest park, Brecksville, covers 3,494 acres, and includes seven gorges, the Squire Rich Historical Museum, and is also part of the National Audobon Society’s Bird Area Program. Next biggest is Mill Stream Run, which covers 3,189 acres. Visitors will find golf courses, sledding sites, and an education facility at this beautiful location. These two parks, together with Rocky River, Bedford, and South Chagrin, make up the Emerald Necklace.With such a large area, it’s almost impossible to ever uncover all of the Metroparks’ secrets. If you’re a local, make it a point to regularly visit the parks and discover something new. If you’re just visiting, make sure you don’t leave without stopping by at least one of the locations.

Cleveland Hiking Club keeps on trekking

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:21:15 +0000

Founded in 1919 by Esther McCarty and Edna Wooley, the Cleveland Hiking Club (originally the Cleveland Hiker’s Club) was modeled after a group in Baltimore that Esther had run into. The original premise was simply to organize a local walking group. With the introduction of a clubhouse in 1939, the group began to grow slowly but surely into a full social club. Today, members take part in potlucks, speaking events, and cookouts, and keep in touch with a monthly newsletter and club directory.The focus of the group, of course, is still the hikes themselves. With over 225 hikes every month (most over 5 miles), there’s plenty of opportunity for members to carry on the legacy of McCarty and Wooley. Longer hikes are held regularly as well, along with annual events like the President’s Hike, the Chili Dog Hike, the Bird Hike, the Frozen Waterfall Hike, and more.There are currently over 900 members between the ages of 18 and retirement. Unless a hike on the online schedule is marked “members only” or requiring an entry fee, all hikes are free and open to everybody. Pick a “leisure” or “moderate” hike to start off with, and be sure to show up on time, as this group doesn’t waste any time (on hikes marked “brisk,” that extends to the hikes themselves). With hikes every day in both East and West Cleveland, there’s no excuse for not checking out the club if you’re interested.Membership in the club is open to new visitors after they’ve attended six hikes. Attendance is monitored by cards filled out at the end of each hike. Members not only have the opportunity to participate in the private hikes, but also are invited to the annual parties, birthday celebrations, after-hike dinners, and other special activities.