52 in year of 52 --- #hike12a --- Nosara Civic Trails

Another way to love Nosara is to hike Nosara! 

I took a day off from surfing and made it a two hike kinda day! 

1st up --- solo hike...Thanks to the Nosara Civic Association!  They have started blazing and marking hiking/walking/biking trails to give locals and visitors alike suggested routes to explore the flora and fauna of Nosara and take in a deeper appreciation of this special utopia. 

I almost did a little bit of each the "sections". I left my hotel, Harmony, at 6:15am and returned by 10:15am...I left early because of the sun! Next time I will start even earlier so I can catch the sunrise!! 

Nosara Civic Trails

Visit their web site to get a map:

http://www.nosaracivicassociation.com/trails 

I brought water, wore tons of sunblock, hat, back pack, sun shirt, long tights, and hiking boots...yes another trip with my boots in tow! It's dry season, so trails and roads are dusty and boots work well.

No poles needed, although I packed them

Traveled trails in sections: started J to G to C to A to R to D to L then back to C to D to H to G to J

Map will give you guidelines, but if you blaze your own trail, no worries just keep the fantastical Nosara beach hotel as a reference. 

4 hours

Easy hike, really a great way to see Nosara on foot

Nosara Beach Hotel --- my fantastical landmark...

Look for these trail markers! 

Traveling up the road towards Boca Rio Nosara...big tree down

Boca Rio Nosara...I think! 😜 Lots of birds fishing for breakfast

Jungle! Lots of butterflies and birds

A view of Reserve Biologica Lagarta...

View from other side of the trail...my fantastical marker in the distance! 

Down the hill and across the main road to Cruce Pelada on my way to Bioparque Marcel Schaerer...

Opening to the bio parque

Met up with a NCA trail tour with Phillipe! Awesome to tag onto his tour for a bit and learn more about the bio diversity of Nosara. 

Other tourers...

Heading back to Playa Guiones...

Trail map and reading glasses always close in hand...

I hear the waves crashing...getting close...

Home stretch...10:05am...

From snow to sun, every week of hiking brings me more adventure, personal insight and more intimate exposure to my surroundings...

Keep calm and get your hike on! 

52 in the Year of 52 --- #hike11 --- Devil's Den

I feel like I have been here before...the preserve and often the Devils Den! 

From 85 to 25! What a difference a week makes...location location location...

This hike is a good reminder to try to tussle up some friends when I hike. Although I do like my hiking solitude at times, there are those others when a buddy would calm your mind...

Well maybe 25 degree weather and fear of shrinkage kept this fellow at home today...

Yikes! #keepcalmandhikeon 

This is a beautiful preserve! Of course I did get a bit lost, par for my course. But once I finished I understood the trail better.

Hint: Pent Trail starts behind the TNC sign and the Laurel Trail starts where you park your car. But maybe you already knew that! 

Devil's Den Preserve, Weston, CT 

Owned and operated by The Nature Conservancy - what a treasure.

Poles used

Snow on the ground

Blazes on trees and well marked trail junctions 

Rocky (took a few spills) 

Went out on Laurel T.

Trail junctions: 

21,22,27,30,31,66,64,63,56/58,59,60,62,60,59,56/58,55,54,52,49,44,9,7,3,21

Sun shining 

18-23 degrees

Here come the selfies...

Getting my bearings and learning about the Nature Conservancy 

Map in hand! 

Blue bird day...

Of course I need to walk on every puddle frozen over...testing...

Made it up to Redding Great Ledge for some vistas! 

Streams galore...plenty of well maintained bridges, wooden walkways...but I like taking the path less traveled...😛

Ok, well this time I had no choice...

More of this, sunshine, snow and peaceful solitude... #hikeon

52 in the year of 52 --- #hike10 --- Yamato Scrub Natural Area

Yes, hiking in Boca baby! 

Didn't think I was going to find any "hiking" in Florida, well bite my tongue! There are tons of options! 

On another trip I will plan out an Ocean to Lake trip...check out www.floridahikes.com for hikes all over Florida.

Skyblue Lupine Hiking Trail

@Yamato Scrub Natural Area in Boca Raton.

I hiked about 5.5 miles.

No poles

Sand and paved walkways 

Lots of sun, occasional shade

Lots of fun wildlife

Pack water, sun screen 

Pee before you go! 

Near the end of my hike! 

The trail! 

A turtle ...

Saw a blue heron and an egret...

The vultures took a break from circling me! 

Inland sand

Hanging moss...

Inland shells...beats snow drifts... :)

Love this photo! I brought hiking boots but forgot my heels... #priorities 

Loved hiking Florida! Look forward to many more outings! 

52 in the Year of 52 --- #hike9 --- Blue Mountain Preservation

Well this hike is not for the faint of heart...not because it's so physically challenging but because the trails are not marked well. 

Starting with getting there...if you type in BMP into GPS you will most likely be sent to the BMP shooting range. Type in Welch Lane BMP don't go towards Montrose. 

Positives...very friendly mountain bikers and hikers who helped get me back on trail. If you are a single sporty girl...there are a slew of handsome rugged bikers to be chatted up! 😜

Blue Mountain Preservation 

Peekskill, NY

Hiking poles a good idea

I wish I could tell you the trails I took...but suffice it to say I was "hiking" from 9:30am - 1:30pm

Sunny, but breezy day 

My lessons for this hike, don't panic. Bring a compass. Back track when a trail goes cold. Keep your chin up! 😁 and your eyes too! 

Laying down on the job...

At the top of Spitzenberg Mountain...

Lost #3

Lost again...but still smiling!

Next step is a doozy...where did the trail go? 

Keep on stepping...

Lost #6...

Follow the stream back...yay!

I found my way back...

I am a tree hugger but also happy to hug my mini when I finally made it back to it! 

The trail map...doesn't really jive with the trails...

Happy to be outside always! Probably would try this trail again but with a friend in tow...

52 in the year of 52 --- #hike8 --- The Cloisters

From freezing rain/snow/sleet last week to warm, 62' and sunny this week.

Whether I am training to 190th at 7:45am on a sunny Sunday or knee deep in snow blazing a trail in the woods during a blizzard...each hike, for me, is as much about exploring and enjoying nature as it is uncovering, learning and experiencing new terrains. 

I approach each of my hikes with equal amounts of curiosity, nervousness and excitement and finish them feeling great senses of peace, appreciation and accomplishment. 

The Cloisters 

https://www.forttryonparktrust.org/pdf/ft_tryon_walking_jogging_routes.pdf 

A Train from 59th up to 190th Street. Take the elevator up, pop outside and off you go.

3.5 miles

No poles

Some inclines and stairs 

Not tons of people, but a few...

Fort Tyron @ 190th Street 

"The intense" trail map...more people on the west side of park...

GWB and a barge...

Some stairs on a Saturday morning...

Probably could have worn sneakers...but I didn't know what I was in for...

Took some side trail steps....

A little Cloisters History and scoop ---

A Cloister is - 

a covered walk in a convent, monastery, college, or cathedral, typically with a wall on one side and a colonnade open to a quadrangle on the other.

Originally owned by an American sculpted who collected medieval artifacts. John D. Rockefeller bought and gave the property to the Met in 1935. 

52 in the year of 52 --- #hike7 --- Westmoreland Sanctuary

What a day what a hike! 

I loved hiking Westmoreland Sanctuary! Sure it was hailing, sleeting, snowing and even raining at times but well worth the views, peace and quiet and wild animal encounters. 

I had a couple of hours of pure silence to think and talk to myself. 😬

The past few weeks I have been beside myself watching and listening to all the intolerance, misinformation, hypocrisy and deceiving agendas in our country. Maybe this is what the media and politicians want to happen?!? Make our heads spin with misinformation so we are paranoid and distrustful? 

Well I am not having it!

As I journeyed through this beautiful sanctuary breathing in fresh air, watching birds and deer scamper about I reconfirmed my resolve to keep the faith that naturalists, outdoorsmen, and the likes will find what we agree on and love and start from there and that the public does more research before regurgitating rhetoric from the media, and extremists (from both sides).

Ps- and don't start a political conversation with me regarding what we the people are "owed" by the government...because I am armed with research facts and numbers now regarding "hot" topics...

Westmoreland Sanctuary

5.64 miles

Great trail markings

Ups and downs

Used poles

Hiked the outside perimeter trails plus cole's kettle 

Hair frozen, maybe could have used goggles....

Great singage!

Snow ankle deep in some spots, mid calf deep in others...

Lots of seemingly new bridges ...

Need a blow out after this hike...

52 in the year of 52 --- #hike6

3 hours of hiking, some sunshine, some snowfall, a clumsy fall and lots of alone time to think. 

Could I be able to hike 3 1/2 miles per hour? Maybe...

What did today's hike teach me? 

-Always bring a paper map...don't rely solely on my phone map!

-Learn what all the different trail signs mean

-Stay aware of my surroundings

-Appreciate the views! 

I started using different hiking trail apps --- all trails and hiking project. Both apps seem good but neither mentioned I had to pay $10 to to enter this preserve. 

Ward Pound Ridge 

I parked at Michigan Road parking lot. Started my hike around 10am at Trail Junction 70 followed the red/yellow to TJ 10 followed the orange trail to 13 then to 15, followed blue trail to TJ 17 then to 58 picked up white RT at 48 to 59 to 39 then red/green back to my start via JTs 34, 30 31 and 54..

3 hrs

I will be back for sure! 

Zoom in, so many options! 

In the beginning! Junction 70

Heading up and down Blue trail

Catching a flake or two on the white RT trail...

Taking a break...near the end...I was gassed! 

Definitely gonna deserve a super bowl splurge! 😜