June 16, 2007 Hidden Paths

This morning I did one of the great walks in northeastern Ohio. The Carver pond, East Branch, Baldwin hike. I last did this hike on April 8th in the snow. It was so much different today In carver pond the Spatterdock and Water Lilies are in bloom. We were hoping for dragonflies around Carver Pond but only saw two, Eastern Pondhawk and Twelve-spotted skimmer. Eastern Forktail and a Spreadwing sp. were the only damselflies. The walk along the East Branch of the Chagrin, through the Hemlock Hardwood forest was beautiful as always. We took time in several places to stop and just enjoy the place. We were far enough from roads and everything else that we could not hear any sounds of human activity. That is so rare today. To be able to get that far from our machines.

We looked at rocks along the river. The strata that make up our local bedrocks. We could see two layers. Chagrin shale and Cleveland shale where the river cuts 100 foot bluffs on one side. Along the river we can see examples of all the local rocks and many glacial erratics.

In the last third of this hike we cross two ox bows in the river. I find it fascinating how in 50 yards, crossing a small river, there is a complete change of habitat and ecology. In that short distance you go from a forest, with broken ground cover, ferns and Hemlocks and hardwood trees, to a lush herbaceous forest floor with Walnuts and Elms being the predominant trees. That fast. To someone like me, attuned to transitions, it is amazing. Technically we are going from an Oak-Sugar Maple Forest, to a mixed flood plain forest. There is no change in elevation, what probably changes is the soil.

The birds and dragonflies were sparse. Newcomb’s wildflower guide failed us at every turn. Either I need to learn more about how leaves are defined, or I need to be more patient.

My walk had 5 participants. None younger than 40. Some commented that there is something wrong, when a walk through such a beautiful place can only attract 5 Arboretum members. But at the end of the walk, one participant quipped about our stamina. This is not a walk for people used to sidewalks and gravel paved trails.

In the words of Apollo 15 commander Dave Scott: There is something to be said for exploring beautiful places.