Morning Hike at Harold Parker State Forest
Kendra and I took Addison on a short hike in Harold Parker State Forest this morning. We drive by it everyday, yet we’ve never been. I can’t believe it took us this long to explore the forest! Unlike Weir Hill, there were very few people walking the trails. It’s also much bigger (over 3000 acres and 35 miles of trails), with several ponds and a lot of beautiful scenery. We had a great time exploring, and I expect we will be back often. The main trail is an old logging road, so it’s wide and fairly level. It will be the perfect place for Addie’s first hikes on her own two legs! (Not to mention a great place to snowshoe – I am trying to convince Kendra snowshoeing should be our new winter sport.) I took my camera along, and tried out a fish-eye extension on my lens for some of the shots. Fun stuff!
So happy you are finding beauty in state parks close to home. So often we don’t value and take advantage of these sites. Loved your retort to “hiking apparel” on the trail. I began teaching in Greenville, SC in 1974 with a 5th grade teacher, who filled her car with her 5th graders, headed to the nearby Table Rock State Park, hiked with them, and gave them peanut butter and grape jelly on saltine crackers from her trunk. Most had never left the city. She also read them the classics. Thank you, Jen, for your dedication to your students.