Riding the WWT

May 7, 2014  Riding the WWT

Today found the trails still listed as Ride WWT (Wet Weather Trails) only, so Marsha and I rode that loop.  This means that over 6 miles of Shimek's 25 miles of trails are open; the rest, closed to horseback riding.  The WWT is a loop that was rocked last year and has just recently begun to be  open when trail conditions are too wet to use the unrocked trails.  For the rules and the map that shows the trail---see the Friends of Shimek blog page titled "Open or Closed or WWT?

The WWT is about 2 to 2 1/2 hours of leisurely trail riding where most of the time two riders can ride side by side if they choose.  Today there were lots of things to see along the trail---though I did not get them all photographed. First of all, let me say that the morel hunters were having only a little luck and narry a one did I see from horseback along the WWT.  Another thing we did not see---there were no soggy, bad or dangerous places for riders on the WWT.

What we did see from horseback included turkeys and a bright blue bird that was too fast for me to identify.  Then there were many lovely wildflowers blooming along the trail.




 Between post 1 and Highway 2, there is a sweep of red or butcher's blood Trillium in bloom!  A most unusual sight to see so many blooming.   Please don't damage them---it takes several years for one to begin to bloom and then they can live for up to 25 years if not disturbed.  They seem to thrive in oak forests in light shade.




Everywhere, it seemed, along the trail the phlox are already blooming--and a not often sight awaited us near one of the water crossings---an area where phlox and blue bells were blooming together along a slope.

So---many Thanks to Forester John Byrd, to the Hoaglin Foundation for the rock and to the FOS and DNR personnel for their work in setting up an option for riding during wet conditions.

If we all cooperate and follow the WWT rules, then hopefully  next year, we can add  additional miles to the WWT!! Wouldn't that be nice !