I am so glad the clocks went back to where they should stay. I know there is a recent push for year-round daylight saving time, but science says we are better physiologically on standard time. DST has proven to be a failure year-round in the 1970s. Even for half the year it is still a failure causing sleep and health issues for millions. Leave it standard time year round.

**********

(Sorry, but I have been sick and didn’t get around to post this in a timely fashion)

I decided to take a drive today.

I have been wanting to check out Lake Mary Ronan State Park after doing a little research while looking for some easier hikes. There is one big loop trail, and a few other spur trails in the park. It was a nice hike and a nice day for a hike. It was very quiet there today but I know it gets busy in summer.

Part of my research was finding out who Mary Ronan is/was. She had quite an interesting life and was actually a pretty bad-ass woman. I like history but will not go through her life story – you can read about her in the link or search her name yourself if interested. (The book about her in the link is on Amazon and the description is very interesting – she had an amazing & interesting life.)

I wanted to do a longer hike so I did the Doug Fir Trail. I started in a parking lot and walked down to catch the trail at the lake. If I would have gone the other way it would’ve been a little easier since it was downhill, but I decided to go uphill for some better exercise. The trail was in good shape and was easy hiking through the forest. There was mostly open space under the trees, but some places were a bit brushy; I was prepared with my bear spray though. One area that was open with no trees in the center looked like a small wetland.

The foliage is definitely getting ready for winter. Ground cover is starting to turn, and of course the deciduous trees are changing colors. The last of the berries are on the kinnikinnick.

There’s an interesting tree called a larch around here in the northwestern US (and elsewhere around the country). It’s needles turn gold and fall off – like oaks, maples, and other deciduous trees. The ones here are the Western larch.

I have seen these trees from a distance but never up close. Today I was able to do that.

The needles are fine in texture & appearance and surprisingly soft to the touch with a delicate feel. Around the lake the forests were thick with them.

After that, I wanted to check out the campground. I saw only two campsites occupied (oddly, right next to each other) and the campground is very nice. and appears well-maintained. There’s toilets scattered around, electric hookups available for camping and sites look to be paved and level. There are bear boxes for food storage in case you are in a soft-sided popup trailer/tent camping or are on a bike or motorcycle.

After we got back to the truck, we had a snack and some water, then I drove down to the water. It’s a nice lake, with lots of opportunity for not only camping but fishing, boating and SUPs. There’s a nice dock and a boat ramp. I walked around the dock and saw a few birds floating around and some fish swimming and jumping.

It was a good day to get out. It was a nice hike and the dogs had fun. I got my heart rate up and got 1.6 miles of exercise in at the same time. I have been to two state parks so far and I still have a few more to go to so I can break even on my annual pass. I am sure I will be doing that some more very soon. Some parks will be closing soon but I think that it is mainly the campgrounds that will shut, leaving the rest of the park open for day use.

As always, it is a good idea to look up seasonal closings when making your camping plans, especially in the northern states and at higher elevations. In the more southern areas campgrounds and parks will be open longer or even year ’round. I remember in Colorado many would open the weekend of Memorial Day and close Labor Day weekend regardless of weather.

That’s the wrap-up of today’s adventure.

See you next time.

Shawn