Part 1 - Beaver Bridge Trail

I checked my map to see how to get from the hamlet of High Flats to the hamlet of Wildwood. It required a long drive on French Hill Road. Coincidentally, I'd heard of a French Hill trail and intended to hike it just the day before. Unable to find French Hill Trail, I hiked in Southville State Forest instead. So when I stumbled onto the French Hill Trail (though it was really called Beaver Bridge Trail), I had to stop and hike it:

The day was lovely, I had free time and all five hiking dogs were riding in the car with me. So I parked and we began a new adventure, leaving the car behind as we climbed uphill into the forest:

The trail wound through the woods, closely accompanying a dirt lane. I kept to the trail because I figured I'd see more wildflowers on the trail. The dogs alternated between the trail and road, at least at first:

I saw Trout Lilies, newly emerged and preparing to bloom:

We were all having a happy experience and I snapped this photo of Madeline smiling:

Did you notice the white wildflowers in the above photo? They were Hepatica, and the woods was filled with them:

Hepatica everywhere, some of them pink and some almost purple:

Red Trilliums were about to blossom at any minute:

The trail took us away from the road and up a hill:

I saw large patches of ramps. In fact, there were ramps by the millions. Ramps are a wild onion with a garlic-like aroma and an onion taste:

And I wasn't going to pass by without eating a couple of them:

"What are you eating, Dad? Do dogs like ramps? Can't you walk any faster?" But we were just getting started. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow: