Part 2 - Beaver Bridge Trail

We'd begun our impromptu hike and were well into the forest. The wildflowers were just getting started. There weren't many Trilliums yet, but I found some small red ones about to bloom:

The trail took us up a steep hill:

And the young dogs ran full speed up and down the trail:

I'd hoped for a great view from the top, but even with most of the trees still leafless, there wasn't much to see but more trees:

There were green carpets of ramps and wildflowers brightening the forest floor:

And then, down below us, I saw two bridges. The dogs saw them also and raced straight down the hill:

I chose the modern, safer looking bridge and Clover did also. Some of the other dogs simply walked through the creek and up the bank on the other side:

There was more playing, running and scuffling. This time Madeline got involved. She's usually more staid and dignified, but the open, springtime woodlands must have buoyed her spirits too:

Onward through the forest:

Madeline did a bit more running:

And then we came to a real bridge, large enough and sturdy enough to handle a car or tractor:

The bridge spanned this lovely creek. But there was yet more to this trail and I'll post Part 3 tomorrow:

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: