A Walk or a Hike?

A Ramble in the Woods

To beg the question I could just call it a ramble, or maybe a bimble. But I do like the idea that my walks, in the beginning quasi strolls, are becoming a bit more ambitious. I found this definition that I like.

"Walking is the basic activity of placing one step after the next. If you do this for any distance that brings you off your property, you are on a walk. Extended walking, but still leisurely, is a hike, I would say anything over an hour. You go on a hike for the hike’s sake, not to get to some place."

I like it because it classifies my outings in the woods as hikes. Yesterday I took a long walk or rather short hike in the woods at a faster pace and longer than I have been doing so far. In the beginning I dawdled with stops for pictures, but after the first 30 minutes or so I just kept going, only stopping to get my orientation on the maps on my phone.

Old friend tree trunk that I have passed many times and thought to do a portrait this time.

We have so many raised hides here in the woods. The idea is to keep the deer population under control as they don't have enough natural enemies and multiply too fast for the good of the forest. The deer eat saplings of trees that are important for a healthy forest. An attempt to maintain a balance of nature.

We have had a long winter and the spring flowers are slow to come. I have seen almost no daffodils and was all the more surprised to see this isolated pair in the middle of the woods.

I am always impressed by the symmetrical beauty of the trees in the woods. Of course they are grown for logging, it's a commercial forest and I suppose the straighter the better for timber.