The Twin Waterfall’s- Part Five

I don’t think any other part of the Salamonie State Forest held the attention of the Marion YMCA boys more than the twin waterfalls. One was a mere trickle while the other more forceful yet the thing that the boys liked was the “island” between them that gave them great views of each.

Both emptied out into a pond below where the boys looked for frogs or tried to spear fish with a sharp pole.  During most months of the year the island was very accessible except for the Spring when rains swelled each side so that the boys could not cross over to the island.  Thus Spring time trips were very limited.  That also being the muddy time of the year I would suppose that the boys mother welcomed that fine insight of mine.

The twin waterfalls were readily available on the trail around Salamonie Lake with just a slight diversion.  They were less than a quarter-mile off that main trail.  While at these two waterfalls the kids never hiked much as they observed and sought marine life in the pond below.  Maybe some day I’ll get there again?

The Up’s and Down’s of Preparatory Camping- Part Four

The Salamonie State Forest offered the Marion Boys Club kids ample room to flex their leg muscles seven times going down and up various valleys each highlighted by a waterfall.  Due to the loose earth in these valleys I urged the boys to wear work gloves because when they would be going down some steep inclines they would have to grab trees with their hands as they went by.  Naked hands could well be scratched up by those trees as they grabbed them and proceeded further down the incline.

One, in fact, even came out of the ground when I grabbed it causing me to lose my balance but fortunately I was almost at the bottom of that incline when it happened.  I guess I don’t know my own strength.  At least that is what I told the boys.

By the time this hike was over, the boys legs were more than just a litte wobbly and they were near exhausted.  Going down and up seven hillsides is no easy chore.  They bristled about going back the same way but I told them we were going back on another more level pathway much to their delight. 

This type of hike, though, would get their legs in shape for the hikes that would be coming when we camped at our property in Michigan later that same month.  Hikes there are more level but much longer in duration.  After all, as State Forest can hardly match up to a National Forest (Manistee).

Salamonie Lake Hikes- Part Three

The Marion Boys Club kids got their feet wet at times, literally, walking around Salamonie Lake which was just over a mile hike.  The terrain was largely flat but with marshes to cross that got the soles of tennis shoes or hiking boots wet.  It was even somewhat muddy in those areas of the hike. 

Most of the way the lake was in view but in a few points it was not.  In one area it appeared like we were in the Florida Everglades.  The boys hiked this same trail in all seasons.  Some knew it like the back of their hand.  This hike was taken on all our camping trips to the Salamonie State Forest and was probably the boys second favorite.  Their favorite hike comes in Part Four.

The lake was good for fishing but the boys never expressed a desire to do that.  At times, the hike was split into the more advanced boys with the remainder hiking with me until they learned the area fully.  This was excellent hiking preparation for our forthcoming trips to our Michigan property. 

At the end of the hike we usually cooked hot dogs in an area designated for that near the reservoir.  We had an excellent view of the dam and river from where we ate. Tomorrow I will focus on te up’s nd down’s of one particular hike.

Waterfalls and the Marion YMCA- Part 2

On camping trip with the Marion YMCA to the Salamonie State Forest, we stayed in a camping area using tents. However, we were in the minority there as many people that were camping had modern convenances and our boys wondered why these folks ever went camping in the first place.  Next to our location was a mobile home complete with television and popcorn poppers.  They were so noisy we felt refreshed whenever we were away from our campsite.

Some of those trips were spent at the many waterfalls within that state forest.  The boys would shed shoes and socks and go wading underneath the falls.  A few went so far as to actually take a shower under them.  On a hot summer day that can be most refreshing.

On this trip the kids wanted to spend the majority of their time hiking to the various waterfalls.  On one of my future posts I will even highlight the twin waterfalls that we found.  There was only a small tract of land separating the two falls. 

Since this was a preparatory time for our Michigan trips the strange thing was that at our land there were no waterfalls.  Still the boys had such a good time on this venture checking them all out it was still beneficial to them. 

Preparing for Michigan Trips- Part One

Thia is the Salamonie State Forest main drive and sign. It is near the town I grew up in- Wabash, Indiana. As a young boy, I made many bicycle trips there along with some neighborhood boys. Later, when I became a staff member at both the Marion YMCA and the Marion Boys Club, I took many camping trips there to prepare the boys for eventual trips to my family property on Big Bass Lake.

In this five-part series I will be showcasing much of what this State Forest had to offer.  It had a small lake that we would hike around, a reservoir, and a trail that led up  and down main valleys complete with a waterfall in each leading to the Salamonie River. 

Even before the actual entrance to the State Forest there was a winding road with many small canyons around each curve.  One had a pond with fish in it.  As a young boy there was much to explore here and in the end I taught the Marion boys a lot about camping that would better prepare us for trips to our property in the Manistee National Forest.  The forest itself was about twenty-five miles from Marion and just outside Wabash by about six miles. 

I will begin a more detailed examination of this State Forest tomorrow.