Experience Overload! - Day 53

  Today was totally, totally awesome. I got to see some favorite things again, and also some wonderful new trail. And I learned new things too.

For starters, it was -6 degrees here last night. The trailer stayed warm enough to sleep! We delayed our start a little bit because the sun quickly warmed the air to double digits. We have clothes for hiking at those temps. But the morning was just gorgeous, with sun on the frosty trees.

Soon we turned up Bat Roost Road, which was where I knew there was a view of the Ohio River. I thought it was the only place where you can see the river from the trail. See that brighter line in the distance between the hills?

Now we have to bring General Nathaniel Massie into the story.

He established a fort, Massie's Station, on the Ohio River in 1791. It became the village of Manchester which is either the third or fourth permanent settlement in Ohio (Marietta is first, then I'm not sure of what is next, although I suspect something up on Lake Erie). So Massie Station was down on the river. There are hills that rise quickly away from the water. On Bat Roost Road we climbed from about 560 feet to 990 feet. Then we turned on Gift Ridge Road. Gift Ridge is indeed a ridge. It stays at 1000 feet, descending a little at the east end to about 920 feet.

So what's the connection? Massie gave settlers land along the ridge, which became known as "Gift Ridge," to build homes. In return, they were to serve as an early warning system watching for Indian raids that might be headed toward the fort.

And, I learned that in the winter, there are more places along this road where you can see the Ohio. Here's the best.

One of the very best places on Gift Ridge is about to be no more. This is Counterfeit House. It's scheduled for demolition because no group has had the money or determination to save it, which is a total shame. In the 1840's Thomas Oliver and his sister ran a counterfeiting operation from this specially built house. They made 50 cent pieces and $500 bills. The doorknob could only be opened by those who knew the secret way it worked. There were fake chimneys where things could be hidden. If an upper window was lit it was a signal to boats on the Ohio that there was fresh "cash."

Since this is likely to be the last time I'll see it, we did poke around a little. This safe and printing machine are still in a back room. Generally, the place is a total wreck. Squatters have been living there, and the structural damage is extensive.

After a few more roads, we finished the day with some brand new Buckeye Trail miles in the Edge of Appalachia Nature Preserve. I have to say that these are the best designed, graded, benched and marked off-road miles I've seen in Ohio. This is a wonderful hike!

Jeff told us yesterday that this area was not glaciated. Look at these limestone cliffs! What the heck? Here's what... This is the Allegheny or Portage Escarpment! It separates the Allegheny Plateau from glacial till fields to the northwest. It runs all the way to central New York State. How did I not know this? So, the NCT has a piece of the Niagara Escarpment in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and a piece of the Allegheny Escarpment here in Ohio.

And just in case this wasn't enough, there is the grave of William Flood, a Revolutionary War soldier, here as well. This is what I love about the NCT- you can hardly walk two miles without finding something new to learn about!

And Nikki hiked with us today. She might go again tomorrow.

This really isn't everything I wanted to tell you, but I think it's enough for one blog post. I'll have to find a way to weave the other stories into other posts.

P.S. About 2000 feet of elevation gain overall today, and 2000 feet of descent.

Miles today: 15.2. Total miles so far: 750.5.

See Serpent Mound Tour