McConnell's Mill State Park - Day 111

  Here's what everyone thinks of when you say McConnell's Mill. Nothing wrong with that! It's a beautiful old mill- famous for being one of the first rolling mills in the U.S. A rolling mill grinds the product between two cylinders instead of against a flat grindstone. It was first built in 1852, but that mill burned and this one was built in 1868.

The covered bridge was built in 1874.

But what really caught my attention today was the stunningly gorgeous Slippery Rock Creek gorge. I sure can't figure out what I was looking at the last time I came through here. Of course, that was late summer and the water would have been lower, but still...

This is Slippery Rock Creek, which is a National Natural Landmark. All I could think about was epic fantasy movies and games. My pictures don't begin to do justice to the reality.

And then the rocks started. Big rocks. Rocks that looked like turtles and dinosaurs.

Small shady streams tumbled down to the main creek.

That water was moving mighty fast.

And that's not all. There was botany! Walking fern, Asplenium rhizophyllum. I also saw it in Red River Gorge, Kentucky a few years ago, but it has only been found in a few counties in Michigan- none near where I live. It "walks" by rooting from the tips of those long skinny leaves.

Let me tell you about the trail. Rocks, roots, mud, and hills. There is a warning sign that says it is extremely difficult and you should be physically fit and allow a minimum of 4.5 hours to hike one direction. I'm not sure exactly where they were measuring from, but I made it from the trailhead to that sign in 3 hours. But I concur that it's really difficult. My legs and knees are really tired tonight. I had also forgotten how tough this segment is. But the beauty was worth every step.

Thankfully, the rest of the day was pretty easy, so I made my mileage goal. Sue and the pups hiked in and met me at the end of the day, so I had a companion for the final three miles. Now I have to go to sleep.

Miles today: 15.8. Total miles so far: 1449.1.

See Bigfoot at Wampum