With hikers from ages four to 75, there’s a trail for just about anyone wanting to take advantage of Whitley County’s “Hiking for Health” series, which continues every Friday in May.
The guided hiking tours are for anyone in moderately healthy shape, but are not limited to seasoned outdoorsmen.
“My 6-year-old has done five mile trips,” said Whitley County Cooperative Extension Agent Phil Meeks.
On Friday, Bret Smitley, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park naturalist, led a dozen hikers on a four to five mile loop at the state park. Along the way, he discussed birds, wildflowers and park management issues, and Peggy Helton, Whitley County extension agent for family and consumer sciences, shared trail nutrition tips.
Meeks said the series started last year, and the benefit of the hikes is twofold.
“Our family consumer science agent, her goal is to get people more physically active,” he said. “My goal is to just familiarize people with what we have in our area because people don’t know what resources we have in our backyard.”
The county extension agency’s goals have changed — along with its name — over the years. Once known as the Agricultural Extension or “4H,” the agency mainly worked with farmers and those in the agricultural business.
Today, the extension agencies have partnered with University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University to also teach residents about conservation, natural resources, economic development and quality of life.
Meeks said part of the advantage of having more knowledgeable hikers in the woods is that they can spot problems sooner — insects such as the Emerald Ash Borer can decimate ash forests, and extension agents have monitored the progress of the destructive gypsy moth for years.
“It’s really good if they (hikers) know what it looks like and keep their eyes open,” he said.
This Friday, hikers will take a 3-mile trek to Dogslaughter Falls in Daniel Boone National Forest and learn about navigation, compass and GPS use. On May 23, the group will take an approximately 2.5-milke hike starting at Laurel Dam and will discuss forest health along the way.
Hiking tours are free, and a van meets at 9 a.m. outside the extension office at 428 Main Street in Williamsburg to drive to the trailhead, or hikers can meet at the trail site. Meeks asks that hikers contact the extension office the day before the hike if they plan to attend so transportation can be arranged. Hikes usually end by 2 p.m.
“We try to give folks an option so if they get tired, we’ve got enough people so we either wait or we can take a shortcut to the van,” Meeks said. “They don’t necessarily have to be seasoned hikers, but if they are moderately fit... We have had people in their 80s go on these hikes.”
Hikers should bring a snack or light lunch, wear sneakers or hiking boots, and long pants are probably best for keeping off ticks along the trail.
Meeks has also “loosely formed” a Tri-County hiking group that tries to do a trip each month. Those interested in either the Friday hikes or the monthly hikes can contact Meeks at 606-549-1430.
Samantha Swindler can be reached at sswindler@thetimestribune.com
On Friday, Bret Smitley, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park naturalist, led a dozen hikers on a four to five mile loop at the state park.Photo by Phil Meeks/(Click for larger image)
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