Best For:
Nature and hiking enthusiasts, Ohio state park explorers, nature photographers, hiking with dogs, and those who enjoy honest trail journals.
Shawshank Redemption Trail:
February third,on our Snow Day in the early afternoon, near Lucas, Ohio. With the snow was pushing up close to knee-deep in some sections. The trail lines at Ferguson Falls were invisible under fresh powder, and Luna’s boots were disappearing off her feet every few minutes. Clearly, winter set the rules for this hike.
The landscape quietly decided the turnaround point, proving that in winter, navigation and patience matter more than mileage.
Second Stop on Our Snow Day
Our Snow Day started near butler Ohio at hemlock falls. Then we headed to Malabar Farm State Park, the second destination was Ferguson Falls. Our trail visibility was nonexistent due to drifting snow, which meant frequent stops to re-locate the path and recover gear. What should have been a straightforward 1.5-mile outing turned into a slow navigation exercise, step-checking terrain, scanning for blazes, and occasionally backtracking.
After losing the trail twice and my dog’s boots many times, continuing deeper into the system became impractical. Snow depth increased, movement slowed significantly, and losing the trail entirely became a real possibility. The plan shifted to have me reschedule my return for less snowy conditions.
Winter hiking is a lesson in humility. Sometimes the best part of the adventure is knowing when to pivot
Mt. Jeez Overlook on Our Snow Day
Our final Snow Day stop we intended to make was at Mt. Jeez Overlook. This also turned out to be inaccessible. The access road had a latched gate and was unplowed. I ended the attempt there.
Winter closures are common for overlook roads in the area, especially following heavier snowfall. This was one of those days where the landscape quietly decided the turnaround point.
Hiking in the Winter-
Wrapping up Our Snow Day:
Although the distance we covered on our Snow Day outing remained short, the hike delivered the familiar lesson winter hikers know well: mileage means less than conditions. Navigation, pacing, and knowing when to pivot matter more than reaching every planned stop.
For Highlight reels from this trip others with Luna and the homies, as well as other visual content catch Poeaxtry_ on socials like:
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