Poeaxtry's Prism

Spell. Stone. & Sparks that Ignite Change

Author: poeaxtry_

  • Rockstall Nature Preserve – What Surrounds You?

    Rockstall Nature Preserve – What Surrounds You?

    Best For:

    Ohio Hikers, Outdoor Enthusiasts looking to Visit Hocking’s less touristy trails, & individuals who read nature journals.

    The Essence:

    Reading Time: ⏰ 10 mins | Weight: 🪶 light| Mood: 👀 Serene, Observant, Cautious|

    The Vault:

    • The Fungi in Hocking Hills State Forest
    • The Less Touristy Side of Hocking Hills the Forest
    • Yes we ran into an Off-leash dog… Again
    • The Nervous Feelings
    • Our trek – 2 miles, May 18th 2026, mid 80’s
    A metal fixture at the beginning of the trail asking you to not put trash here please.
    Leave no trace.

    Rockstall, Hocking State Forest, Ohio.

    The Trails:

    I’ve hiked many trails here some became memorable because of sweeping overlooks or towering waterfalls. While others stay with me because of the small details that I quietly collected along the way. Rockstall Nature Preserve offered both.

    What I expected was a peaceful afternoon exploring one of the region’s lesser-known trails with Luna. I found a landscape layered with moss, fungi, flowing water, and reminders that every hike is shaped not only by the place itself, but also by the people and wildlife that happen to cross your path.

    What are you waiting for? Folllw Luna and I on our late spring trek through Rockstall Natural Sanctuary. The forest rewarded us with quiet beauty and a few unexpected lessons about awareness, preparation, and trusting your instincts.

    Small cap mushroom brown hue up close on the forest floor.
    I’m a fun guy.

    The Timing:

    I’ve been meaning to explore this area ever since moving from Eastern Ohio to Central Ohio more than three years ago. We all know how life happens though.

    Between my work schedule and everything else life throws at me, Rockstall in Hocking Hills just kept getting pushed further down my list. Sometimes I just flat out forgot to consider it… if I’m being honest.

    However after getting my shift at work covered and also using a little bit of my PTO, the ability to visit finally aligned on May 18th. We parked around 1:38 p.m., with the temperature sitting around 85 degrees, Luna and I headed out to see what we’d been missing.

    A red and white dog with a blue collar drinks from a purple hydro flask on trail.

    The Nature Preserve:

    This preserve is located in Logan, Ohio inside of Hocking State Forest, and also is known as Rockstall Natural Sanctuary. This 1.1 – 1.5mile secluded loop is owned by Camp Akita, who generously open their beautiful private park to the public.

    This preserve is open 9am to 5 pm daily. The parking lot is very small holding maybe seven vehicles maximum and there are no amenities. Make sure to download or print your maps as most carriers do not have signal here.

    Do note that to access the basin, hikers descend a long wooden staircase containing close to 104 steps. Most hikers recommend that you follow the trail fork to the right to trek counter-clockwise. Some even opt to head straight down the stairs to the basin if they want to avoid walking along the high rim walls.

    Though dogs are permitted here unlike at most nature preserves camping, fires, and wading are prohibited.

    Mushrooms grow out of a live tree on the trail at Rockstall Nature Preserve.

    The Fungi:

    It didn’t take long for Hocking State Forest to start rewarding Luna and I. We were able to spot shelf mushrooms that clung to the sides of fallen trees while clusters of cap mushrooms that seemed to just appear across the trail. It felt as though everywhere I looked I was rewarded with another variety of spore or fungi waiting to be found.

    Yellow cup-shaped fungi, darker brown cap mushrooms, pale shelve-like fungi in patches, moss, and spiderwebs stretched between branches, all turned an ordinary walk into one of those hikes where you’re constantly stopping… to look a little closer.

    Or if you’re like me stopping to get the webs off your face.

    Close up photo from underneath of a brown cap mushroom and the forest foliage.

    The Sounds:

    The sound of water followed us for much of the trek. Several small streams spilled through the ravine, each one adding another layer to the quiet atmosphere.

    Frogs called from the wetter sections of the trail, occasionally revealing themselves before disappearing back into the water and its undergrowth.

    A tree with multiple trunks growing next to the trail at Rockstall Nature Preserve.

    The Off-leash Dog:

    As fate would have it not long into our hike, the peaceful rhythm we had built was interrupted when an off-leash dog charged toward Luna. Thankfully, nothing to serious happened.

    Luna is reactive around unfamiliar dogs, so I always try to keep situations like that from escalating. The owner struck up a conversation and asked if I wanted the dogs to meet. I politely declined and continued on.

    Of course the dog wasn’t the problem. Owners are responsible for keeping their dogs under control, especially on shared trails where not every dog is comfortable with unexpected encounters, and Ohio laws require owners to leash their dogs unless in special areas.

    Brown and white dog stands leashed on a trail in the middle of the lush Hocking Hills State Forest.

    The Waterfall:

    When we reached the waterfall, where water flowed over a broad rock face before disappearing downstream my nerves had eased again. This was easily one of the highlights of the hike.

    Nearby, I noticed what appeared to be a campsite with a tent set up among the trees and artwork hanging from their branches. The same man was there, carrying and occasionally playing a bongo-style hand drum. It was certainly one of the more unusual sights I’ve come across on an Ohio trail.

    After spending a little time enjoying the falls, I decided to head back toward the trailhead.

    Rockstall Waterfall flowing over the rock face,

    The Nervous Feelings:

    As we continued hiking, I expected that to be the end of the interaction. Instead, we kept crossing paths with this same man. By our fourth encounter, it had become impossible not to notice the pattern.

    Each time his dog was still off leash, he was still playing his bongo drum, and each meeting made me a little more aware of my surroundings.

    What stood out was that although his campsite remained near the waterfall still setup, I somehow continued running into him several more times throughout the return hike. I even used different trails that cross and reconnect, so seeing someone again isn’t unusual.

    Though seeing the same person over and over after they appeared to have settled into camp felt a little different.

    Brown and white dog in a blue collar in a yellow and blue leash stands on a boardwalk above steps in a lush forest.

    The Parking Lot:

    Back at the parking area, I wanted to load Luna into the car, but he continued talking. After he placed his own dog inside his vehicle he remained between me and my driver’s door while trying to carry on the conversation. I eventually asked if he could give me enough room so I could get Luna into the car. Once she was secured, I started the car and prepared to leave.

    During that final conversation after he allowed me to put my dog into the car he mentioned using hard drugs. He kept himself behind my car pacing back and forth almost blocking my exit and he brought up a few places I’d recently been researching to hike.

    While this may have been nothing more than coincidence combined with repeatedly running into him throughout the afternoon, it left me feeling uneasy. I didn’t argue or linger. I simply waited for my chance to jump in and drive away.

    A pink haired man wearing a black tank top, a tan backpack, and black sunglasses stands on the forest.

    The Impression:

    Despite that uncomfortable ending, the trail itself left a much stronger impression than one awkward encounter. The waterfall, frogs, mushrooms, moss-covered forest, and quiet beauty were exactly what I’d hoped to find after wanting to visit for so many years.

    Sometimes the biggest reminder from a hike isn’t just to appreciate nature. It’s to stay aware of your surroundings, trust your instincts, and remember that sharing public spaces means preparing for unexpected encounters with people as much as wildlife.

    A view from the ground up of the sun, blue skies, trees, and a large rock wall in Rockstall Nature Preserve.

    The Reminder:

    I continue seeking out places that sit just beyond the busiest trail systems. The waterfall, countless fungi, singing frogs, and cool ravine created exactly the kind of afternoon I’d hoped for after putting this hike off for years.

    The trails do not exist separately from the people who visit them.

    Most hikers I have encountered are friendly, respectful, and simply happy to share the trail. Occasionally, though, an interaction leaves you paying closer attention to your surroundings. That doesn’t mean every stranger is a threat, but it does mean to keep listening when your instincts tell you to stay alert.

    That ended up being the lesson I carried home.

    Appreciate the beauty around you, respect the wildlife and fellow hikers, keep your dog under control, and never ignore your intuition. Sometimes what surrounds you isn’t just the sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, and forests. It’s every decision, encounter, and observation that shapes the story you take home with you.

    White metal Rockstall Mature Preserve sign.

    TLDR:

    This secluded Hocking State Forest trail delivered peaceful streams, abundant fungi, frogs, moss-covered ravines, and a beautiful waterfall that made the hike memorable.

    An encounter with an off-leash dog and repeated interactions with another visitor served as reminders that trail awareness extends beyond watching for wildlife.

    While the preserve’s natural beauty far outweighed one uncomfortable experience, it reinforced the importance of trusting your instincts and staying aware of your surroundings.

    If you’re looking for a quieter alternative to Hocking Hills’ most popular destinations, Rockstall Natural Sanctuary is a rewarding stop. Just download your trail map before arriving, bring plenty of water, and enjoy one of Ohio’s hidden natural treasures.

    Brown wooden trail sign at Rockstall Nature Preserve.

    Plan Your Trek:

    Sheep’s Dip at Bison Hollow. Permit Hocking Hills Hikes. Rockbridge.

    Camp Akita. Rockstall.

    What the Hike:

    • Black Hand Gorge –
      The main paved multi-use trail, along with three key parking areas, remains closed for extensive structural repairs. Only the Marie Hickey Trail (2-mile loop) and the Canal Locks Trail (0.4-mile trail) are open to the public this summer. 
    • Cranberry Bog Nature Preserve –
      If you are planning to visit this unique bog located on Buckeye Lake, remember that it requires an advanced access permit to step onto the boardwalk due to its fragile ecosystem. Processing takes up to two weeks via the ODNR Cranberry Bog Portal.
    Hemlock reshi mushrooms growing on a dead log.
  • BPD Meets Colorful Poetry:

    BPD Meets Colorful Poetry:

    Best for:

    Readers living with borderline personality disorder (BPD), Friends, partners, and family members wanting to better understand splitting, & People interested in mental health through poetry

    The Essence:

    Read time: 🕰️ 2 to 3 minutes |Weight: 🥊 Heavy | Mood: 🗝️Vulnerable & introspective |

    The Vault:

    • An exploration of splitting in borderline personality disorder
    • Black-and-white thinking through the metaphor of color
    • The impact of fear & emotional permanence
    • Self-awareness without self-condemnation
    • A personal perspective rather than a universal experience

    BPD Meets Poetry:

    Mental health diagnoses are often explained with clinical language, but clinical language rarely comes close to capturing what they feel like from the inside. One symptom commonly associated with borderline personality disorder is called splitting.

    Splitting is the tendency, often under stress or perceived rejection, to swing between extremes in how a person, situation, or even yourself is perceived. It isn’t a conscious choice. It can happen so quickly that someone who felt completely safe moments ago suddenly feels dangerous, distant, or impossible to trust.

    This poem doesn’t attempt to define BPD. It simply describes one moment of living inside it.

    Google keep screenshot 1/2 if the formatting and layout of colors by Axton Mitchell

    Colors:

    An Original Poem by: Axton N. O. Mitchell.

    Supposedly, people like me living on the borderline
    see situations in hues of black and white,
    alone.

    Quick replies that, for a moment,
    slow their pace
    feel like betrayal
    to me,
    typically.

    Consider my job for a moment.
    One small mistake
    can leave me more than prepared
    to be walked to the door.

    A new friendship begins,
    leaving me amazed by them
    until
    triggered reactions
    paint them as cruel
    in my point of view.

    Life for me
    is often yellow and blue,
    both capable of making happiness
    painful.

    Until

    I

    Split.

    Yellow now resembles
    toxic gas,
    poisonous,
    dense.

    Blue transforms
    into a numb,
    impenetrable
    nothingness.

    Splitting:

    One of the hardest things about splitting is that it doesn’t usually announce its arrival. It feels like clarity when it’s happening, even if hindsight time reveals something different.

    Understanding the mechanism doesn’t always stop it. Naming it doesn’t always ease it. Sometimes all you can do is recognize that your world has suddenly changed hues and wait until you’re able to see the full picture again.

    Google keep screenshot 2/2 if the formatting and layout of colors by Axton Mitchell

    TLDR:

    This poem explores splitting, a symptom many people with borderline personality disorder experience, through the changing symbolism of color.

    It reflects how quickly perception can shift after a trigger, transforming connection into fear and certainty into emotional isolation, while offering readers a glimpse into one lived experience rather than defining the disorder itself.

  • Packing My First Pack for a Backcountry Through Hike:

    Packing My First Pack for a Backcountry Through Hike:

    Best For:

    Individuals interested in backpacking, beginners looking for a backpacking guide to use when packing their pack for the first time, and trekkers wanting to learn what information they should use when deciding what to bring on a backpacking trip.

    The Essence:

    Read Time: 🕰️ 9–11 minutes | Weight: ✍️Practical, Educational | Mood: 🎒Prepared, Excited

    The Vault:

    • How I packed my first 90L backpack for a four-day backpacking trip.
    • Tips for organizing your pack, avoiding overpacking, and balancing weight.
    • A simple way to waterproof matches before heading into the backcountry.
    Yellow haired man in tan pants and dark blue shirt ww earring a large trekking bag on his back takes a mirror selfie in the living room.

    Before You Go on Your Through Hike:

    Sure, I’ve been camping. We all know I go hiking. I’ve just never done them both together in the manner that I’m getting ready to do. From July 14th through the 17th, Cyb and I will be spending several days in the backcountry of Seneca Creek, West Virginia.

    Having never backpacked before, I needed a little more gear than I already owned.

    We realized before leaving just how easy it is to overpack. It really doesn’t take long before each item starts to feel needed. Remember every extra pound is one you’ll carry for miles.

    Knowing when to start trimming things down I learned is more important than deciding what to bring.

    I also remembered a piece of camping advice I’d tucked away years ago that could save us from one very frustrating situation once we’re out there.

    I’m curious. Do you know how to waterproof a match? If not, do you have a backup plan if both your matches and lighter become soaked?

    What are you waiting for? It’s time to pack our bags.

    Through Hiking New Gear:

    I know fast fashion and otherwise low priced side of Internet shopping aren’t the most ethical options. I also recognize that not all of us have the privilege of buying premium outdoor equipment. Whenever I can, I try to thrift, buy locally, or trade with others.

    This time, though, Temu came through.

    I ordered a self-inflating sleep mat, a 90L backpack, a solar charging power bank, and a sleeping bag. I placed the order less than two weeks before we left, and everything arrived within four days of our trek.

    The Pack:

    The backpack I chose came in several color combinations. I settled on dark blue and black with gray accents. It isn’t customizable, but there were enough options to choose something I liked.

    The pack itself cost me $20.23 plus $2.99 shipping. Honestly, it feels far more durable than I expected. It includes padded shoulder straps, a hip belt, a sternum strap, and several storage compartments that make organizing gear surprisingly easy.

    The bottom:

    The bottom compartment is typically recommended for extra shoes. Since I wasn’t bringing a second pair, I used it for my neck pillow, my new self-inflating sleep mat, tarot deck, pendulum, reading mat, and a few miscellaneous items.

    The Main Compartment:

    The large main compartment was packed from the bottom up. My sleeping bag went in first, with my clothes next to it. On top of those I packed my food, separated into zip-lock bags by item, and finally my first aid kit so it would stay easy to reach.

    As I packed, I paid attention to balancing the weight evenly throughout the bag. A backpack that constantly pulls to one side or leans backward will wear you out much faster than one that rides comfortably against your body.

    The Sides:

    Each side of the pack has a water bottle pocket with a zippered compartment above it. One side carries a knife, lighter, and a few small essentials. The other holds my personal care items, including soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, lotion, and a handful of cotton swabs.

    The Front:

    The front compartment is designed to hold a hydration bladder with an opening for the drinking tube. Instead, I used it to store my pre-rolled joints, headlamps, inhaler, identification, another lighter, another knife, and a few medications, including pain relievers and allergy medicine.

    The Top:

    The top of the backpack closes with a drawstring and buckle flap. Inside the top zipper compartment I packed toilet paper, chargers, vape supplies, and ACE wraps.

    Fitting Your Pack:

    Packing your backpack correctly is only half the battle. Wearing it correctly matters just as much.

    Start by fastening the hip belt so it rests on top of your hip bones. Your hips should carry most of the pack’s weight. After that, tighten the shoulder straps until the backpack sits comfortably against your back. Then adjust the load lifters near the top of the shoulder straps before fastening the sternum strap across your chest.

    Once everything is adjusted, walk around with your pack for a few minutes. If it shifts constantly or feels like it’s pulling in one direction, stop and rearrange it before heading to the trail.

    Side view mirror selfie of man in tan pants and dark. Blue shirt wearing a trekking bag.

    Waterproofing Matches:

    Years ago I watched a camping video where the creator asked a simple question.

    “What happens if your lighter stops working?”

    Most people answer with, “I’ll just use matches.”

    Then came the next question.

    “What happens if your matches get wet?”

    That one catches a surprising number of people.

    The solution is incredibly simple. Coat the heads of your matches with melted candle wax. When it’s time to use them, simply scrape or crack the wax away before striking them. They may take an extra strike or two, but they’ll still light after getting wet.

    Match being punched between two fingers and stuck in melted candle wax

    The Necessities:

    Besides the major gear, I also packed a trash bag, a LifeStraw with its filter bag, two hiking outfits, one outfit to sleep in, swim trunks for the lake we’ll pass on day two, a towel, washcloth, and Dude Wipes.

    For clothing, I packed nine pairs of socks and nine pairs of underwear.

    Food was planned around convenience and calories. We packed dry meal replacement shakes you mix with water, protein bars, noodles, freeze-dried meals, Liquid IV, powdered Gatorade, single-serving cold brew tea bags, trail mix, coffee, and, of course, Red Bull.

    We also packed cooking supplies, dishes, garbage bags, weed, a pipe, art supplies, compasses, bug spray, homemade bug spray, sunscreen, and enough flashlights that neither of us should ever be left in the dark.

    I downloaded a bunch of offline maps too, of course.

    Sharing the Load:

    Backpacking with another person means you don’t always have to duplicate every piece of equipment.

    Cyble is carrying the cook stove along with her own personal gear. We originally planned to each bring our own hammock, but while trimming my pack we realized that made very little sense. Sharing one hammock and bringing the tent gave us everything we needed while cutting unnecessary weight.

    A lot of the time what you leave behind is just as important as what you bring, but sometimes it’s more important

    Outside the Pack:

    Not everything fits inside.

    Attached to the outside of my backpack are my trekking poles, outdoor gloves, LifeStraw, battery pack, tube carrying my roaches, and a water bottle. The tent is secured beneath the pack.

    For the drive there and back, I also packed a comfortable outfit and a pair of shoes to leave in the car so I don’t have to wear my hiking shoes. After several days on the trail, I have a feeling they’ll be one of the things I’m happiest to see.

    Now You’re Ready:

    Packing a backpack is more than seeing how much equipment you can squeeze into one bag. It’s learning to prioritize, organize, and prepare before you ever set foot on the trail. Every choice, from trimming unnecessary weight to deciding where each item belongs, affects how comfortable the days ahead may become.

    This is my first backpacking trip, so I’m sure I’ll come home with a list of things I’d change. Maybe I’ll discover I packed too much. Maybe I’ll wish I’d brought something I left behind. That’s all part of learning.

    Preparation doesn’t guarantee a perfect trip, but it does give you the best chance to spend less time worrying about your gear and more time appreciating why you went into the woods in the first place.

    TLDR:

    We realized that carrying what you’ll actually use while organizing it in a way that keeps your pack balanced, comfortable, and easy to access.

     the loadout for my first backcountry backpacking trip. From choosing a budget-friendly 90L pack to trimming unnecessary weight, waterproofing your matches, and sharing equipment with my hiking partner, every decision was made to prepare for several days on the trail.

    Plan your Trek:

    90L pack -Temu. Solar Charging Power Bank. Sleeping Bag. Self-Inflating Sleep Mat.

  • Lobdell Reserve | Quick Creekside Escape on a Hot Day in Ohio:

    Lobdell Reserve | Quick Creekside Escape on a Hot Day in Ohio:

    Best For:

    Individuals attempting to balance work and time in nature, dog owners looking for easy escapes in Ohio’s local nature, nature lovers who enjoy exploring Creekside, & rockhounds who love creek finds.

    The Essence:

    Reading Time: ⏰ 6 mins| Weight: 🪶 light & refreshing | Mood: 🪞 reflective and content |

    Trail Notes:

    • Our Trek: Where: Lobdell Reserve, Alexandria, Ohio| When: May 17th 2026, Mid-afternoon | Weather: 85 degrees| Terrain: easy | Distance: 1 mile|
    • Trek Features: Creek crossings| dog, friendly trail| Bridal Trail| disc golf course| multiple connected trails| creek explorations |
    • Highlights: A love of nature and not milage, time spent creekside, minerals found, & a happy pup
    Trailhead wooden marker with map, dog bags , and trash can blue skies and tall grass in the background at Lobdell Reserve in Alexandria, Ohio.
    Trailhead sign.

    Lobdell Preserve, Alexandria, Ohio.

    Choices & More Choices:

    The first truly hot afternoon of the season didn’t arrive on a day off work for me.

    It arrived like the good weather days tend to, a few hours before another mid-week third-shift shift, leaving me with a clear choice. I could stay home and wait for work, or I could make the most of the small window of time I had.

    Luna and I chose the to try for the trail in the small window of time we had.

    Luna a red and white dog with a blue color and yellow leash with blue accents stands on a grass trail where the trail comes to a y. Trees and tall grass long the grass trail at Lobdell Reserve in Alexandria, Ohio.
    Luna on trail.

    Our Lobdell Preserve Trek:

    On Sunday, May 17th, we made our way to Lobdell Reserve near Alexandria, Ohio, beginning our hike shortly after 3:20 p.m.

    The thermometer hovered around 85 degrees, making it one of the warmest days of the season for this area. Honestly, I’m pretty sure it was the first 85-degree day of the season and we were glad to be able to enjoy it outdoors. The heat arrived and felt like summer had ridden in on its coattails.

    So in typical Luna and Axton fashion we did not aim to cover as much ground as possible.

    Our goal was simple: spend a little time outside before I had to go to work. This would end up allowing Luna time to cool off in the creek.

    Sodden bird feeders right off the start of the trail at Lobdell Reserve in Alexandria, Ohio. He skies with with clouds, green tall grass and trees long the background.
    Bird feeders and trail signs.

    We both enjoyed whatever the afternoon decided to offer.

    As it turned out, one mile was more than enough for us to find enjoyment.

    The Trek That Asks You to Slow Down:

    The trail system here is made up of several interconnected loops, giving visitors the option to choose how far they want to trek. While some of the loops stretch to around three miles or connect into longer routes, there is no pressure to rush through them.

    The wide, relatively gentle trails here make the area approachable for hikers of many experience levels, and the creek crossings naturally encourage you to stop instead of simply just pass through them.

    About half a mile into our hike we reached the first creek crossing. Instead of continuing deeper into the trail system, this became our destination for the afternoon. The creek here was bordered by rocky banks and a small ridges layered with exposed shell-bearing stone.

    Small white Ohio wildflowers grow with tall grass near the trail at Lobdell Reserve. Trees and blue skies are seen in the background.
    I love flowers.

    These are a reminder that Ohio’s landscape was shaped beneath ancient seas hundreds of millions of years ago. Water flowed steadily over scattered rocks while sunlight reflected off the surface in bright flashes. It was exactly the kind of place that makes it easy to lose track of time.

    Luna certainly didn’t mind.

    She wandered along the water’s edge, occasionally she splashed through the shallows, and she was sure to investigate every new scent while I explored the rocks lining the creek.

    Sometimes you find one beautiful place that provides enough reason to stop walking.

    The trail went from grassy to dirt and lined with grass. Trees and blue skies present in background at Lobdell Reserve.
    The trail gets more trail like.

    Sharing the Trail:

    Right before we settled near the creek, three horseback riders were photographing their horses mid- stream.

    Luna has always been fascinated by horses.

    Excitement tends to get the better of her whenever she spots one, so my job becomes keeping her calm enough that she doesn’t startle them while still letting her satisfy her curiosity.

    Three small yellow flowers grow in the tall grass near the trail at the Lobdell Reserve.
    Three small yellow flowers.

    Thankfully, the riders and their horses were patient, with the few chirps she made while we gave them the distance needed to finish their photography shoot. After a few moments everyone continued on without issue.

    It served as a good reminder that Lobdell Reserve is a place shared by many different outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you’re hiking, riding horses, exploring with your dog, or simply looking for a quiet afternoon outside, everyone seems to find their own pace here.

    By the end of the hike we’d meet those same three horses again back at the parking area, creating an unexpectedly fitting end to the afternoon.

    Brown and white dog with blue collar and pink haired shirtless man wearing shorts stand on stream at Lobdell Reserve.
    Axton & Luna

    A Creek Worth Exploring:

    Rather than chasing miles, I spent most of my time wandering up and down the creek itself. Every few steps another interesting rock seemed to just appear beneath the shallow water.

    One specimen held sparkling crystal growing across its matrix. Another appeared rich in iron and may even preserve traces of ancient crinoid fossils.

    Man shows a rock containing multiple fossil fragments behind this in the photograph are various sized and shaped rocks on the creek bed.
    I love fossils too!

    Nearby were several large opaque quartz-like pieces that caught the afternoon sunlight in completely different ways depending on how they were turned.

    Then came my favorite find. Resting among the stream stones was a nearly perfect heart-shaped rock. Finding unusual stones has become one of my favorite parts of exploring Ohio’s waterways. They’re small reminders that slowing down often reveals things we’d otherwise walk right past.

    A Caucasian man holds out his hand with two fingers out a small rock lays on the two fingers showing its natural heart shape. In the background is a shallow stream lined with various rocks at Lobdell Reserve.
    Small heart shaped rock.

    More Than Mileage:

    By a little after four o’clock it was time to head back toward the trailhead. We had only covered about one mile and for some hikers that number might sound disappointing.

    It felt more like exploration than disappointment to me.

    Too often we feel forced to measure hikes by distance, elevation gain, or how many hours we spend outside. Those numbers have their place, but they aren’t the only measure of a worthwhile adventure.

    This afternoon wasn’t about setting records.

    Photo shows looking down at a man’s legs and black shorts as he stands in green and orange shoes in a shallow buddy stream.

    But we did succeed at stepping outside before I went to work; instead of letting another beautiful day disappear with a car-window-view on my way to punch into the time clock. I also gave Luna the chance to splash through cool water on one of the hottest afternoons we’d seen yet this year.

    I was able to find a few interesting rocks, listen to the flowing creek, and remember that even a short walk can reset your mind before the responsibilities that are waiting later that evening.

    Sometimes success isn’t measured in miles and it’s measured by simply showing up.

    A group of fleabane grows a long the trail at Lobdell Reserve in Alexandria, Ohio.

    One Final Surprise:

    As we made our way back through the woods, the quiet was suddenly broken by the crashing sound of deer racing through the trees.

    For a split second they seem to have startled me far more than I startled them. Within moments they disappeared just as quickly as they’d arrived, leaving only rustling leaves behind.

    Blue and white odd shaped flowers grow in a vast lush green wooded area.

    This was one of those moments every hiker experiences eventually. Wildlife has a way of reminding you that you’re only a visitor, even on familiar trails.

    We reached the parking lot around 4:17 p.m. with one mile completed. The afternoon here came full circle as we were greeted once again by the same three horses we’d met earlier near the creek being loaded into their separate trailers.

    We Liked it Here:

    Lobdell Reserve reminded me that meaningful time outside doesn’t require an entire weekend or an ambitious hiking goal. Sometimes you see all you needed is an hour before work or a single mile.

    A Honda, multiple horse trailers, horses, and people stand in the parking lot of Lobdell Reserve.

    If that mile includes cool creek water, curious wildlife, friendly trail encounters, fascinating geology, and a dog who spends the afternoon grinning from ear to ear, it’s more than enough.

    I drove home with muddy croc junipers, a pocket full of interesting rocks, one nearly perfect heart-shaped stone, and one happy pup.

    More importantly, I headed into work carrying something much harder to collect than minerals. I carried the feeling that, before the shift even began, I’d already made time for myself.

    Wooden bird house on the side of the trail in front of a fence, woodland growth, and blue skies.

    TLDR:

    Luna and I visited Lobdell Reserve near Alexandria, Ohio. Although we only hiked about one mile, the creek quickly became the highlight of the afternoon.

    We explored the rocky stream and shared the trail with horseback riders whose horses immediately caught Luna’s attention.

    The interconnected trail system offers several easy loop options, creek crossings, and a peaceful setting that’s ideal for hikers, dog owners, and horseback riders alike.

    This hike was a reminder that memorable adventures aren’t always measured by distance. Sometimes one quiet mile is exactly what you need.

    Large white clouds and blue skies behind the grassy wide trail at Lobdell Preserve.

    What the Hike:

    • Infirmary Mound Park (Granville): All trails are closed for the “Pace at the Park” equestrian event. The only exceptions are the Wildflower Fairy Trail and its immediate access paths, which remain open. Normal trail access resumes after 5:00 PM on Saturday, July 11
    • Panhandle Trail (Newark to Hanover): Expect periodic closures between Dayton Road and Felumlee Road. Tree service contractors are actively removing hazardous overhanging branches and dead trees.
    • The Licking Park District signed a critical conservation easement protecting open space and the river corridor at 11007 Staddens Bridge Road. Funding applications are underway for a new vault restroom facility.
    • Bank Run Metro Park – Central Ohio’s 22nd Metro Park, the event center and a paved 5K loop are now officially open. The natural hiking trails, woods, and river access are still being built, with an expected opening later this year. 

    Plan Your Trip:

    Wildflower Fairy Trail. Wayne National Forest.

    Labdell Reserve. Licking Park District.

    Close up of dandelion fluff growing in a green grassy area.

    Hike Yes:

    “Waterfall Confessions” my hiking journal allows you to track your progress through trails & emotional trials.

    Forged from the loss of my mom this waterfall collection holds space for your emotions through many layers of grief, not specific to parent loss alone. Use my prompt on trail or off. Accessibly digitally and printable for $2.00.

    You can read my response to some of the prompts in the collection as well.

    Waterfall Confession.

    Etsy. Gumroad. Payhip.

    Close up of single flower growing multiple blue and while oddly shaped blooms front and center with the woodland area at Lobdell Reserve.
  • Money Talks & You Know What Walks – Capitalism Ruined it:

    Money Talks & You Know What Walks – Capitalism Ruined it:

    Best For:

    Readers questioning traditional ideas of healing, people exploring alternative ways to process emotions, and nature lovers interested in honest reflections on mental health.

    The Essence:

    Read Time: 🕰️ 9 mins| Weight: 🫂 medium| Mood:🪞Reflective & Honest |

    The Vault:

    • Setting the vibe – The Handsome Devil
    • What works for others & why capitalism ruins it for me
    • My solution & the real lesson

    Don’t name it just tell us why it wasn’t good for you:

    Not for Me:

    Some prompts don’t ask for opinions. They ask for honesty.

    This one challenged me to describe something I didn’t enjoy without ever naming it. That made me think less about the thing itself and more about why it never worked for me.

    This isn’t an argument against your typical healing spaces. Millions of people have rebuilt their lives through them, and I genuinely believe that’s true. This is simply an explanation of why my own brain never lets me experience them the same way.

    Sometimes healing isn’t about rejecting a tool. Sometimes it’s about recognizing that the tool and your mind don’t speak the same language.

    Man in jeans and black frogwood boardshop t-shirt on trail with a brown and white dog.

    The Vibe:

    Let me pull out my Bic lighter and spark my pre-rolled joint. I’ll open up my Spotify app next and scroll until I land on “Savage” by The Handsome Devils. Don’t fret I’ll press play, and let the first notes settle into the silence.

    That’s how I would set the vibe of this conversation.

    Not in a waiting room and not on a couch. There will be no fluorescent lights or clipboard balanced on crossed knees.

    Just me, the trail, and the kind of honesty that only seems to find one when no one is expecting it.

    What Works for Others:

    There is something that countless people swear by. It has Ben known to help rebuild lives, repair relationships, and carry people through some of their darkest seasons.

    I don’t doubt that for a second. The thing just doesn’t work for me. Obviously not because I don’t believe in healing. I also do not think people who benefit from it are wrong.

    It doesn’t work because of one thing I can’t seem to silence.

    The Money.

    Ruined by Capitalism:

    The second a price tag enters what is supposed to be one of the most vulnerable conversations of my life, something shifts in my brain.

    The conversation stops feeling genuine and it starts to feel transactional. I know that’s an oversimplification. I know professionals deserve to be paid for years of education, training, emotional labor, and time. I don’t expect anyone to work for free.

    But knowing that intellectually doesn’t change how it feels emotionally. Every sentence becomes tangled with the fact that I’m paying for the hour.

    So then every question starts to feel like it is a part of a service. Every response reminds me that the clock is running.

    Whether that’s true or not doesn’t matter to my emotional lizard brain. That’s simply how my feelings experience it.

    Shirtless man with yellow hair and red shorts sits on a rock in a wooded area with his red and white dog.

    We all know healing doesn’t have a universal recipe.

    The Problems:

    So, I never stop wondering if I’m having a genuine conversation or participating in something I purchased.

    Once that thought showed up, vulnerability packed its bags and moved out. Ironically, the place where I process my life best costs almost nothing.

    On trail:

    There is something in the sound of boots against dirt and the rhythm of my breathing as another hill steals my attention.

    It is somewhere between creek crossings and gorge overlooks, that my thoughts stop performing. Here they stop trying to sound reasonable and organized. Here I become honest.

    Nature doesn’t have a habit of interrupting. I never caught it trying to redirect the conversation.

    It doesn’t give a damn about the time or the clock. Nature exists while I untangle whatever I’ve been carrying.

    I spend hours arguing with myself. I may realize I was wrong. Or even forgive someone. I forgive myself often in nature.

    I love it when I don’t solve anything at all. I always leave knowing the things happening were lead by me.

    Peoples Needs:

    Some people need a conversation, some need community, others need movement.

    And some people need all of the above.

    I need miles beneath my trekking shoes and enough quiet to hear what I’ve been avoiding. I’m not writing this to convince anyone to abandon what works for them.

    If you’ve found peace somewhere, I hope you hold onto it. I’m only saying that I finally stopped trying to force myself into someone else’s definition of healing.

    The moment I accepted that, I stopped feeling guilty for healing differently.

    And maybe that’s the real lesson.

    Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do isn’t finding the method everyone recommends. But finding the one that finally lets us hear ourselves.

    pink haired Caucasian man in black glasses, black shirt, and grey shorts kneels at the stream with a brown and white APBT

    Whatever You Choose:

    I honestly don’t think there’s one correct way to heal.

    Some people find freedom in conversation. Others find it in medication, art, community, faith, movement, or quiet. None of those paths invalidate the others.

    For me, healing begins the moment the transaction disappears. It begins when the clock stops mattering, when no one is waiting for an answer, and when the only expectation is to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

    I’ve stopped apologizing for that.

    Maybe the goal was never to heal the way everyone else does. Maybe the goal was simply to find the place where honesty has room to breathe.

    TLDR:

    Many mainstream things are helpful to countless people, but the financial transaction of some keeps my brain from ever feeling fully vulnerable.

    I process life best on hiking trails, where there is no clock, no invoice, and no pressure. This isn’t about yucking someone’s yum. It’s about accepting that healing looks different for different people.

    Read More:

    Sustainable Hiking. Bucket List Hikes.

    You are Welcome to:

    Please feel free to respond on your own blog, in the comments, or where ever else you see fit. I look forward to your take on the prompt.

  • Two Treks Two Versions of Us – The Beginning:

    Two Treks Two Versions of Us – The Beginning:

    Best For:

    Nature lovers seeking hiking reflections, readers who enjoy friendship growth arcs, wanders pondering on emotional storytelling within nature, & all outdoorsy or literature lovers in between.

    The Essence:

    Reading Time: 🕰️ 11 mins | Weight: 🥊 medium/heavy| Mood: ☀️Reflective • Hopeful • Nostalgic|

    The Vault:

    • The Twos: treks, years apart, different versions of us, & separate states – Raccoon Creek State Park – Mineral Springs Grotto & Hocking Hills State Park – Old Man’s Cave Loop
    • A look inside: new friendship forming, the same friendship some time later, & how the trek you plan for like life is not always be the one you get.
    • Bonus: what happens when life keeps moving between these moments.

    The Clean Starting Point Myth:

    I’ve been hiking my whole life.

    Wandering though many different geographic areas, not quite lost physically while wondering through many emotional and mental wars. You could say has always been my thing.

    I know it’s cliche but I was doing it before I knew what it was.

    That’s not what this is really about though.

    This exists more comfortably in an off trail bond I’ve built that like many other bonds grew into me sharing my love of nature with someone else.

    It isn’t often that people arrive in our lives as fully formed “important” individuals. However we all know life is surprising.

    This post looks at the development, growth, and changes in a friendship I built with someone who became very important to me instantaneously.

    A relationship so important… yet, it still somehow kept growing as typical bonds do.

    Bonds:

    Most bonds are built and maintained with repetition, small shared moments that don’t feel like anything while they’re happening, and inside jokes.

    These two treks are just some of those moments this bond was forged in. While trekking them we weren’t aware they would be anything significant.

    We just saw:

    • Weirdos (us),
    • Walking
    • Wilderness

    That’s how these things seem to begin, most of the time.

    • Quiet.
    • Ordinary.
    • Forgettable…. in the moment.

    These are not just memories of being outside or my typical trail reflections.

    They are third party reflections on two specific hikes, Raccoon Creek State Park in 2021 and Hocking Hills State Park in 2023, that show how a friendship formed, shifted, and carried through time.

    Showing the way friendships bloom in ecosystems that we did not fully understand while living in them.

    The First Time Everything Was New:

    October 2021 – Raccoon Creek State Park- Mineral Springs Grotto:

    Before anything else, there is this:

    “Where is the car?!”

    Taelor says that was her first memory when asked about her first hike with me.

    Not the waterfall nor the grotto, it was not anything scenic.

    Just orientation or maybe it was survival logic. Finding the exit in her head before anything else could settle in. Which, honestly, makes sense.

    Nothing about that day was familiar yet to any of us. The terrain. The pace. The people. The version of Tae walking through it.

    Everything was still a learning curve in real time. Still, there were moments where the trail opened up and something else took over for Taelor.

    The water running through stone and the light shifting through the trees. That feeling you only get when you realize something is bigger than you expected it to be.

    “I was really just in awe of it all.” Which was what Taelor said of the hike after remembering wondering where the car was located.

    Which sits oddly next to everything else she said about that time. Because life outside the trail was not light for ay of us at this time. It was heavy. Unclear in ways that don’t translate easily into explanations.

    She didn’t frame it softly either, what she said was,

    “At that time, I didn’t think my life was going to go forward.”

    There’s no decoration in that sentence. Just weight.

    Yet Tae still went outside, still walked, and showed up for a day that, in hindsight. This all held more meaning than anyone involved could see at the time.

    That’s the part that matters, not the difficulty of the hike physically.

    That it existed at all in that season of all of our lives.

    Two individuals on a trail in the woods.

    Trust Doesn’t Announce Itself:

    Some parts of this interview are more subtle than others. They don’t land loudly. They sit and build pressure over time.

    The way she described support during that hike falls into that category, for me.

    Being checked on, having her pace considered, and the consistency of the reinsurance that she was okay. Coupled with the fact it wasn’t need for her to ask for it.

    All very small things that all add up.

    “That was when my trust for Axton grew.”

    That’s the kind of sentence that doesn’t need context to be felt. We all know that trust usually isn’t built during the big moments.

    It’s built when nothing is being asked for and someone still shows up anyway.

    When a Plan Stops Being Simple:

    June 2023 – Hocking Hills State Park – Old Man’s Cave area:

    The plan was light, I’d have even called it flexible. A highlights reel of the park for my friend and I. Yea right..

    We all know that’s not what happened.

    Somewhere in the middle of the day, it turned into distance, real distance. We clocked roughly eight miles of terrain that didn’t once ask our permission to become more than we signed up for. But rarely does nature ask consent.

    Taelor felt it, just not all at once.

    Gradually through her legs regardless of our pacing and through the questions that start repeating.

    “How far? How much longer? Where are we?”

    Still, Taelor kept moving.

    “Feeling exhausted from walking way more than I initially thought but feeling accomplished for finishing it even though I didn’t think I could.”

    That sentence doesn’t need interpretation it explains itself.

    “Mind Said Yes. Body: doubting but hopeful.”

    – Taelor

    That’s the entire hike. Not just confidence and definitely not just fear. They both exist at the same time without canceling each other out.

    It’s the willingness to continue even when the body is negotiating every step differently than the mind is.

    That’s where the real shift happened between 2021 and 2023.

    It wasn’t found in difficulty but in the response.

    The Cave & the Climb Stayed Separate in Memory:

    Old Man’s Cave and the climb were not blended together in Tae’s memory.

    Beauty on one side; Effort on the other. The cave was something to take in; The climb was something to get through.Both mattered just in different ways.

    “It was the true start of feeling good about the accomplishment afterward.”

    That’s the line Taelor uttered that marked the change.

    That line was recognition.

    That was noticing that finishing something hard can actually feel like something worth holding onto in the end.

    Two individuals on a bridge over a river.

    What Stayed & What Shifted:

    If you line the two hikes up side by side, the physical reality doesn’t change much.

    Tired is still tired; uncertainty still shows up. Of course our bodies still reach their physical limits.

    But what changes is how it gets carried.

    In 2021, everything is new and untested.

    In 2023, there is already proof that hard things can be finished. That’s the gap, not the miles; it is the memory of capability.

    Two Treks:

    These were never meant to be “important hikes.” That’s the part that makes them important now. They were ordinary days outside that happened to sit inside bigger seasons of life.

    The water still runs at Raccoon Creek and the climbs are still there in Hocking Hills. But the version of us that walked those paths once is not exactly the same anymore. That’s what this is really about.

    “📍It is not the trail, it is what changes while you’re trekking it.”🗝️

    -Axton

    TLDR:

    A friendship changes over two hiking trips as does one person’s relationship with hiking.

    Reflect on a first time hiker’s trip to Raccoon Creek State Park and a later trip to Hocking Hills State Park.

    Coming Next:

    Part Two moves forward from these across two 2026 multiple state treks with Taelor and I.

    Current trails. New us. New context. Same friendship.

    No one of this stopped at Hocking Hills. It just kept following us in different directions. Now you can too.

    Read More:

    Ohiopyle with Taelor. Coopers Rock with Taelor. Tae & I in Maryland.

  • Kitchen Table Chaos to Concrete Crafty Sanctuary: The Anatomy of My Altar-

    Kitchen Table Chaos to Concrete Crafty Sanctuary: The Anatomy of My Altar-

    Best For:

    Beginner Pagans & Wiccans building their first altar, readers interested in the why behind a spiritual altar, individuals interested in Pagan Eclectic Practices.

    The Essence:

    Read time: ⏰ 15 mins | Weight: ⚖️ Reflective| Mood: 🌿 Grounded, Inspiring, Sacred|

    A far off view of Axton’s altar and workspace showing the entire area.

    The Vault:

    • Why putting you in your Altar is a Must & Why my spirituality meets creativity.
    • The Hiking Altar, The Working Altar, The Tool Stand,
    • Key Terms to know: Altar, Essence, Ritual, & Book of Shadows
    • The colors meaning in Wiccan practice for purple, white, and black altar cloths.

    Making Sure Your Space is More You:

    If your like me before my fiancé and I moved then you know what it’s like to have your creativity fighting for space with the seasonal storage in the garage.

    In a house where the kitchen table fits better in your workspace, your collections, spiritual space, and your creativity all end up in a fight for room on that kitchen table. This may keep your energy fragmented, if you’re like me.

    After all, you are not just building a studio, remember you are building your manifesto. If your essence is not present inside your altar, spiritual work, or your craft, your work has no emotional core.

    A look from the top down at Axton’s working altar and hiking altar.

    It cannot breathe life into anything, if it doesn’t even know who or what it comes from.

    You. You. You:

    It is time to stop keeping your painted portraits in your art stack and start hanging them in your own space.

    You should know that putting yourself in your altar is one of the most important acts of the craft.

    When you curate a space, you are creating a resonance chamber. You are not just organizing stuff. You are anchoring your essence into the physical world so that your intent can actually manifest.

    If you are absent from your own altar, you are merely decorating. By placing your own essence…

    your portraits, your specific memories, your hiking finds…

    You are acting to transform a shelf into a focal point for your own power. You are saying, “I am here. This is the center of my world.”

    Another view of the workspace Axton has created for his spirituality and creativity to coexist.

    The Hiking Altar: The Anchor of Energy:

    For me it all starts at my hiking altar. This is where you find the absolute essence of me.

    It acts as a topographic map of the miles I have walked since October 2021. This is a space is heavy with memory and growth. I have added bird’s nests, antlers, bones, fossils, stones, shell casings, and more over time as my collection has evolved.

    Of course I have also included pamphlets from the specific trails I have conquered. As well as horoscope & crystal booklets, deity & fairy pictures all of which guide my path.

    My more recent additions include fairy statues and a mix of American and foreign coins. Which I’ve also found over my treks.

    You must anchor your altar in something that proves you have lived. By keeping these found items and gifted tokens here, I am not just storing objects. I am creating loop between my hikes, creative output, and spiritual journey.

    This serves as a monument to my experiences and is a place where I hold my energy and as well as grief. It is the center of my altar for a reason. Everything else grows out from this place.

    A close up view of Axton’s hiking altar.

    The Working Altar – Ritual, Reading, & Memory:

    In front of this, the main altar area, sits a big, comfy chair. This is the place where I like to work. The table itself is covered in a purple, white, and black cloth for a very specific reason, tied to meanings of color.

    • Purple: deeply linked to the Crown Chakra, which is considered the gateway to enlightenment, universal connection, and spiritual wisdom.
    • White: the color of clarity, used to “reset” a space or an object so it can be used for new intentions.
    • Black: a “heavy” shield. It is used to absorb, bind, and neutralize negative energy, toxicity, or unwanted influences. It acts as a sponge, taking in harmful vibrations so that they do not affect the practitioner.

    This is the boundary line for my ritual space.

    This is also where my Book of Shadows lives, along with my pendulum boards, my pendulum, and my rune stones.

    I keep a selenite charging jar here specifically for my pens and spoons or other small items.

    This table houses the stones from the Picture Rocks National Lakeshore stones from a trip I took with my partner, Kelsey. That was the same trip where we sprinkled my mother’s ashes. It is the one of the most sacred spot on my altar.

    My non-traveling deck of tarot cards and my pressed flower book from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, NC, the New River Gorge, and Hawks Nest 2025 trip also live here.

    A side vide showing the working altar, shelf, hiking altar and wall decor.

    Spirituality & Creativity:

    Why have my spiritual stuff so close to my creative things? There is no real separation for me.

    When I am crafting a windchime or polishing a stone for a a necklace, I am pulling the energy of these sacred objects into the work.

    Having my BOS, my runes, and my mother’s memorial stones right next to where I pour polish or grind a stone keeps my intent sharp. It reminds me that I am not just a person trying to make money.

    I am a crafter of sacred items, a rockhound in service to the land, and an eclectic pagan working in communion with the spirits of the places I’ve walked. Between this working altar and the hiking altar is a big, comfy chair where I spend a lot of time doing many different things.

    • Making wind chimes
    • reading cards or pendulum boards
    • doing spell work or ritual work
    • making necklaces or keychains
    • whatever it may be.
    Axton’s selenite charging jar, ingredient shelf, and moveable wet saw table.

    The Tool Stand – Un-Ritualized Labor:

    Then on the other side of my working altar is the stand for the gritty, necessary tools. This is where I keep my wood burner, Dremels, polishes, sandpaper, oils, and the heaters for the garage.

    I’m here to say honestly not every piece of your process needs to be ritualized.

    Sometimes, you just need an area to be functional. For instance maybe it’s a place to store the things you do not want to make sacred. This is the backbone of my workshop, it is what makes the ritual work possible.

    The shelf just keeps the mess away from the magic. A place for the things that provide the friction required for the transformation of raw material into a finished ritual object.

    Another view of my ingredient shelf rolling table and artwork made by Luna.

    The Production & Weed Table – Daily Necessities:

    On the other side of the working altar is a stand with pull-out cubes, topped with a picture Luna helped paint years ago. Next to it is a small rolling table, the center of daily necessity.

    The rolling table holds an ashtray with my roaches, a lighter, a grinder, and chapstick. I keep a mortar and pestle here and a tool for inspecting crystals.

    Underneath this table in the drawers are various materials I use to make spell bags, wreaths, and windchimes.

    This is the true alchemy of my small business and my spiritual practice. It is where the physical items come to life. By keeping my daily necessities alongside my spiritual tools, I acknowledge that the mundane is just as holy as the grand ritual.

    A view of the part of my altar for the person who is always by my side.

    The Shop Floor – Workflow & Logistics:

    My saw table is completely mobile. I move it outside when I need to cut, this is a move I made in order to keep the shop environment more clean. Above the saw is the new shelf for heart rocks, alongside the running rock tumblers.

    I have also had two cedar chests. One sits on the tumbler table hosting the non-running tumblers, while the other holds finished, non-delicate items, including tinctures, sprays, spells, cleaned fossils, and polished rocks. I also have an area dedicated to zines and flyers, with a shelf underneath for windchimes, wreaths, and other delicate finished pieces that cannot hang on my standard keychain holders.

    Rocks are kept throughout the room in various pots and boxes. Other polishes and supplies are stashed in the shelving near my rolling area. The floor is a living part of the shop, covered in rocks that have yet to find their permanent home.

    Another look at my altar

    Occupying the Space – The Final Manifesto

    I put up a skeleton, a trans flag, a mushroom flag, a weed flag, and rope lights to ensure the space felt more like me.

    I put portraits out, the ones my partner and I painted of each other, and anchored them with candles, heart rocks and a sign that reminds us that not all those who wander are lost.

    Putting yourself in your altar is the final step of the craft. When you stop hiding your paintings in your art stack and start hanging them under your own lights, you start telling the universe that your work belongs here.

    Your altar is your manifesto. Look at your floor and at the corners you have ignored.

    If you are still waiting for permission to build your own altar, you are already behind.

    Go out there and move the seasonal decor in your way.

    Make the space bleed with your own colors. You are the architect of your own sanctuary, and it is time to start building.

    The saw, weed, and zine area.

    TLDR:

    Figure out how Axton developed his spiritual and creative areas around his workshop and daily rituals.

    Put the you in your altar and learn why your essence is the one of the most important additions to your spiritual space.

    Realize not all spaces are for ritual functional things have their spaces and matter just as much.

    Read More:

    Altar. Moon Phase Cheat Sheet.

    Creating Your Altar.

    The Altar & How to Use it.

    Key Terms Defined:

    • Altar: a table or platform for the presentation of religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes
    • Essence: what is uniquely ours in the divine/human alchemy gifted to us
    • Ritual: deliberate series of actions performed in a prescribed order to connect with nature, deities, or the sacred
    • Book of Spells: also referred to as a grimore or book of shadows, is a sacred personal journal used to store incantations, rituals, or instructions.
  • Dutch Fork Wetland | A Spring Morning – 1 of Ohio’s Rarest Ecosystems:

    Dutch Fork Wetland | A Spring Morning – 1 of Ohio’s Rarest Ecosystems:

    Best For:

    The Essence:

    Ohio hikers, nature preserve enthusiasts, and locals looking for budget friendly activities.

    Read Time: 10 mins 🕰️ | Weight: Feather 🪶 | Mood: Historic & Exploratory 🧭 |

    Trail Notes:

    • Our trek: May 15, 2026 | mid morning| 1.7 miles| 43 minutes|
    • Dutch Fork Wetland an extension of Dawes Arboretum | dog friendly |
    • Keywords to know: Wetland, Peeper, Satellite Park, Blue Flag Iris,

    Dutch Fork Wetland Heath, Ohio

    A Satellite Park of Dawes Arboretum
    Dutch Fork Wetland Trail map at Trailhead in Heath, Ohio.

    Dutch Fork Wetland:

    Come trek with Luna and I in one of our local green areas Dutch Fork Wetland.

    Listen to the sounds of spring and experience Ohio’s beautiful spring wildflowers. We were left with a great experience even if we only stayed just shy of an hour.

    Let’s trek this Licking County satellite park.

    Luna in a blue collar sitting in the passenger seat after we pulled into Dutch Fork Wetland

    Mid-May:

    By the middle of May, central Ohio had already skipped over spring and started flirting with summer.

    A park feature still in the process of being built at Dutch Fork Wetland Luna the red and white pit bull is also shown on leash

    The air was heavy even right after breakfast. The kind of warmth that settles into your clothes before you’ve even finished lacing your hiking shoes. Luna and I headed out early, hoping to stay ahead of the heat while exploring somewhere entirely new to us.

    Just a few days earlier I hadn’t even heard of Dutch Fork Wetland, thanks Kylie and the construction. The main road being worked on rerouting us towards the unseen preserve.

    Hidden away from the main grounds of the Dawes Arboretum, this free satellite property felt almost like stumbling onto a secret.

    No crowds.

    Fleabane flowers in bloom shown in a bunch close up with lush green Wetland foliage behind in frame as well as blue skies

    No admission gate.

    Just a gravel parking lot, wetlands, birdsong, and the promise of discovering a landscape I hadn’t yet walked.

    Some places announce themselves immediately but Dutch Fork whispered instead.

    At first glance it looks simple. You see mostly flat trails alongside a few small ponds with open water areas that meet the edges of meadows.

    Here you can even see young trees still growing into the roles they were planted to fill.

    Wetlands:

    Wetlands have never been simple.

    Did you know that for a lot of Ohio’s history, wetlands covered the state?

    Before widespread settlement, wetlands covered millions of acres across the state we now call Ohio.

    Marshes, wet prairies, floodplain forests, and seasonal pools that filtered water, stored floodwaters, and supported an incredible variety of wildlife.

    By the twentieth century nearly ninety percent of those wetlands had disappeared beneath drainage projects, agriculture, roads, and urban development. What once covered the landscape had become fragmented remnants scattered across the state.

    up close image of multiple blue flag Iris blooms at Dutch Fork Preserve A image of one in bloom blue flag Iris among a Wetland pool and brush at Dutch Fork Wetland.

    Conservation:

    Dutch Fork Wetland exists partly as an answer to that loss.

    The property was restored through a collaboration involving the Ohio Department of Transportation after wetland habitat was impacted elsewhere during roadway construction, transforming former agricultural fields back into functioning habitat once again.

    In photo is a man's leg in jeans, a yellow dog leash, a red and white dog, and a man's croc juniper shoe, from the top down.

    Spring Visits:

    Walking the trails in May means visiting during one of the busiest times of the year.

    Everything is breeding; then the new births are all growing. Everything else is eating or trying not to be eaten.

    The wetlands were loud long before we ever saw the first frog.

    Peepers:

    Spring peepers called to us from hidden pockets of water and flooded vegetation.

    Did you notice when you last heard the peepers, how their voices carry much farther than something so tiny should reasonably allow?

    Most people hear peepers long before they ever see one. At barely over an inch long, these tiny tree frogs spend much of their lives hidden among leaves and grasses, emerging each spring to create the soundtrack of Ohio wetlands.

    Image shows white and red dog being given a drink from a reusable water bottle on trail at Dutch Fork Wetland in Heath, Ohio.

    Their chorus echoed across the water while Luna searched every scent the trail had to offer. Somewhere nearby different frog species also joined the morning conversation.

    Green frogs, bullfrogs, and maybe even chorus frogs tucked beneath a sedge or patch of reeds.

    Wetlands like Dutch Fork Wetland are particularly valuable because of the shallow seasonal pools they typically form. These often contain fewer fish predators, creating much safer nursery habitat areas for amphibian eggs and tadpoles.

    What is just noise to some hikers is actually an entire generation announcing its existence.

    Flowers:

    The flowers were impossible to ignore.

    Among the greens and browns of early wetland growth stood flashes of color that almost felt misplaced against the marsh.

    Irises.

    These same flower blooms could somehow glow yellow while also carrying deep blue petals that shifted toward purple depending on how the light struck them.

    These incredible flowers are known as the blue flag iris. The native to Ohio flower has long been associated with wetlands throughout the state and much of eastern North America. Their thick rhizomes help stabilize muddy shorelines while tolerating waterlogged soils that would kill many other flowering plants. Their blooms last only a short time, making mid-May one of the best windows to encounter them at their peak.

    Wetlands often hold these complicated stories where beauty and ecological impact exist side by side.

    Dutch Fork Wetland Offers:

    Dutch Fork Wetland itself contains far more than small ponds of open water.

    The preserve includes six wetland pools connected through a carefully designed restoration system alongside meadow habitat, prairie plantings, observation areas, and riparian corridors. The result is not simply a pond with a walking path around it but a layered ecosystem designed to support insects, amphibians, mammals, and migratory birds while filtering water and slowing runoff before it reaches larger waterways.

    Photo shows lush Wetland foliage on trail at Dutch Fork Wetland.

    The plants many visitors overlook are doing important work. The sedge that acts to anchor saturated soils; rushes that provide cover for nesting birds.

    Buttonbush offers food and shelter for pollinators. Prairie grasses create habitat for insects while protecting shorelines from erosion.

    Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on earth, rivaling forests and coral reefs in biodiversity despite rarely receiving the same attention or admiration.

    They clean water and reduce flooding. While they capture carbon, and also create nurseries for wildlife. Wetlands, like Dutch Fork Wetland do the work quietly enough that most people only notice them when they’re gone.

    The Heat & Humidity:

    a look through the trees at the Wetland area

    They say each summer season is the coolest one we will ever experience again, meaning the world is warming up, Today on our trek we experienced this.

    The heat continued building as the morning moved forward toward the afternoon. Standing water has a way of changing the atmosphere around it. Wetlands create their own weather in a more miniature aspect.

    Moisture rises from the surface while dark water absorbs sunlight and radiates warmth back into the air. By the time Luna and I had explored most of the property, the coolness of morning had already surrendered to the afternoon’s humidity.

    Finding Hidden Things:

    Summer was coming whether spring was ready or not. That may be part of why this hike remains so vivid in my memory. Not because it was difficult, and it was not because it was dramatic…

    It wasn’t. It felt more like finding something hidden just out of the line of sight on your usual drive. A place I hadn’t known existed only days earlier had suddenly become one of the more memorable landscapes I’d visited that season.

    There is a special kind of joy that happens when you discover a trail you know will soon become a favorite local stop of yours. Before the route becomes routine; soon every turn will come to hold the expected.

    Luna:

    Dutch Fork Wetland still held surprise around every bend this morning. Luna seemed to understand that, she used every new smell as a well deserved reason for investigation.

    She felt every movement in the grass deserved attention, and every sound across the water meant another creature to discover or attempt to eat.

    By now the peepers will be quiet. The irises will have long disappeared.

    You can expect that the wetlands would be taller, greener, and much harder to see into. But for one warm May morning the marsh was fully awake and willing to introduce itself.

    Luna and I just happened to arrive at exactly the right time.

    TLDR:

    Trek through Dutch Fork Wetland in Licking county. Hear the peepers and see the blue flag iris blooms.

    Luna and Axton explore along the wetland property mid-May which is peak season for the wetland in Ohio.

    Key Terms Defined:

    Wetland– areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year.
    Peeper– a type of small North American frog, the males of which make a repeated high sound from around the beginning of spring
    Satellite Park– small urban green area or park, typically under 1 acre
    Blue Flag Iris–  are characterized by violet-blue flowers with yellow markings on the sepals. These Wetland plants also feature sword shaped leaves.

    What the Hike:

    • Panhandle Trail Closures: Periodic trail closures are in effect from July 3 through mid-July 2026. A tree service contractor is actively removing hazard trees and branches between Dayton Road and Felumlee Road. Hikers and cyclists must steer clear of active work zones.
    • Equestrian Trails Status: Bridle paths at Infirmary Mound Park, Lobdell Reserve, and Taft Reserve remain fully open to horses. Riders are reminded by the Licking Park District to clean up trailers and parking stalls before leaving.
    • Columbus & Central Ohio Greenways: Minimal disruptions are reported across major paved networks, though localized utility brush clearing continues along powerline easements near Blacklick Woods and Three Creeks Metro Park.

    Plan Your Trek:

    Explore Licking County – Dutch Fork Wetland

    Beyond Your Backyard – Dawes Arboretum

    Chestnut Ridge. Wildflower Fairy Trail.

    Hike Yes:

    Get your Hiking Prompt Journal Here made to help your log your emotions and the locations over the miles your trek. Use digitally or print and keep the physical copy with you!

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  • Where is Your Whimsy?Wonder on Wildflower Fairy Trail, Granville, Ohio:

    Where is Your Whimsy?
    Wonder on Wildflower Fairy Trail, Granville, Ohio:

    Best For:

    ✨The Essence:

    Individuals searching for accessible outdoor adventures, adults looking to reconnect with whimsy, dog owners seeking quick & easy walks, local green-area lovers, fans of community art projects, & anyone who loves when nature and imagination team up.

    Read Time: 16-19 minutes ⏰ | Weight: feather 🪶 | Mood: Cozy 🩷, Curious 👀, & Reflective 🔍 |

    The Wildflower Fairy Trail at Infirmary Mound Park in
    Granville, Ohio.
    Find Whimsy Seasonally May – September.

    Trail Notes:

    • 🚶Our Trek: parked @ shelter 6 | When: May 14, 2026 |Where: Infirmary Mound Park, Granville, Ohio| Who: Kelso, Luna, and myself
    • 📍Route: Mirror Lake to Fairy Trail & Back toward the Overlook| Distance: Approximately 1 mile| Duration: 29 minutes|Difficulty: Easy
    • ☀️The uniquely Ohio experience of spending the entire hike debating whether a hoodie was necessary every five minutes.
    • Adults working toward wandering with Whimsy.
    • 🔑Key Terms to Know: perennial, poorhouse, county infirmary, county home, Spring ephemeral, Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum),
      Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), Daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus), &
      Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
    Image showing cleared wide dirt trail through Infirmary Mound Park in Granville, Ohio. On both sides of the trail green foliage and trees can be seen growing with a Blue sky.
    The Path We Chose.

    Some Trails Challenge You; Few Invite Whimsy In:

    There are treks built for elevation gain, waterfall views, picturesque overlooks, or even the mileage you crush while on them .

    Existing alongside these highly anticipated natural views are also outdoor areas built around fairy houses, dragons, and even gnomes. These tiny towns have equally tiny storefronts, and firehouses too. They come with something you didn’t expect a bonus thought; which is the seemingly radical notion that whimsy and wonder do not expire when your age hits a certain number…

    If they do, I haven’t hit it yet that’s for certainly.

    So on May 14th, 2026 Kelso, Luna, and I got in my Civic, and drove the short distance to the Wildflower Fairy Trail. This area is tucked into the woods near Mirror Lake at Infirmary Mound Park in Granville, Ohio.

    Luna and I have done both the fairy trail and other trails in the park. If I had to guess I’d concluded the two of us had been here a good dozen times or more over the last four plus years.

    Infirmary Mound Park in Granville, Ohio is very close to Luna and my first apartment in central Ohio and the house we live in now. This was one of the first places we explored after moving here. Kelso’s has came with us to Infirmary Mound Park before, though never on this portion despite being a Newark, Ohio lifetime local.

    Well what are you waiting on? Let’s go, wander through wonder while we find your Whimsy.

    A view into the woods of Infirmary Mound Park in Granville Ohio showing a lush green forest and white small wildflowers on the far left bottom area of the image.
    Let’s swing on those oak vines?

    Springtime in Ohio:

    So have you enjoyed any spring days in Ohio yet? The weather for our trek was a classic spring day. The weather never fully committed to any one season, for very much time.

    These days greet us in the morning and none of us in Ohio can decide if we should wear pants or shorts?

    A t-shirt, a long-sleeved t-shirt, or even a hoodie?

    When we all get moving, doing whatever it is that fills our day the temperature rises in the sunlight. This is when we all peel off a layer. It would seem almost in unison all of us Ohioans have broke the seal on the on-off jacket game.

    That was my experience today while on trail.My hoodie came off. I took a few steps or more if I was lucky.

    Then…

    The hoodie went back on, so I repeated this back and forth game of tug-of-war for just shy of 30 minutes. Outdoorsy individuals in Ohio and near states know this temperature shift.

    Some places like things do not demand a routine, they stick with you where you let them, and ask for nothing more.

    Image showing dog walking on leash, wondering where whimsy is, trail scene takes places in a lush forest from behind. Also pictured are the tree, plant, and flower id placards.

    Following Signs to Whimsy – Tiny Town:

    Families, friend groups, solo hikers with their dogs, and any others approaching from the entrance by Mirror Lake will see colorful laminated signs guiding them deeper into the woods. These signs start at the trail head and simply act as points to follow to The Wildflower Fairy Trail. At the trailhead marker you can also grab black and white printed maps, during on-season these are typically available.

    You’ll start near the swings and restroom building, walking in between the two through the grass toward the paved path that circles mirror lake. There will be another one of those laminated signs where you will turn off the pavement and onto the grass path to the left, from the way we came.

    Continue following the small laminated fairy trail signs and look for a few benches. There are three of these appearing alongside two painted wooden butterflies and a luna moth. These are very near The Wildflower Fairy Trail loop’s entry point.

    The transition feels intentional; You can see the shift as you leave the ordinary trail behind. Ahead waits an entire community hidden beneath roots, logs, and the trunks of various trees.

    A whimsy coated Wooden painted Luna moth in front of a lush Woodland at Infirmary Mound Park in Granville, Ohio.
    Luna got to see a Luna moth artwork.

    Mayapple – Native Plant:

    When you enter the connection portion from the main trail to the fairy loop and directly after the wooden painted butterflies and moth small signs name the native plants, flowers, and trees. The Wildflower Fairy Trail at Infirmary Mound in Granville, Ohio was created with children co and families in mind for the most part.

    While we were trekking to the fairy’s we noticed that the trail was lined on both sides with mayapples. These are an Ohio native plant that can grow one white bloom underneath what appears to be a green umbrella shaped leaf or two.

     a small batch of yellow flowers, growing from skinny green stems grows out of the dirt near the floor of the forest woodland in Granville Ohio at Infirmary Mound Park.
    I just love the color yellow.

    Which Mayapples do you think grow a bloom?

    a) One leaf
    b) Two leaves

    Let me know what you think in the comments. Can you answer correctly without looking the answer up or phoning friend?

    The same mayapples that produce one blossoming flower have a higher change of producing fruit, too. Some say that this ripe yellow fruit is edible in small amounts but, only when fully mature, unripe fruit and the rest of the plant, including the leaves, stems, and roots, are toxic. If you ask me it’s just not worth the risk to me.

    The mayapple is a perennial wildflower that spreads through underground rhizomes. This is why you will often find entire patches or colonies of them rather than isolated plants, just like we did at Infirmary Mound Park in Granville, Ohio.

    These wildflowers prefer rich, moist deciduous forests and are common in floodplains and shaded hillsides. Mayapples typically start growing in April, bloom in May. These unique flowers leave the party early and are typically long gone by the time the forest becomes a full canopy near summer’s halfway point.

    This is what ecologists call spring ephemerals.

    Image shows close-up view of many white flowers growing together among green woodland foliage near the Wildflower and Fairy Trail in Granville, Ohio at Infirmary Mound Park.
    Oh no what do we have here?

    Trek Safely:

    Knowing how to tell plant species apart is a key part of staying safe on the trail.

    • Poison Hemlock: Look for smooth, hairless stems with purple or reddish-brown splotches. 
    • Queen Anne’s Lace (Wild Carrot): Often has hairy stems and leaves, and sometimes a small dark red/purple “flower” in the very center of the white cluster. 

    Poison Hemlock is an extremely toxic plant species, while also being common in Ohio. It is best practice to avoid handling these plants unless you are certain of the identification. The most direct and recommended first step if you suspect you have ran into Poison Hemlock is to contact the park district or the agency that manages the park. Do not attempt removal and maintain a safe distance.

    Clean Bill of Health:

    Spotting the mayapple is a classic indication of spring woodland area in good health. Seeing them growing in ecosystems with Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Trillium, or Virginia Bluebells is an even stronger indication of health.

    Not only was this one of my first after morning up here a few years ago but, I discovered mayapples here. Some people think morel mushrooms can be found underneath these; others say that entering a circle or ring of mushrooms can be dangerous.

    I mean they are made when fairies, gnomes, or pixies dance through the lush grass.

    Pink petal flowers with yellow middles grow in lush green leaves.
    Some of the beautiful flowers at Infirmary Mound Park in Granville, Ohio.

    Whimsy and Shit:

    Where exactly did you leave your imagination?

    Did you lose your whimsy when you hit a certain number of years that represent your age?

    I am Willing to bet that every visit I spot something I overlooked before. Oh yea.

    There’s a sign at the start of the fairy loop informing you, you can start at the beginning or the end. I am more a start at the end kind man, but today I followed Kelso, who lead us in. As we got a little ways down the trail we started to approach what has got to be some of the smallest of homes, businesses, and public city buildings I’ve seen in this life.

    Wooden handmade and painted “magic lives here” sign nailed to a tree in the middle of the woods and Granville, Ohio at the start of the wildflower fairy trail in Infirmary Mound Park.
    See we found a piece of your whimsy. I told you we would.

    Pick Your Path

    & My

    Personal Favorites:

    Fairy space & science building with solar system model at the base of a tree on the Wildflower Fairy Trail at Infirmary Mound Park in Granville, Ohio.

    You can see the amount of detail that went into creating every tiny boutique, coffee shop, and park here at a glance, even. Those few tiny gathering spaces carefully tucked into the landscape places thoughtfully get me.

    Red Firehouse with a yellow roof in the Tiny Fairy Town sitting at the base of a tree with stone decor near inside the woodland area of Infirmary Mound Park, Granville, Ohio - Wildflower Fairy Trail.

    You can however rest assured and sleep well knowing that this tiny town of fairies and wildflowers is safe, from fires at least. Their fairy firehouse was in my top two favorite list. You can tell are ready for emergencies.

    The miniature science and space center is the other tiny creation in my top two favorites list. Honestly, I cannot even begin to pick which.

    Unexpected Small Park Office :

    I didn’t expect to see the tiny renderings of local businesses among the fairy population here. Though, while you are searching for your whimsy anywhere in the wilderness, pay attention to tiny things others miss. They may just lead you right back to it.

    Speaking of tiny things. They even have a tiny Licking County park district office. I hope they are keeping local woodland bureaucracy functioning smoothly, and making sure those gnomes keep their dogs leashed.

    A lot of the homes and businesses here felt very warm, even welcoming. There were a few though whose owners clearly valued their privacy.

    Small “Licking County Park District” building on the Wildflower Fairy Trail made from natural resources and surrounded by lush woodland growth.
    Licking County Park District, hides another piece of your missing whimsy.

    You Have Been Warned – Still Seeking Whimsy:

    One sign in particular near a home instructed visitors to keep out. Their neighbors sign simply suggested that we go away. Honestly, though fair boundaries. I respect that they are clearly laid out.

    Then there was the least welcoming individual who only had a deadly warning to offer us. If you thought it was grinding bones to dust prepare to be surprised and, beware if you smell ketchup in the wind.

    “Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup.”

    The fairies’ whispered fearful whimpers but most agreed that this remains some of the best medical advice seen anywhere in Licking County.

    Wooden warning sign handmade and nailed to a tree on the Wildflower Fairy Trail at Infirmary Mound Park in Granville, Ohio.” Sign warns those visiting against meddling “ Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup.”
    Consider Yourself Warned, and more of your whimsy located.

    Wildflowers, Whimsy & Reminders:

    The trail was just in the beginning stages of waking up for the season. We spotted Trilliums blooming beneath multiple trees. A few daisies popped up in open grassy areas, and fleabane grew in scattered patches here and there down the whole trail.

    There is something about a lonely park bench in a woodland area. The forest backdrop and nothingness beg me to come sit with a book or even a pad and pen. When you couple that bench with the perfect quote you get this engraved on it:

    “Good where we’ve been. Good where we’re going.”

    Out of everything on the trail, that was the moment that stayed with me through the messy couple weeks at least, When I think of where hiking exists it is often somewhere between those two places.

    These work to shape who we are, open our perspectives more, and anchor us to experience. Do you ever feel like you spent all of your time somewhere in the middle, moving between the two one step at a time.

    It’s time to see that not every lesson arrives from mountain summits or difficult miles.

    Sometimes the part that sticks with you comes from a bench hidden among fairy houses, small shops, and grumpy gnomes.

    Wooden sign hangs in a tree that says go away with a sad face next to a tin coffee can house with the lid from a pot as the roof house is painted blue says keep out the numb house sits on a stump in front of a lush Woodland. Infirmary Mound Park - Wildflower Fairy Trail - Granville, Ohio.
    We Found the Grumpy Gnome’s Home he was hiding some of your whimsy too.

    Community Built Whimsy:

    The Wildflower Fairy Trail first appeared in 2018 through a project designed to connect families with the outdoors through creativity and play.

    This project was able to find support from a mix of local small businesses, volunteers, organizations, and park staff. They work together to help design, build, and maintain the tiny structures each season.

    Since 2018 every year in spring the fairies return to the tiny town in the wilderness.

    Like the birds in the winter do by flying south every autumn the fairies migrate away for the winter. Children and adults if they wish can even leave letters in the fairy mailbox. They have said you can occasionally receive responses back.

    I guess it would be easy to dismiss something like this as simply a children’s attraction. That would prove you missed the point entirely. I love how community projects like this one transform normal local green-spaces and parks from places people visit into places people find their whimsy in or even escape to.

    The trail here feels as whimsical as the fairies who seasonally reside alongside it.

    Photos shows dogs head and neck from the back in front of a semi-distant fairy house underneath a large tree truck. Fairy house is made from various terra-cotta flower pots. Infirmary Mound Park - Wildflower Fairy Trail - Granville, Ohio.

    One Place Many Tales:

    Many years before fairy houses and miniature businesses occupied these woods, this property served a very different purpose. Did you know that this park was once home to the Licking County Poor House before later becoming the County Infirmary and eventually the County Home.

    Over many generations this land held institutions that housed elderly residents, chronically ill individuals, and members of the community who had nowhere else to go. The infirmary closed its doors in 1969.

    Today still there are pieces of the history that remain preserved within the park district. There is beauty hidden in the changes and transformations this plot of land has seen.

    A modern-day green-space that once existed to provide shelter and care for vulnerable members of the community now provides recreation, accessibility, gathering spaces, and opportunities for whimsy.

    Over the years the purpose here has changed, thought the idea of community being the core remained.

    Close-up photo of a wooden tiny fairy house that sit at the base of a fallen log in Infirmary Mound Park- Wildflower Fairy Trail - Granville, Ohio.
    See, Whimsy.

    Good Trails & Vibes Bring Me Back:

    A miniature windmill and park area in the tiny town on the Wildflower Fairy Trail in Granville, Ohio at Infirmary Mound Park.

    TLDR:

    View of a small pond you can see near the path we took on the way out trees and oak vines surround it.

    I have visited Infirmary Mound for plenty of reasons.

    • Trekking the numerous trails within 15 minutes of home.
    • Fishing in Mirror lake.
    • History & Lore
    • Dog Park when it’s overcast or chilly
    • Lowkey, rarely packed when I visit
    • Overlook & Farm views

    The vibes here, numerous trails, and proximity to home keep me returning to the Wildflower Fairy Trail At Infirmary Mound Park in Granville, Ohio .

    Kelso, Luna, and I spent twenty nine minutes wandering through fairy neighborhoods, debating hoodie weather, and being reminded that wonder is a skill worth practicing.

    We know that the trail was designed for children, the whimsy was never meant to be gate-kept. This plot of land has been community centered since it was a poorhouse in the 1800s.

    You can now find trilliums, mayflowers, daisies, and fleabane growing along the path leading to the tiny fairy town.

    Large wooden butterflies and a Luna moth will greet you on your trek, as long as you remember the message engraved in the bench you’ll be good to go.

    🏔️ What the Hike:

    Current Local Trail & Park Announcements & Updates:

    Lobdell Reserve Conditions

    Wildlife Advisory:

    T.J. Evans Bike Path:

    Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve:

    Heavy equestrian traffic is restricted on the disc golf loop due to wet trail terrain. Pedestrian hiking remains open. You can call the 24/7 Trail Hotline at 740-349-4823 for daily surface updates.

    The Ohio Department of Natural Resources recently reported record-high black bear sightings across the state, confirmed local spotting in Licking County. Hikers are advised to secure food resources & report any active encounters.

    A new 1.3-mile educational “solar system” trail installation is open to the public. Walkers & cyclists can explore interactive plaques spaced out proportionally to simulate the vast distances between planets.

    A new permanent historical marker has been unveiled along the main trails. The installation details the rich cultural history of the old Ohio-Erie Canal locks & defunct interurban rail lines running through the gorge.

    Three mature trees grow in the woods of Infirmary Mound Park on the Wild Flower Fairy Trail in Granville, Ohio.

    Plan Your Trek:

    View shows what you see looking from the trail towards the overlook green rolling hills and storm clouds make up the majority of what is visible.
    Let the Storms Roll in.

    Defining Key Terms:

    • Perennial: modern usage refers to plants & flowers that die seasonally & reemerge in spring, the word originally meant evergreen
    • Poorhouse: public institutions designed to provide food, shelter, & medical care to individuals unable to support themselves, including the elderly, sick, & mentally ill
    • County Infirmary: was a tax-supported residential institution that replaced the “poorhouse” system following legislative acts in 1848 & 1850, expanding its mission to confine & care for the needy sick, mentally ill, and epileptic
    • County Home: a facility operated by county commissioners that officially replaces the name county infirmary in 1919, to emphasize care for the needy aged & infirmed rather than just medical treatment for the indigent, evolved from earlier poorhouses
    • Spring ephemeral: perennial woodland wildflowers that complete their above ground lifecycles during a brief window each spring before the forest canopy fully develops, they emerge rapidly after snowmelt to utilize available sunlight while providing nectar & pollen for early pollinators before retreating into dormancy
    • Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum): North American woodland plant produces 1-2 umbrella-like leaves & a single white flower, typically in early spring, followed by a yellow fruit when mature
    • Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum): spring-blooming woodland plant recognized by its three-petal flower and three-leaf whorl, commonly found in rich deciduous forests
    • Daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus): A common wildflower in Ohio characterized by small white to pale pink ray florets surrounding a yellow center, often found in disturbed soils and open meadows
    • Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum): woodland plant with a distinctive hooded flower structure (spathe) surrounding a central spike (spadix), native to moist forest environments in eastern North America
    Red and white square on a wooden sign, with one gnome hanging from the bottom and 2 clutching a branch on the top of the sign. This is all infront of a lush woodland view.
    We Found the Grumpy Trio of Gnomes, and the last piece of your whimsy.

    Hike Yes:

    Get my prompt journal now!
    Grief Nature & Waterfall Themed – Allowing you to track your treks & your emotional progress through your journey.
    Usable as a printable or digital tool.

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    What Fear Feels Louder than the Waterfall, Even Now? – My Answer Reflecting on my CVNP Winter Stop

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  • For a Moment: Stepping Away from the Noise into Nature:

    For a Moment: Stepping Away from the Noise into Nature:

    Best For:

    Introspective nature lovers, overstimulated city dwellers, long-distance hikers seeking a deeper meaning, poetry lovers who find rhythm in the wind, modern adventurers trying to find reasons to disconnect, & people concerned with their screen time.

    The Vault:

    • Original Indie Poem with Poet’s Perspective & Reflection on the piece
    • The Soundtrack of Silence: Why “noise” in the wilderness is the only antidote to the constant, demanding static of daily news & digital notifications that works for me.
    • The “Glowing Rectangle” Effect: A look at how our tether to screens fuels anxiety & why replacing that artificial light with moonlight is a necessity.
    • Midwest Trek Breakdown: Highlights from my June 2026 trip across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, & Ohio. This includes navigating a tornado warning mid-hike at Turkey Run.
    • Hiking as Survival, Not Sport: Exploring why I treat the trail as a mandatory discipline for mental health & why this is my favored vacation and weekly routine.
    • Luna’s Trail Influence: How consistent time in nature dictates the energy levels & behavioral health of my dog, Luna, in our life and at home.
    Photo shows man from the back in khaki shorts, green cro junipers, tan shirt, and black hat standing on trail in the gorge between rocky cliffs at Turkey Hill State Park loop 3 & 10.
    Turkey Hill State Park before the tornado warning.

    Silence The Sound, Sometimes:

    Sometimes the best thing you can do… is to step away; for me this looks a lot like stepping into the wilderness.

    Whether you prefer to day hike, backpack, thru-hike, bushwhack, or even just frolic through a nature walk, we all understand one thing: the noise out here is different. Silence isn’t always quiet, sometimes it just means noise that demands nothing but your wonder. This poem is about just that.

    So let’s step away from the noise, notifications, and expectations. Let us figure out how to just exist for at least a few moments.

    No schedule, no glowing rectangle, just the sound of the trees and the way the wind greets you after you put a few miles on trail.

    This may look like running away, but remember things are not always what they seem. For a Moment – an original piece by Axton N. O. Mitchell written after his Midwest hiking trip in the summer of 2026 which exists as a reminder to who I am in nature when everything gets quiet.

    For a Moment:

    Somewhere out there,
    someone is standing above
    the tree-line
    hearing the sounds of nature
    replacing the chaos
    of the daily
    news.

    We need more of that,

    Glowing rectangle views
    screaming
    alarm bells
    ringing,

    Warnings of
    false
    connection
    replaced
    if only for
    moments.

    Voices through speakers silenced

    Buzzing

    Chirping

    Trees scrape

    their neighbors’ bark
    gusts
    before you feel the wind in your hair
    you must hike through it.

    Instead of headlights
    shining bright
    line of vision
    lit up like the summer sky.

    Moonlight greets them
    unconcerned
    with anything but, being.

    Distance here
    creates thoughts
    no longer
    bracing against
    expected
    impact.

    For a
    moment
    nothing is
    heavy.

    Screenshot shows, original poem “For a Moment” by Axton N. O. Mitchell written in Google keep
    The first half of the original poem for a moment showing spacing use as pause and reflection.

    Poet’s Note:

    Reflections – The Mid-June Soundtrack:

    I found the reason for writing my newest poem “For a Moment” in the quiet exhale that followed my last few treks. This trip was a whirlwind stretch in mid-June 2026. This was by far not just your average getaway; it was a pact made months ago with a friend. I’d agreed to give her a lift after unforeseen circumstances caused her to need a driver for two Illinois trips. My side of the bargain was simple: I’d drive, as long as we could hike on both trips and go camping during at least one of them.

    The reality of those days was a jarring and beautiful image at the end of it all.

    Tuesday in Indiana’s Turkey Run State Park, the air grew thick and strange; our phones erupted in unison. Blaring a frantic, digital warning to seek immediate shelter from an incoming tornado. We were at the midpoint with a few miles to go, caught between the beauty of the trail and the sheer volatility of nature.

    Later that same night and into the early morning hours of Wednesday, after checking into our hotel, we pivoted to an Illinois spot known for 24/7 access. Shelbyville State Fish & Wildlife Area allows unrestricted, unmaintained hiking with no closing time. This level of authentic wilderness is a rare experience for me.

    On Wednesday we moved from the Falls of the Ohio to the Big 4 Bridge. Then Thursday hit and we awoke back in Cadiz, Ohio. That morning my friend, her two children, and I drove to pick up my child in my hometown area of Belmont County, Ohio. We all then looped back through Piatt Park in Ohio.

    I hit Salt Fork on my way home since I pass it directly, so I stopped for a solo wind-down. Hoping my brain would finally settle from the constant go of the last few days.

    Then on Friday the early evening for me was spent at Hemlock Falls in Butler, Ohio, with Luna, my dog, leading the way. She isn’t just a companion; her energy levels and behavioral shifts on trail and in the following days are a mirror of my own.

    Balancing these high-intensity, multi-state treks with the quiet, necessary solo miles and ensuring Luna gets her time is how I keep the noise at a bearable level. To me, the hike is not just about the distance covered; it’s about the silence I had to carve out of that noise.

    Personal Perspective: Why I Choose the Trail:

    I’m no stranger to the side-eyes, the teases, and the outright criticism regarding how I spend my time off.

    Screenshot shows, original poem “For a Moment” by Axton N. O. Mitchell written in Google keep - 2/2
    The second half of the original poem for a moment showing spacing use as pause and reflection.

    People love to tell me that hiking isn’t a vacation, or that the way I spend my free time is anything but relaxing. When you look at the itinerary, my marathon run of Maryland, Highpoint, PA, Ohiopyle, and Cooper’s Rock in the spring, or the heavy-mileage stretches through the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, Pisgah, and the New River Gorge, I can understand why it feels like labor to the uninitiated.

    They’re missing the point. To me, “relaxing” isn’t sitting still; it’s the active shedding of everything that drags on my internal battery. When I’m “chilling” visually, the thoughts in my mind are nine times out of ten anything but chill, and while I do enjoy the beach, laying there all week would do nothing for me.

    Actually, my stress levels would probably be through the roof after all the time I’d spend in my own head while you would probably have the time of your life.

    For a Moment is a direct response to that overstimulation. It’s for the person standing in the tree-line, listening to the friction of bark against bark in the wind or the times when the sound of a chime from your incoming notification feels like a physical assault.

    We are all being pelted by the modern “glowing rectangle” culture, always tethered to screens that offer nothing but the illusion of connection.

    I’ve perfected the art of the escape because I’ve realized it’s a necessity for me in this new-aged always chaotic hellscape.

    Whether it’s swapping high beams for the unfiltered light of the moon or learning how to let the weight of existence actually drop off my shoulders, I’ve made this a weekly discipline. If I’m not on the trail for a little bit of time one or two days a week, the anxiety of the daily grind starts to take over all of my space, and I’ve fought hard to clear.

    I do love a yummy view; I don’t just hike to see the sights though. Hiking for me means a place to remember who I am when the alarm bells finally go quiet.

    Whatever You Do:

    Reader, wherever you are, if you’re waiting for the perfect window, the right gear, or a weekend free of obligations to finally step away, let this be your permission to stop waiting. The “weight of being” isn’t something you can just set down on the couch; it requires a deliberate shift in your environment.

    Whether you are navigating a multi-state trek, an urban green-space to escape the rush, or just finding a local patch of woods to explore, the goal remains the same: reclaiming the quiet that your nervous system is starving for.

    We often talk about hiking as a hobby, exercise, adventure, or a sport, but for some of us it is all that and more. I for one know I’m a part of a rapidly growing group of individuals who use these trails to trek through the triumph and trials of life. We also are able to recharge our social batteries after social, personal, and professional obligations. I feel this is necessary to me as a way to maintain self-care.

    Caring for yourself is important. How will you do all you plan to if you’re not here to do it?

    – Axton N. O. Mitchell

    That space where the trees scrape together, where the wind drowns out the hum of the normal chaos of modern life, is where some of us find the version of ourselves that have yet to be worn down by anxieties and expectations.

    The next time you feel the pressure building, look at your calendar. Try a new kind of vacation, day trip, or even passing moment.

    Find your trail, pack your essentials, and go. You don’t need to conquer a mountain to experience the wonders of nature; you just need to put enough miles between you and the chaos to hear yourself think again.

    Have you carved out your space yet?

    Leave a comment below about the one trail or natural spot where you finally feel the silence take hold or, if you’re a person who thinks hiking isn’t your kind of vacation, tell me where you find your peace? I look forward to reading what you do instead and why it works, as well as the hiking trails you enjoy just the same.

    Oh, before you go:

    For those who read the hiking journals from my many outdoor escapes, the entries from this trip and from a few of the day treks before will be available here soon!

    I am just a little behind the time I usually take to get them out, but can you blame me? The weather has been too nice for me to not take advantage of the offering.

    TLDR:

    This poetry deep-dive explores the necessity of disconnecting, while focusing on finding silence in nature. Reflect on the trip I recently took through Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.

    Hiking is many things for me: mental health discipline, vacation, recharge, and adventure. Screens cause constant overstimulation; nature provides the only real reset that works for me.

    I hike weekly to manage the good and the bad; if this isn’t your thing, that’s fine. You should practice self-care and make sure your recharging routine is good for you, not those judging you.

    Plan Peace – Reads that Relate:

    The Trek – Hiking is Vacation. Be Well – How Hiking Improves Mental Health.

    Sustainable Hiking. Trail Etiquette. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

    Find out more about my Grief themed Hiking Journal & Where you can get yours here – Waterfall Confessions.