We have been enjoying the trails since we resumed hiking this fall after a summer hiatus. Quite a bit of our hiking has been on sections of the Buckeye Trail. The Buckeye Trail is a gem that has been in our “backyard” all along that I have just recently become aware of. Several sections of it are within 5 miles of our house! One of its features that I enjoy from an aesthetic view, as well as a practical standpoint are the bridges.

Some of the bridges are purely functional. And I am oh so grateful to the volunteers that expended the time and energy to put them in. I’m sure blood, sweat, and toil was involved, not too mention all the time someone gave to make hiking more pleasant for me. Their efforts do not go unappreciated.

Others of the bridges are things of beauty, at least in our eyes. We sometimes pause on our walks to enjoy the engineering feats that someone created and constructed for the benefit of all trail users. (Ok, sometimes my husband pauses for the purpose of letting me catch up, but we still appreciate the view of the footbridges.) A bridge that we can walk over in seconds, took hours and in some cases days for one or more people to build.

Bridges like the one above, are downed tree trunks that someone took the time to cut into sections, shave one side flat and install on opposite sides of the stream banks. I am always thankful for these, but especially when it is cold out. Wet feet in freezing temperatures is no fun and can be dangerous.

This bridge appears to have been here a long time. I think the moss adds to its beauty and character. Zekie thinks the moss and leaves are an added bonus that keep his paws from fallling through.

Above is probably the longest bridge we have encountered to date. The ground is dry underneath, but I am pretty sure this will not be the case after heavy rains and snow melt-off.

Some bridges are nothing more than a bunch of tree trunks in a row. These are still great for keeping your feet dry and your boots mud-free. The dogs don’t know quite what to make of these when they encounter one and usually just walk around them. If it is particularly muddy, we will make them use the trunk crossing to avoid washing paws later.

The weather has been particularly nice for this time of year lately. I hope you have the opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy it!