They do hikes the second Saturday of each month and I would highly recommend going, especially if you feel a little out of your depth going on something called the "old forest trail" by yourself. I would also recommend wearing light-weight pants if you are anything like me (and by that I mean incredibly clumsy) and some sort of bug repellent.
Naomi Van Tol led our hike and was nice enough to point out poison ivy and stinging nettle, which I'm told feels like a wasp sting if it touches you.
Anyway, here are a few photos:
A grape vine. Who would have thought?
A tree that people like to take pictures of their children in. Naomi warned against this — something about wild raccoons or poisonous snakes — but I guess that depends on what outcome you're looking for when you tell your kid to stand inside. Either way, I'm sure it makes for unforgetable photos. (joking ...)The area where the Zoo's Teton Trek will be:
And inside the fence at the Teton Trek:
4 comments:
The last time I walked the "old growth trail" or whatever it's called, I was accosted by a strange man with a cane who asked if he could "just walk with me and my dog for awhile." I said no, but he kept following me. And then he started asking if I was single, and I got really creeped out and told him to go away. Then he was all, "what are you racist or something?" And I'm like, no, you're just creepy. Actually, I didn't say that. I just ran away. There are pervs in the old growth forest. Beware.
During the hike, Naomi was also nice enough to point out the area of the woods where drug dealers and shady characters sometimes hang out.
Maybe that's another reason to go hiking with CPOP — going with a big group is supposed to scare off snakes. It probably works with other creepy crawlies too.
i've hiked the trails *hundreds* of times alone and with my family without incident. please don't let *one* bad experience prevent you from appreciating one of the coolest things in memphis.
Naomi rocks. The trees in the O.F. are incredible. So are the wildflowers in April. But watch out for copperheads, folks.
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