December 10

A surprise met me front and center on December 8. The NPS had moved three National Scenic Trails from the National Trails System list to the National Parks list. This makes the NPS count larger by 3, at 428 national parks. The North Country National Scenic Trail passes through Zoar, Ohio, just 35 minutes from my house. I drove down on the 9th to walk through the village and across the Zoar Iron Bridge.

Then, on the 10th, I drove 16.5 hours for a day-long trip to Janesville, WI. This is one city on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Quite a different experience walking through a city to visit a Scenic Trail. I guess scenery comes in many varieties. There were other people walking on this urban segment of the trail’s 1,100 miles, even though the temp was 30F degrees. The Wisconsin National Guard was preparing for drills in a park area near the trail. The men and women were wearing a lot of green clothes to stay warm.

I will stop at the last new park, New England National Scenic Trail, on December 15 when I drive to Boston for the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. The city is having a weekend of celebrations.