Karst Climb Trail -- Broad Run Park --The Parklands -- Louisville, KY

There are only two physical activities that I like...bicycling and hiking. Can't say I enjoy throwing my leg over a cold piece of steel though, so I don't usually ride my bicycle in winter. When I have the opportunity, I hike year round. A few weeks ago, I hiked the Karst Climb Trail with two friends, Judy and Peg. Even though the trail is within a few miles from my home, I'd never heard of it before. Normally, I do not hike alone, but this trail is short and not so isolated, so decided to grab my camera and repeat the trail by myself. 

The trail was .91 miles up a hill, but the trail head was another .1 mile from the nearest parking lot. I also wandered down a few short alternate trails, looking for better photography opportunities. They were dead ends, but when adding that extra mileage, the round trip was about 2.5 miles. Most of my pictures were taken on the way up the hill. With those short stops, it didn't seem like a trail that earned the rating of More Difficult.

It's a good idea to wear hiking boots as there's usually water running in this stream.

 

Karst is a type of rocky landscape where water has dissolved soluble rocks, such as limestone, creating springs, sinkholes, caves and sinking streams.

 

Waterfall with a slowed shutter speed

I enjoyed the variety of colors and textures of the various barks.

There's not a lot of green left in the forest and most of what is there is moss.

This sprig is a healthy-looking green.

Not far from the top now.

When I did this hike before with my friends, we sat on the bench and chatted before starting back down. Today, when I saw the sky, I didn't waste any time.

Afternoon Delight...

Pleasure sometimes is planned, but often it just happens. Friday was a "just happens" day. As owner of a new Canon 50D SLR camera, new lenses, and various other photography equipment I don't know how to use yet, I decided I needed a little "play time” with my new toys...time alone to think and to shoot, wandering with camera in hand.

I headed for Brown Park. The plan was to acquaint myself with two lenses, the macro and wide angle, and the camera. My comfort level with manual and aperture priority modes improved a lot, even if the results didn't indicate it.

My favorite shot of the day was a serendipitous one. I hadn't gone to shoot people, but was joined on a bench by a young mother. Her two-year-old was curious about my camera and I told her I'd take her picture if Mommy didn't mind. After baby sister ate, I snapped a couple of her, also. The picture is far from perfect, but I saved it because the baby was so sweet.