April 2, 2022

Spring trails at Fort Ridgely

My wife and I (Bix and Becky Baker) come to walk the trails at Fort Ridgely year round. We know some of you do the same so here are a few suggestions from our point of view. It has been over a month since this update was last sent out and the trails have changed greatly over this time and will continue to change as spring progresses into summer.

This time of year snowstorms are common and below is a picture of us out hiking in a snowstorm at the end of February. Obviously we needed warm clothes and boots for walking in snow. In a gentle snowfall like shown, it is fun to walk the trails and see the woods fill up with snow. It is not a good idea in a blizzard. Getting there and back is more the problem then than the actual walk.



This picture is from the middle of March and as you can see the snow was melting and there were puddles and ice along the trail. We find it most enjoyable to hike when it is sunny out like here. As you can see by the couple on the trail ahead of us, it was warm this day and even a sweatshirt was sufficient for some hardy hikers. Rubber or at least waterproof boots were needed on this day. We had to be especially careful on the ice to not slip and fall. We did the slow Minnesota shuffle when we had to be on the ice. Going to the side of the trail into the grasses or leaves was necessary at times.



Here is a picture from the same time period but in the woods.


Climbing up hills is good cardio exercise anytime of the year. Fort Ridgely has enough hills to be good training for me before I go on the Superior Hiking Trail in June each year with my brother. We carry 30-40 pound backpacks so a month before I put some weight in my backpack and hike the trails of Fort Ridgely to get prepared. This hill is challenging anytime of year but in the spring it can be slippery and muddy as you can see in the picture. It is fun to see various animal footprints in the mud this time of year but once in a while you see even deer footprints showing that they slip in the mud. You don't want to do the same so avoid areas on hills where it looks muddy or slippery. Rocks and gravel have been placed there for this very reason. Another thing the park has done on the hills is to make diversions for water running down. The purpose of the diagonal plank on this trail is to divert water running down the trail off to the side so it does not erode the trail away. On rainy days I have seen these diversions doing this. When you get home from a hike on a muddy trail, boots often need some cleanup to get all the mud off.



Diversions can be overwhelmed when there is fast melting as you can see in the picture below. Some water was pushed to the side and some went over the diversion. It did not help here to have ice filling the trough where the water should be flowing.


I saw this scarlet cup fungus growing on a trail in the last few days. They are often on the ground or attached to branches on the ground in wet areas. Several times a year we see them on the trail below the amphitheater. When I was growing up we called them Indian peace pipes


Fort Ridgely Creek

The creek has changed as the snow has melted. These two pictures are from the bridge in the campground area looking south on March 14 and March 20. The snow has mostly melted by the second picture. Only some dirty ice is still in the creek in the second picture.





Spring birds

All of us look for robins at the end of winter as a sign that spring is coming close. The picture below was taken on March 14 on the north trail going up to the old primitive campground. This was my first sighting of a group of robins anywhere this year. There were at least 5 to 10 robins flying around in the woods in this area. Notice the ice and snow in the area. A farmer from the area told my wife that robins usually have 3 snows on their backs in the spring. I can count at least 2 times this has happened since then.




Another harbinger of spring is the arrival of red-winged black birds. The males, that have the red stripe on their wings, arrive first and establish a territory before the females arrive. The male in the picture below I saw on March 18.

I saw this cedar waxwing on March 26 on a walk in Flandreau State Park in New Ulm. Notice the bright yellow stripe on the end of its wings.


Grackles are another early spring bird. They have been frequent visitors at our bird feeders for the last week or so. This photo was taken on March 21. Their brightly colored head distinguishes them from other blackbirds. In the sun their heads glow with a blue or green tint. Winthrop annually has Grackle Days. It is this weekend.


Another indication of spring is large v's of geese, swans and cranes flying over. Many are seen over the whole area this time of year. If you listen to the honks you can tell the difference between Canadian geese, other types of geese, ducks and swans.


They often stop for a rest in lakes and other wetland areas. Here is a large group of ducks that I saw in a wetland in the floodplain of the Minnesota River not far from the park


For a number of years, there has been a large grouping of eagles halfway to New Ulm from Fort Ridgely. Some eagles winter here but also some fly in from the south and go further north this time of year. I think I missed seeing the big group this year. Last year we saw over 40 gathered in this same place. The picture shows maybe 20 this year. If you zoom in on the picture you will see that most of the eagles in the trees are young ones. Bald eagles do not get the white head feathers until they are at least 3 years old.



My wife and I went for a walk around the overflow pond in Fairfax on March 26. I heard trumpeting sounds coming in from the south. Two trumpeter swans appeared and flew east near us, then over the cedar trees and then back to the pond and landed making their trumpeting sounds the whole way. They are truly majestic birds in flight as you can see in the two pictures.



I have seen two other pairs of swans on the two small lakes near Highway 19 between Fairfax and Winthrop. They don't seem to mind ice on the lakes as long as there is some open water.



Interpretive Programming

Geocaching 101 at Fort Ridgely State Park on April 9th (Sat.)

Join Minneopa Area Naturalist Scott Kudelka to learn the basics about this worldwide recreational sport. Come out to Fort Ridgely State Park on April 9th (Saturday) at 10 a.m. for a demonstration on using a GPS unit.

GPS units are provided. There will be a chance to test out your GPS skill on a critter activity by searching for six stations each one representing an animal you might see at Fort Ridgely.

Limit of 20 people (need to be 8 years of age and children must be accompanied by adult). Pre-registration is required for this program by sending an email to scott.kudelka@state.mn.us

Wildflower Walk

Come for a walk through the woods with amateur and volunteer naturalist Bix Baker to see early spring wildflowers. It is almost Easter so Pasque flowers should be blooming. We?ll keep an eye out for migrating birds, emerging insects and other natural events in this season of change. Meet at the park chalet parking lot at 3pm.