A Hiking We Will Go

For 2020, I was inspired by a friend, who lives in the PNW, to set a hiking goal.  This was a way to move my body, clear my head, see new parts of Nebraska/Iowa, and engage with my family.  

My goal was 25 hikes for the year.  I figured 2 hikes a month, plus a bonus hike was doable, also thinking that we'd do less in winter months and more in warmer months and it would balance out.  

 When the world locked down due to Covid-19 hiking was a great outlet for us.  We couldn't be cooped up inside all the time, and being out in nature, hiking trails allowed us to be in nature, social-distance from others, and use our imaginations.  

There was much grumbling at times from the kids.  I have tried to remind them that they have fun 90% of the time once we're hiking and exploring, so skipping the whining would be nice...they don't seem to go for it.  Recently I've been saying, "each complaint equals a day of the ipad being taken away."  That's been helping a bit.  I also realized it helped a little to prepare them the day beforehand with my expectations that we'd be hiking, so they could be a little more mentally prepared.  

Well, thanks to some extra free time with Covid, I am finishing the year having logged 71 hikes!!!  I am so proud.  I was really good at documenting our hikes on the blog earlier in the year, but as the hikes increased, my blogging decreased...but we had fun, and I have photos from all our journeys. 

(Fun fact, hike #25 was at Mahoney State Park and hike #70 was at the same place)  Hike 25 was my first time there with the kids and hike 70 was Mason's first time there.  I originally thought hike 70 was it for the year, but the kids and I squeezed in one last hike.  :) 

 

1	1-Jan	Indian Cave State Park
2	4-Jan	Swanson Park
3	20-Jan	Platte River State Park
4	2-Feb	Walnut Creek Lake Trail
5	16-Feb	Preparation Canyon State Park
6	6-Mar	Schramm State Park
7	13-Mar	Hitchcock Nature Center
8	16-Mar	Botna Bend Park
9	17-Mar	Schramm State Park
10	22-Mar	Two Rivers State Park
11	23-Mar	Brent's Trail/Preparation Canyon State Park
12	25-Mar	Fontenelle Forest: Lower
13	29-Mar	Wehrspann Lake
14	30-Mar	Bellevue Historic Nature Trail
15	2-Apr	Fontenelle Forest
16	9-Apr	Waubonsie State Park
17	10-Apr	Calvin Crest Loop Trail
18	27-Apr	Desoto Wildlife Refuge
19	1-May	Bever Pond Trail/Heron Haven
20	6-May	Neale Forest
21	11-May	Swanson Park
22	12-May	Preparation Canyon State Park
23	18-May	Fontenelle Forest: Waconda
24	19-May	Fontenelle Forest
25	20-May	Mahoney State Park
26	21-May	Hummel Park
27	23-May	Fontenelle Forest: Lower
28	25-May	Walnut Creek Lake Trail
29	1-Jun	Platte River State Park: East
30	2-Jun	Swanson Park
31	6-Jun	Fontenelle Forest: Lower Wetlands/Hidden Lake
32	9-Jun	Fontenelle Forest
33	13-Jun	Ledges State Park
34	21-Jun	Whiterock Conservancy
35	23-Jun	Fontenelle Forest: Boardwalk
36	28-Jun	Fontenelle Forest: Lower
37	29-Jun	Blackhawk Neighborhood Trail
38	30-Jun	Arbor Day Farms
39	6-Jul	Memorial Park
40	10-Jul	Platte River State Park
41	11-Jul	Schramm State Park
42	13-Jul	Jewell Park
43	14-Jul	Lewis and Clark
44	17-Jul	Fontenelle Forest
45	1.4	Mahoney State Park
46	24-Jul	Fontenelle Forest
47	3-Aug	Hitchcock Nature Center
48	4-Aug	Glenwood Archaeological State Preserve
49	9-Aug	OPPD Arboretum
50	12-Aug	Swanson Park
51	14-Aug	Heron Haven
51	27-Aug	Fontenelle Forest: Camp Logan
53	8-Sep	Fontenelle Forest
54	14-Sep	Schwer Park
55	12-Oct	Neale Forest
56	14-Oct	Chalco
57	16-Oct	Waubonsie State Park: Equestrian Trails
58	17-Oct	Fontenelle Forest: Middle
59	4-Nov	Glacier Creek Preserve
60	6-Nov	Swanson Park
61	14-Nov	Calvin Crest Loop Trail
62	17-Nov	Fontenelle Forest Lower
63	23-Nov	Tranquility
64	28-Nov	Platte River State Park
65	6-Dec	Jewell Park
66	9-Dec	Folsom Point
67	16-Dec	Platte River State Park
68	21-Dec	Botna Bend Park
69	26-Dec	Chalco
70	27-Dec	Mahoney State Park
71	28-Dec	OxBow Trail/Salt Creek