John K. Flores: Fall is a great time to go hiking

There’s an old camp song titled, “Going on A Bear Hunt,” with a catchy rhythm that goes something like this.
We’re going on a bear hunt,
We’re going to catch a big one,
I’m not scared
What a beautiful day!
Oh look! It’s some long, wavy grass!
Can’t go over it,
Can’t go under it,
Can’t go around it,
Got to go through it!
This past weekend Mrs. Flores and I were watching, “no,” entertaining two of our grandchildren, whose parents were taking an anniversary trip. We decided it would be fun to take them on a short hike.
When you’re in your late 60s, half the battle of watching grandchildren is finding creative ways to expend pent up energy. After all, you want them to have fun at Papa’s and Nana’s, so one, when they go home, they’ll tell mom and dad how much fun they had, and two, so they’ll want to come back.
Part of the creativity is knowing there was a reason why God gives children to young people. The two grandsons we hosted for a few days were 8- and 4-years-old.
Boys don’t take a lot of fussing over, but they do need plenty of snacks, fluids, and focus reminders in the form of questions like, “Did you go potty?” “Did you wash your hands?” You get the idea.
We decided to take a 2-1/2-hour (one way) trip to Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge near St. Francisville to take our family hike. The reason?
On Cat Island NWR is the National Champion bald cypress tree. There is a sign posted near the tree that says it is the largest bald cypress in the United States. The tree is 83 feet tall, a whopping 54 feet in circumference, and 17 feet in diameter.
It goes on to say that it is the sixth largest tree in the U.S. and the largest tree of any species east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
It’s also estimated to be about 1,000 years old. In other words, this magnificent tree starting growing sometime during the middle-ages of world history.
Suddenly, about 2 hours into the drive north, came a song from the back seat.
We’re going on a tree hunt,
We’re going to see a big one,
I’m not scared
What a beautiful day!
Oh look! It’s a pothole in the road.
Can’t go over it,
Can’t go under it,
Can’t go around it,
Got to go through it!
The little rascals had changed the words of the camp song to fit the occasion. What’s more, it became an immediate hit with everyone in the truck cab, as we all began singing the little jingle.
Fall hiking can be an excellent way to get out in nature and out from in front of the television. By the third weekend in October, the morning temperatures are usually cool and midday temperatures modest. The weather in Louisiana from September through April can be spectacular — barring any tropical storms.
The hike from the parking area on Cat Island NWR to the National Champion bald cypress is only ¾ of a mile. Perfect for young children. Plus, the trail is wide, graveled, and flat. Not one time did I have to pick up the 4-year-old and carry him.
Still, no matter where you plan to go hiking, there are some things you should consider carrying in a small day pack.
On short hikes you should always carry at least one bottle of water per person. A couple of snacks in the form of energy, protein, or granola bars will provide your body a shot of nutrition that’ll keep you going. Trust me, small children are going to say “I’m thirsty” or “I’m hungry” at some point.
Longer hikes take a little more thought when it comes to planning. There are plenty of websites on the internet that can guide you through the nuances of easy, moderate, difficult and strenuous hikes. The key is be sure to plan ahead and take nothing for granted. Better to plan ahead than become an emergency, where EMTs have to extract you from the trail.
Always remember, “what you brought into the woods in the form of trash needs to leave the woods with you.” Don’t litter!
The National Champion bald cypress was truly a magnificent sight to see. We touched it, walked around it, and hugged it like a long-lost friend. And we discovered there were other giants down the trail around it.
At the end of our hike the 4-year-old said to his Nana, “What a fun adventure!” And, indeed it was.
October and November are great months to go hiking weather-wise in Louisiana. I highly recommend a trip to Cat Island NWR to see the National Champion bald cypress. It’s a “tree hunt” worth doing. And when you find it, worth seeing.
John Flores is the Morgan City Review’s outdoor writer. He can be contacted at gowiththeflo@cox.net.