Alex's Troop to Armand Bayou - March 4, 2017
They are here for the Hiker Brownie Badge Workshop
The two non-troop leader adults get to pay $4 for the adventure
Make a quick stop at the bathroom before heading to the trails
Check out the solar powered Admissions Office
Head back to the gathering point before starting the hike
Wait outside the Hana Ginzbarg Education Center and Admissions Office
Troop 143114 joins our troop for the hike today
Looks like we are at the right place at the right time
Our first stop is the Hawk House, just down the road from UHCL
Two hawks, 1 shot & 1 hit by a car, both unable to fly, have lived here 17 years
Pay attention girls while I pull the head off of a mouse and eat it for you
See a sign of wildlife to look for at the start of the boardwalk
So long to chiggars and poison ivy, I'm liking this hike!
Continue down the trail to the alligator viewing center
Our resident alligator is still brumating (alligator hibernation) for the winter
She is down there somewhere, but don't go looking for her
More marshlands viewed from dry and high on the boardwalk
Continue down the boardwalk beyond the alligator pond
Stop right before the turtle enclosure and take a look around
The turtles, like the alligators, are brumating under the leaves and twigs
Head toward the Interpretive Building as another troop concludes their hike
The troop listens to hiking does and don'ts before heading down one of the three trails starting at this point
We will not be taking the LadyBird Trail, the longest at 1.5 miles
But cheer up troop, we won't be taking the short trail either
Stop at a Dwarf Palmetto twenty feet down the Karankawa Trail
A little further up, we stop and view a trifoliate orange plant
It is like a thorn plant with bitter tiny oranges . . . yay!
The rain picks up enough to pull out the ponchos and umbrellas
Continue walking past the marshland on the high trail above
Hike Leader Kristen points out the difference between lichen and mold
Identify the Yaupon Holly whose leaves and berries can make you sick
Discover a possum that wasn't just playing possum
A quarter mile down, and more than a mile left to go
We pass on walking the trail down to the boat house
Plenty of spiderwebs holding rain along the trail
Bridges are always a welcome sight while hiking through wetlands
Even with the rain, the girls are still eager at the half mile marker
Didn't realize I'd be walking 1.5 miles in the rain, but I can do it!
Deviate from the Karankawa Trail to check out the bayou
Overlook Armand Bayou toward Space Center Blvd.
Find a shed snake skin just off the trail and all touch it
Find some yaupon berries and wisely decline tasting them
The end of the Karankawa Trail is finally drawing near
Finish our 1.38 mile hike back at the Interpretive Building
Meeting rooms, restrooms and a small collection of turtles, fish, snakes and amphibians are inside
One of the residents is a midland smooth softshell turtle
Kristen concludes the tour with the troop by holding hands & singing a song
Check out the contents of the "Please Touch" table
The girls check out the antlers, skulls, and turtle shells
You just can't help posing with the antlers!
I wasn't expecting to find a coconut on the table!
Armadillo skins & woodpecker pecked branches are also here for inspection
You can hear plenty of birds at the Bird Blind, but not see them?
Hike back to the park entrance and cross the bridge toward the alligator pond
Thank goodness/unfortunately the alligator brumating continues!
The boardwalk is mighty handy in this neck of the woods!
Walk across the parking lot to the picnic area on the freshwater pond
The girls enjoy a rest from the long hike with CapriSun and S'more cookies
Alex's troop had five girls make the hike and earn the badge today
Make this pose a little silly . . . just like that
We had a great time hiking and experiencing nature!
