BEDFORD – The Bedford Hiking Club is sponsoring a walk at Starve Hollow Recreation Area on Saturday, April 17.
The walk is a Volkswalk with a group walk at 9:30 but walkers can start anytime between 9:00 a.m. and 1 p.m. EDT and walk on their own on the trails laid out.
Registration for the Volkswalk is at the West Shelter house at the beach. Walkers must complete the walk by 3:00 p.m.
The marked walk includes a 5K (3.1 mile) walk which follows the lake through the campground and then through a cypress stand among cypress knees and across a historic iron bridge. The cypress stand along the lake is quite interesting, wildflowers are coming up, and the 5K is fairly flat though likely to be a bit muddy so wear sturdy shoes.
offering outstanding views of the lake and the countryside and by mid-April, dogwood
and redbud blooms.
Walkers who wish to walk the 10K (6.2 miles) will continue on into the hills on the opposite side of the lake. Views in this section are outstanding and the woods are beautiful now, with the trail winding through different types of ecosystems. Some short sections are quite steep, so a walking stick is recommended for balance.
Walkers will be given directions for both the 10K and 5K walk. Walking is free however if you wish to walk for credit there is a $3 fee. There is a daily fee to enter the recreation area or a State Park Pass applies.
add interest to the hike. The knees which are root extensions growing above water level
allow roots to absorb oxygen during high water.
The walk is sponsored by the Bedford Hiking Club.
The title of the walk, Volkswalk, is German for People’s Walk. The International Volkswalk Association has walked on almost every continent. This walk is part of a network of walks that people can do for free or credit. Credit is a stamp in a Volkswalk book that keeps track of the how many Volkswalks a person completes for a later award or just for their own satisfaction. Â
People may come to just walk for the enjoyment of walking, but anyone that has interest in learning more about Volkswalking is welcome to come to learn more about this popular sport.
In general, it will take a person 2.5-3 hours to complete the 10K Volkswalk. People walk at their own pace and are encouraged to stop and enjoy the views.
Officials recommend those that attend to bring water and a snack, and if you’re interested in wildflowers, you may want to bring a wildflower guide. Wear sturdy shoes, and dress for the weather in layers (a small daypack is handy for shedding layers as the day warms up). This walk is not a timed event. Dogs are welcome but should be on a leash.
Masks are requested to be worn during the registration process.
For information on the volkswalk, contact Teena Ligman at 812-278-0139 or by email at tdligman@att.net.
For additional information on the recreation area located south of Brownstown, IN, and driving directions visit www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/properties/starve-hollow-sra/.
The Bedford Hiking Club also sponsors two nearby year-round walks. Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, has a beautiful walk voted in the past as one of the top ten Volkswalks. The second walk is the Limestone Walk in Bedford.
For more information on the Bedford Hiking Club visit this website www.bedfordhikingclub.com.
