Hiking on the Appalachian Trail is not skipping along a smooth dirt path in the woods. There are jumbled rocks, exposed roots, and steep ups and downs. Sometimes we have the added fun of solving the puzzle of how to best get past blow-downs (fallen trees that cross the path).

Facing such a challenge can be irritating…or FUN!

Over, Under, Around, or Through!

OVER…sometimes a simple step, sometimes it takes a bit more:

UNDER…the young and flexible just crouch or crawl while folks like me take off my pack to navigate the obstacle:

AROUND…sometimes the end of the obstacle is close enough to the trail that a new path around the tree is made:

THROUGH…sometimes the trail maintainers are able to cut the trunk to make it easier. But if the fallen tree is huge and is on a steep hillside (and the trail maintainers have not yet worked on the blow-down), you face the full puzzle of figuring out the best way through the mess!

Don’t miss the fun of a full body, full brain workout! Come play with us and figure out how to solve unexpected puzzles in the real world.

(More puzzles to be solved when hiking…HERE.)