The month of October is typically the driest month of the year. Yet rain found its way through the autumn canopy of oak, elm, and maple trees in southeastern Ohio Wednesday. The dirt roads were protected by some of the leaves still holding strong to their homes high above the ground.
Then, three retired Cincinnati women pulled up in a Subaru, parked and prepared to enjoy what mother nature was offering. Kathy Chapman, Peggy Pauly, and Dorthia TenEych fastened their rain coats, tied down their shoes, toted their trusty umbrellas for a retreat into one of the largest private forests in the United States.
The trio wanted a serene educational getaway without having to pack for an overnight stay.
"I come here instead of going to a psychiatrist," said Chapman. She brought assembled the group to travel into Adams County, Ohio for a morning jaunt into the woods.
Chapman's friends explained why they came. "It's filling my lungs with nice fresh air, and my visual senses are just totally filled," explained TenEych.
Pauly said she was lured there. "Kathy has a way of enticing us to this wonderful spot."
They arrived at The Edge of Appalachia nature preserve in Southeaster Ohio. It maintains 14,000 acres of forest near the Shawnee State forest in Adams County.
The group began in the 1950's with 14 acres and is continuing to expand its privately preserved forest.
Peter Whan is the Preserves Program Manager. He led the threesome from Cincinnati on their journey for education.
"This is a plant that you'd expect to find on a ridge top, these acidy ridge tops," said Whan. He explained while pointing and displaying a branch of leaves he cut with a pocket knife.
"They [anyone] can get out and walk in it like these ladies are walking today and really get in commune with this wonderful forest that we live in here," said Whan.
The goal of the preserve is to keep water, soil, plants and wildlife safe. Also, it purchases property where trees have been harvested for either lumber or paper, then restores the area to the natural ecosystem.
Whan, however, explained that the edge of Appalachia is more about conservation than preservation. They attempt to control the environment through controlled burns periodically and even support deer hunting on its property.
"They are basically vegetarian and they will eat everything out there we're trying to protect," explained Whan. "Eventually, they will succumb to some type of disease and it will spread throughout the herd."
Whan's group will celebrate its 50th anniversary as the autumn foliage peaks this weekend. It also continues to expand the private forest by purchasing more land, so that visitors, like Kathy Chapman, continue to say, "It just takes away all of your worries and you just have a wonderful time."
