Hiking Activities at Whitewater State Park

An experienced senior civil engineering technician based in Utica, Minnesota, Scott Schwieder served the City of Rochester as an inspector overseeing municipal, state, and federal aid projects for over 30 years. Beyond his activities as an engineer, Scott Schwieder enjoys spending time outdoors. His interests include rock hunting, fishing, and hiking.

Hiking enthusiasts in the Utica area should consider a trip to Whitewater State Park in Altura. The park features a number of trails that can meet the needs of hikers at every skill level. Some of the popular self-guided trails for beginners are Trout Run Creek and the Meadow Trail, while the more demanding Coyote Point Trail can take several hours to complete.

Every trail at the park includes a variety of activities beyond the enjoyment of the trails and scenic bluffs. Whitewater State Park is home to a number of unique bird species, for example, as well as several geocache sites. Other points of interest range from a multitude of hidden fishing spots to relaxing beaches. That said, hikers with a limited amount of time are encouraged to try Chimney Rock Trail, which offers sweeping views of the Whitewater River below.

To learn more about activities at the park, including the historic Elba Fire Tower, or to view a complete trail map, please visit www.dnr.state.mn.us.

How to Handle Wildlife Encounters While Hiking

An experienced survey technician in Utica, Minnesota, Scott Schwieder concluded his tenure as a senior civil engineering technician with the city of Rochester in 2018. Upon retiring, Scott Schwieder shifted his focus to a few of his favorite pastimes. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys hiking and rock collecting, among other interests.

Encountering a wild animal while hiking can be both a special and scary experience, depending on the situation. Regardless of the animal or environment, hikers should do everything they can to avoid direct contact with wildlife. Unfortunately, this is not always possible, but there are a few tips that can help hikers maintain their safety and distance.

While hiking is often a tranquil, calming experience, hikers are encouraged to make noise while on the trail. Animals will typically do everything they can to avoid contact with humans, and will usually vacate the area long before a chatty group of hikers are aware of their presence. That said, hikers must always keep their wits about them and be vigilant for signs of trouble on the trail ahead, animal or otherwise.

Time of day can be a key factor in whether or not hikers encounter wildlife. Animals are most active at dawn and dusk, times that should be avoided by hiking groups if possible. For overnight hikers, securing food and any other notable scents is a must. In fact, food should be stored in a secure container that is kept away from camp, ideally in a car, meat locker, or hanging from a tree or pole.

According to Yellowstone National Park, hikers should maintain a minimum distance of 25 yards from all wildlife, a figure that is increased to 100 yards for predators such as bears and wolves. If such animals are present in an area hikers plan to visit, it is important to learn as much information as possible about potential encounters. For example, hikers should make themselves appear as threatening as possible to a black bear, which is the exact opposite approach of a hiker who has encountered a grizzly bear.

Good Hunting Grounds for Novice Rock Collectors

Scott Schwieder enjoyed a successful career in engineering, which included three decades with the city of Rochester, Minnesota, as a senior engineering and technical survey party chief. Since retiring, Scott Schwieder has led an active, outdoor lifestyle, with interests ranging from cycling to rock hunting.

For first-time rock hunters, it’s important to know that there are two primary types of terrain. To begin, beaches and riverbeds are ideal hunting grounds for rock collectors. Beaches are particularly beginner friendly, as a diversity of rock types are spread across large, flat areas. Furthermore, each tide brings a new collection of rocks to examine. Beaches are most often associated with hard rock varieties, such as igneous and metamorphic, while river rocks tend to be of the softer variety, especially when hunting upstream.

Exposures and outcrops of bedrock represent another great location to begin a rock hunting hobby. These instances of living rock, as they are called, can be found near beaches and rivers, as well as among hilly, mountainous terrain. Man-made structures often result in considerably sized exposures, such as those observed around mines and quarries. Exposures are also very common alongside road cuts, which is the engineering term for areas where earth has been removed to make room for the construction of roads.

As people become more experienced in the art of rock hunting, they can start to target specific rock types and search for more unique hunting grounds. Many rock hunters also enjoy hunting for minerals, which can usually be found wherever rocks are located.

The Eastern Hemlock – a Versatile Conifer Common in Minnesota

With a background in civil engineering, Scott Schwieder is a certified tree inspector with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Based in Rochester, Minnesota, Scott Schwieder has extensive knowledge of trees common in the state.

One common tree in Minnesota is the eastern hemlock, a conifer that begins its lifecycle in a forest as an understory plant that ultimately emerges past broad-leaf trees to grow as high as 100 feet. With a graceful pyramidal shape, the evergreen features branches that may be horizontal or drooping. Its needles are not pointed but short and soft.

Growing well in full shade or sunlight, the eastern hemlock thrives in moist, rich, well-drained soils with slightly high acid levels. Responding well to pruning, the tree can be integrated into low hedges or planted as a standalone.

To preserve the natural shape, the best pruning technique involves an annual cutting back of branches that have grown too long. The only drawback is the tree’s susceptibility to the hemlock woolly adelgid, an aphid-like pest.