Miami Woods - January 10, 2026
Event Director and
Course Setter: Pat Meehan
Miami Woods is a very small map. It consists of a total of just under 101 acres.
The city park consists of two major ridges separated by a south flowing intermittent stream. The East and West halves are nearly 50% each. The eastern half has been a park for as long as anyone in Hamilton can remember. It may have originally been a part of the former Hamilton Country Club, which operated a beautiful lodge, at the top of the hill, where the water tower now stands. Evidence of the early park consists of a once asphalt paved trail that S-curves through the center, right to left, and at least one surviving stone pole light base. One can imagine an inviting stroll through a mature forest, perhaps along a lit paved walk way.
The western half of the park was a decaying farm of sorts, when I was child (I’m 72.) At some point it was acquired and added to the park, but without much in the maintenance budget. The farm can still be mentally reconstructed from its remains: A now hidden bridge across the major stream (along New London Rd.), foundation ruins of the farm house, and several out buildings, and a silo, an old deep cistern (covered with a pallet), fence lines, here and there, and many piles, large and small, of things, barrels, auto parts, appliances, all in various states of decay. Oh, and two former hunter-stands.
The greatest evidence of the farm is what remains of the farm field. When the original eastern portion was manicured generations ago, this western field contained no trees, just pasture. In the past 70 years it has become a wild breeding orgy for an orienteer’s immortal enemy – the invasive Honeysuckle. When the farm joined the original park, both halves went to the dark side. The honeysuckle took hold, as if it enjoys a south facing, unkept slope. Over the years frequent visitors traveled the same paths. people and non-people maintained a few consistent routes through the dense vegetation. We mapped the park 24 years ago. But in the last twenty years, the city has selected a small number of trails to maintain. Therefore, there are two sets of trails: the well-defined, and the indistinct. Both on the map. More about that below.
In addition to the trails, there are 3 north to south flowing streams. The base of all the streams is solid 450-million-year-old Ordovician bedrock. Key takeaway – there is no honeysuckle there. Do I have to spell it out? 😊
Over recent years, the Parks Department has maintained the sanctioned trails. Those trails are unencumbered, and suitable for your fastest rate of motion. The indistinct trails, and the stream beds are maintained by mother nature alone. Over the years they have experienced some deadfall, aka, logs, obstacles of various sizes. If the trail is on the map, I traveled over it this past week. The deadfall; sometimes over, sometimes under, sometimes around it. If I can do it, you can too.
About the map:
First created in 2002, this is the 5th use of the map. Each time Mike and I have updated the map to the best of our available time and ability. That given, it has degraded over the years in representing the undergrowth and run ability of the park. This year I modified the indistinct trails, eliminating some, adding some; added some rootstocks, and added a few sets of vertical green lines where some will encounter the greenbrier there. 6 years ago the Parks department used a Bobcat to radically remove honeysuckle in the east. 5 years ago I modified the map to show that as open forest. In recent years they have borrowed a herd of goats. This has given some parts of the park the appearance of a random mullet haircut. The honeysuckle is in various states of reestablishing its dominance. This leaves the representation of undergrowth on the map in a mixed state of disrepair. Let me explain. In the west the three shades of green are relationally correct. In the east the shades are as they were 5 years ago and you must extrapolate what has happened since then.
Rule of thumb
Dark Green: it was bad from the start. It still is. Avoid it, unless there is a trail.
Medium Green: Think of it as possibly being dark green. Or not. You can punch through for a short distance. But it will likely never be a good way to go for long. Unless there is a trail.
Light Green: It is passable. But not consistent. Sometimes ok. Sometimes not.
White: Almost all of the mapped white areas should be mapped as high visibility, slow run.
Route choices
The courses were designed to provide you with choices. This is very subjective, based on your physical condition and tolerance to crappy maps. On each leg you may find an option to take a longer but easier route with trails. Sometimes a shorter route with an indistinct trail. Sometimes a stream bed is obvious. The unknowns are the time delaying deadfall logs challenging your ability to traverse them.
Some of the courses crisscross back and forth over the map. You will become familiar with what is what if you pay attention. It’s a small park. Learn the nature of the map and its options early, and make you subsequent decisions accordingly.
Humorously,
I ran across the write up to the event in 2006 from 20 years ago after I wrote the above. Here is the link: https://www.ocin.org/results/060107MW.html
--- Pat Meehan
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