I recently hiked on one of my favorite trails: the Knob Lake trail.

The trail is located in the Jackson-Washington State Forest. The forest encompasses nearly 18,000 acres in Jackson and Washington counties in the heart of southern Indiana. 

The majority of the land that now makes up this beautiful forest was purchased by the state in the 1930s and the 1950s. This part of the state contains unique topography know as the “knobs”. The region provides scenic views and offers some breathtaking hiking opportunities.

The Knob Lake trail is no exception.

The trail combines three trails to make a loop and is 4.3 miles in total length. It’s considered very rugged in ease of hiking mostly due to the knobs one must climb. 

It was a fantastic day weather wise when I hiked this trail. The temperature was in the upper 70s and it was sunny with a blue sky overhead. I decided to hike the whole loop of the trail which consists of trails 1-3.

The path follows a ridge top made up of several knobs. The knob hills must be ascended and descended. It’s a straight up and down path on each one. No switchbacks to make it easier. And some of them are pretty steep. I started my hike on trail 2.

The late summer forest was beautiful.

Last week’s column: Hiking among the treetops in Pine Hills Nature Preserve

The trail was marked, but it would have been hard to miss the high knobs that I ended up climbing in succession. I think I counted 10, but lost count in between breaths. The climbs were steep. I have found that most of the trails in the southern part of the state are like that. It makes them all a very fun challenge.

The goal was to reach Pinnacle Peak, the highest point of the trail. The highest elevation I could find on the trail was 976 feet. All of the knobs neared the 900-foot mark.

So the path finally intersected with the Pinnacle Peak trail, which is a spur trail that goes off the main loop and up to Pinnacle Peak. I had more climbing to do, but I knew I was almost there. Never mind that it appeared to be steeper and there was loose gravel to be found on the trail in places.

I finally reached the top! I must say, the views were fantastic on top of the peak. There were lots of large rocks scattered about and some of the rocks had etchings on them that dated back over 100 years.

It was a special moment for me on that high peak. Quite serene.

Soon it was time to head back. I still had a bit of hiking and climbs to make, but for the most part, it was downhill and then back to the car. It had been a wonderful hike.

To get to this place: From Brownstown, take Ind. 250 East for approximately 2 miles. Turn left at the state forest sign. Knob Lake will be approximately 1 mile on right. Be sure to pick up a map at the gate!

A quote for your week: “A lake carries you into recesses of feeling otherwise impenetrable.” — William Wordsworth, English poet, 1770-1850

Until the next trail,Susan

The NFL season is on the horizon. Not only has the bulk of the offseason passed, but both training camp and preseason football have come and gone. Teams are now cutting their rosters down to 53 players as real football will soon be played around the league.

The Washington Commanders have been making roster changes as it’s time for them to release a 53-man roster, which means those dealing with injuries will be put on injured reserve. Commanders defensive end Norell Pollard and defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth were not only added to the injured reserve list but they’re not designated to return and will miss the 2024 NFL season, according to Sam Fortier.

READ MORE: Washington Commanders Finalize Initial 53-Man Roster for 2024 Regular Season

Pollard is an undrafted defensive tackle out of Virginia Tech, where he posted 118 career total tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. The 6-foot, 281-pound defensive end now has his sights set on a return to the gridiron in 2025 with hopes of making his regular season debut.

While Pollard was set for his rookie season, Stallworth is a veteran presence, as a 28-year-old defensive tackle with 58 games under his belt. He, too, will miss the entire season as the two pieces could have provided depth to the defensive line.

Rookie linebacker Jordan Magee was also placed on the injured reserve list, though he is designated return, meaning he will miss at least the first four games of the regular season. The Temple product began to garner quite a bit of hype throughout training camp.

With the Commanders establishing a 53-man roster, the regular season is on the horizon, and Washington can continue to usher in a new era of football as No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels hopes to transform the team’s offense. Brighter days are ahead for the franchise, and watching that potential develop this season will be intruiging.

READ MORE: Commanders Closer to 53-Man Roster After Waiving Popular Quarterback

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2024 season.

Follow Kade on Twitter.

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I grew up attending ARS Armenian Private School in Toronto, where I was deeply immersed in our culture. Though I was involved in non-Armenian activities outside of school, going to university with individuals from diverse backgrounds was a new experience for me.  

To maintain strong community ties, I became active in my university’s Armenian Students Association, which I now chair, and participated in an Armenian mentorship program.

But I wanted more.

I applied to the ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship with little thought. Though I knew it was something I was interested in doing, I was unsure if spending my summer in Washington, D.C. — a place so far away from home — was a good idea. Additionally, I was uncertain of how the internship would benefit me, given that much of what I would learn would be geared toward a U.S. perspective, and I questioned how relevant it would be to a Canadian.

When I received the call that I had been accepted into the summer program, I was faced with a difficult decision: Should I work locally in Toronto or go to Washington?

I chose the latter.

I have completed the internship and am writing to convince other Canadians to do the same.

The internship offers many opportunities for young Armenians interested in politics, law and research. Local Armenians with high-ranking positions in political offices, museums and law firms offered us advice, and we created unique connections that can be used to advance our future careers. However, what makes this program so special is the fact that everyone we’ve met — whether lecturers or local Armenian professionals — has shown genuine interest in helping us succeed in our chosen career paths.

Among our most impactful lecturers was Charlie Mahtesian, the senior editor from POLITICO, who shared his personal journey in journalism, answered our political journalism questions and inspired us to consider careers in his field. Our meeting with the Library of Congress Armenian and Georgian Area Specialist Dr. Khachig Mouradian was particularly moving. His selection and care for ancient Armenian manuscripts and other texts from the Library’s vast collection inspired all of us and left me with pride knowing that someone so passionate is in charge of nurturing our nation’s rich history.  

Apart from the lectures, I was also given the opportunity to learn through the routine advocacy in which we participated. While at first the concept of going to Capitol Hill and speaking to members of Congress and staff scared me, now having done it several times I no longer feel afraid to express my opinions and advance our community views among those with positions of power. Through lobbying, I had the pleasure of meeting Representatives Anna Eshoo and Adam Schiff, who advocate for Armenian issues on a global scale. They stressed the importance of youth advocacy in shaping congressional opinion on Armenian concerns.

The ANCA assigned individual projects to each intern — mine being the application of Global Magnitsky Sanctions on Azerbaijan’s genocidal leadership. We read detailed reports on Azerbaijani atrocities committed against Armenian prisoners of war and civilian detainees, submitted by the International and Comparative Law Centre NGO (ICLAW) and Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights (ALC) to the Departments of State and Treasury. By reading hundreds of pages of written testimonies and watching videos regarding the horrors and reality of what they went through, I understood the gravity of the situation many Artsakh and Armenian locals face. I also had the opportunity to write about how Canada can improve its relations and support of Armenia by stopping the import of Azerbaijani oil and encouraging Azerbaijan’s safe return of Armenian POWs and civilian captives.

Apart from the rewarding nature of the work, the internship environment was incredible. Working to advance the Armenian cause has been fulfilling and has allowed me to grow professionally. At the same time, after living at the Aramian House for six weeks, I can now say confidently that I have friends across the United States and Canada, all with true love, passion and commitment to the Armenian homeland, despite our distance from it.

So, did I make the right choice to come to Washington, D.C., this summer? Most definitely. To all those wavering in their decision to apply, drop me a note. I look forward to helping you make a decision about an experience that will impact you for a lifetime.

Sabrina Tomarci was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, where she graduated from ARS Armenian Private School. She studies political science and public law at the University of Toronto. She is the president of her university’s Armenian Students Association and is committed to aiding the Armenian cause locally and internationally. Tomarci is an alumnus of the 2024 Leo Sarkisian Internship Program.

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