Wildcat, Lover's Leap, Eagle's Clif December 31, 2015

Early this morning it snowed maybe an inch, leaving the roads very slippery.  23 walkers today.  Great day for a hike.  We started our walk on the Campanula trail on the way to Wildcat Canyon.  We stayed on the bluff trail and went down the stairs by Lonetree canyon headed to LaSalle Canyon.  The trail was flooded by the LaSalle Canyon bridge so we turned around and went to Eagle's Cliff and Lover's Leap. 

Theme photo of the hike

23 hikers today and 2 dogs

Good thing we don't need the map

 Upper French Canyon

When we started out there had been only one person on the trail before us.

Upper Wildcat Canyon

Wildcat Canyon Waterfall

And how do we get into the Canyon?  Not today.

From Wildcat Canyon on.  We were the first ones on the trail.

I made the mistake of saying, that I should make a snow angel.....So here she is.  I will call her Susan.

Where did it go?  Sandstone Point

Oh here it is.  What happened?

Going down 155, on our way to the River trail

The river is getting real close to the trail

Almost to the LaSalle Canyon Bridge.  Now the Illinois River is on the trail.  LaSalle Canyon will have to wait until another day.

Little waterfall under Sandstone Point

I thought this was a real duck, until I didn't see it moving.  This was a close as we would come today to seeing wildlife.

View of the Dam from Eagles Cliff.  All dam gates are open

View from Eagles Clif

View to the East from Eagles Clif

View of Starved Rock from Lover's Leap

French Canyon from the bluff trail

Upper French Canyon, almost back to the Lodge

Finally saw some eagles today.

Reid and Kevin, part of the Walker's Club and brothers, built these snowballs while hiking today.  They tossed them around when they returned and the one who dropped the ball first was the loser.  The same brother dropped the ball twice.  Who was it???  I'm not telling.

I will leave you with this: You can only do something first once, no matter how much you wish you knew then what you know now.

Dec. 10, 2015 Starved Rock, French, Wildcat and Pontiac Canyons

Photo of the day

 
Today's walkers went to the top of Starved Rock, French, Pontiac and Wildcat Canyons.  Today was also our Christmas Party.  After the hike, we went to the Main Dining Room of the Lodge for Lunch. We also hosted a cookie exchange, where if you brought dozen cookies, we would mix them up and you would go home with a mixture of 2 doz cookies. 

43 walkers today.  The weather was about 52 and windy.  

View of Lover's Leap from Starved Rock

We were lucky enough to see 2 eagles flying while we were at the top of Starved Rock

Lock and Dam

Windy flags at the top of Starved Rock

View of the Lodge from the West side of Starved Rock

Take out what you bring in.  This is the last can, just like the sign says.

Going into French

Almost there

Joe is telling the story of how French Canyon got its name.

My friend Jennifer on the left with her friend Sheryl (now my friend also), celebrating Jennifer's birthday with us today.  Happy Birthday !!!

Coming out of French, be careful of these steps in the winter when the ice forms. Last year it was a very slippery ice slide.  If you slid in, you had a very tough time getting out. 

We couldn't decide if something had a fight here, a dog was brushed here or Santa trimmed his beard.

52 degrees was pretty toasty for Gary

Pontiac Canyon

I'm on the East overlook, taking a photo of the West overlook

Wildcat Canyon, looking good!!!!

Move em out!!! It's time for lunch!!!  How many people does this platform hold????

We took an additional walk on the flat trail coming from the overflow parking area.  The biggest burl in the park is located here.

They brought their cookies in the morning.  While we were all hiking, my office mixed them up and repackaged them.  We even had a few that didn't make it in the packages, those were great for dessert.

Some walkers had their spouses meet them for lunch.  48 enjoyed lunch.  We also took up a collection for the local homeless shelter (IV PADS) $330.00.  This was a great day.  How many times does one person get to be in a room filled with their friends?  I am totally blessed and grateful to be able spend my Thursdays with this group of people. 

I will leave you with this: For one minute, walk outside, stand there, in silence, look up at the sky, and contemplate, how amazing life is!

November 19, 2015 - St. Louis, Sac, Kickapoo and Aurora Canyon

Waterfall in Sac Canyon

 Today's hike began in the Lodge's Lobby with 37 hikers and 4 dogs.  We were scheduled to go to a Nature Preserve, however with the recent rains, we switched to St. Louis, Sac, Kickapoo and Aurora Canyons.  We left the Lodge and headed West on the Bluff trail to St. Louis Canyon. We then went out the West end and over the entrance road and down into the picnic area.  Took the trail to the BEST canyon, Aurora!  And up the nearby staircase back to the Lodge.  Great to see the sun.

The Lodge is being decorated for Christmas this week

Waterfall at the top of Aurora

Sac Canyon waterfall was so fabulous, I even took a video.

View of Unimin from the West Bluff trail

St Louis Canyon Waterfall

St. Louis Canyon.  This sand slide happened in June 2002

 

Sandstone photo coming out of St. Louis Canyon

A picturesque pine cone

Up and over --  Going up and over the road.....

And down we go.

This path is an old road on the West end of the park

When the trail ends there is a bridge we take to the picnic area.  The nature preserve continues to the Illinois River.

Walking through the picnic area on our way to Aurora Canyon we saw this Juvenile eagle.

On our way into Aurora Canyon

Small but great canyon, Aurora. A couple from Rock Island joined us for the tour today.

My friend Lori

View looking up out of Aurora Canyon

The Glassinator was really spinning today

The Cafe posts inspirational sayings a few times a week.  Well worth reading.

I will leave you with this: " Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it.  Autograph your work with excellence".