Thursday, February 25, 2016

Buffalo Rock State Park 02-25-2016

Today's walker's club had 29 walkers and 5 well behaved dogs.  We met in the Lobby by the front desk and carpooled to Buffalo Rock State Park.  It is the smallest of the 3 nearby state parks at 298 acres. 

There are 2 buffalo at this park.  Both looked real good today.  Sometime we come here and we can't even see them. Today they were very close. 

Buffalo 2 stayed a bit back.

It got a little interesting when the dogs when by the fence.  Bark, charge, bark, charge

After our short visit with the buffalo, it is time to walk

And we were off
I noticed a sign that said, stay on the trail.  I had not seen that sign before at that location.  So we followed it.  We came to a platform, that had a sign on the metal plate.  I have no idea what it said.  We could see the old tailing piles that was left over from the mining there from the Ottawa Silica Company.
They had really cleared out the brush since we were last here.  You can now see the Effigy Tumuli from the viewing deck.


  The Chicago based Crane Company purchased Buffalo Rock in 1912, where a sanatorium was built for employees.  On Nov. 15, 1928, the company deeded the property to the state.




The Effigy Tumuli, one of the more unique attractions in Illinois, can be found here.  This earthen art exhibit recreates sculptured earthen effigies dating back more than 3000 years.  Effigies were created by native peoples as temple platforms or burial mounds.  A result of a creative coal mining reclamation project on land donated by Ottawa Silica Company, the site contains a 2,070 - foot long snake, a 140- foot long frog and a 770 foot long catfish.  Also located along the mile and a half long bluff are a water strider and turtle.


View seen looking West on top of the snake formation

Group on top of the snake.  Wishing they could go down and explore.



On one of the overlooks on the wooded trail, overlooking the Illinois River, we saw this eagle's nest.  Yes there is an eagle in it. 

Where is the group geologists when you need him?  What's going on with the holes?  They were everywhere.

Beautiful colors on the rocks.  These are a sight to see especially if you are in a kayak (I know this from experience)

Steps leading back to the main trail from the overlook

One of the relatively new trail signs at Buffalo Rock
I will leave you with this: Take a hike or walk, because in the end, you won't remember the time you spent working in the office, mowing the grass or shoveling the snow.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Matthiessen State Park 02-19-2016

I had some friends come up from the St. Louis area for the Mega Hike on Saturday 02-20-2016.  They came up a day early so they would be ready to hike at 8:30a.m.  My friend Ron and his wife Carol and I took them hiking at Matthiessen State Park.  This is Starved Rock's sister park about 1 1/2 miles south on RT 178.  Very enjoyable day.  A little muddy, a little icy but 60 degrees.  No complaints here.


Bits of ice are still left.  Ice should be gone in a few days.



First ice fall of the day




Cement sidewalk leading to Matthiessen Lake


My friend Cathy, she walked with me through the Smokey Mountains, when I did a month on the Appalachian Trai.
On the foot bridge overlooking Matthiessen Lake and Lake Falls


Matthiessen Lake Falls, almost gone.



From Lake Falls we walked the lower trail to Cascade Falls


I love this part of the trail


They looked so colorful!  I just had to make them stop for the photo.


Stream crossings weren't so bad today.




They were probably tired of me taking photos.  Going up near Cascade Falls


Devil's Paint Box


This frozen fall was a surprise.  Once you go down the concrete steps this was on the right


Cascade Falls are almost gone


Cascade Falls


Cathy and Nancy having a heart to heart



This bonus ice fall was also melting quite rapidly


Stone steps near the bridge on the south end of the dells area
I will leave you with this: As I grow up, I realize it is less important to have lots of friends, and more important to have real ones.