Our
Take a Hike and Lunch begins on Saturday April 5th. The trail has been
extremely icy and dangerous so Joe came in today to check out the
trail. We were hoping that with the beginning of Take a Hike season we
would be able to take groups in LaSalle Canyon for lunch.
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| Top of French Canyon |
When
we left the Lodge we couldn't resist taking a few photos at the top of
French Canyon. Joe and I both commented that this was one of our
favorite stretches on the trails. Especially when the water is flowing.
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| Top of French Canyon |
We
then arrived at Wildcat Canyon. Most all of the ice is gone now. Easy
walking with bits of mud here and there. If you come out this weekend,
you should have waterproof boots or shoes you don't care about. They
will get muddy.
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| Top of Wildcat |
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| Wildcat Canyon 70 foot waterfall |
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Walking along the bluff, we came upon Basswood Canyon and Lone tree Canyon. Not much to look at from the bluff but the signs.
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| Joe's photo spot |
When
hiking with Joe, you stop at this location and if you are small enough,
you can go in the tree and Joe will take your photo. Joe's backpack
made him too wide to go inside.
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| Pelicans |
There
have been flocks and flocks of white pelicans off and on the past
couple of weeks. Some days we see hundreds and the next we will see
none. Today from the bluff trail we saw this small flock of about a
dozen.
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| Burl |
These tree trunk infections called "burls" look like bumps or warty
growths probably caused as a result of environmental injury. Cambial growth
is hyper-stimulated as a way for the tree to isolate and contain the
injury. Almost all burl wood is covered by bark, even when underground.
Often, a tree that has developed burl wood is still generally healthy.
In fact, many trees with burl wood will go on to live for many years.
Still, burl wood in vulnerable spots or with off-shooting growth can
become so large and heavy that they create additional stress on a tree
and can cause the tree to break apart.
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| Closed trail to Tonti Canyon |
On
the bridge that over looks the Illinois River and the stream coming out
from LaSalle and Tonti Canyons if you look down you will see an old
beaver Lodge. We haven't seen any new sticks or beaver activity in the
last couple of years.
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| Old Beaver Lodge |
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| LaSalle Canyon |
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These
two videos were taking in LaSalle Canyon. The first was taken right
when we got there of the water stream. The second was taken behind the
waterfall. Kind of neat.
I
feel that I am really pushing the arrival of Spring. I really was
hoping to see some wildflowers today. We saw two. Skunk Cabbage was
the first and Hepatica was the 2nd.
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| Skunk Cabbage |
The
Skunk Cabbage flower always comes out way before the foliage. You can
find skunk cabbage in boggy areas. The foliage is big big green leaves.
The flowers are only visible in the late winter, very early spring.
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| Hepatica |
The leaves we see here are from last year. After the flowers fade it will grow new green leaves that will stay all summer. Hepatica is named from its leaves, which, like the human liver (Greek hepar), have three lobes. It was once used as a medicinal herb. Owing to the doctrine of signatures,
the plant was once thought to be an effective treatment for liver
disorders. Although poisonous in large doses, the leaves and flowers may
be used as an astringent, as a demulcent for slow-healing injuries, and as a diuretic.[4]
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| Trail marker |
Time
to Return (follow the white dots). We came back on the River (red)
trail and on up to Eagles Cliff. Hoping to see at least one eagle. Not
the case.
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| Starved Rock from Lover's Leap |
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| Devil's Nose |
Well
that was my hike today! I am truly blessed to work at a place that I
can be out in nature and experience all its wonders. If you are looking
to do the same hike we have this available with Joe on Saturday and
Sundays for $17.00 (includes lunch and a backpack).
I will leave you with this. Wherever you may hike or walk, just put one foot in front of the other. It's all about the experience not the destination.
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