12-11-14 Wildcat, French, Lover's Leap, Eagles Cliff, Christmas Party

This is the only eagle we saw today

Today's hike was a short one to Wildcat Canyon, Eagles Cliff, Lover's Leap, French Canyon and then back to the Lodge for a Cookie Swap and Lunch in the Lodge's Main Dining Room.  There were 32 hikers plus 3 dogs.  For the Cookie Swap and Lunch we had 35.    

Nice group of hikers, led by Ron and Joe

Just imagine the stories this tree could tell!!

Walking on top of Pontiac Canyon

View of the Eastern overlook from the West Side overlook at Wildcat Canyon

How many people do you suppose this deck can hold??? (The deck on the West side of Wildcat Canyon)

This is Mandy.  It was really hard getting her to sit still for a photo. She loves to hike with her master Rosanne.

Upper Wildcat

All of us in Wildcat Canyon

Wildcat Canyon

Cocoa - She also has a hard time sitting still for a photo.  She just wants to hike.

Ann has 3 dogs.  She rotates them hiking with us.  I get their names mixed up as they are similar. Kevin pictured here is home schooled and just loves the dogs!

Red stakes mean the River Trail.  With the Return sticker, we are now returning to the Lodge / Visitor Center

Walking back on the River Trail

On the River Trail with Eagles Cliff in the back

Illinois Waterway Visitor Center - Lock and Dam

View from Eagles Cliff - "Best View in the Park"

A lone boater

One "Eagle" on the Eagles Cliff

Not one Eagle on Leopold Island

Starved Rock from Lover's Leap

Devil's Nose in the distance.

Going Dooooowwwwnnnn

Going into French.  This is where the BONUS waterfall will be.  Nothing yet.

Quite the line to get into French Canyon

French Canyon- No ice- No water- just a trickle

One of our hikers- Kevin, at the top of French Canyon spying on us.

Joe, trying not to get his feet wet!

The way into/out of French Canyon

Coming out of French.  With all the leaves you would think it was Fall

One of the two eagles on either side of the Fox Canyon bridge.  Donated by the Family of Jerry Krasinski

Today we all enjoyed lunch together and a cookie swap.  35 were here for lunch

Cookies all boxed up and ready to go home.  We even had some left over for dessert and sampling!  What a great tradition.

The Starved Rock Lodge's Walker's Club meets every Thursday at 9:00a.m. in the Lodge's hotel lobby.  We first announce where we are going to hike.  We take off from there.  If we need to drive to the location (Matthiessen or Buffalo Rock State Park, etc...) we will carpool.  If the hiker decides they would like to hike every week we give them a punch card.  Every time they hike with us they get a punch.  When they receive 12 punches they get a free lunch in the Lodge's dining room.  Many times our guests that are staying at the Lodge will come hiking with the group.  This is the Lodge's way of saying thank you for treating our guests to a great hike, and enlightening them about the area we call home.  

I get to see and visit with all these wonderful people that I am proud to call my friends. I really look forward to hiking on Thursdays.  I am truly blessed!

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.