02-26-2015 Matthiessen State Park

Today's Walker's club hike went to Matthiessen Park near the fort area. We went down the major stairway and down into the upper falls area.  Once we arrived at the Lake shelter falls area we walked around the lake and back to the fort.  It snowed the night before about 4-5 inches. There were 19 hikers. 

This is my handy artwork on a bench at Matthiessen State Park

They were just starting to plow the parking lot so we parked on the edge.

I broke the bad new to the group.... NO SWIMMING today!

The replica fort

We were the first one on the stairs and trails today.

Going down into the upper dells area

Cool little ice fall to start us out

The concrete stepping stones are hidden today.

Giant's Bathtub

Lake Falls

We got back to the Falls, but we had to watch our step, there were still holes in the ice.

Don was contemplating how far out to go / Really, if he cut across the lake, how much of the trail will he miss?

The old boat house

Boat house and the Lake falls bridge from the other side of the Lake

About 1/2 way around the lake there are some old vehicles.  How did they get here?  And why are they here?

I thought it seemed like more than 1 mile.

I talked Jan into joining me in making snow angels.  For all the fun we had making the angels, Jan said we added a few years to our lives.   Check out the video below

These are our angels

a meandering stream, that was easy to cross when it was partial frozen, Spring and Summer it will be a different story.

We were following horseback and cross county ski trails.

Bridge over Lake falls

There is a short walkway trail almost under the bridge.

This couple joined us today for the hike. They are honeymooners from Urbana.

Time to go back to work.  It was a great hike.  A little harder than I thought it was going to be with all the snow.  This week it wasn't the ice and lack of traction that slowed us down, it was the amount of snow and being the first ones on it.  It was like walking on a beach in the sand (without the warm temperature).

 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.