Thirty+ Starved Rock Walkers parked their cars on the east side of the Park and walked nearly five miles back to the Lodge for their pre-purchased box lunches. Then, ten+ Walkers decided to make it a "Mostly Megahike" and walked all the way back to their parked cars! Yes, with nearly an inch of rain last night there was MUD involved.
The caravan parked in the Council Overhang parking lot and started walking down river to the Lodge.
The mud on the Bluff Trail meant you kept your eyes on your feet. There was active slippage in many places!
Exiting the Bluff Trail down the Owl Canyon stairs meant things got nicer on the River Trail. This trailside primrose thinks so!
No need to watch your feet on the River Trail!
OOPS! About half of the River Trail still demanded strict attention!
I keep trying to take a bad picture of the trail bridge over LaSalle Creek. Another epic fail!
Not much sun, but there were spots of glorious morning.
Even saw a group of Susans. resting trailside.
Spiderwort is peaking everywhere!
Of course I trudged back to the LaSalle Canyon headwall to see this!
If you are still carrying a single use plastic water bottle then STOP IT! I'm getting too old to pick them up! Please choose a reusable container instead.
Yes, these are poison ivy berries so don't touch them. I will return in about a week to save you from the "rotting" black ones! ;)
The River Walk is a six-foot wide poured concrete path along the riverbank between Sandstone Point and Wildcat Creek. Apparently, plants don't like anything six-feet wide!
The Mayapple leaves make this last attempt at color before they disappear. Many Spring wildflower blossoms, stems, and leaves are completely gone by the end of June.
My new hiking boots have been adequately welcomed by SRSP!
After lunch these Walkers geared up and headed back to the Council Overhang parking lot!
All Park trails remain open, but how has this record wet Spring treated them? I'll leave you with these trail pics from today's walk.
We have the GOOD...
...the BAD...
...and the UGLY!
Great day for a hike. Was one of the ones willing to trudge through the mud after lunch to go back to our car. Am feeling it today.
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