Starved Rock, French Canyon Day 1, Wildcat, Pontiac Canyon Day 2

We have a group in house called the Illinois Head Start / Early Head Start.  Day 1 we went to the top of Starved Rock and into French Canyon.  Day 2 was a hike to the top of Wildcat and Pontiac Canyons.  Both days hikes were at 7:00a.m.  Yes I mean 7:00 in the morning.  Great way to start your day.

Starved Rock from the Veranda

Poison Ivy can grow as a shrub, vine or ground cover.  There is a marked display on the way to Starved Rock.  Leaves of 3, leave them be.  Better yet, if it's green leave it be.  Poison Ivy is NO fun.

Poison Ivy

Spiderwort

While atop Starved Rock, we walked around the boardwalk and took in the views.  I narrated the Legend of Lover's Leap and told them how Starved Rock got its name.  I explain how the locks work and also talk about the white pelican and bald eagles. 

View of the Dam

3 of about 200 that were floating along the river

Illinois Waterway Visitor Center (the locks)

Belle of the Rock

While walking around the top of Starved Rock someone in the group spotted this little guy/gal just hanging out by the flagpole atop of Starved Rock.

Bunny

View of the Lodge

Still not sure what is going on here.  The pile of wood that was by the flagpole has been moved and is coming together.  The majority of the construction is on the south side of the boardwalk.  It also goes under the boardwalk, with a portion on the other side.  Could this be in relation to the solar panels for the flagpole?????

Mystery construction project

Just couldn't get a good photo.  Yes, we were that close!  And only 1.

Deer

Deer, just wouldn't turn around

Deer, had other things on his mind-- like food.

After the rain we had, we saw some great water flowing in French.  I gave everyone instructions on how to get in with not getting the feet wet.

Beginning of French

The steps going into French

My Group

Day 2 -  7:00a.m.Wildcat Canyon & Pontiac Canyon, Lover's Leap.  We left the Lodge headed toward the Campanula trail and onto Wildcat Canyon.

Turkey

Boardwalk on the way to Wildcat Canyon

My Group Day 2, Wildcat Canyon

Small multi flora rose bush

Pontiac Canyon

Top of Starved Rock from Lover's Leap

Top of French Canyon

Many groups come to the Lodge and reserve guided hikes.  Some reserve one hour hikes like this group and some reserve longer.  Any way you look at it, every hike is different.  I meet many new people from all walks of life.  I like chatting with them all.  How lucky I am to be able to experience it!.

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.

May 29, 2014 Matthiessen Park

Today's Walker's Club went to Matthiessen Park.  We planned to test out a long hike we will use for one day during the Hike-a-palooza event scheduled for June 22, 23 and 24.  We started at the fort at the main entrance of the park.

Main sign to the park

20 hikers departed

Replica Fort

We left the Lodge's lobby at about 9:00a.m. and carpooled to Matthiessen State Park Dells Area.  We put on our boot, picked up our walking sticks and took off.  There was 20 hikers all together.  Some were Lodge guests and some were regular members. We left the fort and headed down into the dells area for the first half of the hike.

Strawberry Rock

Real Solomon's Seal

We also many wildflowers today.  This park seemed to be a little behind Starved Rock.  Maybe it is because it was more shady???

Concrete Bridge and Stairway

We went down a stairway and traversed the stream at the bottom until we got to the waterfall.  Much to see on the way.

Bridge along the way

Feathers

We saw this turkey with a couple of little ones.  Very hard to get a photo.  What a treat.

Turkey

Turkey

First big crossing

We call this Spongbob's cousin

I first took a photo of the waterfall and then a video.  They were fabulous after the rain we had last night.  I also took a 360 video.

First waterfall

Devil's Paintbox

We went back up the steps and over the concrete bridge.  We went down again on the other side of the dells area.  More water crossings.

Water crossing

Another water crossing

A little tricky. 

Some water crossings were trickier than others.  We had a few fall.  No names mentioned.

Just walking along

My favorite waterfall at Matthiessen park

Prairie Trillium

We saw many wildflowers.  Most I knew, but I did see some new ones.  One-flowered Broomrape ; One-flowered Cancer Root, Ghostpipe, Naked Broomrape. Not having knowingly encountered this parasitic plant previously, I was surprised to find that it is found in every state in the United States except for Hawaii. It's also found in much of Canada. It may attach its feeder roots to the roots of many different species of plants.

One-flowered Broomrape

Columbine

Waterfall by the Lake

We came up the stairway by the lake.  This is where we lost a few hikers.  Well not really lost them, they choose to end their hike here and walk back on the other side of the Dell area and finish for the day.  Some of us then hiked around the Lake.

Lake shelter (old boat house)

Some old things on the trail

Toad tucked in to the underbrush

Horse Campground

About 1/2 way around the lake we came to the Horse Campground.  I will say that this is about where it gets confusing for me.  Matthiessen State Park has Cross Country Ski trails, Horseback riding trails, Mountain Biking trails, and Hiking trails.  Very confusing. One of our hikers Ron, is an expert at this park. Thanks Ron!!!

Horse Trail marker

Ski Trail marker

Horse and Ski marker

Mountain Biking marker

Trail courtesy

View of the Lake bridge

After we finished going around the Lake, we were headed back to the fort for lunch.  The Lodge made us sack lunches for $10.  I was really hoping to see the Yellow Lady's Slipper.  I knew it was getting close to the end of the season for them.  They are in the orchid family and very rare and hard to find.  We were in luck.  Gary found these 2.  What a treat.

Yellow Lady's Slipper

Yellow Lady's Slipper

Small Waterfall on the way back

Lunch

More hikers left after lunch.  And then there were 3.  On the second half of the hike we headed to the Vermillion River area of the park.

Little pond

Model Airplane Field

Clover (notice the bee?)

In the Crown Vetch Family?

Spider Wort

 

The Green Dragon

I have been looking for this flower for the past 2 years.  It is really hard to find because it is GREEN!  Check out the leaves.... in a circular pattern.  The dragon if you will is underneath (similar to the Jack in the Pulpit). It also is GREEN, with a yellow tongue coming out of it.  I found 1 first and then about 5 minutes later I found 2 more.  What a treat.  When I first saw them, I was sooooo excited.

Top view

Green Dragon

Two Green Dragons, Can you find them?

Wild Garlic

Walked down by the Vermillion River.  Great views of the bluffs.  Also spotted some rafters.

Vermillion River

Rafters

Burl

Little Stream on the way back

Not sure of the kind of flower?

We got back to the parking lot about 3:30p.m.  About 10 miles or so.  If you are interested in doing this hike, the Lodge is having the Hike-a-palooza on June 22, 23 and 24 and the last day is Matthiessen State Park.  You can do just this hike or do all 3 days (includes Starved Rock, Buffalo Rock and I & M Canal (night hike).

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.