I did two hikes this week. Went to the same places. So I thought I would mesh the photos together. On Thursday, my friend Lori and her son Kevin with their dog Phoenix. And on Saturday I hiked with the Take a Hike and lunch group. Both hikes went to Wildcat and LaSalle Canyons, Lover's Leap and Eagles Cliff. Both days were equally beautiful with Saturday being much hotter in temperature.
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| Dutchman's Britches with some May apples sprinkled in. |
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| Tooth wort |
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| Lori, Kevin and Phoenix at upper Wildcat Canyon |
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| Upper Wildcat |
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| Upper Wildcat |
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| View from the Eastern overlook of Wildcat Canyon |
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| Kevin in the photo spot |
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| Many of the trees are blooming white |
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| View from Sandstone Point - Looking at the Zimmerman Site (Halfway House or the Sulfur Springs Hotel) |
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| Spring beauties trying to open |
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| Young ferns along the sandstone |
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| Yellow Bell Wort are numerous |
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| We still have some Hepatica |
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| Skunk Cabbage - notice the maroon flower at the base. This is the first wildflower to bloom. Sometimes when the snow is still on the ground. Skunk Cabbage can be found in the swampy areas in the park. |
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| Skunk Cabbage |
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| Blood Root |
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| Bridge going to LaSalle Canyon |
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| New Hepatica leaves |
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| False Rue Anemone |
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| Nodding Trillium - This will eventually bloom white. Maybe another week |
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| LaSalle Canyon on Thursday |
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| LaSalle Canyon on Thursday |
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| Ferns unfurling |
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| Squirrel Corn |
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| Hepatica |
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| Virginia Bluebells, just about ready |
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| We saw this little raccoon in the distance |
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| Blooming Spring Beauties |
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| A field of May Apples. When these get to be blooming you won't even see the leaves. |
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| Tooth Wort |
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| Blooming Bloodwort |
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| This Blooming Star has a couple of weeks to go before we see the blooms. It is one of my favorites. |
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| Top of French |
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| Prairie Trillium almost blooming on Thursday |
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| I picked up this bag of Garbage on Thursday. Sad that people can't take out what they bring in! |
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Saturday's Hike
The rest of the photos on this blog's post is from my group on Saturday. The sun was brighter and hotter and there were lots of people.
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| Finally saw the Toad Lily blooming on Saturday, Lots of them!!! |
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| View of Wildcat from the East overlook (notice that on Saturday there is more people |
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| I had a great group of hikers. One family of 14, a newlywed couple, and a group of 3 ladies celebrating a birthday |
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| My friend "Burl" |
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| Blood Root, almost gone, we were lucky to see these. |
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| One blooming Prairie Trillium all day |
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| Couple of frogs in the water under the LaSalle Canyon bridge |
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| Squirrel Corn |
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| LaSalle Canyon on Saturday |
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| Lunch in LaSalle Canyon |
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| West Wall of LaSalle Canyon |
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A seat for three. They are celebrating a birthday. 2 of them have been friends since first grade. The other one joined in later. Great group of ladies.
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| Water falling in LaSalle Canyon |
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| Behind LaSalle Canyon looking out to the East |
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| Little yellow violets |
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| The snakes have arrived. He was right where I anticipated he would be, right below "The Snake Tree". |
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| View of Eagle's Cliff from the River Trail |
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| Saturday and good weather brings out all the crazies. A couple of weeks ago, this is the canyon where a man fell and broke both of his legs. |
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| Wildcat Canyon |
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| Yes those are people way up there. Look close they are there. |
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| Wildcat Canyon on Saturday |
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| "Best view in the Park" View from Eagles Cliff |
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| It was a hot day! I enjoyed two glasses of ice water upon my return. |
Both of my hikes were enjoyable! I had great company. I will be back out there on Monday for the Waterfall and Canyon Tour. Ottawa, St. Louis and Aurora (maybe French also). We'll see.
I will leave you with this: Keep your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground. Most of the time. But always stay on the trail at Starved Rock State Park.
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