Near forty Starved Rock Walkers hiked out to LaSalle Canyon and back today. Near five miles of the best walking in the Park in a persistent drizzle that occasionally became just plain rain.

 I parked in the newly expanded Parkmans Plain lot and walked downstream to the Canyon.

 Even though the number of parking spaces has doubled, this notice on the map stand reminds us that the number of canyons to visit on this walk has been cut in half.

 The East Bluff Trail around the headwall of Owl Canyon.

 The top of the Owl Canyon staircase.

 The 141 steps descend the bluff to the River Trail.

 The bottom of the Owl Canyon Staircase.

 A River Trail view of the South Bluff. This view is hidden behind a green leaf wall all summer.

 Walking downstream towards one of the River Trail bridges.

 A channel marker buoy that 180 days of fast moving 2019 flood waters ripped off its anchor cable. Red buoys mark the midriver side of the channel. The ropes seen here do not belong to the buoy.

 Green buoys mark the near shore side of the commercial channel.

 The River Trail bridge over LaSalle Creek should be part of the "Art in the Park " collection.

 Yes, art in the Park!

 The structurally unsound bridge over Tonti Creek has been closed to hikers since April, 2013. Just a part of what has closed Tonti Canyon to all visitors.

 LaSalle Canyon east wall trail without walkers.

 Same trail with SR Walkers!

 An east wall trail bridge and trail retaining wall.

 Yes! The trail is still retained!

The LaSalle Canyon headwall.

SR Walkers at the headwall!

Far from the tallest but easily my favorite Park waterfall!

 The lower canyon falls and plunge pool aren't bad either!

 Leaving the canyon during a break in the drizzle.

 On the River Trail back towards the Lodge.

 No, the camera can't see the rain, but it didn't last much longer.

Back to the parking lot and headed for a libation.

The rainy walk recalled a quote from 

Leonard L. Levinson,

"A pessimist only sees the dark side of the clouds and mopes;

a philosopher sees both sides and shrugs;

an optimist doesn't see the clouds at all - 

he's walking on them."

Forty-eight Starved Rock Walkers (+2 dogs) used this sunny day after Christmas to climb the Rock, enter French Canyon, and see Eagle Cliff.

 There weren't a lot of winter coats and gloves seen today.

 To go from the Lodge to the Rock you have to descend the 150 metal tread staircase down the South Bluff.

 Two-thirds of the climb up the Rock is an asphalt ramp.

 Sixty-six more stairs and you reach the boardwalk that circles the top of Starved Rock.

In this view from the Rock to Leopold Island you can see the beach and rip-rap around the island that has been under water about 180 days this year. 

 This second flag pole, 100-feet of stainless steel, was gifted to the Park by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1988. They also supplied the first pole in 1913. 

 A view of Starved Rock Lodge from the west side of 

Starved Rock.

 Back down the 66 steps and headed for French Canyon. Cocoa the dog has been a SR Walker as long as I have.

 Now down the ten carved sandstone steps into French Canyon.

 The waterfall on the headwall of French Canyon, seen today in mostly trickle mode, is probably the most photographed waterfall in Illinois.

 Today's youngest hiker escorted by far from the oldest of today's hikers.

 About forty walkers comes close to filling the floor of French Canyon.

 Once you have walked up the waterfall to enter the canyon, walking down it to exit is not a problem.

 All who entered the canyon also got out without getting wet.

 Hikers like muddy trails that are mostly leaf covered.

 A turkey-tail "fun guy" party on a trailside dead tree in French Canyon.

 The last three flights of the 144 step main staircase to the top of the South Bluff.

 A "Boxing Day" view of the hungry butte from Lovers Leap.

 I asked her if I could have an Oreo. 

This is not her "yes" face!

 There is always something to see from the Eagle Cliff platform. We did see one bald eagle on today's walk.

It looks like some of the new lock chamber gates, to be installed next summer, have arrived at their destination.

To quote most of this week's 

social media users,

"MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

Forty-seven Starved Rock Walkers (1 dog) met at the Lodge today for our annual Christmas lunch. Whodda thought we would have to take a ninety minute walk before the dining room opened! Fortunately most of us were prepared for that!

 Leaving the Lodge to build some appetite

French Creek did not look this cold last week!

I wore my ice microspike traction. Didn't need them. All we encountered was an inch of loose snow. 

Down the stairs to the Wildcat Canyon rim boardwalk.

 Ice climbers have to wait until the hanging icicles meet the growing ice mound to form a complete column.

That will not happen for a while yet. 

 An east rim view down to Wildcat Creek shows how the October deluge dammed the left side of the creek and pushed the flow to the right underneath the canyon floor access stairs. 

 Former Park naturalist Tobias Miller would tell young hikers a story about how huge mericats would break the trees during thunderstorms. Maybe!

 Browsing deer love young white pines so not many can be found in the Park. This nice collection of saplings is on a steep slope behind Sandstone Point where even deer can't get good footing.

 Some helpful Walkers explained that this could be the Park's attempt to attract picnicking kayakers!

 By the time we descend the bluff onto the River Trail the freezing temp is not that noticeable.

 I always ask "Is the sandstone block holding up the tree or is the tree holding up the sandstone?" Geologists know!

 Busy beavers left these morning branch drag marks next to the River Trail leading to the water. We still haven't found where this wood is ending up.

 Less than a dozen Walkers braved the thin ice on Wildcat Creek to get closer to the headwall.

 We surprised this "snow eagle" that was perched on

a bench atop Eagle Cliff!

 Might that be a "shelf elf" texting Santa about the

behavior of some Walkers?

 The cookie exchange! Bring two dozen cookies, take home two dozen assorted cookies!

 Most of us exchange that green 12-punched club card sitting on the table for a free lunch! The SR Walkers also passed a basket and donated $324.00 to IV PADS. Happy Holidays!

This shopping season recalls a quote

from Anatole France,

"It is good to collect things; it is better to take walks."