Chuck's Adventures

2012-01-13T13:09:00.000-06:00

Wednesday I biked to pick up my van from servicing in town, Thursday was our first real snowfall of the season, and today we enjoyed the snow , hiking at The Hollows in Cary, Illinois...

Resolutions for 2012

2012-01-01T10:46:00.000-06:00

The tradition of New Year's Resolutions goes back to 153 B.C. The Romans named the first month of the year after the mythical king Janus (January), the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back, allowing him to peer backward and forward at the same time. Hence, Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions.

Though I have never put stock in proclaiming what too often are merely temporary personal improvements, I relent now and begin 2012 with these lofty (if inane) aspirations:

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Master the subject of algebra:

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Buy a belt because...

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Get up-to-date with the latest music trends and groups...

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Bike instead of driving...

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Pray that more days start out this way...

...and NOT this way...

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Work out, get into shape, and develop a "six pack:"

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Learn more about that new-fangled invention called the computer...

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Solve that troublesome snoring problem...

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Study up on punctuation rules...

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Don't act my age, act my feelings...

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Analyze all those household mechanical problems and SOLVE them using the proper tool...

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Make those plumbing repairs I've been postponing...

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Re-read this psychology study...

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My advice to everyone for 2012 and beyond: Figure out where you fall on this life timeline, and enjoy the rest of your journey on earth...

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!

Hiking Starved Rock State Park

2011-12-30T15:49:00.000-06:00

Starved Rock State Park is located on the south bank of the Illinois River, opposite the village of Utica, about nine miles west of Ottawa, six miles east of LaSalle, and 94 miles from Chicago. It can be reached via Illinois 178 a couple miles south of Interstate 80. After crossing the Illinois River, turn left into the park. The park is noted for its eighteen canyons within its 2630 acres, fourteen of which feature waterfalls. Thirteen miles of trails take visitors to the canyons. The park celebrated its 100th year in 2011 and is said to be one of the first state parks in the country.

Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette were the first Europeans recorded as exploring the Illinois River Valley, and by 1683 the French had established Fort St. Louis (named for King Louis IV) on a large sandstone butte overlooking the Illinois River. Starved Rock is reputed to have derived its name from a Native American legend of injustice and retribution. In the 1760s, Pontiac, chief of the Ottawa tribe upriver from Starved Rock, was slain by an Illiniwek while attending a tribal council in southern Illinois. According to the legend, during one of the battles that subsequently occurred to avenge his killing, a band of Illiniwek, under attack by a band of Potawatomi (allies of the Ottawa), sought refuge atop a 125-foot sandstone butte. The Ottawa and Potawatomi surrounded the bluff and held their ground until the hapless Illiniwek died of starvation, giving rise to the name "Starved Rock." The butte area was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1960.

There are over 13 miles of hiking trails in Starved Rock State Park taking hikers to 18 deep canyons in the park (14 of which feature waterfalls during rainy times) including French, LaSalle, Ottawa and St. Louis Canyons which feature the more long-lasting waterfalls at Starved Rock. The River Trail offers scenic views from attractions such as Lover's Leap Overlook, Eagle Cliff Overlook and Beehive Overlook. Below is Wildcat Canyon...

St. Peter sandstone comprises the primary rock formations, the result of a series of floods as glacial melt broke through moraines, sending torrents of water across land and creating the canyons nestled against the rise of the bluffs that form the park. Certainly not the terrain one would expect to find in the flatlands of Illinois!

La Salle Canyon and its waterfall were highlights of this hike. Visitors can hike behind these falls and take photos through the water.

From December through February bald eagles can be viewed at the park, either fishing below the Starved Rock Dam where turbulent waters stay unfrozen during the cold winter months or roosting on the Leopold or Plum Island. The eagles, some local residents joined by many migrants from upper Minnesota, winter here.

The Starved Rock Dam is a nice side trip while at the park. It features an informative Visitor Center with indoor and outdoor observation decks to view the locks. You might be fortunate and see barge traffic utilizing the dam as seen here! And the bluff formation across the river in this photo is none other than the famed Starved Rock.

Hiking Matthiessen State Park

2011-12-29T19:20:00.000-06:00

Frederick Matthiessen of LaSalle, Illinois, was a wealthy man and also an extremely charitable man well-known for his philanthropy. He provided his community with a high school, a gymnasium, an athletic field, a public library, a hospital, and an electric light plant, among other improvements. And he developed a private jewel of a retreat named Deer Park, which his heirs donated to the State of Illinois in 1940 with the stipulation that it be preserved as a nature area and wildlife sanctuary. It was later renamed Matthiessen State Park in his honor.

The park is centered around a stream that flows from Matthiessen Lake to the Vermilion River. The stream has cut partway through the sandstone layers, leaving interesting rock formations and drops. The Upper Dells begin at Matthiessen Lake with the Lake Falls, which drop into the canyon below and continue downstream to the 45-foot-tall Cascade Falls where the Lower Dells begin.

The park has grown to 1,938 acres with the addition of former prairie land and forest land south of the original park and significant natural areas along the main canyon. The canyon itself provides a perfect habitat for many mosses and liverworts that thrive on the damp, shady walls. Ferns abound, and throughout the entire length of the canyon, falling water and marvelous rock formations delight visitors.

Matthiessen State Park is located a few miles south of the more famous Starved Rock State Park on Illinois State Route 178 just south of Utica, Illinois. Its principal attraction is the mile-long canyon which is nearly 100 feet deep in places and from 50 to 140 feet wide.

It's a well-developed area for hiking and offers a network of staircases and bridges, where visitors can stand and marvel at the beauty not only surrounding them, but far below. In more than one place, the steps lead to the very floor of a gorge where clear, ice-cold water is dotted with stepping stones. Be prepared for mud in many places!

At the end of the Lower Dells, there is a cave with two entrances you can hike through, seen in the photo below...

Christmas Eve Family Festivities

2011-12-28T06:13:00.000-06:00

Continuing a 70+ year tradition in our family, the cousins gather and celebrate the birth of Jesus! Hallelujah!

The next generation poses for a photo...

Additional photos of the evening's festivities are available here (and can be downloaded)...

Christmas in the Village

2011-12-15T07:19:00.001-06:00

Last weekend was the 16th Annual Christmas in the Village, a free concert given to the people of the Barrington area each year, featuring the church choir and orchestra (click to enlarge)...

Here's a link to a brief 3 minute video with snippets from some of the songs...

http://www.vcbweb.org/ministries/worship/citv-highlights#!prettyPhoto/0/

Home Small Group Christmas Party

2011-12-12T11:23:00.002-06:00

Our church home small group celebrated Christmas yesterday with our annual Christmas party.

Our group leader, Dick, and his wife Ingrid...

Edgar, Betty, Jim, and Tish...

Amy, Edie, and Ingrid...

Our hosts, Joyce and Paul...

Ellen surrounded by Chucks...

The evening hours flew by quickly, filled with fabulous food, festive fun, and fine fellowship. Here are Amy, Karen, and Ingrid...

The annual grab bag gift exchange...

The evening provided a wonderful conclusion to the year's Bible studies!!

Ray Lake Forest Preserve Opens to Public

2011-11-26T14:55:00.000-06:00

The 555 acre Ray Lake Forest Preserve, site of the former Ray Lake dairy farm, is now open to the public. The farm's signature sculpture has been refurbished and proudly welcomes visitors to the preserve.

The entrance is on Erhart Road north of Gilmer Road and west of Fremont Center Road. (From Fairfield Road, go east on Gilmer and then left - north - on Erhart. From Route 60, go west on Erhart past St. Mary's school, cross Fremont Center Road, and go north to the parking lot.)

The parking lot accommodates 25 vehicles and offers washroom and drinking facilities. It appears to have one of the new solar powered gates that open daily at 6 am.

The 2.4 mile blue trail loops the property, passing meadows and wetlands and traversing several small woodlots. The Fort Hill Trail (which begins at the Route 176/Fairfield intersection) follows the left side of the loop and will eventually head east to Fremont center Road and then over to the Lake County Fairground on Peterson Road. (Click to enlarge map.)

Halfway around the loop you'll find this intersection. The Ray Lake blue loop trail continues to the left, and on the right is the Ft. Hill Trail heading a half mile to the Gilmer Road underpass currently under construction. When the underpass is completed, visitors will also be able to park at the Gilmer parking lot (between Fairfield and Route 176) and walk the underpass to reach this intersection.

The trail utilizes three boardwalks to cross wetland areas. Squaw Creek is located on the southwest corner of the preserve.

A grass trail takes hikers on a .4 mile side loop around a wooded area, with a branch trail to the Fremont Elementary and Middle schools on Fremont Center Road

An observation area overlooking the wetlands and woods has a plaque announcing that the area "is in memory of Lucy Holman, nature lover and biking enthusiast, whose generosity helped to construct this trail." Fittingly, from this lookout I spotted a large buck 200 feet away at the tree line.

Thank you Lake County Forest Preserve District, for yet another wonderful preserve

"It Is Well with My Soul" by The Isaacs

2011-11-22T06:01:00.001-06:00

Sonya Isaacs relates the story behind this hymn, explaining the tragedies suffered by the composer, Horatio Gates Spafford, including losing his young son, then losing all possessions in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and later the death of his four daughters in a shipwreck, and how when passing over their watery grave, he composed these words, sung by the Isaacs in their incomparable a cappella style...

For more on the Isaacs, see my post here.

Palatine Concert Band Performance

2011-11-14T20:18:00.001-06:00

Another evening of magnificent music by the Palatine Concert Band last night. Conductor Ron Polancich led the group in four selections, and then after the intermission, he turned the baton over to Colonel Arnald Gabriel, conductor emeritus for the United States Air Force Band, for six rousing numbers.

The Palatine Concert Band is a volunteer adult organization which provides an outlet for both avocational and professional musicians to perform fine wind band literature. While some members are highly-skilled, active performers, most are teachers, business professionals or retired individuals with one common characteristic — a love of learning and performing the finest musical literature.

Rachel Barton Pine and Ars Antigua Concert

2011-11-14T20:10:00.000-06:00

The 22nd Chicago Humanities Festival presented "The Adventurous Violinist" featuring Chicagoan Rachel Barton Pine, internationally acclaimed violinist, accompanied by equally acclaimed Ars Antigua as her "backup band."

Rachel is a Chicagoan and as a child was a prodigy on the violin. She began playing when three and a half, and at age seven she debuted with the Chicago String Ensemble, and three years later she played with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. At age 14 she was forced by circumstances to contribute significantly to her family's expenses by taking jobs playing at weddings and in orchestras. She says she managed by "putting on a lot of makeup and pretending I was older than I was."

Her interests and talent take her from classical music to heavy metal and she plays with groups from both these genres.

For 17th and 18th century pieces she prefers to use an unaltered 1770 instrument of Nicolo Gagliano, and for tonight's concert she played the rare Viola d'Amore, a 12 string instrument with a beautiful warm sound, also crafted by Gagliano as she enhanced the audience with Vivaldi concertos.

She founded and runs the Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation (using her maiden name) to promote the study and appreciation of classical music, including string music by black composers.

Ars Antigua is a term that refers to the music of Europe of the late Middle Ages (1170 to 1310) and they perform music from the Renaissance through Classical eras on period instruments. They are renowned for their technical excellence, emotional impact, and historical scholarship.

Leaf Raking Project

2011-11-05T16:04:00.001-05:00

Today, 24 of us from the Village Church of Barrington assembled at the 2 acre home of an older lady who had lived in the house since 1946, and we raked her leaves as a service project by two of our church's small home groups (click to enlarge photos).

The weather cooperated, with bright sun and mid-fifties temperature...

Many hands (and rakes) made fast work of the 2 acres of fallen leaves...

The grateful woman supplied cider and donuts for the workers, which was much appreciated...

About 55 bags were filled and placed near the road for pickup next week...

Here are some of the volunteers along with "the lady of the house" (third from left)...

Success!!!!!

Additional photos can be seen and downloaded here.

Ansel Adams Photo Exhibit

2011-11-04T19:44:00.001-05:00

The Lake County Discovery Museum, located in Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda, Illinois, houses displays depicting the history of Lake County in a fun learning environment. It also displays the nation’s largest permanent exhibition on the history and significance of postcards. Finally, temporary exhibits in the special exhibition galleries take inspiration from art, history and popular culture.

The current exhibit is a national touring exhibition featuring works by celebrated nature photographer Ansel Adams (1902-1984) and runs through January 8, 2012. Today after hiking 5 miles in the preserve, we visited the exhibit which is comprised of 70 of his photographs. Below is his self-portrait photo...

Born and raised in San Francisco, Adams took his first photograph at the age of 14 using a Kodak Box Brownie while on a family holiday in Yosemite National Park, and by the 1930s, he was a famous American photographer and on the way to becoming internationally acclaimed. He tied his two great loves of photography and the outdoors into a reputation as celebrated photographer and vocal environmentalist and devoted his life to capturing the changing beauty of the natural world, from the monumental in size to the smallest in stature. (The silver gelatin photographs in this exhibit are the Museum Set Edition from the Anne Helms Collection.)

This shot particularly appealed to me because last year, on a trip to Utah, I stayed in the town of Manti in the Temple View Motel, a small ma-and-pa place across the street from the magnificent Manti Temple (click to enlarge photos). Though not allowed to enter the structure, I was able to walk the grounds and observe and photograph it from all sides (though none as spectacular as Adams' shot of course!)

A few years ago I backpacked in Arizona's Canyon de Chelly and enjoyed seing Adams' photo of the famous White House Ruins...

Yosemite National Park was Adams' favorite area, and having camped there 4 days just 2 months ago, I loved seeing his photos of this majestic scenery...

Half Dome, Merced River, Winter

Vernal Falls

Moon and Half Dome

The exhibit runs through January 8th and a token charge of $6 is collected at the door, with a special price of only $3 for those over 55 and students between 18 and 25. Children are $2.50. For more info, go here.

Fall Biking in Lakewood Forest Preserve

2011-10-28T17:20:00.000-05:00

Biked 20 miles in Lakewood Forest Preserve today on the Millennium and Ft. Hill Trails, including the former Four Winds Golf Course property which is now part of Lakewood. Here are a few shots...

Today's ride puts me over 320 miles for October, a new personal record for October whose changeable weather often precludes high mileage riding.

I am also over 2400 miles for the fourth year in a row and only a couple dozen miles from passing 2500 miles for the second year -- and hopefully we still have a few more October days and a number of November days to bike before the weather shuts us down until Spring.

Birthday wish from Frank...

2011-10-19T16:08:00.000-05:00

This was sent to me by my colleague from Fremd HS, Frank, from those geniuses at JibJab...

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Mushrooms, anyone?

2011-10-18T13:01:00.000-05:00

A bit chilly for biking today (45 degrees) so we hiked 6 miles in Lakewood FP and spotted these mushrooms. This first one is like a Gemini and was growing off a tree trunk about 8 feet off the ground...

...and this one was huge (notice my shoe in the photo to give it perspective)...

The dirt over the 5 foot tall culvert has gradually been washing away for years, so now it's a balancing act to get across the two chasms on either side of the culvert -- just adds to the adventure of hiking...

Steve Green Concert

2011-10-17T07:26:00.001-05:00

My church, the Village Church of Barrington, celebrated its 50th Anniversary this weekend, culminating with a concert by Christian artist Steve Green who has 27 years in his solo career. Before that, he sang with the group Truth, sang backup for The Bill Gaither Trio, and then sang tenor in the newly formed Gaither Vocal Band. Steve's 33 recordings include 13 number one songs, seven Dove awards (the Gospel Music Association's highest award), and four Grammy nominations.

Last night, the church was packed with over 400 spectators as seen below...

Steve's accompanist and music director, Dick Tunney, is also a Christian music star who has worked with the Imperials and Sandi Patti. He and his wife, Melanie, have written over 150 songs and received one Grammy and ten Dove awards. Dick's first instrument (as a five year old) was accordion, and he left the grand piano last night to join Steve in this duet...

Several songs included slide shows in the background as seen here, and Steve's accappella rendition of "A Mighty Fortress" received a standing ovation. What a blessed evening it was with every song like a brief sermon extolling the love of Christ, and Steve's commentaries between selections enhanced the meaningful worship experience...

Steve's wife of 33 years, Marijean, a soloist in her own right, joined him onstage for a duet...

On a personal note, I've sung in church choirs continuously for 52 years, and participating in our church choir's "backup" role for eight of Steve's songs ranks as one of the greatest choral performances I've enjoyed over all those years -- truly a "mountain-top" experience that will not be forgotten.

Two days after this concert, Steve appeared in concert at Carnegie Hall with Larnelle Harris and Steve Amerson in a three Christian tenors performance.

Family Reunion

2011-10-16T06:26:00.000-05:00

Uncle Otto came back to Chicago to visit this week, driven by his daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Dick. It had been over 50 years since he had moved his family to Louisville and many decades since his last visit to his hometown. I drove them, along with my mom, Edith (his sister) on a nostalgic tour of the old neighborhoods. First came their home in the Wells Park/Lincoln Square area. Here are Otto and Cheryl in front of their old place, along with Edith and Dick (click to enlarge photos)...

Next came the Roscoe Village neighborhood where Otto and Edith had grown up as children. Their father, my grandfather, had owned this tavern and they had grown up living above the business.

Then we went to our Paulina Street home in the Lakeview neighborhood where Linda and had I had grown up, and where Cheryl had lived her first few years before moving to the house shown earlier in this post (both buildings owned by our grandfather)...

A drive to the nearby Lincoln- Belmont shipping area brought back memories to all of us, though few of the businesses we had patronized back in the 1950s-1970s remained. One notable exception was our favorite bakery, Dinkels, which is still going strong and still with the original sign out front...

Uncle Otto also wanted to drive by the Aragon Ballroom where he and his wife, Mary, had often spent evenings dancing the night away...

Next it was to Lake Shore Drive and a stop at Montrose Harbor with its majestic view of Chicago's skyline in the background...

...and finally to Linda's place for a family get-together and pizza supper. Here are the reunited siblings, now 87 and 92 respectively...

...and some of the rest of the family enjoying the family reunion...

That New-Fangled Green Thing

2011-10-10T13:46:00.000-05:00

Checking out at the grocery store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because "plastic bags weren't good for the environment."

The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this 'green thing' back in my earlier days."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation didn't care enough to save our environment for future generations."

She says our generation didn't have "the green thing" in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles, and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day...so we didn't know what we were doing to the environment.

We walked up stairs because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.....so we didn't know how much time we were wasting.

Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day...so there we were, saving a few dollars but wasting so much valuable time - again!

Back then, we had one TV or radio in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then...so guess what...

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then...so there went the environment.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

Please share this with another selfish older person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smart-mouth youngster.

In Memorium: Steve Jobs

2011-10-05T20:19:00.003-05:00

Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Computer in 1976 when he dropped out of college and on April Fools Day began a the company in his parents' garage. He worked on the design, development, and marketing of one of the pioneer personal computers, the Apple II series. Then in 1984, realizing the potential of the graphical user interface (mouse and icon) invented by Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center, he led the creation of the Macintosh line of computers.

After a power struggle with his board of directors in 1985, he resigned and founded NeXT Computer, which in 1996 was bought out by Apple, bringing him back as CEO again and resurrecting what was a dying brand and building it into the world's second most valuable company.

Back in 1986, he acquired what he renamed Pixar Animation Studios and successfully ran it, selling it to Disney in 2006 and joining their board of directors. He received a producer credit for their first film, "Toy Story." In fact, five of the top grossing animated films are by Pixar.

His CEO salary at Apple was $1 a year, but his millions of shares in both Apple and Disney made him the 42nd wealthiest American on Forbes' 2010 list with an estimated 8.3 billion dollar fortune.

He was renowned for his privacy, but quietly amassed over 300 Apple patents as principal inventor or "one inventor among several" for a vast variety of ideas and products, including desktop computer housings, 85 iPod patents including the revolutionary click wheel, iPhone and iPad, multi-touch gestures, packaging, keyboards, mice, monitors, Apple TV, interface ideas for the Macintosh operating system, power adapters, power plugs, and even ornamental glass staircases for Apple stores.

After working a full day in August of this year, he submitted his resignation letter as CEO for health reasons, writing "I believe Apple's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it" even though he had been instrumental in so many of their innovations.

He is survived by his wife, four children, and his sister.

It was fitting that I learned of his death from a news flash on my iPad, technology he was instrumental in bringing to the market.

Here's an excerpt from his Stanford University Commencement Speech in 2005:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

Sandhills on a mission...

2011-10-05T15:49:00.000-05:00

Here are three of the flock of sandhill cranes that buzzed low over my back yard this morning, gossiping loudly in their raucous voices during their flyby...

...as I was taking pictures of this hot air balloon near our water tower...

Millennium Trail Extension

2011-10-03T19:13:00.000-05:00

The Lake County Forest Preserve District has opened the newest addition to their Millennium Trail, a two mile segment in Round Lake from Litchfield Drive (Nature's Cove community) to Fairfield Park Disk Golf Course (Round Lake Area Park District.)

From Litchfield Drive, you pedal a 3/4 mile section running behind the Valley Lake community and along a garden nursery, including a boardwalk over a wetland and several lovely stretches through woods.

Then you reach a fence blocking the trail with a prominent sign indicating that the trail ends because the Village of Round Lake (847-546-5400) will not cooperate in granting a 640' long easement through the section shown below (as well as a 30' section at the start of the trail at Litchfield Drive)...

The next segment follows the power tower corridor and crosses Nippersink Road...

After several uphills and downhills, the trail curves into the woods to avoid a wetland area, crosses under the power lines, crosses Squaw Creek on a bridge...

...and enters Fairfield Park (with signage warning you are entering a disk golf area with flying frisbees possible.) There is a good size gravel lot at Fairfield Road for those who wish to drive to the trail access.

I've biked 149 trails across the country, including 33 in the five-county Chicago area, and the two signature trails of the LCFPD (the 32 mile Des Plaines River Trail and 20 mile Millennium Trail) are among the best I've biked -- both place high on my list of the top 10 trails I've been on.

I hope the FPD builds the "missing link" next year through Marl Flat Preserve to connect the existing section in Volo to this new Round Lake segment. Otherwise, you have to bike 2.5 miles on Fish Lake, Waite, Wilson, and Litchfield Roads to make the connection. And I hope the Village of Round Lake develops a cooperative mind set towards this multi-community trail effort.

The plans for the Millennium Trail are to extend it to the north and east to complete the "U" shaped loop and return to the Des Plaines River Trail from whence it began in Libertyville. I anticipate the trail will continue under the power corridor until it meets the Round Lake Bike Path, then on through several more forest preserves -- namely Rollins Savanna, McDonald Woods, Fourth Lake, and eventually Wadsworth Savanna (the trail exists or is being built in several of these areas.)

Saguaro National Park

2011-09-26T07:33:00.000-05:00

For most people, the Giant Saguaro (pronounced "saw-WAH-roe") is the universal symbol of the American West even though these majestic plants are only found in a small portion of the United States. Saguaro National Park protects some of the most impressive forests of these sub-tropical giants, right on the edge of the City of Tucson. To further protect these cacti, the Saguaro Wilderness Area was officially designated as wilderness in 1976. This large, roadless backcountry consists of 57,930 acres within the Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park, bounded on three sides by the 38,590 acre Rincon Mountain Wilderness Area which lies within the Coronado National Forest.

The park's two districts offer more than 165 miles of hiking trails, ranging from a stroll on a short interpretive nature trail or an overnight backcountry trek through the desert wilderness from 3000 feet in elevation to 8000 feet. But even a drive on the park's paved and gravel roads gives you a good feel for the scenery and topography as seen below...

The oldest saguaros can go taller than a four story building and weigh seven tons. Their arms and main stem expand like an accordion to store water collected through the roots. The saguaro may only be 12 inches tall after 15 years and can take up to 75 years before developing arms. Their life span can approach 200 years and the largest saguaros can reach 45 feet in height and 10 feet in girth. The food-making process of photosynthesis normally carried out by leaves is performed in the trunk and branches.

Rather than a place fostering little life, the Sonoran desert is often described as a "desert jungle" because it is habitat for such a huge diversity of flora and fauna, namely 200+ species of animals and 600+ species of plants dominated by the namesake saguaro. Over 25 species of cacti join the saguaro on the desert floor.

Saguaros are able to support their succulent water-filled bodies and attain tree-like heights due to their internal support structures containing a ring of 12 to 30 vertical wooden ribs that remain standing even after the cactus dies and its flesh has fallen away, as seen below...

Biking Skunk Creek Trail

2011-09-26T07:27:00.000-05:00

Glendale, arizona's Skunk Creek Trail follows the namesake creek for 4.2 miles, passing several parks including Foothills Park with its water park and skateboard park, as well as residential and commercial areas.

I saw the trail while driving along Bell Road and parked in a shopping center lot by Carl Jrs. at N.73rd Ave. and rode the trail not realizing how short it was. I tried to find the connection to the longer Arizona Canal Trail but didn't find it. Checking Google map now, I see that what I took for a half mile to the west was not just an access trail. It turns south, crosses Grandview and then West Sandra Terrace (looking like a sidewalk more than a bike trail and with no signage at all) gets you to a continuation of Skunk Trail to the west and the lengthy Arizona Canal Trail to the east.

Most road crossings are via underpasses, and the lack of signage in places got me on several access trails ending in residential areas instead of on the main trail, though there are many signs reminding you that these underpasses flood during storm season as seen below...

The Phoenix area has done a marvelous job utilizing the canals and flood arroyos for recreational trail use. The local residents no doubt learn the routes by using them, but we visitors passing through town would appreciate better signage to direct us to the the trails and keep us on the correct trail.

Biking Arizona's Grand Canal Trail

2011-09-26T07:09:00.000-05:00

The Grand Canal Linear Park is a partnership between the cities of Glendale and Phoenix and the Flood Control District of Maricopa County. The Grand Canal Trail is advertised as 23 miles in length and being partially paved and partially dirt. I began at West Regional Park in Glendale and biked both directions through the lovely and well-landscaped Grand Canal Linear Park and stopped where the pavement ended, not realizing it continued along the canal on the dirt dike, and I had biked about 11 miles round trip. (Phoenix's website says you can ride the trail from 75th and Camelback to Papago Park.)

The trail has access trails to all neighborhoods it passes and was getting quite a bit of use the day I biked it.

The western terminus is at Loop Highway 101 by the University of Phoenix Stadium.

Joshua Tree National Park

2011-09-23T20:26:00.000-05:00

First established as a national monument in 1936 due to the efforts of desert enthusiast Minerva Hoyt, it was elevated to national park status in 1994, so 2011 is its 75th anniversary as protected land. Nearly 558,000 acres of the park's 790,636 acres are designated as wilderness. Its elevation, dry desert air, and isolation make it a favorite of astronomers and stargazers.

Humans have occupied the area encompassed by Joshua Tree National Park for at least 5,000 years. The first group known to inhabit the area was the Pinto Culture, followed by the Serrano, the Chemehuevi, and the Cahuilla. In the 1800s, cattlemen grazed stock on the ample grass available at the time and built water impoundments for them. Miners dug tunnels looking for gold. Homesteaders built cabins, dug wells, and planted crops. All left their mark on the land and added to the rich cultural history of the park.

Below is the namesake Joshua tree. It was used extensively by American Indians for baskets and sandals as well as for food, by eating the flower buds and the raw or roasted seeds. Legend says it was named by early Mormon immigrants who likened its outstretched arms to the biblical figure Joshua in supplication.

Joshua Tree National Park's nearly 800,000 acres protect three ecosystems which meet here, the Sonoran Desert, the Mohave Desert, and the Little San Bernadino Mountains at 4000 feet elevation. The biodiversity protected in these distinct ecosystems include ocotillo, jumping cholla cactus, Joshua trees, juniper and pinyon pine, bighorn sheep, lizards, frogs, tortoises, toads, kit fox, squirrels, chuckwillas, six species of rattlesnakes, coyotes, jack rabbits, kangaroo rats, and migratory birds.

An interesting area is Hidden Canyon, a 55 acre canyon accessible on a mile+ loop trail that circles the inside of the canyon and is surrounded by high rock formations. Legend has it that cattle rustlers in the 1870s used this hidden canyon and its box canyon at the end to hide themselves and their stolen cows. Rock climbers now use the rock cliffs which enjoy world-class reputation. In fact, the trail signs also direct climbers to the various popular climbing formations.

The Coacheela Valley extends 50 miles as seen below, though pollution from Southern California often impairs the panorama from up here at Keys View, elevation 5185 feet. The Salton Sea is just beyond peaks in the middle of the photo, and the infamous San Andreas Fault runs through the valley.

Edward Abbey wrote, "It seems to me that the strangeness and wonder of existence are emphasized here, in the desert, by the comparative sparsity of the flora and fauna: life not crowded upon life, with a generous gift of space for each herb and bush and tree, each stem of grass, so the living organism stands out bold and brave and vivid against the lifeless sand and barren rock."

Indeed, deserts are not deserted but teeming with life -- insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, algae, fungi, cactus, flowers, shrubs, and trees, all well adapted to conserve water, cope with temperature extremes, escape predators, and survive the sun and wind and sometimes torrential rains. Appreciation and eventual love of arid desert panoramas may be an acquired taste, but give it a try! There is great beauty and wondrous solitude in the desert.

Biking Ojai Valley Trail

2011-09-22T19:11:00.000-05:00

California's Ojai Valley Trail travels 10 paved miles from Foster Park in Oak View to Ojai, the smallest city in Ventura County, which is surrounded by the peaks of Los Padres National Forest. Ojai has long been known as a haven for artists, musicians and outdoor enthusiasts. The Chumash Indians were the first known residents of Ojai, and the town's name derives from their word for moon, "A'hwai." The Ojai Valley Trail follows the former Ventura and Ojai Valley rail line and runs along the Ventura River into the valley.

I began at Foster Park. If you want to avoid the $2 day use parking fee, you can park just outside the gate on the gravel under the freeway overpass. From the underpass you can go either direction -- to your left for the Ventura River Trail, or to the right for the Ojai Valley Trail. The trail has a gradual uphill as you head to Ojai, giving you a nice coast back downhill on your return.

Don't be fooled by description of the trail saying it follows the Ventura River, because here it is. According to a local resident I talked to at this valley overlook, even during the rainy season there isn't much water below due to irrigation farther upstream.

The only water I saw was this scenic stream that you cross just after you begin the uphill.

When you reach Ojai, the trail appears to end in a shopping center parking lot, but if you look to your right across Highway 33, you'll see a sign for Rotary Community Park and the continuation of the trail. You then go through the park, past the golf course, and begin crossing residential streets. When the trail again appears to end at a storage facility, look across the street to your right, and between the storage place and the Ventura County Humane Society grounds, you'll see the trail continues alongside the storage facility. Don't get too excited though, for the trail does end at the end of their building in a gravel alley.

Trailheads:

To reach the Foster Park trailhead from downtown Ventura, take Highway 33 heading north. Exit Highway 33 at Casitas Vista Road. Turn right on North Ventura Avenue, and then right again on Casitas Vista Road. The entrance to Foster Park is on the north side of Casitas Vistas Road. Parking is available here.

You can also park in Rotary Community Park at Highway 33 and 150.

Channel Islands National Park

2011-09-21T21:50:00.000-05:00

Channel Island National Park is close to the California mainland, yet worlds apart. It encompasses five remarkable islands, Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara, and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was.

Concessionaires offer ferries and flights or you can use a private boat to get to the islands. Island Packers has been the only boat service for as long as this has been a national park, and I rode with them to Anapaca Island, 12 miles of the mainland. The rugged coast of the island requires some deft boatmanship to back up to the dock in a tiny inlet, and when waves are too fierce, no passengers can be dropped off or picked up. After landing, you then have to climb 157 stairs to reach the island's top.

Anacapa Island is five miles in length (737 acres) and is composed of three islets, East, Middle, and West, with the last two set aside for wildlife. In fact, West Anacapa is the country's largest rookery for brown pelicans during breeding season. About two miles of trails are available on East Anapaca as well as a campground. There is no water on the island, so bring plenty, and there are no services as far as restaurants. Four pit toilets are available, and you must carry all your own trash off the island.

For over 10,000 years, the Chumash people, who lived on the larger islands, stopped at Anacapa on their way to the mainland. They called the island "Anapakh" or "mirage" because it was ever-changing. In the summer fog or afternoon heat, the island seems to change is shape. Also, this was dry season and much of the vegetation was brown, but Kathy, our naturalist/volunteer guide explained how during the rainy season, many of the plants are lush green and blossoming, another change.

The farthest point west on East Anacapa is inspiration point, and from here you are looking at Middle and West Anapaca in the distance, islands so steep and rocky they are far more suited to wildlife habitation than by humans...

A shipwreck in 1837 instigated the eventual construction of a light beacon in 1912 and finally this 1937 lighthouse, with a foghorn added later...

Over 150 species of flora are on the island and over 69 species of birds have been documented. Western Gulls have covered the island with their white droppings which is not so affectionately called "Anacapa snow." The raucous cacophony of California sea lions and seals can be heard from most places on the island since they favor the rocky shores for breeding and living.

Twenty percent of the island is covered by a succulent green-leaved, red-flowered plant called iceplant. But it is an invasive that negatively affects the fragile ecosystem of plants and animals, so a large contingent of dedicated volunteers are diligently removing the invasive iceplant and replacing it with native plants grown locally in this facility from seeds collected on the island...

As you arrive at or leave Anacapa, the signature feature of Channel Islands National Park, the famous Arch Rock, is unmistakeable...

During the summer, park rangers scuba dive in East Anacapa's Landing Cove with a video camera, and visitors watch on monitors on the dock and back at the mainland visitor center, and the divers even answer questions while underwater. Also, archived video of dives is available on the Channel Island NP webpage.
(I just watched an episode and it is very informative and presents a wealth of information on the underwater kelp forest and the creatures dependent upon it.)

The park includes not just the five islands, but also a mile around each island. Furthermore, the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary extends six miles from the shore of each island, protecting over 2000 species of plants and animals, 145 of which are found nowhere else on Earth!

Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara Islands are reputed to be just as wonderful as Anapaca, and each has unique characteristics to distinguish it from the others. I've been told that any of the islands would be a good choice for exploration.

Sequoia National Park

2011-09-21T08:03:00.000-05:00

Sequoia National Park became the second national park in 1890 and now extends over 404,000 acres and its land mass spans over 13,000 vertical feet, capped by Mt. Whitney at 14,505 feet in altitude. Kings Canyon NP, Sequoia NP, and Sierra National Forest (and the Sequoia National Monument) abut and intermingle here in this most rugged segment of the Sierra Nevada Range.

The General Sherman Tree is the largest tree on earth by volume and is in the section of the park named by John Muir the "Giant Forest" which is home to five of the ten largest trees in the world. The park's giant sequoia forests are part of 202,430 acres of old growth forests shared by Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. 84% of the park is designated wilderness and is accessible only by foot or horseback. In fact, only one road, Generals Highway, leads into the park and is shared with Kings Canyon NP. No road in either park crosses the Sierra Nevada to the east.

The Sherman Tree (below) is 275 feet tall. Like many sequoia, the top is dead, but the tree continues to add to its huge cylindrical trunk. In fact, they estimate this tree adds as much bark to its bulk annually to equal another large tree of most other species! Its current circumference is 103 feet. If its volume were filled with water, it would contain enough water for 9844 baths, one a day for 27 years. Its largest branch is nearly seven feet in diameter.

This is called "Auto Log," a sequoia that fell in 1917 and for years was used to photograph autos driving on its surface...

Moro Rock is a wonderful overlook of the park and is accessible via this 400-step stairway, built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, that takes you up 300 vertical feet to the rock's top. The stairs are cut into and poured onto the rock, and the stairway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The view from the top encompasses much of the park, including the Great Western Divide, and is at an elevation of 6,725 feet.

Here's the view from atop Moro Rock...

Tunnel Log is a tunnel cut through a fallen giant sequoia tree in Sequoia National Park. The tree, which measured 275 feet tall and 21 feet in diameter, fell across a park road on December 4, 1937, due to natural causes. The following year, a crew cut an 8-foot tall, 17-foot wide tunnel through the trunk, making the road passable again, as seen below...

Kings Canyon National Park

2011-09-21T07:58:00.000-05:00

In 1891, John Muir wrote, "In the vast Sierra wilderness far to the southward of the famous Yosemite Valley, there is a yet grander valley of the same kind." He was exploring the wondrous Kings Canyon along the Kings River.

Kings Canyon NP, Sequoia NP, and Sierra National Forest (and the Sequoia National Monument) abut and intermingle here in this most rugged segment of the Sierra Nevada Range. Visitors drive down from 6500 feet to 3000 to reach the valley of Kings River, from where the road then takes you upriver and uphill to 4500 feet elevation at Roads End, from which backcountry hikes are available. There are no exits to the east as the mountains are impassible. Here's a view from high above before the road descends...

...and here's a view as I drive the road to Roads End...

Make sure you stop at Grizzly Falls and hike back to the falls...

Off in the distance are those impassible mountains...

The giant sequoia are the largest living trees on earth. One other tree species lives longer, one has a greater diameter, three species may grow taller, but none are larger by volume. Most tree species can be killed by disease, insect infestation, or fire, but giant sequoias are resistant to all of these. Chemicals in the bark and wood provide resistance to insects and fungi, and thick bark and water-based sap insulates from most fire. The main cause of death is toppling, Their shallow root system with no taproot, added to extreme heights and weight, can allow falling from high winds or heavy snow load.

The General Grant Tree in the Grant Grove is so wide it would take about 20 people holding hands to encircle the trunk. If the trunk of this tree were a gas tank, a car getting 25 mpg could drive around the earth 350 times. The tree trunk could hold 159,000 basketballs or 37 million ping-pong balls. This makes its 40 foot diameter the third largest tree in the world by volume. It is 1700 years old, is 268 feet tall, and weighs 1254 pounds. (The world's largest tree by volume is down the road and is on my post for Sequoia National Park.)

This "Fallen Monarch" toppled well over 100 years ago and remains on the forest floor, on display for visitors to walk through to see the inside of the tree.

Biking the Fresno-Clovis (CA) Bike Trails

2011-09-20T21:34:00.000-05:00

This 13 mile paved trail runs from Fresno to Clovis, California, combining two former rail corridors into the Fresno Sugar Pine Trail and the Clovis Old Town Trail. I began in Fresno, parking behind the cinema at River Park Shopping Center on Nees. The trail begins under the freeway underpass. The first mile runs along office complexes and then a residential area. You'll notice the thousand of trees that have been planted along the trail.

Being an urban trail, there are many, many road crossings, most protected by underpasses, traffic signals, or stop signs, but not all, so use caution. After the underpass beneath Willow Road, you'll know the Sugar Pine Trail ends and the Old Town Trail begins by this gateway...

When you reach the statue of the walking doctor and Tom Stears Station, it appears the trail ends. You can turn left and go to the next street, Hughes, which has a bike lane to get to the next block where the paved trail resumes. Or even better, go straight ahead into the Clovis public parking lot for Old Town, and at the first street go right and you'll find the old main street seen below...

The Clovis Trail, at about mile 10.5, the trail ends at a white fence blocking the trail with railroad tracks starting on the other side of the fence. If it continues beyond somewhere, I saw no indication of it resuming.

Two trails branch off from the Old Town Trail. Spud's Spur is a short access trail from a neighborhood, but the Dry Creek Trail adds a lovely 5 miles or so to your ride as it runs along the creek as seen here...

... then at Clovis Road take the sidewalk to the left past Cottonwood Park, then cross both Alluvial and Clovis Roads at the intersection, and continue as the trail runs through Dry Creek Park, past the botanical garden, and then by an upscale neighborhood. After about 2.75 miles, the pavement ends, but it appears you could bike on the dirt dike along the canal/creek across the street.

Parking:

To reach the southern trailhead in Clovis, from Highway 99, exit at CA-180E, proceed 7 miles to exit at 63 (Clovis Avenue) and then head north for 2.5 miles. The trailhead is on Clovis Avenue, 0.3 mile south of the intersection with Dakota Avenue. There is no parking at the trailhead, but users can park along Dakota Avenue or any of the stores along Clovis which the trail parallels.

To reach the northern trailhead in Fresno, from Highway 41, exit at CA-135 (Friant Road/Blackstone Avenue). Go south on Friant/Blackstone 0.5 mile, and turn left on West Nees Avenue. The trailhead will be on your left, under the freeway overpass. There is no parking at the trailhead, but you will find ample parking at River Park Mall, on your right.

Biking and Hiking Yosemite National Park

2011-09-19T08:33:00.000-05:00

"Yosemite is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter."

--John Muir-

BIKING

I concur with Muir whole-heartily!

Yosemite became a national park in 1890 predominantly due to the efforts of John Muir and it is one of our first wilderness parks, with 95% of its 1200 square miles designated as wilderness. Though it has 350 miles of roads, it is mainly a hiking park with 800 miles of trails. And though best known for its spectacular waterfalls, its majestic granite peaks and deep valleys, its lush grand meadows, its crystal clear streams, and its stately, immense sequoia trees are all just as awesome.

I visited all the areas of the park by vehicle over the four days I was there, and I found the best way to see the popular and heavily congested Yosemite Valley is by bike, since 7.3 million people visit annually and most concentrate on the seven acres within Yosemite Valley. The park rents one-speed, balloon tire bikes and many visitors availed themselves of their availability, but I travel with my bike and used it. You can also avail yourself of the free shuttle bus system in the park. Your best bet in finding free parking for the day is at Curry Village with its large paved and unpaved lots.

The the first part of this post regards the sights you can reach from the bike trail, a 12 mile paved loop circling much of the valley. It is well marked in the Yosemite Village area and less well marked elsewhere, but just consider it an adventure and see where a path takes you.

In places, the trail abuts the road as seen to the left of the trail here... (click to enlarge photos)...

...but several lovely segments take you through deeply forested sections or alongside lovely meadows, often with glimpses of the river or surrounding cliffs and peaks...

A side pedal to the historic and ultra-expensive Ahwahnee Hotel is a must. Everywhere except here provided bike racks, but a tree did just fine for locking the bike as I walked the lovely grounds and checked out the lobby and sitting areas.

In the Village area, you can get a meal at the Degnan Cafe or Degnan Deli, visit the Visitor Center (and don't miss the free "Spirit of Yosemite" movie in the theatre), the Nature Store, the Museum, and walk through the replica Indian village seen here...

All paved trails and roads are available to bikers except the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail, but the half-mile hike to the base of the Lower Falls is worth the stroll (consider it cross-training!)

As the trail parallels Southside Drive, you'll get a great view across a meadow of Upper Yosemite Falls in the distance and the top of Lower Falls in the bottom left of this photo...

This view is from the bike path as it crosses over the Merced River. The trail loop takes you on both sides of the river and there are a number of bridges available so you can make loops of various lengths. Carry a camera with you as you bike because spectacular scenery abounds!

The road to Happy Isles and Mirror Lake and is closed to private vehicles, making it a good bike venue. The lake is called a seasonal lake, though hydrologists now believe it is not a lake at all, but actually a large temporary pool of water during spring rain and snowmelt season. Whichever is right, the fact is that even in its much reduced volume as when I saw it, you can still get a feel of the reason for its name as you see it mirror the mountain peak in this photo below...

HIKING

Bridalveil Falls is also in Yosemite Valley, but the bike trail doesn't reach it. You can bike the road if you don't mind vehicles driving at 35 mph on a twisting road whose drivers are probably distracted by the scenery. Instead, I drove to the parking area, the first you come to as you enter the valley. A short hike gets you to the base of this impressive falls...

Another spectacular section at Yosemite's northwestern entrance requires you briefly leave the park and venture a few miles to the Hetch Hetchy region. The name is from the Sierra Miwok language and refers to a grass with edible seeds that grows in the valley. The dam that creates this reservoir has been fought over for a hundred years and was considered by John Muir and the Sierra Club as one of their biggest regrets, calling the flooded valley "a wonderfully exact counterpart of Yosemite Valley." The dam provides water and power for San Francisco and was authorized after the city's water and power were destroyed by the earthquake of 1906. Here's the reservoir from the trail along the shoreline...

Another must-see area is Mariposa Grove at the southern entrance, the largest stand of Giant Sequoia trees in the world. Its 500 acres offer 500 mature Giant Sequoias which are among the largest living things as well as nearly the oldest, some living to be 3000 years of age. Nothing can kill them -- not diseases, insect infestations, or fire. They die when they can no longer support their own great size and weight under the burdens of snow and wind, and thus come crashing down. Imagine the roar when one falls with a diameter of up to 30 feet! There are two other smaller stands of these trees in Yosemite, too.

Glacier Point is another spectacular area. A four mile hike up a strenuous trail from Yosemite Valley will get you there, or a drive on Glacier Road. After having been in the Valley, it is interesting to look down on both the Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, as well as Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls, Half Dome, and a dozen mountain peaks, a 360 degree vantage they claim will have you looking out over 1/4 of Yosemite National Park. Here's the view of Yosemite Valley from high above the valley floor. When up there, you can spot the Ahwahnee Hotel, the Yosemite Lodge, Curry Village, Yosemite Village, Mirror Lake, the Merced River, and even Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls.

The Toulumne Meadows region in eastern Yosemite gives a different vision of Yosemite, and a hike on the John Muir/Pacific Crest Trail to and through Lyell Canyon provides vistas like this...

"I used to envy the father of our race, dwelling as he did in contact with the new-made fields and plants of Eden; but I do so no more, because I have discovered that I also live in "creation's dawn." The morning stars still sing together, and the world, not yet half made, becomes more beautiful every day."

John Muir on Yosemite.

Bizz Johnson National Recreational Trail

2011-09-18T22:22:00.000-05:00

The Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail is 25 miles in length as it follows the route of the old Fernley and Lassen Railroad line which was established in 1914 for transporting logs and milled lumber to and from the Westwood Mill. The mill closed in 1956, and in 1978, Southern Pacific Railroad received approval to discontinue use of the old rail line and the Bureau of Land Management spearheaded conversion of the corridor to a trail and named it for former California congressional representative Harold T. "Bizz" Johnson, who was instrumental in establishing the segment as a rails-to-trails conversion.

The landscape on the west side is a combination of semi-arid canyon and upland forests of pine and fir as it traverses old railed and existing forest roads the first 4.5 miles out of the Westwood trailhead which has a railroad station type kiosk and a 25-foot carved redwood statue of Paul Bunyan. This photo pretty much sums up the western section which I biked because it was closest to my route from Lassen Volcanic National Park to Yosemite National Park.

As I biked, I kept noticing great places to camp, which is allowed. Just bring your own water for the western segment.

The trail has four distinct seasons because of the high elevation location. The trail begins at 4200' on the east side of the Sierra and Cascade Ranges in Susanville, climbs 1300' to a high point of 5500' at Westwood Junction then drops 400' to its terminus in Westwood at elevation 5100'.

For the first 16 miles out of Susanville, the trail follows the Susan River as it winds through the rugged Susan River Canyon. The trail crosses the river 12 times on bridges and trestles and passes through two tunnels. Next time I'll start there.

Hee's a map of the trail (click to enlarge)

Trailheads:

Take Highway 36 to Westwood, turn north onto Lassen County Road A-21 and continue 3 miles to County Road 101 (just before the railroad tracks). Follow County Rd 101 a half mile until you reach Mason Station trailhead. There is ample parking at the station. You will see a large sign with trail brochures near a restroom and the trailhead. Follow the path from the trailhead for a quarter mile until you reach the railroad grade.

To reach the Susanville Depot, follow Highway 36, which becomes Main Street in Susanville. Continue on Main Street through Historic Uptown Susanville to Weatherlow Street, at the first stoplight at the base of the hill. Turn right on Weatherlow (which becomes Richmond Road) and continue a half mile to the Susanville Railroad Depot Trailhead Visitor Center. The trail begins at the depot, which has parking.

Bizz Johnson Trail website

BLM webpage for the trail

Lassen Volcanic National Park

2011-09-18T19:39:00.000-05:00

Lassen Volcano erupted over the course of three years starting in 1914. In 1916, Congress declared it a national park. The recovery of Lassen's landscape and habitat serves as a nearly century-long example of how Mount St. Helens can recover from its 1980 eruptions, and these two volcanos remind us of the other volcanos that dot our Pacific Northwest Cascade Range, namely Rainier, St. Helens, Adams, Hood, Shasta, and Baker.

Lassen formed 27,000 years ago as a volcano vent on the northern slope of Brokeoff Volcano and is the world's largest plug dome volcano, rising 2000 feet to an altitude of 10,457. Unfortunately, the signature hike to its peak was closed this year for trail reconstruction.

There are four types of volcanos, and Lassen Volcanic National Park contains all four types, specifically shield (Prospect Peak), cinder cone (Cinder Cone), composite (Brokeoff), and plug dome (Lassen).

My favorite place was the three mile hike to Bumpass Hell, the largest of the three geothermal areas in the park at 16 acres. It easily reminds you of Yellowstone on a smaller scale with boiling pools, mud pots, and fumeroles. It is named for the local resident/cowboy who led tours here in the 1860s, and who after warning his clients how dangerous the area is, promptly broke through a thin crust into a scalding mud pot, severely burning his leg. The story has it that he then took a local newspaper editor to see where he had been hurt, broke through again, and this time required amputation of the leg.

Biking Oregon's OC&E Woods Line State Trail

2011-09-18T17:49:00.000-05:00

At 105 miles, the OC&E Woods Line State Trail is Oregon’s longest trail. It follows the right-of-way of the Oregon, California, and Eastern Railway. Construction began in 1917 and by 1923 the line ran from Klamath Falls to the Sprague River, and six years later reached Bly. Logging camps and spur railroads followed and the trains often carried a million board feet of pine logs to the four mills each day!

Two railroads, the Southern Pacific and Great Northern/Burlington Northern jointly operated the line from 1925 to 1974 when Weyerhauser took over operations until the late ‘80s. In 1992, Oregon Parks and Recreation took over.

Starting at Washburn Way in Klamath Falls, the trail is now paved to Olene about mile post 8.5.

I parked at the Highway 39 parking lot and biked to mile 14, passing through agricultural land and seeing cattle and other livestock, sagebrush, and juniper, returned, and then biked through the residential area to the start of the trail (seen below.) I did 28 miles (14 out and back) but there are about 90 miles miles I didn’t cover!

These cute rest benches dot the trail...

After crossing Highway 39, you leave the city section and hit rural, agricultural land with vistas of mountains in the distance...

At Olene, the trail becomes dirt/gravel combination suitable for mountain and hybrid bikes, walkers and runners, equestrians, and cross country skiers. At Olene, the trail is really rough for a few hundred feet, but persevere because it gets a bit better. Though seemingly rough, out of the 140+ trails I’ve biked over the years, I’ve been on many trails in far worse shape, usually trails that get high snowmobile use in the winter, which isn’t allowed here. You’ll pass through cattle gates with signs that direct you to close them behind you.

Olene also offers a small store if you are in need of refreshment.

Just past Olene you’ll see this unusual sight -- the canal and flume of the Klamath Reclamation Project crosses over the Lost River on a bridge! I’ve only seen that once before back in Illinois where a river crosses the Illinois & Michigan Canal Trail.

Parking is available at the start, south of 6th/Hwy 39, along Crosby between Washburn Way and Altamont, and also along Wiard Park between Kane and Wiard. Another lot is located where the trail crosses Hwy 39 on the east end of town. Click to enlarge map...

Crater Lake National Park

2011-09-18T17:41:00.000-05:00

Crater Lake was created by the eruptions of Mount Mazama 7700 years ago, eruptions that blanketed 5000 square miles over eight states and three Canadian provinces with six inches of ash. In the park’s Pumice Desert, ash is over 50 feet deep, and the eruption produced over 150 times as much ash as Mt. St. Helen’s 1980 eruption.

Crater Lake became a national park in 1902. At 1943 feet deep, it is the deepest lake in the USA and one of the deepest in the world. It is also one of the cleanest and most pristine in the world because it has been filled by only rain and snowmelt. Snow blankets the landscape for eight or nine months of the year making for a short growing season. The elevation of the lake is 6173 feet.

Everyone is awed by the intense blue of the water. Since all water is from rain and snow, the lake is pristine. Light gets absorbed color by color as it passes through the clear water. First the reds go, then orange, yellow, green, and lastly the blue. Only the deepest blues get scattered back to the surface which is why the lake is a vibrant blue, but of course never more blue that the sky.

No streams run into or out of Crater Lake making it a closed ecological system. The lake level is only reduced by evaporation and a little leakage. Two species of fish populate the lake, rainbow trout and kokanee salmon, and both are remainders from the six species introduced here way back in history. Streams do run down drainages on the outside slopes of the mountains, as seen in this photo below from a lovely hike I took along Annie's Creek Canyon Trail, which provides the drinking water for the park. In 1931, one of the world's largest western white pine trees was found in this canyon, measuring 31 feet in circumference and estimated to be 1000 years old. The creek is named in honor of the first woman to descend to Crater Lake.

This waterfall is seen along the road descending the south side of the mountain.

Biking Oregon's Row River Trail

2011-09-14T22:49:00.000-05:00

The paved Row (as in cow) River Trail runs for 16 miles. It follows the right-of-way of the Oregon, Pacific, and Eastern Railway which started in 1902 and carried ore and logs and later passengers, and was acquired by the Bureau of Land Management in 1994 and developed into recreational use.

It runs along and gives outstanding views of the scenic shoreline of Dorena Reservoir and dam as well as the Row River. Legend has it that two ranchers fought (had a "row") over grazing rights back in the 1850s, giving the river its name.

The paved trail in good condition. You can start in the town of Cottage Grove, but the trail basically follows Mosby Creek Road, so starting at the Mosby Creek Road lot gets you right into the good scenery. (Click to enlarge map.)

The trail runs gradually uphill from each end, with the highest point being just higher than the Dorena Dam. When you reach the dam, look for a gravel path that heads uphill a bit more to get you over a rise, and then takes you to an overlook above the dam and lake, providing this view...

The section along Lake Dorena and leading to it is glorious, putting this trail in my top 10 for scenic beauty of the 140+ trails I’ve biked across the country.

Two lovely covered bridges add to your enjoyment, one spanning Crosby Creek and other the Row River (built in 1920 and 1925.) Both are near the trail and easily accessible.

Access:

From I-5 in Cottage Grove take Exit 174 toward Dorena Lake. At the end of the offramp, turn east on Row River Road. Drive one mile east on Row River Road and then turn right on Currin Conn Road. Immediately after this turn take a quick left on Mosby Creek Road. Go two miles southeast on Mosby Creek Road and then turn left on Layng Road. Just after this turn take a quick left into the Mosby Creek Trailhead parking lot.

Parking is also provided at several lots along the lake, accessed via Row River Road.

Kayaking the Lower Columbia River: A Road Scholar Program

2011-09-10T10:37:00.003-05:00

This program was held in Skamokawa, Washington (pronounced ska-mock-away) which lies 34 miles up-river from the Pacific Ocean. The water here is under tidal influence but is not brackish. Our guides from Columbia River Kayaking, Andrew Emlem, Mark Whitaker, and visiting guide Santiago, were highly skilled and exceptionally professional, informative, and helpful. Here we cross the main channel of the river, and the magnificence of the surrounding hills is clearly evident. Each morning had low-lying fog and a bit of a chill, but the sun soon burned it off and warmed us. The water temperature was 70 degrees.

Several of our routes took us on backwaters or sloughs, where river traffic was minimal and wildlife was more evident. National wildlife refuges abound here, protecting the habitat for hundreds of species of fauna and flora.

On our paddle around Welch Island and up Red Slough, we stopped for a hike at the Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge, set aside to protect the endangered Columbian White Tailed deer.

On our non-kayaking day, we drove to the Pacific Ocean at Cape Disappointment and toured the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center which is perched atop a 200 foot high cliff with marvelous views of the mouth of the Columbia. The Center relates the story of the Corps of Discovery's journey using interactive displays, artwork, and replicas.

Here we are hiking the nearby two-mile Coastal Forest Loop Trail to another glorious Pacific overlook.

Below are guides Mark and Santiago standing and balancing -- each with one foot on each kayak. Santiago also stood in his boat, balancing a paddle on his head, while he juggled three balls. Mark is an expert at rolling his kayak, which he demonstrated for us numerous times (because that's how he cools himself on warm days!) There are over 40 official "competition" rolls and he performed a number of them for us during the "Kayak rolls and rescues" session (which will be available on YouTube soon with a link here.)

Music was a large component of this program. Our guide, Andrew, is a classical cellist and also plays guitar, banjo, violin, and jews harp, all of which he played for us. His group, Willapa Hills, performed folk songs of the Columbia-Pacific Region for us, many written by members of the group. Below are (l to r) Kerrie McNally, Jennifer Hanigan, Andrew Emlen, Fern Fey, Jessica Fletcher, and Sunrise Fletcher.

Andrew returned to entertain and inform us again with his friend, professional violinist/fiddler Jeffrey Reynolds, in a program entitled "Corelli to Cruzatte: Music of the Lewis and Clark Era." The first half (complete with formal attire of the era) featured the classical numbers Thomas Jefferson admired, with selections by Corelli, Bach, and Haydn...

...and after a break to change clothes, they returned portraying Pierre Cruzatte and George Gibson, two members of the Lewis and Clark expedition who were fiddlers ...

Excerpts from these performances are shown on the video.

Here's the entire group of intrepid paddlers, taken at Dismal Nitch where Lewis and Clark had to wait out strong seas near the Pacific...

(L to r) front row: Mary, Mary Ellen, Rosie, Nancy, Anne, Andrew (guide)

2nd row kneeling: Marsha, Harriet, Gay, Roger, Jeff

Back row standing: Naomi, Judy, Gary, Chuck, Jan, Don

Accomodations for this program were at two exceptional local Bed and Breakfast establishments:

The Inn at Lucky Mud, run by Sunrise and Jessica Fletcher who are pictured above in the band photo, and here is their inn...

The Inn at Crippen Creek Farm, run by Don and Kitty Speranza, is pictured here...

Here's a video of our week's activities, including the kayaking, hiking, musical performances, and more...

Mark and Andrew demonstrated a number of kayak rolls. kayak rescues, and kayak self-rescues...

Columbia River Kayaking

Additional photos can be found here

Chuck's other Road Scholar/Elderhostel active, outdoor programs are available here.

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Biking Eugene, Oregon's Riverbank Path

2011-09-10T09:59:00.000-05:00

Eugene, Oregon's Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System consists of four connecting trails: North Bank 4.6 miles, South Bank 2.6 miles, East Bank 2.8 miles, and West Bank 2.1 miles. The four trails and five bike/pedestrian bridges offer a scenic 12 mile loop ride up one side of the Willamette River and down the other through various parks and points of interest or any combination you want to try. Those bridges give you a lot of options. (Click on their map to enlarge)

Here are the mileages and the sites you can reach on each trail segment:

The trail also gives you access to the University of Oregon on the South Bank portion and the football stadium on the North Bank portion.

The beautiful river is seen in many places along the trail. The South Bank trail has several brief segments through residential areas, and in 2011, construction had a section closed. Another closure affects the trail under I-5.

Several scenic wooded areas are also on the route and make you forget you are in an urban area...

...and another segment parallels "Pre's Trail" named for the legendary local hero, Steve Prefontaine, who devised this four mile chip trail through Alton Baker Park.

West Bank Path starts at the Greenway Ped/Bike Bridge in Maurie Jacobs Park (Polk St. Park on Google Maps) and runs north along the western bank of the Willamette River to the Owosso Ped/Bike Bridge.

Jacobs Park has a small parking lot at the end of Fir Lane. From the intersection of the NW Expressway and River Rd., take River Rd. north 0.12 miles (2nd right) to Fir Lane. Turn right/east onto Fir Lane and go to the end. Take the path out to the river and find the dual colored mile marker. All the trails are color coded and here the West Bank and South Bank trails meet, so the marker shows both colors.

I biked a block from my motel on Broadway to Hilyard and crossed the railroad tracks on the access path.

Biking Vancouver, Washington's Burnt Bridge Creek Trail

2011-09-10T09:52:00.000-05:00

Vancouver's paved Burnt Bridge Greenway Trail is about 8 miles in length and meanders along the creek from Stewart Glen on the shores of Vancouver Lake to Meadowbrook Marsh. Along the way, the trail passes through lovely woods, grasslands, and city neighborhoods, as well as Leverich Park and Arnold Park mid-way.

Generally the signage is good, giving mileage to various places ahead on the trail. I parked in and first biked east from Leverich Park and was confused by the signage at times and found myself in the woods on a dirt single track. I knew I had missed a turn and went back and discovered the tiny carets used on the signage to show direction. Several times, I reached places where two paved trails diverged and by trial and error, I discovered which was the trail and which the access trail. If the trail had a yellow center stripe or arrows, it would help to differentiate it from the access trails that take off from it.

Here's a photo of the trail map (click to enlarge.)

Here's the namesake creek, views of which are few and far between. Be aware the trail runs through a frisbee/disc gold course in Leverich Park, so watch for flying saucers (because the players are not watching for you!)

I found the asphalt to be in good condition at east and west ends with some problems in the middle section with buckling and cracking and one area with rough chip seal coating.

The eastern end follows a power tower corridor so the land is more open with vistas like this in some places. Being from the Chicago area, it was wonderful to see the mountains off in the distance. It is also less hilly in the eastern section.

Street crossings are protected by lights when they are major arteries.

The trail connects several parks which are scenic, curvy, and hilly, and the little bit of road riding several times to get to the next trail segment was not a problem.

A trailhead is available mid-way along the route from Leverich Park's northern parking lot. From I-5, take exit 2, go east on E. 39th St., then north on NE Leverich Park Way.

A trailhead is also available from Stewart Glen. From I-5, take the 78th Street exit, go west to Lakeshore Avenue, then take a left (south) until you reach the intersection with Bernie Drive; parking is along the street.

North Cascades Highway in Washington State

2011-09-04T05:32:00.000-05:00

Washington's State Route 20 is the northernmost route across the Cascade Mountain Range in Washington and is commonly referred to as the North Cascades Highway. It crosses Washington Pass at an elevation of 5,477 feet and Rainy Pass at 4,860 feet and follows an old Native American trading route. Interestingly, the route was originally deemed impractical for a route back in 1896, and a road was instead built several miles to the south. But that road was washed out by floods regularly and was abandoned as a waste of money. An easier, safer southern route was constructed. Finally in 1972, the current Route 20 over Washington Pass was opened.

The massive bulk of 7,600 foot Liberty Bell Mountain seems to block any passage through the mountain fortress. Just when it seems impossible, the highway makes a great horseshoe bend and clambers up the face of Liberty Bell. The off-road viewpoint at the top of the pass (where this photo was taken) provides splendid views of the mountain-ringed valley.

The highway traverses Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Okanagon National Forest, Wenatchee National Forest, and North Cascades National Park, and is the northernmost route through the rugged Cascade Mountains. It is the only highway through the otherwise impassable North Cascades NAtional Park.

This inhospitable terrain, seemingly tamed by man, turns vicious every winter just to show who is really boss. A 37-mile section of the North Cascades Highway 20 between Newhalem and Mazama closes each winter, generally mid-November through mid-April. The Washington State Department of Transportation is responsible for clearing the highway of snow and avalanche danger, and repairing any damage incurred during the winter. Avalanches regularly deposit 20 feet of snow on the road.

Diablo Lake is created by one of three dams along the road, run by the Seattle City Light on the Skagit River.

There are 300 glaciers in North Cascades National Park (which the road runs through) and these glaciers grind rock against rock which creates a fine silt that gets suspended in the water and reflects the green of the forest, giving Diablo Lake the lovely jade green hue seen in the photo below.

Gorge Falls was huge and awesome to see and hear, just one of many along the road.

US 12/The Lewis and Clark Highway

2011-09-03T20:56:00.002-05:00

I live near US Route 12 in suburban Chicago where it goes by the name of Rand Road, but it certainly doesn't look like Rand Road on this 125 mile stretch in western Montana and eastern Idaho! WOW! This scenic wonder is called The Lewis and Clark Highway up here because it is the old Nez Perce Indian trail on which Lewis and Clark labored overland through the magnificent Bitterroot Mountains back in 1805 after they left the Missouri River and were heading over Lolo Pass for their final Clearwater River to Snake River to Columbia River paddle to the Pacific. They were guided by Old Toby of the Shoshone Tribe.

Oh, that our Rand Road had scenery such as this to dazzle our eyes and make sitting in traffic jams an opportunity to gawk instead of curse...

Lolo Pass Summit (on the border between Montana and Idaho) at 5233 feet altitude may not seem high compared to the lofty 14,000 foot peaks of the Rocky Mountains, but they were tough enough for Lewis and Clark's tired and ill-fed Corps of Discovery, given the early snow that hampered the progress of their packhorses over the steep terrain. (click to enlarge)

The Clearwater is but a small stream as it begins its descent to meet the mighty Snake River at their confluence at Clarkston and Lewiston...

We have deer back home, but not greeting you as you come around a sharp blind curve...

The 125 mile section of road passes through or alongside the Bitterroot, Lolo, Clearwater, and Nez Perce National Forests and skirts the northern border of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area.

Biking Portland's Springwater Trail

2011-09-03T17:48:00.000-05:00

The Springwater Division Railroad Line of the Oregon Water Power and Railroad Company was founded in 1903 and ran interurban service until 1958 and freight service until the 1980s. In 1991, the trail corridor was acquired for this trail. It is a paved trail extending about 23 miles to Boring, Oregon.

I began at the Tidewell Johnson Park trailhead on Johnson Creek Blvd. Biking to the left facing the trail (west) was through a lovely natural area for a mile or so...

...which included a rest stop, an overlook deck, a couple side trails down into the natural area...

...and several bridges with views of Johnson Creek...

Then after crossing several bridges over roads, you come to an end of the paved trail. The route continues on a road for a mile or so and then 4 more miles of trail get you to the Portland downtown area.

Biking to the right from the parking lot (west) takes you across and then along Johnson Creek Blvd. for a bit, and then you cross it and are done with road noise alongside you as you pass behind some light industry and homes. Road crossings are plentiful, but most are very small residential access roads. The large crossings like 82nd and Foster have push-button controlled lights to stop traffic and allow safe crossing. I found many kind drivers who stopped and motioned me across roads.

The pavement is in excellent condition, much newly repaved in 2010. A bit unusual -- many trails have a yellow center line, but this trail has white side lines as seen above. Signage on the trail is good, identifying every road crossing by name, and mileage markers are found regularly. At the crossing with the I-205 Bike Path, you'll find directional arrows with mileage to locations in each direction.

Trailhead lots: At the west end, a paved parking area with a restroom and picnic tables is located at the convergence of SE 45 & Johnson Creek Blvd.

About 2 miles east of Gresham, a lot is available at the refurbished Linnemann Station Depot at 3804 Powell Blvd.

In Gresham, a paved parking area with equestrian trailer accommodations and a covered picnic shelter is located at SE Hogan Road, immediately north of the trail. Parking is also available at Main City Park.

Local access can be reached at any public street or bike trail intersecting the trail, including the I-205 Bike Path.

Biking Portland's Columbia River Trail East

2011-09-03T10:34:00.000-05:00

This 8 mile paved path runs on a levee between the Columbia River and Marine Drive, at times a bit above the roadway or bit below. You see the river nearly the entire ride, with views of Government Island State Park as you near the I-205 underpass, and views of Vancouver, Washington across the river as seen below as you head west...

I believe the 8 mile length includes another segment of trail to the east which would require riding on the road to reach, but for an interesting change of pace and some additional mileage on a bike trail, when you reach the eastern end of the trail at the I-205 bridge, take the connector trail and you'll find yourself heading over the bridge to Washington, with four lanes of traffic on each side of you and low flying airplanes above you as they head to or from Portland Airport, which you pass on the Columbia River Trail. The bridge is over 2 miles in length, uphill as you head north, so you can get 4+ more miles as well as a bit of a workout.

Though a bit noisy and smelly from the vehicles, you get a cool breeze on the bridge (and even gusts which signs warn you about) and you also get amazing views of the magnificent Mount Hood in the distance as seen below (click to enlarge)...

Finding trailhead parking is tricky. There is a small gravel lot off NE Marine Drive and the I-205 bridge.

On the west end, there is a marina lot and also a large gravel lot across the street, both about 8/10ths of a mile east of NE 33rd Drive.

Access to Marine Dr. is limited. From NE Lombard St. you can get to 33rd and then to Marine Dr. and then turn right.

From Sandy Blvd. you can take 122nd or 138th to Marine and then turn left.

Biking Renton's Cedar River Trail

2011-09-03T07:47:00.000-05:00

Renton, Washington, is a suburb just south of Seattle. I entered town and saw signs to the downtown, which I followed because the information said the trail began at the downtown. As I passed the Boeing plant, I saw a parking lot with a sign that said "Cedar River Trail" so I parked, got my bike out, and began biking. I immediately saw a sign saying "No bikes" which greatly surprised me since I believed I was on a bike trail. Pavement markers indicated I was to ride on the road along the Boeing fence line, which I did, and everything soon ended as reached Lake Washington. So I went back to my car and biked the trail the other direction, and an underpass led to this lovely area...

...which soon directed bikes off it (again, pedestrians only). I explored along the river on both sides, riding roads and park sidewalks, and after passing the library, I came to a road (Houser Way) and saw a sign directing cars to Cedar River Park and Trail. I biked down that road (Cedar River Park Way) and found this curving bridge, and took it over the river and under I-405...

...and finally began biking the Cedar River Trail. To the right, the trail went a hundred yards and ended at the downtown, as advertised. To the left, the trail ran through a park and soon was along Highway 169, which the trail follows, paved, until you reach the connection to the "Green to Cedar River Trail," after which the trail turns to gravel. For much of the trail, you are right along the highway, though a section puts you a bit below it as seen here...

...making for a more peaceful ride. Also for a bit you are higher than the road. Occasional glimpses of the river enhance the ride.

The trail runs 17 miles, the first 12 of which are paved. Three old railroad trestles are crossed, reminders of the original use of this corridor...

Official King County webpage

Biking the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail

2011-09-03T07:11:00.000-05:00

The Bill Chipman Palouse Trail is a paved 10 foot wide trail running 8 miles from the University of Idaho campus in Moscow, Idaho, to the Washington State Campus in Pullman, Washington, along Highway 270. The trail crosses the Paradise Creek 13 times as you pass through the countryside and a few businesses. Classes had just begun for the season, and the trail was predominantly in use by college students when I biked it, a few of whom had book bags on their backs and appeared to be commuting to classes in the other town.

It was end of summer and the wheat fields had been harvested...

Here's a map of the trail taken from one of the informative kiosks scattered along the the trail.

You'll find portable toilets and emergency phones at mileposts 1.5 and 5.0 from Pullman, and there are plans for both Pullman and Moscow to build loop trails in each city that connect to this trail.

In Moscow, the trail connects to the 4 mile (or so) Paradise Path which takes you on a winding course through the University of Idaho campus and connects you to the eastbound 12 mile long paved Latah Trail to Troy, ID.

Bill Chipman was a dedicated father, businessman, and good friend of many on the Palouse who was tragically killed in a 1996 auto accident. Community sentiment supported the naming of the new trail in his memory. The Bill Chipman Palouse Trail is maintained and managed by a coalition of park and trail representatives from the Whitman County, the City of Pullman, the City of Moscow, the University of Idaho, and Washington State University.

For those wondering, according to Wikipedia, "palouse"is a region encompassing parts of Eastern Washington, north central Idaho, and eastern Oregon, and is an agricultural area growing wheat and legumes. Some say the French-Canadian traders changed the name of the local Indian tribe "Palus" to the French "palouse" meaning "land with short and thick grass."

To get to the east end in Moscow, take SR 270 into Moscow and turn north at Perimeter Road and park in the Palouse Mall shopping center parking lot. Cross back over SR 270 and turn west onto the path. All of the property to the south of SR 270 is part of the University of Idaho and is closed to public parking.

To get to the west end, take SR 270 into Pullman and turn south on Bishop Boulevard, the first light going into town from the east. Turn left in about two blocks into a small parking area. The trail begins at Bishop Blvd.

Rafting Idaho's Salmon River: A Road Scholar Program

2011-08-29T07:10:00.002-05:00

This Road Scholar/Elderhostel program was hosted by Oregon River Experiences and took us six days and 62 miles down the famed “River of No Return” in western Idaho. At 425 miles in length, the Salmon is the longest free-flowing, un-dammed river in the lower 48 states. We put in at White Bird, Idaho, and after 52 miles, we reached the Snake River, home of Hell’s Canyon, the deepest canyon in the United States, named for its sweltering 130 degree summer temperatures.

The scenery typified high desert and magnificent vistas were revealed with each bend of the river.

The amazing geology we were traversing was explained to us daily in stimulating talks by geologist and environmental scientist par excellence, Sheree Stewart, who explained that just like water has a cycle from ocean to cloud to rain to river to ocean, the earth also recycles from magma to rocks to erosion to transport by wind and water to re-deposition and burial and melting and back to magma (though at a geologically slower pace than the water cycle.)

Of course, the rapids were the reason we were really there, and the three dozen or so rapids included many class 2 and 3s, as well as a few class 4 monsters.

The temperatures each day were a blistering 95 degrees, but fortunately the waves consistently crashing over the rafts cooled us. We also swam in the calmer pools between rapids. At Cottonwood rapid, the five guides yelled ‘abandon ship” and dove in with us following, and we swam and body surfed the wave train of a dozen-plus huge four foot high waves, all of us bobbing like corks, unable to do anything but try to grab breaths of air in the trough between the waves breaking over us. This was a highlight of the trip!

Hikes took us to see a series of these Nez Perce tribe pictographs, red drawings made by grinding ochre, an oxide with oil or grease and resin. There is no known interpretation of the meaning of these designs, but they are interesting to observe nonetheless.

Another hike was at the beginning of Cougar Canyon where we hiked to a high overlook to peer down at the magnificent canyon stretched out before us…

Other hikes led us to ruins of stone dwellings constructed by Chinese miners who came here in the 1860s during the Salmon River gold rush to make their fortune…

If you can't envision the ferocity of class 4 rapids, see what Snow Hole Rapid did to Allison in the photo below. Look closely and you’ll see her in the blue helmet to the left of the kayak (click to enlarge photo)...

Here's the entire intrepid group of adventurous Road Scholars...

(L to R) kneeling/sitting: Nancy, Sharon, Allison, and Sheree
Standing next to+those sitting: Holly, Amy, Lois and Joan
Standing in back: Simone, Claudia, Chuck, Karen, Mary, Roger, Sue, Paul, and Ron

Our journey was enhanced by the the professionalism of our five guides, but in addition to keeping us safe, feeding us, and cleaning up after meals, their youthful exuberance and antics kept us smiling and laughing and entertained, but also infected us and turned us into kids again! Activities they led included the name game the first night to get acquainted, and later a cartwheel competition, a talent show for all to participate in, epic water fights between the rafts, a cookie challenge where a cookie is plastered to your forehead with jelly and then you make it slide down over your nose and into your mouth, a whipped cream contest where you make a blob of whipped cream jump from your elbow to your mouth (or elsewhere on your face), the hokey pokey, raft dancing, and a face painting night using leftover chocolate sauce.

(l to r): Jessica, Ted, Angie, Megan, and Travis

All of our activities on the water and ashore, as well as some of the highlights from the best rapids, are documented in the following video which documents most of the events of our trip. (Double click to enlarge)

Additonal photos can be viewed and downloaded from my gallery here.

Videos of my other adventures can be found on YouTube here.

Biking Moscow, Idaho's Latah Trail

2011-08-29T06:35:00.001-05:00

The 12-mile trail between Moscow and Troy is a paved, 10-foot wide trail for use by pedestrians, bicyclists, in-line skaters, and others with non-motorized transportation along the former Moscow-Arrow rail line.

The corridor for centuries was a path for the Nez Perce Indian tribe to access essential and reliable food sources. In late Spring they would camp at “the place near the mountains” as they called the Moscow area. Then in October when “the needles fall from the tamarack” they would use the path to access the high mountains to find deer, elk, and bear. The trail now parallels route 8 and you bike along wheat fields and grazing pasture land as seen below. The temperature was 97 on the afternoon I biked the route, and be aware that shade is a missing commodity on this trail.

Mileage markers are found every mile, and I saw more old railroad signage than usual on this old railroad trail. Washroom facilities are available at intervals along the trail.

I found no trailhead or parking, but east on Hwy 8 from town, the Eastgate shopping center between the Ford dealer and Dollar Tree allows easy access to the trail on the other side of Hwy 8.

Click to enlarge this map that was on one of the informational signs along the trail...

The trail is not as level as most rail-trails, but rather has numerous ups and downs, with predominantly ups as you head east to Troy. About the 7 mile mark out of Moscow, the trail passes beneath route 8 through an underpass. Some sections have lovely trees but again, not no consistent shade. Make sure you have plenty of water on hot days.

Farms, houses, trailers, and grain storage silos are passed, and route 8 is always nearby, though not as close as in Moscow.

Biking Clarkston, Washington's Greenbelt Trail

2011-08-22T13:50:00.000-05:00

The Clarkston Greenbelt Trail is part of the Clearwater and Snake River National Recreation Trail and is administered by the Army Corps of Engineers which constructed the dam. The northern end trailhead is in Granite Lake Park. Without the dam, you would be along the Snake River, just downstream from its confluence with the Clearwater River, and across the river from one of Lewis and Clark's campsites back in 1805.

The towns of Lewiston and Clarkston, sister cities, are named in tribute to the explorers, and each town has a trail on the bank of the rivers courtesy of the Corps of Engineers. Bridges near the northern and southern ends of the trail connect the Greenbelt Trail with the Lewiston Levee Trail and allows you to make a loop ride if you so desire. The Greenbelt Trail runs for 7 miles and the Lewiston Levee Trail runs for 11 miles.

The Greenbelt Trail's northern end is actually in the greenbelt of parks along the river. Be aware the trail routes you through several parking lots and down driveways several times, then continues beyond as asphalt trail. Enjoy the shade offered by the mature trees in this section...

...because the shade ends after about 4 miles after you go under the Southway Bridge, and you then find yourself out in the full sun.

The trail ends at Chief Looking Glass Park in Asotin, WA. As you near Asotin, the trail turns to the right and continues alongside the road to bypass the water treatment plant. It then bears left and drops back down to pass along the high school football field and track and enters the park.

All along the trail are informational signs, giving Lewis & Clark information, Nez Perce info, and info on the fish and floods of the river. An interesting sign at Granite Lake Park relates how Lewis and Clark almost slept here -- instead they camped across the river to avail themselves of the high hill there to get star sightings (but the clouds prevented them for doing so.)

Trailhead parking is available every few miles if you drive along the river. Specifically:

Granite Lake Park at 850 Port Way
Greenbelt Ramp at Fair St. and Riverview Blvd.
Swallows Park at Hwy. 129 and Hillyard Dr.
Hells Canyon Rec Area office at 2535 Riverside
Chief Looking Glass Park at Hwy. 129 and Clemans Rd (Asotin, WA)

Biking Lewiston, Idaho's Levee Trail

2011-08-21T17:57:00.000-05:00

This 11 mile asphalt trail is part of the Clearwater and Snake River National Recreation Trail and is administered by the Army Corps of Engineers which constructed the levee. Parking is available at Hells Gate State Park (fee) or the adjacent free marina lot, both at the southern end of Lewiston on Snake River Avenue. Several other free parking lots for boaters and bikers can be found along Snake River Avenue, too.

Bikers are treated to vistas of the river and are spectators to all the water activities underway on both the Clearwater and Snake Rivers. Clarkston, Washington is across the Snake River here and also has a bike trail along the water. Lewiston and Clarkston are sister cities named after Lewis and Clark who camped here in 1805 on their journey to the Pacific, and numerous rest areas along the trail provide information on the rivers and their epic journey.

Starting at the south end, you traverse the east shore of the Snake River. At its confluence with the Clearwater River, the trail follows the south shore of the Clearwater River until Memorial Bridge which brings U.S. Route 12 over the river. The trail appears to end here, but when you see the asphalt trail turn to gravel ahead, take the asphalt ramp down, turn right into the alley between the Hahn industrial buildings, and you'll find yourself in Locomotive Park...

Take a break here if you wish, or simply look at the locomotive and caboose, then follow the park sidewalk to the road and cross the bridge. You'll see the asphalt path to your left when over the bridge. It will take you down under the bridge and up the levee on north side of the river, and you can continue 4 miles or so to trail's end at Lower Goose Pasture. The reason for shifting to the other riverbank is soon obvious: the miles-long Clearwater Paper Company plant is on the side you just left and seen in the photo below...

Be advised the trail begins to demand some up and down here and you soon find yourself right alongside route 12 traffic (with a safety barrier between you and traffic.)

The trail offers no shade and the sun can grow quite intense on summer days, but there are several rest areas with shade, restrooms, and water as seen below...

Biking Missoula's Riverfront Trail System

2011-08-19T16:15:00.000-05:00

Missoula, Montana is bisected by the Clark Fork River, and several parks can be found along the river. The Riverfront Trail connects these parks as it runs for several miles on both sides of the river.

The trail is the corridor of the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad, better known as the Milwaukee Road. The Montana portions of the railroad were built between 1906 and 1909

A convenient trailhead for accessing the various trails is McCormick Park, located west of Orange (also called Stephens farther south) and just south of Broadway and the river. The park also has athletic fields, an aquatic building, a skateboard park, and nearby is the baseball stadium.

From the large parking lot, I rode the Riverfront Trail east through parks and past the old Missoula train station and the University of Montana football stadium, all nicely landscaped as seen here...

The trail alternates between crushed gravel and asphalt until you reach the Kim Williams Nature Trail after about a mile. This trail continues east along the river for about 4 miles and degrades to loose gravel and rock outcroppings. A road bike is not recommended here...

When the Kim Williams Trail ends, a single-track continues and a fork in the track offers two options. I took the left fork and found myself riding along the active railroad tracks until it ended at a road. I came back on the other single-track which climbed 25 feet up onto a ridge and I enjoyed this bit of mountain biking -- a narrow track with tall weeds on both sides, complicated by a drop off of 25 feet just 2 feet to my right, and a fence line on my left with constant shotgun blasts from a skeet shooting club.

Heading back, I detoured into the university campus using their bike lanes, then returned to the Riverfront Trail, crossed the river on a bike bridge, and explored that trail which ended several times requiring detours around private property to return to the river. You pass more parks, one of which had a large play area called Dragon Hollow and also a working carousel.

When that trail ended, I crossed the river on another bike bridge. As I reached the baseball stadium parking lot, I saw a trail around the lot, and it took me to this round-about. The post in the center said MILE 0 -- and trails led off in all four directions. To the left was McCormick Park and back to where I started.

To the right, was the Milwaukee Line Trail, which I discovered only goes a half mile or so but was in the process of being extended. Heading straight ahead (south) was the Bitterroot Branch Trail which ran a mile and a half or so along an active trail line, through a light industry area with many road crossings.

It was good for adding a bit of additional mileage to my total but had zero scenic value. It is possible to ride streets for a bit to reach another segment of this trail, but I was already over 20 miles and out of time.

Hiking Yellowstone National Park

2011-08-18T18:29:00.000-05:00

I've visited Yellowstone eight or more times, and though I only had 48 hours to spend in the park this trip, I tried to make the most of it. I drove the entire 152 mile Grand Loop circle, stopping at a few old favorites and hiking three trails new to me.

One of my favorites is the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Here's the majestic Upper Falls from a distance...

...and here's a new way to the bottom of the Lower Falls falls for me, via Uncle Tom's Trail. Back in 1900, Uncle Tom Richardson led visitors down his trail to the bottom of the falls by way of 528 stairs and various rope ladders, which had to be an amazing adventure. Now a series of switchback trails and then 328 steel stairs get visitors 3/4 of the way down, still a strenuous undertaking but far safer.

And here's the view your efforts earn you...

...including this marvelous rainbow in the mist of the falls...

Another new hike for me was to Natural Bridge, with the trailhead conveniently located right by my campground at Bay Bridge Campground. I've seen such formations in other parks, and I love the arches at Arches National Park, but I never realized Yellowstone had its very own natural bridge. It was discovered in 1871 by the Hayden survey party and a trail was built to it for visitors way back in 1881.

I also didn't realize that natural bridges are mainly created by the action of water, while arches are created by the action of wind-driven soils.

Natural Bridge is 29 feet across and 51 feet high.

My third new trail this trip was the beginning 2+ miles of the Specimen Ridge Trail which is mainly used by backpackers. Once up on this high ridge, you are rewarded with magnificent views of the Yellowstone River 200 feet below as seen in these 2 photos...

Finally, I had to visit Old Faithful and watch her erupt, after I enjoyed the wonderful prime rib supper buffet at the Old Faithful Inn...

Biking the Mickelson Trail through the Black Hills of South Dakota

2011-08-15T21:35:00.000-05:00

The magnificent George S. Mickelson Trail runs 109 miles from Deadwood on the north to Edgemont on the south. Riders will traverse over 100 converted railroad bridges and bike through four rock tunnels. The trail surface is primarily crushed limestone and gravel. There are 15 trailheads, all of which offer parking, self-sale trail pass stations ($3 per rider per day in 2011), vault toilets, and tables. The trail is named for the governor who spearheaded the construction of this marvelous trail.

Most of the trail has a gradient of under 4%, but some segments exceed that and should be considered strenuous. Dumont is the highest section and the longest incline is the 19 mile section from Deadwood to Dumont.

I parked in Hill City along Railroad Avenue and biked 7 miles south, returned, then biked 5 miles north and back. Both directions out of town were consistent uphills, but the rides back to town were speedy coasts downhill.

The scenery around every bend is knockdown gorgeous as these photos attest. Bring plenty of water and bring a camera. Most of my shots are while I was pedaling, but stopping for photo opportunities make for a pleasant rest stop.

The trail is mostly in fine condition, though some sections had indications of vehicular traffic, as one section where logging was occurring. I would not recommend a road bike, but any hybrid or full-mountain bike would work fine.

The trail follows the route of the former Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and was built in 1890-91. In 1934, the CB&Q ran the famous Pioneer Zephyr, the first diesel powered streamlined passenger train on this route. The CB&Q was obtained by the Burlington Northern in 1970 which operated the right-of-way until 1983.

Trailhead info is here.

Trail map with elevation/contour map (with downloadable PDF)

Biking Sioux Falls, SD's Loop Bike Trail

2011-08-14T20:34:00.000-05:00

Sioux Falls, South Dakota has a parks system that includes a loop trail. Falls Park, adjacent to the downtown, is a good starting point. And yes, there are waterfalls in this town. Below is one, though there are others in the park, too. Jasper, or quartzite, is a beautiful stone, harder than granite and nearly as hard as diamonds, and it makes up the bedrock of Sioux Falls. It was quarried and used for many of the important buildings and expensive homes in the city.

I suggest you bike around the park to the various overlooks, walk to the top of the observation tower for an overview of the park and town, then bike the downtown, and then bike the trail.

Several segments were closed in 2011 for sewer line work and bridge construction, but if you head counter-clockwise from Falls Park you'll have a lengthy open section to explore. Falls Park is numbered below in red. Biking counter-clockwise from there puts you in section 17, then 16, etc. and the green indicates an open segment.

When you get to the lengthy spillway seen below, go left...

... and you'll find yourself pedaling uphill on a series of 5 switchbacks seen from above in this photo...

...which puts you atop a levee that encircles the city. You'll pass farm fields, a prison, the airport, a golf course, and several parks. This paved trail is in good repair, and when finished, will be a wonderful loop ride. I went about 10 miles, then returned the same way for a 20 miler.

Here's a downloadable PDf map of the trail.

Souix Falls Parks and Rec site.

Why I Explore the Wilderness

2011-08-14T06:44:00.001-05:00

I was recently asked why I travel so much and why my destinations are mainly national forests, national parks, biking and hiking trails, and rivers to paddle. The answer lies in this poem I wrote a few years ago...

WanderLust

by Chuck Morlock

Curious to know what's over that rise
or around that bend?
What's a mile beyond here,
or a minute beyond now?

Courageous enough to scale that intervening rise
and round that obscuring bend?
To venture that further mile
and live that eternal minute?

What education may the side canyon confer?
What treasures may the endless trail unearth
or the infinite night sky reveal?
What headwaters of new-thought await?

Wilderness is home to the soul,
and its sights and sounds and scents
vital to the soul's nourishment,
beckoning one's spirit.

Abandon inertia and reap Nature's bounty:
moments to savor,
memories to share; both
mementoes to save.

Travel both diverging paths
within yonder yellow wood.
Be one traveler who avoids
the sorrow of the road not taken.

Curiosity kills neither cat nor man,
but bequeaths adventure and mission and exultation
to otherwise humdrum existence.
Acquiescence kills.

Yet few Dare.
Even fewer Do.
But none who Do
ever regret.

Kayaking Michigan's Pere Marquette River

2011-08-01T10:33:00.001-05:00

On our free day, our Volunteer Vacation crew from the American Hiking Society was treated to a 9 mile paddle down Michigan's lovely Pere Marquette River.

The water was flowing swiftly, so we had to carefully avoid obstructions and occasionally get ourselves off gravel bars.

The land in many areas was privately owned and some very impressive homes were passed, but quite a bit of the paddle was through pristine wilderness and we all enjoyed the solitude and beauty.

Here's the group...

If you are interested in the boardwalk and bridge construction project we were volunteering to build, the photos are here.

Boardwalk and Bridge Construction in Manistee National Forest -- An AHS Volunteer Project

2011-08-01T10:25:00.002-05:00

Michigan's Manistee National Forest has a large segment of the 4600 mile North Country National Scenic Trail. The section that traverses Sterling Marsh floods every year and all attempts to solve the problem have failed. So an ambitious three year project to build 4000 feet of boardwalk is nearing completion, and our volunteer crew from the American Hiking Society assisted volunteers from the Spirit of the Woods Chapter of the North Country Trail Association for a week.

Wooden bridges as seen below were not working when many inches of water were present...

...so posts were buried, cross pieces mounted and side rails attached as seen below...

...and decking attached as below. Then a curb rail was affixed to make the boardwalk handical accessible.

Here's the finished product...

We also assisted the nearby Western Michigan Chapter of the NCTA in replacing the bridge shown below with a more substantial one...

These two large poles were used as stringers and are resting atop sills which are attached to two poles that are buried 5 feet deep for stability...

After decking the bridge surface, approach ramps were build from ground level to bridge level...

...and a railing attached. Below is the final product...

The entire process for both construction projects is documented in this brief video...

Here's the AHS group, along with Loren and Dave from NCTA...

Kneeling: Wendy, Kyla, Loren, Dottie, and Terri
Standing: Jim, Annette, Natalie, Chuck, Sue, Kasey, and Dave

The AHS crew also went kayaking on the Pere Marquette River on our off day, and those photos are here.

Chuck's other volunteer trail projects.

Biking Michigan's Musketawa Trail

2011-07-31T20:54:00.000-05:00

This 26 mile paved trail travels past farmlands, wetlands, over creeks, and through quaint villages. It gets its name from its travels through both Muskegon and Ottawa Counties as it goes from Muskegon to nearly Grand Rapids. (Click to enlarge map.)

I began in Ravenna, pedaled east for 10 miles, returned to Ravenna, then pedaled west another five miles, for a 30 mile trip. The section heading east had more cover from the hot sun since it was more tree shrouded than the western segment, and I also missed the industrial area in Muskegon. The former Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad used to run on this corridor, and a few mementos from the old railroad days are located in Ravenna, including a replica water tank. Ravenna also offers snacks and food a bit north of the trail. (A map of the town is located along the trail.)

This interesting rest area at a bridge is the first I've seen like this in all the 130 trails I've biked across the country. Nicely done!

I hit the town of Conklin at the 20 mile mark and enjoyed a pop and ice cream bar from the general store (the brown-beige building in the distance -- not that you'd have trouble finding it in the tiny town.) A nice shaded park is located at the trailhead lot and I spent an enjoyable 10 minutes talking to a local biker who did the trail regularly.

Friends of the Musketawa Trail website (including maps)

There are 3 trailhead parking lots:

The Marne lot can be reached from Grand Rapids via exit 25 to the stop sign, then left 2 miles. The lot is on the left.

The Broadway lot from Muskegon -- take U.S. 31 to Sherman Blvd., then east to Broadway. The lot is a mile ahead on the left.

The Ravenna lot is off M-46 on Ravenna Road and south to the lot which is on your left.

Biking Michigan's Kal-Haven Trail State Park

2011-07-23T17:35:00.003-05:00

This crushed gravel trail runs 34.5 miles from Kalamazoo to South Haven, the two end points from which the trail name derives. This large map is in a kiosk at the South Haven trailhead (click to enlarge):

The route of the Kal-Haven originally was a railroad completed in 1870, and the railroad bed has been converted to a trail with a limestone/slag surface. It is usable for all non-motorized bicycles, hiking, and snowmobiling when there is a 4-inch snow base.

You'll immediately bike through lovely woods for several miles and reach tis quaint (but new) covered bridge over the Black River...

Much of the trail is tree-shrouded -- on hot days providing much appreciated shade...

...but you'll also find open stretches where the trail passes between corn fields and the sun bakes you along with the corn...

Outhouses and rest benches are located along the trail for your convenience. The trail is in decent shape in most places and road crossings were not a problem and the bigger roads have underpass for the trail. An equestrian trail parallels the bike trail for 11 miles.

To reach the Kalamazoo trailhead, take Interstate 131 to exit 38. Turn left on 10th Street and follow 10th Street for for 2 miles. The trailhead is on your left.

To access the South Haven trailhead, take Interstate 196 to exit 20. Take Phoenix Road west to Bailey Road. Turn right (north) on Bailey Road and at Wells Sreet (a new round-about) go straight and you'll immediately see the large trailhead parking lot on your right.

Official page

Early Morning Bike Rides

2011-07-21T16:03:00.000-05:00

With this hot spell of 6 days above 90 degrees, I've been starting my 20 mile bike rides on the Millennium and Ft. Hill Trails before 6:30 in the morning. I've been surprised by how many others have had the same idea -- walkers, runners, and other bikers -- but a nice side benefit is seeing more wildlife that early, including deer, sandhill cranes, swans, great whites and great blues, red-tailed hawks, to name a few...

...and here's a favorite view of mine from the loop trail in the former Four Winds Golf Course property on the Ft. Hill Trail...

Biking Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve

2011-07-13T14:27:00.000-05:00

Home to a rare tallgrass savanna, Middlefork Savanna features a mix of oak savanna and woodlands, wet and mesic prairies, sedge meadows and marshes. Middlefork provides valuable protection for state and federally listed species such as the Blanding's turtle. A 25-acre parcel here is considered the highest quality tallgrass savanna of its kind in the nation and recognized as a globally threatened ecosystem.

Once part of a large glacial lake, Middlefork Savanna (686 acres) provides safe harbor for endangered plant and wildlife species, and several environmentally sensitive wetlands that feed into the North Branch of the Chicago River. Chicago Wilderness has identified Middlefork Savanna as one of the most important sites for biodiversity in northeastern Illinois. Because of its size, Middlefork supports an impressive list of uncommon birds, butterflies and other species that require large open areas for survival.

Though you'll only get about an 8 mile ride round-trip, the scenery is spectacular as seen in the following photos, and the northern end connects to the North Shore Path, which in turn connects to the Des Plaines River Trail, the McClory Trail, and the Skokie Valley Bike Path.

The entrance and parking area are located off of Waukegan Road (Route 43), north of Route 60 and south of Route 176. At the light for Middlefork Drive/Westmoreland Road, turn west onto Middlefork Drive. Proceed to the end of Middlefork Drive, bear left at the fork to enter the preserve parking area.

Biking the Skokie Valley Bike Path

2011-07-13T14:04:00.001-05:00

Posted 7/4/09
Updated 7/13/11

The Skokie Valley corridor was once a bay of glacial Lake Chicago whose waters were held in place by increasing elevation to the north and two parallel, hilly moraines of gravel and rock on the east and west. Early settlers preferred to build at higher elevations, leaving the Skokie Valley under-developed and less populated, which the railroad and utility companies took advantage of by building within the valley.

The Skokie Valley Trail runs 10 miles north and south between Lake Forest and Highland Park (from Illinois 176 to Lake-Cook Road) following the ComEd right-of-way and railroad tracks. The trail is paved, is in very good condition, and has mile markers every half-mile.

The sole dedicated parking lot is on Laurel Avenue west of Green Bay Road in Lake Bluff (about 1.5 miles south of Route 176.) You park at the dead end of Laurel seen in the photo below. The access is between the nature walk and a golf course. You could also park in one of several shopping centers around Lake-Cook Road and Skokie Highway at the southern terminus.

For most of its length, the trail is shrouded on both sides by tall bushes and trees that eliminate views of but not noise from the double-main line Union Pacific tracks on the west and Skokie Highway vehicle traffic to your east. The hum of the overhead electric lines (3 sets of lines, 2 of which are high-voltage) can also be discerned. As you reach the Highland Park segment, you'll begin seeing industrial/commercial concerns along the trail.

The trail was well-used the day I biked, which was a holiday. With the limited parking, I assume most users were local who could bike to the trail.

The recent 1.5 mile extension from Laurel north to Route 176 connects to the North Shore Trail which parallels Route 176, including a tunnel under the existing Union Pacific tracks.

The North Shore Trail along 176 in can be taken west to the Des Plaines River Trail, or east to the McClory Trail.

An 8 mile southern extension into Cook County is in the planning stages (budgeted at 1.2 million dollars) which will include a bridge over busy Lake-Cook Road and travel through Northbrook, Northfield, Glenview and Wilmette, and have a connection with the North Branch Trail which goes to the northwest area of Chicago.

The corridor has stunning natural biodiversity and is inhabited by a large variety of plants, birds, and other animals. Natural grasses, flowering plants, berry bushes, and shrubs flourish because the area is generally undisturbed by vehicles, landscaping or lawn mowers.

For more Chicagoland bike trails, go here.

For more bike trails from across the country, go here.

Biking the Des Plaines River Trail (Cook County section)

2011-07-08T16:13:00.000-05:00

The Cook County section begins at the Lake-Cook Road overpass (just south of Milwaukee Avenue) and continues south 23 miles to River Forest, all on packed dirt and occasional stretches of gravel. (The easiest place to park is in Wheeling, off Dundee Road just east of Milwaukee Avenue.) A PDF map of the trail and all trailhead parking is available here.)

Beautiful forest surrounds you, and in some sections you follow alongside the river. In wet season, most sections of the trail remain dry, but mud holes and even flooded sections can exist. Access is available at any forest preserve parking area on the east side of the river. Most road crossings are safe, thanks to overpasses at both Lake-Cook Road and Palatine/Willow Road, as well as underpasses or traffic signals at other road crossings, although care must be taken since some road crossings occur away from intersections, such as at Dundee, Central, Milwaukee, and Rand.

Most of the trail is about 6 feet wide as in the top photo, but some double track and single track also exist. Side trails to the east often allow the adventurous to explore other areas of various forest preserves. For those former Boy Scouts who remember overnight camping at the old Camp Fort Dearborn in Rosemont, a short side trip to the west just south of Devon Avenue will bring back many fond memories . The main trail then veers east and crosses the Kennedy Expressway/Northwest Tollway (I-90) on the East River Road/Dee Road bridge, but you can also follow a single-track which takes you west under the expressways alongside the river.

Road bikes are not recommended, though the popular crossover/hybrid bikes do fine on the trail. Always be cautious because little or no maintenance is the rule and loose sand and gravel sections occasionally appear. Fallen trees often remain for quite some time and side trail detours develop around them. I seldom see other bikers and only occasionally see walkers or fishermen, so a sense of solitude is possible even in an urban setting.

A few washouts develop but are very rare. Always be alert so you don't hit such areas too fast, and remember, this is one of the joys of mountain biking! (Side trails offer far more of these challenges than the main trail.)

Twice the main trail appears to end. These directions are for a southbound ride.

1) At Winkelman Road (the next road South of Palatine/Willow Road), turn right, pass the two hotels, cross Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21), ride a few hundred feet into the Alison Woods parking area, and you'll see the trail resume on the left at the tree line.

2) At the railroad crossing south of Central, go up the embankment, carry your bike over the two sets of rails, go down the other embankment and go right.

3) At Ballard Road, turn right/west, cross Rand Road at the light and follow the concrete path that takes you along the river on an embankment in the town of Des Plaines. This connector trail puts you on a bike lane on Schwab Rd. which takes you past Northwestern Forest Preserve and the Des Plaines Methodist Campground, and finally across Algonquin Road where the trail resumes in the forest preserves.

Lake County section of the Des Plaines River Trail

Lake County Forest Preserve District website

Forest Preserve District of Cook County website

How Trains are Assembled into Trains: A tour of the Rice Hump Yard in Waycross, Georgia

2011-07-04T11:41:00.000-05:00

In 2004, we toured Waycross, Georgia's Rice Hump Yard, observing from the control tower and watching as new train consists were assembled in the yard below us, as the superintendent explained the procedure for us. (Sorry about the poor camcorder footage, but you do get the feel and sound of the experience.)

How a Trail is Built

2011-07-01T20:57:00.002-05:00

Volunteering for a trail project provides hikers with additional or improved trails to traverse into America's magnificent wilderness areas, and these volunteer projects also reward the volunteers with pride and a sense of having contributed important work to the hiking community. With the budget cuts inflicted upon national parks and national forests over the last several decades, much needed trail work would go undone without volunteer assistance.

Here's how a new trail is created...

First, the trail designer “flags” the proposed route (note orange flagging on bushes in center of photo)...

Small standing trees and bushes that are in the trail corridor are cut down (large trees are generally avoided by routing the trail around them)...

Next the trail corridor is cleared of fallen branches, underbrush, rocks, etc., a procedure called "swamping the corridor"...

...including the removal of fallen trees...

...regardless of their size. Trees of large circumference as the one below require 3 cuts -- which creates 2 cutoffs -- which can be individually rolled off the trail corridor, because one large cutoff would be too difficult to move by hand...

Leaning trees often require several cuts to remove them from the corridor...

Rocks that are buried in the trail tread are removed with a long, sturdy, metal pry bar, also called a rock bar...

Stubborn buried boulders are dug up and removed when possible, sometimes requiring many hours of labor...

Each volunteer takes a 20 foot section, creates the new trail tread, then jumps ahead to a new section...

...but always keeping a safety zone between workers because trail tools are sharp and dangerous.

A steep mountain slope requires a deep cut into the hillside and the removal of much dirt (the orange vests and caps were required because it was hunting season)...

A “finishing” crew assures the trail is smooth with only mineral material remaining (with no vegetation growing in the trail corridor.)

Really steep inclines can require switchbacks...

...or wooden steps...

...or stone stairways...

The steps might even be quite elaborate like these we built in Cape Cod National Seashore...

Trail sections that are prone to getting wet will erode quickly, so a raised “turnpike” may be needed with drainage along each side...

...and sometimes you have to divert the water to the other side of the trail for drainage...

...or a bridge may be constructed if the trail is crossing a creek or a wetland area...

The bridge might be rather simple, as this one in South Carolina’s Francis Marion National Forest...

... or more involved as this 31' bridge we built up at 9,000 feet in Utah's Manti-LaSal National Forest...

A very unusual project was rebuilding this trail in Maine's Acadia National Park near the Atlantic coastline. Over a number of years, several hurricanes had deluged the trail, washing it away, so we dug a drainage ditch alongside it (removing boulders and roots)...

...and we also "mined" the surrounding hillsides for large rocks and boulders which we “flew down” to the trail with a high-line grip hoist (pulley system)...

...which we then sledge-hammered into small rocks, creating a rock base to prevent the trail from being washed away again...

Finally, we covered the rock base with dirt, creating a beautiful and immovable, erosion-proof trail surface...

So the next time you hike a trail, I hope you'll take a look at its construction and perhaps appreciate the time and effort and thought that went into its construction. And if you really feel moved, sign up for a volunteer trail project through the American Hiking Society.

Canoeing Montana's Missouri Breaks

2011-06-22T15:50:00.000-05:00

In 2007 we canoed 149 miles down the Missouri River in Montana, the famous Missouri Breaks of Lewis and Clark and including the magnificent White Cliffs section. Here's the video of our adventure:

Volunteer Vacations in the Wilderness with the American Hiking Society

2011-06-11T11:28:00.001-05:00

Summer is almost here and hiking is at its best, but how about "giving back" or "paying forward" with some volunteer work for our trails? The American Hiking Society offers 70+ volunteer vacation opportunities across the country. To give you a flavor of what a volunteer vacation is like, check out this video I made for AHS...

Want to see more in depth what a week of trail work is like? Check out these videos of projects I've participated in over the last few years...

In 2011, we built a bridge and also built several long sections of boardwalk with volunteers of the North Country Trail Association in Michigan...

We built a 31' bridge up at 9000 feet in Utah's Wasatch Mountains in 2010...

In 2011, we rebuilt a boardwalk in South Carolina's Francis Marion National Forest...

In 2010 we worked on extending the Buffalo River Trail in Arkansas...

And here's a listing of all my volunteer trail projects.

The New Tradition Chorus Spring Concert

2011-06-05T14:36:00.000-05:00

"Broadway Times 4" was the title of this concert by the The New Tradition Chorus, the Northbrook (Illinois) Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society (formerly known as SPEBSQA.) Songs were presented from four Broadway hits -- "Guys and Dolls," "West Side Story," "Les Miserables," and "George M. Cohen."

A friend from church choir is in the group and a former choir director of our church choir is the director now. I've enjoyed listening to several of the groups CDs for a few years, and although I've wanted to attend concerts, I have either been out of town or involved in other concerts on previous show weekends, but this time I was able to go and I loved the show!

Canoeing Utah's Green River through Canyonlands National Park

2011-05-31T05:33:00.002-05:00

In 2006 and again in 2008, I canoed 116 miles down the Green River to the Confluence with the Colorado River, where a jet boat took us up the Colorado River back to Moab, Utah. Much of the trip was in the majestic scenery of Canyonlands National Park, and numerous side hikes were to see Anasazi ruins and other remnants from past hearty inhabitants of this high desert terrain.

The video highlights the scenic beauty of the river, side hikes to various sights of interest, camp life, critters we saw, and the journey back up the Colorado River, whisked along at 25 mph on the jet boat.
(Double click to enlarge to full screen.)

Hiking Glacial Park in McHenry County (Illinois)

2011-05-18T13:44:00.000-05:00

With over 8 miles of trails in the park, all can find interesting natural features to discover and explore. No biking is allowed. Check out this brief video as an introduction to this diverse area...

Florida Wildlife Video

2011-05-10T18:06:00.000-05:00

One of my passions is the outdoors, and couple to that a love of photography and the result is tons of photos, and more recently, video footage. So combining these two loves logically results in the following video, comprised of photos and video of 51 species of birds and beasts (all identified by name) that I've photographed on trips to Florida over 7 of the last 9 winters, mostly taken while hiking, biking, paddling, and camping in natural areas. Participation in various Sierra Cub Outings and Road Scholar/Elderhostel programs also contributed to these photos. Included are many birds but also many gators, monkeys, snakes, owls, hawks, armadillos, turtles, tortoises, fox, manatee, crabs, and even the famous Florida Reckneckis.

Acadia National Park Hiking, Biking, and Kayaking

2011-05-04T07:28:00.000-05:00

This 2005 Elderhostel/Road Scholar program featured 2 kayak trips on Frenchman Bay, 2 hikes in Acadia NP, and 2 bike rides, one of which was on the carriage roads. A walking tour of Bar Harbor and alecture on "lobstering" were also wonderful activities, all of which are shown in this video.

Cape Cod Volunteer Trail Project -- A Sierra Club Service Outing

2011-05-02T07:10:00.000-05:00

While on Cape Cod in 2005, I participated in a trail project at Cape Cod National Seashore with other Sierra Club volunteers. We re-built stairways up and down a hill and across its top in the National Seashore on the tip of Cape Cod near Provincetown. And each day as we drove back to our base camp, we went on tours of Provincetown, Truro Winery, Wellfleet Wildlife Refuge (Audubon Society), an 1880s whaling captain's mansion, the Life Saving Museum (predecessor to the US Coast Guard), and a ranger-guided tour of the salt marshes. Here's a video of the week's activities...

Biking Cape Cod and Nantucket Island

2011-04-30T10:44:00.000-05:00

In 2005, I enjoyed an Elderhostel program biking 130 miles on Cape Cod and Nantucket. Here's a video of the trip...

Enough Said!

2011-04-13T08:17:00.000-05:00

Video of Spring 2011 Concert Excerpts -- The Village Singers of Lake Zurich

2011-04-12T10:28:00.000-05:00

The Village Singers of Lake Zurich proudly present excerpts from their 2011 Spring Concert "Come to the Music!"

Village Singers Party at Barb's

2011-04-12T10:24:00.002-05:00