On Tuesday I took advantage of my day off from granddaddy daycare and the absolutely beautiful, crystalline weather for a hike at Deer Grove. I'd forgotten how much I like that place since it's not on my list of fishing destinations. Doesn't take a lot of wondering to figure out why this was the first property the CCFPD purchased a hundred years ago. The rocky soil and deep ravines made it valueless for farming. It's the lodestar of the CCFPD. The Palos complex is bigger but for my money Deer Grove is more beautiful and more importantly - quiet.
When I reached the trailhead at 9:30 my car said the temp was 13. There was a good 2 - 3" of snow on the ground and the sky was the shade of blue we only see this time of year. Happy to say I was dressed appropriately. Duofold long sleeve undershirt, Pendelton shirt, Eddie Bauer wool sweater & down jacket on top, silk sock liners, heavy wool socks, LL Bean polypro longies, German army surplus wool pants below. My trusty, old Milo mountain boots and a balaclava finished things off. I bought the Milos back in '77 to replace some Vasques I wore out at the Grand Canyon. Even after all these years they look almost new. And waterproof even though they don't have any high tech stuff like Gore Tex. Kept my feet warm and dry.
Hiked west along a bridle path taking side trips into the deep woods to take pictures. After a while I realized that unlike years ago when I hiked here regularly (used to have an office in Barrington) there was little, if any air traffic passing over. Must be due to the rearrangement of the runways at O'Hare. More the better. I came around a bend in the trail to spot a big buck. Got a couple shots before he skedaddled.
Finally found the side trail to my favorite spot. Climbed down into a deep gully, crossed a stream and up onto the bench above. This has always reminded me of some of the back areas of the Porkies - beautiful little streams running between hillsides in the deep woods. Except this is the only place I know where native pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia) grow. Might be the only place they grow in all of Cook County. But they're asleep under the snow now.
Strangely I ran into another hiker. He asked, "Are you as lost back in here as I am?" I said, "No - can't say I'm lost since I've been here plenty of times before but I'll admit to being a bit confused - it's been a long time."
He asked how to get back to where he'd parked & I told him. On he went. I sat down on the collapsible stool I bought for fishing and ate lunch. While I was sitting there I heard a woodpecker pecking at something (what else do woodpeckers do?). Looked up and almost directly overhead a hairy was digging away at a hornets nest eating frozen hornets (the woodpecker version of frozen snickers). Got my camera out for a shot but it flew away. Took one of what he left behind.
After a while I got moving again. Made my way along the creek through a woodland where the floor is carpeted with early meadow rue (Thalictrum dioicum) and false rue anemone (Enemion biternatum) in the spring. But again, asleep until the warmth returns.
When I got back to my car 3 hours later the temp was a balmy 21. Have to admit I was a bit bushed but happy I took the hike. There's really nothing quite like the peace and quiet of the woods in winter.
When I reached the trailhead at 9:30 my car said the temp was 13. There was a good 2 - 3" of snow on the ground and the sky was the shade of blue we only see this time of year. Happy to say I was dressed appropriately. Duofold long sleeve undershirt, Pendelton shirt, Eddie Bauer wool sweater & down jacket on top, silk sock liners, heavy wool socks, LL Bean polypro longies, German army surplus wool pants below. My trusty, old Milo mountain boots and a balaclava finished things off. I bought the Milos back in '77 to replace some Vasques I wore out at the Grand Canyon. Even after all these years they look almost new. And waterproof even though they don't have any high tech stuff like Gore Tex. Kept my feet warm and dry.
Hiked west along a bridle path taking side trips into the deep woods to take pictures. After a while I realized that unlike years ago when I hiked here regularly (used to have an office in Barrington) there was little, if any air traffic passing over. Must be due to the rearrangement of the runways at O'Hare. More the better. I came around a bend in the trail to spot a big buck. Got a couple shots before he skedaddled.
Finally found the side trail to my favorite spot. Climbed down into a deep gully, crossed a stream and up onto the bench above. This has always reminded me of some of the back areas of the Porkies - beautiful little streams running between hillsides in the deep woods. Except this is the only place I know where native pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia) grow. Might be the only place they grow in all of Cook County. But they're asleep under the snow now.
Strangely I ran into another hiker. He asked, "Are you as lost back in here as I am?" I said, "No - can't say I'm lost since I've been here plenty of times before but I'll admit to being a bit confused - it's been a long time."
He asked how to get back to where he'd parked & I told him. On he went. I sat down on the collapsible stool I bought for fishing and ate lunch. While I was sitting there I heard a woodpecker pecking at something (what else do woodpeckers do?). Looked up and almost directly overhead a hairy was digging away at a hornets nest eating frozen hornets (the woodpecker version of frozen snickers). Got my camera out for a shot but it flew away. Took one of what he left behind.
After a while I got moving again. Made my way along the creek through a woodland where the floor is carpeted with early meadow rue (Thalictrum dioicum) and false rue anemone (Enemion biternatum) in the spring. But again, asleep until the warmth returns.
When I got back to my car 3 hours later the temp was a balmy 21. Have to admit I was a bit bushed but happy I took the hike. There's really nothing quite like the peace and quiet of the woods in winter.