Palos Restoration Project - Blog

Willow Springs/Katydid February 20, 2021

2/24/2021

Willow Springs Woods/Katydid Saturday February 20
We came to Katydid several days after the latest of our recent snowfalls, and hiked in through deep, light powder. It certainly slowed us down - two fires when we normally might have five or more, but ya gotta play the hand you get.

Luckily, we had a large, hardy group of volunteers who were unfazed by the conditions. We dragged logs on the sled, hauled them by hand, and finally, by day's end, had beaten the snow flat in close proximity to the fires.

Next week we'll be out twice, at Cap Sauers Moraines on Saturday and Paw Paw Woods on Tuesday March 2.

February 18th, 2021

2/18/2021

Paw Paw Woods Saturday February 13
This was our second visit to Paw Paw in two weekends; this time around we had chain sawyers from Atrium Landscape to keep us hopping. We also had help from two first-time Palos volunteers, Joy and John, as well as Tom the almost-newbie, having been out at some past date(s). Great to have them too; we needed their unflagging energy to get all the cut stuff through the deep snow and onto our fires.

It was an interesting process, with some slipping and sliding and my gait resembling that of an intoxicated man. This weekend, with fresh layers of snow, ought to be equally interesting, though the occasional sun and (slightly) warmer temps ought to allow some settling and compression of snow making it more navigable. We'll see.

The weather has been both challenging and memorable. I was fortunate to go walking Monday eve when snowfall was intensifying, and had the local streets and area around Lake Katherine almost to myself. It was stunning, even with visibility down to a couple hundred yards at best. I returned from a strenuous hour-and-a-half feeling invigorated. Lovely!

Paw Paw Woods February 6, 2021

2/11/2021

Saturday February 6, Paw Paw Woods
It was scheduled to be one of our Atrium Landscape days but the crew was forced to cancel, putting all the pressure on Kevin, the only certified and suited-up chain sawyer present. He did fine, cutting enough to keep the rest of us busy dragging and burning.

It was a pretty day, with deep snow that we started out wading through and eventually tramped down to a hard pack around our single fire. Early on there weren't many trail users, though a few came along before quitting time. Maybe it was the cold; under ten degrees at the start, maybe 12-15 at quitting time. With little wind and lots to do you don't really notice the cold, especially once the fire starts cooking. I believe we numbered nine, some of the usual suspects plus our friend Marc whom we hadn't seen in a little bit.

We'll be back at Paw Paw on February 13, this time with the Atrium crew expected. Ought to be a good time!

Diana canceled her scheduled workday at McClaughrey on Sunday Feb. 7 due to cold temps, and Bob Arentz never scheduled one at Cap Sauers that afternoon for the same reason.

February 04th, 2021

2/4/2021

Saturday January 30, Cranberry Slough Nature Preserve
We had another busy Saturday, with chain sawyers from Atrium Landscape thinning tress and the rest of us burning. The fuel burned much better than the soft, wet stuff of the preceding week, and the fires got seriously hot in a hurry. Snow didn't begin falling until the afternoon, a blessing for us in getting our work done.

I was gratified to see many people hiking the preserve throughout the morning, as well as the occasional cross-country skier. I'm surprised, though, we don't see more skiers, wondering if X-C skiing is becoming a lost art. I also wonder whether the paucity of snowfall in recent years has something to do with this.

In my recent ski treks at Swallow Cliff I seldom see another skier, and finding a set of usable tracks is also not that common.

McClaughrey Springs Woods January 23, 2021

1/27/2021

McClaughrey Springs Saturday January 23
This was our only workday of the weekend, a busy, productive one. Chain sawyers from Atrium Landscape provided the cutting, and our volunteers dragged and burned. I counted at least six big brush piles burning by 1:00 p.m., and there might have been more with a small group staying well into the afternoon.

Thinning basswood was one focus of the day. Basswood; it's soft, making it easy to lop thicker branches, making you think you're stronger than you actually are. Doesn't burn readily, though. Maybe it's high moisture content, but it sure takes a while to get it going. Give me catalpa any day!

Ski Palos
First time this season we've had enough snow for X-C skiing. While the trails at Sagawau are open, I've typically go to Swallow Cliff, or Spears/Country Lane Woods to get my fix. I also have Lake Katherine which is closest. Loving it!

January 21st, 2021

1/21/2021

Cap Sauers Moraines Saturday January 16
Saturday was our return to group restoration activities, and we jumped in at Cap Sauers, working near the trail and Ford Road, within sight of Bergman Slough. Yes, we also renewed our acquaintance with multi-flora rose, one of several invasive plants thriving in the brushy little section Margaret selected.

So we cut and we burned, and we burned and we cut (starting to sound like Jim Stafford here...) It was a good day back.

Black Partridge Woods Sunday January 17
Sunday we returned to the site of last winter's two "Heart Your Park" workdays, funded by a Citgo grant. It didn't feel like almost a year has passed - the second session was just two weeks before our March Covid shutdown. But it was, and much of our effort this time was directed at cleaning and burning brush left behind at the end of that day. Our li'l team of seven also got more honeysuckle cleared before departure time.

Saturday and Sunday both saw snow and sleet overnight, so the fires were slow to start. But with patience (and a stack of newspaper) we eventually prevailed.

Thanks to all the volunteers joining our first efforts of 2021!

Palos Play Dates January 14, 2021

1/13/2021

Going Back Soon
Forest Preserves of Cook County has given us the green light to resume group restoration activities again, starting Saturday January 16. So by this time next week I'll have some work to report on.

We'll still have restrictions; limit of ten people, mask wearing required, social distancing as well. But we're already doing all that in everyday life, so it's no problem. It will feel good to get outside and begin cutting and burning things again. woof woof!

Palos Play Dates January 7, 2021

1/7/2021

Photos below are from Hidden Pond, Arrowhead Lake,
Old Plank Road Nature Preserve, and Swallow Cliff Woods,
December 31 2020 - January 6, 2021.

Happy New Year 2021 from PRP

12/31/2020

Palos Restoration Project wishes all our volunteers and friends a safe and happy 2021! Though we've been apart for most of the year, we appreciate the well-wishes and words of support we continue to receive. We expect, with vaccines and time, to move slowly toward something more 'normal', however you define that.

First Snow of the Season
Tuesday afternoon the snow began and my heart leapt! After spending much of the weekend indoors (we had a natural gas leak and no heat from noon Saturday 'til late Monday morning) it was time to hit the pavement. After dinner I walked for an hour or more, enjoying the solitude of a beautiful winter evening.

December 24, 2020: Happy Holidays!

12/24/2020

Restoration Pause Continues
Volunteer activities remain on hold, awaiting improvement in our state's Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations. Right now the pause is effective until January 9, 2021. We expect to hear, prior to that date, whether it will continue farther into the new year.

What we do now will influence what we're able to do later. We're not out of the woods yet with the coronavirus and don't expect to reach that point until mid-2021 at the earliest. Please be careful and protect yourselves; we want to see you all next year!

I included a few pictures of local homes decorated for the holidays. Most were seen on our walks around the 'hood, with a couple of the more elaborate (i.e. crazy) ones places we've seen in the past.

I'll close with this haiku, author unknown to me, that I put in our weekly email a few weeks back. Happy holidays to all!

We isolate now
so when we gather again
no one is missing