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Cap Sauers February 18, 2023

2/20/2023

Cap Sauers Holding Saturday February 18
Another day, another awesome group of volunteers. Our multiple fires were slow to start due to the sleet and rain that moved through our area the preceding day. They eventually got going and burned a tremendous amount of brush from the day's tree-thinning activity.

Our planned February 22 date at Paddock Woods fell victim to the rainy mess that passed through the area; this has been a rainy couple of months, and I've scraped more mud from my boots recently than I have in a year or more preceding that. Maybe we're moving out of our extended dry spell now.

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Paddock Woods February 11, Hidden Pond Woods February 12, 2023

2/16/2023

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Paddock Woods Saturday February 11
We had a big group Saturday; 18 volunteers - including Palos first-timer Jarrod - plus a crew of ten (or so) from Atrium Landscape, thinning trees and burning big fires at Paddock. We worked atop a hill along the eastern edge of the Yellow Trail, in sight of the parking lot.

Audra did her first brush pile burn observation, at one of ten fires we eventually had going, including three ditch fires in the ravine. Those, out of the wind, took an extra measure of the coaxing that all the fires seemed to need. With five chainsaws running there was plenty for everybody else to haul and burn. Another productive day in the woods.

Hidden Pond Woods Sunday February 12
This wasn't officially "Bring-a-Friend" Day, it just turned out that way. George brought cyclist friend Charlie, a Palos first-timer who rode from Downers Grove, while Joy brought niece Mia along with Mia's friend Curtis, also new to Palos. New volunteer Adam made it a trio marking their first Palos restoration visit. FPCC stewardship aide Emily ably led the morning activities, while five (George, Jim D, Janina, Joe, and Kent) doubled up Saturday and Sunday. Thank you, one and all!

We continued to expand our brush-clearing in the wooded area west of the prairie, getting closer to the trail on our west flank and a previously-cleared section to the north. We've made a tremendous amount of progress since we started here last fall.

An additional shout-out to Jim Dzialowy, completing his second observation and making him an official Chicago Wilderness Brushpile Burn Boss!

Paw Paw Woods Wednesday February 15
Your correspondent missed this one, which featured a small crew burning two brush piles at Paw Paw while Audra Gray completed her second brush pile burn observation. She joins Jim as a newly minted Chicago Wilderness Brushpile Burn Boss. Congrats to Audra and Jim!

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McClaughrey Springs February 4, 2023

2/8/2023

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McClaughrey Springs, Saturday February 4
Another day of tree-thinning with Atrium Landscape, this time in a pretty little meadow along Route 83. Before contractor work last winter, this spot was barely visible from the road. Now, with all the honeysuckle gone, it was time to thin the abundance of walnut trees growing here.

Lesson one: this wood is a reluctant burner. High moisture content, I suppose. We had decent wind conditions for burning piles, yet they were slow to take off. Luckily, our fire starters are patient souls, and hung in until all was burned except one pile, which was dealt with the following day by Joy and Diana.

Another cool thing; the glow of ember piles at night. When we leave at day's end, our fires are well contained, the area around them cleared of fuel, and they're not going anywhere. They still have a lovely glow, however, and like a moth to a flame... Picture below.

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Cap Sauers February 18, 2023

Paddock Woods February 11, Hidden Pond Woods February 12, 2023

McClaughrey Springs February 4, 2023

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