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Palos Play Dates April 30: Restoration Vacation Week Seven

4/29/2020

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April 30, 2020
Between rainfalls I've been able to get out a couple times. Finally the Virginia bluebells I've watched for weeks are starting to bloom. Perhaps they're timid and should be approached more gingerly?

A Year Ago Today - Beam-Suntory at Sundown Meadow
Since we don't have any recent work to report, I'm going to revisit last April 30. We had several sites scheduled to host a large corporate group, from Beam-Suntory. Two of the sites were in Palos, while one, Sundown Meadow, was in Countryside. Rainfall led to both of the Palos sites canceling, so both of those groups came instead to Sundown. All told we had more than 85 volunteers!

We'd never plan for a group that large; 25 is a much more manageable number.
With a huge assist from FPCC staff (Volunteer Resources and Little Red Schoolhouse) we made it work.  Included is a picture because the crazy days are often the best ones.

Virtual Trek to Andrews Glacier & Andrews Tarn, Rocky Mountain National Park
In September 2012 I drove to my favorite destination, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. It's a day-hiker's dream, with a fantastic assortment of trails within a relatively contained space. The scenery is off-the-charts.

Upon my arrival on September 12 snow was falling in the mountains, and I immediately drove as high on Trail Ridge Road as was allowed. Snow at any time thrills my soul - in September it's sheer ecstasy!

Several days later I hiked to what one writer describes as "a vanishing species - the North American glacier." A fairly strenuous trek, but well worth the effort. The first stretch of trail takes you past the lovely Alberta Falls to the equally striking alpine lake called The Loch.

Several trail junctions and much rock-hopping and route-finding bring you above treeline and eventually to the cirque terminating at Andrews Glacier and Tarn (Lake).  The top of the glacier borders the Continental Divide - if you look closely at the photos you can see tracks winding through the snow. Not my tracks, I wasn't equipped for snow travel and opted for prudence.

Instead I just hung out a while, enjoying the view and the solitude. Over a span of three hours I only saw two people, were heading down while I was still on my way up. This was one of the more memorable hikes I've done over my multi-year fascination with the mountains.

As I arrived in Illinois, remnants of Hurricane Ike were moving through the state. Julie was, at the same time, returning from her  parents' house in Arkansas, and she essentially was chased north by the winds and squalls. The last couple photos below are from Starved Rock, with the Illinois River well over its banks. Nature in multiple manifestations, in the matter of a few days.
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April 23, 2020: Restoration Vacation Week Six: Earth Day

4/21/2020

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Earth Day April 22, 2020
We'd prefer to do Earth Day's 50th Anniversary in style but that will have to wait. It's amazing the changes that have come since the first Earth Day, and appalling how far we still have to go. 

This is the first year in the last five we did not schedule a public event for Earth Day, just as well given the pandemic. Perhaps in the fall though I fear next year might be a more reasonable aspiration.

Meanwhile we shelter in place, read a lot, walk a lot, and catch up on numerous projects that were pushed to the back burner long ago. I've finished books I'd almost given up on; some were quite rewarding. I've organized things that I rarely use. I refolded all my bandanas (see pictures below).

Looking at pictures from past trips to Colorado sparks a desire to get back, one that's not likely to be indulged too soon. Maybe I'll add some pictures and notes to one of these posts. Yup, next week we'll take a virtual trek to Andrews Tarn and Glacier in Rocky Mountain National Park.

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April 16, 2020: Restoration Vacation Week Five

4/16/2020

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Snow in April - Again!
Last year we had snowfalls on​ April 14 (5.4" official at O'Hare) and April 27 (2.5" at O'Hare). So  whatever happened yesterday, and whatever comes tomorrow, is no big thing. It's still early...

Despite the snow and overnight temps, garlic mustard and Siberian squill are doing fine. I saw numerous uprooted garlic mustard plants on the trail last time I walked McClaughrey Springs - wish the squill could be dealt with in similar fashion.

Local Nature
Trying to channel Greta Thunberg, I have many days I don't touch the car. Lake Katherine half a mile away, Arrowhead Lake 1-1/2 miles, then Paddock about 2-1/4 miles distant, all can be reached without the infernal combustion engine. Some of the pictures in the first block below are from Arrowhead, and the night-time pictures in the second block from Lake Katherine.



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April 9, 2020: Restoration Vacation Week Four - Wildflowers

4/9/2020

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Wildflowers
This is the week the spring flowers took off! Some, like Dutchman's breeches, seem to be blooming a bit earlier than usual. Maybe it was those 75-80 degree days we just had. (As I write this the outside temp is 48 and that north wind is stirring things up.)

Mike Kazaitis and Cyndi Duda both sent pictures,which are included in the slideshow below. Thanks for the contributions!

Most of my outdoor exercise is happening right in the neighborhood. Lake Katherine is pretty crowded, so while I'll pass en route to the Cal-Sag trail I mostly avoid the chipped path around the lake. 

The forest preserves have been pretty good. McClaughrey Springs near Mill Creek has a lot of people, but if you get away from the parking lots you can get in your bubble and feel safe. Hidden Pond was fine; other than one woman near the lot I was on my own for an hour and a half of hiking.

Be careful out there.

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April 3, 2020: Restoration Vacation Week Three

4/1/2020

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Social Distancing on the Trails
Whenever I've been out, people, cyclists, hikers, runners, all seem to give you lots of space when passing. That's good - my biggest fear is people getting sloppy, turning out in large groups or not respecting others' space.

That's what happened along the lakefront the the result was totally predictable; the mayor shut it down. I hope, with warmer weather, people don't become reckless, decide they can have 'small' picnics or other group gatherings that force FPCC to shut it all down. If we behave sensibly then we continue to have this outlet, somewhere to escape to when we feel the need for fresh air and open spaces.

In my post of March 19 I asked, beneath one picture. what are these people doing? Kevin Coyote-Trust supplied the answer, social distancing with friends. Danke, Kevin!

I have no expectation that we'll resume restoration work sooner than May 11, and it may be later than that date. That's okay with me; far better that we get this thing right so we can, with reasonable caution, feel safe we resume the activities that spark our passion.

Meanwhile I've tackled some projects that have sat on the back burner for a long time, like sorting through the VHS tapes and updating the 'home entertainment center'. See below: 
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    Author

    I'm Jan Pietrzak with the Palos Restoration Project. This blog and website were created for your information and enjoyment.

    I hope you'll be encouraged and inspired to volunteer at any of the numerous forest preserves in our area.

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