Looking For Spring Amongst The Snow
- by Gary Marks Spring is Here, Enter Snow The calendar has finally rolled over to spring, the time for change in the Shawnee Hills. This is the season that trees come back to life and the cooler temps give way to warmer breezes. Yeah, right! I started off my last article Looking for Fall Amongst the Brown in a similar way, but even though the calendar says spring, we are still experiencing winter’s bitter chill. It’s odd to... Read More
Alto Pass – Quetil Trail – Notes from the Trail
A Special Message to our E-mail Subscribers This is the first special post for our e-mail subscribers only. I am still figuring out the best way to distribute this content to you our e-mail subscriber. I am going to try posting it as a private post or password protected post. So I will be grateful for any feedback on the best way to do this. I will release these articles to the general public, but you will receive the first look. Feel... Read More
Ferne Clyffe State Park – Hawks Cave
This is the first in a new series called Videos from the trail. It is similar to Notes from the Trail, but will be less wordy and focus on video from the natural side of Southern Illinois. Hawks Cave This trail is located in Ferne Clyffe State Park. In my opinion, it is one of the best trails in the park. If time is limited make sure to check out the main waterfall trail and the massive bluff shelter on Hawks Cave Trail. The trail is around... Read More
Bell Smith Springs – Devils Backbone – Part I
This series, Notes from the Trail, focuses on thoughts and events that happen with the interactions in nature. Monday July 12, 2010 As I head off the main road on the outskirts of Ozark, IL, the road turns to gravel. All roads leading to my destination are made of rock bringing to this area a sense of remoteness. The truck bounces along the uneven road. The familiar clouds of dust that usually bellow from the tires are absent. Last nights... Read More
The Waterfall Chaser: Rocky Bluff Falls
This series focuses on photos and videos from our local waterfalls in the Shawnee Hills of Southern Illinois. If you haven’t read our previous posts in this series click the following link: The Waterfall Chaser Archives. Rain? Let’s Go! That’s right once again the area was inundated with water from above. I knew what time it was. It was time to grab the photo and video gear and jump in the 4 wheel-drive and head back... Read More
Notes from the Trail: War Bluff
This series, Notes from the Trail, focuses on thoughts and events that happen with the interactions in nature. Monday May 24, 2010 I have come to War Bluff. It is an area that lies hidden amongst the greenery of the coming summer. I am in a state of alertness. My ears are pricked scanning for all sounds. My eyes are opened wide attempting to track any movement. This place is alive! The forest reverberates with the cackle and calls of birds. ... Read More
Cloud Watchers: May 31, 2010
Around 7pm last night some strange clouds rolled in. Dark, low hanging clouds turned everyone’s attention to the sky. Wind could be heard in the distance and soon it was upon us. There was only a little rain involved, but it was quite impressive. These clouds are called arcus clouds, or shelf clouds, and are sometimes associated the front edges of a cold front. Here are some photos of the clouds that passed over. To see the full image... Read More
What is that doing in Utah?
Natural Bridge NM Display The redness of the Utah deserts kept me company as I trekked through its canyons, hiked upon it vast mesas, and explored it unusual rock formations. I went to the desert to see naked geology. A land striped of its lush greens. A land where space is felt. A land where great distances of time can be hard to fathom. One would not think that our Shawnee Hills would share much in common with the Utah deserts, but I was... Read More
The Waterfall Chaser: Return to Bork’s Falls
A week ago we posted an article called The Waterfall Chaser: Bork’s Falls. That article, also, kicked off a new series entitled The Waterfall Chaser that has been a huge hit. We try to keep our series separated by other topics like The Top 3 Gottados, but this week we break our own rules by having a back to back series articles. Rain, Rain, Go Away? The Shawnee Hills area received two days of hard springtime rains, which saturated the... Read More
Notes from the Trail: Tunnel Hill State Trail
Breeden Trestel This series, Notes from the Trail, focuses on thoughts and events that happen with the interactions in nature. These “notes” are usually written on the trail where insight can be at its highest. Sunday, April 18, 2010 I sit here with my back propped on a tree near a picnic table at Tunnel Hill. I have been waiting for nearly an hour. Waiting for my fellow bikers that I had originally started the day with. I still... Read More
