Snow Walk, December 31, 2012--Carondelet Park

 Only 34 degrees. Snowed all day with no real road accumulation. The best kind of St. Louis snow--after two years with nary a flake.  I had to get out in it and take an hour or so walk  People sledding, a girl getting her picture taken in some kind of prom gown at the new music pavilion.Geese. Lots of geese. Peace and quiet. It's always better to be outside.

Christmas Lights--Murdoch, December 30th

 We walked down Murdoch, the street that Paul's grandmother and aunt lived on. Every year there is an excessive light display--when the avenue transforms into Candy Cane Lane.  Now the adjacent street has gotten in on the action--and calls itself Snowflake Lane during the holidays, with alternating white and red snowflake lights hanging from the trees that line the sidewalks.

Unfortunately the flash on the camera ruined the quality of this photo (and it was too cold to stop and fix the problem), but this is a sand sculpture of the Grinch, protected by a saran wrap tent.

Rockwood Reservation

Just a fast hour or so hike at Rockwood. It was warmer today, got into the 40's and most of the snow melted. Hiked the Trail among the Trees and a little of the Greenrock Trail. There were some people out, but not many, so it was a peaceful hike.

Saturday, December 20: Short Walk at Lafayette Square Park

 Paul went with me. Temp. was 30, but the wind chill, 15.  Brisk, quick walk with Christmas card pictures in mind for next year. A bit premature, but what the hey.

Urban Hike: Lights in Holly Hills

Sadly, the snow that was predicted went just south, but happily, Christmas night was cold and blustery--with temps in the low 30's. After Paul's family celebration, we drove to Carondelet Park and then walked around the neighborhood, looking at Christmas light displays. Last year, this was our goal, but we petered out. This year, we made it!

Clark, December 10, 2012

 Played hooky from school today.  Went in, left lesson plans and then stopped at the Clark Trail to hike on the way home. Perfect hiking weather--about 28 degrees. By mile 1 I was toasty in my fleece lined jeans and denim coat. Came across these deer just off the path at the beginning of the trail. They were not skittish at all, but actually walked closer to me to investigate. Haven't had that experience yet on a trail. . . .

 The second overlook.  The river is low, but not as low as maybe a week or so ago. I think it rained this weekend.

A little fort along the trail. I can't believe how many more people know about and frequent this trail compared to ten years ago. I saw two trail runners today, and at the end, a hiker with a dog in a sweater. There are always cars in the parking lot. A day like today, ten years ago? No one would have been out.

Clark Trail: Friday, December 7

Again, the best way to end a week. Stopped at the Clark Trail. Hiking by 3:05.  Sunset was to be at 4:39, just one minute earlier than on November 29.  I knew from last time that it stay light for at least 45 minutes after sunset, so I was much more leisurely this time.  Around 52 degrees, but not sunny so the air was brisk.  Guess who I saw again? Nina and No Name; she'd played hooky from school and was wearing her cool hat from Turkey again. No Name had hurt his paw.  As I hiked, it seemed misty through the trees, atmospheric. Snapped a few photos with the cell phone, ended my hike at about 5:00 p.m..Only one car left in the parking lot, most probably belonging to the man I saw hiking in just as I was exiting the trail. He had facial hair and a deep voice, and some kind of fancy hiking sticks/gear.

Oh yeah--right at the end of the trail, just after sunset, I came upon a deer that was standing in the path maybe six feet in front of me. If I'd been paying more attention, perhaps I would have gotten a photo. She hiked into the trees and was still . . . . .

Clark Trail after School, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012

 Needed exercise. Needed hike. Ditched faculty meeting. Made it to Clark by 2:45. Checked sunset time:4:40. Started hiking at 2:50.Ran into Nina France and No Name around mile 3, going opposite way. Finished hike at 4:37, three minutes before sunset. Don't know exactly when it really got dark. . . maybe 30 minutes later. . . . .

 It was around 60 degrees, but the trail wasn't crowded. A few trail runners passed me going the opposite way and the same way. There was a little family on a bench--wonder if they got out before dark.

DeClue Trail at Greensfelder: Friday, November 23

 Really ended up on the Declue Trail again, which is about 6.7 miles long. This whole hike took me 3 hours and 8 minutes on this day. It was about 45 degrees, sunny. A few bicyclists, much less than last week. I guess that's what ten degrees cooler will do. And some of the cyclists I saw were struggling. Two were even resting and complaining.  I also saw a couple trail running. They didn't know about the"orange" trail--so I offered them some information. The woman thanked me for saving them a longer run than they'd wanted. I like this trail.  You hike through the woods. You hike and look through the trees at one point and see Six Flags, eerie and ghost-like this time of year. Deserted roller coasters through the trees. There are a few inclines, but nothing too strenuous. I'm not sure why it takes me three hours to hike only 6 miles--except that the trail is rocky and covered with leaves--so I go slowly so as not to fall.  It felt as if I hiked more quickly this week. And I had more energy, too.

 There's a deer in this one. She stood for the longest time with his partner and watched me. Of course, she was closer than the picture communicates.

 I'm obsessed with the color left in the woods in wintertime.

 I know I have pictures of assorted friends and dogs near this outcropping.

 You hike through a strand of pines. Not as tall as at Hawn, but comforting and quiet.

 Color again!

 Right at the end. Holly berries!

Thanksgiving Eve, 2012: Babler's Dogwood Trail

After four o'clock, orange becomes the dominant color. This is the Equestrian shelter through the trees as I hiked away from it.

 Three o'clock in the afternoon. Kids and Moms just leaving the playground on the day before Thanksgiving. Can't believe how the area has been built up in the past thirteen years. No more Bader's Meat Market at Highway 100. Subdivisions, subdivisions, subdivisions.

 I still get excited about the last little color in the woods.  The leaves above almost looked like stained glass in the late afternoon sunlight.

 Again, all of the orange.

 Tall trees. I snapped this photo just at two families came close. Kids, dogs, slender, athletic wives in running clothes, talkative men with beginning beer bellies and full heads of hair. Wildwood people.

 The shelter again--with its picnic tables and fire places. I had to second guess myself. Is this the shelter Lynnette and I had a fire in so long ago? I'd thought it was at the Beulah Shelter at Greensfelder.

 This was obviously the front yard of someone's house or a CCC building. There were yucca plants and this stone wall. Reminded me of the Lost Valley Trail with all of its hidden remnants of towns.

 Would be fun to have a fire here on a winter day after a hike.

Took me about one and a half hours for the two miles.  I went slowly--didn't want to trip on the rocks under the leaves--and I was taking leisurely pictures. The longer equestrian trail crosses the Dogwood Trail--both trails are much better marked than they were twelve years ago when Katherine Hoelscher and I used to go hiking after work/school. She always liked exploring and taking the unmarked trails to see if her memory served her correctly. I also remember hiking here alone right before Thanksgiving--and seeing a deer.