Shaw Nature Reserve, Multiple Trails March 8, 2015

"Every day, I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness.  I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it. . . .The more one sits still, the closer one comes to feeling ill.  Thus if one keeps walking, everything will be alright."

                                                                                      --Soren Kierkegaard 

   (Taped on the bathroom door of the Visitor Center at Shaw's Nature Reserve)

Pinetum Lake, still frozen over but thawing in the warm temperature. These pines were planted in the 1930's and 1940's.

Just Hiking Ratings:

# of People:  There were a fair amount, but most were either driving or congregated at the play ground or on the gravel bar.  It was a gorgeous Sunday and I was able to hike alone for at least two or three miles at a time.

The Drive:  This is a quick 40 minute drive from St. Louis.  The Nature Reserve is just off the highway.

Location:  Take Highway 44 West to the Gray Summit Exit 
(at Highway 44 and Highway 100)

Difficulty:  The 14 miles of trails are easy and interconnected for many length options. At least four are wheelchair accessible. There is access to the Meramec River and one overlook that involves a short climb.  Grab a map at the Visitor Center which is located at the entrance to the Reserve and customize your hike as you go.

Other Information:  No pets allowed.  General admission is $5.00

Creek Crossing along the Brush Creek Trail.  To the left of this photo is a bridge in case you don't like the stepping stones or this crossing is impassable due to high water.

Replica of sod houses that were usually found on prairies further west than Missouri in the 1800's.

I took a picture from the interior. It was at least 20 degrees cooler in the house.

This is the gravel bar on the Meramec.  To the left, a trail leads to an overlook.

Trails along the Meramec are often lined with large-trunked trees. This tree had three distinctive trunks joined in the center.

Not sure who the Roberts are yet, but this is their cemetery.

Despite the early March date, Fort Zumwalt School District's Spring Break 2015 is turning out to be warm and sunny. Slightly chilly mornings give way to perfect afternoons. After  sipping coffee, journaling by the fire and downloading Badfinger's Straight Up to my i-phone (inspired by a clip of Breaking Bad shown last night at Sts. Joachim and Anne trivia fundraiser), I took to the Highway 44 hiking corridor. As I drove, I mused: binge watching Breaking Bad has become a must. It's true. Paul and I are the last souls in the Western World who haven't witnessed Walter White's saga.  I'd like to be able to (authentically) tell my students at the beginning of the year to watch out--there's a Walter White hidden deep inside all of their teachers. Grin. Like the infamous anti-hero, I rested my left elbow on the window and steered with my right hand, singing "Baby Blue"--so mesmerized by my fantasies that I missed the 109 exit to Babler and Rockwood Reservation and then the exits for Chubb and Greensfelder as well. I emerged from my reverie near the exit to Shaw's Nature Reserve, once known as Shaw's Arboretum. I'd been here only once before in my life, with Paul, over fifteen years ago on a hot September day in 1999, just after we'd begun dating.  I decided $5.00 was worth being able to explore the Nature Reserve's 14 miles of trails again.

It was a great hike--not strenuous or scary--with varied terrain, buildings and other points of interest. The map was easy to follow and the trails well-marked, and even though I saw several families, I hiked for long periods without seeing much of anyone.  I resolve to visit again soon--maybe even take a thermos of coffee and breakfast on the gravel bar.