The Local Lowdown 8/17/22
Clad with my giant, white dog and the task that no assigned me, ie: The Local Lowdown, we set off to one of the most iconic state parks around; Starved Rock. The first time that I remember going to Starved Rock was when I was in high school. I wore an Abercrombie baby doll style t-shirt that bared my midriff, and athletic shorts, rolled at the waist. The first time I remember taking my kids to Starved Rock State Park, they were severely disappointed that it wasn’t an actual park. This time though, it’s just Deke and I off on our own little adventure. I work a few days a week but on the days that I plan to knock around town, I am giddy, palpitating with possibility. I like to have stories to recount and while I am not out searching for trouble, a little low-key mischief can sure spin a tale. Today is the first day that all three of our children are in school. I was a little misty-eyed as my 5 year-old climbed the bus for the first time but he was ready for Kindergarten and me, well, I have my own plans. The bus pulled away at 8:14 am and Deke and I hit the road soon after. It’s an early dismissal day at school so part of the thrill is the sheer fact that I have a 3 hour window to drive back and forth to Utica, see the sites of Starved Rock, and get around summer road construction; just in time snag a spot in the school pick up line at 11:30.
I am really trying to be an observer and to see things that I’ve seen hundreds of times with a fresh set of eyes. A challenge for anyone, but especially me. I am the type of person who has gotten so lost in their own thoughts that I’ve forgotten where I’m driving. My Grandma “V” developed Alzheimers in her 70’s and I am constantly worrying that I have some early-onset thing happening but my Dad used to assure me that I am just distracted by my brain, “unfocused” he’d say. One of my friends referred to my condition as multi-passionate, I like that interpretation better than “flighty”, but you get the point. I live in my own world, while it’s safe and familiar there, it sometimes leads to a chronic lack of observation. Again, take me outside LaSalle County and I appreciate all the offerings of that area, now I am trying to bring that same enthusiasm to all that’s available to us right here in the Ottawa vicinity.
We parked at the Visitors Center, beyond that I didn’t have a plan, although LaSalle Canyon is my favorite spot in the park so it was fitting that we ended up there. Deke set the pace, brisk, spastic jaunts, with intermittent and random stops to sniff. We looked almost manic. Me; determined to work up a sweat so I could count this stroll as my day’s workout, still trying to admire the grandeur of the park, yet being mindful that I had 3 kids who would be traumatized if I were late to pick them up on their very first day of school. Deke; slobbery, happily doing male dog things. I felt the pressure to get it all in. Then again, that is my normal mode of operating, so I am used to the stress I solely bring upon myself. We started out up top on the Bluff trails and then worked our way down the stairs to the River trail. A couple times I had to coax Deke over the metal grating found on some of the steps but he finally obliged. He was rewarded by going for a swim at the base of the LaSalle Canyon. We had the the run of the canyon, which made it feel even more special than usual. Most of the time it’s hard to even snap a picture without some stranger loafing around in the background. I’d say that 9 am on a weekday is an ideal time to check out the park. There were several cars in the parking lot but we didn’t see many people out on the trails until our way back to the car. It seems that most people congregate around the visitors center and the trailheads that split off between the hike up to the rock and the direction I chose. We were the first to walk through the dewy morning spider webs, which was unpleasant but I tried to trick myself into thinking that was part of the adventure “oh a spider might be in my hair, how exciting”, this after I’d do a 2 foot vertical off the forest floor coupled with a shrill scream when I actually felt something creepy and crawly. It could have been droplet of sweat, but still, what a thrill! The weather was perfect as much of this August has been. I am attaching my route which was great because it turned into a loop (at least for the most part). One thing, I learned from my short stint as a 5k runner, I LOATH out and backs, so boring! A loop is where it’s at, people. I would have loved to have hit the veranda up for lunch but I’ll have to save that for another adventure. 4.4 miles from start to finish, with time to spare to pick up 3 little babes who give me all the stories, adventure, and risk that I’d probably ever need.
Sightings: Turkeys, 2 cardinals (obviously my Mom and Dad), intricate spider webs, interesting fungi on even more interesting tree trunks, and unfortunately, litter.
The Lowdown:
-Don’t overpack. Bring very little into the park. Once you enter the trails, there aren’t any garbage cans so you have to take out what you carry in. An adventurous spirit is all that’s needed.
-Watch your footing. For real! I’d like to think that I am sure-footed but I almost slipped twice. It could also have had something to do with the 100 pounds of dog dragging me around as well? Beware of the worn wood planking combined with the natural sand covering it. It is slick, especially on hot and dry days, which I always forget. There are also small stumps, abandoned rebar and lots of uneven erosion control measures, aka steps to watch out for.
-Get into the depths of the park. IMO, Starved Rock, as in the bluff itself and the hike up for that matter are overrated. Push past the crowds and make your way in. I do like the views from Lovers Leap but I normally continue on past those lookouts as well and find sanctuary in the woods. I hit those nearby overlooks (Lovers Leap & Eagle overlooks) on the way back in this time, but it was crowded.
-One of the things I particularly love about SR is that you get to view the river, canyons, waterfalls, and lock and dam from different angles and vantage points. For example, you can scope the Illinois River from up above on the Bluff/Campanula trails or down below on the River trail. Same goes for the canyons. Viewing Wildcat from the overlooks made my stomach queasy but the perspective made it worthwhile.
-Check out the same hike again and again. Depending the rainfall and time of year, things can feel very different. There wasn’t much water flowing over the canyon edges when I was there because it’s been dry but it looks a lot different in the winter when the waterfall flowage is frozen, donned with ice climbers!
mpoweredstate 