Fall Hiking Club Route 5
Route 5 begins back on the gravel Quarry road again, with a gentle climb past fields of prairie grasses. I’m supposed to be looking for Purple top grass. Maybe that’s it? There’s a definite purple tinge, but I’m not sure I see the difference between this and the Bluestem grass from the first hike.
A turn onto Freund Ridge Road leads to the Overnight Center with scattered cabins among the trees,
and a beautiful ridgetop overlook.
Fall colors remain a hidden tease thoughout the route,
glowing with promise in the brilliant sun and cool tinged air against a backdrop of still resilient green.
Black walnuts both cling to branches, and tumble with soft thuds to dot the ground as we pass.
Wildflowers still thicken the brush, bright and healthy
and buzzing with insects,
gathering their winter supplies.
Back downhill through the wetlands trail, barely seen turtles slip into bog the minute they know we’ve noticed them.
Rambling ... 