Category Archives: St Louis region

Fall Hiking Club Route 8

It’s sunny and breezy and lightly cool starting out for route 8 today. It’s warming quickly, but stays jacket comfortable the entire trip. About the first third of the route is on the main road. I wasn’t sure how that would go, but there were very few cars really, even though there seemed to be lots of hikers out.

The clinging leaves are increasingly melting into autumn reds and golds,

a glowing accent threaded through the woods.

Wood Duck Pond isn’t even really on the route, just suggested as a bonus stop along the way.

A nearly hidden, leaf covered trail skirts the pond, opposite the wetlands trail.

From the startled reaction from two flocks of ducks I passed, I don’t think it gets much traffic.

Creepy cool cypress knees poke through shallow, murky water layered with golden leaves.

The map leaves the road next, and climbs the prairie trail.

Grasses rustle,

Whispery dry,

Casting seed,

On the warming breeze.

Then the final section winds back through the woods over the Bush Creek Bridge, collecting the tumbling leaves.

Fall Hiking Club Route 6

There’s a storybook walk on Bush Creek Trail today. The sun is sliding out of it’s early morning cloud cover, and buzzy insects are darting in and out of the fields. The funny little grasshoppers, with wings as colorful as a butterfly when they’re in flight, sit calmly when I reach for my camera and only take off when I give up.

The route climbs to the McMillian Overlook, with wide prairie views and hints of color,

Then back through the woods again, where the leaves are browning and tumbling to carpet the ground.

They cover the path, thick and damp and musty, along the River Trail, despite the still lush river bottom growth.

The Bluff Overlook Trail climbs steep and twisty and narrow back out of the valley. A startled cardinal bursts off a branch almost at the top of my head. I’m not sure they’re used to too many visitors here.

Trees at the bluffs are still full and green,

But explode into brilliant color, as the path winds back up the hill to the Trail House.

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.

Fall Hiking Club Route 4

Route 4 was mostly open ended. There was a map, but no particular hints on what to expect or search for. Days into fall, the weather still undetermined on which season it intends to follow, it’s probably too difficult to predict even a week ahead.

The path starts with a climb up the old Quarry Road, now closed to traffic. Clouds are low and thick and the breezes are cool. Golden prairie grasses extend from either side of the gravel road, dotted with trees still thick with green leaves.

Wild sumac hints at the soon coming of the autumn colors,

while hardy asters glow in final homage to the last days of summer.

The trail turns to wander through the Hardwood Forest Restoration Area,

then to the Meramec River overlook. The water seems low. More of the leaves are beginning to turn here, and grasses are sprouting on a long narrow sandbar.

Darker clouds, a few splashes of rain, and distant rumbles that might or might not be thunder, nudge us on our way.

The route loops back along a short section of the River Trail, then down Barn Road, overlooking hills and prairies on it’s way back toward the wetlands trail.

I’ve decided to pretend I’m in Seattle. There’s no point in being driven from the trail by the endless bouts of drizzle.

A hat might have been nice, but the showers are over quickly, and do little damage,

They tease in and out throughout my walk.

Droplets clinging to fresh spring life,

and tumbling along the rocks of the waterfall.

Lightly cool,

Teasing of rain,

They had snow here over the weekend

While I,

On the other hand,

Was visiting my sister in Texas,

Hanging out at the lake on her paddle board.

A kaleidoscope explosion,

Of pink and purple,

Yellow and green,

Defies the late frost,

Mocking the very idea,

I could learn to capture them,

In the journaling class I’m here for.

There’s a gentle peace

In the attempt,

Imprinted images,

Never brushed on a page,

Or swept from my mind.

Slushy trail,

Sun on my face,

Lightly damp almost cold feet,

But nearly too warm in my coat.